"This doesn’t follow the rules." Sky Thief Rat suddenly shouted.
Everyone focused their gaze over again. They all wanted to see what else Sky Thief Rat had to say.
They knew Sky Thief Rat wouldn’t be happy, wouldn’t easily let Xiang Yu become the Vice Sect Leader.
"What else do you have to say?" Hong Jinbao also was a bit impatient and said this.
Sky Thief Rat had someone push him to the center, then he lifted his head and shouted around: "Everyone knows that to become a Vice Sect Leader of our Hongmen, one must be a member of Hongmen. But Xiang Yu isn’t considered a member of Hongmen; he’s just someone pulled from the street."
The moment Sky Thief Rat spoke, everyone was shocked. When they first heard the name Xiang Yu, they subconsciously assumed Xiang Yu was a member of Hongmen.
Now, with Sky Thief Rat’s words, they started to doubt. If he really wasn’t a member of Hongmen, then his causing a commotion here today would surely warrant punishment.
Hong Jinbao also felt a bit flustered; he had overlooked this detail. He stood at the center and gestured for everyone to calm down.
"Who says he’s not a member of Hongmen? Xiang Yu is my adopted son. I am the Sect Leader of Hongmen, so naturally, he is a member of Hongmen," Hong Jinbao shouted.
"Sect Leader Hong, don’t confuse things. You are you, and he is he. Even if he were your biological son, without having gone through the initiation ritual, he is still not a member of Hongmen," Sky Thief Rat said unyieldingly.
This part was true. To join Hongmen, one must undergo an initiation ritual.
Everyone started whispering among themselves. After all, Hongmen was not dictated by one person, and sometimes Hong Jinbao also didn’t have the means.
"Little Zhi, you’re trying to oppose me, huh." Hong Jinbao looked coldly at Sky Thief Rat and said.
Sky Thief Rat shivered all over, but he couldn’t compromise on this matter. If Xiang Yu became Vice Sect Leader, there would be nothing good for them in the future.
"Sect Leader Hong, don’t threaten me. I’m just following the rules," Sky Thief Rat righteously shouted.
"According to the rules, you should have been expelled from Hongmen long ago," Hong Jinbao roared.
In the past, Sky Thief Rat often broke the rules, and Hong Jinbao would only turn a blind eye. He thought this would maintain peace within Hongmen, but he didn’t expect this allowed Sky Thief Rat to sink deeper.
"The past is the past, and the present is the present; they cannot be lumped together," Sky Thief Rat said.
At this time, Hong Jinbao regretted not replacing Sky Thief Rat as Hall Master earlier. Now he had gained momentum, and replacing him was impossible.
If people found out that Xiang Yu had not even joined Hongmen and participated in the candidates’ competition, it would be laughable if word got out.
Moreover, Xiang Yu would be beaten to death.
"How do you know I haven’t joined Hongmen?" At this moment, Xiang Yu suddenly stepped forward and shouted.
"Don’t ask me how; I just know," Sky Thief Rat said triumphantly.
"What if I really haven’t joined Hongmen?" Xiang Yu said with a look of horror.
"What then?" Sky Thief Rat laughed confidently and then shouted to the surroundings: "Brothers, what should we do if an outsider comes to meddle with us and disrupts our candidates’ competition?"
"Beat him to death with sticks!" The people from Holy Mouse Hall shouted again with high spirits.
No one would have imagined things would develop to this point. It showed that Sky Thief Rat really expended a lot of effort.
"Hall Master, what do we do?" Leng Chan anxiously said from the side.
Emotionally, she hoped that Xiang Yu could become the Vice Sect Leader. If she met Xiang Yu today, she believed she was no match for him.
"If he hasn’t joined Hongmen, no one can save him," Poison Rose said, furrowing her brow.
"Isn’t it the same if he joins now?" Leng Chan said anxiously.
"It’s too late." Poison Rose sighed.
"How did we overlook this." Jin Guozhong said anxiously.
He had a lot of faith in Xiang Yu, believing that if Xiang Yu became the Vice Sect Leader, he would lead Hongmen to a brighter future.
Coupled with Yuan Huai’s strong recommendation, Jin Guozhong had strong confidence in Xiang Yu.
"What do we do?" Jin Guozhong looked at Yuan Huai and said.
But Yuan Huai just shook his head with a helpless smile and said: "Don’t worry, don’t be fooled by Xiang Yu’s facial expressions."
"What do you mean?" Jin Guozhong asked in confusion.
"You’ll know in a while." Yuan Huai didn’t hurry but smiled easily.
Jin Guozhong was very puzzled but seeing Yuan Huai’s confident expression, he felt relieved. He knew Yuan Huai was someone worthy of trust, while for Xiang Yu, it was still uncertain.
At this moment, Xiang Yu looked terrified and then said to Sky Thief Rat: "Is it that serious?"
"It’s more serious than you think." Sky Thief Rat said, then looked at Hong Jinbao: "Sect Leader, this person is causing trouble here, what do you say we should do?"
"We need to investigate this matter thoroughly before proceeding." Hong Jinbao said.
Now that things had reached this point, even if it meant breaking the rules, he had to protect Xiang Yu.
"What’s there to investigate? Just have him take off his shirt and let everyone see. If he’s joined Hongmen, there’ll be a ’Hong’ character burned onto his back with a branding iron. If not, he’s just here to cause trouble." Sky Thief Rat said triumphantly. The source of this content ɪs novel[f]ire.net
Seeing Xiang Yu’s terrified expression, he knew Hong Jinbao and the others had overlooked this detail.
He had investigated that Xiang Yu initially didn’t want to join Hongmen, and him attending the contest today was a sudden event.
"What?" Xiang Yu said with a look of horror: "I just took off my pants, and now you’re asking me to take off my shirt. Are you a pervert? Does becoming a Vice Sect Leader require proving one’s identity? Then I quit, I’m going home."
Xiang Yu said this and made as if to leave.
"Stop, it’s too late to leave now." Sky Thief Rat shouted: "You’d better take it off and let everyone have a look. If you’ve joined Hongmen, then I owe you an apology. If you haven’t, don’t blame us for our strict rules." Sky Thief Rat pressed aggressively.
"How will you apologize?" Xiang Yu turned around and looked at Sky Thief Rat and said.
"However you want me to apologize, I will do it." Sky Thief Rat said confidently, sure that Xiang Yu did not have the mark on his back.
"Alright then, if I ask you to kneel on the ground and call me ’Grandpa’ three times, are you willing?" Xiang Yu said playfully.
People around coughed at this; it seemed like child’s play. If Sky Thief Rat really knelt and called Xiang Yu ’Grandpa,’ how would he maintain his reputation?
"Xiang Yu, what did you say?" Sky Thief Rat said viciously, clenching his fists, his eyes glaring fiercely.
"Enough with the nonsense. Just say yes or no. If you don’t agree, then you must admit I’m already a member of Hongmen. If you agree, then I’ll show you; after all, you’re very interested in men, especially strong ones like me." Xiang Yu said as he struck a pose...