Chapter 37: The Azure Sand Gang!

“Everyone, take your seats…”

After Ning Hongwu sat down, he waved his hand to signal everyone in the hall to find their places, saying, “Today is a day of great celebration, so let’s avoid any talk that might dampen the mood.”

At these words, all those present in the hall sat down, and, almost as if by design, an elder of the Green Sand Gang took a seat next to each of the defectors from the Red Water Gang.

Next to Liu Shen, for example, sat Feng Jun and another deputy hall master from the Green Sand Gang. No sooner had Liu Shen settled in than that deputy hall master filled his bowl with wine.

Seeing that everyone in the hall was seated, Ning Hongwu rose, lifted his wine bowl, and declared, “Today, many friends from the martial world have joined our Green Sand Gang, putting past grievances behind them. This is a momentous occasion.”

“By rights, my younger sister, as the Green Sand Gang’s second-in-command, should be here as well…”

“But after several fierce battles these past days, she says she’s had an epiphany and has gone into seclusion to cultivate, so she cannot be present. For this, as her brother, I’ll drink a bowl as an apology.”

With that, he tipped his head back and drank the wine in one go.

“Well done!”

The crowd echoed their approval.

Feng Jun gave Liu Shen a meaningful glance, then likewise stood and raised his bowl, saying, “The second-in-command’s seclusion must mean she’s about to break through to the fifth rank. From now on, the martial world of Heyang County will answer to our Green Sand Gang alone—what a blessing for us all!”

He then strode to the front of the hall, lifted his bowl high, and called out, “Brothers, let this wine be in honor of our leader! In honor of our second-in-command! In honor of the Green Sand Gang!”

Whether in the main hall or the inner and outer courtyards, everyone present rose, raised their bowls aloft, and shouted in unison, “A toast to the leader! A toast to the second-in-command! A toast to the Green Sand Gang!”

The voices of more than a hundred people thundered skyward.

Even Liu Shen was stirred by such a scene.

“Excellent!”

Ning Hongwu, holding his bowl high, shouted with great spirit, “This wine must be drunk! And what’s more—drunk together with all of you!”

With that, he threw his head back and drained his bowl.

“Drink!”

Once more, the hundred or so gang members echoed the call, raising their bowls and emptying them in a single gulp.

“How satisfying!”

Ning Hongwu wiped the wine from his lips, and, as if recalling some sorrow, sighed and laughed at himself, “Truth be told, there’s no need to hide it from you, brothers. I am neither talented nor capable. If the Green Sand Gang has risen to power in Heyang, it’s thanks largely to my younger sister’s help…”

Laughter rippled through the crowd at this remark.

“But still…”

Ning Hongwu clicked his tongue and shifted his tone. “If my sister has allowed me to be the leader of the Green Sand Gang, then my words surely carry some weight.”

“Among you here today, some are old-timers who joined us years ago, some are newcomers, and some were our enemies just days ago—ready to draw blades at a moment’s notice. Yet today, we gather as one!”

“As you all know, I come from humble beginnings and have never judged anyone by their birth…”

“So whether you are new or old, as long as you are sincere in breaking bread with the Green Sand Gang, you are my brother! You are a part of this family!”

“Today is not like any other!”

“If we can set aside our differences and come together, it is fate that has brought us here. And since we share that fate, then…”

Ning Hongwu paused, as if he’d lost his train of thought, hesitated for a moment, then roared with laughter, “Then let us eat and drink heartily, forge ahead side by side, and build the Green Sand Gang together!”

The crowd burst into laughter at his awkwardness.

Feng Jun, grinning, waved his hand and called out, “The leader has spoken—everyone, sit and drink, eat your fill!”

“Drink heartily! Eat heartily!”

As the gang members in the hall and courtyards sat back down, the celebration reached its peak. Friends called out to each other, wine flowed freely, and the atmosphere was jubilant.

Out of the corner of his eye, Liu Shen glanced at Ning Hongwu, who was now accepting toasts from all sides, and felt a twinge of surprise.

