Chapter 241: The Death of Master Hou

Master Hou said, “I’m just an ordinary man and will die too. Mr. Xiao, I need to ask a favor of you.”

Xiao Bing said, “Master Hou, tell me what it is.”

“After I’m gone, I hope you can lead my men to continue fighting against Lord Long. He’s not as simple as he might seem. I know I can’t beat him by using violence, so my original plan was to defeat him with plots. But I never imagined that he’d be so cunning.”

Xiao Bing said, “Since we can’t outwit him, I can just crush him with strength.”

Master Hou smiled, “It seems that you have more cards in your hands. But I don’t care about that. Whatever it is, I will ask my people to obey you. You are the lord of this mansion from this day on. But don’t worry about their discipline or their loyalty. They may be a group of unruly people, but I believe they won’t disobey me. With Tingchuan around, they won’t be suspicious of the authenticity of my final wishes.”

Xiao Bing said, “In that case, I will kill Lord Long with your men.”

“Yes, you must kill him. Tang Xueyan died because of him. If you can avenge her for me, I will die without regrets.”

Master Hou looked at Mu Tingchuan and said, “Tingchuan, from now on, you will serve Xiao Bing. Help him manage my people. They are very unruly. You are the only one to whom they will listen besides me.”

Mu Tingchuan sighed, “I have been following you since I was very young. I will feel too tired to carry on once you’re gone. But I promise you that I will have your last wishes fulfilled. I will advise Mr. Xiao until Lord Long is destroyed. After that, I would like to return to my hometown and live my own life.”

Master Hou nodded. Then he turned and looked at Miyamoto Shinji who said to him, “I share the same thought with Tingchuan.”

Master Hou sighed, “Each person has his own aspirations. You will be free from your oath after you help Xiao Bing defeat Lord Long. Tingchuan, promise me one thing. After I’m dead, please bury me with Tang Xueyan. Though the time I spent with her was very short, I regarded her as my family. My own family is long gone and I’ve never married.”

“Master Hou, I promise,” Mu Tingchuan answered emotionally.

“Yes.” Master Hou nodded and slowly rose to his feet. “I have been in this business for nearly 20 years. At first, I was just nobody in a gang, often mocked by others. But step by step I earned what I have now. Though I’m about to die in my 40s, which is not a very young age for those who live in the underground world, at least I didn’t die young. I have lost, gained and experienced a lot. It’s all worth it.”

Master Hou walked out of the hall step by step. “I need a moment at the pavilion. I only need Miyamoto’s company. The rest of you stay here,” he said without turning his head.

Xiao Bing looked at Mu Tingchuan after Master Hou left. He asked, “How come he got poisoned? Was it the Long family’s doing?”

“Who else could it be except for Lord Long. We’ve underestimated Lord Long. Master Hou is so careful that even those by his side won’t find it easy to poison him. But Lord Long had predicted that Master Hou would do anything for this girl. Because she resembled the girl he once loved. Master Hou always felt that he owed her a lot. Hence, though he was very suspicious, he would rather die than be suspicious before the girl.”

Mu Tingchuan continued, “Now that Master Hou will be gone, I’m afraid that the Long family’s next strike will be for us. Even with my presence and you are willing to take over the helm from Master Hou, our men’s morale will still be shaken. The campaign against the gangs is still going strong. But I believe that Lord Long won’t let this chance go to waste, otherwise, his plan to poison won’t mean anything. But I was told that this campaign will be over in a few days.”

A plan started to form in Xiao Bing’s mind when he heard what Mu Tingchuan just said.

Mu Tingchuan was not in a very good mood because of Master Hou. He didn’t talk much. Xiao Bing’s head was also filled with his thoughts. Gradually they all fell silent.

As the sun was going down, a servant suddenly rushed in shouting, “Master Hou… He’s gone.”

Though they had prepared for it, Xiao Bing and Mu Tingchuan were still startled. They dashed out of the hall and sprinted towards the pavilion.

Jiang Zihou was sitting on the chair and bending over the desk in the pavilion when he died. Even in death, he still looked benevolent.

Mu Tingchuan’s eyes reddened, so did Miyamoto Shinji’s. Even Xiao Bing felt slightly upset.

