Chapter 143: Resigning from the Position of Gang Leader
Xiaoyao Lang glanced at Nie Han's corpse, tightened his belt, and was about to turn and walk towards the teahouse.
"Young hero, please wait!" Lang Chengbo, finally recovering from his shock, hurriedly called out. He stepped forward quickly, a warm smile plastered on his face, and cupped his hands, saying, "Young hero, your swordsmanship is truly divine, a sight to behold! You not only saved us from danger but also slew the villain Nie Han, making you a great benefactor of our Five Lakes and Four Seas Gang! I wonder if you would be willing to condescend to become our gang leader? So that you can lead your brothers to stand proudly in this martial world!"
Before he finished speaking, the brothers around him could no longer contain themselves and roared in unison, shouting deafeningly, "Leader! Leader!..." Their faces were filled with eager smiles, their eyes shining brightly as they all focused on Xiaoyao Lang, full of anticipation.
Xiaoyao Lang's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, his lips slightly parted as if he were about to speak. Lang Chengbo immediately understood, quickly raising his hands and pressing them down, repeatedly shouting, "Silence! Silence!"
The noisy crowd instantly fell silent, leaving only burning gazes fixed on Xiaoyao Lang in the arena, holding their breath and waiting for a response.
Xiaoyao Lang returned the greeting with clasped hands, his gaze sincere and firm as he replied, "I am deeply grateful for the kindness shown to me by all my brothers! However, I bear a blood feud, and my future is uncertain, my life or death is unpredictable. I truly cannot bear to burden you all with sorrow in the future. Moreover..." At this point, his eyes lowered slightly, and he continued with some sadness, "I, Xiaoyao Lang, did not receive much education in my youth, and my talents are meager. What virtue or ability do I possess to be the leader of this gang? I earnestly hope that you will choose another capable person, so as not to jeopardize the great cause of the gang."
Upon hearing this, Lang Chengbo's eagerness subsided slightly, but his expression remained earnest: "Young Master Xiaoyao! You are mistaken! Blood feud is a matter for us brothers! Although our Five Lakes and Four Seas Gang is not a large gang, it is strong in the unity of our brothers and the unbreakable bond of righteousness. Your taking this position will not be a burden, but rather an added asset!"
At this moment, Si Haiping stepped forward with his fists clasped, and said in an impassioned tone, "Young hero, the journey of the martial world is long. Wouldn't it be better to have more comrades-in-arms to join hands with than to venture into danger alone? As long as you nod, the docks and shipyards across the five lakes and four seas, as well as the information and connections along the three rivers and nine roads, will all be at your disposal. We will definitely do our best to help you on your path of revenge!" After speaking, his eager gaze focused on Xiaoyao Lang.
Xiaoyao Lang listened intently, his gaze sweeping over the sincere faces of Lang and Si, then slowly passing over the other faces, all equally filled with expectation and support. He paused briefly in thought, then finally shook his head, his voice low yet clear, resounding like a thunderclap: "The deep affection and loyalty of my two elder brothers, and the unwavering devotion of our brothers, are deeply appreciated by Xiaoyao Lang! This affection and loyalty are as profound as mountains and seas. But..."
He paused, then said with renewed emphasis, “I bear the blood feud of my closest relatives, a feud as deep as the abyss, which I swear to avenge. But this is my personal wish, and I dare not involve you brothers in this mess. The world is vast, and there are heroes who can shoulder this responsibility! My mind is made up, and I hope that you two elder brothers and all my brothers… will grant my request!” After speaking, he bowed to his brothers.
These words, each one resounding and filled with unwavering resolve and a deep protection of brotherhood, were spoken with conviction. Lang Chengbo opened his mouth, but seeing the unwavering determination and solitude in Xiaoyao Lang's eyes, the words that had been on the tip of his tongue finally turned into a long sigh. He slowly lowered his clasped hands, patted Xiaoyao Lang's shoulder heavily, all his attempts to persuade him to stay turning into understanding: "Alas…so be it! Young Hero Xiaoyao, your heart is open and your thoughts are all for our benefit. Such magnanimity and spirit are truly admirable! Since that is the case, we dare not insist any further. We only hope that you will encounter good fortune on your journey and achieve your goal soon!"
Lang and Si stepped back side by side, solemnly clasped their fists together, and shouted in unison, "The entire Five Lakes and Four Seas Gang respectfully bids farewell to Young Hero Xiaoyao! The journey through the martial world is long, please take care!" Although the surrounding crowd felt reluctant and regretful, they were deeply moved by Xiaoyao Lang's unwavering determination and protectiveness towards them. Everyone put aside their disappointment, clasped their fists together, and bowed, their voices converging into a solemn and respectful wave: "Respectfully bidding farewell to Young Hero Xiaoyao! The journey through the martial world is long, please take care!"
Facing the sea of bowing figures, Xiaoyao Lang returned the gesture with utmost solemnity. After the ceremony, he tightened his belt again, glanced at his brothers one last time, and loudly proclaimed, "Until we meet again!" He then resolutely turned and strode towards the teahouse.
The setting sun cast his shadow long and thin, and that loneliness and resolute determination were deeply etched into the eyes of Lang Chengbo and all the brothers of the Five Lakes Gang. Xiaoyao Lang went to the teahouse, picked up the Black Remnant Sword, leaped onto his horse, and with a shout of "Giddy up!" echoed through the mountain path. In the blink of an eye, his figure disappeared into the forest…
In the Zhu Family Village area of Baiyun City, Zhu Ziyou set up two soup kitchens and was distributing soup to refugees who had fled there.
He sat on a chair with his legs crossed, squinting at the flow of people as he directed in a drawn-out tone, "Line up properly! Don't push! Everyone gets a share, and it's all you can eat! If you're full and want to stay and settle down, go over there and register. You'll be allocated land to cultivate later, and from now on, you'll be citizens of my White Cloud City!"
The refugees silently lined up as instructed, maintaining a fairly orderly queue. Zhu Ziyou's casual gaze swept across the crowd, then suddenly lit up, settling on a grandfather and grandson.
The old woman, in her seventies or eighties, was hunched over, leaning on a well-worn wooden cane, carefully supported by her granddaughter. Each of them clutched a chipped, broken bowl, as they moved slowly through the line. The old woman looked extremely frail; she swayed with every step, as if a gust of wind could knock her over! Each step seemed to drain her strength, her thin body teetering on the verge of collapse.
The young girl beside him was exceptionally striking; at fifteen or sixteen, she had already grown into a graceful young woman. Although her hair was somewhat disheveled and her face was smeared with dirt, it couldn't conceal her breathtaking beauty, which aroused the imaginations of any man. Zhu Ziyou swallowed hard, a drooling smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips, his eyes fixed on that slender, graceful figure.
"Grandma, slow down and watch your step." The little girl's voice was filled with gentle worry, and she supported her grandmother's arm even more firmly with her little hands.
The old woman was panting heavily, her cloudy eyes fixed on the approaching porridge bucket. Her withered hands gripped her granddaughter's sleeve, and she said in a dry and urgent voice, "It's alright... Dou Dou... Grandma can hold on! It'll be soon... soon it'll be our turn!"
Zhu Ziyou sat seemingly relaxed, but his eyes were fixed on the little girl, never leaving her for a moment. Finally, it was the grandfather and granddaughter's turn to get their porridge. Zhu Ziyou abruptly stood up, strode to the porridge bucket, stared intently at the little girl, and put on a fake smile, saying, "Little girl, if you want this bowl of porridge, you'll have to trade it for yourself! Drink it, and you'll stay here as my young lady's personal maid. No backing out!"
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