Holding the severed head of Grand Golden Seal Shen Jinzhong, Qin Tianjiu walked out of the vault.
He walked all the way from the back courtyard to the main hall, meeting the gaze of every sect disciple watching him along the path.
Before the hall doors, he placed the head on the ground and swept his eyes over the crowd assembling into formation in the courtyard.
Qin Tianjiu said little. He could have found countless excuses for Shen Jinzhong's death, but none of that mattered now. What mattered was that Shen Jinzhong was dead.
"Break formation. Disperse," Qin Tianjiu ordered calmly. "Go make preparations. Set up a mourning hall, then buy some sheep. We're treating everyone to mutton hot pot."
Back when Bao Yingchen died, Shen Jinzhong had also treated everyone to mutton hot pot. At the time, Li the Seventh had been forced to devise a scheme using a cabbage effigy to fake a resurrection and smooth things over.
Now, there was no need for that.
With Li the Seventh's current power, Qin Tianjiu could settle the matter openly and rightfully.
Once Shen Jinzhong was buried and the mourning hall taken down, Qin Tianjiu sent out invitations and hosted a banquet for guests in the Golden Seal Hall.
Yun Yongcheng, an Old Silver Seal, harbored bitter resentment and wanted to raise a fuss at the banquet.
He muttered ceaselessly, "This is against the rules. How many years has Qin Tianjiu even been in the sect? On what grounds does he get to be Grand Golden Seal? He even murdered Golden Seal Shen! A man like that does not have the people's support."
Silver Seal Tan Jinle chuckled. "And what do you call having the people's support? Go look around at who came today."
Ma the Fifth had come. Chu the Second had come. Lu Chunying had come.
Yun Yongcheng was still unconvinced. "Those are all just juniors. Add their ages together, and they still wouldn't match mine!"
Tan Jinle lowered his voice. "Scoop out any random snapping turtle from the fish pond behind our hall, and it'll be older than you. What's so great about being old? These youngsters can carry the weight of entire households, and Master Nine can carry the mantle of Grand Golden Seal."
Yun Yongcheng shook his head. "But Golden Seal Shen, he—"
Tan Jinle scoffed. "What about Shen Jinzhong? You think he was wronged? Have you forgotten how he became Grand Golden Seal in the first place?
"It's because of you old fogies flattering him and coddling him day in and day out that he lost all sense of reality and truly thought he was someone important. He rode Li the Seventh's coattails to where he was, yet in the blink of an eye he was ready to throw in his lot with He Jiaqing. When a fool acts like that, who else would die if not him?"
Yun Yongcheng let out a long sigh. "Even so, it shouldn't have fallen to Qin Tianjiu..."
Tan Jinle rolled his eyes at Yun Yongcheng. "Old Yun, I'm saying this because I think you're an honest man at heart and I want to save your neck. If you really think you've lived too long, I'm staying far away from you. This outfit of mine was just tailored at the Yu Family Cloth Guild. The fabric is precious, and once blood gets on it, it's impossible to wash out."
As they spoke, Li Banfeng entered the main hall. Qin Tianjiu hurried over to greet him, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, the banquet began immediately.
With this meal concluded, Qin Tianjiu accepted the Grand Golden Seal, officially becoming the supreme leader of the Three Heroes Sect.
Tan Jinle toasted the Grand Golden Seal and wanted to toast Master Seven as well. But just as he raised his cup to head over, he noticed Li the Seventh standing beneath the covered corridor, chatting casually with someone.
The man wore a white long gown and a white fedora, holding a folding fan in his hand. He looked like He Jiaqing.
Not just looked like him—it truly was He Jiaqing.
Why had he come?
Who had invited him?
He was chatting with Li the Seventh?
He Jiaqing was indeed making small talk with Li Banfeng. "I really didn't expect Qin Tianjiu to send me an invitation. Did you tell him to do that?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "I was just being polite. I didn't think your skin was thick enough for you to actually show up."
"Even if I had to peel off two feet of face, I'd still have to give you face. It's rare for us brothers to be this close and have an honest heart-to-heart." He Jiaqing smiled, genuine intention mingled with teasing.
He had successfully closed the distance. At this range, if a fight broke out, a Thief Cultivator held a massive advantage.
