Chapter 147: The Commotion at the Funeral

Ye Sanxiao's memorial service was naturally very grand. After all, he was a prominent figure in the underworld of Shanghai. So, all the influential people in Shanghai attended. Deng Chao of the Tianlang Sect, Guan Dongdao of the Ba Dao Association, Huang Tianxiong of the Tianxiong Gang, and Master Ba of the Qing Gang, among others, all dressed in black and arrived early at the hall of the memorial service, waiting for other guests. Sister Li, posing as the adopted daughter, stood there to welcome the guests, with tears of an unknown origin naturally streaming down her face.

Ye Sanxiao's portrait was placed in the middle of the mourning hall. Elite members of the Axe Gang from various halls surrounded it. They were all wearing black suits and white shirts, looking solemn, as if they were still under Ye Sanxiao's command. There were also several monks muttering scriptures, trying their best to pray for Ye Sanxiao's soul to be released from purgatory. Many of the gang leaders sitting there couldn't help but want to laugh. If Ye Sanxiao could be saved in this way, then everyone in the world could go to heaven and meet God after death. But out of respect for the funeral occasion, they held back their laughter, though their expressions looked a bit strange.

There were dozens of police officers outside the mourning hall of Ye Sanxiao. After registering the ID cards of the guests as a routine and checking all items that could be considered weapons, they started to leisurely smoke and chat. Their acting police chief had already talked with all the gang leaders. He asked them not to cause any trouble at Ye Sanxiao's memorial service so that he could leave his position smoothly. The gang leaders themselves had no intention of causing trouble and naturally showed him this courtesy. So, they only brought a few trusted subordinates when attending the memorial service.

"Zhangsun Jincheng, the leader of the Jiang Bang, and Zhangsun Zijun have arrived," the steward of the mourning hall announced.

The members of the Axe Gang immediately became agitated and pressed forward menacingly. In their eyes, the Jiang Bang was the main mastermind behind Ye Sanxiao's death. It was the collusion between the Jiang Bang and Gan Changshan that assassinated Ye Sanxiao. Even after Sister Li declared a temporary truce, the Jiang Bang still ignored the rules of the underworld and attacked the Axe Gang from all sides. So, when they heard that Zhangsun Jincheng and Zhangsun Zijun had come, their anger immediately flared up, and some even wanted to pick up stools and start a fight.

Some of Ye Sanxiao's disciples shouted, "Zhangsun Jincheng, you old scoundrel! You killed our Leader Ye, and yet you still have the nerve to come here and pretend to be sad."

Some other gang members shouted, "Zhangsun Jincheng, you shameless guy! After declaring a truce, you actually launched a surprise attack on us. You're so shameless and unrighteous."

Zhangsun Zijun remained calm and replied to these harsh words on behalf of her father, "Everyone, I understand your feelings. But we can swear that Leader Ye was not killed by us. Some despicable people framed us and made our two major gangs conflict with each other so that they could profit from our fight. Give us some time, and I will definitely find out the truth and give you all justice."

Seeing that Zhangsun Zijun was a woman and spoke so appropriately, the members of the Axe Gang, although still angry, no longer caused a commotion.

Zhangsun Jincheng sighed and said, "I, Zhangsun Jincheng, just came here today to offer incense to Leader Ye."

Sister Li stepped forward in a timely manner and sternly rebuked the surrounding members of the Axe Gang, saying, "Step back! Do you want to make all the leaders laugh at us? Today is Leader Ye's funeral. All grudges should be put aside for now." Then she nodded gently at Zhangsun Jincheng and Zhangsun Zijun and said, "Leader Zhangsun, you have a kind heart. Please come over here and offer incense." With a gentle wave of her hand, Zhangsun Jincheng and Zhangsun Zijun entered one after another. The leaders of other gangs couldn't help but secretly praise Sister Li for her generosity, appropriateness, and thorough handling of the situation. Under her leadership, the Axe Gang had great potential.

The mourning music played softly. Zhangsun Jincheng, accompanied by Zhangsun Zijun, bowed three times in front of Ye Sanxiao's portrait, then offered three sticks of incense. Turning around, he politely said to Sister Li, "Please accept my condolences." and then went to sit in the guest seat beside.

