“Oh!” While the whole nation was in an uproar, our legendary hero sat alone, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
“Chief, my idol, can you give me an autograph? Hehe…” Shao Bing’s round and plump figure rolled into the tavern. His eyes sparkled with excitement, as if he were the one who had entered the haunted forest!
“Chief, why are you still drinking in a place like this? You made us search so hard!” You Tiao, tall and thin, followed closely behind. Qiao San’s two trusted henchmen were always so amusing!
“Idol? Hah! I’m still having nightmares!” Qiao San’s hair tie was askew, his disheveled strands revealing a tired face and bloodshot eyes.
“Ah… I can’t sleep well, I can’t eat well either. As soon as I close my eyes, I have all sorts of strange nightmares! Damn it, looks like your chief might be done for!”
“Chief, you absolutely mustn’t go like that! We brothers are still counting on you to lead us to a life of luxury!” For once, Shao Bing and You Tiao weren’t bickering. The two henchmen, indifferent to their leader’s mood, already began dreaming of their future blissful days. Hehe…
“Chief, what kind of nightmare could possibly scare someone with your incredible courage?!” The two curious henchmen gazed at their hero.
“Ah… I can’t remember clearly! Just some bizarre images!” Qiao San’s words were half-truth and half-lie. He couldn’t remember who exactly those ghosts and monsters were in his dreams, but there was one dream, a recurring dream every night, a dream that severely wounded his masculine pride!
—Heaven forbid, he, the mighty Qiao San, had been raped by a courtesan named You Niang in his dream!
Shao Bing and You Tiao exchanged knowing smirks as they leaned closer to their chief. “Third Brother, when are you going to ascend to the position of leader?”
“Damn it, what leader? Do you think it’s that easy? Hmph—” Qiao San rudely cursed, his mood growing even more irritable.
Ah… It seemed this embarrassing dream wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon!
“But how come? Didn’t the rules say so during the election?!”
Unlike his two naive subordinates, Qiao San wasn’t as innocent or excited. Beneath his rowdy and reckless exterior, he secretly maintained a clear and rational mind.
“Do you think those powerful leaders would willingly give up their power? I’m just a small-time punk with no authority or influence. If you were in their shoes, would you willingly let me step on you?”
He paused briefly, then waved his big hand forcefully, as if wiping away all his frustration, and laughed weirdly, saying, “Got it? Just work quietly!”
When ruffians start working, it’s naturally nothing good!
Qiao San led four subordinates, swaggering arrogantly into the busiest place—the vegetable market.
They were merely small-time hooligans, naturally only capable of intimidating honest vegetable vendors. The lucrative taverns and brothels were out of their league.
“Boss, business is booming!”
As Shao Bing spoke, he spread his hand open. The middle-aged vegetable seller hesitated slightly, only to be surrounded by several pairs of fierce eyes. He shivered in fear and immediately handed over ten copper coins.
“Ha ha… You Tiao, it’s your turn!” Shao Bing proudly handed the protection money to the boss and grinned toward his companion.
“Alas!” At the moment when the entire nation was in an uproar, our legendary hero was sitting alone, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
“Boss, my idol, could you sign an autograph for me? Heh, heh…” A round, chubby figure rolled into the tavern, his face beaming with excitement as if he had just emerged from the haunted forest himself!
“Boss, why are you still drinking in such a small place?! We’ve been looking all over for you!” A tall, skinny figure appeared right after, the two loyal henchmen of Qiao San always bringing a sense of humor and fun.
“Idol my foot! I’m still having nightmares!” The bold Qiao San’s hairband was askew, his disheveled hair revealing a haggard face and bloodshot eyes.
“Sigh… I can’t sleep well, I can’t eat well, and as soon as I close my eyes, I have these bizarre nightmares! Damn it, looks like I’m about to kick the bucket!”
“Boss, you mustn’t kick the bucket, we’re still counting on you to lead us to a life of luxury!” For once, the two henchmen didn’t bicker, their eyes already dreaming of a carefree future. Heh, heh…
“What kind of nightmare could scare even you, boss, with your immense courage?” The two henchmen, one fat and one skinny, looked at their heroic boss with curiosity.
