Into the City

"What do you two think?"

Master Bai looked at the two without committing himself.

The others cast envious looks their way.

Becoming one of the Overlord's Disciples meant soaring straight to the top.

With the Overlord's name behind them, people would show them respect wherever they went.

If Xiao Fei had accepted the Overlord's invitation back then, the Ming King would never have dared kill him.

Now that same opportunity lay before the two of them.

Before either could respond, the breakfast shop owner dropped to her knees and spoke first. "They're willing."

"Please, Overlord, take these two children in." The Old Man pointed a trembling hand at Xiao Fei's photograph. "For our Xiao Fei's sake."

"Please, Overlord, take these two children in."

The townspeople of Black Mountain Town knelt one after another, all to secure the two a chance to rise to the top.

Master Bai asked in puzzlement, "They aren't from your Black Mountain Town, are they?"

If the Old Man had been asking for an opportunity for Earthworm, Master Bai could have understood.

But for Black Mountain Town to risk angering Master Bai to secure an opportunity for outsiders was truly baffling.

"They are children of Black Mountain Town," the Old Man replied firmly.

Master Bai pressed his hands onto their shoulders, and a tremendous force surged into their bodies.

Old Ninth instinctively raised his hand to strike back, but Little White Tiger caught his wrist.

Both felt their blood churn as that terrifying force rampaged through their bodies, as though it would tear them apart.

After a long while, Master Bai slowly withdrew his hands. He nodded at the Old Man with a knowing half-smile. "You're still as cunning as ever."

Master Bai did not spell it out. They both understood.

Why had the Old Man fought for this opportunity for Old Ninth and Little White Tiger?

Ultimately, it was for Black Mountain Town. Because life outside the city was too dangerous, because he knew Old Ninth had dual awakening, and because he knew the potential the two possessed.

So he had placed his bet on them.

Without any new Awakened, it would not be long before other factions swallowed Black Mountain Town whole.

The Overlord could intervene in conflicts between the city and those outside it, but he would not interfere when the factions outside preyed on one another.

That was why the Old Man had bet on Little White Tiger and Old Ninth. Once they rose to prominence, they would naturally remember Black Mountain Town's kindness.

Things unfolded just as the Old Man had expected. Little White Tiger forced himself to stay upright, lifted his head, and declared loudly, "We are children of Black Mountain Town."

Compromise.

Little White Tiger swallowed his resentment and compromised.

He knew the fastest way to get revenge was to secure the Overlord's backing.

He needed a powerful supporter to take revenge. Relying on himself alone, who knew how many years it would take to kill Flower Boss?

Was this not a kind of growth too? The two untamed young men had chosen to bow their heads.

Master Bai smiled in satisfaction. "Promising youngsters. No wonder the old fellow thinks so highly of you. But the Overlord isn't in Ice Prefecture right now. Come to the Mountain-Ascent Gate in a month, and I'll introduce you. Whether you can impress the Overlord is up to you."

Master Bai had neither gone back on his word nor made a decision on the Overlord's behalf.

He had handled it just right.

The opportunity was theirs. Whether they could seize it was up to them.

"Don't feel wronged. You have great potential, but remember, geniuses are a dime a dozen. Fewer than one in ten survive long enough to fulfill that potential. You need shelter, and at the same time..." Master Bai cut straight to the heart of the matter. "You have abilities, but you don't know how to use them. Without martial techniques to support you or a good teacher to guide you, you'll waste decades taking wrong turns."

"Every disciple under the Overlord is exceptionally gifted. You've been given your chance. Think it over."

Master Bai turned and left.

Once Master Bai was far away, the Old Man sighed earnestly. "Children, remember this: pride doesn't matter. I know you don't want to become the Overlord's disciples, but this is your fastest chance to build up your strength."

"I understand."

Little White Tiger nodded.

Mr. Li was a businessman. He would not fight the five in the city to the death for their sake.

So they had to find another path.

They had only just seen Master Bai off when Earthworm jogged into the Memorial Hall and whispered in their ears, "Zhang Yang is here."

