Young Gang Leader (Revised)

The next moment, Song Wen released the dagger.

He suddenly realized that he could not kill Gou Hang and his two men—at least not in full view of everyone.

His body would actively devour the blood essence of others, and Song Wen did not know whether he could control the process of devouring it.

If he killed Gou Hang's three-man group in the street and his body went out of control, draining them into mummified corpses, he would have no way to clear his name. He would surely be branded a fiend and burned alive before the public to quell their fury.

Song Wen rose to his feet and shouted.

"Dog Lord, wait."

Hearing this, Gou Hang turned around and stared at Song Wen.

"You are?"

The longer Gou Hang looked at Song Wen, the more familiar he seemed, yet he could not recall where he had seen him.

Song Wen smiled. "Dog Lord truly has the poor memory of a man of importance. Back then, it was thanks to your recommendation that I joined the Heavenly Baleful Gang and became Master Extreme Yin's personal disciple. I must thank Dog Lord for your generous patronage."

A trace of realization flashed through Gou Hang's eyes. "You're that scholar... Song Wen!"

Song Wen said, "Dog Lord has a good memory."

Wariness appeared on Gou Hang's face.

In the past, every young man sent to Extreme Yin had gone to meet the King of Hell.

Song Wen was the first person to walk out of Extreme Yin's courtyard alive.

Back then, Gou Hang had cheated Song Wen, selling him off for ten taels of silver. It could be said that he had offended Song Wen to the bone.

By all rights, Song Wen should have hated him. Yet Gou Hang could not see the slightest hatred on Song Wen's face; instead, he saw profound gratitude.

Gou Hang asked cautiously, "Young Master Song, why did you stop me?"

Song Wen wore an expression as though it were only natural. "Naturally, to thank Dog Lord for your recommendation. Dog Lord, you are my benefactor."

Song Wen took out a silver ingot and tossed it onto the wooden table, then said to the stall owner.

"This is the meal money for Dog Lord and me. Dog Lord is an elite of the Heavenly Baleful Gang—how could he lack such trifling silver? He was merely in too much of a hurry when he left today and forgot to bring money."

Looking at the silver ingot on the table, Gou Hang's eyes grew heated. It was a full two taels of silver, enough for him to enjoy himself at the pleasure house for two days.

He looked at Song Wen again and truly could not see the slightest sign of deceit. On the contrary, Song Wen seemed to be doing his utmost to protect Gou Hang's public image.

Gou Hang could not help muttering to himself.

Could this Song Wen really have no brains? Did he truly fail to see that I sold him off back then?

As Gou Hang wavered, the stall owner looked at the silver ingot on the table and found himself in a difficult position.

Looking at Song Wen, he stammered, "Customer, this humble one has no change."

Song Wen said, "No need for change. Keep the rest as a tip."

The stall owner could scarcely believe it. Gou Hang had left such a terrible impression on him just now that he feared inviting trouble and did not dare accept the silver ingot lightly. Yet seeing the silver within reach, he was reluctant to let it slip through his fingers.

Just as the stall owner hesitated like a chess player caught between two moves, Song Wen spoke again. "I told you to take it, so take it."

Having said that, Song Wen turned to Gou Hang again. "Dog Lord, where is your residence? I plan to pay you a visit when I have some free time."

"Number Twenty-Five, Copper Gong Alley." Gou Hang blurted it out.

The moment he said it, he regretted it somewhat. He had always felt that Song Wen's behavior was rather strange.

He should not have casually revealed his true residence.

Unease rose in his heart, and Gou Hang decided to stay away from Song Wen for now.

"Young Master Song, I still have gang business to attend to today, so I will not keep you company. Another day, I'll treat you to meat and wine."

Song Wen said, "Then Dog Lord, go attend to your business."

Gou Hang turned and left with his two subordinates.

Watching the three men's retreating backs, Song Wen's gaze turned sinister, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Number Twenty-Five, Copper Gong Alley!

Just wait. I'll be coming for you soon.

After walking some distance, Gou Hang suddenly turned around and looked toward the stall, but Song Wen was already nowhere to be seen.

The more he thought about it, the more something felt wrong, and the less at ease he became.

Song Wen's behavior felt far too strange. How could there be such a foolish person in the world? Could he truly not see that Gou Hang had sold him off that day?

Now that Song Wen was Extreme Yin's disciple, if he wished Gou Hang harm, Gou Hang believed he would have no ability to resist.

Just then, a procession appeared on the street ahead.

More than ten Heavenly Baleful Gang elites surrounded an ox cart as it slowly approached.

A burly black ox pulled an uncovered cart. On its wooden bed lay the corpse of a white tiger, more than ten feet long, with hanging eyes.

The white tiger's powerful body, sharp claws, and pointed fangs all spoke of its former ferocity, drawing countless passersby to stop and watch.

Members of the Heavenly Baleful Gang crowded around a young man in his twenties, their praises pouring forth without end.

"Young Gang Leader, you are truly extraordinary. At such a young age, you were able to hunt and kill such a savage beast alone."

"Tut, tut, look at those fangs—aren't they a full four inches long? And those sharp claws, that thick tail... For the Young Gang Leader to kill it is simply unbelievable."

"With the Young Gang Leader leading us in the future, our Heavenly Baleful Gang will surely grow even stronger."

Listening to everyone's flattery and seeing the awestruck gazes of the onlookers, Tang Liang was filled with triumphant pride. Even the calf from which the white tiger had torn away a chunk of flesh no longer seemed painful.

His gaze suddenly fell upon Gou Hang ahead. He waved at Gou Hang and shouted.

"Gou Hang, come here. What do you think of the white tiger your Young Gang Leader killed?"

Hearing Tang Liang call him, Gou Hang was somewhat surprised.

As the gang leader's son, Tang Liang was the Heavenly Baleful Gang's Young Gang Leader, personally designated by Gang Leader Tang Yinian.

Normally, Tang Liang looked down on lowly lackeys like Gou Hang and could not be bothered with him.

Yet today, he had actually called out to him first.

A plan suddenly sprang into Gou Hang's mind. He could not deal with Song Wen, but Tang Liang could.

Gou Hang hurried forward to Tang Liang's side, bowing and scraping.

"Young Gang Leader, you called for me?"

Tang Liang pointed at the hanging-eyed white tiger. "What do you think of this white tiger?"

Gou Hang put on an awestruck expression. "Young Gang Leader, you are mighty indeed. Only a heroic figure like you would have the courage to face such a fierce beast alone—and be able to kill it."

Tang Liang nodded in satisfaction.

Gou Hang suddenly changed the subject. "What a pity..."

"What is a pity?" Tang Liang's expression fell as he asked unhappily.

"It is a pity that we martial artists, no matter how formidable we are, are still merely mortal warriors. Mortal strength is ultimately limited. How can we compare to immortals like Elder Extreme Yin, who can unleash powerful spells with a mere lift of the hand or turn of the foot?"

The pride on Tang Liang's face gradually vanished, replaced by resentment.

He had also begged Extreme Yin many times and even asked his father to intervene, hoping that Extreme Yin would teach him immortal arts. Yet Extreme Yin had utterly disregarded the father and son's dignity, rejecting them outright with a single sentence: "Neither father nor son has an affinity with immortality."

Extreme Yin had not even tested them. How did he know that Tang Liang and his father had no affinity with immortality?