Chapter 241 The Death of Master Hou (1/2)

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.”