Luo Wandeng's Plans

Night falls.

In a flower hall of the Luo Family in Shichuan Prefectural City, the head of the Luo Family Luo Wandeng, was talking with Luo Tai.

"Today, a spy from my Luo Family reported that Lin Qing went to Golden Phoenix Tower to buy a copy of information about you. My father also bought a copy of that information. As expected of Golden Phoenix Tower, it is detailed and accurate, and it even figured out your hidden strength." Luo Wandeng, dressed in black, sat in a chair, twirling a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand.

"Father, so what if the intelligence is accurate? What can be accomplished in three days? Lin Qing is only at the early stage of the Transcendent Realm. With my strength, defeating him is a piece of cake." Luo Tai waved his hand, looking completely unconcerned.

"Don't be careless. You've been pampered in the Luo Family and haven't experienced any setbacks. No one should look down on you. Besides, Wang Ling is arrogant. He must have something special to gain his approval and be granted the Gold Token. Don't underestimate him," Luo Wandeng said in a deep voice.

"Father, don't worry, I'll definitely cripple him then. How can those geniuses from the county town compare to the geniuses from the Prefectural City?" Luo Tai still didn't take it to heart.

"Speaking of which, Lin Qing has a connection with our Luo Family. There are five shops in the south of the city that used to belong to the Han Family of Jiangyin County and have always been managed by our Luo Family. Now that the Han Family has been destroyed, I want to take over those five shops, but I have heard that Lin Qing has the Land Deed those five shops. If he uses that to demand them from me, according to the rules, I should hand over the shops and lose an unknown amount of silver." Luo Wandeng felt a pang of heartache when he mentioned this.

"Father, isn't this easy to handle? Rules are rules, but at worst we can just not give it to him. So what if he has the Land Deed?" Luo Tai asked doubtfully.

"Doing this to others is fine, but not to Lin Qing. If he keeps Wang Ling's Gold Token, according to the rules of the Soul-Calming Office, he will be considered Wang Ling's disciple. Wang Ling is notoriously protective of his own. Years ago, his daughter was Yinyuan Sect. You've seen it all these years; he's been like a mad dog, slaughtering Yinyuan Sect disciples everywhere. I don't want to hand over the shop, but I don't want to provoke this madman even more," Luo Wandeng explained.

"I understand. Father means for me to take action and seize the Gold Token, so that Lin Qing will lose Wang Ling as his backer," Luo Tai said loudly.

"That's right. He'll be all alone then, and there'll be no way he can take the shop from me. If he pushes too hard, I won't hesitate to send someone to wipe him out." Luo Wandeng narrowed his eyes.

"Dad, don't worry, I'll take care of this," Luo Tai said, patting his chest.

"Even without the shop thing, I still hope you can win the Soul-Calming Office's Gold Token. Our Luo Family has ultimately declined and desperately needs someone to support it. You are the future hope of our Luo Family. As long as you can win the Gold Token, you can directly meet the Chief Commissioner. If you grow quickly, you can become Constable within a year or even half a year, and Executive within three years. The Executive of the Soul-Calming Office are truly important figures in the Prefectural City. Although your father has some property, he still has to bow his head when he sees the Eight Executives," Luo Wandeng said with emotion.

In the Prefectural City, the Soul-Calming Office is the highest authority. The other three sects and thirteen clans combined cannot compare to the Soul-Calming Office, not even the increasingly powerful Golden Family.

"Dad, I know, you've said that almost ten thousand times, my ears are practically calloused." Luo Tai said impatiently.

He said, getting up and walking out. "I'm going to sleep."

Luo Wandeng shook his head. He doted on Luo Tai, otherwise Luo Tai would not have developed such an arrogant personality.

After a moment's thought, he suddenly called out in a loud voice, "Fu'an!"

An elderly man in gray robes strode into the flower hall, bowed respectfully, and said, "Master, you wanted to see me!"

"Go, send someone to tell Song Heilong that I'll be inviting him for drinks at Scattered Blossoms Tower tomorrow; I have important matters to discuss," Luo Wandeng said loudly.

