The grand hall fell silent. Wu Ping’s face turned pale, blood trickling from his mouth and nose.
His arm, which had just touched Lin Yuan’s, hung limply, obviously shattered to pieces. Even with strong recovery abilities of a True Gang Realm warrior, it would take at least half a month to heal.
As he looked at the head burst open, leaving only a body on the ground, Zhuang Yan twitched at the corner of his eye.
A single strike. That’s all it took.
With the cultivation of True Gang Realm Fivefold Sky, Zhuang Yan was severely injured by a seemingly ordinary Stone Carving Palm, then stomped to death.
A strike. Even with Wu Ping’s True Gang Realm Eightfold Sky, he found it difficult to defend against Zhuang Yan. What kind of monster is this!?
Taking a deep breath, Wu Ping lifted his head to look at Lin Yuan seated on the main seat, and coldly said, “Lin Yuan, you’ve wantonly killed a fellow brother in the gang, not to mention a deputy hall master. Such violent actions have seriously violated the rules of the gang!”
“Who is the deputy hall master?” Lin Yuan suddenly asked.
“Of course…” Wu Ping was about to say Zhuang Yan but halted his words.
According to the central command’s order, Zhuang Yan was no longer the deputy hall master. “Well, even if he is not the deputy hall master, he still possesses the cultivation of the True Gang Realm. You have indiscriminately killed him without justification, disregarding the gang’s rules.”
“Gang rules?” Lin Yuan directly interrupted him, saying coldly, “Knowing that I am the newly appointed hall master, you dare to attack me with a sword. Going against the superiors, with malicious intent. If you keep talking about gang rules, why don’t you explain how to handle this according to the rules?”
From lightly suppressing the cultivation to expelling from the Whale Gang, to immediate execution… Wu Ping’s face turned grim. “You invaded recklessly. Are you the boss here?”
“Ridiculous,” Lin Yuan sneered, “I am appointed as the hall master of the central command. Just come for an inspection. How could it be considered reckless invasion? Or are you dissatisfied with the appointment from the central command?”
His cold and severe gaze locked onto Wu Ping. “Was it your order for Zhuang Yan to attack me?”
“You!” Wu Ping’s pupils dilated suddenly.
In that moment, he seemed to see a huge fierce tiger looming behind Lin Yuan on the throne, a surging aura overwhelming him like a tide, making his breath hesitate.
As if the next moment would pounce and devour him whole! Cold sweat instantly soaked his body.
He didn’t have time to contemplate how a teenager in his early teens emanated such a terrifying aura. His face instinctively formed a smile, “Lin… Hall Master is joking. I dare not have such thoughts.”
As soon as the words were out, Wu Ping clearly saw a hint of disappointment in Lin Yuan’s eyes. His heart pounded wildly, knowing that the other party must have had murderous intent, and if he voiced any opposition, he would likely immediately face a thunderous strike!
From their brief encounter, Wu Ping knew for sure that his opponent was “simply a lunatic!” Wu Ping couldn’t understand; wasn’t this guy afraid of incurring blame from the central command?
“But you seemed to have made a move against me just now.”
Lin Yuan lightly tapped his fingers on the chair armrest, making a resounding sound. “I, I was distracted for a moment, and acted rashly out of urgency. It was never my intention to offend the hall master. I ask for your forgiveness!”
Lowering his head, Wu Ping waited for a response from Lin Yuan. The latter didn’t speak, just quietly observing him.
Watching Wu Ping trembling from arm pain, Lin Yuan finally spoke, “Report to the central command!”
“Zhuang Yan harbored resentment due to losing his position as the deputy hall master, pretending not to recognize me when I came to inspect today, conspiring to attack, and was slain by me on the spot! Deputy Hall Master Wu, any objections?”
“None!” Wu Ping took a deep breath, his voice heavy. “Zhuang Yan brought it upon himself, and I will report truthfully to the central command according to the hall master’s words.”
“I hope so.” Lin Yuan stared at him with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, sending a chill down Wu Ping’s spine.
After a long while, Lin Yuan withdrew his gaze and calmly said, “Tell me about the branch halls.”
“Yes!” Enduring the intense pain in his arm, Wu Ping respectfully replied, “The branch of Wangjiang City has a total of more than three thousand six hundred gang members, overseeing three secondary hall branches: Feiying Hall, Danding Hall, and Shenbing Hall.”
“Feiying Hall is mainly responsible for gathering intelligence. Unusual events in various regions are reviewed and investigated by Feiying Hall, then different-level tasks are issued for gang members to undertake.”
“Danding Hall deals with healing and alchemy, with a third-grade pharmacist and two second-grade pharmacists among their ranks, supported by several apprentices.”
“Shenbing Hall is responsible for crafting weapons for gang members, but it requires silver or contributions.”
