Zhu Hou’s face looked extrely grim, and the anger in his eyes as he stared at Lin Fan was palpable.
"You bastard."
How dare he set him up like this.
He understood full well what the other party intended—making him lose face in front of everyone, reducing the Serpent Gang to an object of ridicule.
Wang Zhou was courting death.
The restaurant was eerily quiet. The mont Lin Fan arrested Zhu Hou and left, the restaurant erupted like boiling oil.
No one even cared about their als anymore and imdiately started discussing furiously.
"Has that constable gone mad? That’s the Hall Master of the Mountain Opening Hall from the Serpent Gang!"
"This is going to be interesting."
"The Serpent Gang has ruled over Jiangdu City for years. Now the Hall Master is being arrested by the governnt? This could get very serious."
"Wang Zhou is here too. Why didn’t he step in to stop this?"
"I think this might be Wang Zhou’s plan. He wants to wage war against the Serpent Gang."
The diners at Drunken Immortal Pavilion were all influential figures in Jiangdu City.
Even they had not foreseen such an unprecedented situation.
Inside a private box.
"Lord Wang, are you really not going to step in?" Li Zhiyong asked anxiously. This was no small matter—if handled poorly, it would escalate into a major catastrophe.
Wang Zhou remained silent, not replying. He appeared calm and unaffected, but within him, a storm of emotions was surging.
"There’s no point in interfering anymore. Zhu Hou is just a Hall Master, yet he dares to behave arrogantly in our presence. If we don’t teach him a proper lesson, he’ll think nothing of peeing on us the next ti."
"Let’s not worry about these matters. Tonight’s banquet is ant to bid you farewell. Keep drinking."
Wang Zhou was deeply dissatisfied with Zhu Hou’s earlier behavior—shouting and yelling in his presence, acting as if he didn’t exist.
If it weren’t for the fact that it wasn’t appropriate for him to act directly.
He would’ve dealt with Zhu Hou himself already.
Now that Lin Fan took action, it coincidentally played into his plans. When the Serpent Gang’s leaders co to demand Zhu Hou’s release, handing him over will serve as a slap to their face while resolving the matter.
And it’ll also send a clear ssage to the Serpent Gang: Jiangdu City isn’t a lawless land.
Mountain Opening Hall.
The lackeys who had accompanied Zhu Hou ran back in a panic, shouting loudly before even entering the gate, "Sothing’s gone wrong! Sothing’s gone wrong! The Hall Master has been arrested!"
Ji Zhen was inside organizing the account books. Mountain Opening Hall was a massive operation with nurous businesses. Every month, they had to hand over 50 percent of their earnings, with the remainder belonging to the hall itself.
Suddenly.
He heard the shouting outside, startling him deeply. He quickly sprang up and rushed outdoors.
The hall mbers who heard the commotion were left stunned, their minds unable to process what was happening.
"What did you just say?"
"Who arrested the Hall Master? How much fake wine did you guys drink?"
"You’ve gone mad. This is simply ridiculous."
"What is going on?" Ji Zhen bellowed angrily, pointing at the returned mbers. "Weren’t you accompanying the Hall Master at Drunken Immortal Pavilion? How co you’re back but not him?"
"It’s bad! The Hall Master has been arrested by the constables and taken to the dungeon!" the gang mbers stamred, visibly shaken. If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they’d never believe it—even if beaten to death.
"Who arrested him?" Ji Zhen demanded.
One lackey answered imdiately, "It was the bald constable Lin Fan. He held a blade to the Hall Master’s neck. Wang Zhou was standing there watching, without saying a word—clearly, this was all preditated!"
Ji Zhen’s face turned stern, his brows furrowed in silence. Then, as if struck by realization, his expression changed drastically, and he hurried outside. Before leaving, he turned back to the gang mbers and ordered, "Keep this matter buried in your hearts. If anyone dares spread it, they’ll pay dearly for it!"
"Understood," the gang mbers responded anxiously, though they couldn’t help but murmur internally. What’s the point? So many people at Drunken Immortal Pavilion had witnessed it—whether or not they spread the news, others already have.
Ji Zhen initially intended to confront Wang Zhou but quickly realized it would be futile. If they dared to arrest the Hall Master outright, what face would they give him?
That’s why he needed to find the Third Master—perhaps only he could rescue the Hall Master.
This matter couldn’t wait until morning. Otherwise, by then, every citizen in Jiangdu City would know that the Hall Master of Mountain Opening Hall had been arrested. It would utterly disgrace the Serpent Gang and destroy their reputation. No one would fear them anymore.
If he could secure the Hall Master’s release tonight and parade him around tomorrow, even if the incident were true, the Serpent Gang could spin the narrative.
Dungeon.
Nearly all those held here were mbers of the Serpent Gang. They roared angrily, seething with rage.
In their minds, they were part of an infamous gang—how dare these constables lay hands on them? Were they tired of living?
Just then.
The shouting gang mbers saw the person they most wanted to see, and smiles spread across their faces.
"The Hall Master is here to save us!"
"I told you—we’re from the Serpent Gang! These constables must’ve taken so crazy pills to dare arrest us!"
"Hall Master!"
"Hall Master!"
Zhu Hou’s arrival was like a shot of adrenaline for the gang mbers—they all felt certain freedom was imminent.
However, the situation quickly took an unexpected turn.
"Tie him up."
Lin Fan handed Zhu Hou over to Wang Baoliu, binding him to a wooden rack just like any ordinary gang mber.
"What are you all staring at? What’s there to cheer for? Your Hall Master isn’t here to rescue you—he’s here to join you and enjoy a life of luxury in the dungeon. Aren’t you overjoyed? Aren’t you thrilled?"
Seeing their naive excitent, Lin Fan couldn’t help but smirk.
What kind of unwavering trust made them believe their Hall Master had co to save them?
Zhu Hou’s hands and feet were firmly shackled. He neither shouted nor cursed but instead gazed at Lin Fan with an expression full of venomous hatred.
His murderous glare was enough to make soone want to free him for a one-on-one duel.
Unfortunately.
His opponent surely wouldn’t dare fight him directly—after all, the weaker side is always afraid.
"Do you even realize what you’re doing?" Zhu Hou said slowly.
Lin Fan grinned and replied, "Oh, I realize. But don’t bother scaring —it won’t work. I’ve been immune to scare tactics since I was a kid. In fact, when I get scared, my hands start trembling."
Then, Lin Fan placed his blade horizontally against Zhu Hou’s neck.
"Now, tell —what exactly am I doing? Go ahead, scare properly. Just don’t bla if these hands tremble later—nobody’s going to stop then."
Zhu Hou had originally wanted to have a serious talk with Lin Fan, but his words dried up in the current situation. He had no idea what to say anymore.
Besides, truth be told.
He was genuinely terrified that this lunatic was ntally unstable and might actually let his hand slip.
Wait.
This lunatic clearly *is* ntally unstable.
If he were sane, would he have dared to arrest soone like him?
Does he even know who I am?
Lin Fan glanced at Zhu Hou, who remained silent, and found his lack of response incredibly dull. He beckoned to a subordinate, saying, "Head to the kitchen and bring back so snacks—I’m feeling a little hungry."
Wang Baoliu chid in, "Boss, we’ll keep watch here. Didn’t you have an appointnt at Drunken Immortal Pavilion?"
Lin Fan waved his hand dismissively. "Not going. I’ll stay here instead. Soone will be coming soon."
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