northernbook Chapter 557 Clash of Masters
Chapter 557 Clash of Masters
The air in the lobby of Hung Hing headquarters was as heavy as lead.
Ye Haoxuan sat in the main seat, a half-burnt cigarette between his fingers, the smoke rising and blurring his deep eyes.
Below on either side, Tachibana Masahito stands with his hands behind his back, the samurai sword at his waist gleaming faintly.
Feng Yuxiu placed his hands on the hilt of the short sword, his back straight, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's.
The prince clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, exuding a fierce aura.
The seven siblings of Tian Yangsheng sat side by side, their expressions cold and their bodies radiating an aura of menace that kept strangers at bay.
Han Bin and Ah Hu frowned, their fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table as they pondered a solution.
“Miyamoto has already confessed. Hoshino Taro, Camel, and Big D have colluded, and their target is our Hung Hing.” Ye Haoxuan slowly exhaled a smoke ring, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable authority. “Hoshino Taro has brought fifty elite warriors. Although Camel’s forces in Southeast Asia have not been mobilized, many elites are already lying in wait in the Western District warehouses. In addition, Big D controls the Wo Luen Shing forces. With the three parties joining forces, their strength should not be underestimated.”
The prince leaned forward and said in a deep voice, "Brother Xuan, Camel has just returned to Hong Kong Island and his foundation is not yet stable. Although the Western District warehouse is defended, if we concentrate our forces for a surprise attack, we may be able to take him down in one fell swoop! We'll cut off one of his arms first, and then deal with Hoshino Taro and Big D. Our chances of winning will be much greater!"
"No." Han Bin immediately shook his head, his tone grave. "Camel is cunning and treacherous. He must have set up an ambush in the warehouse. Moreover, Hoshino Taro and Big D are just waiting for us to make the first move. If we attack the warehouse, they will definitely take the opportunity to launch a sneak attack on our branch. In that case, we will be attacked from both sides, and it will be a loss."
"We can't just sit here and wait to die, can we?" Tian Yangsheng couldn't hold back any longer, his voice cold and hard. "I'll take my brothers to raid Wo Luen Shing's place and see if Big D still dares to cause trouble!"
Ye Haoxuan raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then said:
"Now is not the time for impulsiveness. What we need to do is stabilize our position and strengthen our defenses. Prince, you take a hundred brothers to guard Causeway Bay. That is our core territory, and we cannot afford any mistakes. Ah Bin, you lead fifty men to guard the border area and keep a close eye on the movements of Wo Luen Shing to prevent them from launching a sneak attack. Ah Hu, you take thirty elite soldiers to secretly monitor the western warehouse and find out the manpower deployment and weaponry of the Camel Group. Remember not to expose yourselves. Tian Yangsheng, you and your seven siblings will follow Feng Yuxiu as mobile support. If any area is in trouble, rush to its aid immediately. Tachibana, you stay with me at headquarters and deal with any unusual movements by Hoshino Taro."
"Understood!" everyone responded in unison, getting up to set off.
"Wait." Ye Haoxuan spoke again, his sharp eyes sweeping over everyone. "Remember, without my order, you are not allowed to provoke a conflict. They are hoping we lose our composure; the calmer we are, the more panicked they will become. Figure out their situation before looking for a good opportunity to act."
Everyone nodded again and turned to leave the hall in an orderly fashion.
Only Ye Haoxuan and Tachibana Masahito remained in the hall. Tachibana Masahito slowly walked to the table and said with a guilty expression:
“Brother Xuan, it’s all because of my old grudge with the Yamada Group that Hung Hing is in such a crisis. I might as well leave Hong Kong Island and lure Hoshino Taro after me, so that Hung Hing won’t be implicated.”
