Chapter 76: Plotting to Seize the Great River Gang

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Plotting to Seize the Great River Gang

"This is the Gale Leopard. A Level 8 Gale Leopard costs sixteen thousand Gold Coins. Sir, would you like to buy it now?" the shop assistant asked Ye Xing, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"Yes, I’ll take it!" Ye Xing opened his bundle, took out a thick stack of gold Tickets, and handed them to the shop assistant. He said in a low voice, "I’m buying this Gale Leopard. Also, bring me four of the Fifth-level Demon Beast, the Golden Tiger, from the second floor!"

The shop assistant stared at the thick stack of gold Tickets in Ye Xing’s hand. The smallest denomination was one hundred Gold Coins, and he estimated there were at least a hundred bills. The assistant’s throat went dry. With trembling hands, he took the gold Tickets from Ye Xing and began to count them, then hurriedly ran to the first floor to call for the Beast Taming Pavilion’s Shopkeeper.

Half an hour later, all the paperwork and contracts were finalized. Ye Xing, Qiao’Er, Aunt Qiao, Xue Yong, and Hong Hai—the five of them—left the Beast Taming Pavilion, riding one Gale Leopard and four Golden Tigers.

"Sh-Shopkeeper, that young master’s strength was clearly average. How is he so rich? Could he be a young lord from the city?" the shop assistant stammered.

"Yes, he must be a noble son from one of those major families! Keep your eyes peeled from now on, and be more respectful to such distinguished people!" the Beast Taming Pavilion’s Shopkeeper said.

After leaving the Beast Taming Pavilion, the group of five rode the Gale Leopard and Golden Tigers down Phoenix Street. It was an incredibly cool sight, with a nearly one-hundred-percent head-turn rate. Many people, even Martial Artists, stared with eyes full of envy, green with jealousy as they gazed at the Gale Leopard and Golden Tigers.

Since the Gale Leopard and Golden Tigers weren’t releasing their auras, outsiders couldn’t tell their levels. After all, some Gale Leopards were Level 6-7, while some Gale Leopards and Golden Tigers were only Level 4-5. Of course, ferocious Demon Beasts like leopards and tigers were generally at least Level 4.

Furthermore, Ye Xing’s Gale Leopard had reached Level 8 in its Cultivation, with speed comparable to a Ninth Realm Martial Artist—or perhaps even greater. The four Golden Tigers also had Level 5 Cultivation, possessing great strength and considerable speed.

Ye Xing’s group of five rode the Gale Leopard and Golden Tigers, racing toward White Cloud Mountain like a bolt of lightning. Their speed was incredible; they returned to the White Cloud Mountain Ye Mansion in less than eight minutes.

Night fell. A crescent moon hung high in the sky, a gentle night breeze blew, and the leaves in the courtyard rustled.

「In a room in the west wing.」

"Hey, Hong Hai, what should we do now?"

"What do you mean, ’what should we do’? We’re already on this pirate ship. You’re not thinking of jumping off, are you? You’d just drown. Don’t forget, we have a Heart-devouring Gu in our hearts. If we have any second thoughts, we could die at any moment."

"Hehe, I actually think this pirate ship is pretty good. Even if he told me to leave, I wouldn’t want to go. Damn, a Fifth-level Demon Beast, the Golden Tiger! He bought them just like that, and even gave one to each of us. This treatment is way better than what we had in the Great River Gang."

"Yeah, the Master is certainly generous. From what I’ve seen, he’s a meticulous thinker, ruthless toward his enemies, but very loyal and righteous toward his own people. He’s someone worth following."

"I think so too. Let’s just do our jobs honestly, and maybe we’ll get to live the good life in the future. Hey, Hong Hai, you think the Master knows how to use Hidden Weapons and plant Gu worms... with so many skills, could he be a disciple from some major family or Major Sect out gaining experience?"

Inside the room, the two men were whispering amongst themselves.

KNOCK! KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Suddenly, a series of heavy knocks came from the door.

The burly Xue Yong quickly walked to the door and opened it to see a little girl standing there. "Ah, it’s Miss Qiao’Er! Is there something you need from us?" Xue Yong asked in a fawning tone. If they wanted to make it in the Ye Mansion, they wouldn’t dare offend this little miss.

