Diao Xiaolin Visits the Golden Saber Gang

After Lu Hao and the other two left the Everjoy Hall branch, Han Zheng and Chen Xuan dismissed everyone around them and sat down to deliberate in the council chamber.

Han Zheng sat in the seat of honor, his face livid.

Chen Xuan sat below him. His already fair face was now deathly pale, utterly drained of color.

Chen Xuan held a folding fan in his right hand, lightly tapping it against his left palm.

He looked at Han Zheng. "Hall Master, I never expected Qian Hao's life to be so tough. We casually stuffed two cannon fodders in with him and sent them to negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang. Who would have thought Lu Hao was actually a Martial Apprentice at the Third Gate-Knocking Realm?"

Chen Xuan let out a long sigh. "Lu Hao has low-grade bones, doesn't he? He has neither talent nor the silver to buy meat and medicinal broths to replenish his Qi-Blood. How did he become a Third Gate-Knocking Realm Martial Apprentice?"

Han Zheng snorted coldly and slapped the armrest. "That Qian fellow ran into Lu Hao—he really stepped in dog shit and struck it lucky! Not only did Qian Hao not die at the Water Serpent Gang, he even settled the matter of a truce with them! Once his injuries recover, he'll probably be riding on both our heads."

Chen Xuan opened his fan and gently fanned himself twice.

"Still, the situation is not without a turn for the better."

Han Zheng grunted and looked at Chen Xuan, suspicion on his face.

"Qian Hao was injured in the ribs. Cao Ling told him to rest at home."

Chen Xuan rose and walked to the door, poking his head out to look both ways.

Seeing no one nearby, he shut the doors to the council chamber.

Chen Xuan came to Han Zheng's side, lowered his head, and said softly, "Our Everjoy Hall branch has roughly a hundred and fifty brothers. Around a hundred of them handle outside affairs, and every one of them takes Qian Hao's orders."

He coughed lightly and continued, "This is precisely our chance. Have Lu Hao lead those men into battle against the Golden Saber Gang. Not only can we whittle down Qian Hao's manpower, we can use the opportunity to get rid of Lu Hao as well."

A gleam flashed in Han Zheng's eyes. "A good idea. But what if Lu Hao comes back alive?"

"No matter how well he can fight, he is only one man." Chen Xuan waved his fan. "The Golden Saber Gang's branch has a hall master of the same realm as him, as well as several deputy hall masters at the Second-Layer Gate-Breaking Realm. Lu Hao has only a few small leaders at the First Gate-Breaking Realm beneath him. How could they possibly make it out alive?"

Han Zheng furrowed his brow. "That may be true, but better safe than sorry. Look at this trip to the Water Serpent Gang. Didn't those three come back alive?"

Hearing this, Chen Xuan pondered for a moment.

He snapped his folding fan shut, struck it against his palm, bent down, and leaned close to Han Zheng's ear.

"Gang Master, tomorrow I'll arrange for two more reliable brothers. Have them blend into the crowd. Once they clash with the Golden Saber Gang, they can look for a chance to shout that the Golden Saber Gang is too powerful and they're no match for them. Then have those two brothers take the lead in running. As long as someone leads the retreat, the rest will surely scatter after them. By then, Lu Hao will certainly die!"

The two exchanged a glance, then burst into laughter.

At the Golden Saber Gang's headquarters, inside Zhao Mengxue's room.

Zhao Mengxue had recovered a little of her vigor. Sitting at the table, she gently wiped the large-ring saber in her hands.

Gu Zhao, the Golden Saber Gang's deputy gang master, stood several steps away from her.

Gu Zhao was around thirty years old, with refined features and cultivation already at Mid-Grade Bright Force.

Although Gu Zhao had a family, the first time he laid eyes on Zhao Mengxue two years ago, love had taken root in his heart.

But Zhao Mengxue's heart held Cai Kun. No matter how Gu Zhao courted her, she was unwilling to become his concubine, nor would she secretly be with him.

"Mengxue! I've already heard about Cai Kun," Gu Zhao said.

Zhao Mengxue's hand paused slightly as she wiped the saber.

Gu Zhao stepped forward two paces.

"Mengxue, Cai Kun is gone. Forget him!"

Zhao Mengxue sat there with her head lowered, saying nothing as she continued wiping the large-ring saber.

"For the past two years, you have always rejected me because of Cai Kun. Now that Cai Kun is dead, will you still reject me?"