“All three hall branch masters have True Gang Realm cultivation.” Lin Yuan listened quietly, feeling some emotion within him.
The difference was truly vast. Despite being branch halls, the branch in Black Mountain City was incredibly weak, with the former branch master only at the level of Fivefold Blood Exchange cultivation.
In terms of numbers, they only had a few dozen members. In comparison,
Wangjiang City’s branch, even the secondary hall branch masters had True Gang Realm cultivation, truly worthy of being a high-ranking city in Ji Province.
Seeing this, the branch hall master overseeing this site must have the cultivation of Jade Liquid Realm.
A typical branch hall master would typically oversee ten or so cities, maybe a bit more or less, but not vastly different overall.
Continuing, Wu Ping reported, “As Wangjiang City is a riverside city, merchant ships frequently dock here, so most of our business should be conducted here, roughly accounting for about 30%…”.
“Only 30%?” Lin Yuan interrupted him.
“The hall master is mistaken.”
In Wu Ping’s lowered eyes, a hint of difference flickered as he explained, “Of the ten percent of business, two percent must go to the county yamen. After all, we can’t make the situation too ugly, or where would the face of the Great Li Dynasty be?”
“The remaining five percent is occupied by the Dragon Gang!” Wu Ping continued, a hint of intention in his voice.
“Dragon Gang, the largest gang in the Great Li Dynasty, has always suppressed our Whale Gang. In various branch halls and branches, there are differing victories.”
“Originally, our Wangjiang City branch and Dragon Gang did not interfere with each other, each occupying 40% of the business.”
“Until three months ago, Dragon Gang sent a new hall master.”
He sighed. “In the Jade Liquid Realm.”
“Jade Liquid?”
Lin Yuan frowned slightly. He could easily crush someone in the Jade Liquid Realm, but he couldn’t reveal his true cultivation too much, or it would attract more than just the Blood Garment Tower.
“Yes, the new hall master of Dragon Gang is named Tai Shu Hong.”
“As soon as he arrived, he arrogantly took one-tenth of the business and often incited conflicts between Dragon Gang disciples and our Whale Gang… If it were not for the restraint of the branch hall master, he would have gone too far, and perhaps not even three-tenths would be left.”
“Our brothers have frequently complained recently, it seems that Dragon Gang is going too far.”
After sharing this, Wu Ping casually mentioned, “I heard that Tai Shu’s family has close ties with the Ji family. There seems to be a line of cooperation between the two generations.” Lin Yuan looked expressionlessly at him, while Wu Ping just humbly kept his head down, as if he had completely surrendered.
Lin Yuan looked at him expressionlessly, while Wu Ping just bowed his head humbly, looking completely convinced.
“You may leave,” he said indifferently.
“Yes.” Wu Ping bowed slightly, lowered his head, and slowly exited the grand hall. As he was about to turn around, his gaze swept over the headless corpse of Zhuang Yan, his eyes flickered, then he turned and left briskly.
Watching his departing figure, a fleeting flash of killing intent crossed Lin Yuan’s eyes. Wouldn’t Lin Yuan know the intentions behind Wu Ping deliberately mentioning the oppression of Whale Gang by Dragon Gang, as well as the marital relationship between Tai Shu’s family and the previous generation of Ji’s family that Wu Ping brought up?
“Manipulating me to confront Dragon Gang?”
“Or thinking that because of the previous generation’s alliance between Tai Shu’s family and Ji’s family, he might do something detrimental to Whale Gang, finding an excuse to report to the headquarters?”
“Idiot!”
What did the relationship between Tai Shu’s family and Ji’s family have to do with Lin Yuan?
“I will get rid of you sooner or later!”
A cold smirk ran through Lin Yuan’s mind. Ji Ling had already mentioned before his arrival that Wangjiang City, as a trading port, held immense benefits!
As a branch hall master, Lin Yuan didn’t believe that Wu Ping hadn’t reached out in all these years. Someone who cared so much about the position of a hall master, who didn’t even want to give up the central command’s order, Lin Yuan didn’t believe he had such self-restraint.
Of course. How much wealth had Wu Ping privately acquired in the prosperous Wangjiang City over the years? Most of it probably had to be given away, at least half, to someone else.
And such support, unless it was tied by blood, would definitely need benefits to sustain it.
Exhaling, Lin Yuan suddenly waved his hand, letting the curtains around him fall, then a hazy figure appeared in his hand, quickly solidified, resembling a real person.
It was Zhuang Yan! At the moment of his demise, Lin Yuan had transformed him into an evil ghost.
“Master.” Zhuang Yan saw his headless corpse inside the hall, remembered what had happened, realized the situation, with a bitter expression, and knelt down to Lin Yuan.
A tiger demon!
