Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Genuinely Stupid or Playing Dumb?
"Third Son, you’re back."
Just as Chen Yuan was about to bow, a surge of dark-green True Qi appeared and lifted him up.
A man in his seventies, yet tall, powerfully built, and with still-jet-black hair, walked out from the inner hall. He chuckled and said, "We’re all family here. There’s no need for such formalities."
This old man was the Gang Leader of the Celestial Wolf Gang, Jiang Kaitai, also known by his moniker, the ’Northern Celestial Wolf’.
Jiang Kaitai came from humble beginnings. He had worked as a caravan guard and even been a bandit before starting from scratch to establish the Celestial Wolf Gang. Now, he controlled half of Lianshan City—a classic ruthless and ambitious leader born from the common folk.
Chen Yuan shook his head. "Formality must not be abandoned. Adoptive Father, you took me into the gang and taught me Martial Arts. Your kindness surpasses that of my birth parents. I feel I haven’t bowed to you enough."
The previous ’Chen Yuan’ would never have been able to say such sycophantic words.
The previous Chen Yuan had an honest and simple-minded personality. His only praiseworthy trait was his astonishingly high Martial Dao Talent.
On the path of the Martial Dao, the earlier one starts cultivating, the greater the advantage.
Of the Nine Realms of Martial Dao, the first three are Body Tempering, Meridian Passage, and Blood Movement.
Of Jiang Kaitai’s three adopted sons, the eldest and second had cultivated for over a decade to reach the Meridian Passage Realm.
Chen Yuan, however, had reached the Peak of Body Tempering Realm in less than two years of cultivation and was only a step away from Meridian Passage. This showed just how strong his talent was; he could absolutely be called a genius.
But there was a saying in the Jianghu: only a genius who lives to maturity is a true genius. A dead one is just a corpse.
This was exactly what happened to Chen Yuan in the original story. Before he even had a chance to mature, he was implicated by Jiang Kaitai and killed by the Murong Family.
Jiang Kaitai lightly patted Chen Yuan’s shoulder and said with a smile, "I heard you just killed someone at the Forget Sorrow Building?"
An angry expression appeared on Chen Yuan’s face. "Those low-level Jianghu People, no better than pigs or dogs, actually dared to slander you, Adoptive Father, and our Celestial Wolf Gang! Their deaths were well deserved!"
"Our Celestial Wolf Gang has been established in Lianshan City for many years. It’s not uncommon for people to talk behind our backs."
Jiang Kaitai waved his hand magnanimously. "It’s just that the Black Water Gang has been aggressive lately, and our Celestial Wolf Gang is simply choosing to avoid a direct confrontation for now. So what if they talk? By killing them, you’ve only made our Celestial Wolf Gang seem domineering."
Chen Yuan cupped his hands. "This child knows his mistake. But they dared to humiliate you, Adoptive Father! Even if it were to happen again, I would still kill those bastards!"
Jiang Kaitai lightly patted Chen Yuan’s shoulder again, nodding in satisfaction.
In his early years, his cultivation had damaged his Meridians, making it impossible for him to have biological children. That was why he began taking in adopted sons.
The eldest and second sons were now pillars of the gang. Although they were capable, as children grow up, their minds become more complicated.
The two of them were constantly fighting, both openly and secretly, for more power, each wanting to take over the Celestial Wolf Gang.
It seemed now that only the third son, Chen Yuan, didn’t have such a mind for scheming and power plays. No matter what, he always put his adoptive father first, even above the Celestial Wolf Gang itself.
Of course he liked capable adopted sons, but he preferred those who were filial and loyal.
"Come, follow me to the Council Hall. I’ve already summoned your first and second brothers, as well as some of the other Hall Masters, for a meeting."
Chen Yuan followed behind Jiang Kaitai, his head lowered. The anger on his face was gone, replaced by an extreme calm.
’To seize the Seven Kills Stele Fragment, the first step is to gain Jiang Kaitai’s trust—his true trust.’
’Jiang Kaitai is a ruthless leader from the streets—cruel, vicious, and deeply suspicious by nature.’
’He’s never trusted anyone in the Celestial Wolf Gang, including his three adopted sons like me.’
