Yuan Hao (Two-in-One)

"Xu Yuan, someone is following us."

After walking a distance, Ran Qingmo suddenly transmitted his voice.

The voice came suddenly, Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing it.

The alleys in the slums of Pingshui Bay are long and narrow, with the longer ones being about twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters) and the shorter ones about seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-4 meters). The forks in the alleys are intricate and difficult to follow.

However, upon hearing Ran Qingmo's voice, he subconsciously activated his cultivation Cultivation Method and peered backward, but even with his sixth-grade cultivation and the enhancement from the Blood Origin Heart-Fall Technique, he still gained nothing.

Frowning, Xu Yuan asked telepathically:

"Very strong?"

Ran Qingmo pondered for a moment, then shook his head:

"He's not very strong. Judging from his breathing and heartbeat, he's probably only around the seventh rank."

Xu Yuan was silent for a moment.

He was able to track a 6th-rank cultivator without being detected, especially since his Innate Dao Body allowed him to Will Soul to probe outside his body.

Thoughts raced through his mind. He glanced down at the barely visible footprints on the ground behind him, understanding dawned on him, but then narrowed his eyes.

He paused, then chuckled softly:

"It seems the person following us is a veteran."

"Should we get rid of him?" Ran Qingmo asked quite naturally.

Xu Yuan glanced at Ran Qingmo, a smile playing on his lips.

The world is not peaceful these days, especially in certain prefectures. A beautiful woman like Ran Qingmo traveling the martial world will inevitably encounter trouble.

The world was in complete chaos even in the year 2000, let alone the world today.

When traveling, having dark hands is a necessary condition.

Just like the time she hit him with that stick.

However, Xu Yuan shook his head at Ran Qingmo's suggestion:

"No need, let's go back and find him."

Having said that,

Xu Yuan released the seal on the Saint's Remnant Soul, and almost instantly, that familiar bass cannon sounded.

Very melancholy.

"Young Xu, although I know there are some things this old man can't know, do you know how I've been these past ten days? It's dark and cold inside the Soul Ring."

"Alright, alright, we've already been here for ten thousand years, what's one more ten days?"

Xu Yuan was somewhat amused and exasperated. "Can I borrow your soul power for a moment?"

"Tsk"

The Saint's Remnant Soul clicked its tongue, releasing its soul power as it muttered, "I won't say much more. I've gone to so much trouble to help you, so remember to find me a good disciple."

Xu Yuan shook his head, not exposing him. In the instant their Will Soul connected, Xu Yuan discovered the person who was following them, and immediately took Xu Xinyao into the air, landing in front of the other party in a flash.

"."

The deserted alley was silent.

Seeing the three men in straw hats appear in front of him in an instant, the man who had been following him subconsciously took a step back, but his expression remained almost unchanged.

Seeing the other party's reaction, I had a general idea of what was going on.

This was a rather robust young man, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with ordinary features, just like an ordinary farmer.

"Scout?"

Xu Yuan didn't waste any words and asked directly.

A seasoned stalker like this is either a local gang leader or a military scout. Judging from his adaptability, he's most likely the latter.

If it's not the latter, then killing him is sufficient.

The fact that local gangsters were following them, especially with Ran Qingmo and Xu Xinyao present, strongly suggests they weren't trying to befriend them.

The man's reaction was calm; he simply clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Young master, are you here to see Wolf Head?"

Xu Yuan knew this was a recitation of a password, and laughed:

"No, I'm here to find the Monkey."

After a moment of silence, the man respectfully clasped his hands and knelt on the ground:

"Greetings, Third Young Master."

Xu Yuan waved his hand:

"Get up, lead the way."

Upon hearing this, the man immediately stood up, took two quick steps, and whispered:

"Third Young Master, Commander Yuan has been waiting for quite some time."

Led by the man, Xu Yuan and his two companions walked through several blocks to a high-walled courtyard guarded by men. Two imposing stone lions sat on either side of the entrance, and faint array patterns could be seen undulating on the courtyard wall.

Sure enough, even the poorest places have rich people, but this place probably wasn't bought.

Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the man beside him.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan's gaze, the man explained in a low voice:

"Third Young Master, this is the residence of the Pingshui Gang leader. The Pingshui Gang is the largest gang in this area, controlling the dock's unloading operations, gambling, and the prostitution business."

After saying that, he gestured to the guards at the gate to open it.

As the gate opened and he entered the courtyard, Xu Yuan couldn't help but smile slightly to himself.

Launching a war is not as simple as just mobilizing troops; intelligence, supplies, and funds all need to be prepared.

Xu Yinhe made the decision, and the subordinates began to carry it out, with the various branches coordinating with each other.

