"Oh? How could it be the Yan family? I usually had no grudge against them, and we had even worked together before." Li Qing put on a disbelieving look.
The Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader had probably expected Li Qing to say this. He smiled and waved his hand, dismissing all the people hidden around them.
With that gesture, Li Qing could clearly feel that the several gazes fixed upon him ever since he had entered had all vanished.
"Your gang truly has talent in abundance. To be willing to remain beneath the Yan family for so many years—I truly admire you, Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader," Li Qing said with a smile.
Upon Hearing these words, the delight on Tian Long's face grew even stronger.
Being able to sense the people around them so keenly indeed meant Li Qing had reached the level of Outer Strength.
"To be honest, some time ago, the Yan family's second young master sent Yan San's servant to stir me up and told me to teach you a lesson. The reason was that, a long time ago, several good-for-nothings from our gang had been dealt with by you alone."
"Yan San's methods were crude. Frankly speaking, you had done nothing wrong in that matter. Those few fools simply failed to recognize what was good for them, and so much time had passed that I truly would not have remembered it if you had not brought it up."
At this point, the Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader suddenly lowered his voice.
"Still, I ultimately sent Wei Tian to your home to test you, wanting to see what sort of person could catch the Yan family's attention."
Tian Long's meaning was obvious after that. If, after this test, Li Qing had merely been a martial cultivator with a bit of brute strength, Tian Long would not have minded doing the Yan family a favor while he was at it.
But if Li Qing could discover Wei Tian, then he most likely possessed genuine strength.
Now, the result was already clear. The strength Li Qing displayed was plainly that of an Outer Strength expert.
"Li, are you interested in joining me to plot a major undertaking in Obsidian City?" Tian Long asked solemnly.
A major undertaking? Robbing the rich to aid the poor in name, while doing sneaky, petty deeds around the market district?
Li Qing could not help mocking him inwardly, but his expression did not change. He asked as calmly as ever,
"Oh? What major event is it that the Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader speaks of?"
Tian Long took a deep breath and said, "Overthrow the Yan family with me!"
These Words did not surprise Li Qing too much. Given Obsidian City's current situation, there was no other major undertaking to pursue. The only target could be the Yan family.
Yet Li Qing did not agree so readily. Instead, he said in an indifferent tone, "The Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader's martial arts are formidable. Could the Yan family truly have someone who is your match?"
"Li, the Yan family has held this position steadily for so many years. Do you really think they relied only on those hooligans and scoundrels?" Tian Long smiled bitterly.
"The Yan family has four Guest Elders. Three are Outer Strength experts, while the remaining one is a great expert at the Internal Energy level. However, that Internal Energy expert entered the coffin more than ten years ago."
Upon Hearing this, Li Qing basically understood what Tian Long meant.
He simply wanted to rope Li Qing into dealing with the Yan family, promising all kinds of benefits—but those benefits would only be given after the deed was done. To Li Qing, such benefits were no different from an empty check.
"What do you say, brother Li? As long as you can help hold off one Outer Strength expert, the other two will be left to me and my men," Tian Long said earnestly.
"Once this matter succeeds, Obsidian City will be in the palm of our hands. When that time comes, I'll make you the Righteous Gang's second-in-command!"
Li Qing pondered for a long while, but he did not rush to refuse.
If this matter truly succeeded, there would indeed be quite a few benefits. At that time, he could browse through the entire Yan family's martial arts treasury as he pleased.
One had to know that most of Obsidian City's martial halls had previously sold their signature techniques to the Yan family.
The collection of so many martial arts manuals truly made Li Qing's mouth water.
"Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, I cannot agree to this matter so hastily. There are some things I must ask clearly first." Li Qing said seriously, "Are you certain the Yan family only has three Outer Strength experts?"
"Absolutely certain. This is a matter of great importance; there can be no mistake. Over the years, I have already investigated every last detail of the Yan family," Tian Long nodded.
"Then is it possible that, among those three Outer Strength experts, someone has stepped into the Internal Energy level over these years? As far as I know, the Yan family has quite a few martial arts manuals."
