"Isn't that the gang Lu Meng belongs to? I heard the Tiger-Wolf Gang nearly wiped them out, so they pulled out of Black Stone County and went to neighboring Clear Water County to find a way to survive..."
Zhou Yun seemed to remember something. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Lu Meng in quite a while. Could he have been running with his older brother in the gang?
"Is that so? I heard some expert wiped out the Tiger-Wolf Gang... Our Black Stone Martial Hall invited the Sea Whale Gang back, since Black Stone County can't go a single day without a gang. Otherwise, a dozen gangs would spring up beneath our noses. It's happened before in Black Stone County's history..."
Liang Chengshi recalled, "As soon as Lu Meng and his brother returned, they invited us Inner Courtyard disciples from Black Stone County to a feast. It seemed that old man was behind it, too..."
"Master Liang was behind it?"
Zhou Yun thought it over. The Tiger-Wolf Gang had originally been backed by one branch of the Shen Family. They were brutal and vicious, and their collection of incense money was infamous in Black Stone County.
They'd even collected incense money from his family back when he was a Bright Force martial artist, showing no regard whatsoever for the county's rules.
By comparison, although the Sea Whale Gang also collected a certain water-lamp fee, at least they followed the rules. Their conduct wasn't so bad that the people of Black Stone County despised them.
With Master Liang, a Transformation Force grandmaster, pulling the strings behind the scenes and occasionally keeping them in line, the Sea Whale Gang would probably become the most law-abiding gang in Black Stone County.
Though the water-lamp fee itself went against the people's wishes, if you didn't do it, someone else would do it even more ruthlessly. Better to keep it under your own control...
Besides, this was also tied to the power struggle with the Shen Family branch at the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall.
"In that case, I'll go with you and take a look, Brother Liang."
After much hesitation, Zhou Yun decided to go and see for himself.
After all, the Tiger-Wolf Gang's destruction had started with him. By a twist of fate, it had led to the Sea Whale Gang's return to Black Stone County. As the one who'd set things in motion, he naturally ought to take a look.
And Liang Chengshi had said that other Inner Courtyard disciples would be attending the banquet. There were surely Dark Force experts among them, and their presence also signaled support for the Sea Whale Gang.
He usually focused so intently on training that he neglected to socialize. Today was a chance to make up for it and show his face in the Inner Courtyard circle.
"Couldn't be better! If those Inner Courtyard senior brothers and sisters see that someone has mastered the Black Ape Fist, they'll probably stare until their eyes pop out."
Liang Chengshi grinned. He couldn't be the only one to take a hit like that.
With Senior Brother Zhou's remarkable talent, those senior brothers and sisters ought to get a taste of it, too, as fellow members of the Black Stone Martial Hall.
The two headed to the martial hall's entrance, climbed into the Sea Whale Gang's private carriage, and went to the gang's headquarters.
It had moved from its old spot in the back hills to a location closer to the county center. They'd even bought a residence to serve as the Sea Whale Gang's lair.
Before them stood a grand gate bearing a plaque with the words "Sea Whale Gang." Two of its disciples guarded the entrance. The place was worlds apart from what it had been before.
"Young Master Liang, please come in."
The two Sea Whale Gang disciples clearly knew Liang Chengshi. They greeted him at once and stepped aside to let them through.
Liang Chengshi nodded, looking every bit the spoiled young master. He took two pieces of silver from his pocket and tossed them to the gatekeepers.
"Not bad. But from now on, greet my Senior Brother Zhou, too. Otherwise, one day when he's in a bad mood, he might have Lu Meng send you off to feed the horses..."
"Yes, yes! Welcome inside, Young Master Zhou!"
The two guards hurriedly bowed and scraped. Seeing Zhou Yun dressed as an Inner Courtyard disciple of the Black Stone Martial Hall, they called him "Young Master Zhou" again and again.
Zhou Yun nodded slightly, not particularly concerned about any of this.
He followed Liang Chengshi onto the Sea Whale Gang's grounds and found the place increasingly familiar.
It was the very den where he'd wiped out the Tiger-Wolf Gang last time. Now it had been turned into the Sea Whale Gang's headquarters.
