Might Makes Right

Looking at the stunning beauty of Jade Hibiscus, listening to her enchanting voice, and catching the strange fragrance wafting from her body, Lin Fei found himself unable to resist sinking into a trance.

"I wish to purchase intelligence regarding the Blood Wolf Gang. The more detailed, the better."

Jade Hibiscus smiled slightly, a smile so captivating it could steal one's soul.

"Does the guest have a grudge against the Blood Wolf Gang?"

"I have..."

Lin Fei was just about to answer when a sudden sense of alarm struck him, and he regained his clarity for a fleeting moment.

Something is wrong!

Something is very wrong!

He had almost blurted out the truth, even though he had already planned exactly how to respond before coming to the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

Why, the moment he met Jade Hibiscus, did he feel an uncontrollable urge to tell her everything in his heart?

Could this Jade Hibiscus be using some kind of charm technique?

Lin Fei hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to look into her eyes again, and secretly pinched his own thigh to keep himself alert.

"That is my personal business and not for me to disclose."

"Does your Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion require customers to explain the purpose of the intelligence before you are willing to sell it?"

A flicker of surprise flashed through the eyes of Jade Hibiscus.

This man was clearly just an ordinary person without any cultivation; how could he have shaken off her influence so quickly?

She had no way of knowing that Lin Fei's heart was already filled to the brim with hatred.

A man consumed by vengeance had no room in his mind to appreciate a beauty.

To him, the allure of feminine charms was greatly diminished.

"Hehe, the guest is joking. This humble woman was merely asking out of habit."

"The Blood Wolf Gang is one of the two major factions in Nanli City. Our Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion only deals in intelligence and does not involve itself in factional disputes, so I had to ask to avoid bringing trouble upon ourselves."

Li Ruxue had once warned Lin Fei that the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion was not simple; otherwise, it could not have established itself as one of the five major powers.

Now, the explanation from Jade Hibiscus was clearly just a polite evasion.

"My affairs with the Blood Wolf Gang will never involve the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, so you may rest easy, Miss Jade Hibiscus."

"Let us get straight to the point. Name your price!"

Seeing that Lin Fei was now on his guard, Jade Hibiscus stopped probing.

"Since the guest is so eager, I shall stop beating around the bush."

"Intelligence on the Blood Wolf Gang is worth three thousand gold coins. This includes detailed information on the gang leader, the young leader, and the four hall masters under their command."

"If the guest requires even more detail, specific to certain individuals, that will require additional payment."

Lin Fei took out a gold note with a denomination of three thousand and pushed it toward Jade Hibiscus.

"I will look at the intelligence first."

"One moment!"

Jade Hibiscus took the gold note and turned to walk into a side room.

She closed the door, and a faint sound of bells could be heard from within.

Before long, Jade Hibiscus emerged holding a scroll.

"This is the intelligence on the Blood Wolf Gang. You may only read it here; it cannot be taken away."

Lin Fei frowned slightly, as he had intended to take it back to study at his leisure.

It seemed the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion prevented intelligence leaks by forbidding the removal of documents.

Lin Fei did not argue; as long as he could understand the strength of the Blood Wolf Gang, that would be enough.

He opened the scroll.

"Blood Wolf Gang, Leader Situ Lie, practices the Blood Wolf Art, mid-grade qi refining technique, 11th level of qi refining, skilled in blade techniques..."

"Young Leader, Situ Ye, practices the Blood Wolf Art, mid-grade qi refining technique, 7th level of qi refining, skilled in dual blades..."

"Wind Wolf Hall of the Blood Wolf Gang, Hall Master Cheng Kun, practices the Wild Ox Strength, mid-grade qi refining technique, 10th level of qi refining, skilled with the spear..."

"Fire Wolf Hall of the Blood Wolf Gang, Hall Master Deng Liang, practices the Blazing Fire Art, low-grade qi refining technique, 9th level of qi refining, skilled with the staff..."