’In the original story, when Jiang Kaitai performed the blood sacrifice for the Divine Soldier in Lianshan City, he didn’t use anyone from the Celestial Wolf Gang. Instead, he used a group of Death Warriors he had personally trained for over twenty years.’
’That’s why no one suspected the Celestial Wolf Gang or Jiang Kaitai at first.’
’What I need to do now is continuously raise Jiang Kaitai’s favorability toward me until I gain his trust and can get involved in the blood sacrifice for the Seven Kills Stele.’
’Only then will I have a chance to snatch the Seven Kills Stele Fragment from the hands of Jiang Kaitai, the Murong Family, and the Sun-piercing Alliance.’
Over twenty people were already seated inside the Council Hall, all of them Hall Masters from the Celestial Wolf Gang’s various halls.
At the very front, two men sat facing each other. One was in his thirties, tall and powerfully built, with a vicious-looking scar on his face.
He was the eldest son, Qin Yuancheng, who was in charge of the Blood Fang Hall—the strongest of all the halls in the Celestial Wolf Gang.
Across from Qin Yuancheng sat a man in his early thirties with delicate, feminine features. Dressed in a moon-white robe, he looked like the young master of a wealthy family.
This was the second son, Zhu Zhiping. He was in charge of the Celestial Wolf Gang’s Punishment Hall, the hall with the most authority in the entire gang.
As Jiang Kaitai stepped into the Council Hall, everyone present quickly rose to their feet and bowed.
"Greetings, Gang Leader!"
After bowing, the crowd looked surprised to see Chen Yuan following behind Jiang Kaitai.
’Since when was Chen Yuan so close to the Gang Leader?’
Both Qin Yuancheng and Zhu Zhiping’s expressions darkened.
’After all these years of fighting each other, it seemed they’d forgotten about this third brother, Chen Yuan.’
’So that’s how it is, Third Brother! You looked all honest and innocent with your thick brows and big eyes, but you were just pretending to be simple!’
Chen Yuan ignored the gazes of Qin Yuancheng and Zhu Zhiping and walked directly to his own seat to sit down.
’Just a couple of idiotic cannon fodder.’
’In the original story, after most of Jiang Kaitai’s Death Warriors were killed, he started to manipulate these two, getting them to help him kill people for the blood sacrifice.’
’And those two idiots actually believed that Jiang Kaitai could merge with the Divine Soldier and bring them to glory. They started slaughtering people wantonly throughout Lianshan City.’
’In reality, Jiang Kaitai didn’t trust them at all; he was just using them as expendable pawns.’
’After they had finished their killing, during the blood sacrifice for the Divine Soldier, he sacrificed them as well, without a second thought for his two cannon-fodder adopted sons.’
Jiang Kaitai cleared his throat and looked at the assembled Hall Masters. "The Black Water Gang has been aggressive lately, seizing much of our business and territory. I know everyone is furious.
"But rest assured, my cultivation has progressed recently. We will endure the Black Water Gang for a while longer. When the time comes, I will settle all scores, new and old, with that fake monk, Yuan Dongtian!"
Previously, the Celestial Wolf Gang and the Black Water Gang had always been evenly matched.
But recently, Jiang Kaitai had been preoccupied with the matter of the Divine Soldier’s blood sacrifice, so he had naturally neglected the gang’s affairs.
He hadn’t personally made a move in nearly a year, claiming to the outside world that he was in seclusion for intensive training.
But the Black Water Gang assumed Jiang Kaitai had grown old, his Qi Blood depleted and his strength failing, so they began to test the waters by encroaching on his territory.
Seeing that Jiang Kaitai still hadn’t retaliated, they pressed their advantage even further.
Many within the Celestial Wolf Gang had grown dissatisfied, leaving Jiang Kaitai with no choice but to come forward and appease the Hall Masters.
At that moment, a burly man stood up, his face full of grievance. "Gang Leader, it’s not that we can’t endure it, but those bastards from the Black Water Gang have gone too far!
"They’ve seized one and a half of the three marketplaces under my control, and they’ve taken over my casinos and brothels! I’ve lost several of my men as well.
"If we keep holding back, I’m afraid this Hall Master will become a general with no army!"
Jiang Kaitai frowned slightly.
