Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

Chapter 275: Chapter 235: Jile Tower, Tang Wen: Still a Man If You Can Resist?

’White Tiger Village is run by women... Does that mean it’s full of "white tigers"?’

’A village like that... I’ll have to manage it *thoroughly*!’

Tang Wen’s eyes hardened with determination. "Don’t worry, Elder Liu. No matter how strange they are, I will conquer them completely."

SMACK!

"Ow! What did you hit me for?" Tang Wen asked, rubbing his head.

Vice Gang Leader Liu slowly drew back his hand and said irritably, "What is on your mind all day! You think I’m too old to understand what you’re implying? Let me tell you, their Guardian Beast is a White Tiger with the strength of the Peak of Sixth Grade! How about it? Go on! Go and conquer that, I’d like to see you try."

"Huh? A *real* White Tiger? And at the Peak of Sixth Grade? How am I supposed to fight that?"

Tang Wen frowned. He was only interested in the metaphorical "white tigers," not a literal one.

An Exotic Beast at the Peak of Sixth Grade was even stronger than a typical Sixth Grade Martial Artist.

Moreover, the White Tiger was a Wind Element Exotic Beast with an exceptional Wind Control Talent.

He was guaranteed to lose the fight, and he wouldn’t be able to escape either.

Seeing that Tang Wen finally understood the predicament, Elder Liu stroked his beard and gloated.

"Elder Liu, you have to help me!" Tang Wen said, puzzled. "With a village like that, how did Zhao Zhe ever manage to subdue it?"

Vice Gang Leader Liu said, half-mockingly, "I’m not worried about your safety. It’s a matriarchy, and they have a tradition of... ’borrowing seed’ from strong men. Your reputation for your Spear Technique is known throughout the gang and beyond. At worst, you can just conquer them on a different kind of battlefield!"

Tang Wen stroked his chin and looked down, pondering. ’Hmm, so that’s a thing? Doesn’t sound too bad...’

Elder Liu’s beard practically stood on end.

’Dammit!’

’Is this kid actually considering it?’

Vice Gang Leader Liu raised his hand, ready to smack him again.

Tang Wen dodged with a tilt of his head. ’You’ve got to be kidding. You may be at the Peak of Sixth Grade, but it’s not like I can’t dodge your hits.’

The older man’s eyes showed a flash of surprise. He stopped joking. "All right, as for White Tiger Village, whether or not you can control them depends on fate. They consult their Guardian God, the White Tiger, on all matters. If the Guardian God agrees, they’ll accept you. If not... then as long as they follow our orders publicly and trade with us normally, it’ll be fine."

"Okay!"

Hearing Tang Wen agree so readily, Elder Liu was speechless. "You’re not even going to try to win them over? Zhao Zhe managed to do it. Why can’t you at least make an effort?"

Tang Wen shook his head. "I don’t want to."

"You lazy kid. Aren’t you afraid people will say you’re not as good as Zhao Zhe?"

Tang Wen laughed. "So what if I can’t handle White Tiger Village? You think I can’t handle anyone who dares to badmouth me?"

Vice Gang Leader Liu gritted his teeth at that. "...You little bastard. You really were born to be a Gang Leader."

"You’re too kind, too kind."

"Was that a compliment? You shameless brat! Get out!" Elder Liu pointed to the door.

For someone in a position of power, being shameless was a basic requirement.

"Don’t be angry, Elder. Just buy me one month. I still have several portions of Sixth Grade Blood Marrow I haven’t used yet! Let me train in seclusion for a month, and I guarantee I can bring them to heel!"

"Now *that’s* more like it."

Leaving the Black Water Sect Headquarters, Tang Wen took the lead, walking out in front.

Liang Yu and the housekeeper, Shu Mei, followed behind with a team of Female Martial Artists carrying large chests.

The chests were filled with so many ledgers and documents that they filled three entire horse-drawn carriages.

It was similar to Shui Yun’s Seven Kills Hall.

Eldest Young Master Zhao Zhe had also possessed his own independent organization, and this place was quite famous.

It was located on the street next to the Black Water Gang’s territory—a large courtyard with five buildings.

The central building was the tallest at five stories and had been for Zhao Zhe’s exclusive use.

This building was precisely why the place was so well-known.

The other four buildings, each three stories tall, were arranged around it, guarding the center.

As Tang Wen arrived, people spontaneously filed out of the buildings to greet him.

Looking at the sea of faces before him, he sighed inwardly. ’I don’t have time to manage all this. Who can I get to take over?’

"Young Master, we can’t do this," Liang Yu and Shu Mei pleaded, their voices soft in his ears.

A warm, fragrant breeze tickled his ear. A devilish glint appeared in Tang Wen’s eyes. "If you can’t do it, you’ll have to be punished."

"Young Master!"

"Oh, Young Master..."

The two women hugged his arms, wheedling him. As he felt their soft warmth pressing against him, Tang Wen snorted, clearly not intending to let them off the hook.

Liang Yu had been serving him for a long time.

She understood his unspoken threat and immediately leaned close to his ear, whispering a promise, "I’ll be sure to satisfy you tonight, Young Master."

The housekeeper was a step behind. ’Dammit,’ she thought, annoyed with herself, and quickly followed suit.

"Good. Liang Yu, go find your Senior Sister and ask her to send more people over." The complexity of the assets and personnel Tang Wen was taking over was comparable to that of a public company.

They wouldn’t be able to manage with too few hands.

The housekeeper, Shu Mei, gave a wry smile. "Young Master, the Young Miss has a great deal to take over on her end as well. At most, she can spare a few people to supervise."

With the Eldest Young Master’s downfall, everyone in his faction had flocked to Shui Yun’s side.

And when it came to switching allegiances, a simple visit and some empty words wouldn’t cut it. One had to show genuine sincerity.

For instance, by ceding partial control over their forces or sharing access to a rare mineral deposit they controlled.

Even those who had been neutral were now siding with Shui Yun.

Under these circumstances, Shui Yun was naturally far busier than Tang Wen, and her subordinates were running around nonstop.

Still, if she really pushed it, it wasn’t that she couldn’t spare a few people to help Tang Wen.

However, matters had to be prioritized. Those who had just switched sides and pledged their allegiance needed to be handled with caution.

The "sincerity" they offered had to be scrutinized to make sure there were no hidden traps.

Tang Wen was one of their own, and the assets he was taking over were simpler. His situation could wait.

Liang Yu said hesitantly, "Young Master, I’m afraid you’ll have to stay here for the time being. There are two Extraordinary masters here as well, and we don’t have the strength to keep them in line."

Tang Wen frowned but didn’t say anything.

He didn’t want to waste his time here.

Power, wealth, the adoration of the masses, controlling the fates and lives of thousands—it was all certainly intoxicating.

But all of that was fleeting. Personal strength was what mattered most.

’In that case, I’ll need to find an Extraordinary to hold down the fort. But who?’

Tang Wen didn’t bother dismissing the crowd that had come to greet him, letting them get back to their duties.

He led the two women toward the main building.