Li Banfeng smiled. "Where do you want to have this heart-to-heart? Through the front of the chest, or into the back of your heart?"
A chill ran down He Jiaqing's spine. The voice had come from behind him, yet it was identical to Li Banfeng's voice.
Was the Li Banfeng before him real or fake?
And what was the origin of the Li Banfeng behind him?
"Banfeng, what level has your cultivation reached?"
Li Banfeng pondered for a moment. "That's a bit hard to measure. When you handed the Red Lotus over to me, what level did you think I should have reached back then?"
He Jiaqing fingered the wine cup in his hand. "No matter what, I pointed you toward a good path, one far better than remaining in the Outer States. We can settle our past grievances slowly over time. Could you release my Third Uncle first?"
Li Banfeng countered, "Could you stop harassing Li Banling?"
He Jiaqing nodded. "I promise you, I will never harm your friends in the Outer States again."
Li Banfeng asked, "How much is your promise worth?"
"If you don't trust a promise, we can draft a covenant deed." He Jiaqing already had a deed prepared.
Li Banfeng glanced over its contents; it was actually written quite sincerely.
He Jiaqing's proposition was that neither side would harm the other's family or friends in the future, nor use hostages to coerce each other.
Li Banfeng handed the deed back to He Jiaqing. "I just checked the almanac today. It says it's inauspicious for signing deeds. Let's talk about it another day."
He Jiaqing put the deed away and said, "Rest assured, now that I've written this deed, whether you sign it or not, I will act according to it from now on. Let's talk business today. You took ten of my covenant deeds. Can you sell them to me?"
Li Banfeng thought it over. "It's not out of the question. Name your price first, and I'll go check the almanac later to see if today is auspicious for doing business."
He Jiaqing said, "That depends on what you want. Money, businesses, pills, magical artifacts—as long as it has a price, everything is negotiable."
Li Banfeng said, "Name a fair price first."
He Jiaqing said, "If I name what I think is fair, will you sell?"
Li Banfeng replied, "As long as you think it's fair, I'll pay double to buy your remaining twenty deeds. What do you think of that deal?"
He Jiaqing raised his brows, the smile remaining on his face. "Banfeng, we were brothers once. Can't you let me have an easy time for once?"
"Sure!" Li Banfeng lifted his cup. "Today's mutton is quite good. Eating well and drinking well—isn't that easy enough?"
"On such an auspicious day, must you speak so harshly?"
Li Banfeng laughed. "If today weren't such a fine day, do you think you'd still be standing here talking to me?"
With that, Li Banfeng turned and walked away.
He Jiaqing left the Golden Seal Hall and pinched a button on his coat. "The talks collapsed. Assemble our men. Prepare to move against the Dark Star Bureau."
***
Once the banquet dispersed, Li Banfeng returned to Xiaoyaowu. He took out the covenant deeds brought back by Banfeng Two and flipped through them one by one.
Aside from Chu Yaoxian's deed, Li Banfeng didn't recognize a single name among the rest.
He copied down the list of names, intending to find an acquaintance another day to make introductions.
Just as he put the deeds away, a knock sounded at the door. Li Banfeng opened it to find a figure in a black suit and black fedora standing on the threshold.
Without looking closely, one might mistake the person for a smaller version of Li Banfeng.
"Second Miss Chu, to what do I owe this honor?"
Chu the Second rolled her eyes upward to look at Li Banfeng. "Can I come in and talk?"
Li Banfeng invited her inside.
Still looking up at Li Banfeng, Chu the Second said, "I heard you went to the Inner States and became a prince. Is that true or false?"
Li Banfeng pressed down on Chu the Second's hat, pulling the brim right down over her face. "It's true. What about it?"
Chu the Second pushed up the brim and tilted her head up at Li Banfeng. "It doesn't change anything for me. No matter what status you hold, you're the same to me as before. I'm just worried about your Second Aunt. She's getting up in years and her temper's growing weirder by the day. From what I can tell, she wasn't too pleased about you becoming a prince."
Li Banfeng pulled up a chair and had Chu the Second sit down. "How did you tell she wasn't pleased?"