This man claimed to lack talent and ability. His occasional clumsy moments seemed genuine, as if he’d forgotten his lines, and it lent credence to his claim that the Green Sand Gang owed its success to his sister Ning Sanniang.

Yet Liu Shen could sense that from the very start, Ning Hongwu had skillfully guided the mood of the gathering, maintaining firm control over the proceedings.

Whether his awkwardness was genuine or feigned hardly mattered—it didn’t diminish his presence; if anything, it made him seem more approachable and raised the spirits of all present.

Anyone who took his modesty at face value, who believed him to be a mere puppet propped up by his sister, might meet a tragic end.

Even among outlaws, there are heroes.

“Deputy Hall Master Liu!”

Just as Liu Shen’s thoughts wandered, someone called his name. He looked up to find the sardonic Hall Master Qian raising his wine bowl to him.

Qian Yousheng, bowl in hand, arched his brow and said, “A moment ago, I saw how young Deputy Hall Master Liu is, and I admit I felt a bit of resentment. My words were harsh and unbecoming. Let me drink a few bowls with you now as an apology.”

With that, he drained his bowl, then turned it upside down to show not a drop remained.

“You’re too kind, Hall Master Qian…”

Liu Shen, seeing that Qian’s words and demeanor seemed sincere—and that everyone at the table was watching—stood, lifted his own bowl, and met Qian’s gaze with quiet confidence.

“Your advice was well-intentioned, Hall Master Qian. I was the one who misunderstood, being young and hot-blooded. If there’s any apology to be made, it’s from me to you. I can hardly let you drink alone, can I? Please!”

He, too, drained his bowl and upended it to show it empty.

“Well done!”

Those at the table cheered.

Feng Jun, noticing that both men’s words carried a hint of settling old scores with a drink, but that neither looked willing to concede, fanned the flames with a grin, “Deputy Hall Master Liu can really hold his liquor!”

The others, sensing the tension, filled both Liu Shen’s and Qian Yousheng’s bowls to the brim, egging them on: “Hall Master Qian can really hold his liquor!”

Seeing this young man’s calm defiance, Qian Yousheng felt a flicker of irritation. Spurred on by the crowd, he didn’t back down, raising his bowl to Liu Shen, “One bowl isn’t enough. If you can still drink, how about a few more with me?”

“It’s a rare pleasure, Hall Master Qian. As a newcomer, how could I refuse?”

Liu Shen raised his bowl, “Please!!”

“Please!!”

“Well done!!”

The two of them downed three more bowls in quick succession. The competitive air at the table only grew thicker, and the mood was further enlivened.

The Green Sand Gang members had deliberately seated their own beside the defectors from the Red Water Gang, both to accompany them with drinks and to win their loyalty—so everyone drank with gusto.

As the model recruit who’d “presented his credentials” to join the Green Sand Gang, Liu Shen attracted even more toasts.

He knew well that “one punch now saves a hundred later”—in such a gathering, whoever faltered would never live it down, while the bold would command respect in the future.

So he politely put off the others, explaining that he still had unfinished business with Hall Master Qian, and would toast the rest in due time.

Then he grabbed Qian Yousheng and wouldn’t let him leave, forcing him to drink several more bowls in quick succession.

After several rounds, both men were dizzy and flushed. An entire jar of wine was emptied. Liu Shen’s eyes were bloodshot, but he still seized another jar, broke the seal, poured himself a full bowl, and laughed, “Hall Master Qian’s straightforward advice still rings in my ears. I have nothing but respect—please!”

He tipped his head back, Adam’s apple bobbing, and drained the bowl in one go.

Qian Yousheng, already quite drunk, grimaced at the sight and began to regret ever challenging this stubborn youth.

Seeing those bloodshot eyes fixed on him, he wondered silently, “Do young men these days have no regard for their lives when drinking?”

Just as he was caught between pride and surrender, Feng Jun fanned the flames again, “Even the rookie has downed his bowl—if you can’t handle it, Hall Master Qian, no shame in joining the kids’ table outside.”

“Damn it, drink!”