Chapter 394: Why Are You Looking at Me?

The Whale Gang Headquarters, the Giant Whale Mountain Manor.

Unlike the various isolated immortal sects, the Whale Gang was a large gang with branches rooted all over the nine provinces and four seas. The gang's headquarters was a grand manor three hundred li from the Capital of Yu. That's where the famous Ocean Tempest Hall was located.

The manor was situated in the heart of the Central Region, the crossroads of the nine provinces. This made it easier for the headquarters of the Whale Gang to send out orders to their branches across the world.

That evening, two rows of attendants lined up in front of the Giant Whale Mountain Manor. A tall middle-aged man stood among them. Even from afar, it was obvious this was no ordinary man.

He was dressed in a long, patterned robe and a coat[1]. There was a jade belt at his waist, from which his sword hung. He had a tall and slender build, a face that had skin so smooth and fair it looked like polished jade, and a pair of bright eyes that gleamed like stars in the night sky. Like dragons, the man had eyes that radiated divine light. This incredibly handsome man would always light up the room with his glowing presence.

This man was Jiang Shenting, the soon-to-be new chief of the Whale Gang.

His inauguration ceremony was to be held the next day. The important guests were arriving a day early, so the Whale Gang had to arrange accommodation for them. There would also be a banquet this evening, but only the top immortal sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten could attend it. Nevertheless, many figures of the martial world attend the inauguration ceremony the next day, so the guests would be even more varied then.

A cluster of magic clouds floated down from afar. Gradually, the clouds and mist cleared to reveal a group of people.

The person leading the group wore a fluttering green robe and a serious expression. He was none other than Wang Xuanling, the grand peak master of the Mount Shu Sect. Behind him were Xu Ziyang and several disciples from Jade Sword Peak, who were all at the Golden Core Realm. They were accompanied by Jiang Yuebai and Mu Yueting.

Initially, Wang Xuanling had planned to take his disciples from Jade Sword Peak, Jiang Yuebai, and Chu Liang. However, Chu Liang had gone missing, so Jiang Yuebai had brought with her another disciple from Azure Falling Peak, a junior sister at the Golden Core Realm.

Upon seeing this group, Jiang Shenting walked over to welcome them. He gave a slight bow and cupped his hands together in greeting. "We are honored by your presence, Grand Peak Master Wang. I am deeply humbled to have you here."

"

Haha.

Chief Jiang, there's no need for you to be so modest," Wang Xuanling said with a polite smile. "It's your inauguration day tomorrow. Our sect leader has praised you as a promising young man. You are truly admirable."

"I don't deserve such praise," Jiang Shenting replied, shaking his head with a smile. Then he said sadly, "If it wasn't for the previous chief's sudden disappearance, this opportunity wouldn't have fallen to me. So, although I've invited friends from the various immortal sects to this ceremony, it is not to celebrate my inauguration. It is merely a notification. Please forgive any shortcomings, Grand Peak Master Wang."

Wang Xuanling nodded. "Your thoughtfulness is appreciated, Chief Jiang."

Upon landing, the group from the Mount Shu Sect had already noticed that, although Jiang Shenting welcomed guests with great fanfare, there were no grand decorations in sight. The manor looked quite unadorned, with a rather solemn atmosphere.

In the middle of their conversation, a sharp cry rang out in the distance. "

Keeew!

"

Jiang Shenting extended a hand, gesturing at the manor behind him. "Grand Peak Master Wang and my fellow Daoists from the Mount Shu Sect, please head inside the manor to rest. There will be a banquet later where we can have a good chat over drinks."

"Alright," Wang Xuanling responded.

He and the others followed an attendant into the Giant Whale Mountain Manor.

In the distance, a massive black goshawk[2] landed. There were over ten people on its back.

Upon catching a glimpse of that group of people, Jiang Shenting went to greet them.

Glancing at Jiang Shengting as he left, Wang Xuanling remarked, "It's no wonder that he can hold such a high position at his young age. He handles everything impeccably. Ziyang and the rest of you, you should all learn from him."

Jiang Shenting had been standing in front of the manor all afternoon. He greeted and chatted with everyone who had come to congratulate him, regardless of the size of their sect.

