"You bastard, I'll kill you!"
Jiang Tianliang had never suffered such humiliation. He scrambled to his feet, ready to fight Liu Tiezhu to the death.
Seeing this, Liu Tiezhu let out a cold laugh.
Why did he slap Jiang Tianliang? To provoke the old fool.
If Jiang Tianliang dared to make a move, he could kill the old bastard right here and now.
"Jiang Tianliang, stop right there."
Chen Zhiqiang's cold voice halted the enraged Jiang Tianliang.
"Have you forgotten the task Second Master gave you?"
Hearing this, Jiang Tianliang's fury instantly died down.
Liu Tiezhu silently lamented the missed opportunity.
If Jiang Tianliang had struck, killing the old man would have given him an excuse to clear his name.
Now that Jiang Tianliang had stopped, continuing the fight would put him in the wrong.
"Liu Tiezhu, Second Master has set up a table at Yellow Flower Tavern. He wants you to come."
Jiang Tianliang gritted his teeth, speaking coldly to Liu Tiezhu.
Liu Tiezhu rubbed his nose with disdain. "Are you ordering me?"
"That's right, I'm ordering you," Jiang Tianliang said.
"If you're a real man, don't go."
He was now hoping Liu Tiezhu would refuse, so Ming Tianfeng could punish him under the Ming family's rules, saving a lot of trouble.
"Jiang, you old dog, your provocation won't work on me."
"If there's nothing else, get out of my camp."
Liu Tiezhu waved his hand, directly issuing an eviction order.
Jiang Tianliang wanted to keep up the verbal sparring, but Chen Zhiqiang pulled him away.
Once they were outside the camp, Jiang Tianliang couldn't help but say, "Old Chen, that little bastard is too arrogant."
"When we go back, how do we report to Second Master?"
"If we tell him the truth," Chen Zhiqiang said flatly.
"Then if he doesn't come, will Second Master blame us?"
Hearing this, Chen Zhiqiang stopped and stared at Jiang Tianliang with a gradually chilling gaze.
"Are you an idiot? How can you ask such a stupid question?"
"If Liu Tiezhu doesn't want to die quickly, he'll definitely come."
After harshly scolding Jiang Tianliang, Chen Zhiqiang couldn't be bothered to deal with him anymore.
In truth, Jiang Tianliang wasn't stupid—he was just blinded by rage from Liu Tiezhu's provocation.
Being chewed out by Chen Zhiqiang left him deeply resentful.
Back at the camp.
After the two old foxes had gone far, Liu Tiezhu summoned Guo Qixing.
Ming Tianfeng's setup at Yellow Flower Tavern was undoubtedly a trap.
But he had to go, or he'd be violating the Ming family's rules.
Then Ming Tianfeng could use that rule to have him completely under his thumb.
Guo Qixing arrived quickly and immediately asked if Ming Tianfeng was about to make a move.
"Ming Tianfeng has set a trap for me at Yellow Flower Tavern. I need to guard against him striking there."
"Have you arranged the hundred men I asked for?"
Liu Tiezhu didn't hide anything, laying out his suspicions and situation directly.
Guo Qixing nodded. "All arranged. They're in the bamboo grove fifty meters from the camp."
"Now send them to Yellow Flower Tavern to prepare."
"Also, make sure they enter in groups and take advantageous positions."
"No problem. I'll handle it now."
Time was tight, so neither wasted it on idle talk.
After finalizing the plan, Liu Tiezhu headed straight to the Ming residence.
Meeting with Ming Zhenglong, Liu Tiezhu shared the intelligence Guo Qixing had gathered on Ming Tianfeng's troop deployments.
"Third Master, Ming Tianfeng has set a trap for me at Yellow Flower Tavern."
"This is a perfect opportunity. You can move now."
After hearing Liu Tiezhu's words, Ming Zhenglong's grin nearly split his face.
Without Ming Tianfeng there to command, taking out those strongholds would be a breeze.
"Brother Tiezhu, I truly admire your willingness to walk into the trap."
"Remember to be careful in Qian'an. I'll reward you handsomely when I return."
Ming Zhenglong patted Liu Tiezhu's shoulder, his expression feigned sincerity.
Liu Tiezhu nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Third Master. I'll be careful."
Leaving the Ming residence, Liu Tiezhu headed straight for the town.
He wasn't in a hurry to attend Ming Tianfeng's trap; instead, he went to Jinyuan Pawnshop.
Once inside, Liu Tiezhu handed Liu Jingui several locations.
"Brother Liu, quickly report these locations to Brother Ming."
"Tell him the action window is only about an hour. He must move fast."
After instructing Liu Jingui, Liu Tiezhu leisurely strolled down the street from Jinyuan Pawnshop toward Yellow Flower Tavern.
When he arrived, he spotted Guo Qixing standing across from the tavern from a distance.
They exchanged nods, and Liu Tiezhu entered with confidence.
In the tavern's main hall, Jiang Tianliang was already waiting.
Seeing Liu Tiezhu, he sneered, "Ha, I thought you wouldn't show. Turns out you're just a coward with no guts."
Liu Tiezhu glanced at Jiang Tianliang dismissively. "Old dog, you really don't learn from your mistakes."
"Didn't get enough just now? Want another two slaps?"
"You motherf—"
Jiang Tianliang's eyes bulged, but Chen Zhiqiang cut him off before he could finish.
"Jiang Tianliang, shut your mouth."
After silencing Jiang Tianliang, Chen Zhiqiang turned his gaze to Liu Tiezhu.
"Liu Tiezhu, Second Master is waiting for you in the private room."
Liu Tiezhu didn't respond, following Chen Zhiqiang up the stairs.
He paused after a few steps, turning back to Jiang Tianliang. "You don't even know how to be a dog properly. No wonder you get scolded."
With that cold remark, Liu Tiezhu entered the private room, leaving Jiang Tianliang frozen in place.
Inside, Ming Tianfeng had ordered a full table of dishes and was eating alone, with no intention of inviting Liu Tiezhu to join.
When Liu Tiezhu entered, he didn't even look up, stabbing at a shrimp in his dish with his chopsticks as he cursed.
"Damn it, what kind of small fry dares to sit at the table?"
"Thinks he's someone important?"
Liu Tiezhu knew the bastard was insulting him indirectly.
Wasn't "small fry" referring to him?
But he wasn't about to let Ming Tianfeng push him around. He pulled out a chair and sat down.
He came to avoid breaking the Ming family's rules, not to let Ming Tianfeng throw shade at him.
Now that he had secret backing from Ming Family Head and Ming Zhenglong, he wasn't worried about Ming Tianfeng's retaliation.
Besides, after today, Ming Tianfeng's power would shrink drastically.
Without his minions' support, Ming Tianfeng would have to keep his head down for a long time.
Liu Tiezhu's move infuriated Ming Tianfeng.
Without his order, Liu Tiezhu dared to pull out a chair and sit across from him.
This was a blatant challenge to his authority, a complete disregard for him.
A mere servant—how dare he?
Ming Tianfeng stared intently at Liu Tiezhu for a moment before snapping back to reality.
"Kid, you've got some nerve. Without my order, you dare to sit?"
"I'll give you two choices."
"First, kneel and kowtow to me, become my dog."
"Second, I'll cut off your legs and chain you at the Ming family gate like a dog."
Hearing this, Liu Tiezhu couldn't help but laugh.
"What do you think you are?"
"Cut off my legs? Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? Do you even have the ability?"