Chapter 36 The New Emperor of the Underworld

"Hey, don’t be in such a hurry to leave."

Just as the three thousand hardened bandits were about to withdraw, they heard Ye Tian speak.

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it reached the ears of every single bandit.

"Damn it, you’re still not letting us go? Do you want to kill us all?" one of the bandits cursed, his tone trembling.

"Yeah, Ye, don’t get too cocky. If you really push us, things won’t end well."

"All three thousand of us could charge you at once! Before your energy runs out, you might not be able to kill us all!"

…

Ye Tian smiled. It seemed these men had misunderstood him.

Just now, after killing Xu Manjin, a peculiar idea had suddenly sprouted in Ye Tian’s mind. That was why he stopped the bandits.

"Ye Tian, since you’ve already killed our leader, we’re nothing but a disorderly mob," a voice came from afar. It was Wang Zizai, who was suppressing his urge to flee, his brow furrowed.

He had never imagined that the three thousand fearsome leaders who once stirred up chaos in Zhongdu, invincible beneath its surface, would fall so easily before Ye Tian.

As the second-in-command of the bandit gang, Wang Zizai felt defeated.

He also felt powerless—he didn’t even have the strength to avenge his leader.

But at this moment, Ye Tian was kicking them when they were down, making it clear that no one could leave alive without his permission.

How arrogant, how willful could one be?

Wang Zizai was filled with both anger and fear. A hundred emotions churned in his heart.

But what choice did he have? He was the deputy chief of the gang.

Memories surged—how he’d returned from the war-torn borders to find his aged mother, wife, and children all slaughtered at home.

His heart had shattered, and just as he yearned for revenge, he realized that the aftermath of war had left his martial arts crippled.

He became a broken man.

It was then that Xu Manjin appeared, bringing rare medicine to restore his strength and avenging his family’s blood feud.

That moment brought Wang Zizai even more anguish.

How could a soldier like him ever consort with a bandit chief who preyed on the innocent, who threatened the state?

Yet, he could not refuse this debt of gratitude. In the end, he stayed behind, managing Xu Manjin’s gray businesses in the underground death arena.

Over the years, Wang Zizai had never directly participated in any slaughter or robbery.

But in truth, from the moment he stopped refusing, he’d become a part of the three thousand bandits.

Regret wasn’t quite the word; it was more a torment.

"I was supposed to be a good man, a hero praised for defending the nation. How have I ended up like a stray, an ugly villain?"

Wang Zizai mocked himself with the question.

He’d thought he could drift through life, muddling along.

He never expected that one day, justice would descend and annihilate them all.

"Who said I was going to kill you all?" Ye Tian looked at the middle-aged man’s ready-for-execution demeanor, puzzled.

"I just want to ask you something."

"Now that Xu Manjin is dead, do you all want to follow me instead?"

!!!

At these words, a great uproar broke out among the three thousand bandits.

"What?"

"What did you say?"

"Boss, you want to take us in!"

Everyone was stunned, but most were overjoyed.

A martial artist strong enough to kill Xu Manjin in an instant, and so young, was offering to take all three thousand bandits under his wing?

What did this mean?

In other words, tonight they lost nothing—they’d simply swapped one boss for an even stronger one.

For men without proper jobs, outcasts each and every one, this was incredible news!

"Heavens, I’m in, boss!"

"Boss, take us with you!"

Even Ye Tian hadn’t expected that his spur-of-the-moment idea would win him so many followers so quickly.

And as some submitted, more and more turned back, joining the chorus calling Ye Tian’s name.

The effect was remarkable!

"You…"

Seeing the growing crowd join in, Wang Zizai’s face turned ashen.

Truly, yesterday Qin, today Han…

Loyalty was always built on strength. Xu Manjin was dead, and immediately Ye Tian stepped into his place. No one cared who the next king of the underworld would be.

"Well, Old Wang, you’re not going to run off, are you?" As Wang Zizai was lost in thought, Ye Tian walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I just had a fancy that perhaps I ought to build a power base of my own. And look, it’s all ready for me—might as well take it!"

"Mr. Ye, you are wise. I, Wang Zizai, am willing to follow you."

Wang Zizai forced a bitter smile. What else could he do but go along with the tide and serve the new master?

Who knew if one day another such man would come, kill Ye Tian, and become the third king of the underworld?

With the deputy’s lead, the three thousand bandits finally laid down their burdens, cheering the name of their new leader.

Soon, surrounded by the throng, Ye Tian was escorted back to the underground death arena.

"Junior brother, you’re amazing! A kiss for you!"

On the way, Gu Qingcheng suddenly pressed a fragrant kiss on him, catching Ye Tian off guard.

"Senior sister, there are so many people around," Ye Tian said helplessly.

But their playful banter only made them seem more terrifying among the bandits.

After all, the last chief—Xu Manjin, now a charred corpse—had once set his sights on Gu Qingcheng. To win her, Xu Manjin had tried everything.

In the end, not only did he fail, but he also brought disaster upon himself.

Back then, Gu Qingcheng had turned the entire bandit group upside down.

In the end, Xu Manjin had to give up in frustration, never daring to trouble her again.

Her fearsome reputation was seared into every bandit’s memory.

But now, this formidable woman clung to Ye Tian, looking as if she was ready to bear his children, calling him "junior brother" and herself "senior sister."

They even indulged in role-playing. Truly worthy of being the new boss!

In their hearts, the bandits raised their thumbs in admiration for Ye Tian.

"We’re here!"

Back underground, Wang Zizai took the initiative to brief Ye Tian on the situation:

"Currently, our main source of income is the death arena and commissions from several wealthy families. If you find it inappropriate, we can dissolve the death arena."

"No need, keep things as they are," Ye Tian waved his hand.

As long as participation was voluntary and no human trafficking was involved, he saw no need to interfere.

"But from now on, don’t take assassination contracts," he added.

Xu Manjin was Xu Manjin; Ye Tian was Ye Tian.

Murder, robbery, oppressing ordinary people—those things he would not allow!

"Understood. I’ll spread the word right away," Wang Zizai replied.

"However, without that income, the brothers might find it hard to make ends meet."