Chu the Second said, "She said Shu Wanjuan and Shan Chengjun toiled in the Inner States for so many years and only ever became marquises, whereas you're so capable that a single trip to the Inner States made you a prince."
Li Banfeng puffed out his chest. "Isn't that praising me?"
Chu the Second nodded. "I thought it was praise too, so I chimed in and said, 'Li the Seventh looks like a man destined for great things from the start.'"
Li Banfeng was very pleased. "And what did Second Aunt say?"
Chu the Second wore an aggrieved look. "She didn't say anything. She just picked a fight and beat me up. Hit really hard, too."
Li Banfeng rubbed his chin. "Surely not. Would she really get that angry?"
Chu the Second felt even more wronged. "I told myself I was taking the beating on your behalf, and that's the only reason I gritted my teeth and endured it."
Li Banfeng took out two Golden Origin Pills and handed them to Chu the Second. "You suffered in my place. Take some pills to nourish yourself."
"Who cares about your pills? What kind of pills does my family lack?" Despite her words, she accepted them anyway.
She couldn't bear to consume them; she wanted to keep them.
Li Banfeng poured Chu the Second a cup of tea. "What else did Granny Bitter say?"
Chu the Second recalled, "While she was beating me, she kept saying, 'Can't endure hardship, only knows how to pursue indulgence—someone like that will never amount to anything!'"
Li Banfeng sighed. "Why go looking for suffering when there isn't any? Does it bother her eyes to see me enjoy myself a little? She's trying to get me to go to Bitter Herb Manor. Forget it. I'm resolutely not going."
Chu the Second recalled another thing. "She said that following you in the future means being your servant, that I'll have to kneel whenever I serve you. Will I really have to kneel from now on?"
Li Banfeng frowned. "Nonsense! When have I ever made anyone kneel?"
Chu the Second smiled smugly. "I knew she'd gone senile! I knew you weren't that kind of person!"
*Thump! Thump!*
A knock sounded at the door. Li Banfeng opened it, only to find Chu Shaoqiang kneeling on the ground outside.
"Subordinate greets the Prince of Pingyuan!"
Chu the Second covered her face with her hands.
Li Banfeng grabbed Chu Shaoqiang. "Get up right now!"
Chu Shaoqiang entered the room and didn't dare sit down.
Her face flushed red, Chu the Second said, "Dad, I really don't know what to say to you..."
Chu Shaoqiang glared at Chu the Second. "In the presence of the Prince, how dare you act so presumptuous! Get outside and reflect on yourself!"
Fuming, Chu the Second stomped out.
Chu Shaoqiang apologized once more. "My humble daughter is reckless; it is entirely my fault for failing to discipline her properly. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."
Li Banfeng waved his hand. "Cut the useless nonsense. Just say what you came to say!"
Chu Shaoqiang said, "The Cabinet has appointed me General Pingyuan, to follow at Your Highness's side from now on."
Li Banfeng was not satisfied with this answer. "What does 'following at my side' mean? Be specific."
Chu Shaoqiang declared in ringing, standard tones, "To run before your saddle and behind your stirrups, through mountains of blades and seas of fire, at Your Highness's command!"
As he spoke these words, no soap bubbles floated from his mouth. That proved he was being sincere!
Li Banfeng was finally satisfied. "So that means you're my man from now on!"
Chu Shaoqiang's cheeks flushed slightly. He turned toward the door and called out, "Huaiyuan, I've finished speaking. Come in and converse with His Highness."
Chu Huaiyuan walked in. Chu Shaoqiang was about to leave when Li Banfeng stopped him.
"I have a list of names here. Take a look and see if you recognize them."
Chu Shaoqiang took the list and looked. "I do. These are all earth gods of the newland."
"Is there anything special about them?"
Chu Shaoqiang studied the list closely but couldn't spot any clue.
Li Banfeng asked, "What are their attitudes toward the Inner States?"
Chu Shaoqiang pointed at the names. "Shi Tiegu is on good personal terms with me and is set on siding with the imperial court. Gu Wuyan bears considerable resentment toward the court and has argued with me several times. Their attitudes toward the court are polar opposites. The others are ambiguous, with nothing particularly remarkable about them."
If their commonality wasn't here, where could it be?