Moreover, Jiang Shenting greeted each of them by name—old and new acquaintances alike. This made all of his guests feel very welcome. No one could say he wasn't diligent.

Jiang Shenting wasn't even forty[3], but he was already leading one of the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten. Despite that, he didn't seem arrogant in the slightest; he remained humble and prudent, behaving with integrity. That was truly commendable.

"Esteemed Teacher, I will make sure to keep it in mind," Xu Ziyang said.

"That kid Chu Liang does quite well in this aspect too. Despite being so young, he knows how to conduct himself very well..." Wang Xuanling commented casually.

Xu Ziyang nodded.

In terms of networking in the cultivation world, Chu Liang was indeed decades ahead of his peers.

Thinking of that, Xu Ziyang unconsciously glanced at Jiang Yuebai.

He wasn't the only one. The moment Chu Liang's name was mentioned, the other disciples of the Mount Shu Sect looked at Jiang Yuebai too.

With so many gazes on her, Jiang Yuebai felt quite uneasy and slowly lowered her head.

She wanted to ask,

Why are you looking at me?

Nevertheless, saying that would just make things even more awkward. Moreover, she was worried about Chu Liang's safety but didn't know who to turn to...

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Yuebai just said, "The man standing behind Chief Jiang earlier had a rather hostile gaze. Senior Uncle, do you know who that man is?"

She wasn't just randomly changing the subject. Jiang Shenting had given them a warm welcome, but the tall man behind him, who seemed to be a guard, had gazed at them with a rather malicious expression. It had only been for a second, but Jiang Yuebai had still caught it.

Wang Xuanling snorted coldly. "

Hmph.

I noticed it too. Just ignore him. That guy's name is Cheng Gan. Before this, he was one of Jiang Shenting's subordinates—one of the Four Great Vajra Warriors[4].

"Some time ago, Di Nufeng uncovered a group of criminals trafficking women. It implicated the Eastern Whale Division and in turn Cheng Gan. The imperial court even executed some government officials and members of the imperial family because of the crime. They also ordered the Eastern Whale Division to conduct an internal investigation.

"When Jiang Shenting found out about the matter, he killed many of Cheng Gan's subordinates and punished Cheng Gan severely. Cheng Gan lost his position as a Vajra Warrior, and he's just working as Jiang Shenting's bodyguard now."

"He probably holds some resentment toward Mount Shu because of that," Wang Xuanling said disdainfully. "If he dares to make a move..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but it was well-known that the grand peak master of the Mount Shu Sect was not someone who should be provoked. After all, how could someone who had been in opposition with Di Nufeng for many years and still managed to live peacefully, even aging over a hundred, possibly be an ordinary person?

Cheng Gan might be a notable figure in the martial world, but in the eyes of the Mount Shu Sect's grand peak master... Well, Cheng Gan should be proud that Wang Xuanling even remembered his name.

At this moment, one of the other Mount Shu Sect disciples suddenly asked, "Was it the case in South Gate City involving the Mountain-Subjugating Marquess? The

Seven Stars Gazette

reported about it. I think the article said it was Junior Brother Chu Liang who uncovered the crime. It was a very sensational article..."

Hearing that, everyone immediately recalled the article too.

The story of the House of the Mountain-Subjugating Marquess that had to be told...

The Mountain-Subjugating Marquess' women—Jin Lian, Ping'er, and Chun Mei...

[5]">[/ref]

It was a tale of great passion, and it had indeed been Chu Liang who uncovered everything and shared the details with the Celestial Pivot Pavilion.

Thinking of Chu Liang, everyone looked at Jiang Yuebai again.

Jiang Yuebai frowned.

Why are you all looking at me for this too?

...

Chu Liang said, "Wait a moment. Let me take a look..."

The Blazing Fire Gang members all pitched in to pin down the person who was passing by. The vice-chief's large ornate axe hung in the air, ready to strike if the person dared to utter even one more sound.

However, after hearing the person's shout, Chu Liang thought,

Why does this voice sound so familiar? His aura's familiar too...

