CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 30: TO BE THE ELDEST BROTHER, YOU HAVE TO BE EITHER CUNNING OR RUTHLESS

As Lu Xiao had anticipated, the entire Pingshan Village was the headquarters of the White Clothes Pavilion.

All those old houses in the village were also inhabited by people from the White Clothes Pavilion.

As he walked into the village from the entrance, the number of people following Lu Xiao grew more and more.

From an initial count of around forty or fifty people, the crowd had now swelled to almost three hundred.

Zhou Hu’s face became increasingly sweaty, and the pressure he felt grew heavier.

"If you can’t beat them, just admit it, being able to bend or stand tall is the mark of having been played by our Leader Zhou Hu."

"What a load of crap about being able to bend or stand, he’s just spineless."

"Acts all fierce on a normal day, but turns tail when it really matters."

The murmurs of discontent grew louder; many were extremely unsatisfied with Zhou Hu’s actions.

You think just because someone is strong, you can take him to meet the Pavilion Master? He’s just one man, how strong can he really be? If we all attack together, couldn’t we take him down?

"By the way, what’s your position in the White Clothes Pavilion?" Lu Xiao struck up a conversation with Zhou Hu at this point.

"Head of the Security Team," Zhou Hu responded in a low voice, his gaze towards Lu Xiao tinged with resentment.

You still have the nerve to talk to me, it’s because of you that all the respect I’ve built up over the years in the Security Team is about to be wiped out.

"So, all these people behind us, they all report to you, right?"

"Right," Zhou Hu nodded.

"Then the job you’re doing isn’t too impressive, I mean, if any random underling can step up and badmouth you, how are you leading the team?"

Upon hearing Lu Xiao’s words, Zhou Hu felt an even deeper sense of misery.

This is still your fault, isn’t it? Before you showed up, they all treated me with nothing but respect.

But with just one appearance, you put me in my place!

What could I do? Keep going up against you, then end up dead like Dou Haichuan?

I had to submit, I had to cave.

With that submission, with that caving, of course I lost their loyalty; naturally, I didn’t receive respect from my subordinates.

"How about it, should I show you how to make your little brothers listen?" Lu Xiao offered.

Zhou Hu hesitated for half a second, then as if possessed, nodded his head.

Truth be told, for all the years he served as the head of the Security Team, he had given it a great deal of thought.

On one hand, he had to establish authority, and on the other, he needed to show concern for his subordinates now and then. When they made mistakes, he had always covered for them and taken their situation into consideration from all aspects.

But the results had never been quite satisfactory.

Many only obeyed him superficially, while some behind his back frequently mocked him for being a brute.

Looking at today’s scenario, seventy percent of the people were ridiculing him...

Seeing Zhou Hu nod in agreement, Lu Xiao stopped in his tracks and then turned around to face the crowd of around three hundred.

"Shut the hell up, all of you, just shut your mouths," he barked.

"Anyone who mutters another word, I’ll break your legs!" Lu Xiao’s eyes blazed with anger as he roared, his murderous aura undisguised.

The murmuring ceased instantly, and the scene went eerily quiet.

"Damn it, who the hell do you think you are? This place is..."

One troublemaker near the front of the crowd tried to stir things up.

But before he could finish, Lu Xiao rushed to him and viciously kicked his kneecap.

There was a crack, and his leg bent at a gruesome angle.

"AHH!!!" The scream of the troublemaker echoed throughout the village.

"Anyone else want to speak up?" Lu Xiao’s gaze swept across the crowd.

Not a sound came from the crowd.

"Maybe you’d like to gang up and try killing me. Of course, there’s also the possibility that I’ll kill you," he said.

After finishing his words, Lu Xiao turned back around and continued to walk forward.

The group of over three hundred followed him, but this time, apart from the sound of footsteps, none dared to speak.

Zhou Hu was stunned.

What the hell is this? How come it feels like years of my efforts haven’t been as effective as Lu Xiao’s few seconds?

"To be a boss, you’ve either got to be cunning or ruthless, and you’re neither, so what’s the point of playing?"

"The sons of bitches have been spoiled by you and your indulgence." Lu Xiao tossed another couple of sentences at Zhou Hu.

Zhou Hu furrowed his brows in thought.

Maybe, he could give it a try afterward.

Of course, there might not be a chance left for him to try; after today’s cowardly act, even if the Pavilion Master doesn’t kill him, he won’t let him be the head of the Security Team anymore.

"We’re here." After about another five minutes of walking, Zhou Hu stopped.

In front of them was an ordinary-looking house, indistinguishable from the others around it.

"My name is Zhou Hu, someone wants to discuss a collaboration with the Pavilion Master."

"Please pass the message," Zhou Hu called out from the entrance.

"Wait a moment." A synthesized mechanical voice sounded from inside.

"Whether the Pavilion Master will see you, I can’t decide that." Zhou Hu looked back at Lu Xiao.

All I can do is pass on your request; I can’t make decisions about what happens next as just a team leader.

The Pavilion Master might choose to meet you, or he might simply order you to be killed.

As the seconds ticked by, Lu Xiao grew increasingly agitated, increasingly impatient.

Dawdling about, it’s been six minutes already.

"Or we could just barge in," Lu Xiao muttered under his breath.

Overthrowing the White Clothes Pavilion was not something particularly difficult for him, but cleaning up after the takedown and reorganizing everything would waste even more time.

His search for clues about his past would likely have to be delayed.

"Creak." Just as Lu Xiao was considering whether to force his way through, the door suddenly opened.

A middle-aged man in a white robe stepped out from within.

Seeing the man in the white robe, Zhou Hu and the three hundred-plus people behind him all instinctively took two steps back, their eyes filled with reverence.

"It’s you who wants to see the Pavilion Master?" The man in the white robe looked at Lu Xiao, his tone cool and detached.

Lu Xiao’s eyes surged with killing intent, I thought you were the Pavilion Master of the White Clothes Pavilion.

Turns out, it’s still just a hired lackey.

A full six minutes just to mess with me, huh!