Li Banfeng asked again, "How is their combat strength?"
Chu Shaoqiang looked over the names several times. "Cultivation isn't polite to inquire about, but in my recollection, three of them should be Second Tier Above the Clouds, while the rest are First Tier Above the Clouds. Their strength varies considerably."
Li Banfeng frowned. "Is there really no common ground among them?"
Chu Shaoqiang pondered for a long time.
Their pathways included Martial Cultivators, Literary Cultivators, Poison Cultivators, Frost Cultivators, Rhyme Cultivators... no commonality there.
In terms of how long they had been earth gods, some had served for a dozen years, others for a century or more, varying wildly.
In terms of temperament, some were gluttonous, some greedy, some lecherous, some abstemious and detached.
Unable to think of anything, Chu Shaoqiang even considered appearances: "Mei Aohan is handsome, Ye Qiushuang is good-looking too, Yu Qingcheng looks a bit unique, and the rest can hardly be called distinctive..."
Chu the Second suddenly chimed in, "I've seen them."
Chu Shaoqiang frowned. "Don't interrupt recklessly. What good does having seen them do? His Highness asked us to find their common ground."
Chu the Second said, "I saw Ye Qiushuang and Yu Qingcheng on the same day. They live very close to each other."
"Very close?" Chu Shaoqiang recalled something.
He produced a map from his sleeve and marked them one by one.
"Mei Aohan and Gu Wuyan's territories border each other. Ye Qiushuang and Shi Tiegu's territories border each other as well. The remaining parcels aren't directly adjacent, but they're all very close."
Li Banfeng added Chu Yaoxian's territory into the mix. "What if you added a few more parcels in between to connect them all?"
Chu Shaoqiang roughly sketched the outline. "Are these people forming an alliance? I'll go ask them another day."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "Ask Chu Yaoxian first. Don't alert the others."
Chu the Second nodded. "Chu Yaoxian is easy. She's my aunt."
Chu Shaoqiang glared at Chu the Second, then said to Li Banfeng, "Chu Yaoxian is just a distant relative of our family—"
On the word "distant," Chu Shaoqiang spat a bubble.
Li Banfeng frowned. "Now, Shaoqiang, that's not right. This relative isn't so distant, is she?"
Chu Shaoqiang wiped away the foam around his mouth and said to Li Banfeng, "I will make inquiries with Chu Yaoxian. But there is one matter I must ask Your Highness's help in handling."
"What matter?"
"The matter of Bai Wuchuan." Chu Shaoqiang turned his gaze toward Chu the Second.
Chu the Second raised her eyebrows. "Why look at me? He only danced at the Paramount—didn't eat, didn't drink, didn't stay the night. Whatever happened to him, I haven't the faintest idea."
Chu Shaoqiang frowned. "Bai Wuchuan went missing at the Paramount. Their people have practically barricaded your entrance, and you think you can brush it off with 'I don't know'?"
Chu the Second started to argue back, but Li Banfeng said, "This matter started because of me. Huaiyuan was acting on my behalf. I'll handle it."
Chu Shaoqiang was indeed seasoned. Though he had been away from Puluo Province for years, he saw through the situation clearly.
The White Crane Gang had been coming to the Paramount every day demanding their man, and they had even contacted their Inner Sect Master, Bai Wusong, asking him to step in and demand an explanation.
Bai Wusong came; it would have been unacceptable for him not to. Chu the Second was prepared. Knowing Bai Wusong's formidable strength, she had braced herself for a hard clash.
Yet Bai Wusong didn't look for Chu the Second. He went straight to Li the Seventh.
Li the Seventh intended to offer a few words of comfort, but to his surprise, Bai Wusong needed no persuading. He saw the truth with absolute clarity.
"Wuchuan attempted to harm Fifth Master and meant to deliver the Three Heroes Sect to He Jiaqing. He brought death upon himself. That he didn't drag the entire gang down with him is already a stroke of luck. I came to Master Seven today to beg another favor.
"When I visited the gang this time, I found that more than half the branches had been co-opted by He Jiaqing. Many branches have abandoned their own trades to serve as He Jiaqing's muscle. I wanted to pull the branches back, but they won't listen to me at all. Quite a few branch masters have taken positions in the Brotherhood Alliance and barely concern themselves with gang business anymore. If this continues, the White Crane Gang will cease to exist."
