Gan Ci of the Hengjiang Tigers

Wang Chong watched the cavalry flee without striking again. He had to conserve his strength against unforeseen trouble. Pressing these elite troops from beyond the borders now, when they were already intent on fleeing, could easily backfire.

Monk Xuangang had some military experience, though he had come by it through improper channels, accumulating it as a notorious bandit. Knowing that they needed to rally their men now, he hurriedly shouted orders and brought the ragtag force together.

The men Luo Dayong had brought completely ignored Monk Xuangang's shouts and continued fighting with exuberant spirits. Only after fighting their way to Wang Chong did they fall to their knees. The fiercest young man at their head called out, "Gan Ci of the Hengjiang Tigers pays his respects to Administrator Wang."

Hearing the name of the Hengjiang Tigers, Wang Chong felt a slight jolt and instinctively asked, "Do you know me?"

Gan Ci chuckled and replied, "Administrator Wang does bear quite a resemblance to White Chrysanthemum, but you are certainly not the same person."

Li Qingge had said that the Hengjiang Tigers had once forced White Chrysanthemum to retreat. Wang Chong had taken note at the time, but as time passed, he had grown careless enough to ask them to their faces whether they knew him. Although Gan Ci said he did not and that there was merely a resemblance, it still frightened him into a cold sweat.

Gan Ci merely assumed someone else had also mentioned Wang Chong's resemblance to White Chrysanthemum, prompting his prospective patron's question. He thought nothing of it and, after answering, looked at him expectantly.

Wang Chong did not need to look at Luo Dayong's expression to know what this notorious bandit had in mind. He smiled and said, "Master Gan, you have rendered a great service.