Chapter 16: Left eye twitching means fortune, right eye twitching means disaster!

Blood Hand Association.

This is a mid-sized Predator Organization.

Predator Organizations range from as few as thirty-five people to as many as three to five hundred, known for their secretive actions and ruthlessly deadly methods. They are a nightmarish scourge that every human gathering area on Blue Star abhors and deeply loathes.

Blood Hand Association has fewer than two hundred members and was single-handedly established by a man nicknamed Blood Hand.

It's said that he used to be an Assassin who specialized in thankless business deals. Later on, he found cutting people down individually was too slow, so he began to recruit members, each one helping him strike a blow, leading to the Blood Hand Association we know today.

Blood Hand felt a constant twitch in his right eye when he got up this morning, and there's an old saying in the Old Land, "Left eye for wealth, right eye for disaster."

"Could it be that I'm to face some calamity today?"

Blood Hand muttered to himself.

Impossible, his organization wasn't large enough to attract the covetous purging of the Flame Shrine.

Apart from the Flame Shrine, their dreaded nemesis, they maintained fairly good relations with other Predator Organizations, keeping to their own without intruding on each other.

His robbing ventures were thriving, and in such harsh survival conditions, he and most of his brothers managed to live a rather comfortable life adorned in gold and silver, feasting on meat and wine.

Except for a squad that went out on an operation and hadn't returned yet, there were almost no vexing issues lately.

"What could this disaster possibly be?"

"Am I just overthinking?"

However, an Assassin's intuition made him feel that things couldn't be that simple.

Sure enough, a brother burst through the door soon after, yelling, "Boss, it's not good. We've been surrounded by the Flame Shrine people."

Usually, it was they who quietly surrounded others; being encircled by the people of the Flame Shrine today was an extremely uncomfortable feeling.

But that was the Flame Shrine.

Apologize!

Regardless of why they were surrounded, the Blood Hand Association should kneel and kowtow to them first.

Thereupon, Blood Hand slapped the brother across the face, shouting angrily, "What's all the noise for? What problem can't be solved?"

Spinning twice on the spot from the slap, the brother clutched his face and said, "Boss, quite a few from the Flame Shrine have come. The brothers at home have already started clashing with them... the second-in-command sent me to urgently ask you to come take charge..."

Blood Hand's expression grew solemn as he asked, "Who from the Flame Shrine? Bian Zhenxin? We've always had a decent relationship with Bian Zhenxin... I've sent him several good items I've played with before, along with plenty of gold and treasures... Is he the one surrounding us?"

"It's not Lord Divine Envoy Bian, it's a White Robe leading the Flame Army that has us surrounded."

"..."

Blood Hand started to feel a headache coming on.

"A White Robe has come? Did they say why?"

"They want us to hand someone over."

"Hand over who?"

"They said a Black Robe has been killed, by our people... They're demanding the culprit be turned over, or else they'll purge the Blood Hand Association." The brother spoke with a face full of terror.

They feared neither heaven nor earth, as they were used to dealing with murder and looting, well aware of what the Flame Shrine was capable of.

They didn't believe in gods, but they feared those who represented the gods.

"Why would it be our problem if one of their guys got killed?" Blood Hand exploded in fury but his expression quickly turned to one of panic, "You said a Black Robe was killed?"

"Yes, that's what they're saying."

"The Black Robe in the Henshan Gathering Area is Bian Zhenxin... Is Bian Zhenxin dead?"

"They didn't mention a name..."

"The sky is changing," Blood Hand murmured to himself, "the sky is changing... if we don't handle this well, Henshan Gathering Area will turn into a slaughterhouse..."

After a moment of contemplation, Blood Hand gritted his teeth and said, "Bring out that case of Luminous Pearls I've collected... and the batch of good stuff we looted last time, move all of it out..."

"Boss!" the astonished brother exclaimed, those were the treasures the boss had accumulated over many hardships, and now they were just being handed over?

"Losing wealth to avoid misfortune," said Blood Hand bitterly. It pained him to give away so many treasures at once. "Now that the Flame Army is here, if we don't offer them something good, will they leave? If we hand over the goods ourselves, we can at least save the lives of our brothers. Once they start looting, we'll lose both our wealth and lives."

Blood Hand had had his fair share of interactions with the Flame Shrine and knew how greedy and brutal these people were.

They were the true remorseless Predators, while he and his people were loyal believers of the Flame God.

As Blood Hand and a group of his brothers hurried out, they were shocked by the sight of a densely packed crowd of the Grey Robed Army.

The Grey Robe was numerous and formidable, but they were a disorderly crowd. If it came down to a fight, it was uncertain who would win or lose. Blood Hand didn't take them seriously.

The true concern lay with the nearly a hundred Flame Army soldiers gathered around the White Robed Elder. These were the ones he truly needed to be wary and afraid of.

They were uniformly equipped with weapons ideal for charging, all wielding long spears. Furthermore, a dozen of them actually had rifles—such items were exceedingly rare in the post-cataclysm world.

The Blood Hand Association also had a few pistols, but compared to the other side's arsenal, their own was hardly impressive. The worse problem was their lack of bullets; having three to five rounds per gun was already quite remarkable. Hoping for a whole box of ammunition was simply unrealistic.

