Recruitment

The Three Heroes Association had never belonged to just one person. From the day it was founded, it had belonged to all three of them. There was no such thing as a leader among them.

Meng Changhe was the oldest, and he was also quite skilled at managing a gang. That was why he had the greatest reputation within the gang, and gradually, the entire Three Heroes Association came to look up to him.

Still, the forces under Duan Xiao and Ning Luojun were no weaker. Besides, neither of them had any intention of fighting for power, so the Three Heroes Association had developed steadily over the past dozen years.

But in recent years, the two of them had grown somewhat dissatisfied with Meng Changhe. The reason was his son, Meng Chong.

Neither of them had any children. Only Meng Changhe had a son.

People grew old and died. Once they were gone, who would the Three Heroes Association be handed over to? No matter what Duan Xiao and Ning Luojun thought, Meng Changhe at least intended to leave the Three Heroes Association to his son. He had already started paving the way for him.

That was precisely what the other two resented.

The three of us brothers built the Three Heroes Association together. Since we have no children, we don't mind if you want to leave it to your son.

But we're still in our prime, and you're already paving the way for your son, starting to swallow up our influence. Aren't you rushing things a bit? Isn't that going too far?

Meng Changhe had once done this sort of thing in secret, but now he had openly begun paving the way for Meng Chong.

The Three Heroes Association poached martial artists from other gangs. Whoever recruited someone would naturally end up with a closer relationship to that person.

Meng Changhe had seen that Su Xin was no ordinary man, so he wanted Meng Chong to recruit him personally. It was obvious he wanted Su Xin to grow closer to Meng Chong and become a powerful ally for him.

That was exactly why the other two were dissatisfied. But for now, all they could do was grumble behind Meng Changhe's back. They wouldn't openly fall out with him.

As the largest gang in Changning Prefecture, the Three Heroes Association had countless eyes watching for any sign of weakness, ready to pounce on them all at once.

So no matter how serious their disagreements became, they couldn't let infighting break out. That would simply hand outsiders an opportunity.

Outside Shenglong Pavilion, Meng Changhe spoke to Meng Chong earnestly. "Chong'er, if you can recruit Su Xin this time, he'll surely become your greatest asset in the future."

Meng Chong shook his head. "Father, aren't you taking that Su Xin a little too seriously? I heard he's even younger than me. The fact he made it to the position of a chief was pure luck, at most.

"Chen, the boss of the Green Bamboo Gang, is nothing but a bootlicker. I could kill him with anyone I sent. Su Xin fought just one hard battle and took over all of Yongle District. Is someone like that really worth my personal effort to recruit?"

Disappointment showed in Meng Changhe's eyes. His son was still too green.

When he told Duan Xiao and Ning Luojun about Su Xin, they had immediately recognized how formidable Su Xin was. Yet his own son thought the man wasn't worth taking seriously.

In fact, among the next generation of the many gangs in Changning Prefecture, Meng Chong was already considered quite capable.

While Sha Yuandong and the others were still busy with cockfighting and dogfighting, Meng Chong had already begun taking part in managing the gang.

Even so, Meng Changhe still felt it wasn't enough.

Meng Chong was arrogant, and that was a serious disadvantage when dealing with other gangs.

One should know that even when a lion hunted a rabbit, it used all its strength. No matter how weak an enemy seemed, one must never look down on them.

Besides, Meng Chong had grown up under Meng Changhe's protection. With his father watching over him, the gang members naturally wouldn't dare show him the slightest disrespect.

But what if his father was gone? Would Meng Chong still be able to control those unruly gang members?

The Three Heroes Association was far more powerful than the other gangs in Changning Prefecture. But managing it naturally demanded more from its leaders as well.

"All right. Just do as I say and recruit Su Xin. Remember, you're going there to treat a worthy man with respect and bring him over. Keep your attitude humble."

Meng Changhe also found several steady, reliable gang members to accompany Meng Chong. If he could successfully recruit Su Xin, who was around his age, then once the two of them had grown into their positions, they ought to be able to keep the old guard in the gang in check.

But Meng Chong had no idea how much thought his father had put into this. Instead, he thought very little of Su Xin.

That wasn't only because Meng Chong was arrogant. The difference in their ages played a part, too.

Meng Changhe had seen that Su Xin was young, so he wanted Meng Chong to recruit him and grow alongside him.

Unfortunately, Meng Chong's personality made it inevitable that he would take a dislike to Su Xin.

They were the same age, and Su Xin was even a few years younger, yet Meng Chong's father praised him so highly. It made Meng Chong jealous.

That was how he had always been. From childhood to adulthood, he had been the strongest among his peers.

When he was young and learning martial arts, he could beat several people by himself. Later, while Sha Yuandong and the others were busy with cockfighting and dogfighting, he had already begun learning about the gang's affairs.

Meng Chong sneered at Su Xin's accomplishments, but deep down, he was jealous of him.

The Three Heroes Association never poached people in secret. They simply showed up openly, laid out their terms, and made their offer.

This approach earned them a lot of goodwill. Some people even felt honored.

After all, the Three Heroes Association had sent someone to recruit them. That proved they had real ability and had caught the gang's eye.

