CHAPTER 468: CHAPTER 226: WHO IS IT_2

But I was indeed affected by the ripples of the situation.

Most of those who participated in the Li Family trials needed extra help.

How to get help? That was up to one’s own abilities.

Therefore, what she wanted was not Liuyun Martial Arts Hall to submit to the Li Family, but to submit to her own Liuyun Martial Arts Hall.

The Li Family is the Li Family, she is she; these were two different matters.

"Submit to you?"

Liu Qianshui was taken aback for a moment but quickly realized that to whom he submitted made no difference to him.

He announced once more, submitting to Lady Li.

But this declaration led to dissatisfaction among the disciples.

"Abusing power... Has Tianyuan Town become the Li Family’s world?"

"We’ve done nothing wrong, why should we suffer such an ordeal! Why!!"

Some cried out in anger, some wept bitterly, and the corpses strewn about on the ground told of the cruel events that had taken place there.

But Lady Li didn’t bother about whether they lived or died; she had her subordinates gather.

Like selecting goods, she chose from among the surviving members of Liuyun Martial Arts Hall those who were fit to join her own group.

The rest, spoiled and subpar, were sent to the next martial arts hall as cannon fodder, to stir the pot in advance.

Liu Qianshui, who was propped up by his disciples, watched this scene but was powerless to stop it.

At least for now, his disciples were still alive.

Liu Qianshui clenched his fists; if he had the power to fight to the death with Lady Li, he would have already been doing so.

Sadly, he did not possess such power, so he could only cling to life desperately to secure a way out for his disciples.

However, some of the disciples began to view him differently, as if he had sold them out.

But how could these young people understand the bitterness of his intentions?

As long as one is alive, there is hope; death means the end of everything.

Yet, that sorrowful feeling still lingered in his heart.

The martial arts hall he had painstakingly managed was forcibly taken away. To say he truly submitted would be a lie.

But the situation forced him to bow his head.

Even if some of his disciples did not understand, he had no choice but to do so.

"Is this the renowned Liuyun Martial Arts Hall that’s been gaining momentum lately? There was no pressure in defeating them."

"They’re all paper tigers!"

"How could such a martial arts hall possibly stand against Lord Thirteen!"

"Following Lord Thirteen was definitely the right decision!"

Whispers of excitement could be heard among Lady Li’s group, although their clothing was markedly different from the standard Li Family members.

Liu Qianshui had long noticed that these were not Li Family people, they were... members of a small faction that had risen meteorically as of late, the Black Tiger Gang!

"Everyone shut up!"

Just as Liu Qianshui realized this, the Gang Leader of the Black Tiger Gang, Yu Wenwuji, spoke.

His face looked grim, and as his gaze swept over the crowd, everyone fell silent as if hit by a cold frost.

Clearly, the Gang Leader commanded considerable respect among his subordinates.

At Yu Wenwuji’s side was a figure that looked like a Dog-headed Military Advisor, fanning himself with a paper fan. Suddenly, he leaned in between the two of them, whispering into his ear.

"Gang Leader, didn’t we just win a battle without any effort? Why aren’t you happy?"

Yu Wenwuji glanced at him sideways. He only tolerated this because it was his military advisor; otherwise, he would have already lashed out at him.

"Military Advisor, how can you be so oblivious!"

"Huh?"

Wu Junshi was confused.

How could victory be seen as obliviousness? What was he missing?

Wu Junshi eagerly sought enlightenment.

"Please enlighten me, Gang Leader."

"Military Advisor, think about it, why did we pledge allegiance to Li Shisan?"

Lady Li, also known as Li Shisan, was ruthless and cruel, her methods vile and unpredictable, and yet she always achieved the desired results.

Her methods were also one of the reasons why people were willing to side with her.

"A martial trialist from the Li Family who can steadily climb the ranks is always a worthwhile investment."

"Naturally, we want to cling to the powerful. We seek to elevate our Black Tiger Gang’s status through her hands as a trialist, amass wealth, resources, everything."

This wasn’t Wu Junshi’s own interpretation, but the words previously spoken by Yu Wenwuji, which he now repeated.

Yu Wenwuji appreciated that Wu Junshi could remember at least this much.

"Exactly! Our Black Tiger Gang dares to covet a tiger’s hide for a reason."

"But look at what she’s doing now! She’s killing the goose that lays the golden eggs! With such a frenzied approach, not to mention the intervention from other trialists of the Li Family, even the other four families among the Five Great Families won’t sit idly by."

