Chapter 204: Congratulatory Gift

Fujiao Manor was built against a mountain, covering a vast area.

Although it was the middle of the night, the manor was brightly lit. The area around the Hall of Unity was particularly raucous, a lively mix of drinking games, women’s flirtatious laughter, and boisterous bragging.

Inside the Hall of Unity, tall candles burned brightly, illuminating faces flushed red with strong liquor and excitement.

Dozens of tables were laid out, a mess of cups and plates, with meat and wine piled high like mountains.

Though the Fujiao Gang often reveled in drink and merriment, it wasn’t every day they celebrated with such fervor.

This was because two joyous occasions had coincided for the Fujiao Gang.

After Liu Liangxin’s death, one of the ten Squad Leader positions had become vacant.

Just yesterday, one of the Squad Leaders, Fang Jingchen, had successfully broken through to the Golden Core Realm, becoming a True Master Martial Dao!

Besides Gang Leader Luo Hengjiang, who was at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, the Fujiao Gang now had another True Master Martial Dao.

Luo Hengjiang had promoted Fang Jingchen to Vice Gang Leader.

This left two vacancies among the ten Squad Leaders, which had just been filled today with members chosen from the gang.

Two newly promoted Squad Leaders, plus a new True Master Martial Dao—it was a double blessing.

Luo Hengjiang was in high spirits today. He sat imposingly in the main seat, gazing down at the hundreds of gang members below him, feeling proud and satisfied as his imagination ran wild.

’With two True Master Martial Dao overseeing things, the Fujiao Gang’s reputation will only grow.’

’With Marquis Jingzhong and the Governor of Jingzhou as our backers, and the Jingshui River at our back, our numbers will soon break one thousand.’

’Give it time, and we’ll surely become the number one gang in Jing State.’

’With more resources, the strength of our members will rise accordingly.’

’I am about to break through to the Late Stage of Golden Core Realm.’

’If I can cultivate to Golden Core Realm Perfection and use the Demon Blood Infant Transformation Pill to form a Nascent Soul, the Fujiao Gang’s influence could expand to other states!’

’It’s not impossible that we could become the number one gang in the entire Wu Dynasty in the future.’

Just then, a Fujiao Gang guard came in from outside to report.

"Reporting to the Gang Leader, Evil Exterminator Guard Lu Bai is outside asking to see you."

"Oh?"

Luo Hengjiang’s thick brows twitched upon hearing this.

Fang Jingchen, the newly promoted Vice Gang Leader, had a very deep impression of Lu Bai.

He had tried to give Lu Bai a hard time that day, but his plan had backfired, leaving him utterly disgraced.

Fang Jingchen asked, "How many people are with him? What is he here for?"

"He’s alone."

The man continued, "He also said he’s brought a congratulatory gift for the Gang Leader."

"A gift?"

Fang Jingchen frowned. "Our Fujiao Gang is celebrating a double blessing today. How could he possibly know?"

"Haha!"

Luo Hengjiang, however, let out a great laugh. "Younger Brother Fang, you may not know this, but Lu Bai once said he would come to the Fujiao Gang to apologize to me."

Fang Jingchen reacted quickly, smiling. "Your might is so great, Gang Leader, that even an Evil Exterminator Guard must bow his head."

"Let him in. Let’s see what kind of gift he’s brought me."

Luo Hengjiang waved a dismissive hand.

The Fujiao Gang guard turned and left.

A moment later, he led Lu Bai into the Hall of Unity.

"Younger Brother Lu, your timing is impeccable."

Luo Hengjiang laughed. "Today is a day of double blessing for my Fujiao Gang. Squad Leader Fang has just become a True Master Martial Dao and been promoted to Vice Gang Leader, and two more members have been promoted to Squad Leader. It is a joyous day for our gang.

If your gift is too meager, you’ll be a laughingstock to all the brothers here, and I’ll have to make you drink as punishment."

’Two True Master Martial Dao,’

Lu Bai noted internally.

’That adds a slight complication.’

’But it’s not like I don’t have a chance.’

Lu Bai smiled faintly, raising the blood-soaked cloth bundle in his hand. He announced, "This gift is sure to satisfy all the brothers of the Fujiao Gang, and Gang Leader Luo."

"A head?"

Luo Hengjiang’s brow furrowed slightly.

