Chapter 41: The Jiangxiang Gang

The patrol officers were right in front of Chu Yunlong. What should he do now?

He could say,

I don't know that man!

But it would be useless. The patrol officers would just drag him back to the station. And with his background not being entirely clean, he absolutely could not go to the station.

Should he try saying something else?

However, the patrol officers did not even give him the chance to speak. They swung their batons straight at his head.

Wham!

The blow sent blood streaming down Chu Yunlong's forehead.

Yet, he didn't dare fight back. Helpless, he dodged past the two officers and dashed out of the ticket office.

Once he got outside, Chu Yunlong found no sign of Li Banfeng anywhere.

Of course, he couldn't. The moment Li Banfeng rushed out of the ticket office, he had entered the Pocket Dwelling and tossed his house key into a patch of weeds just outside the ticket office.

"Where the hell did that little bastard run off to?" Chu Yunlong cursed.

Then suddenly, the back of his head exploded with pain.

Wham! Wham!

The patrol officers had followed Chu Yunlong out of the ticket office and swung their batons at his head again.

Clutching his head, Chu Yunlong rushed toward the overhead bridge, where the numerous branching paths gave him a chance to escape.

Chu Yunlong fled ahead, with the two patrol officers in hot pursuit.

Li Banfeng emerged from the Pocket Dwelling and watched the three people disappear into the distance. He followed them silently.

It was time to put his legs to the test. He couldn't walk too quickly or too slowly as he followed them. He had to keep just the right pace and distance.

In truth, Li Banfeng's control over his walking speed was still poor. He still couldn't properly restrain his steps. At one point, he closed in on the patrol officers, reducing the distance between them to less than ten meters. He nearly exposed his presence.

Luckily for Li Banfeng, he was also a Homebound Cultivator. Having just left his dwelling, he was shrouded in a special aura that allowed him to go unnoticed, causing the officers to overlook him.

Chu Yunlong, on the other hand, was so busy evading capture that he had not noticed that Li Banfeng was following them.

They ran through three alleys, going all the way to the outskirts of the town. By then, the patrol officers were exhausted from both running and beating Chu Yunlong. They finally gave up the chase.

Covered in blood, Chu Yunlong propped himself on his knees and panted heavily inside an abandoned house.

He couldn't comprehend Li Banfeng's earlier actions. He couldn't understand why Li Banfeng had tried to force his way into the inner part of the ticket office.

Li Banfeng wasn't from Puluo; he was from the Outer Provinces. Nevertheless, it didn't matter where he was from, where he had boarded the train, or which stop he entered Puluo at. A travel permit was mandatory. That was the rule.

Did Li Banfeng not know the rules?

Then how had he made it to Medicine King Gully?

The only possibility was if someone of great influence had broken the rules and bought the train ticket for him.

However, even if he did have someone powerful supporting him, he still shouldn't have forced his way into the ticket office.

In Puluo, breaking into the ticket office had extremely severe consequences.

As his breathing gradually steadied, Chu Yunlong calmed down and wiped the blood from his face.

Could there have been another reason for Li Banfeng's sudden outburst earlier?

Did he know I was about to take action on him?

Did he provoke the ticket clerk on purpose, just to slip away from me?

Judging from his speed, he's clearly a Wanderlust Cultivator. Wanderlust Cultivators have the ability to sense danger.

Which means his quarrel with the ticket clerk must have been an act!

He sensed my killing intent and deliberately made a scene to get away.

The brat's quite cunning!

Where could he have gone now?

He was empty-handed earlier. If he's not carrying a bag, that means he doesn't have the treasure on him.

If I were him, I would definitely move the treasure somewhere else right now.

So how can I catch him?

I should order my men to search the area around the train station. Li Banfeng wouldn't dare keep the Arcane Crimson Lotus on him. It's most likely hidden somewhere close by...

While Chu Yunlong was lost in his thoughts, he suddenly felt a small sickle, over ten centimeters long, press against his neck.

"Who are you?" Chu Yunlong was startled. His senses weren't the sharpest, but after so many years in the jianghu, no one should have been able to approach him so easily.

Unless my opponent's cultivation level is far higher than mine.

Or they're a Homebound Cultivator.

If their cultivation levels were too far apart, Chu Yunlong could only wait for death.