"That is absolutely impossible!" Tian Long said decisively, then explained, "Li, you don't know this—cultivating Internal Energy through martial arts is not so simple. Unless one is exceptionally gifted, even training oneself to death for ten or twenty years might not yield any progress."
"And that would be under conditions where one ate fish and meat at every meal. Now, even the Yan family probably does not have the means to support three Outer Strength Martial Artists so well. It would already be impressive if they could barely sustain the consumption of three Outer Strength experts."
Martial Artists consumed a great deal every day, and Li Qing understood that deeply. He alone had to eat quite a lot of grain and meat each day.
Once he could not eat his fill, his qi and blood would quickly weaken, making it difficult to maintain his peak state.
Looking at it this way, the Yan family very likely did indeed have only three Outer Strength experts.
Tian Long was not finished yet. He immediately continued, "The Yan family has several Medicinal Wine Recipes. Back when there was still sunlight, the Yan family could spend a huge price to brew plenty of medicinal wine that stimulated qi and blood. With enough meat to go with it, they truly could have raised several Internal Energy experts."
"But now, even if the Yan family still has a few jars of that medicinal wine hidden away, they do not have enough meat for those Guest Elders to eat. They could not possibly raise Internal Energy experts!"
Medicinal Wine Recipes?
Li Qing was slightly moved, and a considerable interest arose in his heart.
"Oh? Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, may I ask what kind of medicinal wine it is, to have such miraculous effects?"
It could even help someone cultivate Internal Energy more quickly. This was indeed not something to be underestimated.
"Hahaha! Li, I knew you would be interested in this. I was the same when I was young, racking my brains to go farther along the path of martial arts!"
A trace of wistfulness appeared in Tian Long's eyes. He sighed with emotion, "Unfortunately, this era is no longer suited for martial arts. People cannot even fill their stomachs, and meat can only be eaten once in a blue moon. Sigh!"
"When there was sunlight, the Yan family somehow acquired several wine recipes. I heard they were brewed from precious ingredients such as tiger bones and blood ginseng. This medicinal wine was extremely precious. When an Outer Strength martial artist drank a cup, the qi and blood throughout his body would seem to ignite. It was enormously beneficial to the martial path!"
"Training martial arts at such a time would make one's progress soar at breakneck speed!"
"If one could eat enough meat, breaking into the Internal Energy level within a few years was not difficult."
As he said this, even Tian Long showed an expression of delighted longing.
Li Qing was even more so. His heartbeat quickened slightly.
He could obtain medicinal ingredients that were unavailable in this world by going back!
Tiger bones, medicinal herbs, and the like—so long as he returned to that previous world, they truly were not difficult to obtain. With money, he could buy them.
Li Qing, who had not particularly wanted to involve himself in this matter, was now genuinely tempted.
"What do you say, Li? Join me for this job, and you won't have to worry about food for the rest of your life," Tian Long said, striking while the iron was hot.
Upon Hearing this, Li Qing drew in a soft breath and said, "Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, this is a matter of great importance. Please allow me some more time to consider it!"
"Hahaha, good! I have waited all these years already. What harm is there in waiting a little longer? Li, consider it carefully!" Tian Long said readily.
Li Qing nodded. Just as he rose to leave, he said in a joking tone, "Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, aren't you afraid that after I leave this place, I'll immediately go report you to the Yan family?"
Tian Long froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, Li, you're an open and forthright man. I trust you!"
"Besides, that second young master of the Yan family has always been one to repay every tiny grievance. You offended him, so you will not have many peaceful days ahead!"
Smack!
Li Qing cupped his fists, then carried the Peerless Hammer on his back and left the Righteous Gang's headquarters.
After Li Qing departed, Tian Long finally looked at a crack in the ground. It had been shaken out by the Peerless Hammer when Li Qing sat down earlier.
"This Blacksmith Li is no simple man. To cultivate Outer Strength at such an age... what a pity he was born in the wrong era. No matter how great his talent, it is useless."