The early morning at the southern suburbs' garbage dump always carried a stench of decay, but today the air was filled with an unusual unrest.
Lù Xuán stood on the ruins of the Black Rat Gang's stronghold, feeling the energy still settling within him. Scarface's cleaver gleamed coldly in his hand, its dark red bloodstains dried, yet still emanating a chilling killing intent.
“Little Brother Lù, the news has spread,” Old Chen approached from behind. Though the effects of Great Strength had faded, his temporarily enhanced physique made him appear more spirited than usual. “The entire garbage dump is buzzing about last night.”
Lù Xuán nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over a few scavengers peeking from a distance. The moment they met his eyes, they recoiled like startled rabbits.
“It’s time they knew the owner here has changed,” Lù Xuán slung the cleaver over his shoulder and strode towards the center of the dump.
As they advanced, more and more scavengers emerged from various hiding spots, yet dared not approach. Whispers spread through the crowd like a plague. “Is that the one who killed Scarface? He doesn’t look like much…” “Shh! Keep your voice down! Don’t you see the knife in his hand? That’s Scarface’s!” “I heard he took down over a dozen of the Black Rat Gang’s elites by himself…” “Heavens, is he even human?”
Lù Xuán ignored them, but his Fierce Aura emanated uncontrollably. Everywhere he went, scavengers lowered their heads and avoided his gaze; some timid ones even knelt on the ground.
“Little Brother Lù, the main trading area of the dump is just ahead,” Old Chen whispered. “There are a few minor leaders there. They were usually the most exploited by the Black Rat Gang, but they’re generally honest.”
Lù Xuán’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint: “Perfect.”
The trading area was livelier than expected, with over a dozen stalls haphazardly arranged, displaying various items salvaged from the ruins: rusty tools, half-full bottles of medicine, damaged electronic components.
As Lù Xuán and his group arrived, the sound of transactions ceased. A burly man with a scar on his face reacted first. He pushed aside the scavengers in front of him and stopped three meters away from Lù Xuán.
“Are you the one who killed Scarface?” the burly man asked, his voice rough but his eyes darting.
Lù Xuán didn’t answer, merely staring at him coldly. After a few seconds, sweat beaded on the burly man’s forehead, and he involuntarily took half a step back.
“My name is Iron Hand,” the burly man finally yielded to the pressure and spoke, “I manage this trading area… we used to pay protection fees to the Black Rat Gang.”
Lù Xuán finally nodded slightly: “You don’t have to anymore.”
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Iron Hand’s eyes widened: “What do you mean?”
“The meaning is simple,” Lù Xuán raised his voice, ensuring everyone present could hear. “The Black Rat Gang no longer exists. From today onwards, I take over the southern suburbs’ garbage dump.”
A commotion arose in the crowd, but none dared to object.
Lù Xuán continued, “I will provide better protection than the Black Rat Gang, but there are two conditions.” He raised one finger. “First, maintain basic order – no malicious fighting, no bullying the weak.” He raised a second finger. “Second, any remaining members of the Black Rat Gang must leave the dump immediately. Otherwise…” He didn’t finish, but the cleaver in his hand rotated slightly, its reflected sunlight stinging everyone’s eyes.
Iron Hand swallowed hard and suddenly knelt on one knee: “I, Iron Hand, am willing to pledge loyalty! The Black Rat Gang took seventy percent of our income every month and beat or killed people on a whim… If you keep your word, my life is yours!”
With the first, came the second. Soon, three other minor leaders knelt and declared their allegiance.
Lù Xuán noticed a shrewd glint in the eyes of a thin middle-aged man, but without malice. “What is your name?” Lù Xuán pointed at him.
“R-responding… Adult, my name is Old Ghost,” the middle-aged man replied nervously. “I mainly deal in electronic parts…”
Lù Xuán nodded. “Get up. I don’t like kneeling. We’ll talk standing from now on.”