The Pingshui Gang was likely the work of Lou Ji's Black Scale Guard; it's unexpected that they even had spies planted in Wanxiang City.

Xu Xinyao looked around and deduced the same thing, then said softly:

"Third Brother, is the leader of the Pingshui Gang the Black Scale Guard?"

"It should be."

Xu Yuan nodded. "It seems that Aunt Lou Ji's people are even more capable than we imagined."

The chaos of the slums is apparent to outsiders, but to the locals, it's basically a familiar scene for neighbors.

Because the slum is so large and has many "projects" to attract tourists, the sudden arrival of a hundred or so unfamiliar faces might not attract attention. However, if thousands of people arrive in a short period of time, the local bullies will definitely notice.

The reason why local bullies can exist is most likely because they have "communication" with people in official circles, but the fact that Wanxiang City is named after Wanxiang naturally means that it has intricate connections with the Wanxiang Sect.

In such a tense period, it is easy to trigger a chain reaction.

Xu Xinyao nodded in agreement. "No wonder Yuan Hao was able to smuggle people in."

Although the residence of the leader of the largest gang was far inferior to the Prime Minister's Estate in Jingjiang City, it still occupied a large area.

After passing through several courtyards, the group finally entered the back hall where the host family lived.

A small bridge spans a flowing stream, elegant pavilions stand amidst clouds, and a stone-paved path leads directly to the main hall.

suddenly,

A middle-aged man with half-black and half-white hair came out from the front hall, a scar on his face, and a faint but palpable murderous intent emanating from him.

It perfectly matches Xu Yuan's impression of a gang leader.

The scout leading the way immediately whispered the introduction:

"Third Young Master, this man is the leader of the Pingshui Gang. I will take my leave now."

"Okay, go down."

Xu Yuan nodded, stopped in his tracks, and watched the other person approach.

"Bai Zhao greets the Third Young Master."

The middle-aged man approached but did not kneel; instead, he bowed deeply with his hands clasped in a gesture of respect.

This is probably the difference between the Black Scale Guard and the Black Scale Army.

Tian'an Martial Hall not only teaches martial arts training methods, but also cultivates a sense of collective consciousness and loyalty among its students, particularly their loyalty to Xu Yinhe.

The specific methods were thoroughly discussed and demonstrated by the advisors of the Prime Minister's Estate, subtly influencing the students without provoking their resistance.

After leaving Tian'an Martial Hall and joining the Black Scale Army, this subtle and gradual influence will be even more refined.

When people meet a Prime Minister's Estate's family, most of them will kneel and bow.

Lou Ji's Black Scale Guard are different from the Black Scale Army. Most of them are bound together by common goals and interests, as well as the threat of death after betrayal.

The game became reality, and after learning about these things, Xu Yuan always felt that his father was a truly extraordinary person who had appeared out of nowhere.

The protagonist of a world completely different from Qin Mo.

No wonder Xu Changge didn't dare to utter a single word in front of Xu Yinhe most of the time.

This company started as a small, aristocratic Aristocratic Clan in Jingjiang Prefecture and has gradually grown into the behemoth it is today.

That's a bit too far ahead.

Xu Yuan looked at the middle-aged man with half-gray hair in front of him and smiled:

Where is Commander Yuan?

"Commander Yuan is over here." Bai Zhao smiled and gestured for him to enter.

Xu Yuan took the first step, with Bai Zhao following beside him.

After a moment's pause, Xu Yuan looked at the servants in the courtyard and asked softly:

"Won't these servants get in our way when they see us?"

Bai Zhao smiled upon hearing this and said:

"That's alright. They're either illiterate deaf-mutes from the neighborhood, or they're the confidants that this scoundrel has cultivated over the years."

"A deaf-mute?" Xu Yuan asked in surprise.

Bai Zhao smiled very frankly:

"It will earn me a good reputation, and it won't leak any secrets."

As they walked, Xu Yuan glanced at the other person and asked:

"Did you build up the Pingshui Gang all by yourself?"

Bai Zhao smiled modestly:

"It was just luck. I wouldn't be where I am today without Lord Yi Tian's support."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Yi Tian, an underling of Aunt Lou Ji, is a minor boss in the early stages of the Cangyuan Evil Dao path.

It was obvious that the person in front of him did not hold a high position in the Black Scale Rank and was not qualified to directly contact Lou Ji.

However, this did not affect Xu Yuan's admiration for the other party, because he could sense that the person in front of him was only at the seventh rank.

A seventh-rank official in his forties would most likely have been weaker when he was younger. The Black Scale Guard wouldn't invest too many resources in such a casually scattered seed. Moreover, without martial prowess, the only way to build such a large gang here is through cunning.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan said:

"Very nice."

Upon seeing the other party's actions, Bai Zhao's eyes flashed with surprise, then he respectfully clasped his hands and whispered:

"Thank you for your praise Third Young Master."