“Sigh… I can’t remember clearly! Just some strange, bizarre images!” Qiao San’s words were half-truths, half-lies. He truly couldn’t remember the demons and monsters from his dreams, but he did remember a recurring erotic dream, one that severely wounded his male pride.
Damn it, the bold Qiao San was actually raped by a prostitute named You Niang in his dream!
The two henchmen snickered and leaned in closer to their boss. “Brother San, when are you going to take the position of the head gangster?”
“Damn it, what head gangster? You think it’s that easy?!” Qiao San cursed rudely, his mood growing even more irritable.
Sigh… It seemed this embarrassing erotic dream wasn’t going to be resolved anytime soon.
“How could it not be? Didn’t they set the rules during the election?!”
Qiao San wasn’t as naive as his two henchmen, nor was he as excited. Beneath his rough and reckless exterior, he secretly maintained a clear mind.
“You think those big gangsters would willingly give up their power? I’m just a small-time gangster with no power or influence. If you were in their shoes, would you be willing to be stepped on by me?!”
Pausing for a moment, Qiao San waved his hand as if brushing away his frustration, then laughed loudly and said, “Got it?! Let’s get to work honestly!”
When a rogue gets to work, it’s never a good thing!
Qiao San led his four henchmen, swaggering into the busiest place—the vegetable market.
They were just small-time rogues, so of course, they could only deal with the honest vegetable sellers. The lucrative taverns and brothels were out of their league.
“Boss, business is good, huh?”
As he spoke, one of the henchmen, Shao Bing, opened his palm. The middle-aged vegetable seller hesitated for a moment, but a few menacing glares immediately made him shiver, and he quickly handed over ten copper coins.
“Ha, ha… You Tiao, your turn!” Shao Bing proudly handed the protection money to the boss, then grinned at his companion.
You Tiao immediately walked over to the next stall, his arrogant demeanor intimidating the common folk. Truly, they were the right-hand men of the bold Qiao San.
“Hmm, these pears are huge!” Qiao San loudly praised the fruit at the stall, then casually picked one up and took a bite, nodding as he ate. Finally, he leisurely walked over to the next grocery store, never paying a single coin, and the stall owner didn’t dare ask for money.
“Boss, why don’t you do business somewhere else? I didn’t expect the rogues here to be so tyrannical!” A voice filled with indignation and curiosity came from a tea house.
A well-dressed middle-aged scholar sat calmly, the question coming from the young man in white beside him. The young man had red lips and white teeth, his face as fair as jade, but a pair of thick eyebrows ruined his otherwise handsome appearance. Otherwise, he would have been a dashing young gentleman.
“Sigh… Sir, you don’t understand. In Liu Mang Town, it’s the same everywhere!”
The tea house owner poured tea for the guests while, tempted by the generous tip, he spilled some secrets: “The great outlaw hero specializes in robbing the rich to help the poor in this area, punishing the wicked. When we poor folks face big troubles, a large bag of silver always mysteriously appears in our homes. That’s why no one wants to leave, and more and more people come here to do business!”
“Hmph! Isn’t that just a bandit?! What robbing the rich to help the poor?! Nonsense, utterly lawless!”
The young man with the thick eyebrows, wearing a golden crown and a jade belt, widened his bright eyes. His unusually thick eyebrows twitched slightly as he slammed his hand on the table, his strong sense of justice clashing with his delicate, slender face.
“You…” The tea house owner’s humble smile vanished instantly. How could he not be angry when his idol and benefactor was being called a bandit?
“Hey, boss, congratulations on your prosperity!” At that moment, Qiao San himself came to collect the protection fee, the rogue grinning as he casually glanced at the two strangers.
“Brother San, here you go!” The tea house owner quickly put on a smile and handed over twenty copper coins to Qiao San.
“Don’t give it to him! In broad daylight, you dare to extort openly!”
As soon as Qiao San took the coins, the young man, who only reached his earlobe, stepped forward like an arrow. The golden crown in his hair shone brightly, and his tall, elegant figure, though not strong, exuded an extraordinary aura. The young man with the thick eyebrows declared righteously, “Bold scoundrel, I’m taking you to the authorities!”