Ye Haoxuan raised his eyes, his gaze filled with righteous indifference: "Tachibana, you said we were brothers. If you leave, the people of the underworld will only laugh at me, Ye Haoxuan, for not being able to protect my brothers, and laugh at Hung Hing for being afraid of the Yamada Group. If Hoshino Taro wants to take your life, he must first step over my dead body and cross the threshold of Hung Hing!"
Looking into his determined eyes, Tachibana Masahito felt a warmth in his heart, and his eyes welled up with tears: "Brother Xuan, thank you. But Hoshino Taro's karate has reached a state of perfection, and he also has two great masters under his command, Ishii and Sato. Their swordsmanship is ruthless and their methods are insidious, so you must be careful."
“I know.” Ye Haoxuan’s lips curled into a cold smile. “I also want to meet the top masters of Japan and see just how good their skills are.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Tony rushed in, his face pale: "Brother Xuan! Something terrible has happened! Hoshino Taro has arrived at the headquarters with more than a dozen samurai, demanding to see you!"
Ye Haoxuan and Tachibana Masahito exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
They never expected that Hoshino Taro would be so bold as to venture alone into the Hung Hing headquarters.
"Let's go out and take a look." Ye Haoxuan stood up and walked steadily toward the door, with Tachibana Masahito and Tony following closely behind, looking wary.
In front of the Hung Hing headquarters, on the open ground below the steps, Hoshino Taro stood dressed in a moon-white kimono with dark gold family crests embroidered on the hem. He held an ebony cane with a ferocious wolf head carved on the top, exuding an intimidating aura.
Behind him stood a dozen or so black-clad warriors, each burly and imposing, with samurai swords at their waists. Their eyes were fierce as wolves, their murderous intent fixed on the direction of the gate, and the chill emanating from them seemed to freeze the surrounding air.
The Hung Hing underlings had already gathered on both sides of the steps, gripping their machetes and steel pipes tightly, their eyes warily fixed on the newcomers. Their Adam's apples bobbed, but not one of them retreated. Hung Hing's territory was not to be allowed to be run wild by outsiders.
Ye Haoxuan stood at the top of the steps, looking down at Hoshino Taro, his tone calm yet exuding an imposing aura:
"Mr. Hoshino Taro, it is an honor to have you grace Hung Hing with your presence. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly. May I ask what brings you here today?"
Hoshino Taro slowly raised his head, a sharp glint flashing in his cloudy eyes, his voice deep and authoritative:
"Ye Haoxuan, I'm here today for Tachibana Masahito. He killed my Yamada-gumi leader, and blood must be paid for. Hand him over, and I might spare the entire Hung Hing organization; otherwise, I'll raze your Hung Hing headquarters to the ground today, leaving no one alive!"
"Take down the Hung Hing headquarters?" Ye Haoxuan laughed loudly, his laughter full of sarcasm. "Hoshino Taro, you are far too arrogant! The Yamada Group has no right to set the rules in Hong Kong! Tachibana Masahito is my brother, Ye Haoxuan. If you want to touch him, you have to ask me first, and ask the brothers of Hung Hing if they agree!"
The Hung Hing underlings on both sides of the steps immediately shouted in unison, "No way! No way!"
The deafening roar caused the samurai behind Hoshino Taro to subtly change their expressions.
A hint of ferocity flashed in Hoshino Taro's eyes. He raised his hand and waved it, and the samurai immediately gripped their katana tightly, the sound of the scabbards scraping against each other gratingly, ready to fight at any moment.
"Wait!" Tachibana Masahito stepped forward, blocking Ye Haoxuan's path, and looked calmly at Hoshino Taro. "Hoshino Taro, what happened back then was my doing alone, and had nothing to do with Hung Hing. If you want to kill me, come at me. There's no need to make things difficult for others."
"Hmph, you finally dare to step forward?" Hoshino Taro sneered, his eyes filled with malice. "You should have known this day would come when you killed the leader back then. Today, I will not only kill you, but also raze Hung Hing to the ground, so that the Hong Kong underworld will know the consequences of offending the Yamada Group!"