Chapter 295 The Courtesan
Chapter 295 The Courtesan
To the south of Xifengji, there is an ancient camphor tree that is more than 300 years old. It stands tall and straight like a canopy. It was originally a famous blessing tree in Hengyang Prefecture. Five years ago, someone started a large-scale construction project nearby and included the ancient camphor tree.
"Plums... plums are ripe."
"The doctor said you have a cold stomach and a weak spleen. You should avoid cold and fishy foods, and you can't eat sour food either!"
"Plums... can be used to make wine."
"Don't drink any more."
"No, no, I'll just... take a look."
Outside the stone wall, there is a camphor tree every five steps. The branches and leaves have been trimmed and become extremely neat. Perhaps the seeds were brought by birds, and a wild green-barked tree has grown in between. Bunches of yellow ripe plums hang among the green leaves.
The wooden wheels rolled over the stone road, making a slightly harsh sound.
As dusk approached, only half a piece of golden sunset and a few auspicious clouds remained on the horizon.
Zhang Yu squatted under a tree, looking at the mansion about twenty steps away. Several hooligans were standing outside the door. The style of the plaque was very rough, with three large characters written in thick ink on a piece of rotten ship plank and eight thick nails.
"Black Sand Gang!"
He heard the sound of a wooden wheel and looked over, seeing two people coming out from the corner of the east wall.
The man was eight feet tall, strong and sturdy, with loose curly hair and angular facial features that exuded a wildness, and he seemed to have a somewhat foreign appearance. Sitting in the wheelchair was a fat and bloated old man.
Every once in a while, Sha Dalang would push his father with a broken leg for an outing along the Xifeng River.
"The boss is back."
"Hurry up and bring the old man up."
Four hooligans rushed over and carried the wheelchair and the fat old man over the threshold.
Sha Dalang followed behind and walked slowly up the stairs, but before entering the door, he glanced under the tree across the street. In the golden sunset, yellow leaves were falling, and there was a blurry figure standing with his back to the light, seemingly staring at him.
He looked carefully for a few times and found that the man was looking at the prayer tree behind the wall. He thought he was just a foreign tourist who came here because of its reputation and didn't pay much attention to it.
"He has some abilities, and he's not just an ordinary street thug."
Zhang Yu retracted his gaze and walked quickly towards the Heisha Gang.
He passed through the gate, went around to the east wall, stepped on a camphor tree, and jumped over the high wall. Because he was carrying a sword case, he made a little noise when he landed. Fortunately, this was not the heavily guarded inner palace, so no one noticed...
"The gang leader is finally back home."
Sha Dalang walked into the hall and just sat down when he saw the second leader Li Zhen rushing over.
"Is there anything going on in the gang today?"
"I was just about to report to the gang leader that something strange happened this morning. Xiao Rengui is dead."
"That bastard should have died long ago. Did he meet a martial arts expert while slaughtering a fat sheep on the street?"
Sha Dalang chuckled, not surprised, because he knew everything Xiao Rengui had done.
Li Zhen's face was solemn. "What the gang leader predicted was correct. It's just that Xiao Rengui died in a miserable way. Blood was oozing from all his orifices. His sternum, tibia, and hip bones were all broken, and his heart and liver were all ruptured. It looked like the work of a martial arts master."
Sha Dalang picked up the teacup and frowned slightly: "Kill them if you want, why be so cruel? It seems like you don't take the Black Sand Gang seriously at all. Tell me the whole story in detail."
Li Zhen is a meticulous person who is responsible for handling the daily affairs of the Heisha Gang. Even if something happens to ordinary gang members, he will know the whole story. What's more, Qingpi Maguai is a small leader in the gang and has some connections in the government office.
At noon, he went to the ferry market in person...
Sha Dalang listened to the deputy gang leader's story, his face gradually darkened: "Are you right?"
Li Zhen thought of the square pit and nodded, "I've been there, the rumors are true."