However, if the opponent was a Homebound Cultivator, Chu Yunlong wasn't too worried. He had ways of dealing with them.

"My friend, let’s put the weapon down first. We don’t need to destroy each other like the flood destroyed the Dragon King’s family[1]. Whatever the matter, we can discuss it—"

The sickle's blade sank into Chu Yunlong's neck, and a rush of hot blood spurted out.

Chu Yunlong was shocked. He had intended to talk things over, but the other party had struck without hesitation.

"Who sent you after me?" Li Banfeng asked calmly with the sickle in hand.

It's him! It's Li Banfeng!

Chu Yunlong was dumbfounded. How had Li Banfeng managed to get so close to him?

I didn't sense even the faintest trace of presence!

Is he a Homebound Cultivator?

Impossible. From the signs I saw earlier, he's clearly a Wanderlust Cultivator.

Could his cultivation level really be far above mine?

But Boss Xiao said Li Banfeng wasn't a cultivator before, that he was just a Bleater, a kid.

It seems that Boss Xiao's information isn't reliable.

The sickle blade dug a little deeper into Yun Chunlong's neck.

Li Banfeng asked, "Not talking?"

Chu Yulong was in too much pain and too fearful to lie. With how ruthless Li Banfeng was being, Chu Yunlong was convinced that he definitely wasn't some kid.

Maybe he tricked Boss Xiao.

Or more likely, Boss Xiao tricked me!

Li Banfeng was clearly a ruthless man, yet he'd been called a kid. Boss Xiao had pulled stunts like that before.

Li Banfeng pressed the sickle blade into Chu Yunlong's neck again, slowly cutting deeper. That was enough to make Chu Yunlong abandon any thoughts of resistance or stalling.

"It was an order from our ladle handle!"

"Don't spout gibberish. Speak so I can understand!" Li Banfeng said, twisting the sickle blade inside Chu Yunlong's wound.

Chu Yunlong no longer dared use gang slang. "It was our boss who sent me."

"Which group are you from? And who is your boss?"

"We're the Jiangxiang Gang. Our boss is Xiao Zhenggong."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Have I met your boss before?"

"I assume so? I don't really know..."

Chu Yunlong was telling the truth. He really didn't know whether Xiao Zhenggong had met Li Banfeng before.

Li Banfeng tightened his grip on the sickle, sinking its blade even deeper into Chu Yunlong's throat.

Anyone who had spent long enough in the jianghu knew there was no reasoning with someone like Li Banfeng. Chu Yunlong had no choice but to spill everything he knew.

"Our boss is from the Outer Provinces. He's part of the Dark Star Bureau. You might know him."

The Dark Star Bureau!

"What does your boss want with me?"

"He said you carry a treasure. He ordered us to kill you and bring it back," Chu Yunlong said, sliding his hand toward the knife at his waist.

He moved it as stealthily as he could.

In this situation, he had no choice but to risk everything on one strike.

Li Banfeng, however, was still thinking about Xiao Zhenggong.

So, the Jiangxiang Gang is after me because of the bronze lotus.

It seems Xiao Zhenggong is the "Deputy Xiao" that I overheard that man with lightbulb-like eyes mention over the phone at the train station!

He's the one who had ordered my execution!

Li Banfeng asked another question. "How many people does your Jiangxiang Gang have? Are they all hunting me down?"

Hearing that, Chu Yunlong didn't rush to draw his knife.

Li Banfeng hadn't even heard of the Jiangxiang Gang. In fact, he seemed to know nothing at all about Puluo.

Against someone like this, there was no need for Chu Yunlong to take a gamble with his life. He just needed to outsmart Li Banfeng.

Chu Yunlong said, "The Jiangxiang Gang has disciples all across Puluo. Together, there are over ten thousand of us. Boss Xiao has already given the order. Right now, every disciple of the Jiangxiang Gang is out looking for you. Friend, I can tell you're no ordinary man. Spare me, and I'll act as an informant for you inside the gang. Whenever there's news, I'll let you know ahead of time. As long as you act a little cautiously, they'll never be able to find you.

"Once the storm passes, I'll find a few friends to help you buy a ticket and send you back to the Outer Provinces. By then, even if our boss wants to go after you, he'll have to follow the laws of the Outer Provinces. It won't be like in Puluo, where he can kill you without any real consequences."

