10: Chapter 10 Dagger in the Back

Lang Xiao panted heavily, his fingertips quickly smoothing his disheveled lapels, tucking a few strands of sweat-dampened hair behind his ears.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he enunciated word by word: "I advise you to be sensible and leave quickly, otherwise, this three-foot plot of land today shall be your burial ground."

The Man in Bamboo Hat's gaze was like lightning; he swept it across the nine people opposite him, then glanced at his companions beside him, and suddenly said in a deep voice.

"You want me to retreat? Ask the mining hoe in my hand first!"

Lang Xiao crossed his arms over his chest, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"This stubborn nature of yours, refusing to give up until you see the coffin, is truly carved into your bones."

Having said this, he raised his hand and made a gesture.

In an instant, his nine subordinates charged toward the Man in Bamboo Hat and the others.

Just at this moment, the expression of the Buzz-cut Man among the five changed drastically.

He bit his lower lip, his eye sockets reddened slightly, and his trembling right hand reached for the dagger at his waist.

His footsteps felt as heavy as a thousand pounds as he slowly moved close to the back of the Man in Bamboo Hat.

"Puchi!"

A cold light flashed, and the dagger in the Buzz-cut Man's hand ruthlessly stabbed into the waist of the Man in Bamboo Hat.

The Man in Bamboo Hat shuddered violently, turning his head to look behind him in disbelief.

The fat man beside him was dumbfounded, the mohawk-haired man looked completely bewildered, the skinny man widened his eyes, and even the nine people opposite them looked at each other in dismay.

Only Lang Xiao had a secretive smile curling at the corner of his mouth, as if everything were well within his control.

"Clang!"

The Buzz-cut Man's hand, which had been gripping the dagger, trembled as he let the weapon drop onto the gravel.

He squeezed his eyes shut, a few tears sliding down, not daring to meet his companions' gazes.

In this instant, he had personally severed all bonds of brotherhood.

Yun Song watched this scene from afar, feeling somewhat confused.

That steady and reliable boss, those brothers who had fought side by side, were now turning against each other in such a way.

"Why?"

The Man in Bamboo Hat gritted his teeth and looked at the Buzz-cut Man, his eyes filled with both anger and heartache.

"In our daily lives, we shared our food and drink, split our money equally, and faced hardships together; why did you do this?"

The fat man stomped his feet in anxiety: "Buzz-cut Man! Don't you know what kind of relationship we have? We share blessings and hardships together; what is this you're pulling?"

The mohawk-haired man was trembling with rage: "We are as close as brothers; you must give us a reasonable explanation today!"

The skinny man's eyes were red, his voice choked with sobs: "The boss has always treated us well, you... sigh... how could you..."

"I... I..."

The Buzz-cut Man struggled to open his eyes. Facing the questioning of the crowd, his throat felt as if it were being choked by an invisible hand, and he could only utter broken, incoherent sounds.

Bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his hands trembled, not knowing where to put them.

"Enough, stop acting pitiful here."

Lang Xiao waved his hand impatiently, pulled out a black token and a porcelain bottle, and tossed them over.

"Take the token and go back quickly. When they see this token, those people will release your family."

"In the bottle is the antidote; give it to your wife and children."

"If you dawdle any longer, the fire at your Grass Hut will reach your child's cradle."

On the gravel ground a hundred zhang away, a wooden chair stood alone, appearing exceptionally desolate in the twilight.

An old man with a weathered face leaned against the chair. A few strands of glaring silver were mixed into his graying hair, and as the evening breeze blew, they shone with a cold, hard light.

A flash of irritation suddenly crossed his face, which had originally been closed in rest. He opened his eyes abruptly, and undisguised annoyance churned in the depths of his eyes.

"Wife and children... family..."

He repeated in a low voice, his brows knit into a tight knot, the corners of his mouth pulled down fiercely, his chest heaving violently.