Sha Dalang put down his teacup, and for some reason he felt a palpitation. He suddenly remembered the vague figure squatting outside the door and looking at the Black Sand Gang. It was not a pity for the young man to die, but he was afraid that he would bring disaster to his door. Originally in Hengyang Prefecture, Sha Dalang was a local tyrant and was not worried about offending anyone.
Although the strongest Hengshan Sect disdains to have anything to do with the Heisha Gang, they still accept all the tributes sent by the sect during festivals. Officially, they also have close ties with the sect.
However, during these days, the Hengshan Sect held a ceremony to retire, and Master Liu San made many friends, including those from the white world and those from both good and evil. Many fierce dragons from across the river flocked to Hengyang Prefecture.
Sha Dalangjun was cold-blooded and vicious, but he was not a brainless person. He frowned and asked, "Can you find out his identity?"
Li Zhen shook his head.
Sha Dalang asked again, "Has any martial arts sect passed through our territory recently?"
Li Zhen thought for a moment and said, "In the past two days... only the Northern Shaanxi Righteous Alliance passed by. What did the leader say?"
Sha Dalang nodded gently: "The Righteous Alliance is said to be the third largest gang in Guanzhong, second only to the Huashan Sect and the Nangong Family. If they have such a master in their alliance, it makes sense."
He felt a little relieved and a smile appeared on his face.
The Righteous Alliance, just by hearing the name you can tell that it is an orthodox sect. At least on the surface they act with moderation. They killed Qingpi Maguai and didn't pursue the matter any further. They won't just refuse to give up.
Once people no longer have an imminent threat, they will pursue other things.
Sha Dalang asked, "Is the silver ready?"
"Ready."
Li Zhen lowered his head, feeling somewhat dissatisfied, but not daring to disobey in the slightest.
Mr. Sha looked normal at this moment, except that he did not reveal his tyrannical and cruel nature, just like a poisonous snake temporarily hiding its fangs. The graves of the previous five deputy gang leaders serve as a constant reminder for those who come after them not to repeat the same mistakes.
"How much in total?"
"According to the leader's instructions, I sold the gang's share of the gold mine in Baoluan Cave on the Xiangjiang River to the Baishui Sect, raising a total of 33,000 taels of silver. Only 800 taels were left in the public treasury to maintain the operation of the gang."
"Okay!"
Sha Dalangjun clapped his right palm on the table, full of confidence, as if he was going to use the money to do something great.
"Change it into silver notes immediately. I need it anytime!"
"It has been exchanged at the treasure account in Hengyang Prefecture."
Sha Dalang smiled and said, "Well, Li Zhen, you are better than those five predecessors."
Li Zhen smiled bitterly in his heart. The gang leader had gone to great lengths to raise money, even selling off the properties that his brothers had fought and robbed with blood, and almost emptied the Black Sand Gang, all just to visit a brothel.
At the beginning of the year, Sha Dalang went to deliver festival gifts to Hengshan and stopped by Qun Yuyuan. He met the new courtesan who had just entered the building. From then on, he had been obsessed with her and could not extricate himself from her. Even his temperament became much calmer.
It is said that the courtesan was extremely noble and conceited. Many wealthy businessmen waited in Hengshan City and spent huge sums of money just to spend a moment with her. Her fame had spread throughout Hunan and even to the surrounding provinces.
Li Zhen felt ashamed and was about to leave after reporting on gang affairs.
"Go outside the gate and see if there is anyone else."
Sha Dalang gave a vague order. Li Zhen was a little confused, but did not dare to ask, so he just took the order and left.
Sha Dalang was worried for a while, then happy for a while, but he still felt uneasy in his heart.
He did not return to his residence in the backyard, but walked towards the uninhabited east courtyard, where a garden was built to show off his elegance. It was usually used to entertain distinguished guests from both the black and white worlds, and was called "Yangfu". The treasure of the garden was the 300-year-old camphor tree.
It is said that this tree is spiritual and can predict good fortune and misfortune.
(End of this chapter)