Li Banfeng was all too familiar with this process. The Qingyun Society and the Hundred Flowers Sect had suffered the same fate: keep the useful people, the useful items, the valuable businesses, and leave the rest crammed inside an empty gang shell to fend for themselves.
Li Banfeng asked Bai Wusong, "What do you plan to do about this?"
Bai Wusong said, "A while ago, I brought a batch of newcomers over from Santoucha, thinking they might reform the gang's atmosphere. Who would have guessed that after less than a month here, every last one of them joined the Brotherhood Alliance."
Li Banfeng said, "That was because Bai Wuchuan introduced them to He Jiaqing. Now that he's gone, that trend should reverse."
Bai Wusong shook his head. "It won't. In Green Water City, the White Crane Gang's signboard has rotted through completely. I want to change locations and erect the signboard anew."
"Have you picked a place?"
"I have. I plan to seek refuge with an old friend, and I'd like this friend to serve as the White Crane Gang's Outer Sect Master."
"Which old friend?"
"The earth god of Qiqiu City, Qiu Luoye."
Li Banfeng smiled. "You want to establish the gang in Qiqiu City?"
Bai Wusong nodded repeatedly.
"That's easy enough. I'll go give Big Brother Qiu a heads-up."
Bai Wusong stopped Li Banfeng. "Master Seven, it's not that simple. Qiu Luoye has bad blood with the White Crane Gang."
***
At home, Qiu Luoye cradled a pumpkin. With one bite, he gnawed away half of it, chewed a few times, swallowed, and proceeded to scoop out the pulp.
He loved pumpkins best, seeds and all.
A tiger entered the room and said to Qiu Luoye, "Master Seven is here."
Qiu Luoye hastily hid the pumpkin away and laid out beef and mutton. In his haste, he choked on a pumpkin seed, coughing for a long while.
When Li Banfeng walked in, Qiu Luoye stood to welcome him. Spotting the white-robed man beside him, Qiu Luoye burst into hearty laughter. "Little Songzi, you came too!"
Bai Wusong smiled. "Big Brother Qiu, it's been so many years."
"Sit down and have some warm wine, quick!" Qiu Luoye ushered the two to sit, picked up a piece of beef with his chopsticks to take a token bite, and kept them company with drinks.
After exchanging pleasantries, they turned to business. Qiu Luoye asked Li the Seventh, "Old Seven, so you still remember the way home? What brought you and Little Songzi here? Did you run into trouble?"
Bai Wusong glanced at Li the Seventh, who gave a slight nod.
Once Bai Wusong explained the matter, Qiu Luoye set his wine cup down.
"Little Songzi, I acknowledge our personal bond. If you ever feel bored in the future, come eat, drink, and have fun here—I'll keep you company anytime. But don't you ever mention the White Crane Gang again."
Unable to press further, Bai Wusong could only look to Li the Seventh for help.
Li Banfeng said, "Big Brother Qiu, this time the White Crane Gang wants to shed its mortal skin and be reborn—"
Qiu Luoye waved a hand dismissively. "I don't give a damn about shedding skins or bones! Ask him how the White Crane Gang treated me back then. How do they have the nerve to come to me today?"
Li Banfeng said, "I did ask, but he wouldn't tell me!"
Bai Wusong kept his head bowed in silence, while Qiu Luoye let out cold sneer after cold sneer.
*Gurgle, gurgle...*
Shui Yongquan popped out of the wine jar, took a seat next to Li Banfeng, and said, "Old Seven, there's a crazy woman named Ayi. She rarely shows her face, so you probably don't know her."
Li Banfeng nodded. "I know her. Ayi is a big shot. I've met her."
Qiu Luoye scowled. "Don't bring that up!"
Shui Yongquan smacked his lips. "Old Qiu, that's where you're in the wrong. You bring up past grievances with Old Seven, yet refuse to explain what happened? What if this hurts your brotherly bond?
"Old Seven, back then that crazy woman Ayi wanted to wipe out the White Crane Gang. Not a single person in the gang could withstand her. Qiu Daxiang was acquainted with Ayi, so he pleaded on the White Crane Gang's behalf and managed to save them."
