The Gang Leader Arrives, The Li Family Delivers an Ultimatum

After the three short, two long knocks, Lu Chen opened the door. Standing outside was none other than the Gang Leader of the Black Water Gang, Chen Wanli.

This man, who usually commanded the winds and rains of Nujiang County, now showed not a trace of his usual dominance on his face. Instead, there was a barely concealed weariness and gravity. He wore plain clothes, had no attendants behind him, and simply stood quietly at the door, his gaze complex as he looked at Lu Chen.

"Gang Leader."

Lu Chen stepped aside, his expression calm as he made a "please" gesture, as if he had long anticipated Chen Wanli's late-night visit.

Chen Wanli nodded and stepped into the small courtyard. His eyes swept over the old locust tree swaying slightly in the night breeze at the corner, then glanced at Lu Chen's dimly lit room, and let out a soft sigh.

"Lu Chen, this courtyard of yours—quite peaceful."

"Peace is good. Suitable for training," Lu Chen said, closing the courtyard gate. He poured Chen Wanli a cup of cold tea. "Gang Leader coming alone so late at night—I doubt it's just to praise my courtyard's peace."

Chen Wanli took the teacup but didn't drink. He just held it, feeling the coolness from the cup's walls. He was silent for a moment, as if weighing his words.

"Lu Chen, you're a smart man. You should know the situation outside by now."

Chen Wanli lifted his head, his gaze meeting Lu Chen's directly. "The Ye Family's wanted posters have plastered every corner of Canglan Prefecture. One hundred thousand taels of silver, plus the status of a Ye Family guest elder... that price is enough to turn brothers against each other, father against son."

Lu Chen sat across from him, his fingers lightly stroking the hilt of the Hundred Refinements Steel Saber, a faint, mocking smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "So, Gang Leader, have you come to take my head?"

"If I wanted your head, I wouldn't have come alone."

Chen Wanli shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. "Lu Chen, I, Chen Wanli, may not be a good man, but I wouldn't sell out a friend for glory. You're someone I personally promoted. You helped the Black Water Gang wipe out the Red Fish Gang. You killed the Water Ghost King and brought peace to Nujiang County. I remember that merit, and the brothers of the Black Water Gang remember it too."

Having said this, Chen Wanli's voice suddenly dropped, carrying a deep helplessness. "But having a good memory isn't always a good thing."

"This afternoon, the Li Family sent someone with a message."

"The Li Family?" Lu Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.

"The Li Family of Canglan Prefecture—a behemoth on par with the Ye Family." Chen Wanli took a deep breath. "They didn't issue a direct wanted order, but their meaning was clear. If the Black Water Gang hands you over, or even just provides your whereabouts to aid their capture, the Li Family is willing to offer the Black Water Gang protection. They might even make the Black Water Gang their representative in Nujiang County."

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen's expression didn't change at all. He only asked calmly, "What do the brothers in the gang say?"

"What else could they say?"

Chen Wanli laughed self-deprecatingly. "People's hearts are separated by walls. Facing a behemoth like the Li Family, plus the Ye Family's massive bounty, the gang has long been in an uproar. Apart from Zhao Tieshan and those few stubborn fools still shouting about living and dying with you, the other Hall Masters, Incense Masters... hmph, their eyes are all green."

"They don't dare say it to my face, but I see their underhanded moves. Some are quietly contacting the Li Family. Others are secretly watching your courtyard. Some have even suggested that, for the sake of the lives and property of the gang's thousands of brothers, sacrificing you alone is... a necessary evil."

The room fell into a dead silence.

Only the wind outside continued to howl.

Lu Chen looked at the Gang Leader who had once shown him kindness and favor, feeling no ripples in his heart. He had long seen through this world.

In the face of absolute profit and survival pressure, so-called brotherhood in the jianghu was nothing but a fragile pane of paper—breakable with a single poke.

That Chen Wanli had come here tonight to tell him all this might still hold a shred of old loyalty, but more likely, it was a weighing of pros and cons. After all, with Lu Chen's current strength, no one could guarantee they could take him down easily. If an attempt failed, the Black Water Gang would face Lu Chen's furious retaliation.

"Since the Gang Leader has laid it all out, I won't beat around the bush either."

Lu Chen set down his teacup, his voice cold as ice. "Has the Gang Leader come to make me leave on my own? Or to make me surrender without a fight, trading myself for the Black Water Gang's future?"