“Ah!” Qiao San, the tea house owner, and the middle-aged man all turned pale, though for different reasons.
“Hey, little brother, let go! Otherwise, I’ll sue you for assault!” Qiao San glanced at the young man, then at the calmly seated middle-aged scholar. When he noticed the official shoes beneath the young man’s robe, the clever rogue couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear.
A scoundrel, official shoes—what more was there to understand?
Instead of getting angry, Qiao San grinned and said to the young man with the thin face, “Heh, heh… Little brother, the boss is just repaying a debt. It’s only natural to repay what you owe! Is that against the law?!”
“Yes, yes! I owe Brother San twenty coins!” Before Qiao San could even glance at him, the tea house owner quickly chimed in, making the righteous young man’s face turn green and white with anger.
“Hmm, these pears are really big!” Qiao San lavishly praised the fruits on display at the fruit stand. Then he casually picked one up and took a bite, nodding approvingly as he ate. Finally, he leisurely walked toward the next grocery store without ever taking out a single coin. The small vendor didn’t even think to ask for payment.
“Boss, why don’t you do business elsewhere? I never imagined the hooligans here would be so rampant!” A voice full of indignation and curiosity came from within a teahouse.
A well-dressed middle-aged scholar sat calmly, while the question came from a white-robed youth beside him. The youth had red lips and white teeth, his face as smooth as jade. Unfortunately, a thick horizontal brow ruined his refined appearance. Otherwise, he would truly be a refined and elegant young gentleman.
“Ah, guest, you don’t understand. In this Liu Mang Town, it’s the same everywhere!”
The teahouse owner poured tea for the guests while revealing secrets in exchange for a generous tip: “The Great Sinner Hero specifically robs the rich to help the poor in this area, punishing evildoers. When we poor folks encounter serious difficulties, a bag of silver always mysteriously appears at our homes. That’s why no one wants to leave, and more and more people come here to do business!”
“Hmph! Isn’t that just a robber? What robbery of the rich to help the poor? Nonsense! It’s completely lawless!”
The young man with the golden headband and jade belt around his waist, his bright eyes wide open, his thick horizontal brow slightly raised, slammed his palm on the table. A strong sense of justice filled his delicate, refined face, which oddly contrasted with his thick eyebrows.
“You…” The teahouse owner’s courteous smile instantly vanished. How could he not be angry when his idol and benefactor was insulted as a robber?!
“Hey boss, congratulations and best wishes!” Just then, Qiao San himself had come to collect protection money. The smiling rogue slouched forward, glancing casually at the two strangers.
“Third Brother, here!” The teahouse owner hurriedly put on a smile and handed Qiao San twenty copper coins.
“No way! In broad daylight, you dare to openly extort money!”
Just as Qiao San took the coins, the young man, whose head barely reached his ear, darted forward like an arrow. His golden headband gleamed, and his tall, graceful figure stood straight. Though not strong, he exuded an impressive aura. The young man with the thick brow sternly declared, “You brazen rogue, I will take you to the authorities!”
“Ahh!” Qiao San, the teahouse owner, and the middle-aged man all changed expressions simultaneously, though each for different reasons.
“Hey, young brother, let go! If you do this, I’ll sue you for assault!” Qiao San glanced sideways at the spirited young man, then looked at the composed middle-aged scholar sitting calmly. When he noticed the shoes under the young man’s long robe, the clever rogue couldn’t help but feel a jolt of alarm in his heart.
Commoner, official shoes—what else was there to understand?
Surprisingly, the rogue leader Qiao San didn’t get angry but instead smiled cheerfully and said in a thoroughly cheeky manner to the thin-faced youth, “Haha… Young brother, the boss is paying me back money he owed. Debts must be repaid; it’s only fair! Is that against the law?”
“That’s right, that’s right! I owed Third Brother twenty coins!” Without even waiting for Qiao San to look his way, the teahouse owner hurriedly voiced his support, making the righteous young man’s face turn an ugly shade of green, alternating between pale and red.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage