94: The path to immortality is one of fierce competition! Xie Hongbing, Wen Donghui!
Immortal Official?
Chen Changsheng frowned upon hearing those two words; Baili Xi in Longwei County had been quite difficult to deal with, giving Chen Changsheng a poor impression of Immortal Officials.
"Father, I sent people to investigate. The Immortal Official of Longkou County is named Meng Xikun. His cultivation is at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and he has the Black Dog Gang handling smuggling for him!"
Chen Chuanwen was very meticulous and had already thoroughly investigated Immortal Official Meng Xikun's basic situation.
"Third Layer of Qi Refining, and he hasn't broken into the Mid-stage Qi Refining yet. That means an Innate Master would have a fighting chance against him?"
Chen Changsheng narrowed his eyes and murmured softly. His family now had three Innate Masters—Howling Heaven, Steamed Bun, and Chuanwu. They definitely had a chance against a Cultivator at the Third Layer of Qi Refining!
"Father, but an Immortal Official is the second most powerful figure in the county after all, with great authority. Besides, a Cultivator's methods are strange and unpredictable. Should we reconsider?"
Hearing that Chen Changsheng intended to clash with Meng Xikun, Chen Chuanwen couldn't help but frown. He felt it was too dangerous, as the opponent was a Cultivator.
"Chuanwen! You must remember, there are thousands of paths to immortality, but there is no path for retreat!"
"The resources of this world won't line up to be delivered into your hands. In this life, the path to immortality is all about competing!"
"Our Chen family is not afraid of struggle. As long as there's a slight chance of winning, we must not give up!"
Chen Changsheng spoke with determined eyes. He was naturally wary of Meng Xikun, but the Chen family was truly lacking in resources. If they didn't seize this opportunity, their rise would be indefinitely delayed!
"Alright, Father, I understand. Tell me what to do!"
Chuanwen himself was no coward. Seeing Chen Changsheng's determination to contend with the Immortal Official, he gritted his teeth and decided to follow his father's lead.
"The Black Dog Gang is helping him smuggle, so someone in the Black Dog Gang must know about the channels, right?"
Chen Changsheng tapped his index finger on the table, narrowing his eyes as he spoke with a chuckle.
"Father, Meng Xikun is very sensitive about controlling the channels. If we try to kidnap someone, we might fall into an ambush by the Black Dog Gang!"
Chen Chuanwen frowned. As the head of the Black Ice Platform, he naturally had intelligence personnel undercover in the Black Dog Gang, so he knew the basic situation.
"Mhm, they're prepared for a kidnapping. But if the Black Dog Gang is about to be wiped out, would they still keep all their men guarding that channel?"
Chen Changsheng took a sip of tea, a slight smile playing on his lips as he spoke cryptically.
"Father, you mean...?"
Chen Chuanwen didn't react for a moment and asked with a frown.
"Tell me, if a Gang suddenly appeared in Longkou County and hunted down the Black Dog Gang until they were on the brink of extinction, wouldn't the people guarding the smuggling channel want to run away? Wouldn't it be easier for us to find them then?"
Chen Chuanwen's eyes lit up upon hearing this. A smile appeared on his Face as well, and he gave Chen Changsheng a thumbs-up with a chuckle.
"Father, you're so devious. This feint of yours will definitely leave Meng Xikun completely baffled!"
Chen Changsheng's Face darkened. This kid Chuanwen really needed a lesson—who praises their own father for being devious? It seemed he needed some proper discipline.
"You brat, watch your mouth! Don't think just because you're grown up I can't handle you!"
Chuanwen scratched his head and quickly laughed, begging for mercy. Only then did Chen Changsheng let him off, instructing him:
"Zhao Song will handle this in secret, and Steamed Bun will provide backup. Have them establish a Gang behind the scenes specifically to steal the Black Dog Gang's business and target their territory! As for the Gang's name..."