Besides a tiger demon, who else could turn the dead into an evil ghost? It seemed like everyone had been deceived…
Where is Lin Yuan’s genius? Clearly a long-standing old demon, using whatever means, completely hiding the demonic Qi, appearing exactly like a human!
“Get up.” Once transformed into an evil ghost, he was considered part of the team. Lin Yuan’s demeanor softened, smiling, “Attack me with all your might.”
Zhuang Yan was confused, not knowing what Lin Yuan meant. But an evil ghost couldn’t go against its master’s will. His body instantly filled with Yin energy, transforming into a big sword in his hand, and slashed towards Lin Yuan with full force.
Clang! Lin Yuan flicked his finger, the Yin energy sword shattered, and Zhuang Yan was thrown back.
“Hmm, a bit weaker than before?” Lin Yuan pondered.
Zhuang Yan originally had the strength of about True Gang Realm fifth fold, but after being transformed into an evil ghost, he probably had the strength of just a True Gang Realm first fold.
And not taking action was fine, but once he acted, he instantly turned into a ghostly body. Lin Yuan had also considered killing Wu Ping directly, turning him into an evil ghost, but considering the Jade Liquid Realm hall master sitting here, it would easily reveal his intentions.
Direct disappearance was even more nonsensical. Killing one Zhuang Yan was one thing, but killing Wu Ping directly, even if the headquarters valued Lin Yuan greatly, they would definitely send someone to investigate immediately.
After all, they were True Gang Realm warriors, not just anyone you could dispose of as you wanted.
“How much wealth has Wu Ping privately acquired over the years?” Looking at Zhuang Yan getting up from the ground, Lin Yuan casually asked.
He had only flicked lightly, not using much force, so Zhuang Yan’s body still had a dense Yin energy.
“I don’t know,” Zhuang Yan shook his head. “Wu Ping is very cautious; such matters are never handled through external means, he always assigns them to his nephew. I only know that most of the wealth he secretly took has been handed over to an elder of the headquarters.”
“Do you know the name of that elder?”
“I don’t know.”
Lin Yuan frowned slightly. Even Zhuang Yan was unaware; Wu Ping was indeed cautious enough.
It was impossible to lie, as an evil ghost could not tell a single lie to its master, even if it wanted to.
“By the way, Wu Ping is usually cautious and reliable, never making mistakes. But he has a major flaw, he’s a gambler!”
Zhuang Yan suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said. “Gambling?”
Lin Yuan nodded thoughtfully. After a moment of contemplation, he looked at Zhuang Yan and asked, “What martial arts do you practice?”
“In response to the master, I practice various martial arts, among them, there is a True Gang Realm martial art, four Blood Exchange Realm martial arts, three…”
“Just the True Gang Realm,” Lin Yuan interrupted him.
Blood Exchange Realm martial arts were currently of no use to him; the True Gang Realm might still provide some enhancement.
It was normal to have only one True Gang Realm martial art. After all, Lin Yuan was able to obtain an entire set of five True Gang Realm martial arts only after becoming the Middle Rank General at the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Because exchange required both position and merit (contribution). Killing a True Gang Realm demon and receiving a second-class contribution would allow him to exchange for a True Gang Realm martial art.
For the majority of martial artists, one True Gang Realm martial art would last them a long time.
Greed does no good! Using two martial arts together would bring less advancement than one.
Just looking at Lin Yuan in his first reincarnation of life, it took him a year just to master the basics of the Tiger Demon Body Refining Technique…
That’s why many people would use extra contributions to exchange for other things, such as weapons, elixirs, etc.
Or other life-saving items. Bowing respectfully, Zhuang Yan said, “Yes, I practice a True Gang Realm martial art called ‘Great Snow Avalanche Saber Technique,’ which I obtained from the hidden scripture pavilion within the gang. The founder is said to have survived a great snow avalanche and had an enlightenment between life and death, thus creating this saber technique. The name is indeed straightforward and easy to understand.
Although Lin Yuan had speculated about his martial arts, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed when he confirmed that Zhuang Yan was practicing a saber technique.
Shaking his head, Lin Yuan raised his hand and stored Zhuang Yan in his inner energy. Since he could make Zhuang Yan write down the manual of the “Great Snow Avalanche Saber Technique” at any time, there was no rush.
“I guess I have to exchange something in the hidden scripture pavilion.” Lin Yuan stood up and called a trembling Whale Gang disciple standing outside, instructing him to lead the way to the hidden scripture pavilion.
The “Ancient Flying Sword with waning spirituality” had been left idle for quite some time. If left like this, Lin Yuan was worried that its spirituality would dissipate further, leaving behind only a waste product.
Since it was an Ancient Flying Sword, it naturally required a sword technique to emulate, maximizing its potential!
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