When they went robbing, they couldn't very well notify their victims in advance, "I'm going to rob you later, please prepare some extra bullets for your gun..."

That just wouldn't be right!

Blood Hand made his way through the crowd and walked straight to the White Robed Divine Envoy, bowing deeply. He was thorough in his observance of the proprieties.

Only then did he raise his head to look at Bian Feng, speaking with a voice laced with panic, "Lord Divine Envoy, your presence graces the Blood Hand Association. However, we are unsure of what brings Lord Divine Envoy to our humble abode. If there is any task for us, please feel free to speak."

Bian Feng stared at Blood Hand with an indifferent gaze, seeing him as nothing more than a corpse in his eyes.

Chen Hu tossed the skull-shaped lighter he was holding onto the ground before Blood Hand, and asked in a deep voice, "Do you recognize this lighter?"

Blood Hand glanced at the lighter, instinctively wanting to deny any recognition. But recalling the White Robed Elder's chillingly impassive eyes, devoid of any emotion, he decided it was best to tell the truth.

"I have indeed seen this lighter... it belongs to one of our low-level leaders. I saw it when he lit a cigarette for me..." While explaining, Blood Hand carefully observed the facial expressions of the White Robed Elder. "I don't know how it came into your possession?"

"Where is that low-level leader? Have him come out," said Chen Hu.

Since Lord Divine Envoy did not wish to speak, he would take full responsibility for conducting the business.

Blood Hand also suspected the problem might lie with Scar-faced and his lot. Internally seething, he thought that even if the damn traitor lived to return, he himself would slit his throat. Anyone who dragged himself and the Blood Hand Association into danger deserved to die.

Still, he had to lower himself and try to explain, "Sir, it's not that I'm unwilling to hand him over to you, but they went out on a mission and haven't returned till now..."

Chen Hu, exasperated, drew his broadsword from his waist and shouted angrily, "Do you take us for three-year-old children? You expect us to believe such a crappy excuse?"

"You want to protect him?" the White Robed Elder finally spoke, his first words since his arrival.

His voice was soft and weak, seemingly lacking strength. However, Blood Hand felt a chill run down his spine.

Blood Hand looked seriously at the White Robed Elder and solemnly said, "Lord Divine Envoy, I never intended to protect him. I don't wish to be an enemy of the Flame Shrine, and I am well aware of what happens to those who offend you. If he were here, I would've already tied him up and presented him to you."

Blood Hand waved his hand and his four Blood Hand Association brothers placed four large boxes at the feet of the White Robed Elder.

"Lord Divine Envoy, you honor us with your visit from afar. We of the Blood Hand Association don't have much to offer, but these are some trinkets I have collected over the years. I hope Lord Divine Envoy will accept them."

The White Robed Elder didn't even glance at the boxes, his gaze remaining calm and deep as he looked at Blood Hand and said seriously, "An envoy of the Flame Shrine in the Henshan Gathering Area has died, a Black Robed Envoy. Losing a Black Robe isn't a huge concern; the Flame Shrine has many Black Robes, one in every human gathering area..."

"However, the deceased Black Robe happens to be my son, and he was my only son... So, you should understand my feelings now, right?"

"I understand. I understand," Blood Hand replied, sweating profusely and nodding repeatedly.

"No, you don't understand," sighed the White Robed Elder, shaking his head. "If you did understand, you wouldn't be trying to buy peace from a man who has just lost his son."

"Lord Divine Envoy..."

Blood Hand was dumbfounded by the logic of the elder.

I gave you money just to show my respect, not implying I was actually involved in it.

We are content with our daily business of robbery, murder, and trafficking; we never thought of opposing the noble Flame Shrine, let alone assassinating a Black Robe. Wouldn't that be insane?

Insanity surely leads to death.

Bian Feng raised his hand and said, "If we don't see the owner of the lighter within three breaths, there won't be a single living soul left in the Blood Hand Association."

"Lord Divine Envoy, that person really hasn't returned... my brothers have been searching for him non-stop; send someone in to look if you don't believe me..." Blood Hand said urgently, becoming increasingly agitated.

"Three..."

"Lord Divine Envoy, we have been wronged. You should understand the nature of us Predators... I've hauled out all my savings accumulated over the years... How could I possibly commit such an act for just a low-level leader?"

Even in critical moments, a Predator is so brutal they would curse themselves.

You know we Predators are not good people, how could I, a heartless, ruthless fiend, make such a huge sacrifice for a mere underling in the organization?

Lord Divine Envoy, think about it, how could such a despicable person as myself commit an act so honorable and selfless?

I'm innocent!

"Two..."

"Lord Divine Envoy, I'm friends with Lord Bian, close friends for many years... We often drink and... play games together... If you don't believe me, ask Lord Bian to come out, he will certainly speak a word of justice for me..."

The White Robed Divine Envoy's finger pressed down faster, and he said, "One..."

The Flame Shrine represents light, represents justice. Having a friendship with the infamous head of the Predators could harm the reputation of father and son.

"Kill!"

Chen Hu, understanding his leader's intent, gave a furious shout, his broadsword swinging down towards Blood Hand in front of him.