Yu Wenwuji paused, gazing into Wu Junshi’s eyes with determination.

"The risk is far too great."

"A tall tree catches the wind, we can only indulge in this greed for one day. After we’ve seized the resources, we will take our people and leave Li Shisan tomorrow. Ending our partnership with her!"

Ending the partnership?!

Wu Junshi immediately panicked.

He looked at the few outstanding rookies that had just been absorbed from Liuyun Martial Arts Hall into his gang’s ranks, rookies who in days past wouldn’t even spare a glance at his gang.

Now several of them had joined at once; each could potentially become a senior powerhouse in the future, the central force for the gang, the kind of existence that could act as pillars.

And yet the Gang Leader is thinking of running away??

"Gang Leader, isn’t this a bit rash... I think we could cooperate with the madwoman from the Li Family for a few more days, absorb the personnel from a few martial arts halls that are challenging us into the gang, then bring up ending the partnership."

Wu Junshi paused, then lowered his voice.

"Moreover, we’re already tied to Li Shisan’s warship, is it a bit presumptuous to want off now? She definitely won’t let go easily."

Yu Wenwuji narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Don’t worry, whether she lets go or not doesn’t depend on her, but on us."

"Us?" Wu Junshi was puzzled: "What do you mean?"

"It’s simple, as long as the backer we find next is strong enough, even Li Shisan will have to swallow her pride and take this loss in silence!"

Watching the Gang Leader’s indifferent expression, Wu Junshi’s eyes lit up.

"Gang Leader, have you already found the next backer?"

"Of course."

"May I ask which family..."

"It’s still the Li Family, but it’s... the Li Family, Li Shidao!"

Hiss—

Wu Junshi took in a sharp breath, drawing the attention of some people around them.

He was frightened into lowering his gaze by Yu Wenwuji’s icy stare, not daring to look any further.

"Gang Leader, isn’t Li Shidao... someone who doesn’t build forces, a one-man army?"

Yu Wenwuji smiled faintly.

"Some things can’t be judged solely by appearance. In times of turmoil and fierce competition, can Li Shidao truly remain aloof, constantly facing the Li Family’s other monsters alone?"

"We don’t need to openly side with him, just help him secretly. He gives the orders, we execute, just don’t form a direct connection with him."

"At Li Shidao’s level, a useful sword, a hidden sword, I believe he wouldn’t refuse."

Wu Junshi was doubtful.

"Gang Leader, isn’t this nowhere near a done deal? You haven’t even made contact with Li Shidao personally."

"No need for contact, standing in that position, Li Shidao will naturally make the right choice. I trust my judgment."

Yu Wenwuji exuded confidence.

As if even in the event of failure, he had a contingency plan.

"There’s another strategy..."

Sure enough, the Gang Leader spoke again.

"If Li Shidao doesn’t take us in, I have another candidate in mind."

"Who?"

"Li Pincheng."

This name was somewhat unfamiliar to Wu Junshi.

Did the Li Family have such a person?

But Yu Wenwuji patted Wu Junshi on the shoulder.

"I’m ninety percent certain that Li Pincheng will accept our Black Tiger Gang. That guy is definitely going to be a dark horse! I have high hopes for him!"

If it were someone else, they might find Yu Wenwuji’s confidence bizarre.

But Wu Junshi knew that Yu Wenwuji always had reasons behind his actions.

If he says Li Pincheng is a dark horse, then there must be some basis for this decision, or perhaps he heard some news that led to it.

Wu Junshi knew he couldn’t match Yu Wenwuji’s wits.

Immediately, he bowed his head and said.

"I’ll follow the Gang Leader’s orders!"

"Don’t worry, I won’t lead you down a path of no return. Staying with Li Shisan, that’s truly heading toward a dead end."

With everything said to this point, Wu Junshi of course knew what to do.

He ordered his Black Tiger Gang brothers to follow the Li Family’s procession led by the village girl.

But quietly, he had already arranged for people to start preparing for evacuation.

However, just as this mighty procession was about to leave the Liuyun Martial Arts Hall, a rush of urgent hoofbeats suddenly sounded in the distance.

On three steeds, three people rode swiftly towards them.

Both the village girl and Yu Wenwuji turned their heads to look, the same question surfacing in their minds.

Who are these approaching riders?

...