Brawling

A man stood up and released his Martial King aura. "Young Zhao, your Zhao Clan can't be so presumptuous to assume we won't stand and fight."

Weng! Wing! Weng!

Gu Jin and the Zhao Clan guards drew their weapons. Gray and Small Shadows took defensive positions about Tian Cai.

However, Yueng He-ping interjected. "Wait, this King is confused and needs clarification. Are we talking about Lord Demon Mask or Old Disaster King?"

Tian Cai's eyes brightened. The fool was his savior.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Earlier my subordinates were mistaken. In fact, this Young Master wants to know who dares mock Demon Mask. You may not know, Uncle Demon Mask is drinking buddies with my Grandfather."

Everyone sighed with relief.

"So that's how it is. Lord Demon Mask is like an Uncle to Small Disaster King."

"Old Disaster King and Lord Demon Mask are drinking buddies."

Sheepishly, the man who stood scratched his head. "Young Zhao it does appear many here have been talking about Lord Demon Mask having intimate relations with Hu Jiao."

Whoosh! Bang!

Yueng He-ping had shot over and kicked the man on the side of the head.

Eyes rolling, the man slammed to the floor with a groan.

"Who was it!! Who dares talk about my Big Brother!" roared Yueng He-ping.

Tian Cai jolted and and looked at Gray Shadow.

Whispering she said, "Fish 1 and Fish 2 are besties."

His eyes brightened again. He was liking Yueng He-ping more and more.

Smashing a fist into the man's face, Yueng He-ping asked, "Where'd you hear it from, huh!?"

Half unconscious, the man pointed to the second floor.

"That's the VIP area."

"Anyone remember who went up there?"

Bang!

Suddenly, the tavern's door was kicked open.

Chief Hu strode in with the Five Tiger Mercenaries. "Who was it? Who dares foul mouth my sister Hu Jiao!?"

Everyone threw strange looks at Chief Hu.

Gu Jin cupped his hands. "Brother Hu, it's been a while."

Chief Hu cupped his hands. "Mercenary King Gu, ha! You're the hero of all us mercenaries."

"Brother Hu, our Youngest Master, Zhao Tian Cai is here to investigate the rumors as well."

Chief Hu's eyes popped wide. "Small Disaster King...this Hu greets you. Although, for you to personally investigate??"

Tian Cai said, "Uncle Demon Mask and Grandfather are besties. Also, this Young Master can't allow anyone to bad mouth our Zhao Clan."

Chief Hu's eyes brightened. The news brought him great delight. Lord Demon Mask was besties with Old Disaster King. Wouldn't this just bring more rewards to his Five Tiger Mercenaries. Unbeknownst to many, the Five Tiger Mercenaries were recruited as a secret force by Zhao Chen.

Not even a breath later, the tavern door was kicked open again and Lieutenant Cao streamed in with his company of City Guards.

"No one move! This Lieutenant want's to know, who talking about Lord Demon Mask and where is he?"

The room fell silent. The patrons faces were contorting between fear and dejection.

Tian Cai sighed. Wasn't this situation getting out of control.

Chief Hu cupped his hands, "Lieutenant Cao, this Chief greets you. Young Zhao and this King are here to investigate the matter as well."

Young Zhao?

Lieutenant Cao's eyes constricted. Young Disaster King was personally investigating? The matter was more serious than he thought. Unbeknownst to all, that time when Zhao Qiang had forcibly invited him drinking, Lieutenant Cao accepted monies to become a secret force for the Zhao Clan. Earlier, Zhao Qiang sent word and asked him to investigate. Once he provided a list, Zhao Qiang would go on a killing spree.*1

Motioning to Tian Cai, Lieutenant Cao said, "Young Zhao, this Cao greets you. May we discuss things privately."

Tian Cai nodded and followed Lieutenant Cao to the side.

Whispering, Lieutant Cao said, "Young Zhao, it's like this.."

After hearing Lieutenant Cao's words, Tian Cai nodded. "This Young Master understands."

Looking about the silent room full of questioning eyes, Tian Cai said, "We've agreed to not kill everyone as long as someone gives up the culprit. Who's on the second floor?"

Gray Shadow's eyes narrowed. She just noticed several faces blackening among the patrons.

"Little Brother, get ready, something's not right," she whispered to Small Shadow.

Suddenly, the door to the second level kicked open. Two men stepped down.

Several voices hissed.

"Black Spear Gang's Yang Peizhi and Evil Snake Mercenaries's Chief Gu Long."

Gu Jin's spat, "Brother Long, you're here."

Yueng He-ping spat, "Yang Peizhi!"

"Not good," whispered Lieutenant Cao. "The Five Tiger Mercenaries and Evil Snake Mercenaries are bitter rivals. For them to be talking to Black Spear's Young Lord, bad bad sign."

Tian Cai motioned Yueng He-ping over. Whispering, he asked, "You know Yang Peizhi?"

"Mhm...Young Zhao may not know, but this one used to lead the Death Ax Gang. Us and the Black Spear Gang fought many a time. Yang Peizhi has personally killed many of my brothers."

Yang Peizhi chuckled, "So many visitors to our Black Spear Gang's Swallow Tail Inn. To whom does this Yang owe the pleasure?"

"Brother Yang, that one over there is Gu Jin. Regrettably, he is our cousin. Long ago, he and his father left our clan."

Yang Peizhi nodded. Not recognizing Yueng He-ping with his mask on, he pointed and asked, "You know me?"

