Secretly Cross the Chencang Pass, and Wading In

The hall master of Da Xing in Kyoto had not answered the summons.

Shi Tiexin had expected this long ago.

Though Wang Dafa had become Da Xing's top man in Japan, struggles for power existed everywhere, and factionalism flourished at all times. Japan was currently in chaos from top to bottom; in a sense, it had returned to the days of warlords carving up the land.

Moreover, Wang Dafa had only recently taken power, and there were suspicions that his position had not been gained legitimately. It was understandable enough that the Kyoto hall master was unwilling to serve under him and wanted to test his strength in the ring.

Word had it that the Kyoto hall master had gathered several hall masters from other regions as well—those truly wearing the same pair of pants with him, along with those waving flags and shouting support—to form the so-called Kansai Corps, preparing to have it out with Wang Dafa.

The bird that stuck its head out got shot.

But from another angle, both Wang Dafa and the Kyoto hall master were birds sticking their heads out. It depended on who had what it took to be the gun, and who could only be forced to be the bird.

The advance plan was swiftly drawn up.

This was where Wang Dafa's far-sightedness showed.

Early on—even when he had merely been a hall master—he had already planted eyes and ears in Da Xing's major branches across Japan's prefectures, gathering intelligence. The size of each branch's forces, their distribution of strength, key figures, organizational structures, everyday conduct, and rumors from the underworld had all been sorted and organized into categories.

That intelligence immediately became the best guide for the Tokyo Corps' advance.

Taking all the information together, Tokyo hall master Shi Tiexin and the