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Su Xin had no intention of hiding the fact that he was teaching his subordinates internal cultivation, nor could he have hidden it even if he wanted to.

The first person to find out was, naturally, Ji Gang, who was still lingering in Happy Forest.

Upon hearing the news, Ji Gang's first reaction was envy, followed immediately by resentment.

Although he was not a martial arts fanatic like Li Huai, what low-level pugilist didn't yearn to master internal cultivation?

But now, every one of Su Xin's subordinates had learned internal cultivation, except for him. How could he not feel bitter?

However, he was also aware of his awkward position under Su Xin. Not only was Su Xin refusing to teach him, but the only reason he was still being kept in Happy Forest was likely out of respect for Third Master Hu.

Ji Gang's popularity in Happy Forest was currently abysmal.

In the past, relying on his status with Third Master Hu, which of Su Xin's subordinates hadn't treated him with the utmost respect?

But ever since he had openly opposed Su Xin's plan to assassinate Dai Chong, these gang members had begun to glare at him with disdain and contempt.

Ji Gang could only endure it. He was no fool; this was Su Xin's territory. If he truly provoked Su Xin, he feared the man would disregard everything and kill him on the spot.

Ji Gang truly found Su Xin to be an inscrutable person.

Every action Su Xin took seemed reckless on the surface, yet there was always a deeper motive hidden beneath.

Moreover, the man was temperamental and possessed a profound, calculating nature. Ji Gang dared not guarantee that he could leave Happy Forest unscathed if he were to anger him.

Yet, Ji Gang's desire for internal cultivation was so intense that, after some deliberation, he decided to seek out Li Huai.

Although Li Huai was now highly valued by Su Xin, he was still, by all accounts, a man of Third Master Hu. With that connection, Ji Gang felt he could at least try.

Every morning, the gang members would practice internal cultivation and temper their bodies in the training arena.

Li Huai spent this time cultivating in his own room, only heading to the arena in the afternoon to teach the others combat techniques.

Thus, early in the morning, Ji Gang quietly arrived at Li Huai's door and knocked twice.

"Come in."

Ji Gang pushed the door open and entered, but Li Huai frowned. "What are you here for?"

"Heh, we've known each other for so many years, is there any need to be so distant?" Ji Gang wore a smile, completely ignoring Li Huai's stiff tone.

"State your business and don't waste time," Li Huai said coldly.

Hearing this, Ji Gang dropped his hypocritical smile and said directly, "Fine, I won't beat around the bush. Give me a copy of the internal cultivation method Su Xin taught you."

"Impossible! Su Boss didn't teach you, and I certainly won't. If you want to learn, go ask Su Boss yourself." Li Huai refused decisively, without a moment's hesitation.

Ji Gang hadn't expected such a firm rejection. He said coldly, "Li Huai! You should know that your boss isn't Su Xin, but Third Master Hu! I don't want this technique for myself; I intend to present it to the Third Master!"

"Then from this moment on, he isn't," Li Huai glanced at him and said coldly.

"You..." Ji Gang pointed at Li Huai and lowered his voice. "Su Xin is so arrogant, why must you follow him down a dead end? It is said that at the general hall meeting, Su Xin offended Punishment Hall Master Dong Chengwu. Do you think Su Xin will have a good end after offending such a man?"

"I only know that by following Su Xin, I gain much. But what have I gained all these years following Third Master Hu? I've killed over a hundred people for him, yet the total rewards I've received haven't even exceeded a hundred taels!" Li Huai said icily.

Ji Gang was rendered speechless; he couldn't refute this. Third Master Hu was indeed stingy with his subordinates.

Perhaps because he had no children in his old age, Third Master Hu was abnormally obsessed with money, yet he was extremely harsh toward his men.

Li Huai was the top enforcer under Third Master Hu, yet after every battle, the reward he received never exceeded ten taels.

Su Xin was now paying his subordinates a monthly salary of ten taels, which, in Ji Gang's eyes, was simply squandering wealth.

"Don't you dislike money?"

"I don't care for money, but I still need to eat!"

Seeing that Li Huai was determined to stick with Su Xin, Ji Gang could only snort coldly and turn to leave.

However, he did not return to his room, but instead headed toward Shunyi Ward to find Third Master Hu.

Since he couldn't get the cultivation method, he might as well report this news to Third Master Hu; it would at least count as a contribution.

As a favorite of Third Master Hu, Ji Gang entered the residence without needing to be announced, heading straight to find the Third Master.

In the main hall, Ji Gang cupped his fists and said, "Third Master, Su Xin has been teaching his internal cultivation method to his subordinates over the past few days. He is blatantly building his own power; his intentions are treacherous!"

Third Master Hu waved his hand dismissively. "Don't be so shocked. I already know all of this."

"Ah? You already knew?" Ji Gang was stunned.

Third Master Hu chuckled. "That brat made such a huge commotion; I'm neither blind nor deaf. How could I not know?"

Ji Gang lowered his head. It seemed that besides himself, Third Master Hu had planted others near Su Xin.

"By the way, Third Master, Li Huai has been getting quite close to Su Xin lately."

Ji Gang didn't explicitly state that Li Huai had completely defected to Su Xin—that would be too obvious an attempt at sowing discord. He only needed to drop the hint, and Third Master Hu would understand his meaning.

Sure enough, Third Master Hu's expression darkened, and he let out a cold laugh. "It's not just today or yesterday that Li Huai has been dissatisfied with me. However, I didn't expect my adopted son to be so capable as to win over even Li Huai."

"Third Master, what should we do? Are we just going to watch Su Xin continue to be so arrogant?" Ji Gang asked.