Yueng He-ping snorted, "Many of my brothers were Death Ax Gang members."

Yang Peizhi chortled, "Death Ax Gang, those good for nothings. Weren't they recently ended by some mysterious force. Our Black Spear Gang has already taken over most of their territory."

Gu Long asked, "Brother Hu, what brings your useless Five Tiger Mercenaries over? Word's out that City Lord is disappointed with your recent performance. In fact, we've opened negotiations for a possible contract."

Tian Cai's eyes narrowed, "Fish 2, aren't you Ling Hua's subordinate? Doesn't that mean this mysterious force is led by her?"

"Mhm, Fierce Leader isn't just a simple bodyguard."

Fierce Leader?

"She's known as Fierce Leader?" asked Tian Cai.

"Fierce Leader is mighty!"

Tian Cai trembled with the news. Not only was Ling Hua Ling Clan's number one beauty, but she was Ling Fan's hidden bodyguard and a leader of a mysterious force?

"Rubbish! Everyone despises your Evil Snake Mercenaries evil methods. Lieutenant Cao, isn't this Chief correct?" asked Chief Hu.

Lieutenant Cao nodded. Whispering to Tian Cai he said, "Beware, they use poison on all their weapons. Some say, they also perform assassinations."

With a disgusted look, Gu Jin snorted. "They do. My Father was so averse to their actions, he willingly left the clan."

Suddenly, the door kicked open again and Gu Yang strode in with a crew. "Yang Peizhi, come out! Your Father Gu Yang has arrived."

Amidst several strange looks and the rolling eyes of Tian Cai, Gu Yang immediately realized the situation wasn't normal. When he saw Gu Long, he snarled with disgust like Gu Jin.

Gu Long chuckled, "My My, is this some sort of family reunion?"

Gu Jin hissed, "Our Gu Clan is a distant branch of his."

Tian Cai's eyebrows curled. Wasn't the Gu Clan family history complicated?

Gu Yang cupped his hands, "Chief Hu, Lieutenant Cao, Cousin, Young Zhao. Greetings. Why is everyone here? This one heard Yang Peizhi was hiring assassins to kill him. So he came over to end things. Yang Peizhi you call yourself a man!? You can't defeat me in bed and can't defeat me in battle..aren't you just a sorry state of a man?"*2

Yang Peizhi eyebrows inverted. "Gu Yang, Song Li Mei is mine! You dare seduce my woman!"

The man was about to jump forward when Yueng He-ping interjected. "Who's the one spreading lies about Big Brother Demon Mask and Hu Jiao."

"That ugly crooked nose, to think she actually found a man!" chortled Gu Long. "This King found the news too wonderful and had to help spread the news. Brother Hu, this Gu has to congratulate you. Haven't you been trying for years to marry her off?"

"Humph!" said Tian Cai before Chief Hu could respond. The air about him appeared to distort as he flexed his elbows and cracked his neck. "Gu Long, if you don't apologize to this Young Master. You can only die," snorted Tian Cai.

With a frown Gu Long spat, "Who the hell are you!? Huh!! You think you can just threaten this King!"

Suddenly, Gu Long jolted. Everybody except Yang Peizhi shook their heads.

"Imbecile."

"Courting death he is."

"Who knew today would be the last for the Evil Snake Mercenaries?"

"Cousin, you just kicked the father of iron plates. This is our Youngest Master, Zhao Tian Cai." snorted Gu Jin.

The room fell eerily silent. As though in slow mo, Tian Cai pointed. In a soft voice that everyone heard, he said, "Gu Yang, Fish 2 that Yang Peizhi is yours. The rest, bring me Gu Long's head."

Martial auras exploded in all directions.

Clang!

Yeung He-ping brought out his new ax. "Yang Peizhi! You killed by Brothers. DIEEEE!"

A sword whipped into Gu Yang's hands. "Yang Peizhi, you dare hire my own cousins to kill me for a whore! Kill him!"

Chief Hu hands clenched into tiger like claws. "Five Tigers heed my command. Kill that bastard Gu Long for me!"

Gu Long's face blanched. Why was Small Disaster King after him.

Weng!

Gu Jin brought out a sword. "Zhao Clan Guards! Heed Youngest Master's commands! Kill the Evil Snake Mercenaries!"

Erupting in the Zhao Clan death chants, the guards swarmed out. Finally! Finally! They would fight!

"Glory to Zhao!!!"

Lieutenant Cao's face contorted. Wasn't his job to stop fights? Suddenly, he recalled Zhao Qiang's voice. "Brother Cao, you may not know, there's twenty times that amount if you prove yourself well."

Eyes turning green, Lieutenant Cao shouted, "Men, Gu Long has used fouls means to assassinate Savant City's citizens. By my command, kill him and bring justice to the city!!"

"Brother Gu Jin, you dare attack your own family!?" roared Gu Long.

Yang Peizhi yelled, "Black Spear Gang! Kill!"

BAM!

In a terrific clash of weapons and martial auras, waves of men ferociously attacked.

Boom!

A hole exploded in the front wall of the tavern. To the surprise and horror of the citizens, on the street, brawling men erupted out of the whole.

People scrambled away to avoid the fighting mass of men.

A small figure jumped out followed by two shadowy streams.

A man pointed frantically in recognition. "It's Small Disaster King, Zhao Tian Cai!"

Tian Cai kept pointing at Gu Long.

"I want his head! Now! Now!"

Several citizens hissed.

Small Disaster King was throwing a tantrum and was demanding someone's head?