Chapter 336: Chapter 179: Making a Wedding Gown for Me
Judging by his brand-new clothes, he must have just joined a gang.
"Dad, Chen... Master Chen is back." Lu Manguan flinched, quickly tugging on his father Lu Wubai’s sleeve.
"Who cares about some Master Chen or Master Li? In our territory, there’s only Master Zhai, Master Ma..."
Lu Wubai, who had been busy giving Ma Sitian advice, was clearly annoyed. But when he turned his head and saw Chen Cheng, his gaunt face instantly flushed a dark crimson.
His legs began to tremble so uncontrollably that he could barely stand. Thankfully, Lu Manguan caught him, preventing him from collapsing to the ground.
"Master Chen?" Ma Sitian turned his head as well. Upon seeing Chen Cheng at the entrance of the lane, his eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably!
Demon Suppression Department, Purple-clothed Guard!
This was a truly powerful figure. Even the Officials in the Inner City had to treat him with the utmost respect.
Gang lieutenants like them, who scraped by in the slums of the Outer City District, would likely go their whole lives without ever crossing paths with a Purple-clothed Guard.
When he got a clear look at Chen Cheng’s face and vaguely recognized him as the boy from the Chen Family he’d seen years ago, Ma Sitian grew even more terrified.
For a moment, he was unsure if he should step forward and pay his respects.
At that moment, Chen Cheng, with Mu Xiaowan at his side, strolled into the lane and walked directly to the gate of the old Chen family home.
"Uncle Wubai, long time no see."
Chen Cheng offered a small smile as he greeted him.
There were a few families with the surname Lu in Locust Tree Lane, and Chen Cheng had addressed Lu Wubai this way since he was a child.
As for Ma Sitian, Chen Cheng knew who he was, and Ma Sitian knew who Chen Cheng was, but since they had never spoken, Chen Cheng didn’t bother greeting him.
Yet, that casual "Uncle Wubai" made Lu Wubai tremble so violently that he immediately slid to his knees.
"M-Master Chen, I... I’m not worthy of you calling me that!" Lu Wubai stammered, his face a mask of anguish.
"It’s nothing," Chen Cheng chuckled and turned to unlock his family’s gate.
Knowing he couldn’t avoid it, Ma Sitian quickly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.
"I pay my respects, Master Chen."
Chen Cheng remained perfectly amiable. "No need for such formalities, Sitian," he said lightly.
"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!" Ma Sitian was overwhelmed by the honor, and a wave of relief washed over him. "My lord should know, I changed my name the year before last. I now go by Ma Wancai."
"Ma Wancai? Hmm, a good name." Chen Cheng nodded, though he privately thought, ’Ma Sitian had a better ring to it. Ma Wancai... it’s just a bit tacky.’
Since Lu Wubai and Ma Wancai had initiated the conversation, Chen Cheng took the opportunity to ask about something that was puzzling him.
"You joined a Jianghu Gang?"
Ma Wancai dared not hesitate and answered honestly, "Yes, that’s right. I serve the Ba Dao Gang as an Incense Master.
My men and I are responsible for protecting the local residents."
"I see. Good." Chen Cheng was well aware of how Jianghu Gangs operated, so he didn’t bother asking for details about this Ba Dao Gang.
"By the way, have all the folks in Locust Tree Lane struck it rich? Why is everyone building large new residences?"
At his words, both Ma Wancai and Lu Wubai shuddered.
Ma Wancai shot a venomous glare at Lu Wubai.
’This whole mess is Lu Wubai’s fault, the old con man.’
’If Lu Wubai hadn’t told the Ba Dao Gang’s leader, Zhai Yongba, that Locust Tree Lane was a place of auspicious feng shui, a place that gives rise to a True Dragon, Zhai Yongba would never have considered buying up the land to build the gang’s headquarters here.’
’And the True Dragon Lu Wubai had mentioned was, of course, the very Master Chen standing before him now!’
’Zhai Yongba had been hesitant at first, afraid that building the gang’s headquarters next to the Chen Family’s property would provoke Master Chen’s fury.’
’But Lu Wubai had sworn that Master Chen had already soared to great heights, becoming a powerful lord far above them all. Why would he ever return to a slum like this?’
’In all these years, Master Chen hadn’t come back even once.’
’The Chen Family courtyard was long deserted.’
’Zhai Yongba thought it sounded reasonable. He even came to see for himself, observing from a distance that the Chens’ old home had indeed been empty for a long time. So, he made the decision to build the Ba Dao Gang headquarters in Locust Tree Lane.’
’Ma Wancai and Lu Wubai were put in charge of the arrangements. As for the Chen Family Residence, of course, they didn’t dare touch it.’
’As long as they didn’t touch the Chen Family Residence, then even in the off chance that Master Chen did suddenly return, the Ba Dao Gang would have a way to explain themselves.’
’As for the other residents... well, they just had to obediently move out and make way for the Ba Dao Gang.’
’Ma Wancai never imagined that Master Chen, the man who was never supposed to return, had actually come back!’
He didn’t dare hide the truth. Trembling, he said, "To answer your question, Master Chen, the residents all sold their properties to our Ba Dao Gang. We’re building our gang’s headquarters here.
Please rest assured, Master Chen. The Ba Dao Gang would never dare to touch your family’s residence."
"Oh?" Chen Cheng murmured. He glanced at the new buildings around them and mused for a moment before speaking coolly,
"Your Ba Dao Gang’s buildings... they’re a bit too tall. They’re blocking the sun from my home.
It’ll be rather inconvenient when I want to hang clothes out to dry."
"Uh..." Ma Wancai’s heart sank.
’How could he not understand? This was Master Chen’s way of showing his displeasure.’
’A Purple-clothed Guard from the Demon Suppression Department, a man of immense status—why would someone like that come back to live in a remote slum like Locust Tree Lane and worry about drying clothes?’
’Master Chen was displeased, which could only mean one thing: he wanted a little "tribute"!’
’But that was a decision he, a mere Incense Master, couldn’t make.’
’After all, if the tribute was too small, it would only make Master Chen angrier. Deciding on a large enough sum was something only the Gang Leader could do.’
Just as he was trying to figure out how to respond, Chen Cheng spoke again. "Never mind. My family’s residence is a bit dilapidated anyway. It’s due for a renovation.
The lot is a bit small, too. I was hesitant to ask the neighbors to sell, but since your Ba Dao Gang has already bought up the properties, you might as well sell them to me."
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