C35 A Counterattack

"Damn it, you yellow-haired idiot! You're good for nothing except running your mouth! If you know what's good for you, you won't ask questions you shouldn't. The more you know, the shorter your lifespan!" Red Hair scolded.

"I understand, Big Red! You're absolutely right!"

Yellow Hair fell silent and dutifully walked the big yellow cow away.

Shen Yong had planned to charge in and knock out Red Hair and Yellow Hair, then drag them to the roadside to rescue the big yellow cow. But overhearing their conversation, it seemed there was more to the situation than met the eye, possibly involving Gao Peng pulling strings from the shadows!

Shen Yong was spot on.

After leaving the farmers' market with Green Hair and Red Hair, Gao Peng headed to the hospital for an examination and treatment. Green Hair ended up with a broken wrist in a cast, while Gao Peng had three broken ribs and his torso swathed in bandages.

"What a cursed day! To think I got taken down by some village idiot—it's utterly humiliating! We can't let this slide!" Gao Peng grumbled, his pride wounded.

"Should we tell Mr. Loong about this, Brother Peng?" Green Hair inquired.

"Tell him what? Mr. Loong deals with major issues for the Justice Association every day. You think he'd want to hear about this triviality? Are you looking for trouble?!" Gao Peng's mood flared, and a sharp pain from his ribs cut his rant short.

"Brother Peng, your ribs are broken, Green Hair's wrist is broken, and I might as well have eaten cow dung! After such an insult, are we just going to let it go?" Red Hair chimed in, standing to the side.

"Let it go? Not a chance! We haven't even had our beef feast yet!" Gao Peng declared to Red Hair. "Find someone else to help you, and steal that big yellow cow for me. Take it to Mr. Hu's slaughterhouse. I'm going to have that cow's meat for hot pot tonight, and make a rib soup to boot. We need to replenish our strength!"

"Understood, Brother Peng!"

After leaving the hospital, Red Hair headed straight to the slaughterhouse to fill in Kuan Hu, the owner, about the situation.

When Kuan Hu learned that Red Hair was on his way to swipe a hefty yellow cow for him, he was over the moon and couldn't stop grinning. He promptly handed Red Hair a bottle of the essential spray for cow thievery.

Armed with the cow-stealing spray, Red Hair and Yellow Hair, the new recruit with freshly dyed locks, headed to the agricultural market. There, Red Hair spotted Shen Yong's big yellow cow under the watchful eye of the old man guarding the livestock carts.

The old man, familiar with Red Hair's unsavory reputation, was vigilant and kept a close eye on him. With no opportunity to strike, Red Hair was forced to lay low in a secluded spot, biding his time until nightfall. Shen Yong returned, sticking close to the big yellow cow, leaving Red Hair without a chance to act.

Just as Red Hair was about to abandon his plan and leave, Yellow Hair called with news: Shen Yong had taken a woman to the Cloud River Hotel. Seizing the moment, Red Hair stealthily tailed Shen Yong to the hotel and waited for the perfect moment to nab the cow.

Shen Yong unwittingly led Red Hair straight to the slaughterhouse. This grim facility, once an abandoned elementary school, now housed a vast courtyard tethered with all manner of livestock awaiting their fate. The classrooms of the two-story building served as makeshift meat storage and the workers' quarters.

The slaughterhouse reeked of blood and decay, a breeding ground for swarms of flies and mosquitoes that buzzed aggressively around any passerby.

Here, the method of slaughter was brutal and direct: a large knife would sever the animal's head in one fell swoop, followed by bloodletting and gutting, earning the place its macabre nickname, "One-Knife Slaughterhouse."

"Mr. Hu! Mr. Hu! The cow's here! Quick, take your Crescent Moon Blade and do the honors—Brother Peng is eagerly awaiting that beef hotpot!" Red Hair bellowed as he burst into the slaughterhouse.

"Calm down! What's the hurry?" Kuan Hu chided, eyeing him with suspicion. "You're all worked up. You sure you weren't followed here?"

"No, I was meticulous—nobody knows!" Red-fur glanced nervously over his shoulder.

He had been so focused on running with the cow earlier that the possibility of being followed hadn't even crossed his mind.

It wasn't until Kuan Hu mentioned it that he realized the oversight, forcing a chuckle to brush it off.

"Relax! No worries! Even if someone did follow you, they wouldn't dare step foot in my slaughterhouse! And if they're bold enough to try, I'll chop them up too!" Kuan Hu declared.

"Thanks, Mr. Hu! I'll pass on Brother Peng's thanks to you!" Red-hair responded.

"Don't mention it! We're all brothers here—no need for formalities!" Kuan Hu replied.

"Brother Peng said after we take care of this big yellow cow, he only wants ten pounds of beef and the rib steak. The rest is all yours!"

Desperate to get the task done, Red-hair fabricated the story to spur Kuan Hu into action.

Kuan Hu, elated by the news, called out to his knife-wielding crew, "If Brother Peng is being that generous, then let's lock the iron door and get started!"

Without delay, someone shut the slaughterhouse's iron gate.

But Shen Yong had already slipped inside!

Gao Peng and Kuan Hu were both minor leaders within the Justice Association, holding equal status and overseeing different responsibilities with their respective underlings.

Kuan Hu rose from his stool, grabbed the Crescent Moon Blade, and approached the big yellow cow, laughing heartily, "Hahaha! That's my Brother Gao Peng—always gets where I'm coming from! I'll have the honor of making the first cut!"

The cow, now sober from its daze, saw Kuan Hu coming at it with the massive blade and yanked on the reins with all its might.

Red-hair's arms went numb from the strain, and in a moment of weakness, the reins slipped from his grasp.

The cow, freed from its bindings, acted as though it had cheated death itself, bursting into a frenzy of excitement, dashing and crashing wildly around the yard.

"Grab that big yellow ox quick! Don't let it get away! Brother Peng has his heart set on its meat today – he won't have any other beef!" Red shouted urgently.

"Brother Hong! I'm so sorry! I didn't hold on tight enough. I'm on it – I'll catch that cow and make sure Brother Peng gets his beef!" Yellow, fully aware of his mistake, threw caution to the wind and lunged at the big yellow ox, attempting to wrap his arms around its neck.

In this do-or-die moment, the ox's stubborn streak kicked in. It lowered its head and charged straight at Yellow.

Yellow lunged!

The ox butted!

The ox was unscathed!

Yellow's body bent like a shrimp, his rear end sticking out as he was sent flying back towards Red.

By some wild stroke of luck, Yellow landed butt-first right on Red's face, and to add insult to injury, let out a thunderous, stinky fart right on his nose!

Red was nearly knocked out by the foul smell.

But true to Red's earlier words, a slip-up now meant slip-ups forevermore!

And just like that, Yellow ended up sitting right atop Red's head.

Red hit the ground like a sack of potatoes, knocked out cold.

Thankfully, the ox's horns grew out to the sides. Had they been like those of a bullfighting bull, Yellow would have been gored for sure.

But even so, Yellow was seriously hurt, with several ribs broken, and he passed out from the pain.

Seeing Yellow sent flying and seriously injured by the ox, fear gripped everyone else.