Although Meng Chong had never done this sort of thing before, the men Meng Changhe had assigned to him were experienced hands. They went straight to the Yongle District headquarters and called out loudly at the entrance, "Meng Chong, young master of the Three Heroes Association, requests an audience with Chief Su!"

After receiving the Small Restoration Pill, Su Xin had begun secluded cultivation, intending to break straight through to the Post-Heaven Mid-Stage. He had left all the headquarters' affairs to Huang Bingcheng.

At the sound of their voices, Huang Bingcheng immediately came out and cupped his hands in greeting. "So it's the young master of the Three Heroes Association. Please, come in."

The moment he heard the name Three Heroes Association, Huang Bingcheng's heart leaped with joy.

He had been in the Flying Eagle Gang for so many years. How could he not know about the Three Heroes Association's custom of recruiting people?

The Flying Eagle Gang's chiefs were all veterans who had fought alongside Sha Feiying, so the Three Heroes Association had never poached them. But plenty of people from other gangs had been recruited.

Being approached by the Three Heroes Association was proof of one's ability. Huang Bingcheng was naturally pleased.

And the one who had come this time was none other than Meng Chong, the young master of the Three Heroes Association. This was a most welcome surprise.

In the past, people judged how much the Three Heroes Association valued someone by the ability of the person sent to recruit them.

For ordinary candidates, they sent eloquent gang members. For someone the Three Heroes Association truly valued, they sent a chief in person.

But this time, the one who had come to recruit Su Xin was the young master of the Three Heroes Association. What more did that need to prove?

Although Meng Chong held no official position within the Three Heroes Association, his status as its young master alone said everything.

Seeing that the person who had come out to welcome him wasn't Su Xin, Meng Chong frowned. "Who are you? Where's Su Xin?"

Huang Bingcheng put on a smile. "I'm Huang Bingcheng. I manage Boss Su's finances, personnel, and other affairs. Boss Su is in seclusion right now. Would the young master be willing to wait a couple of days? As soon as our boss comes out, I'll notify you at once."

If Su Xin had been in ordinary seclusion, Huang Bingcheng would have gone to alert him immediately.

But this time, Su Xin was trying to break through to the Post-Heaven Mid-Stage. He had specifically instructed Huang Bingcheng that even if something earth-shattering happened, they were to wait until his seclusion ended before dealing with it.

That order made it clear to Huang Bingcheng how important this seclusion was. Even though Meng Chong had come in person, he couldn't interrupt Su Xin.

Meng Chong's brows knitted together when he heard Huang Bingcheng's reply.

The Three Heroes Association had come to recruit someone, and the young master, Meng Chong, had even come in person. Yet Su Xin still didn't take them seriously. He was simply far too arrogant!

And now this nobody in front of him wanted them to wait several days. Who did he think he was, summoning them and dismissing them whenever he pleased?

But remembering his father's instructions, Meng Chong forced down his anger and said, "Go tell Su Xin to come out. The Three Heroes Association has plenty of business to attend to. I don't have time to wait here for him!"

Huang Bingcheng said anxiously, "Young master, that really won't do. My boss is at a critical point in his seclusion. He absolutely can't be disturbed.

"If you have something to do, why not head back first? Once my boss comes out, I'll have him visit the Three Heroes Association in person. How does that sound?"

Meng Chong laughed in fury. "So you're saying I came here for nothing? Su Xin has quite the airs. I, Meng Chong, came in person, yet I can't even see him!

"Now I'll ask you one thing. Are you going to call him or not? If you won't, I'll go myself. I'd like to see what gives Su Xin the right to act so high and mighty!"

Huang Bingcheng blocked Meng Chong's way and pleaded, "Young master, please don't make things difficult for me. Boss really is at a critical point in his seclusion. He can't be disturbed."

"Get lost," Meng Chong said coldly.

Huang Bingcheng shook his head and still didn't take a single step aside.

Meng Chong could no longer hold back his anger. When had his words started to mean nothing at all?

Even this nobody, who barely counted for anything in the Flying Eagle Gang, dared to disobey him?

"I said get lost. Didn't you hear me?"

Meng Chong slapped Huang Bingcheng aside. Half his face immediately swelled, and a thin line of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Huang Bingcheng's inner strength had been weak to begin with. Even after learning martial arts, he hadn't opened ten acupoints, while Meng Chong had already reached the Post-Heaven Initial Realm.

That one slap sent Huang Bingcheng flying before he had any chance to dodge.

At the sight of this, the gang members at the headquarters instantly grew furious.

They didn't care who Meng Chong was. All they knew was that someone had struck Boss Huang, who had always treated them well!

Under Su Xin, Li Huai played the bad cop while Huang Bingcheng played the good cop.

He came from humble beginnings, too, and genuinely treated the gang members well. He often joked around with them, and they trusted him deeply, second only to Su Xin.

Seeing Huang Bingcheng take such a vicious slap, several hot-tempered gang members immediately drew the short spears from their backs and prepared to attack. But Huang Bingcheng stopped them.

"All of you, stop!"

PS: Thanks to readers Love Expert 3, Gao Shengnan, Gao Chengguang, and Nannan Nanwunifo for their tips.