Chapter 40: Lifetime Shame

Tian Heng was once again invited to Xu Guangyun's home.

But instead of Zhang Jin, he was greeted by the head of the Xu family.

"Leader Tian, I heard that you closed down several gambling houses," said the head of the Xu family.

"Yes," Tian Heng replied.

Just now you called me brother Tian, and now you're calling me Leader Tian. How realistic.

Of course, the head of the Xu family was not asking for himself; he didn't have the qualifications to profit from the gambling houses. He was asking for Zhang Jin.

After offending the count's mansion, Tian Heng immediately transferred 35% of the profits from the gambling houses to join Zhang Jin, to join the governor's mansion, so that he would have the courage to protect himself in front of the count.

But before the gambling houses could start to make money, you closed them down.

So my family won't get any money?

By closing them down, are you trying to avoid paying me? Are you having issues with Zhang Jin? Are you having issues with the governor?

Zhang Jin could not appear personally because the money was whitewashed by the head of the Xu family, and then gifted to the Zhang family under the guise of a dowry.

"Why did you have to close down perfectly good gambling houses?” the head of the Xu family asked.

Tian Heng replied, “If I didn’t close them down, I would have lost everything.”

The head of the Xu family's expression darkened. "Is Shen Lang's gambling skill that formidable?"

“Yes, very formidable, I don't know why,” Tian Heng replied.

The head of the Xu family fell silent as well.

Shen Lang was under the count's protection, so he couldn't be killed; otherwise, someone would have disposed of him long ago.

"All of this is your own doing," the head of the Xu family said.

It was Tian Heng who had personally let Shen Lang go at the time; otherwise, he would have already been buried alive.

Tian Heng's gaze turned cold as he said, "Otherwise, do it secretly."

The head of the Xu family said lightly, "Is it worth it? Is it daring?"

Indeed!

Is it worth it?

Shen Lang had the count's warriors around him at all times, so only a skilled assassin could kill him.

Once Shen Lang was killed, the count's wrath would be directed at Tian Heng and the Xu family regardless of who killed Shen Lang.

If the count was angry, he would wage a bloodbath.

"What does Shen Lang want?" Xu Guangyun asked.

Tian Heng said, “He wants me to break Tian Thirteen's legs publicly.”

The head of the Xu family's face trembled a few times and hoarsely said, "Then promise him, break them. After all, you have plenty of adopted sons.”

When these words were spoken, even the head of the Xu family couldn't believe it.

Tian Thirteen was one of his most outstanding adopted sons. Breaking his legs publicly would chill the hearts of those under him, and he would be utterly disgraced.

Tian Heng was a man of integrity.

He would rather lose money than lose his reputation. That was the basis of his standing.

However, a voice came from the next room.

"Promise him."

It was Zhang Jin speaking, representing the governor's mansion and the Zhang family.

He was Tian Heng's most direct backing.

"Don't delay," Zhang Jin said. "Every day you delay, it's all money lost. Delaying would be worse than promising early."

Tian Heng trembled all over, his teeth clenched so tightly that they broke through his gums, filling his mouth with blood.

Zhang Jin said, "I promise you, someday we will make sure to kill Shen Lang, and when that time comes, you can have a go at him."

Tian Heng remained silent.

Zhang Jin said, "Shen Lang is just a petty character. Our target is the count's mansion. Once we take down the count's mansion and reclaim its territories and military power, you will have made a great contribution. The deputy city master position will be yours."

Tian Heng stood up and said, "Understood!”

...

Tian Heng once again came to Shen Lang's side.

"I... promise you, publicly break Tian Thirteen's legs. Please disband the black clothed gang, don't cause any more trouble," Tian Heng said coldly.

Shen Lang shook his head, "No, this is the price I demanded earlier, but the price has changed. Your other adopted son, Tian Fourteen, dared to yell at me just now and even said he would beat me. Most disgustingly, he actually tried to touch my head with his finger. Break his hands, legs, and soon, every member of the black clothed gang you sent to my house will have to have their legs broken..."

Shen Lang, f*** you!

Why don't you just die?

Hearing Shen Lang's words, Tian Heng felt a surge of blood rush to his brain.

“I'll kill you, I'll kill you…”

He repeated these words in his mind again and again.

But...he could only say it in his mind.