At this point, Chen Changsheng's lips curled slightly as he said playfully:
"The new Gang's name will be—the Wendong Society! It sounds quite modern!"
Chen Chuanwen rubbed his head; he didn't see what was so modern about the name Wendong Society. But it didn't matter; a name was just a label. What mattered was the smooth execution of the plan.
"Father, I understand. I'll go and arrange this right away!"
Chuanwen turned and left the backyard to find Steamed Bun and Zhao Song to arrange the matter.
Chen Changsheng sipped his tea in silence, musing to himself. Things were indeed getting harder for the Chen family; their current opponent was an Immortal Official, the second most powerful figure in the county. However, this also meant the Chen family was growing stronger, having already trampled many opponents under their feet!
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, a month had gone by!
Temple Street, Longkou County!
Recently, a new Gang called the Wendong Society had suddenly appeared on Temple Street in Longkou County. Its leader was Xie Hongbing (an alias; he was actually one of the eighteen orphans from the Zhao Family Village), and they specialized in stealing the Black Dog Gang's business.
Temple Street, a key stronghold for the Black Dog Gang, was frequently attacked by Xie Hongbing. Consequently, today the Black Dog Gang's Hall Master, Scorched Skin, had arranged for the Wendong Society's forces to have a massive brawl on Temple Street!
A "massive brawl," also known as "showing the horses," was when both sides called out all their men for a scheduled fight!
On the Black Dog Gang's side, Scorched Skin led his son, Jiao Big Head, aggressively to the entrance of Temple Street. Behind them followed a dense crowd of over a hundred elite Disciples of the Black Dog Gang.
"That piece of trash Xie Hongbing only knows how to launch sneak attacks. If we Face off openly with blades and spears, they wouldn't dare show up!"
Jiao Big Head checked the time and glanced at the numerous brothers behind him, speaking triumphantly. He was especially proud of his bare upper body, intentionally showing off his tattoos, which he thought looked very imposing!
"Don't be impatient. There's still fifteen minutes. Let's see if those guys have the guts to come!"
Seeing his son's arrogant behavior, Scorched Skin frowned and wanted to give him a kick. However, considering all his subordinates were present today, he refrained from doing so to save him some Face.
"I think they've chickened out, scared of our Black—"
Hearing his father's words, Jiao Big Head became even more arrogant, gesturing wildly to show off his might. But before he could finish his sentence...
A group of people dressed in tight black outfits suddenly marched in from outside Temple Street. Each of them wore a black martial arts uniform and black leather boots, carrying a cleaver in their hands. They looked incredibly orderly, exuding an intimidating Evil Qi!
The Black Dog Gang, by contrast, was far inferior. Their clothes were a mess of colors, with some even going shirtless to show off tattoos. Their weapons were also a hodgepodge of blades, spears, staves, and clubs. Standing together, they were a disorganized mess with no formation!
"Haha, Chuanwen, it looks like Little Xie's Wendong Society is superior!"
Chen Changsheng and Chuanwen were currently sitting in a teahouse, sipping tea while enjoying the massive brawl between the two Gangs below. Chen Changsheng took a sip and spoke with a chuckle.
"Father, the people Little Xie found were all martial arts school Disciples hired with a large sum of silver. He even specifically set aside a sum of silver for their uniforms to boost their Aura."
"The money Little Xie spent is ten times that of the Wild Dog Gang. It's only right that they have this kind of display!"
Chen Changsheng didn't mind. The Chen family had plenty of silver, so spending a bit more didn't matter. Was the Chen family lacking silver now?
What they lacked were cultivation resources! Spirit Crystals!
"Alright, alright. The massive brawl is about to start. Let me see if Little Xie's silver was well spent!"
Seeing Scorched Skin of the Black Dog Gang step forward, Chen Changsheng knew the routine shouting before a Gang fight was about to begin. He quickly interrupted Chuanwen and watched the grand spectacle below with great interest!