Chapter 87

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Chapter 87- Subdued

Ou Peng said: “Leader Shui, you jest. Swords have no eyes, in a life-and-death battle, who can hold back? Naturally, I fought with all my might. Everyone has his own specialty, my second senior brother’s martial arts being superior to mine is inevitable. I’ve always been preoccupied with sect affairs, thus my martial prowess has fallen behind. The path of martial arts is like rowing against the current, one must advance or be swept back. I’m sure Leader Shui understands this.”

With that, he waved to Li Jian, who obediently sheathed his sword and returned to his original position.

Shui Yupeng snorted disdainfully but didn’t respond, thinking to himself: “Only a ghost would believe that.”

However, at this point, the arrogance on Shui Yupeng’s face had faded. He realized that although the Piaomiao Sect had taken advantage of the Luo River Gang’s unpreparedness, resulting in their total defeat, they indeed possessed the strength to do so. Judging by Li Jian’s martial skills alone, no one in Luo River Gang could match him. Even in a fair fight, the Luo River Gang would have faced the same fate.

Shui Yupeng had lost any lingering hope of a lucky victory.

Seeing Shui Yupeng’s changing expression, Ou Peng smiled and said: “Leader Shui, I have another gift for you, which I hope you will accept graciously.”

With that, he nodded to Fourth Elder Shangguan. Shangguan Feng immediately hurried out of the Law Enforcement Hall. Shui Yupeng looked at Ou Peng in confusion, with a growing sense of unease in his heart.

Sure enough, shortly after, Fourth Elder Shangguan re-entered the hall, followed by a plainly dressed woman in blue, holding a strong and healthy boy about three years old in her arms. The woman’s face was deathly pale, her expression anxious, while the boy’s bright, lively eyes darted around curiously, munching on a candied haw with great pleasure.

As the two followed Shangguan Feng into the hall, Shui Yupeng, seeing the familiar figures, his body couldn’t help but tremble, his face turning to fury. He glared at Ou Peng and yelled: “Ou Peng, you…”

Before Shui Yupeng could finish, Ou Peng cut him off with a cheerful smile and asked: “Leader Shui, what about me?”

Shui Yupeng’s voice lowered, saying: “In the Jianghu, there are rules we follow. My martial arts are no match for yours, so I am willing to give you my life. But my wife and child do not know martial arts. Why involve them?”

By the end, his tone carried a hint of pleading.

Ou Peng maintained his smiling demeanor and waved his hand dismissively, saying: “Brother Shui, you give me too much credit. I am not as despicable as you think.”

As they spoke, the woman and child had already entered the Law Enforcement Hall. The boy curiously looked around at the unfamiliar faces. When he saw his father’s familiar face, he let out a joyful shout, momentarily forgetting the candied haw he was holding. He struggled to get down from the woman’s arms. The woman, not daring to let go, held him tightly, her eyes pleading as she looked at Shui Yupeng. The boy’s face turned red with effort as he twisted and reached out towards Shui Yupeng, tears welling up in his eyes.

At that moment, Shui Yupeng’s mind was blank. What Jianghu, what bloodshed, and what ambitions for dominance, only pure affection remained. He wanted nothing more than to hold his son, prick his delicate little face with his beard, and see him dodge and act like a spoiled child in his arms.

Gone was the earlier arrogance. Shui Yupeng bent his usually straight back, extended his arms, and made a gesture to hug his son. The woman, seeing this, loosened her hold and carefully set the boy down. The moment the boy’s feet touched the ground, he let out a joyous shout, laughing gleefully as he ran to his father. When he got close, Shui Yupeng grabbed him and lifted him high above his head, moving his hands back and forth to make the boy sway from side to side. The child’s laughter rang out, clearly enjoying the familiar game. When the boy had laughed enough, Shui Yupeng held him close, his head tilted back, eyes half-closed, tenderly stroking his little head, savoring the rare and previously thought lost joy of family.

The boy seemed a bit uncomfortable with his father’s unusually tight embrace. He struggled and poked his little face out from Shui Yupeng’s arms, trying hard to push the candied hawthorn into his father’s mouth, saying in his childish voice: “Daddy, give you something to eat. It’s really sweet.”

Shui Yupeng gently replied: “Good boy, Tian Tain. Daddy doesn’t want any. You eat it.”

The boy became unhappy, wriggling and whining: “Daddy must eat it. Tian Tian has been saving it for Daddy. If Daddy doesn’t eat it, Tian Tian will finish it all and then won’t be happy.”

Normally, Shui Yupeng wouldn’t eat the candied hawthorn. He would find a way to make the child eat it himself. But now, he suddenly felt his eyes grow wet. Seeing the eager look in his son’s eyes, he opened his mouth. The boy, delighted that his father finally agreed, carefully pushed the candied hawthorn into Shui Yupeng’s mouth, watching happily as his father bit off a piece. Only then did he smile sweetly and cautiously bite into the sugar-coated red fruit that was almost the same size as his mouth, enjoying it immensely.

As he ate, he mumbled: “Big Sister Xue was right. She didn’t lie to Tian Tian. Coming here really did let me see Daddy.”