"Earth Wolf Hall of the Blood Wolf Gang, Hall Master Shi Yong, practices the Nine Turns of Bedrock, low-grade qi refining technique, 9th level of qi refining, skilled with dual hammers..."

"Black Wolf Hall of the Blood Wolf Gang, Hall Master Gong Wang, practices the Green Scorpion Poison Art, low-grade qi refining technique, 9th level of qi refining, skilled in poison and hidden weapons..."

The more Lin Fei read, the deeper his frown became.

He had not expected the Blood Wolf Gang to possess so many experts. Beyond the four hall masters, the scroll also recorded over a dozen key members at the 6th and 7th levels of qi refining.

Situ Ye, the young gang leader who murdered Peach Blossom, was himself a powerhouse at the seventh level of Qi Refining, two levels stronger than the maid Xunmei.

Xunmei could pierce Ding Tiechui's calf from a distance using nothing but a single chopstick.

Situ Ye's strength was even greater.

For Lin Fei to kill him would be incredibly difficult.

Seeing Lin Fei remain silent, Jade Hibiscus chuckled again and said, "Guest, do you require more detailed intelligence?"

"The report you are looking at is already a year old. It is possible that the strength of some among them has improved since then."

"If you desire detailed intelligence on any specific individual, I can arrange for informants to investigate, even covering their recent dietary habits and daily whereabouts—it would simply require an additional fee."

No matter how difficult it might be, Lin Fei had to avenge Peach Blossom and his child, or he would not be worthy of being a man.

He pulled out a gold note with a denomination of ten thousand and handed it to Jade Hibiscus.

"I want all the intelligence on the Blood Wolf Gang leader, the young gang leader, the four great hall masters, and any other members above the fifth level of Qi Refining."

"Their appearances, daily living habits, the places they frequent, and where they reside—the more detailed, the better."

"If this ten thousand in gold is not enough, I can add more. If it is too much, consider it a gift for your rouge and powder, Miss Hibiscus."

Jade Hibiscus tucked away the gold note and nodded with a beaming smile.

"No problem, though the intelligence you require will likely take some time to compile in detail to ensure there are no errors."

"I can wait."

"Very well, you may come to collect the intelligence in ten days."

Jade Hibiscus took a jade tablet from her waist and handed it to Lin Fei.

The front of the token was engraved with the character "Flower," while the back featured a blooming hibiscus.

"The next time you come, you need only show this token, and someone will naturally bring you to see me."

Lin Fei accepted the jade tablet, cupped his hands in a salute, and turned to leave.

"Farewell!"

Not long after Lin Fei departed, a middle-aged woman dressed in purple robes appeared in Jade Hibiscus's room.

Although the middle-aged woman was older, she still possessed a lingering charm; her skin was well-maintained, and her figure remained full and graceful.

In her youth, she must have been a stunningly beautiful woman.

"Mistress!"

Jade Hibiscus bowed respectfully toward the middle-aged woman.

The woman in purple nodded slightly and asked, "The appearance of the man who just left must have been a disguise. He was generous with his spending, so he likely holds some status here in Nanli City."

Jade Hibiscus replied, "I observed no trace of true qi fluctuations from him; he appears to be an ordinary person. Purchasing intelligence on the Blood Wolf Gang is likely for the sake of revenge."

"I suspect he may merely be a pawn, with someone more powerful behind him. However, his composure was quite impressive; he was actually able to recover from my charm technique."

The middle-aged woman in purple waved the round fan in her hand, maintaining an air of calm and detachment.

"The Blood Wolf Gang acts with ruthless cruelty and arrogance; there is no telling how many blood debts they owe. Over the years, many have sought revenge against them, only to end in failure."

"Whether it is in this small Nanli City or throughout the Dragon Abyss Dynasty, strength is the ultimate authority."

"When the weak die, they simply die; no one cares. Even the Blood Wolf Gang, in the face of a true cultivation powerhouse, could be wiped out in the snap of a finger."