Chu Liang quickly pushed aside the Blazing Fire Gang members and looked closely at the person they had pinned down. Who else could it be but Lin Bei?

"What are you doing here?" Chu Liang asked in surprise.

Lin Bei was just as surprised. "Why is it you?"

"You know him?" the vice-chief asked, looking at Chu Liang.

"We're bros!" Lin Bei interjected. "Big Sis, are you Chu Liang's friend? Then we're all on the same side, so let me go."

"This is my fellow disciple from Mount Shu. We got separated when we arrived here. You can trust him," Chu Liang said.

Only then did the vice-chief release Lin Bei.

Chu Liang briefly explained how he had met with the three major factions in Python Belly City and that the Blazing Fire Gang's chief was trapped in the City Lord's Residence. He had come with the Blazing Fire Gang to rescue the chief as well as find a way out.

"The City Lord's Residence? What City Lord's Residence?" Lin Bei said. "This is a prison."

"

Huh?

" Chu Liang looked around. "All of it?"

"That's right. This fortress is filled with extremely sturdy fortified cells. The Lord of Python Belly City has imprisoned many people here, but he has never actually appeared here."

Chu Liang asked, "Then what are you doing here...?"

"The head steward here is my friend. He let me stay here as his assistant."

Chu Liang wondered, "Since when did you have friends here?"

"I just befriended him," Lin Bei replied.

Chu Liang: "...?"

Lin Bei explained, "After falling here that day, I woke up and saw the head steward of this prison. We had a brief chat and became friends. He said he is a member of the Jimeng Clan, a clan of draconic descendants. He didn't want to be a calvaryman who had to go out and kill people, so he stayed here to manage the logistics. It just so happened that his assistant was recently burned to death by the South-Sea Inferno Dragon, so he let me stay and help him."

"Except you, everyone in this prison is a member of the Jimeng Clan...?"

"That's right."

Chu Liang was dumbfounded.

I know that this guy is great at socializing... but I never would have expected that even draconic descendants would accept him so quickly.

"Do you know how to leave this hidden realm?" Chu Liang asked.

"Not yet, but I've already drunk wine and become sworn brothers with two members of the Jimeng Dragon Cavalry. I think if we have a few more drinking sessions, they'll tell me," Lin Bei said confidently.

Good grief,

Chu Liang thought.

Good thing I got here early. Had I been a bit later, you might have actually joined the enemy.

Lin Bei continued, "I initially planned to secretly search for a way out. Once I'd found it, I was going to sneak outside to find you and escape together. Who knew you'd come to rescue someone and drill a hole."

Chu Liang quickly corrected, "It's drill a hole and rescue someone."

Lin Bei waved his hand, disregarding the correction. "

Psht

, what's the difference?"

"The order is very important."

Having overheard their conversation, the vice-chief asked Lin Bei eagerly, "Since you help manage things here, do you know where our chief, Hua Zhengshan of the Blazing Fire Gang, is being held?"

"I haven't gotten close with the jailers yet. And it would take at least a few days for me to get to know all the prisoners..." Lin Bei replied. "Also, the cells here only have a small hole for passing food into the cell, so you can't even see what the prisoners look like."

"I guess there's no other option. If we're to save the chief, we'll have to open the cells one by one."

"That won't work." Lin Bei shook his head. "The cells here are fortified with the City Lord's talismanic spells. Even the South-Sea Inferno Dragon couldn't get out. How could you possibly open them?"

"

Hmm?

" Chu Liang stood up abruptly. "Well, I'd like to see just what it is that can't be opened."

1. See translator's thoughts. ☜

2. These birds aren't that big... Just gonna assume the ones in the novel aren't the normal version lol. ☜

3. This is not a mistake. I double checked. Guess the author thinks people in their 30s are middle-aged lol. ☜

4. The raw is 四大金刚. The funny thing here is that 金刚 can be translated as King Kong. We were discussing if we should name it something other than Vajra Warriors since they are not actual Vajra warriors, and GT said, “No. We can’t do the Four Big King Kongs. No.” Me:

laughed for a good couple of minutes

☜

5. The women that the Mountain-Subjugating Marquess was supposedly involved in... according to Chu Liang's made-up story.☜