Wind Rises

Jiang Liu made his way to the Dining Hall, hearing many gang members gossiping along the way.

They said that the leader of Scattered Eagle Hall only knew how to fight among his own people, becoming a spineless coward and bowing and scraping when facing outsiders, yet holding his head high and acting arrogantly toward members of the gang. Some even went so far as to say that he had sold out the gang's interests.

Jiang Liu wondered, A sub-hall leader is being talked about like this. Could it be that the Wind Hall of the main hall isn't going to intervene? Or is this sub-hall leader simply so unpopular that even ordinary gang members can't stand him anymore?

In the Fallen Blossom Gang's main hall, a middle-aged man with an imposing presence sat in the chair representing the gang leader's position at the center of the hall. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his fingers tapped lightly against the armrest as he pondered.

At that moment, a man dressed entirely in black entered the hall. He wore lightweight black training shoes, a black face veil that concealed everything but his eyes, and his hair was tied back with a black cloth band. His age was impossible to discern. He cupped his hands toward Qian Luoying and said, "Gang Leader, you summoned me?"

"Shadow! Do you know where the rumors targeting Zheng Lang began?" Qian Luoying asked Shadow.

Shadow was the leader of the Fallen Blossom Gang's Shadow Eagle Hall and oversaw the gang's entire intelligence network. He was also a suspected fifth-grade expert. Apart from the gang leader, no one knew his true identity or name; he normally appeared in public only under his codename. He was also the person Qian Luoying trusted most in the entire Fallen Blossom Gang.

Shadow cupped his hands toward Qian Luoying. "Gang Leader, after investigation, the rumors first came from the Punishment Hall. But after examining the matter closely, they most likely originated from the Hunting Eagle Hall and were passed on through the Punishment Hall!"

"The Hunting Eagle Hall? Lin Hao? What is he trying to do? Is he simply trying to strike at Zheng Lang?" Qian Luoying asked in confusion.

"At present, it does seem to be aimed solely at Zheng Lang. However, a minor incident occurred in the Hunting Eagle Hall earlier. It should be related to this!" Shadow continued.

"Oh? What happened?" Qian Luoying asked with some interest.

"Last year, the Hunting Eagle Hall seized Fu Rong Street from the Vast Ocean Gang. Things had already settled down, but suddenly, several gambling houses began suffering from large-scale cheating incidents. According to the informant I placed there, it was the work of Scattered Eagle Hall!"

"Oh! It seems these rumors are Lin Hao's revenge against Zheng Lang?"

"That should be the case!"

"But why did Zheng Lang cause trouble at Lin Hao's gambling houses?"

"It seems he was dissatisfied with the Hunting Eagle Hall monopolizing Fu Rong Street and wanted a share of the spoils!"

"Dissatisfied? Before we went into battle, I made it clear! Whichever hall conquered a territory would own it! What right did Zheng Lang have to be dissatisfied?"

"Zheng Lang believes that his men suffered so many casualties and tied down the Vast Ocean Gang's main force by attacking Three Horses Street, only to gain nothing in the end. The Hunting Eagle Hall picked up the advantage, so he was dissatisfied!"

"I don't care what Zheng Lang thinks! The matter was discussed and agreed upon by all the sub-halls before the war began. It cannot be changed!"

"Zheng Lang is dissatisfied with the outcome, so he recklessly fights among his own people. If this continues, what will become of us? The gang rules forbid this!"

"Although the Hunting Eagle Hall's actions were a counterattack against Scattered Eagle Hall's provocation, they still count as inciting internal strife within the gang!"

"Go and pass a message to Lin Hao and Zheng Lang. Tell them that this matter ends here. Both halls will have their supplies suspended for three days, as a warning to the others!"

"Also, immediately order the Wind Hall to control the rumors. Anyone who dares to spread them recklessly is to be arrested at once and sent to the Punishment Hall for punishment!" Qian Luoying instructed.

"Yes, Gang Leader!" After speaking, Shadow's figure flashed, and he gradually disappeared into the hall.

Qian Luoying stared in the direction Shadow had vanished and sank into thought. Shadow's lightness skill has improved again.

Before half a day had passed, a notice appeared in every sub-hall, sternly warning all gang members: further spreading of the rumors was forbidden. Anyone who violated the order would, upon discovery, be arrested and sent to the Punishment Hall in the main hall according to the gang rules.

While the main hall was banning the spread of the rumors, Jiang Liu had finished his meal and continued practicing Wandering Steps in the small courtyard where he lived. He practiced it three times. Now, Jiang Liu really wanted to see whether Wandering Steps would look the same as Master Ma's once he had trained it to the mastery stage.

"What? Our supplies are being suspended for three days? On what grounds?" Lin Hai complained to Master Lin.

"Have you no respect? Who are you shouting at? This is the gang leader's decision! If you have the nerve, go argue it with him!" Lin Hao snapped irritably.

"I'm just upset! How would I dare go find the gang leader?" Lin Hai said, his face full of embarrassment.

"Enough! The matter is settled. Don't say anything more! Besides, we aren't the only ones being punished. Scattered Eagle Hall is being punished too!"

"Oh? Master Lin, what do you think the gang leader means by doing this?" Lin Hai asked in confusion.

"What else could it mean? Maintaining balance, of course! Although Qian Luoying's strength firmly surpasses ours, he can't personally handle everything, can he? He still wants to advance further in the martial path!"

"But he can't completely trust us either! All he can do is pull us in with one hand and strike us with the other, making us develop in balance so we'll do our utmost to work for him!" Lin Hao said indifferently. His face was filled with shrewdness, utterly at odds with the bold and forthright image he usually displayed.

Lin Hai had long since grown accustomed to this side of Lin Hao.