Chapter 640 - 346: Ancient Ruins of the Deep Sea, Death of the Cyan Fish Gang Leader! (Part 2)

The old man paused slightly as he spoke.

"At present, Feng’Er cannot extract himself; it’s the crucial time for him to digest the Small Yellow Court. He entered closed-door seclusion three days ago... With his talent, it will take at most three months, or as little as one month, to break through to the Upper Three Grades."

"Now I pass on my skills to Feng’Er, but I, this old bag of bones, have only the strength for one battle against those old fellows... Last time, I heard that Su Xiaoyou used a masterful disguise technique to impersonate Feng’Er, aiding Hongtang in countering Gongyang Jue’s challenge."

Su Mu listened quietly. When he heard that a Martial Arts Grandmaster had been injured by the residual grand array’s prohibitions in the Ancient Ruins, his expression changed.

Qiu Mountain sighed lightly, "To be honest with you, Su Xiaoyou, the enemies of the Cyan Fish Gang are not only Gongyang Jue. Just one Gongyang Jue is not someone I would worry about."

Hearing this, Su Mu’s brow slightly furrowed. It was indeed the first time he had heard secrets regarding Qiu Mountain, but he was aware of the current situation of the Cyan Fish Gang.

He could also hear the underlying message in Qiu Mountain’s words: there is an external force that even Qiu Mountain fears, eyeing the Cyan Fish Gang, possibly even secretly supporting Gongyang Jue.

But to Su Mu, the current plan should be to let the current gang leader, Baili Hong, come forward to preside over the situation. As long as Qiu Mountain remains, the opponents must also fear such a Martial Arts Grandmaster and not tear the facade entirely.

In this way, they only need to wait for the eldest brother to fully digest the Small Yellow Court’s skills, enabling him to break through to the Third Grade and inherit the role as the Cyan Fish Gang’s next Great Cultivator.

"Great Elder, forgive me for speaking bluntly, but in the current situation, the gang leader Baili should step forward. With the leader’s prestige, just showing his face should be enough to calm the situation."

Su Mu couldn’t help but voice his doubts, which were perhaps also on the minds of many Cyan Fish Gang disciples at present.

After all, part of the reason for the current situation of the Cyan Fish Gang was due to Gang Leader Baili Hong’s seclusion for cultivation, having not shown his face for many years.

"Second Grandpa, let me speak."

The second sister, who had been silent for a long time, spoke. She shook her head with a grieving expression, and upon hearing it, the old man opened his mouth but eventually remained silent, his eyes revealing a trace of sadness.

"It’s not that my father doesn’t want to oversee the situation, but he can’t... because he’s already passed away!"

"The gang leader... died?"

Though Su Mu had had suspicions before, after the first appearance of the eldest brother, Baili Feng, he began to think that things might not be so bad. Yet, it turned out just as Su Mu initially suspected.

Baili Hong, the father of the eldest brother Baili Feng and second sister Baili Hongtang, the current Cyan Fish Gang Leader, had declared years ago that he was entering seclusion to strive for the Third Grade.

There had been considerable speculation that Baili Hong had encountered problems in his cultivation or had simply left the gang to seek opportunities for a breakthrough.

But few considered that Baili Hong might have died.

After all, while the lifespan of cultivators is typically long, the martial path is acknowledged for its relatively short longevity, and its brevity is only notable compared to other Three Religions Cultivators. To common mortals, high-realm Martial Artists are akin to living deities.

Baili Hong was only in his early forties, an age that, even to mortals, might barely be considered the prime of life, let alone given Baili Hong’s outstanding martial talent. He was at Half-Step Third Grade before entering seclusion.

In the entire Donglai County, aside from those Great Cultivators and exceptions like Li Heng, Baili Hong, who cultivated the Flood Dragon Shocking Skill, was regarded as the foremost beneath the Great Cultivators in Donglai County.

Those capable of threatening such a strong figure would either be other Great Cultivators or individuals at Half-Step Third Grade. However, if one were to engage in battle with such formidable foes, news would be impossible to hide, at least not from the Great Cultivators of Donglai County.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that Baili Hong, a Half-Step Great Cultivator, just quietly perished!

Even if others from the Cyan Fish Gang were to confess this to the outside world, they’d fear disbelief and instead cause suspicion that it could be part of a Cyan Fish Gang scheme. However, it was Baili Hong’s daughter, the second Miss of the Cyan Fish Gang, Baili Hongtang, who personally disclosed this.

"The gang leader... how did he die? Could it be that he also explored those Ancient Ruins beneath the deep sea?"

