Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Chen Xuan, Think You’ve Grown Wings?
The Giant Whale Gang’s branch headquarters.
Inside a room thick with the smell of medicinal herbs.
Zhang Lie lay paralyzed on the bed, his body covered in bandages. His once-burly frame was now swollen, and the dark medicinal paste smeared over him could barely conceal the deep purple bruises seeping through his skin.
His breathing was faint, and every breath tugged at his wounds. The maids carefully wiped him down, and the slightest touch of their fingertips would elicit a piercing scream of agony.
"Useless trash. To think you could let someone injure you this badly!"
An ice-cold, clear voice came from the side.
The very air seemed to chill.
A young woman dressed in black martial attire, a white jade belt cinched at her waist, stood to one side. Her eyes held an astonishing sharpness, and a piercing, aggressive aura emanated from her.
The maids on either side didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly.
This woman was none other than...
the sole daughter of the Giant Whale Gang’s Gang Leader.
Lu Yao.
At a young age, she was already a master of the Dark Force Seventh Layer.
She was considered a renowned prodigy in Black Stone City, her talent far surpassing even that of Su Qingliu. She was a goddess in the eyes of countless young gang members.
She was proud and self-assured, with an icy demeanor that made her seem beautiful yet unattainable.
"You just gave away the entire spirit fish farm. Even flaying you alive wouldn’t be enough to get it back!"
Lu Yao said coldly.
"Flaying him won’t get the spirit fish farm back, so why not give his skin to me? I must offer it to the spirit of my poor, departed disciple!"
A cold, oppressive voice drifted in from outside the room.
A gaunt figure, thin as a bamboo pole, walked in from outside. His face was grim and terrifyingly cold, and his sinister, icy eyes were like bottomless abysses.
He exuded an aura that made one shiver.
"Eagle Claw Elder!"
Lu Yao’s expression was cool, but she showed no fear. "I am saddened by your disciple’s death, but this is not the place for you to act brazenly."
"Hmph!"
The Eagle Claw Elder snorted and said icily, "Give me an explanation!"
"Don’t worry, I will give you an explanation regarding that Chen Xuan. When the time comes, whether you kill him or flay him, it will be up to you!"
Lu Yao crossed her arms, her beautiful face murderous as she glanced at the Eagle Claw Elder. "However, before that, you are forbidden from touching him!"
"Forbidden from touching him?"
The Eagle Claw Elder’s sharp eyes shot toward Lu Yao, his aura chilling and intimidating.
But Lu Yao was completely unafraid. "I will personally issue him a challenge," she stated indifferently. "I will crush him under my heel, fair and square. No one is to interfere!"
"Hmph!"
The Eagle Claw Elder snorted again.
"When?"
"Now!"
Lu Yao declared with confidence.
"I certainly hope you can actually defeat him!"
The Eagle Claw Elder gave a cold smile.
’I’ve now seen for myself just how arrogant and confident this woman is. But now isn’t the time to fall out with the Giant Whale Gang. What’s the harm in watching from the sidelines for now?’
"That’s none of your concern."
Lu Yao’s voice was indifferent.
’Some nobody who crawled out of the woodwork dares to cause trouble here. I’ll show him what a true genius looks like! A genius? Is being called a "genius" merely the price of admission to face me?’
A mocking smile curved Lu Yao’s lips.
...
「Inside the Qingshui Sect.」
Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow, looking at the gang member who had just rushed over from the main headquarters.
"Squad Leader Chen, this is the message the Right Protector asked me to deliver. You must be extremely careful of the Left Protector from now on. He told the Gang Leader that you should be executed. Given the Left Protector’s ruthlessness, even though he didn’t succeed this time, he certainly won’t stand by and watch you grow stronger. You must be on your guard," the gang member said cautiously.
"Is that so?"
A cold sneer touched Chen Xuan’s lips.
’How strange! This internal gang strife is fucking brilliant! Just because I defeated Su Qingliu, someone in the gang immediately wants me dead. And the one who said it is the same Left Protector who previously said he’d have my back. Could he be any more pragmatic?’
"Understood. You may go."
Chen Xuan waved his hand calmly.
"Yes, sir. I’ll take my leave then."