Xu Yuan shook his head, continued forward, and asked softly:

"How many men did Commander Yuan bring into the city this time?"

"More than three thousand five hundred people."

Bai Zhao replied without hesitation.

Although the commander only told him that the Third Young Master would be coming, without mentioning the specific purpose of his Third Young Master, it was impossible for someone of the Third Young Master Master's noble status to come here idly under the current circumstances.

Therefore, the Third Young Master must be here to oversee things.

After all, it seems like war is about to break out.

Upon hearing the number 3,500, Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised by the large number, but then raised an eyebrow:

"How should we resettle them?"

"Most of them are hidden in this Pingshui Bay, and the rest have been arranged by me to go to inns in various parts of the city. The Spirit Blade and equipment I have accumulated over the past twenty years are barely enough for my needs," Bai Zhao replied truthfully.

Xu Yuan opened his mouth upon hearing this, but before he could speak, he suddenly saw a little girl with a high ponytail running out of the backyard, followed by a flustered woman.

The little girl ran towards Bai Zhao, calling out happily:

"Father."

"."

When Bai Zhao saw the little girl, a look of affection appeared in his eyes, but he did not rush to greet her immediately. Instead, he first glanced tentatively at Xu Yuan standing to the side.

Xu Yuan shook his head to indicate that everything was alright, and Bai Zhao quickly stepped forward.

The father and daughter laughed for a while, Bai Zhao coaxed his daughter away, returning to Xu Yuan's side:

"Having a daughter so late in life, I apologize for making you laugh, sir."

"It's alright."

Xu Yuan smiled gently and asked:

"Didn't you send your relatives away beforehand?"

"It's too dangerous," Bai Zhao replied truthfully.

Xu Yuan watched the woman carrying the little girl walk away and asked:

"Isn't it more dangerous to stay in Wanxiang City now?"

Bai Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly as he said:

"No, Third Young Master, I meant the plan. My identity is special, and my relatives usually live in the city. There might be people watching them. If we send them away at this time and it is discovered, it might ruin the Prime Minister's plan."

"."

silence.

Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked the middle-aged man with half-gray hair up and down again.

These 3,500 Black Scale Army who entered the city, regardless of whether they actually made a move, were ready to draw their swords at the negotiating table.

In other words,

Afterwards, the Wanxiang Sect will definitely investigate.

The reason it hasn't been discovered yet is because the Wanxiang Sect hasn't detected any trace of a large-scale troop movement and hasn't yet become alert.

If a real investigation were to be conducted, it would most likely trace back to the Pingshui Gang.

If the sect were to deal with these urban underground gangs, it would be like crushing an ant.

Thinking this through, Xu Yuan raised his hand and patted the other person's shoulder, but said nothing and silently walked forward.

After being patted on the shoulder, Bai Zhao silently followed, but a barely perceptible smile appeared in his lowered eyes.

Arriving at a courtyard,

Bai Zhao bowed to Xu Yuan again:

"Commander Yuan is inside. I'll take my leave now."

Xu Yuan nodded and said:

"Arrange a courtyard for both of them."

He did not intend to involve Xu Xinyao in this discussion.

Ran Qingmo didn't speak, but simply nodded silently.

Xu Xinyao objected upon hearing this:

"Third Brother, me too!"

"Listen to me." Xu Yuan glanced back at her, his eyes brooking no refusal.

Xu Xinyao left with Ran Qingmo.

Xu Yuan watched the two women's slender figures gradually disappear into the distance before slowly pushing open the courtyard gate in front of him.

The courtyard features a pond where koi carp swim in clear blue water, and a pavilion stands in the center of the pond.

Stepping inside, Xu Yuan's eyes immediately locked onto the man inside the pavilion.

With delicate features and an extremely young appearance, dressed in a scholar's robe, he sat in a pavilion, warming wine by himself over a small stove.

Confucian scholar?

Xu Yuan's eyes showed some surprise. He subconsciously glanced around, wanting to see if Shi was with anyone else in the courtyard.

The man had already put down his wine cup, stood up, and bowed respectfully to Xu Yuan at the courtyard gate.

"Third Young Master, please stop looking. I am Yuan Hao."

"."

Xu Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked again at the man in the pavilion. As he walked towards the pavilion, he said:

"Commander Yuan's appearance is somewhat unexpected."

The handsome young man smiled gently:

"Is it because Yuan's appearance doesn't match the rumor that he has a penchant for killing?"

"A little."

Xu Yuan nodded, walked into the pavilion, and sized up the man before him:

"Compared to a general leading troops, you're more like a Confucian scholar from the Hanlin Academy, and you're far too young."

There will be an extra chapter tonight.