Shui Yupeng was taken aback and asked: “Who is Big Sister Xue?”

Tian Tian continued eating and raised his little face: “It’s the pretty sister with something on her face. Sister Xue took Tian Tian and Mom and said we were coming to find you. She even gave Tian Tian this delicious treat. Tian Tian hadn’t seen Daddy for days. Tian Tian thought she was lying.”

Shui Yupeng immediately understood the situation.

Holding Tian Tian, he walked to the woman and said: “Tian Tian, be a good boy and go play with your mom. Daddy still has some things to take care of. I’ll play with you later.”

Tian Tian, hearing this, reached out and hugged his father’s neck, frowning slightly and unhappily saying: “Then Daddy has to come quickly. Don’t be like before, always breaking your promises.”

Shui Yupeng smiled and kissed Tian Tian’s little face. “This time, Daddy will definitely keep his promise.”

Tian Tian cheered, gave Shui Yupeng a big kiss on the cheek, and said: “Then Tian Tian will wait for Daddy outside.” He obediently let go of his father, twisting his body to be held by his mother. The woman carefully took Tian Tian into her arms.

At this point, the woman’s complexion had returned to normal. Shui Yupeng looked at her and nodded deeply. A look of delight flashed in her eyes. Without speaking to Shui Yupeng, she turned and walked out of the hall, still holding Tian Tian, who looked back at Shui Yupeng reluctantly.

Once they were out of sight, Shui Yupeng turned to Ou Peng and said: “Sect Master Ou…”

Ou Peng understood and said: “Rest assured, Leader Shui. Your family of fourteen is unharmed.”

Then, Ou Peng instructed someone: “Bring a chair for Leader Shui.”

A subordinate placed a chair beside Shui Yupeng. Ou Peng said: “Chief Shui, please sit down and talk.”

Shui Yupeng looked at the chair, pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. Then he calmly sat down.

Seeing this, Ou Peng smiled in satisfaction.

Ou Peng continued: “Since you are seated, Brother Shui, listen to me explain further about this topic. In your view, whether the Luo River Gang falls to us or to the Daling Temple, the outcome is the same, the destruction of your gang. But if you think it through, there is a fundamental difference between the two. If the Luo River Gang were to be conquered by the Daling Temple or Xinrong Sect, it would be because your attack on the Xinrong Sect failed, or the Daling Temple came to avenge the fall of the Xinrong Sect. Given the relative strengths of the Xinrong Sect and the Luo River Gang, it would most likely be the latter. In that scenario, the Daling Temple, driven by revenge, would not hold back. Not only would your family suffer, but the brothers in your gang would also face heavy casualties. Moreover, the Daling Temple already has influence over water routes, so they would not leave any remnants of the Luo River Gang. The only outcome for your gang in that situation would be total annihilation, with no second chances.”

Shui Yupeng smiled bitterly: “Shui overestimated his own strength. If it truly comes to a head-to-head clash, that would indeed be the result.”

Ou Peng continued: “But the situation has changed. Before Brother Shui could launch your attack on the Xinrong Sect, you were captured by our Piaomiao Sect. This means there is no blood feud between you and the Daling Temple.”

Shui Yupeng sneered: “But the Luo River Gang is still taken down by you, isn’t it still the end of my gang? Just that the casualties are not as heavy. Are you suggesting that you will let me continue to manage the Luo River Gang?”

Saying this, he paused and looked up at Ou Peng: “Could it be that Sect Master Ou truly has such intentions?”

He seemed taken aback. In fact, since the Piaomiao Sect’s invasion, Shui Yupeng had ordered his family to flee and led the elders and hall masters of the gang to fight the Piaomiao Sect, resulting in their complete defeat and being captured. Shui Yupeng had resigned himself to the fate that the Luo River Gang would be destroyed and his own death was imminent. He believed they were taken to the Piaomiao Sect to boost the morale.  Killing the leader of another sect in public has a much stronger effect than doing it privately.

So, Shui Yupeng has always maintained his integrity, hoping to leave behind a good reputation before departing this world.

In fact, Shui Yupeng did consider the possibility of the Piaomiao Sect sparing his life, relying on himself to develop water routes for them. However, upon reflection, although the Piaomiao Sect lacks influence on the water, the Luo River Gang has many elders and hall masters. Even without his prestige in the gang, capable individuals to manage gang affairs have never been in short supply. With the assistance of the Piaomiao Sect’s military strength, the Luo River Gang could still develop without Shui Yupeng. On the other hand, leaving himself behind would definitely leave a hidden danger in the Luo River Gang.

Therefore, Shui Yupeng has always believed that the Piaomiao Sect would not spare him.

However, now that Ou Peng has compared the strengths of the two factions, presented the background of the Xinrong Sect, showcased the military might of the Piaomiao Sect, and finally, even allowed his own family members to appear, putting in so much effort, could it be that…

Shui Yupeng’s mind was now more active. He really couldn’t believe it, Ou Peng actually had such great courage, willing to leave him a way out and allow him to regain control of the Luo River Gang.