The gang member cupped his fists and immediately withdrew.
Not long after the gang member had left...
Suddenly, there was another knock at the door, followed by a familiar laugh. "Chen Xuan, how have you been at the docks these past few days? I heard you defeated Zhang Lie, so I came especially to congratulate you!"
CREAK!
The courtyard gate was pushed open.
A familiar figure came into view, face wreathed in smiles, dressed in a gray robe.
"Elder Ge?"
A flicker of understanding crossed Chen Xuan’s eyes. He gave a smile that didn’t reach them. "What wind blew you here, Elder?"
"Hahaha."
Ge Xuan chuckled. "I came especially to see you. Is that not allowed?"
"You’re too kind, Elder Ge."
Chen Xuan replied calmly.
’He would never forget the time Elder Ge told him to go and apologize to Liu Zifeng and his men. He called it an apology, but wasn’t it just sending me over to be at their mercy? From that moment on, he had drawn a clear line between himself and the elder. Now, they were just exchanging empty pleasantries.’
"Chen Xuan, are you still angry with me about what happened last time?"
Elder Ge smiled, patting Chen Xuan’s shoulder lightly.
"This subordinate wouldn’t dare!"
"See? You’re still angry."
Elder Ge sighed softly, then smiled. "You can’t blame me for what happened last time. I was just asking you to make a show of it. The Left Protector is currently under the Gang Leader’s deep suspicion, so we must be cautious in everything we do, lest the Gang Leader find a reason to move against us. By the way, you brought us great honor by taking back the spirit fish farm. The Left Protector specifically asked me to bring you a few things."
He took out a one-thousand-tael silver note and a blue porcelain bottle from his robes.
"Inside this bottle are three Qi and Blood Pills. They are extremely beneficial for strengthening one’s own qi and blood and for comprehending Dark Energy. Even I have a hard time getting my hands on these. The Left Protector, not wanting you to feel wronged, specifically asked me to deliver these to you. He hopes you will make good use of them."
"Oh?"
Chen Xuan’s eyes flashed.
He snatched the one-thousand-tael silver note and the blue porcelain bottle.
’A gift delivered right to my door! It would be a waste not to take it! How could he not know what the Left Protector was thinking? He simply saw that I had some value again and wanted to win me back over.’
"Then I must thank the Left Protector."
Chen Xuan said with a chuckle.
"You’re being too polite!"
Elder Ge smiled faintly. "By the way, as I was arriving, I saw a gang member leaving this place. He seemed a bit familiar. I wonder who he was?"
’Elder Ge’s heart tightened slightly. That man just now was clearly Right Protector Xiang Tao’s trusted subordinate, Yang Rong. Yang Rong actually came to meet with Chen Xuan in private? Could it be that the Right Protector wants to recruit Chen Xuan?’
"Ah, it was nothing."
Chen Xuan’s tone was dismissive.
"Nothing?"
Elder Ge’s eyes narrowed. Feigning displeasure, he said, "Chen Xuan, are you still not treating me as one of your own? Don’t forget, it was I who recommended you for this position of Squad Leader."
"Is that so? Because I seem to recall winning this Squad Leader position with my own two fists."
Chen Xuan furrowed his brow and looked at Elder Ge.
’Yes! You did indeed provide the platform for a public tournament. But I’m the one who fought my way up, step by step, following your rules. I was originally prepared to be completely loyal! But unfortunately, you already sold me out once. Do you really expect me to be indebted to you again? What kind of joke is that?’
"What did you say?"
Elder Ge’s face darkened. "You won it yourself?"
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Ah, it’s nothing. Let’s not bring up the past. Jia Gui, prepare some wine at once! I want to have a few drinks with Elder Ge!"
Chen Xuan chuckled, waving and shouting toward the courtyard.
"Chen Xuan, do you think your wings have grown strong enough to fly on your own now?"
Elder Ge’s tone was cold.
"I wouldn’t dare!"
"It’s best you don’t!"
Elder Ge’s gaze was frigid and emotionless. His hand shot out like lightning and grabbed Chen Xuan’s shoulder, his five fingers like steel bars, squeezing down hard.
"In truth, I still think very highly of you. I hope you don’t go down the wrong path!"