Miyamoto Shinji said, “After Master Hou seated himself on this chair, we talked about how we first met and the weather lately. Then he fell asleep on the desk. When I went to take a look, he was no longer breathing.”

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Xiao Bing sighed, “Master Hou had been ambitious and ruthless all his life, yet he hadn’t yet attained fame and glory. However, few men can face death with such ease as Master Hou.”

Mu Tingchuan said, “Master Hou had always attached great importance to you. He took you for a hero. He would’ve been happy if he knew you spoke so highly of him.”

Afterward that, both Mu Tingchuan and Miyamoto Shinji sighed. They all fell silent.

Later Xiao Bing spoke first. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks.” Mu Tingchuan said, “Master Hou never married. We are his only family. We must give him a proper burial. And we need to introduce Mr. Xiao to all of the attendants of the funeral. I will announce that Mr. Xiao will be the lord of his mansion.”

Xiao Bing wanted to refuse. But then, he thought of how well-guarded this mansion was. It was surrounded by high walls, studded with secret posts and there were cameras all over the place. This heavily guarded mansion and Miyamoto Shinji were the main reasons why Master Hou could live this long after him offending so many people.

The situation was becoming more and more perilous to Xiao Bing and the people close to him. But what if he got Ye Zi and the Su family to live here?

The more he thought of it, the more feasible it became. So he agreed, “But don’t call me Master. Just call me by my name. The servants can just call me Mr. Xiao.”

Mu Tingchuan suggested, “Then this mansion can be called the Xiao Mansion.”

“That’s unnecessary. Just let his name remain. Don’t change the sign.”

Mu Tingchuan looked at Xiao Bing gratefully. Miyamoto Shinji too began to regard Xiao Bing more highly. Mu Tingchuan said, “Xiao Bing, thank you for still considering Master Hou. But it doesn’t matter what this mansion is called now that its owner is no more. Besides, how can Master Hou’s men obey your orders when they don’t even how to address you?”

Frowning, Xiao Bing found it had a ring of truth. To commemorate Master Hou, the characters on the signboard will remain. Xiao Bing was okay with that. His purpose was to gain favor from the men.

However, if the name wasn’t changed, Xiao Bing would surely find it difficult to command Master Hou’s men, as they would only regard Master Hou as their leader. They might even consider Xiao Bing as a usurper who was harvesting the fruits of Master Hou’s labor.

Thinking of that, Xiao Bing could only say, “In that case, let’s make it Xiao’s Mansion. And we should spread the news of Master Hou’s death. After all, sooner or later the people will find out. Even if we tried to deny it, the Long family will find out one way or another and they will spread the news as widely as possible. So why don’t we just announce it directly and give him a proper burial? We should send out invitations to all important figures who might attend.”

Mu Tingchuan said, “I will send out invitations in your name, and I will make sure that our men who don’t have missions currently will attend the funeral. Then I will announce the decision Master Hou has made.”

“No. We can’t wait that long,” Xiao Bing said, “I will give you 24 hours to summon all of his men to gather at the mansion tomorrow evening. I shall declare it myself.”

Mu Tingchuan didn’t expect Xiao Bing to be this resolute. But he also felt greatly assured. So he agreed.

“Alright, I’ll leave the other affairs to Mr. Tingchuan. Mr. Miyamoto, you can just stay in this mansion. I need to sleep in my own home. As for Master Hou, you should ask someone to take care of his body. And Mr. Tingchuan, you can start planning the funeral now. Choose the best coffin and whatever else needed. Remember, Master Hou died an honorable man. He must be buried reverently!”

Xiao Bing got nearly everything arranged before he left the mansion. Miyamoto Shinji was used to having to follow Master Hou around. But Xiao Bing didn’t need this man trailing behind him. Hence, now Miyamoto Shinji felt a little lost. Xiao Bing felt extremely muddled on his way back. Everything was too sudden and he wasn’t ready for all this.

But Xiao Bing was greatly impressed by Master Hou’s attitude towards death.

Suddenly his phone rang. Xiao Bing pulled over and put the phone through. He heard a voice filled with fierceness and dominance. Normal people would have been kneeling on the ground already. But Xiao Bing just remained calm.

“I was told Jiang Zihou is already dead.”

“Lord Long?”

“Yes. And his death will only be the beginning!”