บท 331: Ch 331 - Quest For Revenge
"Lee!" Tyson roared. The power of his voice stopped Lee in his tracks. He turned to his leader, and his eyes filled with a confusing mixture of rage and joy, sadness and disappointment. The news of Alex's death tore through him.
"I understand how you feel," Tyson said comfortingly. "And you will get a chance to use your energies, even if it's not to take revenge on Alex yourself. When we go back east, you can inflict all the pain you like."
Lee's anger turned to anticipation. "So, when do we go?" he asked and clenched his fists.
"I want to destroy them. They killed Damon. Just like they killed Hu Juli. History repeats itself. We must take revenge."
Tyson shared the sentiment, but he gestured at Lee to calm down.
"I know you're itching to go," he said. "But we're not ready. I need a little more time to prepare. It won't be long. And then we'll strike such a blow that the entire martial arts community on the east coast will topple over."
Tyson smiled. He had been preparing his body and mind for this event for a long time. He was very close. Once he had perfected his skill, nothing could stop him. Then, he would lead the assault on the east coast.
He had pictured it many times. They would be like a winter storm descending on the fallen leaves, breaking them apart and scattering them to the wind. All those who had wronged the Blood Brothers in the past would be hunted down and destroyed, and the eastern region of the United States would come under their control.
"Martial arts is a joke over there", he thought. "There's no direction. No cohesion. Everyone does what they want. It's just a game. Something to do for fun. They need real discipline. And I'll give it to them"
"How long until you're ready?" Lee asked anxiously.
"If I'm given the space to focus, no more than a month," Tyson said. "After that, nobody will be able to stop us."
"A month", Lee thought. "I can't wait that long. I'll go insane."
"I request permission to go to Baltimore myself," he exclaimed. "I'll begin the process on my own."
Tyson gave him a quizzical look. "Alone?" he asked.
"Yes," Lee answered.
He straightened his back and stood with confidence. "Nobody over there can match me. If I go by myself, I can work more effectively. And if I target the right people, I can cut off the head before the rest of you arrive to devour the body."
Tyson thought about it. He couldn't think of anyone who could stand up to Lee in the east. Most of the real threats were growing old, and he would be able to knock them down easily. And once they were gone, the rest would drop like flies.
"Besides", he thought, "Lee is known to be one of us. His actions will teach them to fear us. When we make our move, the mere whisper of our name will drop them to their knees."
Lee's idea made sense.
"All right," he said. "It's up to you to decide. But if you go, you must not embarrass the Blood Brothers. Work carefully, and don't take unnecessary risks. Once my preparations are complete, I'll check in on your progress."
Lee was overjoyed. "Thank you," he said. He walked over to Tyson and bowed to him.
"I swear that I'll live up to your confidence in me. I'll crush them for you, and I'll let you know when the time is right for you to come. Once you join me, they'll all grovel before us."
"Good," Tyson said calmly. "Before you go, I'll send a message to every martial arts organization on the east coast. I'll let them know we're coming. When you arrive, they'll be trembling like leaves."
"As you say," Lee said bowed to his leader once more.
**
The next day, Tyson sat down to compose his email. It was to be sent to the biggest and most influential martial arts gangs in the eastern region of the United States. The news would spread to everyone even remotely connected to the martial arts community.
The letter read,
[One hundred years ago, the martial arts community of the northeast area of the United States staged a cowardly attack on the founder of our organization. More than a hundred of us were killed, and our founder was forced to take refuge on the other side of the country, where he died.
This is a debt that must be paid in blood. And the blood that is required to satisfy us is enough to fill the oceans. We are the Blood Brothers. Our founder was betrayed by the gangs of the east coast. They demolished his life's work, and the pain of it tore life itself from him. But we live on. And we have not forgotten.
Starting today, the Blood Brothers demand retribution from the descendants of those who committed this great wrong. Lee Harshaw, our representative on the east coast, is coming to collect. There will be nowhere to hide. Through him, our fury will descend upon you, and our vengeance will spread death and desolation across your lands.
Our assault against all traitors will hang like a flaming sword over your heads until the blood debt has been paid in full.]
When Tyson was done writing, he clicked "Send" and leaned back in his chair. The war had begun.
**
News of Tyson's message quickly spread across the Eastern Seaboard.
However, the news did not reach the Moon Palace. No one from the Appalachian region had participated in the attack against Hu Juli, and the letter had not been sent to anyone in the region. For the time being, Alex and the others at the temple remained unaware of what was happening.
The rest of the northeast was in a state of convulsion. Every gang and martial arts group in the area began preparing for an assault. Some were defiant. Others were overjoyed. Many were scared and disappointed that the peace would be broken.
Many of the major gangs remained calm. The sentiment of Tyson's letter was not news to them. A confrontation with the Blood Brothers had been expected for many years. Now that the time had come, they were prepared.
**
On the day after the email was sent, Art Steadman was sitting in his office when his phone rang. He accepted the call. It was Tyson.
"Mr. Steadman," Tyson began, "In two days, our east-coast representative Lee Harshaw is coming back to Baltimore. I hope that he can count on your assistance."
"Yes, of course," Art said joyfully. In his mind, it could only be a good sign that Tyson was sending Lee back. "If I may ask, is this the first step of your return to the east?"
"It is," Tyson answered blankly. Art was overjoyed.
Tyson said nothing more. Instead, he hung up the phone and called Lee.
"I have spread the word about your arrival," he told him. "You'll be on a plane to Baltimore in two days. When you get there, Art Steadman will receive you."
"Thank you, Tyson," Lee replied. "I'll start preparing tonight."
"Very good. I will send you a list of those groups that took part in the attack on our founder. We will target their descendants. Once you arrive, you may start picking them off. How and in what order is up to you."
Tyson hung up the phone. He was standing in front of a brand-new building in the headquarters of the Blood Brothers. He put the phone away and went inside.
He had spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the new training facility, and he had spared no expense on the latest and most advanced technology. The new facility housed equipment and training areas that utilized lasers and nanotechnology, and it also contained more traditional features like spiritual grass, water areas, and elixirs.
It was Tyson's pride and joy. A beautiful mixture of the old and the new. But more than anything else, it was the perfect place to prepare oneself for war. And the training room in the core of the building was the best of all.
Tyson walked deep inside the building until he came to the door to the central training room. Two disciples stood guard outside it. Tyson pressed his hand to the fingerprint scanner, and the metal door opened.
The air from inside the room rushed through the doorway onto his face. He could feel the aura of the place. Its spirit. The two disciples could feel Tyson's spiritual joy. The very atmosphere seemed to improve them more than months of hard training ever could.
Tyson saw them looking at him. "Disciples," he said with a reassuring firmness. "I expect that Lee will quickly subdue Baltimore. Then we will join him, and together we will conquer the east coast." He went inside.
Meanwhile, Lee was finishing a training session on the frozen lake. When he was finished, he walked from its center towards the edge. When he felt stone underneath his toes, he stopped and closed his eyes.
"Damon", he thought. "I will avenge you. I'll make them pay the price of blood for all their crimes. I swear it."
As he thought these words, his whole body stiffened. His internal force intensified. Suddenly, the thick ice on the surface of the lake broke beneath his feet. Deep cracks shot out in a half-circle behind him. A hole opened up at its center into the water below, but Lee didn't fall in. He stood above it with only his toes on the edge, and the strain only increased his determination to complete his task.
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