Chen Wanli's body stiffened slightly. He looked into Lu Chen's pitch-black eyes, which seemed to pierce through a man's heart, and an inexplicable chill rose within him.

This young man had grown too fast. So fast that even he, the Gang Leader, felt a trace of fear.

"Lu Chen, I don't want to lie to you."

Chen Wanli sighed and slowly stood up. "I am the Gang Leader of the Black Water Gang. Behind me are thousands of brothers who need to eat, thousands of families to support. I can't drag the entire Black Water Gang to be buried with the Ye and Li Families just for you alone."

"But I also can't bring myself to personally send a brother to the chopping block."

Chen Wanli pulled a heavy bundle from his chest and placed it on the table.

"Here are a thousand taels in gold notes, and a map to the neighboring prefecture. The Li Family's experts will arrive tomorrow morning, and the Ye Family's people are already on the way. Before the encirclement tightens completely... you should go."

"Go as far as you can. Never return to Nujiang County."

Having said this, Chen Wanli seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. He turned around, unable to look at Lu Chen again, and walked toward the door.

This was the limit of what he could do.

Neutrality. Sending money and seeing him off. It preserved his jianghu honor and kept the gang safe. At least, that was what he believed.

But just as his hand was about to touch the door latch—

Behind him came Lu Chen's voice, calm to the point of indifference.

"Gang Leader."

Chen Wanli's steps halted.

"Do you think that if I leave, the Li and Ye Families will let the Black Water Gang off?"

Chen Wanli's whole body trembled. He whipped his head around. "What do you mean?"

Lu Chen still sat there, his posture unchanged.

"A man may be innocent, but the possession of a treasure is a crime."

Lu Chen said flatly. "What they want isn't just my head. It's what I carry on me. If I run and they can't find me, who do you think they'll take it out on? By then, the Black Water Gang won't be able to hand me over, nor produce the goods. Do you think those lofty, high-and-mighty noble families will bother reasoning with you?"

Chen Wanli's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Right.

The great clans always act with overbearing arrogance. When they can't find the main culprit, taking it out on those connected to them is common practice. As Lu Chen's "nest," the Black Water Gang absolutely couldn't escape blame!

"Th-then what can we do?"

Chen Wanli's voice trembled slightly. "Are we really going to fight them? Those are Viscera Refining Realm experts! There might even be Meridian Connecting Realm powerhouses! What do we have to fight with? Our lives to throw away?!"

Despair.

Deep despair shrouded Chen Wanli's heart.

This was a dead end. Whether Lu Chen stayed or left, the Black Water Gang seemed doomed either way.

Watching Chen Wanli's utterly dejected appearance, Lu Chen slowly rose to his feet.

He walked over until he stood before Chen Wanli, his frame half a head taller casting a massive shadow that completely enveloped the gang leader.

"Gang Leader, you've grown old."

Lu Chen's voice was soft, but it struck Chen Wanli's chest like a heavy hammer.

"In the martial world, there's never been such a thing as bowing your head to survive. If you want to live, if you want to keep your foundation, there's only one path—"

"And that's to break the teeth of those who want to eat your flesh! To cut off the heads of those who want to drink your blood!"

A terrifying Sha Qi exploded from Lu Chen's body.

In that moment, Chen Wanli felt like he wasn't facing a man, but a primordial ancient beast just awakened!

"Lu Chen, you... what are you planning?" Chen Wanli instinctively stepped back, his eyes full of shock.

Lu Chen didn't answer. Instead, he asked a question:

"If I can resolve the Li Family's threat, what choice would you make, Gang Leader?"

Chen Wanli froze.

Resolve the Li Family's threat?

How?

That was the behemoth-like Li Family!

But looking into Lu Chen's eyes—filled with absolute confidence and icy killing intent—that long-dormant ambition in Chen Wanli's heart inexplicably stirred.

He swallowed his saliva and asked in a hoarse voice, "You... how sure are you?"

The corner of Lu Chen's mouth curled up into a chilling smile.

He didn't speak. He simply reached out and made a grasping motion in the air.

"Crack!"

A sharp sound seemed to echo through the air.

"Ten out of ten."

The next morning.

Nujiang County's dock was noisier than usual, but also more oppressive.

All the laborers had been herded to the outskirts. Rows of Black Water Gang members in black Jing Suits stood on both sides of the dock, weapons in hand, their expressions tense.

