Chapter 40: Want to Be a Gangster—Brother Tian!

“Dai Jin, Yuanbao, what happened?” Ling Tian saw the two battered so badly, and his temper flared instantly.

“Yesterday Yuanbao and I went out to play at the billiard hall. We ran into a gang of thugs who robbed us of our gold jewelry and beat us up like this,” Dai Jin said, thoroughly frustrated.

“Damn! Which idiot dared to bully friends of mine? Let’s go, we’re going to find those guys right now!” Ling Tian said, already heading for the door.

“Amitabha. The Buddha said: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot. As a humble monk, I must find those thugs and get justice for you!” Shi Xiaocai immediately stood up as well. He’d been waiting for Ling Tian to return, hoping to join him in teaching those people a lesson.

Dai Jin and Yuanbao, limping, followed them out, deeply moved. This was true brotherhood.

There was a saying circulating online: When a brother suffers, don’t ask—just go! When a brother has no money, don’t say—just give! When a brother’s heart aches, don’t say—just comfort! When a brother wants to drink, don’t force—let him get drunk! When a brother’s sick, don’t ask—just stay! When a brother sees, I don’t say—just turn away! Those who see their brothers getting beaten and only whine aren’t worthy of the name! Being too rational isn’t passionate—a hot-blooded brother sometimes just acts without thinking. That’s what brotherhood is!

They strode out together, drawing even more attention than before, mostly because Dai Jin and Yuanbao looked so tragic.

“Dai Jin, which billiard hall were you attacked at?” Ling Tian, already outside, remembered to ask. Usually, billiard hall owners and local thugs are connected, paying protection fees; even if those thugs aren’t present, the owner can usually tell who did it.

“The Gold Moon Billiard Hall up ahead,” Dai Jin pointed to the big sign not far away.

“Alright!” Ling Tian said, marching forward with the group into the Gold Moon Billiard Hall—a spacious place with dozens of tables.

Billiard halls are places many young men like, though a few girls enjoy them too. Plenty of smokers fill the air with haze, and the lighting is dim except for the bright lamps above each table; many corners are shadowed, making it a popular spot for couples seeking a hint of intimacy.

Rebellious youth are drawn to the atmosphere, much as some people prefer internet cafes to their own computers—a feeling of camaraderie, a sense of mischief. I myself love playing overnight at net cafes, singing all night at karaoke, drinking with friends all night, and, well, writing through the night.

When Ling Tian’s group burst in, the hall wasn’t crowded. It was afternoon, not yet evening, with only a few people at some tables. The owner, seeing Dai Jin and Yuanbao with reinforcements, immediately sensed trouble. He remembered yesterday’s incident clearly, never expecting them to return with backup—and even a fierce-looking monk.

Spotting Shi Xiaocai’s gleaming staff, the young owner was startled. Was this monk truly a Shaolin warrior? It seemed his establishment was in for it today. He had to intervene. With that thought, he approached Ling Tian and his companions.

“May I ask if you’re here to play? Please, this way!” The owner forced a smile, hoping not to escalate things.

“We’re here to beat someone up. Yesterday my brothers were assaulted here, so today we’re here to settle scores. You’re the owner, right? I advise you not to interfere. We’ll try not to damage anything, and if we do, we’ll pay for it,” Ling Tian said fiercely, glaring at the owner. The owner hadn’t stepped in yesterday, and now he wanted to block them? Did he think Ling Tian was easy to bully?

“Then, please do as you wish.” The owner, seeing Ling Tian’s intimidating presence, couldn’t resist. Judging by their appearance, they weren’t short on cash; as long as any damages are compensated, he wouldn’t argue further. He retreated behind the counter.

Ling Tian, in his previous life, had never lived like this, but suddenly found the small-time thug life appealing—brothers banding together, brawling, drinking. He began to understand why the mayor’s daughter, Song Ziyue, mingled with the underworld. It felt exhilarating!

“Dai Jin! See if anyone here matches those who attacked you yesterday,” Ling Tian adopted a rogue’s demeanor. To beat Dai Jin and Yuanbao like this—such audacity! They’d truly angered him.

Dai Jin, limping, looked around at the players. Sure enough, he spotted a familiar face—one of yesterday’s attackers.

“Ling Tian, that guy hit me yesterday!” Dai Jin called them over.