"Not agreeing?" Shen Lang sneered. "Then my price has changed. Not only must you break Tian Thirteen's legs, you must break Tian Fourteen's legs and hands. Also, every member of the black clothed gang that you sent to my house, their legs will all have to be broken…"

(Note: For some parts, I had to make assumptions about the context since there were specific cultural and historical references that I couldn't fully grasp. Thus, some parts may not be fully accurate and may need further clarification or context to be translated with precision.)

Tian Heng closed his eyes because they were a bit bloodshot and he was feeling dizzy.

He really wanted to tear Shen Lang into pieces right in front of him, but if he did that, he would be finished, and all his years of hard work would be for nothing.

He absolutely did not want to compromise, especially with someone like Shen Lang.

But...

There was no other way. If he didn't compromise, Shen Lang would bring hundreds of gamblers to his casino every day. And if he closed the casino, the governor's office wouldn't let him off the hook.

"Shen Lang, just wait for me, just wait for me…" Tian Heng muttered to himself over and over again.

Opening his eyes again, Tian Heng said slowly, "Fine, I will publicly break the legs of Thirteen, and break the arms and legs of Fourteen."

Shen Lang said, "Not only that, you have to completely expel them from the Black Cloth Gang, no one is allowed to visit them or send anyone to visit them, no doctors can treat them, and no money can be sent to them. In short, they have to fend for themselves. If I feel that these two are not suffering enough, I will come back and cause even more chaos in your casino."

"I agree, I agree..."

...

Outside the Fu Gui Fang.

Thirteen and Fourteen knelt on the ground, their faces filled with anger and grief.

The surrounding crowd kept growing, surpassing a thousand people already.

Something big had happened.

Thirteen and Fourteen were Tian Heng's two outstanding adopted sons, and they were also centurions of the Xuan Wu City Civilian Army. Normally, they were so arrogant and pompous that no one dared to provoke them. Now, these two were actually kneeling here. Who did they offend?

Watching the packed crowd, Tian Heng felt like tearing through the ground and escaping.

But he couldn't. He had to continue the act, or else that bastard Shen Lang wouldn't let him off the hook.

"Thirteen, Fourteen, you are my adopted sons, how could you go behind my back to seek revenge against Shen Lang, almost causing a huge disaster," Tian Heng said with a righteous demeanor. Seeing this scene, the crowd's gazes towards Tian Heng began to turn strange.

All because of Shen Lang?

Tian Heng felt as if his face was being peeled off in front of everyone.

But he had to continue, there was no reasoning to speak of in victory and defeat.

"Shen Lang not only is the nephew of the Xuan Wu Earl's Mansion, he is also my close friend, someone who is not to be offended by you two ingrates," Tian Heng roared. "If I don't punish you severely, how can I uphold the family rules? Come, bring me the stick."

Immediately, another adopted son handed over a thick and hard stick.

Tian Heng took a few deep breaths and then walked up to Thirteen.

"Thirteen, don't blame your father," Tian Heng said in a low voice.

Thirteen remained silent, his expression plain.

This made Tian Heng furious. Was he trying to be disloyal to me? Was he dissatisfied in his heart?

Tian Heng raised the stick and smashed it down on Thirteen's legs.

"Crack!"

Thirteen's legs were broken.

"Hmm!"

From start to finish, he only let out a low hum, without a single scream, like an injured beast simply growling quietly without wailing.

But Fourteen was not so dignified, he began to tremble all over.

He was not satisfied. He had clearly offended Shen Lang for the sake of his father's dignity and the interests of the Black Cloth Gang. Now, his father was going to break his arms and legs?

Is there still justice in this world?

It was clearly his father who had offended Shen Lang, clearly he lost to Shen Lang, why did he have to sacrifice himself and Thirteen?

Father, is this how you love your adopted sons?

Where is the loyalty you always talk about?

Suddenly, Fourteen roared, "I refuse, I refuse..."

Tian Heng was immediately furious, Fourteen's shouting directly pierced through his mask of shameful behavior, so he grabbed the stick and fiercely smashed it at Fourteen's legs.

"Ah..."

A pained scream, Fourteen's legs were broken.

Immediately after, Tian Heng viciously struck again.

His adopted son, Fourteen's arms were broken, shattered into pieces.