Though it was wrapped in cloth, everyone present was a veteran of the Jianghu; they could tell at a glance that it contained a human head.

Fang Jingchen asked, "Whose head is it?"

Lu Bai smiled and glanced around. "Allow me to keep you in suspense for a moment. I have a question for Gang Leader Luo."

"Speak."

Luo Hengjiang said.

Lu Bai said, "There was a porter at the foot of Wangjiang Tower named Shi Tianlei. He was originally from Shi Country. Gang Leader Luo has already killed him, I presume."

"And what if I did?"

Luo Hengjiang’s expression darkened as he asked slowly.

Lu Bai shook his head slightly. "Gang Leader Luo, you weren’t clean enough. The man had a brother who wants to avenge him."

"Oh?"

Luo Hengjiang’s expression flickered. He looked at Fang Jingchen and the other Squad Leaders beside him and asked with a frown, "Jingchen, how do you all handle your business?"

"Gang Leader, please calm your anger."

Fang Jingchen quickly explained, "That day, we used every method we could. We tortured Shi Tianlei to death, but he truly never mentioned any brother."

Luo Hengjiang’s expression was grim and uncertain.

He wasn’t afraid of someone seeking revenge for Shi Tianlei.

He was worried that this person knew their secrets, which would introduce other complications.

In a flash, Luo Hengjiang’s gaze fell on Lu Bai. Just as he was about to ask a question, a thought struck him, and he began to laugh. "Haha, I get it! The head in your hands, Younger Brother Lu, it belongs to that man!

Good, good, good! I like this gift very much!"

"That’s not it."

Lu Bai shook his head slightly and tossed the head in his hand directly toward Luo Hengjiang.

The cloth unraveled mid-air, and a large head rolled across the floor a few times before coming to a stop.

Luo Hengjiang’s gaze froze. When he saw the head’s face, his expression changed drastically.

Wu Ziyan!

The young master of Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion!

BUZZ!

At that moment, a clear sword hum echoed through the hall.

"Shi Tianlei’s brother... is me, Lu Bai!"

The Cyan Cloud Sword left its sheath. Lu Bai roared, "Luo Hengjiang, Fang Jingchen, prepare to die!"

"SCREECH!"

Ah Ming shot into the air, transformed into its true form, and pounced toward Luo Hengjiang.

"You little bastard, you’ve got some nerve!"

Luo Hengjiang cursed.

"Kill him for me!"

The Hall of Unity, moments before a scene of boisterous feasting and revelry, suddenly erupted into chaos.

Many of the Fujiao Gang members were unarmed, but they still swarmed toward Lu Bai.

Lu Bai wielded his Cyan Cloud Sword, unleashing the swordsmanship of the Red Ming Celestial Patrol. His sword moves were sharp and exquisitely precise.

Blood splattered everywhere. A dozen men had just surrounded him when they were cut down by the Cyan Cloud Sword.

Some were decapitated.

Others were sliced in half at the waist.

Each one died a gruesome death!

Even an Innate Martial Artist, if bare-handed, couldn’t withstand a single exchange with Lu Bai!

The two newly promoted Squad Leaders, hoping to prove their merit, charged forward, only to be slain on the spot by two strikes from Lu Bai’s sword.

A pair of Water-Splitting Needles slid from Fang Jingchen’s sleeves into his palms. He was about to charge at Lu Bai but was intercepted by Ah Ming.

"You beast, you’re courting death!"

Luo Hengjiang had also retrieved his weapon by now. He wielded a Nine-Ringed Golden Saber, his Blood Qi surging as if his body was engulfed in flames. He leaped into the air, charging toward Ah Ming!

In mid-air, Ah Ming fought one against two, holding its own against the two True Master Martial Dao, Luo Hengjiang and Fang Jingchen.

Seeing that the situation was dire, the other Fujiao Gang members quickly grabbed their weapons, let out a shout, and swarmed forward!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The sound of clashing weapons echoed ceaselessly through the Hall of Unity.

Under the Cyan Cloud Sword, the weapons of these Fujiao Gang members were like paper, shattering with a single blow.

Wherever the sword’s edge passed, all eighteen kinds of weapons were broken!

Lu Bai held his Cyan Cloud Sword, unleashing the full power of the Five Blood Prohibition, which erupted in five layers of blood-red light. Wherever he went, chaos ensued, severed limbs flew through the air, and a trail of bodies was left in his wake!