Surprise flickered in Old Ghost’s eyes, followed by a look of gratitude. The others also rose gradually, but their posture remained respectful.
Just then, a commotion erupted from the edge of the crowd. A few ragged scavengers were pushed forward.
“L-Lord Lù!” a young man with a bruised face stammered. “We… we used to be with the Black Rat Gang, but we were just the lowest runners… we never hurt anyone! Please give us a way to live!”
Lù Xuán narrowed his eyes, appraising the group. They indeed didn’t look like elites, lacking even decent weapons.
“Why did you come back?” Lù Xuán asked coldly.
“B-because we heard you only punish the main culprits…” another Black Rat Gang remnant replied haltingly. “We couldn’t survive outside… the garbage dump at least has some shelter…”
Old Chen leaned into Lù Xuán’s ear and whispered, “I have some impression of these people; they were indeed just minor thugs doing odd jobs.”
Lù Xuán pondered for a moment, then suddenly swung his knife! A flash of steel, and a lock of hair from the young man in front floated to the ground. The young man collapsed, terrified, thinking he was doomed.
“Remember this,” Lù Xuán sheathed his blade. “This is your last chance. If you have any second thoughts, it won’t be your hair that falls next.”
The young man stared blankly for a few seconds, then wept with joy, kowtowing repeatedly: “Thank you, Lord Lù! Thank you, Lord Lù! We will be loyal!”
After dealing with these matters, Lù Xuán, accompanied by Old Chen and a group of newly accepted subordinates, went to the Black Rat Gang’s former core stronghold.
It was a base camp constructed from three large discarded shipping containers. Compared to Lù Xuán’s previous makeshift control room, this place could be called luxurious. Though still basic, it had a complete roof and was even divided into several small rooms. The leader’s office at the back contained a real metal desk and a swivel chair.
“Scarface certainly knew how to live,” Lù Xuán sneered and sat in the swivel chair.
Old Ghost stepped forward proactively: “Lord Lù, this place needs a thorough cleaning. The Black Rat Gang members… weren’t very hygienic.”
Lù Xuán nodded in agreement. “Iron Hand, take your men and be responsible for security patrols. Old Ghost, organize people to clean the stronghold. Everyone else, attend to your duties. Tomorrow, I want to see a brand new southern suburbs’ garbage dump.”
Everyone responded in unison and quickly set to work. Lù Xuán noticed that in their eyes, besides fear, there was also a glimmer of hope.
As night fell, the stronghold was revitalized. The garbage was cleared, damaged areas were reinforced with metal plates, and someone had even found a few usable solar lamps to hang by the entrance.
Old Chen entered the leader’s office with a bowl of steaming porridge: “Little Brother Lù… no, I should call you Lord Lù now. Have something to eat.”
Lù Xuán took the bowl and found a few pieces of meat inside. “Where did this come from?”
“Old Ghost contributed it,” Old Chen said with a smile. “He called it his treasured canned goods. Iron Hand and the others also brought out plenty of good stuff… It seems these people are truly convinced by you.”
Lù Xuán took a bite; the taste was surprisingly good. He walked to the doorway and looked out at the scattered bonfires in the dump.
There, the scavengers were no longer hiding early as usual, but gathered in twos and threes, the atmosphere even described as relaxed.
“Just one day…” Lù Xuán murmured.
Old Chen stood beside him, saying with emotion, “Lord Lù, from now on, you’re in charge of the South.” He paused, then lowered his voice. “However… that Manager Zhou behind Scarface… he probably won’t let this go.”
Lù Xuán’s gaze instantly sharpened. “The Manager Zhou from Scarface’s phone?”
Old Chen nodded. “Scarface used to send a batch of supplies and labor north every month… it was said to be for this Manager Zhou. Now that this line is broken…”
Lù Xuán clenched his fist, feeling the power surging within him.
“If the sky wants to rain, and my mother wants to marry,” he said. “We’ll just wait.”