A few days later, Iron Palm Mountain.
The mountain lives up to its name, resembling an iron palm with five majestic peaks, a spectacular sight, and is the headquarters of the Iron Palm Gang, a major Jianghu underworld gang.
At this very moment, on Middle Finger Peak, inside Juyi Hall.
"Is everything ready?"
Chen Feihu, the Gang Leader of the Iron Palm Gang, sat alone at the head seat, while a middle-aged scholar stood below, and over a dozen gang leaders were seated on either side.
"Reporting to the Gang Leader, everything is ready!"
The middle-aged scholar, holding a feather fan, slightly bent forward and reported, "Those women are tied up on the training ground, each guarded by a brother from the gang. They await the Gang Leader's order to be executed."
"Mm!"
Chen Feihu responded softly, shifting his position on the tiger-headed chair, appearing somewhat distracted, with a deep unease in his eyes.
Seeing this, the middle-aged scholar did not speak further, standing silently below, gently fanning himself.
After a moment of silence, someone finally couldn't hold back; a veteran member of the gang stood up and said, "Gang Leader, do we really want to stand out like this? That Martial Madman is not someone easy to deal with."
"Yes, yes!"
As soon as these words were spoken, they were immediately agreed upon by those around, with over a dozen gang leaders looking worried.
"Twenty years ago, that Martial Madman caused a bloody storm in the Central Plains, countless Jianghu experts and martial arts masters died by his hand. Various gangs, sects, schools, and sects had no way to deal with him, even the Divine Capture Sect returned in defeat."
"Now that twenty years have passed, who knows how advanced his martial arts have become? He has re-emerged in Jianghu for only a few months and has already destroyed the Beggar Gang's two major sub-sects in the Central Plains, and the Sea Sand Gang and Yellow River Gang no longer even have their headquarters, with countless casualties among their people..."
"The Beggar Gang is the largest gang in the world and even they couldn't handle him. The Shaolin Sect is the largest martial arts sect, and he even killed many of their high monks; it is said that even the Wuxiang Divine Monk was defeated, and he was a top master who had cultivated Gang Qi!"
"Although our Iron Palm Gang is also a major Jianghu gang, fighting against such a vicious man may not be advantageous."
"Moreover, using such means, even if we win, it would be disgraceful in Jianghu. Furthermore, the Divine Capture Sect and the Four Great Divine Constables are currently in Heluo; with their conduct, they will definitely seek revenge on us once autumn arrives."
"Gang Leader, please reconsider..."
The gang leaders looked worried, and several elders earnestly tried to persuade Chen Feihu to abandon this plan.
Chen Feihu sat in the chair, listening to the words of the people below, feeling even more stifled and agitated internally, but unable to express it, he could only shift his gaze to the middle-aged scholar.
The scholar, seeing this, was also helpless but had no way to shirk, so he had to brace himself and stand up to say, "Rest assured, gentlemen, the Gang Leader has made comprehensive preparations. Once that Martial Madman dares to set foot on Iron Palm Mountain, he will have no return."
"What preparations?"
"Zhou Shuwen, don't you incite people's hearts!"
"This matter concerns the life and death of our Iron Palm Gang; the Gang Leader must not listen to the words of a villain!"
"You conniving strategist, tell us whether this rotten idea was yours?"
Chen Feihu has been in charge for over thirty years, with strong capabilities and considerable prestige. Even if he makes such mistakes now due to a hot head, people wouldn't dare to speak too harshly.
But there was no such concern with Zhou Shuwen, the conniving strategist; they immediately started cursing him, even putting the responsibility of this upon him.
Zhou Shuwen did not refute, just lowered his head, letting them vent their anger.
He knew well that this matter is detrimental to the Iron Palm Gang in every way. Regardless of its success, reckoning would come eventually, likely leading to the gang's downfall and death without a trace.
But what could he do?
Do they truly believe this initiative came from the Iron Palm Gang, or that it was Chen Feihu's idea?
They were merely a chess piece pushed into the spotlight.
Not to mention him, a mere conniving strategist; even the Iron Palm Gang Leader Chen Feihu, who has led for over thirty years, and even the Beggar Gang, acclaimed as the world's largest gang, are equally helpless now.
The only thing he could do now was stand up and help bear some of Chen Feihu's burden, hoping the Gang Leader would owe him a favor and lend him a hand when it's time to withdraw.
Otherwise...
"Enough!"
After some time of the crowd bombarding Zhou Shuwen, Chen Feihu finally spoke, defending his strategist, "This was my idea, it has nothing to do with Mr. Zhou, bring your anger towards me."
"Big Brother!"
"Gang Leader!"
The crowd, hearing this, was embarrassed, looking at Chen Feihu in puzzlement, "Why is this?"
"I have no other choice either!"
Chen Feihu shook his head, "That Martial Madman acts recklessly. Our Iron Palm Gang has tolerated and retreated repeatedly, yet he keeps advancing and pressing, trying to eliminate our Iron Palm Gang's path to survival. So we can only fight him to the death."
The crowd fell silent upon hearing this.
A few months ago, the Martial Madman re-emerged in Jianghu, repeating his past actions, under the guise of justice, sweeping through brothels, gambling houses, and various grey industries, caused them severe damage.
If there was a choice, they wouldn't want to provoke such a fiend.
But do they have a choice?
A gang, with so many mouths to feed, needs those grey industries for support. How could they maintain the Iron Palm Gang? They can't really switch to legitimate business, can they?
If switching to legitimate business was as easy as saying it, Jianghu wouldn't have so many shady underworld gangs. Those seemingly legitimate trades are not something just anyone can dabble in.