"Chu Tian, the Young Marshal of the Shuai Jun, Haizi, and Guangzi have arrived," the steward of the mourning hall announced again.

Everyone was slightly taken aback. Besides the people from the Tianlang Sect, the Ba Dao Association, the Tianxiong Gang, the Qing Gang, the Jiang Bang, and the Axe Gang who knew about Chu Tian and the others, the members of other small gangs had no idea when the "Shuai Jun" was established. The name sounded quite imposing, but the leader, Chu Tian, was only about eighteen years old, which made them shake their heads in disbelief. Haizi and Guangzi used to be prominent figures in the underworld. How could they become so unpromising after leaving the Jiang Bang and start following this young man?

Sister Li was also obviously taken aback. She had learned about Chu Tian from Zhangsun Zijun and the members of the Axe Gang. She also knew that the Jiang Bang and the Axe Gang had once agreed to eliminate the "Shuai Jun" that had left the Jiang Bang with nothing. However, due to a series of subsequent changes, everyone's attention was diverted from Chu Tian. Moreover, both Sister Li and Zhangsun Zijun believed that the more than a hundred people of the Shuai Jun couldn't pose a threat for the time being. The most urgent task was to stop the Axe Gang's attack on the Jiang Bang and completely control the Axe Gang.

Although Sister Li was a bit surprised in her heart, she still maintained a solemn expression on her face. She nodded gently at Chu Tian and said, "Young Marshal, you have a kind heart."

When Chu Tian saw the tears on Sister Li's face, he thought to himself that this woman should not be underestimated. She was clearly extremely happy inside, but she could still squeeze out tears. No wonder she could lurk beside the cunning Ye Sanxiao for so long without being discovered.

When Zhangsun Zijun saw Chu Tian and the others, she felt an inexplicable sense of panic in her heart, as if something was about to happen. She quickly turned on her phone and secretly sent a message to all the hall masters to be on high alert in case of any accidents. Zhangsun Zijun and Zhangsun Jincheng had thought for a long time before deciding to attend Ye Sanxiao's memorial service. Although they knew that Sister Li had already taken control of the Axe Gang, the grudge between the Jiang Bang and the Axe Gang had always been deep. There was no guarantee that Sister Li could control the situation, and if something went wrong, they would be like sheep walking into the tiger's den and be overwhelmed by the members of the Axe Gang. If they didn't attend, they would inevitably seem guilty, which would be不利 for Sister Li to lead the Axe Gang to submit to the Jiang Bang in the future. So, Zhangsun Zijun made two preparations. While coming to the memorial service, she had two hundred elite members of the Jiang Bang埋伏 around.

Many members of the Axe Gang had witnessed Chu Tian's courage and martial arts skills in the battle at Shui Xie Hua Du. Although Chu Tian and Tian Yangsheng had killed and wounded more than two hundred members of the Axe Gang that night, severely weakening the Axe Gang, everyone knew that it was a life-and-death battle, and there was no resentment in life and death. Moreover, in the face of danger, Chu Tian had stepped forward bravely to save Haizi and more than a hundred of his loyal subordinates. Such a heroic man was truly admirable. So, when they saw Chu Tian, Haizi, Guangzi, and the others come in, they didn't surround them and speak harshly. Instead, they felt a sense of admiration and fear.

Chu Tian, accompanied by Haizi, Guangzi, and the others, stood in front of Ye Sanxiao's portrait. Looking at Ye Sanxiao's unfathomable smile and the couplets that read "Leave a good name for generations; Be remembered with love for thousands of years; The voice and appearance seem to be still here; The noble spirit will always exist," they all secretly shook their heads. If Ye Sanxiao could be remembered with a good name for generations, then everyone could be written into history books and be immortalized.

"One bow, two bows, three bows." The internal steward called out absent-mindedly. Maybe he had called out too many times today, and he let out a slight yawn.

Chu Tian and the others completed all these procedures to the fullest in the mourning music, bowing three times consecutively to Ye Sanxiao.

Suddenly, the internal steward let out an "ouch" and knelt down on one knee, breaking the quiet and solemn atmosphere of the mourning hall. Everyone looked at him. The internal steward touched his suddenly painful knee, not knowing why he had knelt down and shouted out for no apparent reason. Was it because he had been standing for too long and was tired? Then, seeing everyone looking at him, he said awkwardly, "The family expresses their gratitude." Some members of the Axe Gang beside him were already secretly thinking that they would give this guy a good beating after the memorial service for making such a mistake in such a solemn occasion.

A faint smile flashed across Chu Tian's mouth. Just as he was about to turn around and return the courtesy to Sister Li, he suddenly shouted, "Leader Ye's eyes are bleeding!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like dropping an atomic bomb, immediately attracting everyone's attention to Ye Sanxiao's portrait. Sure enough, they clearly saw two lines of blood slowly flowing from the eyes of Ye Sanxiao's portrait. Everyone was extremely shocked. Although they all knew that there were no ghosts in the world, those in the underworld still liked to pay attention to auspiciousness. Now that they saw the portrait of Ye Sanxiao bleeding, everyone panicked, worrying that they would have bad luck after seeing this. Many people secretly regretted coming to this son-of-a-bitch's memorial service. Ye Sanxiao had made people worried during his lifetime, and now even in death, he still wouldn't let people have peace.

When Sister Li saw the blood flowing from Ye Sanxiao's portrait, she was initially startled. Then she quickly reacted, threw herself in front of the portrait, and let out a heart-rending howl, bringing out her tears as well. She wailed pitifully, "Leader Ye, you passed away so young! You were killed by that traitor, Gan Changshan. Don't worry. The members of the Axe Gang have already cut Gan Changshan into mincemeat to avenge you. You can rest in peace. Here, in front of you, I, Sister Li, swear that I will follow your last wish, lead the five hundred brothers of the Axe Gang, and restore the glory of the Axe Gang. I won't let you down."

When Zhangsun Zijun saw the blood and tears in Ye Sanxiao's portrait, being as meticulous as she was, she knew that someone was playing tricks, and it was most likely Chu Tian. But without evidence, she couldn't say anything. Then, upon hearing Sister Li's "lamentation," she felt more relieved. Her cousin really had a quick reaction. No wonder her uncle had chosen her to lurk beside Ye Sanxiao in the first place.

Sister Li's reaction and her fake lamentation were very persuasive in the eyes of those who didn't know the truth. Chu Tian and the others secretly sighed that Sister Li was indeed an extraordinary person. She had used the lamentation to elevate her intention of controlling the Axe Gang to Ye Sanxiao's last wish, giving herself a legitimate "imperial edict." If Chu Tian and the others hadn't been there, Sister Li might have really achieved her wish in this way. Unfortunately, Chu Tian had arranged all this and wouldn't let Sister Li take advantage of the situation. Just now, Chu Tian had flicked a small stone from his hand, making the internal steward cry out and kneel down, attracting everyone's attention. Then he had flicked two frozen blood particles from his hand, which hit the front of Ye Sanxiao's portrait and scattered, making it seem as if Ye Sanxiao was really shedding blood and tears.

Chu Tian smiled slightly, and then said solemnly, "Everyone, just now I calculated with my fingers. The reason why Leader Ye shed blood and tears is not that he wants the Axe Gang to rise again, but that he is worried about the future of the Axe Gang."

Everyone was slightly taken aback again and looked at Chu Tian. If this guy said these words without any basis, wouldn't he be getting himself into trouble?

Sister Li immediately stopped crying, stood up, and looked at Chu Tian coldly with tears in her eyes. Her gaze was very unfriendly. "Young Marshal, you said you calculated with your fingers and that Leader Ye was worried about the future of the Axe Gang. I wonder where you got this from? I hope you're not talking nonsense and deliberately cursing the Axe Gang. That would be very bad, and the members of the Axe Gang won't tolerate it." Sister Li immediately put a big hat on Chu Tian. She was annoyed that Chu Tian had diverted the attention of the members of the Axe Gang. Originally, she could have legitimately used the "blood and tears" to claim a so-called last wish, but now Chu Tian had ruined it, so she was naturally angry.