Zhao Mengxue slowly raised her head, looked at Gu Zhao, and roared, "Cai Kun went to the Water Serpent Gang as an undercover agent for the sake of the gang!"

After saying that, she could no longer suppress the grief and fury in her heart and began to cry. Great tears rolled down her cheeks.

Only after a long while did she stop crying and raise a hand to wipe away her tears.

"I want to avenge Cai Kun! I want to kill Shi Kang! I want the entire Black Tiger Gang to be buried alongside Cai Kun! If you can destroy the Black Tiger Gang, I'll agree to your request."

Gu Zhao stepped forward, wanting to pull Zhao Mengxue into his arms, but she shoved him away.

"Destroy the Black Tiger Gang first, then we'll talk!"

"Fine! The Gang Master is currently away, and I am managing all gang affairs in his stead. I will certainly do everything in my power to destroy the Black Tiger Gang. But wiping out the Black Tiger Gang will take some time. Tomorrow, I'll first gather men and destroy the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Hall branch. I'll have them capture Shi Kang and bring him back, so you can flay him alive with your own hands and avenge Cai Kun."

"I'm going too tomorrow." Zhao Mengxue's voice was ice-cold.

"Mengxue, in your current state, you should not go into battle." Gu Zhao looked at Zhao Mengxue. "Besides, the gang needs a Martial Artist to hold the fort in case the Black Tiger Gang sends a Martial Artist to launch a sneak attack."

In truth, this was merely an excuse Gu Zhao had made to keep Zhao Mengxue in the gang.

He was worried that she would face danger if she went along. He had coveted Zhao Mengxue's body for so long, and now that Cai Kun was finally dead, if she went with them and something happened to her, would all his efforts not have been for nothing?

"I'll send two Martial Apprentices at the Third Gate-Knocking Realm, along with fifty brothers. Tomorrow morning, before the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Hall branch calls roll, they'll strike. I'll definitely bring Shi Kang back for you!"

Seeing that Zhao Mengxue did not refuse, Gu Zhao turned and left the room.

Just as he reached the doorway, a gang member came forward to meet him.

"Deputy Gang Master Gu, two people from the Mighty Escort Bureau have arrived outside. They say they wish to see the Gang Master. Should I let them in or not?"

"Take them to the reception hall."

When Gu Zhao arrived at the reception hall, Golden Saber Gang members were leading Diao Xiaolin and Qiu Shan inside.

Gu Zhao sat in the seat of honor. Diao Xiaolin sat below him, while Qiu Shan stood at Diao Xiaolin's side.

Gu Zhao said nothing, merely looking at the two of them.

Seeing this, Qiu Shan clasped his fists toward Gu Zhao.

"Deputy Gang Master Gu, we are from the Mighty Escort Bureau. This is Diao Xiaolin, the son of Mighty Escort Bureau escort master Diao Xiada."

"What is it?" Gu Zhao's expression remained indifferent.

Before Qiu Shan could speak, Diao Xiaolin rose and clasped his fists. "Deputy Gang Master Gu, I heard that your Golden Saber Gang is going to war with the Black Tiger Gang?"

Gu Zhao looked at him, still expressionless.

Diao Xiaolin continued, "Lu Hao of the Black Tiger Gang killed my mother. I want to join forces with the Golden Saber Gang, kill Lu Hao, and avenge my mother!"

Gu Zhao raised his left brow.

"Your Mighty Escort Bureau has a great foundation. You have several hundred escorts at the Martial Disciple Realm and more than a dozen escort masters at the Martial Artist Realm. Why join forces with my Golden Saber Gang?"

"My father has gone out on an escort run, and most of the bureau's escort masters are away on runs as well. I cannot wait to avenge my mother. Besides, I have investigated Lu Hao. He is only at the Third Gate-Knocking Realm, with strength equal to mine. If I join forces with your Golden Saber Gang, I believe I can certainly take his life."

Gu Zhao pondered for a moment, then raised his left brow again.

"Fine! Tomorrow, I will draw two Gate-Breaking Realm hall masters from two branches, then send fifty brothers to launch a surprise attack before the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Hall branch calls roll. Young Master Diao, gather at the Golden Saber Gang headquarters tomorrow at the hour of the dragon."

"Good! Deputy Gang Master Gu, see you tomorrow!"

With that, Diao Xiaolin rose, clasped his fists toward Gu Zhao, and left the Golden Saber Gang with Qiu Shan.