The two exchanged a look and let out a long, heavy breath.

They had not expected Zhang Yang to dare venture outside the city.

His identity was a sensitive matter. If the people outside the city learned who he was, they might bury him.

But that also showed just how impatient Zhang Yang was to move against the Ice Prefecture Five Overlords.

Several hundred meters from the Memorial Hall, Zhang Yang sat in a car in plain clothes.

Old Ninth and Little White Tiger climbed into the car while Earthworm, Hi Dog, and the others stood watch outside.

Zhang Yang opened a pack of cigarettes and tossed it to them. "Got put in your place?"

Neither answered.

As if he had expected this all along, Zhang Yang gave a bitter chuckle. "The Ice Prefecture Five Overlords are deeply entrenched in the city. Now you know how strong they are, right? Old Li was using you as his blade, and you were still making such a fuss."

"There's no need to try to drive a wedge between us." Little White Tiger lit a cigarette and asked impatiently, "What are you here for?"

"Two things. First, I'm ready to move against Old Ding. Hand over that shipment and the men you're holding."

"Second, I want to remind you of something. Old Li only wants a slice of the pie. I want to drag all five overlords straight into hell. What do you want?"

Zhang Yang sounded casual, but he was actually testing them.

If they were dead set on following Mr. Li, then they were destined to walk a different path from Zhang Yang.

Because once the five overlords were dead, Mr. Li would be the city's only remaining tyrant.

Then Old Ninth and Little White Tiger would be enemies.

This time, neither hesitated. "Until all five overlords are dead, you can trust us."

"Deal."

Zhang Yang nodded. "Sometimes you enforcers are more trustworthy than the hypocrites in the city."

"What are you planning to do next?"

Zhang Yang tapped rhythmically against the car window.

"To make Old Ding give up the Hua Family, we have to make him believe they've abandoned him. We also have to keep the Hua Family from killing him to silence him." After a moment of silence, Old Ninth voiced his concern. "With that shipment stolen, Flower Boss will start covering his tracks soon, unless he's completely brainless."

With Zhang Yang targeting Old Ding, cutting him loose to protect himself was Flower Boss's wisest option.

Of course, he might also do everything he could to protect Old Ding.

But that did not matter. What mattered was making Old Ding believe Flower Boss had abandoned him.

Only when people had nowhere left to turn would they betray their masters.

"Got a plan?" Zhang Yang asked with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

Little White Tiger removed the white mourning cloth from his head. "Go back into the city. The people outside are about to attack it. When that happens, all five overlords will have their attention drawn outside, giving us an opening."

Whirr...

Old Ninth slowly lowered the window and called to Hi Dog outside, "Tell the brothers. We're heading into the city."

"Didn't the Old Man tell us not to rush?" Hi Dog asked worriedly.

They no longer even had Xiao Fei's men. They were in no position to take on Flower Boss in the city.

Old Ninth shot him a sidelong glare. Hi Dog shrank back and obediently ran to the Memorial Hall to notify the others.

"Li Youxian won't be there this time, and neither will Smoke Fiend. Aren't you afraid?" Zhang Yang asked deliberately.

"We can't leave avenging our brother to someone else. We'll get into the city first and work toward it carefully. This time, we won't fall again," Little White Tiger replied coldly.

Vroom!

Three SUVs sped away.

The Old Man stood outside the Memorial Hall with the others, watching Little White Tiger's group disappear into the distance.

"Old Man, should I take some men and stop them?"

One of Black Mountain Town's residents spoke up.

"No..." The Old Man smiled with satisfaction. "Decisive, and good at seizing opportunities. I was right about them."

"What do you mean?"

"Master Bai has already agreed to introduce them. Until the Overlord formally rejects them, those two children are wearing bulletproof vests. Killing them would be a slap in the Overlord's face, especially on the eve of a major battle between the city and those outside."

"Killing them would only enrage the Overlord. Those two youngsters saw that clearly. That's why they dared to enter the city."