Chu Tian sighed and said softly, "In my heart, Leader Ye is definitely a person I truly admire." There was no falsehood in this sentence of Chu Tian. Ye Sanxiao's cunning and deceitfulness had indeed exceeded Chu Tian's expectations, making him truly admire Ye Sanxiao from the bottom of his heart. Then he changed the subject and said, "The reason why Leader Ye shed blood and tears and was worried about the future of the Axe Gang is that he was concerned about his young daughter, Ye Xiaoqin, who might not be able to lead the Axe Gang through these difficult times."

Zhangsun Zijun's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

Only then did everyone remember that Ye Sanxiao had a daughter, but they hadn't seen her in the mourning hall. A substitute hall master of the Axe Gang hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Didn't Miss Ye study in Italy since she was a child? Doesn't she want to come back and recognize Leader Ye?"

Sister Li's expression suddenly changed, but thinking that Ye Xiaoqin had already drowned in the sea and there was no way to prove it, she regained some composure and said, "Yes, my adopted sister has always had a personality clash with our adoptive father. So, she went to study in Italy since she was a child. I haven't seen her for several years. I called her the day before yesterday and invited her to come back for the funeral, but she refused to come no matter what. She said she had an exam, so it seems she doesn't care about the father-daughter relationship anymore. Actually, why bother?" Sister Li's tone sounded helpless, but at the same time, she belittled Ye Xiaoqin's character, which was really insidious.

Chu Tian smiled slightly and shouted to the hall, "In fact, Miss Ye didn't refuse to come back openly. She was afraid that the bad guys would harm her in order to seize power, so she came back secretly."

Everyone was shocked again. Master Ba and the people from the Tianlang Sect had already experienced Chu Tian's style of saying astonishing things. Sister Li and Zhangsun Zijun were even more startled. Could it be that Ye Xiaoqin hadn't died in the sea and had really come back?

Sister Li forced a smile and said with a bit of so-called emotion, "Where is my sister? Quickly let her come out so that I can see her."

Suddenly, a girl wearing sunglasses emerged from behind Chu Tian. With a sad expression on her face, she said softly, "Hello, sister. I'm finally back." Then she turned to look at Ye Sanxiao's portrait and said, "Father, your daughter is unfilial and couldn't see you for the last time." Tears streamed down her face.

Since Ye Xiaoqin had grown up in Italy since she was a child, not many people had seen her true appearance. So, the appearance of this girl surprised many gang leaders and members of the Axe Gang. They thought this girl was Ye Sanxiao's daughter. Even Zhangsun Zijun didn't know if it was true or false and was immediately filled with doubts.

Chu Tian thought to himself that this actress was really professional and that he should give her an extra thousand yuan or so. While thinking this, he took the opportunity to clasp his hands and shout, "Miss Ye, please accept my condolences. The Shuai Jun hereby swears that within half a year of Miss Ye taking charge of the Axe Gang, the Shuai Jun will never be your enemy."

Deng Chao of the Tianlang Sect also smiled slightly and said, "Miss Ye, please accept my condolences. The Tianlang Sect will also never be your enemy within half a year." Then the Tianxiong Gang and the Ba Dao Association also expressed their positions one after another.

Master Ba also let out a long sigh and said, "The Qing Gang has never bullied women and children." Once Master Ba expressed his position, the other small gangs and associations naturally followed suit.

Sister Li, of course, knew that this was a fake. She had just pushed Ye Xiaoqin into the sea a few days ago. By now, the body could have been anywhere. How could there be a living Miss Ye? Seeing that everyone, influenced by Chu Tian, was recognizing the status of this fake Ye Xiaoqin, she began to feel anxious. So, Sister Li's face darkened, and with anger in her eyes, she said, "Young Marshal, you really know how to joke. How could this person be my sister? Although she is about the same age and has a similar figure, she is not my sister. I don't know what your intention is by bringing out this fake Ye Xiaoqin. Do you really think that the members of the Axe Gang are all incompetent?"

Influenced by Sister Li, the members of the Axe Gang showed a slight look of anger towards Chu Tian and the others.

Chu Tian seemed to have expected Sister Li's answer and said unhurriedly, "Joke? I, Chu Tian, never tell jokes. Sister Li, you haven't seen Ye Xiaoqin for many years. As the saying goes, a girl changes a lot as she grows up. Based on what grounds do you say that this Ye Xiaoqin is fake just because