"Yes, sir, I'll go right away." The old man in gray turned and left.

The following morning.

In a private room on the fourth floor of the Scattered Blossoms Tower in Shichuan Prefectural City, Luo Wandeng sat facing a one-eyed giant.

"Old Luo, tell me, what do you need my help with?" The burly man took a big gulp of wine and asked, squinting his eyes.

This man was Song Heilong, the leader of the Black Dragon Gang, the largest gang in the Prefectural City.

"Send someone to deal with someone for me," Luo Wandeng said.

"It's a small matter. Who are you going to deal with?" Song Heilong asked.

"Lin Qing, this year's Soul-Calming Office will be testing those who wield the Golden Gold Token. My son will be facing him in two days. I'm worried about him and want you to get a feel for his abilities beforehand," Luo Wandeng said in a deep voice.

"Golden Gold Token? Are you crazy? Do you know what Golden Gold Token mean? They are the supreme geniuses in the eyes of the Soul-Calming Office Executive. Even if you gave me ten lives, I wouldn't dare to kill these people." Song Heilong said irritably.

The reason he was able to survive in the Prefectural City and grow the Black Dragon Gang step by step was because he knew how to be pragmatic and never touched the people of the Soul-Calming Office.

"Why are you panicking? I only asked you to send someone to scout out his strength, not to kill anyone. I need to gather intelligence on him so that my son won't be at a disadvantage in the battle two days from now because he's unfamiliar with him," Luo Wandeng said coldly.

"It's just a test, not killing anyone, which is acceptable, but the risk is still very high. Once things are exposed and the Soul-Calming Office finds out that I'm up to no good behind the scenes, my Black Dragon Gang will definitely suffer." Song Heilong frowned.

"Haven't you always wanted Jin Chunlan? I'll give her to you," Luo Wandeng suddenly said.

Song Heilong's eyes lit up. "Old Luo, you're really willing to part with this?"

Jin Chunlan was a courtesan at Scattered Blossoms Tower, renowned for her unparalleled beauty, beautiful singing voice, and captivating dance. He had always admired her, but Luo Wandeng forcibly took her as a concubine through some unknown means, a fact he had always resented.

"What's there to be reluctant about? I know her capabilities with my eyes closed. Just one question: will you accept or not?" Luo Wandeng asked.

"I'll take it!" Song Heilong readily agreed.

"There's one more thing. The Yinyuan Sect has been making some big moves lately and is pressing us hard. You need to search for the young men and women as soon as possible," Luo Wandeng added.

"Didn't we just send you a batch last month? Why isn't it enough?" Song Heilong frowned.

"I've already said that the Yinyuan Sect is making a big move, so don't ask any more questions," Luo Wandeng added.

"Fine, I'll just tell my men to work harder," Song Heilong said in a deep voice.

One hour later.

North of Scattered Blossoms Tower, in a dilapidated courtyard, Song Heilong pushed open the door and saw an old man lying naked in a large vat. The emerald green liquid emitted a pungent smell, and the old man lay inside with a look of pain on his face.

"Old Man Hundred Poisons, didn't you want the antidote? Your chance has come!" Song Heilong said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, the old man suddenly opened his eyes and stood up from the water vat. With a splash, as the emerald green liquid receded from his body, large patches of hideous and ugly sores were revealed. Each thumb-sized hole was oozing turbid yellow pus. When Song Heilong approached, he could smell a strong, fishy stench, which made him pinch his nose.

"Kill whom? Chief Song, if we don't get the antidote soon, this scar will spread all over my body, and I will die in endless pain. I beg you, Chief Song, don't break your promise this time." The old man's cloudy eyes scrutinized Song Heilong.

"I keep my word. Help me test someone's strength."

"Who?"

"A newly Constable Soul-Calming Office, named Lin Qing. This is the detailed information I purchased from the Golden Phoenix Tower. Remember, you only have one day. If you can complete it, the antidote is yours; if you can't, you can continue to wait." Song Heilong said this and turned to leave.

The Old Man Hundred Poisons quickly glanced through the intelligence report, and couldn't help but frown slightly.