At this point, Su Mu could only speculate about the Ancient Ruins, as even Qiu Mountain, a true Martial Arts Grandmaster, had suffered severe injuries there.

But Baili Hongtang shook her head still, gritting her teeth as she spoke, "My father was murdered... Seven or eight years ago, in spring, right after the year passed, my father set out to explore opportunities for a breakthrough, but after three days, he secretly returned..."

"At that time, I remember my father was gravely injured... His viscera was shattered, his body covered in blood, and there was an evil and cold aura surging around him. Through my eyes, I saw a mass of sinister black qi distinct from that of a Demon Beast."

"Just one glance resulted in severe backlash, injuring my eyes. The outside world believes I was born weak, but it actually relates to that glance. For several years, numerous precious spiritual materials were expended to help my eyes recover."

"My father sustained himself through sheer will to return to the gang, secretly meeting me, my brother, and Second Grandpa. He barely managed to say a hasty farewell before falling into a coma."

Baili Hongtang’s face reflected both fear and an undisguisable rage.

In Baili Hongtang’s eyes, her father Baili Hong was a pillar of strength in Donglai County, the Cyan Fish Gang Leader, and a towering figure, showing brilliance as a young man and earning a fierce reputation combating sea pirates.

In Donglai County, anyone, even from the White Whale Gang, would speak in awe when mentioning her father Baili Hong.

Yet such a monumental existence was fatally wounded within three days while traveling to the Ancient Qingzhou County, barely leaving a complete farewell before falling unconscious.

"After that night, my father briefly regained consciousness and entered seclusion, hoping to recover but couldn’t hold on; he passed away six months later."

The old man nearby, unable to bear it, murmured, "Hong’er was much like Hongtang’s grandfather, but as if fate envied talent, both father and son died young... At that time, Feng’Er and Hongtang were too young to take on such responsibilities, and Hong’er initially did declare his seclusion to the outside. I kept the matter under wraps, announcing externally that Hong’er had insights and planned to strive for the Third Grade in dire seclusion."

"Did the gang leader ever disclose who harmed him?"

"I asked my father who was responsible, but he remained silent, unwilling to mention it..."

Hearing this, Su Mu was filled with shock. It was evident that Baili Hong’s silence back then was to avoid implicating the Cyan Fish Gang. However, let us not forget that the Cyan Fish Gang had a Martial Arts Grandmaster present, and even seven or eight years ago, Qiu Mountain was likely not near the end of his strength.

Who would be so terrifying that Baili Hong, the gang leader, refused to mention and feared implicating the Cyan Fish Gang even till his death?

Su Mu’s eyes flashed, while Baili Hongtang beside him clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves.

She had actually once pleaded with her father before he left to travel. Her father, who always doted on her, reluctantly revealed his intention to roam the Ancient Qingzhou County, a fact only she knew, unknown even to Second Grandpa and her elder brother.

This was also the reason Baili Hongtang was unwilling to accept the Small Yellow Court or enter a marriage alliance with Su Mu.

The vengeance of a slain father is irreconcilable. How could she start a family without seeking revenge?

Baili Hongtang clearly understood that her father kept silent about the opponent’s identity to protect them, and she indeed did not wish to involve Su Mu due to this. She planned to step beyond Donglai County in the future, ascend above the Third Grade, and then investigate this matter in Qingzhou.

"The true mastermind behind Hong’er’s murder remains unknown, and even if the culprit’s identity is discovered, this enmity..." Qiu Mountain paused in his words before sighing. He understood Hong’er’s intention.

This grudge is one the Cyan Fish Gang cannot avenge, for attempting to do so may plunge the entire gang into the abyss.

"Gongyang Jue is indeed capable, and it would be acceptable for him to take the position of gang leader. However, he is petty and vengeful with deep calculation, having colluded with our rival sea pirates twice to place Feng’Er in mortal danger. If he assumes the leader’s position,"

"there will be no room for the Baili family to survive. I cannot watch the Baili family perish."

Qiu Mountain spoke softly, his words growing more resolute towards the end.

"May the Great Elder speak directly... What does the elder want me, the junior, to do?"

Su Mu asked.

This night, as the Great Elder Qiu Mountain sought him and revealed such secrets regarding himself and Baili Hong, there must be something he desired, but if Gongyang Jue had the backing of a Great Cultivator from other Donglai powers, he could do little.

Qiu Mountain’s eyes rested on Su Mu, not with coercion, but with a request.

"I, this old bag of bones, still have some strength left, enough for a fight against those old fellows... I want Su Xiaoyou to impersonate Hong’er, manage the current situation, and buy time for Feng’Er to advance to Martial Arts Grandmaster."