Third Master Hu clapped his hands, and Master Li emerged from the back.

"Send this to the Gang Leader, and explain clearly that Su Xin is teaching his subordinates internal cultivation. No need to embellish it." Third Master Hu handed a thin, bound book of pages to Master Li.

Ji Gang's eyes widened. "Is this the internal cultivation method Su Xin is teaching?"

Third Master Hu nodded and said, "It is merely a low-level internal skill, nothing of great importance. Hand it over to the Gang Leader and let him make the final decision."

"Then what about me, Third Master?" Ji Gang asked.

"You, of course, will return to Happy Forest and continue keeping an eye on Su Xin."

Ji Gang pulled a long face and said, "But Third Master, I have completely offended Su Xin now. If I stay there any longer, I am worried something unexpected might happen."

"Rest assured, with me backing you, Su Xin wouldn't dare do anything to you," Third Master Hu promised.

Left with no other choice, Ji Gang could only nod in agreement and return to Happy Forest once more.

However, as he walked out of Third Master Hu's residence, he felt a chill run through him.

He had originally thought he was a trusted confidant in Third Master Hu's eyes, but it seemed that was far from the truth.

Third Master Hu had other eyes and ears in Happy Forest, a fact he had been completely unaware of.

Furthermore, when sending the manual and the message to the Gang Leader earlier, Third Master Hu had specifically summoned Master Li, who knew nothing of martial arts, instead of him, all because he feared Ji Gang might peek at the manual on the way.

This was what rankled Ji Gang the most; over two hundred gang members in Happy Forest were already practicing this, making it common knowledge, yet he was still not trusted to even look at it. Just what did Third Master Hu take him for?

Third Master Hu did not trust the powerful Li Huai, nor did he trust him, with his own little schemes. He supposed only the powerless Master Li was someone Third Master Hu could truly trust.

Although he felt resentful, Ji Gang could only obediently return to Happy Forest. After all, he had offended Su Xin too deeply, and now he had no choice but to stand with Third Master Hu.

Meanwhile, Gang Leader Sha Feiying and the three Hall Masters had already learned of the matter from Master Li. Sha Feiying tossed the manual onto the table and asked in a hoarse voice, "What do you all think?"

War Hall Master Lin Fuhu cracked a wide grin and laughed, "The kid certainly knows how to play, he's got some ideas."

His words were essentially nonsense, but in truth, he approved of teaching disciples internal skills, as it would greatly increase the strength of his War Hall.

Punishment Hall Master Dong Chengwu, however, snorted coldly, "Absurd! It is simply absurd! Who gave him permission to teach the gang members internal skills? Third Hu is getting old; he can't even manage his own subordinates!"

"The gang rules don't seem to forbid teaching internal skills, do they?" Lin Fuhu retorted from the side. Dong Chengwu merely snorted and ignored him.

Charity Hall Master Zhuang Li picked up the Quanzhen Sect Basic Internal Skill and flipped through it twice. "A Daoist introductory internal skill, the kind practiced by young acolytes just starting their training. It isn't worth much."

Sha Feiying coughed twice and said, "The kid is indeed being reckless. Even if it is a low-level internal skill, can it just be taught willy-nilly? Go tell Third Hu later to keep a close eye on this kid and don't let him stir up any more trouble."

Dong Chengwu nodded; he understood Sha Feiying's meaning—they would not take action this time either.

Of course, Su Xin had truly backed them into a corner this time, and even if they wanted to deal with him, they couldn't.

The gang rules indeed did not forbid teaching subordinates martial arts, and since Su Xin was teaching his own, he wasn't stepping on anyone's toes.

If they were to punish Su Xin for this, it would only incite dissatisfaction among the many gang members.

However, Sha Feiying and the others were not overly worried. Just as Dong Chengwu had said, Su Xin was merely acting out.

If martial artists were so easy to cultivate and control, their Flying Eagle Gang wouldn't be nearly at the bottom of the Three Gangs and Four Associations in Changning Prefecture.

"By the way, that kid comes from the Joyful District; how could he possibly possess an internal skill?" Dong Chengwu suddenly asked, suspicious.

In a place like Changning Prefecture, martial artists were already pitifully rare, and the martial arts of the Flying Eagle Gang members were all learned from Sha Feiying.

Aside from the seven factions of the Three Gangs and Four Associations, the only other places in Changning Prefecture with martial artists were the government offices, specifically the constables.

Zhuang Li stroked his chin and said, "It must be a family heirloom. I've investigated Su Xin; the kid isn't from Changning Prefecture. According to his neighbors, when he first moved here, his mother spoke with a Shengjing accent."

Dong Chengwu nodded and asked no more.

While martial artists were scarce and withered in the southern barbarian lands of Sanxiang where Changning Prefecture was located, the martial atmosphere in the capital, Shengjing, was incredibly strong.

An introductory internal skill like the one Su Xin had could be learned at any martial arts school there. If Su Xin's family had migrated from Shengjing, this was perfectly normal.

Sha Feiying stood up and said indifferently, "Enough, stop discussing it. Keep an eye on this kid from now on and don't let him cause any more trouble.

The kid has a bit of a reputation among the younger generation of the Flying Eagle Gang, but if he oversteps his bounds, Chengwu, you are to dispose of him."

Hearing Sha Feiying's cold, indifferent words, Dong Chengwu shivered, as if he had seen that night over a decade ago when the Gang Leader had said the exact same thing to him.

Back then, the Flying Eagle Gang had no Hall Masters, and there were over thirty high-ranking leaders. Yet, in a single night, nearly half of them had their heads severed.

The three of them had become Hall Masters not because they were the strongest, but because they were the most obedient!