The Guo Family Comes Calling! Do I Have Any Other Choice?

"Fierce Tiger Fist? There seemed to be a martial arts school called Fierce Tiger in the Inner City. This fist technique shouldn't have anything to do with them, right?"

After seven epiphanies, Tiger Fist had successfully advanced. Looking at the technique name displayed on the panel after its advancement, Chen Mo felt somewhat puzzled.

Tiger Fist had originally been a third-rate technique. Chen Mo did not know whether it had become a second-rate or even higher-tier technique after advancing, but he could be certain of one thing: this fist technique was very powerful.

He practiced it several times in the courtyard. Even though he had only just entered the beginner stage, its might was already formidable, Tiger Roars with Wind.

It was far stronger than before.

"I think I can first cultivate Fierce Tiger Fist to Perfect Accomplishment." Chen Mo made his decision.

Compared to Flying Swallow Steps and the Wind Slaying Blade, Fierce Tiger Fist seemed to be stronger.

This could be seen from the number of epiphanies required for its advancement. It had cost two more. After all, it had advanced from a third-rate technique, so its rank was certainly higher.

Seeing that it was nearly noon, Chen Mo habitually tucked all the banknotes at home onto his person. Then he left for the Outer City, following the route as easily as a horse familiar with the road. He went straight to Hundred Flowers Pavilion and met Zhao Long in one of its private rooms. Zhao Long had already ordered a table full of dishes and was waiting for him.

"Gang Leader~" Zhao Long rose to greet him.

Chen Mo gave a faint nod and took his seat. After signaling for the other man to sit as well, he asked,

"Any news about Exotic Beast Meat?"

"Not yet..."

Feeling Chen Mo's calm aura, as though he were merely an ordinary person, Zhao Long answered respectfully. Then, with a serious expression, he reported,

"Gang Leader, we've already drawn the attention of some Inner City forces."

"Someone approached you?" Chen Mo asked.

Zhao Long did not hide it. He nodded. "Not just me. People from those Inner City forces also approached Zhu Tong. They seem very interested in information about your identity, Gang Leader, but none of us said anything!"

"You didn't say anything, but you brought them here instead." Chen Mo could not help teasing.

At those words, Zhao Long's expression changed drastically. He instinctively looked toward the door.

"Gang Leader, I..."

Chen Mo waved a hand, signaling that he did not need to say anything further, then said,

"Are you planning to keep standing outside the door?"

"You're quite impressive~"

A voice carrying obvious praise drifted in. The door then opened, and a middle-aged man with a goatee and a capable, refined aura walked in. Behind him followed a young man and woman, both looking to be in their twenties.

The moment the three entered the private room, their gazes converged on Chen Mo.

"Gang Leader, they're from the Guo Family!" Zhao Long looked somewhat uneasy and nervous.

The Guo Family, the Fan Family, and the Yu Family were Hequ County's Three Great Families. They had been entrenched in the County Town for over a century, with deep foundations and formidable power.

Most of the businesses in the county were controlled by the Three Great Families.

Hundred Flowers Pavilion was one of the Guo Family's businesses.

The reason Zhao Long had recognized them immediately was that the Guo Family had previously sent people to approach both him and Zhu Tong. The clothes they wore were exactly the same as those worn by the two young people behind this middle-aged man.

"May I ask what advice you have for me?"

Chen Mo remained seated without rising, calmly watching the middle-aged man.

This manner made the two young people behind him somewhat dissatisfied, but the middle-aged man remained calm as he slowly spoke.

"Chen Mo, from Chen Family Village. You arrived in the County Town less than a month ago. A Divine Strength Realm Martial Artist. Am I wrong?"

"It seems I underestimated your capabilities." Chen Mo stood.

At one meter seventy-five, he was not particularly short.

With the power and intelligence network of the Three Great Families, if they truly wanted to investigate him, they would certainly have dug up nearly everything about him.

That feeling was deeply unpleasant.

Seeing Chen Mo admit it, the young man and woman, who had previously looked dissatisfied, no longer doubted the truth of his words. Surprise appeared in both their eyes, while a flicker of eagerness passed through the goateed man's gaze.

"A fifteen-year-old Divine Strength Realm Martial Artist. Your talent is truly astonishing."

Without beating around the bush, he directly revealed the purpose of his visit. "I wonder whether Gang Leader Chen would be interested in becoming a Guo Family Guest Official."