And at the very center of the dock, in front of the Black Water Gang's Main Hall.

Gang Leader Chen Wanli, War Hall Master Zhao Tieshan, and all the gang's leaders had gathered.

Their faces were grim, especially those who had originally advocated handing Lu Chen over. Now they sat on pins and needles, their eyes darting nervously.

Because Lu Chen hadn't left.

Not only had he not left, but he was currently sitting cross-legged on a Taishi Chair at the Main Hall's entrance, eyes closed in meditation.

That famous Hundred Refinements Steel Saber lay horizontally across his knees.

"Gang Leader, wh-what's going on here?"

A fat-faced Hall Master wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and sidled up to Chen Wanli, whispering, "Weren't we supposed to send him away? Why is he sitting here like a giant Buddha? Isn't he just inviting disaster for us?"

"Yeah, Gang Leader! The Li Family will be here any minute! If they see Lu Chen still here, we won't be able to talk our way out of it even with a hundred mouths!" another leader stomped his foot in panic.

Chen Wanli ignored them.

He just stared fixedly at the young figure sitting at the door, his hands gripping the chair's armrests so hard his knuckles turned white.

He was gambling.

Gambling the Black Water Gang's century-old legacy, the lives of thousands of brothers, and even his own head.

All on Lu Chen's "ten out of ten" from last night!

"They're here!"

Suddenly, a shout rang out from the crowd.

Everyone's gaze instantly snapped to the river.

On the wide Nujiang River, a massive Tower Ship broke through the morning mist, slowly approaching.

The tower ship was pitch-black, three stories high, with a massive golden "Li" character embroidered on its sail that gleamed under the sunlight, exuding an oppressive majesty.

Before the tower ship even docked, a terrifying aura had already pressed down from all directions.

It was the pressure of a superior!

It was the presence of a true expert!

Before this aura, the Black Water Gang members were like sheep facing a lion; many couldn't even control their trembling legs, their weapons slipping from their grip.

"So this is... the Li Family of the prefectural city?"

Zhao Tieshan's palms were slick with sweat as he gripped his Ghost Head Saber. Though he was also in the Meridian Connecting Realm, faced with the foundation of such a noble clan, he still felt as insignificant as an ant.

The tower ship docked.

No gangplank was lowered.

Three figures leaped directly from the deck over ten zhang high, landing steadily on the dock like three great birds.

The one in the lead was an old man in a purple robe. His hair and beard were white, his face gaunt, but when his eyes opened and closed, sharp light shot forth. His temples bulged prominently, and a faint layer of qi swirled around his body.

Behind him followed two middle-aged men, equally steady in bearing, their gazes sharp as blades.

"That's... Li Family Elder, Li Changfeng!"

Someone in the crowd recognized the old man and let out a terrified gasp. "I heard he stepped into the Viscera Refining Realm ten years ago. His 'Primordial Qi Art' is cultivated to perfection—he once killed a rampaging Iron Armored Rhinoceros with a single palm strike!"

Viscera Refining Realm!

The moment those three words were spoken, every Black Water Gang member present turned deathly pale.

Body Tempering, Bone Forging, Viscera Refining.

Though all fell under the Body Tempering Realm, Viscera Refining was the peak of this major stage!

Internal organs as tough as iron, breaths as long and deep as thunder, limitless endurance, blood and qi as heavy as mercury.

Such a figure was an invincible existence in tiny Nujiang County!

Chen Wanli's heart sank to the bottom. Though he was also in the Meridian Connecting Realm, before a true expert from a noble clan, he was utterly outmatched.

Li Changfeng clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze like lightning as he coldly swept over the Black Water Gang members.

No opening words.

No pleasantries.

He simply uttered a single word:

"The man."

His voice was soft, yet it exploded like muffled thunder in everyone's ears.

That lofty contempt, that arrogance of viewing all living beings as ants, was on full display.

Chen Wanli took a deep breath and was about to step forward to speak.

"Creak—"

A harsh scraping sound of a chair came.

Lu Chen, who had been sitting by the door with his eyes closed in meditation, slowly opened his eyes.

He stood up, picked up his blade, and walked down the steps one by one.

With each step, his aura rose another notch.

When he stopped three zhang in front of Li Changfeng, his aura was already faintly contending with the elder's!

Lu Chen looked at this overbearing Li Family elder before him, a cold smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.

"You want the man?"

"First ask my blade if it agrees."

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