’As long as I can get my hands on the Divine Soldier, what does a mere Black Water Gang even matter?’
’He really didn’t want to worry about these low-level gang disputes right now.’
’But he still needed the Celestial Wolf Gang as a cover, so he couldn’t just ignore its problems completely.’
He tapped the table lightly and pondered for a moment before saying, "Eldest Son, it’s time for your Blood Fang Hall to make a move.
"Whichever hall has suffered heavy losses, send men to help them hold their ground. I’m not asking you to reclaim lost territory, but you must at least protect what we still have.
"Second Son, your Punishment Hall shouldn’t stay idle either. Stop focusing only on our own people and get out there to help fend off the Black Water Gang."
Qin Yuancheng and Zhu Zhiping quickly rose and bowed.
"Yes, Adoptive Father!"
Just then, Jiang Kaitai suddenly turned his gaze to Chen Yuan. "Third Son, would you like to go out and lead a hall of your own?"
As soon as he said this, both Qin Yuancheng and Zhu Zhiping stared intently at Chen Yuan.
Previously, Chen Yuan had been in charge of the Instructor Hall, which held no real power. He was essentially just a teacher who taught basic Martial Dao to the gang members.
After a period of learning, these members would be assigned to other halls.
That’s why neither Qin Yuancheng nor Zhu Zhiping had ever taken him seriously.
But if Chen Yuan were to go out and take charge of another hall, with a group of fierce fighters under his command, he would become a much greater threat.
Chen Yuan shook his head. "Thank you for your generous offer, Adoptive Father.
"But my abilities are limited, and I have no experience managing things within the gang. Taking charge of a hall on my own right now would likely do more harm than good.
"I only hope to remain in the Instructor Hall, training more members for you, Adoptive Father, building a strong foundation for our Celestial Wolf Gang, and easing your burdens."
’The Celestial Wolf Gang will be reduced to ashes before long. I’d have to be crazy to look for more work for myself.’
’Besides, life in the Instructor Hall is quiet and leisurely. I’ll have plenty of time to work on my own plans.’
Jiang Kaitai nodded, satisfied.
’Third Son is still the same as always,’ he thought. ’Unlike the eldest and second, whose minds are consumed with fighting for power and profit.’
In truth, Jiang Kaitai hadn’t actually been testing Chen Yuan this time. He genuinely didn’t have many people at his disposal, at least not openly.
If Chen Yuan had agreed, he really would have given him a hall and had him help fend off the Black Water Gang.
At the same time, however, Jiang Kaitai would have also become a bit more wary of him.
"Alright, everyone is dismissed. Our Celestial Wolf Gang has weathered countless storms over the years. This little setback is nothing."
Jiang Kaitai waved his hand, dismissing the crowd.
As Chen Yuan walked out of the Council Hall, Qin Yuancheng suddenly strode up to him and sneered, "Well, look at you now, Third Brother. You’ve learned how to suck up to Adoptive Father."
"Eldest Brother, what do you mean by that? What do you mean, ’suck up’?"
Chen Yuan feigned astonishment. "Without Adoptive Father, you and I would be nothing more than ordinary gang members. How could we possibly have the status we do today?
"Being filial and respectful to Adoptive Father, helping to ease his worries—isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? How can you call that ’sucking up’?"
Qin Yuancheng was struck speechless, unable to come up with a retort.
Chen Yuan couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to leave.
Zhu Zhiping walked up from behind. Qin Yuancheng frowned and asked, "Tell me, do you think Third Brother is actually a fool, or just pretending to be one?"
Zhu Zhiping said leisurely, "Who cares if he’s a real fool or just pretending?
"Adoptive Father gave him the chance to lead a hall and he turned it down. Even if he’s just pretending to be a fool, at this point, he might as well be one.
"Don’t you know Adoptive Father’s personality? After Third Brother refused him this time, who knows when he’ll ever get another chance like this. It could be ages.
"Still, this aggression from the Black Water Gang is an opportunity for me.
"My Punishment Hall may hold great sway within the gang, but we don’t usually get many chances to make a name for ourselves and earn merit on the outside. This is a rare opportunity, hahaha!"
Zhu Zhiping laughed heartily and turned to leave, leaving Qin Yuancheng standing there with a dark expression on his face.
Comments