"What are the terms?" Chen Mo asked bluntly.

A smile appeared on the man's lips, while his tone remained mild. "Guaranteed to satisfy you."

"If I choose to agree, what would I have to give?" Chen Mo asked again.

Where there was gain, there was loss. He understood that principle.

His gaze remained fixed on the other man's eyes, wanting to discern any change in his emotions.

However, the other man gave him no such opportunity. The middle-aged man remained composed throughout.

"Take action for us four times a year."

"Can you give me some time to consider it?" Chen Mo did not agree immediately.

"Certainly. Tomorrow, I will visit your residence."

"Alright~"

At this point, there was no need to say anything more. The other party turned to leave with his people. Upon reaching the doorway, he seemed to remember something. He stopped, turned around, looked back, and smiled.

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Guo Da, the Guo Family's Fifth Elder."

After saying that, he turned and left swiftly without waiting for Chen Mo's response. The two young people, meanwhile, gave Chen Mo looks of envy.

"Guo Da..."

When the man spoke those final words, he had faintly leaked a trace of his aura. Chen Mo clearly felt a slight sense of threat.

There was only one possibility for someone to make him feel that way: the other man was a Divine Strength Realm Martial Artist.

"The Fifth Elder... The foundation of a great family truly runs deep."

As he muttered, Chen Mo looked at Zhao Long, whose face was filled with fear.

"With the Guo Family's influence, there probably isn't much in Hequ County that can be hidden from them. You don't need to blame yourself. Just keep doing things as you did before."

"Gang Leader, then you..." Zhao Long hesitated, unable to continue.

Chen Mo's expression remained calm. "Do I have any other choice?"

Zhao Long was speechless.

That was right. There was no choice. Other than agreeing, he could only agree.

Chen Mo smiled faintly. "Don't make that face. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for me or for us."

He truly felt somewhat stifled inside, but he knew that a small impatience would ruin great plans. Becoming a Guo Family Guest Official was not something he could not accept. It was only four times a year, after all, and they had not said he could not refuse.

Taking selective action four times a year was not unacceptable, if what the Guo Family offered was enough to satisfy him.

If the terms did not satisfy him, then even if they were a great family, Chen Mo would not stay long. At worst, he would leave Hequ County. If he wanted to go, no one should be able to stop him.

Besides, in a year's time, his strength would certainly undergo earth-shaking changes. Reaching Body Refining Perfection was absolutely possible. He might even reach the Qi and Blood Realm, or perhaps an even higher realm.

Afterward, he had lunch with Zhao Long at Hundred Flowers Pavilion and discussed gang affairs. Since he had decided to temporarily join the Guo Family as a Guest Official, the Wild Wolf Gang's expansion could be accelerated somewhat.

The title of Guo Family Guest Official should be quite useful.

Of course, if the other two great families or the Inner City's Two Great Martial Arts Schools came knocking at this time and offered him better terms and status, Chen Mo might change his mind.

After leaving Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Chen Mo went directly to the Zheng Family Martial Arts School. There, he learned that just that morning, the Guo Family had come to the major martial arts schools in the Outer City's Inner District to recruit guards, specifically requiring them to be under twenty years old. Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi had both been successfully selected and had already gone to the Inner City.

"They moved pretty quickly." Chen Mo sighed inwardly.

As expected of a great family. They truly left no drop of water leaking through.

Unfortunately, they had misjudged Chen Mo's feelings toward Chen Family Village, as well as toward Chen Ying and the others.

With matters having developed to this point, Chen Mo no longer had any interest in strolling around or seeking entertainment. He planned to return to his home in the Inner City to rest, but not long after leaving the Zheng Family Martial Arts School, he discovered that he was being followed. Somewhat irritated, he thought,

Agreeing to Zhao Long's plan to destroy the Wild Wolf Gang seems to have been a wrong move. It brought a whole string of troubles. I can't be so self-righteous. No one else is a fool!

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. He was no longer as weak as when he had first crossed over. He would no longer let others carve him up at will. Anyone who wanted to deal with him had better be prepared to be killed in return.

Without slowing, Chen Mo did not return to the Inner City. Instead, he went all the way to an abandoned alley at the boundary between the Commercial District and the Slum District.

Very soon, two people, one in front and one behind, blocked him inside the alley...