Chapter 341: Chapter 181: First Glimpse of Organ Refining
「The next day.」
At the crack of dawn, the City Guard Department officials stationed near the Chens’ residence had already withdrawn, as if they had never been there the night before.
The autumn morning breeze was cool and crisp. Dressed in a set of green robes, Chen Cheng stood tall and aloof on the highest point of his roof.
He couldn’t recall when he had developed the habit of standing in high places, surveying his surroundings while quieting his mind to think.
In a poor district like Locust Tree Lane, people always rose early to prepare for the day’s hustle and bustle.
In the past, the lane would have been bustling with activity by now.
But after the incident with the Ba Dao Gang, only five or six of the twenty-odd households in Locust Tree Lane remained. With so many people gone, the area suddenly felt desolate.
Among the remaining families, only three had smoke rising from their chimneys. Even the scent of hearth and home had thinned.
The other residences had mostly been torn down, and the new ones being built were just beginning to take shape.
The Ba Dao Gang had oppressed the people and acted with extreme cruelty. Since Liu Yunfeng had stated he would handle them personally, Chen Cheng didn’t bother to ask for details.
However, the homes previously sold to the Ba Dao Gang were now unrecognizable. Their former owners were clearly never coming back.
Still, Chen Cheng planned to buy up the land. Later, he would find some men to consolidate the entire area and rebuild it into a larger Chen Family Residence.
’That way, it’ll be more convenient if I ever feel like visiting.’
It wouldn’t cost much in silver coins or require much effort on his part. It was a simple matter to arrange.
Chen Cheng gave Liao San the money and had him arrange the purchase of the land deeds.
As for building the residence itself, he would arrange that after he returned from his Demon Slayer mission in Moshan County.
’It’s just a matter of finding some craftsmen, settling on a design for the residence, and then getting to work.’
"Brother Cheng, I’ve finished tidying up the house. It’s time for us to head back to the Inner City," Mu Xiaowan called out softly, emerging from the house with a bundle slung over her shoulder and her pretty face tilted upward.
The two had no plans to linger in Locust Tree Lane. They intended to return to the Inner City early to continue their Martial Dao cultivation.
They weren’t leaving for Moshan County until the day after tomorrow, which left two full days. Naturally, Chen Cheng couldn’t afford to waste a single one.
"Alright."
Chen Cheng responded with a smile, leaped down from the roof in a flash, and took the bundle from her.
Just as they were about to leave, Chen Cheng suddenly put the bundle down again.
"We have guests. Let’s wait a moment."
With his current level of Perception, Chen Cheng had already detected the light, quick footsteps approaching their courtyard from the lane.
"Guests?" A trace of surprise appeared on Mu Xiaowan’s face, but the footsteps soon reached their front door, and she heard them as well.
"Greetings, Master Chen!"
The visitors were a party of three: an old man and a young couple. It was none other than Jian Luchuan, Ji Qing, and Gou Yi.
They were from the Thief Gang in the Qingshui Pier area of Lishui District, so they were old acquaintances, in a manner of speaking.
Although the three were petty thieves, they acted with a sense of proportion and weren’t truly evil men. They were the sort who, even as thieves, abided by a code.
Previously, Chen Cheng had chosen to turn a blind eye to their activities, which was a considerable favor in itself.
Jian Luchuan, for his part, knew how to show gratitude. He would send Ji Qing and Gou Yi to report any news from the Jianghu to Chen Cheng, and they had interacted several times.
After welcoming them inside, Chen Cheng asked, puzzled, "What brings you here today?"
Jian Luchuan and the others first congratulated Chen Cheng on his recent marriage and presented him with a gift.
Chen Cheng exchanged some pleasantries before accepting it with a smile.
Only then did Jian Luchuan get to the real reason for their visit. He explained that the three of them had long wanted to leave their life of crime, quit the Thief Gang, and find a different path.
Their visit was twofold: first, to offer their congratulations, and second, to ask if they could pledge their loyalty to Chen Cheng and serve him by running errands.
Jian Luchuan was quite frank. He said that he had spent most of his life in the Jianghu and made many enemies. Now that he wanted to retire and turn over a new leaf, it was inevitable that his old foes would come looking for him.
Their only hope for a peaceful life was to pledge themselves to a powerful figure and seek protection.
Hearing their intentions, Chen Cheng grew thoughtful. He was used to acting alone. ’I’ve never really thought about recruiting followers.’
"Master Chen, we three are willing to recognize you as our lord and serve you as servants for the rest of our lives."
"If we ever dare to do anything to harm you, Master Chen, may the three of us suffer a terrible death."
As Jian Luchuan spoke, he pulled Ji Qing and Gou Yi with him, preparing to kneel.
In this world, the master-servant relationship was a formal one. If they knelt, they would become Chen Cheng’s servants and be officially registered as such.
Once registered, they would remain servants for life unless their master granted them their freedom.
At the Chen Family residence, while Chen Cheng himself wasn’t particular about such things, Xi’Er, Dong’Er, and the old servant Shi Fangdong were all officially registered as servants with the Government Office.
"Not so fast." Chen Cheng grabbed his arm.
Jian Luchuan felt his arm seized in an iron grip. He was held so firmly he couldn’t move, let alone kneel.
"Incense Master Jian, with the combined Martial Arts Power of the three of you, you could easily find a place to live in seclusion and live out your days in peace. There’s no need to bind yourselves into servitude."
Chen Cheng’s expression was placid, but his tone was grave.
Jian Luchuan had no choice but to be truthful. "Master Chen, to be frank, the group I’ve offended this time is... the Blood Saber Gang."
"They are an incredibly powerful force with eyes and ears all over the Jianghu. They are also notoriously ruthless. It would be impossible for me and my adoptive children to escape them."
"The Blood Saber Gang? You mean the Blood Saber Gang from Dongcheng District?" Chen Cheng frowned slightly.
Chen Cheng was not unfamiliar with the Blood Saber Gang. When he was in Lishui District, people from the Blood Saber Gang had secretly tailed him.
The backer behind the Blood Saber Gang was precisely the Wang Family, one of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City.
That’s why they are the number one gang in Dongcheng District, wielding immense power.
"The very same." Jian Luchuan nodded, a bitter smile on his face. "A major gang like the Blood Saber Gang... of course, I would never dare to provoke them."
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