Chen Xiaobei understood, however, that these were Yang Zhi's men and it was most appropriate for Yang Zhi to handle them himself.
Suppressing his anger, he said to Chen Dayong, "Go to Si Mu Di and call Yang Zhi here."
Chen Dayong agreed and left. Before long, he returned with Yang Zhi, accompanied by four Vermilion Bird Gang members carrying a stretcher. On the stretcher sat La Er Duo.
Along the way, Chen Dayong had already explained the situation to Yang Zhi and La Er Duo. Thus, upon arriving before Chen Xiaobei, Yang Zhi bowed deeply and said, "It is all due to my poor discipline that I have caused you trouble again."
Huang Ying was about to speak when Shen Ziyan gently tugged her arm.
Shen Ziyan wished to see how Chen Xiaobei would handle the matter, so she gestured for Huang Ying to remain silent.
Chen Xiaobei's face darkened, and he pointed at Hu Lao Qi and the others. "Brother Yang Zhi, this is not a matter of trouble. Hu Lao Qi and the others trespassed into a private residence with ill intentions. If this were reported to the county yamen, they would at least be exiled."
Yang Zhi immediately understood Chen Xiaobei's intention.
Chen Xiaobei did not wish to let them off easily.
Of course, Yang Zhi also understood that Hu Lao Qi and the others had indeed acted excessively.
However, it was clear that Hu Lao Qi and the others had not yet realized the severity of their actions.
Seeing Yang Zhi, they seemed to have found a savior. "Second Master, we were drunk and acted foolishly. I beg you to intercede for us."
Chen Xiaobei said sternly, "Bah! What do you mean by drunk and foolish? If not for the vigilance of Miss Huang Ying and Miss Shen Ziyan, you might have fallen victim to your own wicked schemes."
Hu Lao Qi took out a silver ingot from his sleeve and offered it, "This silver ingot is for the two young ladies as compensation for their fright."
Huang Ying's eyes widened with disdain. "Who cares about your stinking silver?"
The atmosphere suddenly became very tense, and Yang Zhi was at a loss on how to proceed.
Yang Zhi understood Chen Xiaobei's intention to punish Hu Lao Qi severely. However, deep down, he felt that for this kind of incident, it was commonplace among their martial arts sects.
Sharing Yang Zhi's sentiment, La Er Duo, who was on the stretcher, also did not consider the matter too serious. He cupped his fists towards Chen Xiaobei and said loudly, "Brother Xiaobei, since there were no serious consequences, why not give me some face and settle this with some silver?"
This time, Huang Ying couldn't hold back. She pointed at La Er Duo and said, "How dare you be so insolent! You say it's settled just like that? If that's the case, then we have nothing more to say. We will hand you over to the county yamen tomorrow."
La Er Duo was stunned. He clearly had not expected Huang Ying to have such a fiery temper.
He stood with his mouth agape, unsure of what to do.
Yang Zhi quickly regained his composure. Chen Xiaobei's refusal to relent was all because of this young lady. Now that they were living in Hetou Village, offending Chen Xiaobei and the villagers might force them to leave.
If that happened, their desire to kill Sun Jian would be dashed.
Yang Zhi naturally understood the gravity of the situation. With this thought, he took out a dagger from his waist and threw it with a clang before Hu Lao Qi.
"You three decide for yourselves."
Looking at the gleaming dagger and the fierce expression on Huang Ying's face, Hu Lao Qi gritted his teeth and hardened his heart.
He reached out, took the dagger, and pressed it against his left little finger.
"I, Hu Lao Qi, swear to the heavens that if I ever harbor any ill intentions towards the two young ladies again, may I be struck by lightning!" With that, he gritted his teeth and, with a snap, severed his own little finger.
Liu Mazi and Cao Bei followed suit, and the three of them each cut off a finger.
Witnessing the bloody scene, Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying remained calm, neither saying yes nor no.
Chen Xiaobei felt that the punishment was sufficient and wanted to mediate. However, seeing their calm expressions, he held back.
If the matter was not handled to their satisfaction, they might simply pack up and leave, and where would he find a teacher then? Moreover, if the punishment was not severe enough, others might still harbor wicked thoughts.
Seeing this, Yang Zhi coughed again. Hu Lao Qi, with no other choice, took the dagger, crying out to the heavens, and swore again, "I, Hu Lao Qi, swear to the heavens that if I ever disrespect any villager of Hetou Village again, I will immediately commit suicide here."
With a snap, he severed his right little finger.
It wasn't that this fellow was stupid; he knew the little finger was less important. He would never dare to cut off his ring finger.
Cao Bei and Liu Mazi were already wincing in pain, but they had no choice. Since Hu Lao Qi had done it, they had to as well.
Upon seeing them cut off two fingers, Shen Ziyan finally spoke, "Alright, that's enough. Let it serve as a lesson."
Huang Ying then crossed her arms and nodded with satisfaction. "Hmph, we'll let you off this time. You three remember this: from now on, when you see me, you will kneel and kowtow, calling me 'Madam Teacher.' Do you hear me?"
"Yes, we hear you," Hu Lao Qi and the others quickly agreed, as if granted a great pardon.
Yang Zhi cupped his fists towards Chen Xiaobei again. "It is all due to my poor discipline. Please forgive me, Brother Xiaobei."
Chen Xiaobei's expression was neutral. He cupped his hands. "Brother Yang, let me be clear: if there is a next time, do not blame me for being ruthless."
Yang Zhi thumped his chest and said with conviction, "Rest assured, Brother Xiaobei. If there is a next time, I, Yang Zhi, will be the first to chop off his head."
With that, he beckoned Hu Lao Qi and the others to return with him.
As soon as they entered Si Mu Di, Yang Zhi kicked the three of them down. "You three scoundrels, if you can't control what's in your pants, then get back to Tuguo Country."
Hu Lao Qi and the others winced in pain but grumbled indignantly, "Second Master, they're just two young women..."
Before he could finish, Yang Zhi slapped him across the face. "Still calling them young women? You've ruined the Gang Leader's plans, and I'll chop off your head."
After the scolding, Yang Zhi turned and left.
Hu Lao Qi and the other two returned to their lodging and lay on the bed, sighing.
Suddenly, Hu Lao Qi sat up abruptly. "I say, you two, when have we brothers ever suffered such humiliation?"
Liu Mazi sighed, "Seventh Brother, please calm down. If you stir up more trouble, I fear our heads will be lost."
"If we continue following him, Yang Zhi, I'm afraid we'll lose our heads sooner or later," Hu Lao Qi couldn't help but say.
His words made Cao Bei sit up as well. "Seventh Brother, what… what do you mean?"
"What else could I mean? The Gang Leader himself came forward to plead, yet he, Yang Zhi, was still relentless, forcing us to mutilate ourselves."
"If this continues, will Yang Zhi eventually be in charge of the Vermilion Bird Gang?"
Upon hearing this, Cao Bei immediately chimed in, "Seventh Brother is right. Yang Zhi is too arrogant. Besides, we didn't even do anything. Cutting off one finger wasn't enough; we had to cut off two."
Hu Lao Qi said resentfully, "I, Hu Lao Qi, swear that if this revenge is not taken, I will not be human."
His words immediately stirred the other two. "If this revenge is not taken, we will not be human."
"Seventh Brother, tell us, what should we do?"
Hu Lao Qi let out a cold snort. "First, we kill Yang Zhi, and then we kill those two stinking women."