"Oh? So you're saying I have no choice but to go with you?"
Liu Chu's voice suddenly turned cold, and he fixed the Li Family steward with a gaze sharp as a blade.
The Li Family steward felt as though he'd been targeted by an evil dragon. An inexplicable chill rose from the soles of his feet and surged through his heart.
He looked at Liu Chu, seated in the tiger-skin chair with an imposing air. Beneath the sharply defined Black Dragon Mask, the chill in his deep-set eyes made him seem like an evil dragon from the abyss.
For a brief, dazed moment, the Li Family steward felt as if he were facing the family head and the Great Elder themselves.
"How is this possible? Why does this man's presence feel just as oppressive as the family head and the Great Elder...?"
The Li Family steward was gripped by fear.
Then he thought, "It must be an illusion. This man once killed the Wild Wolf Gang Leader with six strikes. His strength is at the peak of the Tendon Refining Realm, perhaps even approaching that of the family head and the Great Elder!"
At that thought, cold sweat broke out across the Li Family steward's forehead. "Doesn't that mean that if he wanted to kill me, it would take only a few strikes?"
Backed by the Li Family's influence, the steward was used to looking down on others. But now he suddenly realized that his arrogant attitude might well cost him his life.
After all, though the Li Family was powerful, it could only intimidate respectable factions. An entity like the Black Dragon Gang, which had united three gangs and shown such formidable strength, might not be cowed.
And though he was a Tendon Refining Realm martial artist, he hadn't been tempered by much real combat. For a long time, he'd managed the family's business affairs and rarely fought.
Compared with a Tendon Refining Realm martial artist like the Wild Wolf Gang Leader, who'd carved his way through countless bloody battles, he was far weaker!
If the Black Dragon Gang Leader before him wasn't intimidated by the Li Family and flew into a rage, killing him, he would likely be doomed.
The Li Family would certainly avenge him afterward, but that wouldn't bring him back to life.
At that thought, the Li Family steward quickly adopted a humbler stance. He lowered his head and said sincerely, "Please don't misunderstand, Your Excellency. This is also a wonderful opportunity for you. Why not meet with my Li Family?"
"Heh, a wonderful opportunity? Now you've piqued my interest."
Seeing the Li Family steward lower his stance, Liu Chu also reined in the sharpness in his gaze.
He chuckled softly and said calmly, "Then tell me, what exactly is this wonderful opportunity? My cultivation time is precious. If you can't give me a good reason, I won't waste my time going with you."
"This..."
Steward Li furrowed his brow, looking troubled.
"If you're unwilling to say, then go back where you came from!"
Seeing the Li Family steward's troubled expression, Liu Chu snorted and waved a hand, signaling him to leave.
He was curious about why the Li Family had sought him out, and why they'd even claimed it was a wonderful opportunity!
But the other party couldn't even explain things in advance and had acted arrogantly. That showed little sincerity.
Liu Chu naturally wouldn't waste time on someone so insincere.
The Li Family steward gritted his teeth, then finally spoke. "This matter is of great importance. Please ask everyone else to leave, Gang Leader!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Feng Sheng.
"Hall Master Feng, you may leave."
Liu Chu waved a hand.
"Yes, Gang Leader!"
Feng Sheng wasn't worried about the Gang Leader's safety. After all, the Gang Leader's strength was there for all to see.
Only after Feng Sheng had left the hall entirely—
Liu Chu glanced at the Li Family steward, his gaze languid as he waited for an explanation.
The Li Family steward cleared his throat and said mysteriously, "May I ask whether your recent gathering of Treasure Fish has anything to do with the Treasure Fish King?"
Liu Chu's heart tightened, and he sighed inwardly. "As expected, collecting so many Treasure Fish has attracted the attention of interested parties. Fortunately, my strength has improved considerably. I should be able to fend off anyone who comes probing."
He'd long expected that gathering Treasure Fish would attract the attention of the major factions in Zhaojiang City.
He'd originally been accumulating them little by little to keep a low profile as much as possible.
But it seemed that even so, he'd still drawn the Li Family's attention.
He furrowed his brow. "The Treasure Fish King?"
He'd heard of the Treasure Fish King. It was said that a single one was worth more than a hundred Treasure Fish and cost at least three thousand taels of silver!
It was usually available only to those with connections, even at a high price!
What's more, its medicinal effects were a whole tier above those of ordinary Treasure Fish. It was a powerful tonic for external-training martial artists, and could even raise their chances of breaking through to the Neizhuang Realm!
It could also greatly benefit martial artists in the Neizhuang Realm!
But Treasure Fish were rare, and Treasure Fish Kings were a hundred times rarer!
The last time a Treasure Fish King appeared was said to have been three years ago. It drew countless experts to the Qing River outside Zhaojiang City, where they launched a massive search for it!
Zhaojiang City got its name from its proximity to the Qing River. As for Heilu Bay, it was where one of the river's tributaries converged and flowed into a bay outside the city.
"Heh. You appeared out of nowhere, arrived in the Green Tiger Gang, seized control of the gang, and were as mysterious as could be. Then you wiped out the Wild Wolf Gang."
"You could say that you took control of three gangs single-handedly, one of which held Heilu Bay, where it met the Qing River."
The Li Family steward paused, then continued with a smile. "On top of that, you've secretly purchased so many Treasure Fish lately. Taken together, it would be hard to believe you weren't here for the Treasure Fish King."
He wore an expression that said, "Go ahead and keep pretending; we've already seen through you." A playful smile tugged at his lips as he stared at Liu Chu.
Liu Chu sighed inwardly. "I never expected a few coincidences to make the Li Family misunderstand and think I bought so many Treasure Fish because I was after the Treasure Fish King!"
"But this works out. Now I don't have to explain why I need so many Treasure Fish!"
Liu Chu's thoughts raced. Then he looked at the Li Family steward. "So you're here for the Treasure Fish King?"
"Exactly!"
The Li Family steward nodded. "Our family head noticed that you'd been secretly buying Treasure Fish, so he suspected you must have some special way to use large quantities of them to lure out the Treasure Fish King."
He smiled sincerely. "That's why the family head wants to work with you to seize the Treasure Fish King!"
"I see."
Liu Chu's voice held a note of sudden understanding. Then he sighed. "Unfortunately, you've got it wrong. I don't know how to lure out the Treasure Fish King."
"Your Excellency, please don't joke. If you had no way to lure it out, why would you buy so many Treasure Fish...?"
The Li Family steward clearly didn't believe him.
"I bought the Treasure Fish to cultivate a secret art!"
Liu Chu casually made up an excuse, then said, "All right, you can go back. Tell your family head not to be too curious. Curiosity killed the cat!"
Once he learned that the Li Family had misunderstood him and believed he could lure out the Treasure Fish King, Liu Chu lost all interest in them.
He had no way to lure out a Treasure Fish King. What was the point of working with them?
"This... Why not come with me to the Li Mansion for a chat?"
The Li Family steward persisted.
But Liu Chu waved a hand, his tone carrying a warning. "Go back. And be sure to tell your family head: don't let his curiosity get the better of him!"
Seeing that Liu Chu wouldn't change his mind, the Li Family steward could only leave the Black Dragon Gang in frustration.
"Hopefully, the Li Family knows what's good for them!"
Liu Chu watched the steward leave and thought to himself.
He went alone to the courtyard where the Treasure Fish were kept to check on their collection.
"Hmm, we've collected twenty-one Treasure Fish already. Not bad, not bad!"
Liu Chu looked at the colorful Treasure Fish swimming playfully in the pond and smiled.
Before you continue