Qiao Qiao stared at them with hatred in her big eyes. "My big brother told me to have you meet him in the living room!" After speaking, she turned and left without a second glance. Although the Big River Gang Leader was the one who killed Big Black and Cyan Wolf, these two men were accomplices, so the little girl naturally held a grudge and didn’t give them a pleasant look.

"Alright, alright. We’ll be right over!" Hong Hai and Xue Yong said quickly.

Xue Yong’s expression shifted. "Judging by her tone, Miss Qiao’Er doesn’t seem very friendly toward us. What are we going to do about that?"

"You’re only just now realizing that? We did just surrender to their side, after all." Hong Hai gave a wry smile. "There’s nothing else to do but try to humor her. Over time, her anger will naturally fade a bit. Let’s go, the Master is summoning us. We need to hurry!"

The two of them immediately hurried toward the living room.

「In the Ye Mansion’s brightly lit living room.」

Ye Xing was sitting on the sofa watching TV when Hong Hai and Xue Yong walked in. Hong Hai had a rather large and portly frame, while Xue Yong was a sturdy, muscular man.

"Master!" Hong Hai and Xue Yong stood in the living room and greeted Ye Xing respectfully.

"Mm, don’t call me Master. It doesn’t sound good. I’m a businessman, just call me Boss!" Ye Xing said with a smile, gesturing to the sofa. "Have a seat, don’t be formal!"

Hong Hai and Xue Yong immediately sat on the edge of the sofa. "We were wondering, M—... Boss, why did you summon us?"

"Take a guess," Ye Xing said.

"You want us to guess?" Xue Yong was thoroughly confused.

A flicker of understanding crossed Hong Hai’s eyes. "Is it about the Great River Gang?"

"Correct. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders," Ye Xing said with a laugh. "The Great River Gang’s Leader is dead, leaving the gang without a head. I think we can absolutely seize the Great River Gang’s foundation! Tell me about the situation within the gang. Who are their experts?"

"There aren’t many experts. Now that Master You is dead, the strongest ones left are the two Left and Right Guardians, who are at the Martial Arts Fourth Realm. As for Squad Leaders at the Martial Arts Third Realm, there should be six or seven of them. There are probably close to a hundred ordinary members at the Martial Arts First Realm. If we just charge in, it could be troublesome," Hong Hai said gravely.

Xue Yong added, "We have an Eighth-level Demon Beast, the Gale Leopard, and four Golden Tigers. What’s there to be afraid of? A few charges back and forth..."

"It doesn’t have to be that troublesome." A glint appeared in Ye Xing’s eyes as he said in a low voice, "I have a method that will let us take down the Great River Gang with ease."

"M—... Boss, please tell us!" said Hong Hai.

"It’s simple. A ’decapitation strike.’ We just need to lure them over. I found You Bin’s token on his body. Take his token to the Great River Gang and trick the Left and Right Guardians into coming here to my White Cloud Mountain!" Ye Xing said with a smile.

"An excellent plan! The gang members all know that Master You brought me and Xue Yong to White Cloud Mountain to seize the Boss’s property. Using that as a pretext, the Left and Right Guardians definitely won’t be suspicious." Hong Hai’s squinted eyes lit up.

"Then there’s no time to waste. Should we go now?" Xue Yong asked.

"Haha, no need to rush. Green River Town isn’t far from here, so leaving tomorrow morning will be plenty of time," Ye Xing said with a laugh. "You two go back and rest for now. Get your energy up for the big event tomorrow."

Xue Yong and Hong Hai glanced at each other, then said at once, "Then we, your subordinates, will take our leave!"

After sending Hong Hai and Xue Yong away, Ye Xing immediately returned to the Training Room to focus on his Cultivation.

Ye Xing had never slacked off when it came to his Cultivation.

He moved the bookshelf, entered the cave passage, and soon arrived before the Purple Light Group.

’The Purple Light Group must never be discovered by anyone. Tomorrow morning, when I return to the ancestral home on Earth, I’ll have to reinforce the iron hut over the old well. With the Purple Light Group, my Cultivation speed will far surpass that of ordinary people.’ Ye Xing’s eyes shifted. He immediately sat down cross-legged, circulated his Innate Skill, and began to cultivate, breathing in and out.

WHOOSH—

INHALE—

He inhaled slowly, then exhaled gently.

After cultivating for about half a shichen, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Ye Xing, and an incredibly exciting idea appeared in his mind.