"What a pity those several hundred, maybe even a thousand taels of silver were too hard to carry away. The moment I took them out of the warehouse, the various factions would've started investigating... Otherwise, my current net worth would be enough to rival an entire gang."
Zhou Yun regretted it in silence, then put the matter out of his mind.
They arrived at the main banquet hall, where he immediately spotted several people in the Black Stone Martial Hall's Inner Courtyard uniforms. Most of them were older than Zhou Yun.
"Little Stone, what kept you so long? Watch out, or someone else will snap up all the pretty courtesans!"
A burly, bearded man laughed heartily as he walked over and slung an arm around Liang Chengshi's shoulders. He looked at Zhou Yun. "Is this one of our Inner Courtyard disciples, too? How come I've never seen him before?"
"This is Senior Brother Zhou... Don't let his young age fool you. You old fogeys might not be able to get the better of him."
Liang Chengshi gave a cold snort, looking quite pleased with himself.
"Brother Liang is only joking... I'm Zhou Yun. It's a pleasure to meet you, Senior Brother."
Zhou Yun cupped his hands in greeting.
"Senior Brother Zhou, make yourself at home. These are all senior brothers and sisters who've been with our martial hall for years."
Liang Chengshi explained, "Most of them have grown attached to the martial hall and don't want to venture out elsewhere. So they stay under the old man's wing. Usually, they take up honorary posts with other factions outside and earn enough to get by."
"Little Stone's got it right. We old fogeys are usually out and about, yet we haven't brought Young Brother Zhou a single welcoming gift. That's not right of us senior brothers."
The burly, bearded man laughed heartily and took a gleaming, blood-red jade pendant from his pocket.
"This is a treasure that fell from a bandit on a mountain while I was escorting a caravan. It's called the Phoenix Blood Jade Pendant... Of course, it's certainly not made from phoenix blood, but it must contain the blood essence of some rare beast. It has the curious effect of slightly accelerating the flow of qi and blood in your dantian."
"This... Then thank you, Senior Brother."
This was the first time Zhou Yun had heard of a treasure like this, and he couldn't help feeling curious.
He put on the Phoenix Blood Jade Pendant. At once, a faint warmth flowed from his neck into his dantian, gradually accelerating the circulation of qi and blood there and generating more force.
"It really works. May I ask your name, Senior Brother?"
Zhou Yun was delighted and quickly asked.
"My name's Tian Dawu. You can call me Senior Brother Tian."
Senior Brother Tian smiled, then continued, "There are some other senior brothers and sisters over there, but usually the first Inner Courtyard senior brother you meet gives you the welcoming gift on their behalf. So don't expect any more gifts from them later."
As he spoke, the senior brothers and sisters in Inner Courtyard uniforms all turned their eyes toward them.
Zhou Yun nodded slightly. He'd thought everyone would give him a treasure like this, which would've made the trip worthwhile.
Still, with the Phoenix Blood Jade Pendant, the trip hadn't been in vain.
"By the way, Little Stone, there's something you'll like at this banquet... A beauty from the Demon-Human Race!"
Senior Brother Tian said mysteriously, "I heard she wandered into Clear Water County by accident and was captured by the Sea Whale Gang's leader. They're going to auction her off at this banquet to fill the gang's coffers..."
"Really? Ah! It's a shame I didn't bring much silver with me. Senior Brother Tian, you'll have to lend me some later..."
Liang Chengshi's eyes lit up at once, and he immediately cozied up to Tian Dawu.
"The Demon-Human Race? I recall them being mentioned in some ancient texts. To think one of them would be captured by humans..."
Zhou Yun was curious about what the legendary Demon-Human Race looked like, and why the young master of the Black Stone Martial Hall was so captivated by them...
As he was lost in thought, a familiar figure appeared.
"Zhou Yun?"
Lu Meng had been speaking with a young lady from a Lineage when he suddenly spotted Zhou Yun. His expression darkened.
His right eyebrow twitched. Forcing a smile, he said, "Senior Brother Zhou Yun, I didn't expect you to come to our Sea Whale Gang's banquet, too..."
"Isn't this Young Master Lu Meng? Long time no see. Your clothes are looking fancier than ever."
Seeing Lu Meng's fine clothes, Zhou Yun could tell they were far more expensive than the ones he'd once washed.
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