Chapter 161: My Apologies

“Is that so? Let’s stop beating around the bush and speak plainly,” Xu Fei said as he plopped down into the chair at the center of the room.

“Oh, you really are a tough one. Fine, speak then. Now that you’re here at my Thieves’ Guild, do you want to light sky lanterns or should I throw you into the oil pot?”

“Nonsense!” Xu Fei slammed his hand down on the table, startling the man beside him who was puffing on a large opium pipe with distinctive eyebrows.

“What the hell are you doing?” the man stammered, twitching the skin where his eyebrows should have been.

“I came prepared. Did you really think I came empty-handed?” Xu Fei nodded toward the door.

“Go see for yourself. Not only are there fewer than before, but a few hundred men have surrounded this place. No one, including you and your men, will leave today!”

The eyebrowed man was taken aback and glanced at his underlings. “Go check it out.”

One of them nodded and hurried outside. Shortly after, he returned, breathless. “Master, it’s bad!”

“What are you panicking about?” the man’s face darkened. “He’s not a patrol officer. So what if there are a hundred or so? This place isn’t something he can just walk into.”

His comrade leaned in, face grim. “Master... I saw it with my own eyes. It’s true.”

The eyebrowed man’s expression stiffened. “What did you say?”

“Master, I swear it’s true!”

Turning to Xu Fei, his demeanor shifted. He set down the opium pipe and bowed respectfully. “Liu Feilong, I don’t know which faction you hail from, but I apologize for offending you here today. Please forgive us.”

Xu Fei was momentarily at a loss. “What’s this about?”

“Ha ha ha... a misunderstanding!” Liu Feilong laughed heartily, sitting back down. “May I ask your name, sir?”

Xu Fei was surprised. Was this some kind of formal ritual? Although unfamiliar with such customs, he recalled seeing similar scenes on television—old codes of conduct from the underworld.

He studied the man called Liu Feilong, whose expression was solemn. Xu Fei’s face darkened. “Xu Fei of the East Sea.”

Liu Feilong paused briefly, then chuckled nervously. “Ha ha, Liu Feilong of the Thieves’ Guild. In the underworld, they call me the Northern Thief.”

Xu Fei didn’t understand the meaning behind this title.

In truth, among thieves, the name Northern Thief Liu Feilong was legendary. He had apprenticed in theft at seven years old and often operated around train stations and trains. Over time, he built a reputation, made many acquaintances, and eventually settled in the provincial capital to establish his own band of thieves called the Thieves’ Guild. Since the city was in the north, he earned the nickname Northern Thief.

Rumor had it there was also a Southern Thief named Fan Zeng, but Xu Fei knew nothing of this.

He figured that the Thieves’ Guild must be quite powerful. Since he was here to settle matters, he paid little mind to the details. Looking at Liu Feilong, he said coldly, “I came with no other purpose. The misunderstandings between us can’t continue indefinitely. It’s better to resolve them today.”

Hearing this, Liu Feilong’s stern face softened, and he smiled. “Well said. Since Brother Xu Fei wishes to turn swords into plowshares, Liu Feilong would be remiss not to grant you face.”

Xu Fei realized this meant a turning point. Liu Feilong’s men must have recognized Xu Fei’s third brother and the men of Old Master Zhu. It seemed Old Master Zhu still commanded considerable influence! Xu Fei smirked inwardly but maintained a grim expression outwardly.

He looked at Liu Feilong and asked, “What about the five or six of your disciples I injured?”

“Forget it. In the underworld, scrapes and bumps are inevitable.”

Xu Fei heard this and replied, “I’m not unreasonable. I’ll pay five hundred yuan as a token of goodwill. After all, this all started because of me.”

Liu Feilong was surprised but appreciated that Xu Fei took responsibility, at least for his men.

“Oh, Brother Xu Fei is truly magnanimous!” Liu Feilong exclaimed.

Xu Fei pulled out five hundred yuan from his pocket and slammed it on the table. “Please accept this.”

Liu Feilong smiled as he took the money. “Then our affairs are settled. Xu Fei, I won’t keep you any longer. Farewell!”

As he rose to leave, a woman who had been standing near the door stepped forward.

“Yang Zhi, what are you doing?” Liu Feilong asked sternly, recognizing her as his woman.

“Coward!” Yang Zhi glared at Liu Feilong and strode right up to Xu Fei. “What, you think that because the Zhu family is involved, we’re powerless against you?”

“Yang Zhi, how dare you speak to Brother Xu Fei like that?” Liu Feilong snapped, rising angrily. He tried to pull her away, but she shoved him off.

“Go stand aside!” Yang Zhi said, drawing a butcher’s cleaver from her waist.

“Since you picked up that pipe, have you forgotten who you once were? You are Northern Thief Liu Feilong. Look at you now—not a shred of the old Liu Feilong remains. You’re nothing but a worm!”

“What did you say?” Liu Feilong’s face darkened as he stood, pointing to the disciples beside Yang Zhi. “You there! Take your mistress away!”

The disciples exchanged glances but then said in unison, “Master, we’re sorry. Mistress has a point. Our Thieves’ Guild has lost all its power. A few days ago, Sun the Cripple’s gang took over our territory at the train station, and you did nothing. It’s disheartening for us disciples.”

“What did you say?” Liu Feilong thundered.

Yang Zhi sneered, “Liu Feilong, can’t you understand what they’re saying? Fine, if you don’t get it, I’ll translate: They’re saying you’re too pathetic now. Maybe it’s time to step aside and let someone else take your place.”

“Step aside?” Liu Feilong’s expression turned grim.

“Hahaha, I knew it! You never cared about me before, so why step up now? You must have been planning this all along.”

“That’s right,” Yang Zhi said, pointing at Xu Fei. “This man killed our disciples and caused our people to be locked up. What do you say now?”

“Release them. That is my decision!” Xu Fei declared firmly.