This was a progressive arrangement. The Pai Gang's power rested in Lu Hou'er's hands, after all, he had founded it single-handedly. And if Lu Hou'er could be controlled by Meng Zhao, then naturally, the Pai Gang's power could be brought into the fold.
It was like an emperor commanding an army—he would inevitably do so through generals he trusted. The principle was much the same.
After hearing this, although Lu Hou'er did not know whether Meng Zhao truly thought this way, his attitude was obvious. His face showed gratitude and emotion as he repeatedly said,
"Your subordinate faced many dangers in Lishou Mountain. If the Dragon King had not aided me at my side, I might well have perished there long ago. Besides, the Dragon King possesses great talent and strategy, and martial arts beyond compare. Even when facing a Celestial Being expert, you could hold your own without falling behind. Naturally, I am wholeheartedly loyal and would never dare harbor divided loyalties."
"Good. Then you will still decide all matters, great and small, concerning the Pai Gang. Hand over ten percent of the profits as a token gesture; you may distribute the rest as you see fit.
"In the future, I will send people over from Lingwu City to lend you a hand. Do not think I am targeting or distrusting you. Xu Tingyun, Min Tao, Wu Chen, Mu Yi, Gan Mingfeng—the forces under all of them are handled the same way.
"This has nothing to do with trust. I simply must ensure that I have a few backup measures and moves in reserve. This is an extra layer of insurance. In ordinary times, just act as though they do not exist."
Lu Hou'er was rather pleasantly surprised. He had thought that from now on, he would be working