“What are you planning to do?” The skinny, clearly malnourished youth panicked as soon as he saw Dai Jin’s group.

“Beat you up!” Ling Tian said, landing a punch on the guy’s left cheek—not too hard, but enough to knock out two teeth and swell his face.

“Ah!” The youth cried out, clutching his cheek.

“Amitabha, Ling benefactor returned a tooth for a tooth; now, as a monk, I’ll return an eye for an eye!” Shi Xiaocai said, delivering a punch to the youth’s left eye, swelling it into a black eye. He was careful, not blinding him.

Ling Tian struck his left cheek, Shi Xiaocai his left eye—the youth’s face was now grotesquely lopsided, almost unrecognizable.

“A hand for a hand!” Dai Jin said, kicking the youth’s arm. Another scream, and he collapsed on the floor. Ling Tian had wanted to punch him, but his hand was injured, so he used his good leg instead.

“A foot for a foot!” Yuanbao kicked the youth’s calf, ensuring he’d be limping like them—a fair exchange.

“You—you just wait, I’ll call my boss!” The youth, writhing in pain, pulled out his phone to call for help.

Ling Tian’s group didn’t stop him; they actually wanted to teach all of yesterday’s attackers a lesson. With Ling Tian and Shi Xiaocai’s skills, dozens of thugs were no trouble—and there was always his secret acupuncture, which never failed.

“Good, we’ll wait right here. Get everyone from yesterday—don’t leave anyone out!”

Ling Tian gave him another kick. So far, they hadn’t been ruthless; compared to Dai Jin and Yuanbao’s injuries, this guy was much better off. No hurry—they’d settle everything soon.

Dai Jin and Yuanbao, watching Ling Tian swagger, felt grateful. What a brother! Yet, they didn’t realize that they’d been targeted precisely because they were Ling Tian’s friends. Li Feng, unable to beat Ling Tian and Shi Xiaocai, had gone after them instead, picking the easy targets.

The youth, seeing Ling Tian unconcerned, dialed a number: “Hello, Viper, it’s Bug. I’m at Gold Moon Billiard Hall—I just got beaten up. Yes, it’s those two from yesterday, but now they have tough reinforcements. Bring a few brothers. Thanks, Viper!”

He hung up, looking smugly at Ling Tian’s group. Viper was the local boss; few could stand up to him. He was sure Ling Tian and Shi Xiaocai would end up on the floor.

“Viper? Bug? What lousy nicknames! Obvious small-time thugs. I think I’ll talk to your Viper boss later—this area will belong to me!” Ling Tian said, scornfully.

“Hmph! Dream on. Viper has dominated this area for years—he’s got bosses above him. You think it’s easy to rule the underworld?” The youth sneered back, viewing Ling Tian as a rookie.

“It’s simple. I’ll take down his boss, too!” Ling Tian replied nonchalantly.

“Haha! Anyone can brag. The underworld is deep—bosses above bosses. Besides, in Jianghai City, Sister Moon runs everything. You think you can take her down too?”

The youth continued to mock Ling Tian, even mentioning Sister Moon—though Bug was a minor character, he knew more than most after two years in the scene.

“Sister Moon? Song Ziyue?” Ling Tian was surprised; he hadn’t known Song Ziyue was called that among the thugs—the title had a real queenpin vibe.

“Yes, the mayor’s daughter—the queen of Jianghai City’s underworld. Scared yet?” The youth boasted, as if Song Ziyue were somehow connected to him.

“Scared? I’ve never feared anyone. Looks like I’m destined for the underworld, because I want Song Ziyue as my woman. Hahaha! From now on, Jianghai City will have another legend—Brother Tian!”

Ling Tian grew more excited, as if he’d already become the city’s top boss, with Song Ziyue as his woman.

But as soon as Ling Tian spoke, the billiard hall fell silent. His words were shocking.

To make Song Ziyue his woman? Good heavens! No one had ever dared say such a thing—afraid for their own lives. Few in the circles treated Song Ziyue as a woman; though beautiful, she was masculine, and rumors said she preferred women. Ling Tian was truly dreaming.

In that moment, unnoticed by anyone, in a dim corner of the hall, a young man in a white shirt and jeans, short hair, glasses, holding a cue in one hand and a cigarette in the other, quietly blew out a smoke ring.