Chu Yunlong's hand was already wrapped around the hilt of his dagger. As a Martial Cultivator, he was slightly slower than a Wanderlust Cultivator. Nevertheless, as long as he got the chance to strike, Li Banfeng would surely die.

Li Banfeng nodded. "Once I return to the Outer Provinces, I'll change my name and hide my identity. Your boss will never be able to find me again."

Chu Yunlong responded in a sincere tone, "Leave it to me! I'll have the ticket ready within three days. We may have clashed at first, but now we've become friends, and I'll treat you as such with all my heart. Whether it's in the Jiangxiang Gang or in Medicine King Gully, ask around about the name Chu Yunlong, and you'll know what kind of man I am!"

"Your name is Chu Yunlong?" Li Banfeng said, clearly liking the sound of it. "Just hearing it, I can tell you're a good man!"

He can tell I'm a good man just from hearing my name?

That doesn't make any sense!

However, Chu Yunlong wasn't about to argue with him, of course. "I, Chu Yunlong, have long roamed the jianghu, and I've never betrayed a friend. Since fate has brought us together, I'll make sure you come to no harm, even if I must risk my life to do it!"

Hearing that, Li Banfeng was deeply moved. "Brother, things are very dangerous for you inside the gang. You must protect yourself. And above all, don't tell anyone about this matter!"

"Of course, brother. Rest assured. This is something only I, you, and the heavens and the earth know. No one else will ever hear of it."

Chu Yunlong was confident his plan was working. Li Banfeng's cultivation level wasn't low, and he was quite sharp, but he was ultimately just an outsider from the Outer Provinces. His heart was far from ruthless; his actions were not vicious enough. Li Banfeng had no chance of surviving in Puluo.

A few words were enough to trick him. He really was just a kid. Boss Xiao hadn't been wrong after all.

Good thing Chu Yunlong hadn't fought him head-on just now. It was better for Chu Yunlong to wait until Li Banfeng had put away his sickle first before striking him. That would be the safer course of action.

Once Li Banfeng moved the sickle away from Chu Yunlong's neck, Chu Yunlong would be able to take Li Banfeng's life in the very next second.

With that in mind, Chu Yunlong quickly added, "Brother, you have to trust me!"

"Brother, I trust you. I'll leave everything from here on to you," Li Banfeng said, easing the pressure on Chu Yunlong's throat slightly.

"Leave the rest to me. Brother, take care." Chu Yunlong tightened his grip on his dagger's hilt, waiting only for Li Banfeng to withdraw his blade so he could strike.

"Brother, take care of yourself!" Li Banfeng pulled back the sickle, slitting Chu Yunlong's throat in the same motion.

Clutching his neck, Chu Yunlong stared at Li Banfeng in horror.

Li Banfeng had withdrawn the sickle but only after cutting through Chu Yunlong's throat first.

When Li Banfeng eased the pressure on Chu Yunlong's throat a moment ago, he had simply been preparing to make the final cut.

How could this be?

Didn't he fall for it?

Shouldn't Li Banfeng be the one dying right now?

Why has it turned out like this...

This fucker is seriously ruthless!

If I'd known this would happen, I would have fought him head-on from the start!

As Chu Yunlong's vision began to fade, his eyes were filled with despair.

Li Banfeng comforted him, "Have a good journey. Don't be so nervous. It really hurts now, but the pain will pass soon.

"Don't worry. I definitely believe you'll keep your word. You can't even speak now, so you surely won't be telling anyone about this matter.

"Just relax a little more. That's right. Let go of that tension. Close your eyes. Stop staring at me like that. Honestly, I feel quite guilty about this."

1. I rephrased the translation so it would make sense without reading the ref note, but the idiom used here is a variant of the full idiom “大水冲了龙王庙，一家人不认得一家人”, which translates to “A flood destroyed the Dragon King’s temple, leaving family members unable to recognize each other.” It refers to situations where members of the same group turn against each other due to misunderstandings. In this case, it’s probably referring to how Chu Yunlong thinks Li Banfeng is part of the underworld like him. The origin of the idiom is a myth about how the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea had mistakenly thought that his son had unleashed a flood that destroyed the Dragon King’s temple in the mortal world, causing the father and son to fight for three days. ☜