Hong Xing, Chen Haonan

When the two Destroy Ghost God brothers were transferred to Jiang Xiaoyu's squad, there were no major obstacles.

However, when arranging the five people including Lu Fang, "Brocade Mouse" Bai Yutang was unhappy. He absolutely refused to be under the command of a woman younger than him.

In the end, Li Sheng Nan had to step in and "reason" with him using her sword, which finally calmed his discontent.

Besides this, it must be said that Yang Yuncong's arrangements for the Western Squad were truly thoughtful. Not only were most of the members in their prime, between twenty-five and thirty-five years old, but their individual strengths were also formidable.

Miao Changfeng was at the peak of the Innate Realm, just one step away from becoming a Grandmaster.

Leng Tieqiao and Xiao Zhiyuan were both in the late stage of the Innate Realm.

Meng Yuanchao, Song Tengxiao, Yang Mu, Yuchi Jiong, and Qi Jianye had reached the middle stage of the Innate Realm.

Additionally, Guan Kunwu, Mou Yihang, Dan Qiusheng, Zhu Shangfu, Yun Ziluo, and Yang Lian were in the early stage of the Innate Realm.

Among the twenty members of the Western Squad, there were a full twelve experts in the Innate Realm, their strength far exceeding the first group of twenty arranged for Qin Shuang.

Especially Miao Changfeng, Leng Tieqiao, and Xiao Zhiyuan. With their abilities, they were more than capable of being Garrison Generals themselves, yet they were assigned as Section Leaders under Qin Shuang. The intention of the higher-ups to protect Qin Shuang was obvious.

Qin Shuang's promotion to Garrison General was quickly approved, but he didn't pay much attention to it. He didn't even report to the yamen to collect his official uniform, equipment, and sabre. The issues with the squad's missing members were left for the respective Section Leaders to handle. He remained at home, fully immersed in the cultivation and exploration of his martial arts.

He needed to find a path, a Martial Way of his own, to advance to the Innate Realm.

However, on this day, Qin Shuang took a rare break to accompany Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling to a moderately sized restaurant in Bailu Fang. He was going to meet the person Kou Zhong had contacted.

Three people were already waiting in the private room. Upon seeing Qin Shuang and the others enter, they all stood up and cupped their fists in greeting.

All three were in their early twenties. The one in the middle had a resolute and deep face, his gaze firm and courageous. He was handsome and distinguished. Although young, his demeanor was seasoned and steady, possessing the bearing of a great general.

Through Kou Zhong's introduction, Qin Shuang learned that his name was Chen Haonan, a leader of a small local gang in Chaoge City.

The person on the left had a resolute and cruel face, wearing an eye patch over his left eye. His remaining right eye gleamed with a fierce light, like the leader of a wolf pack – ferocious and cunning, devoid of any mercy.

His name was Zhao Shanhe, Chen Haonan's right-hand man.

The person on the right had deep and sharp eyes, his eyebrows like two sharp swords lying above his eyes. His facial features were chiseled, exuding sharpness and inflexibility. A diagonal scar ran across his forehead, and whenever he frowned, his fierce aura seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

His name was Liang Er, also one of Chen Haonan's right-hand men.

Coincidentally, Liang Er bore a striking resemblance to Qin Shuang, about seventy to eighty percent similar, which amazed everyone. Qin Shuang himself felt a sense of familiarity.

After the six men introduced themselves, they took their seats according to their roles and immediately got down to business.

"Haonan, I assume Kou Zhong has already told you the purpose of our meeting before you came? Tell us your plans, or if you have any concerns, feel free to voice them," Qin Shuang said directly.

"First, I have a question, and I hope Captain Qin can enlighten us!"

"Go ahead," Qin Shuang gestured for Chen Haonan to continue.

"As long as Captain Qin is willing, there are plenty of people in Chaoge City willing to serve you. I am just an ordinary leader in the Hong Xing Gang. Why did Captain Qin seek me out?"

"Firstly, Kou Zhong recommended you. He said you are righteous and value loyalty and friendship, which are qualities I highly value."

"Secondly, as you can see, I am not old. Therefore, I don't want to deal with those old foxes in the martial arts world. I prefer to find someone of similar age to cooperate with."

"Lastly, it's a matter of seniority. I have little experience in the Dragon Guard, so I don't expect to directly contact the leaders of various gangs and factions. I am looking for a strategic partner."

"And you fit all these criteria, which is why I chose you!"

"Listening to Captain Qin just now, you said cooperation?" Chen Haonan asked cautiously.

"That's right, cooperation. We are equals. Neither of us is the superior of the other. We will help each other, progress together, and achieve a win-win situation!" Qin Shuang replied affirmatively.

"Thank you, Captain Qin, for thinking so highly of us. However, in the current martial arts scene in Chaoge City, Six-and-a-Half Hall and Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower are annexing smaller gangs and associations, showing a trend of rapid expansion. When the two gangs clash, the victor will inevitably dominate Chaoge City! It's not that I'm praising them and belittling ourselves, but the Hong Xing Gang is truly powerless to resist this wave. In the end, even if we aren't wiped out, we will only become a subordinate force," Chen Haonan sighed, a look of unwillingness on his face.

"You can rest assured about this. How could the imperial court allow one martial arts force to dominate? There will be countermeasures later. For now, you just need to accumulate strength and wait for the opportune moment," Qin Shuang said confidently.

Seeing that the time was right, Xu Ziling placed the sandalwood box in his hand on the table and pushed it towards Chen Haonan.

Qin Shuang pointed to the wooden box and continued, "This is a martial arts manual we confiscated from a martial arts family we eliminated. You can select your trusted subordinates to cultivate it together and improve your strength."

Chen Haonan and his two companions were overjoyed. They were low-level members of the martial arts world, relying on brute force and instinct in their fights. What they lacked the most were these systematic cultivation methods.

Although the martial arts manual was a huge temptation for the three of them, Chen Haonan remained calm: "What exactly does Captain Qin need us to do?"

"Your current strength is not high, so you only need to help me gather intelligence from the martial arts world. Your top priorities are to improve your own martial arts, increase your status within the Hong Xing Gang, and expand the gang's influence," Qin Shuang's thoughts were clear and concise.

Chen Haonan was the first to stand up, and with Zhao Shanhe and Liang Er, he bowed. "Captain Qin, although you say we are cooperating as equals, for us, this is an immense opportunity and kindness. As long as you have no ill intentions, from this day forward, we will follow your command without any reservations!"

"Good. I hope we can achieve success together, with the court and the martial arts world advancing hand in hand!" Qin Shuang was even more pleased seeing Chen Haonan's calm demeanor and respectful yet unyielding words. "Kou Zhong and Ziling will handle the specific matters with you. If you need anything, you can directly find them."

"Alright!"

Qin Shuang and Chen Haonan clasped their hands tightly, like two intertwined dragons.

Outside the restaurant, the sky gradually turned gloomy, its colors shifting from azure blue to grayish blue, then to a deep gray, and finally to a dark, oppressive mass.

This sky seemed to exert pressure on the earth, causing all things to hold their breath. The distant thunder sounded like low drumbeats, continuously striking at people's nerves.

The dark clouds loomed, as if about to swallow the entire Chaoge City, or perhaps, it wasn't these dark clouds that were about to swallow Chaoge City!