Li Banfeng looked surprised. "Big Brother Qiu could save the White Crane Gang with just a word? Big Brother Qiu had that much face?"
Shui Yongquan laughed. "Face alone wasn't enough; it took substance! Qiu Daxiang served as Ayi's wife for three whole years!"
The room went dead silent for a long moment.
*Roar!*
With an enraged bellow, Qiu Luoye lunged straight at Shui Yongquan.
Shui Yongquan hurriedly dove back into the wine jar. It took considerable effort from Li Banfeng and Bai Wusong to calm Qiu Luoye down.
Li Banfeng knew how Ayi treated her "wives" and could well imagine the bitterness and humiliation involved.
He looked at Bai Wusong. "That is no small debt of gratitude."
Bai Wusong nodded. "I know. I've always wanted to repay him, but back then my standing in the gang was low and insignificant; my words carried no weight."
"Little Songzi, that's in the past, and I don't blame you." Qiu Luoye's eyes reddened slightly. Remembering those three years, the grievance still weighed heavily on his heart.
Li Banfeng asked Bai Wusong, "What I don't understand is, when Big Brother Qiu went to you for help afterward, why didn't your gang lift a finger?"
Bai Wusong remained silent. Qiu Luoye waved his hand. "Don't ask anymore."
*Gurgle, gurgle!*
Shui Yongquan poked his head out of the wine jar again. "Later, Ayi claimed that during those three years Qiu Daxiang never yielded to her, so the marriage hadn't truly taken. Ayi wasn't satisfied and demanded he serve as her wife for another three years!
"With nowhere left to flee, Qiu Daxiang wanted to hide in the White Crane Gang's forbidden grounds for a while. But the White Crane Gang refused. Qiu Daxiang was dragged back to Hulu Village and served as her wife for another three years!"
*Roar!*
Qiu Luoye seized Shui Yongquan, nearly tearing him to shreds. It took everything Li Banfeng had to hold Qiu Luoye back.
Once everyone calmed down, Li Banfeng asked, "If I remember correctly, doesn't Hulu Village only appear in the Outer States?"
Shui Yongquan shook his head. "It's in Puluo Province too, and the Inner States as well."
"She can even go to the Inner States?" Li Banfeng was skeptical.
Shui Yongquan said, "Ayi has genuine ability. She's been to every nation across the Inner States."
"Just how high is her combat strength?"
Shui Yongquan pondered for a moment. "Back then, the White Crane Gang was even more powerful than the Three Heroes Sect. The gang had several cultivators above the clouds, and every one of them was killed by Ayi.
"I don't recall how it all started, but it's true the White Crane Gang provoked Ayi first. Later, when Qiu Luoye washed his hands of the White Crane Gang, Ayi stormed the gang again. If the peddler hadn't intervened, the White Crane Gang would have been wiped out down to the last man."
Li Banfeng said, "The peddler wanted to preserve the White Crane Gang?"
Shui Yongquan shook his head. "The peddler doesn't care about the rise or fall of a gang. But all of the White Crane Gang's experts above the clouds were dead, and with Ayi's cultivation level, she couldn't slaughter ground-level cultivators at will."
"Not even a single one?" Li Banfeng was deeply skeptical; he had seen plenty of instances where someone above the clouds killed ground-level cultivators.
Shui Yongquan shook his head. "That's not it. If a cultivator above the clouds or among the stars is provoked by a ground-level cultivator, they are permitted to seek vengeance, but they cannot exact retribution without limit. If they haven't been provoked, a cultivator above the clouds or among the stars who kills a ground-level cultivator must have a sound and reasonable justification. Otherwise, they face severe punishment from the peddler."
Li Banfeng thought for a moment and asked, "He Jiaqing nearly wiped out the Qingyun Society and the Hundred Flowers Sect. Did he have sound and reasonable justifications for those?"
Shui Yongquan laughed. "I actually happen to know about that! When I was in Qiqiu City, I read the newspapers all the time. Those are two separate matters—completely different. Old Seven, you must never conflate them, or you might end up offending the peddler down the line.
"Let's talk about the Qingyun Society first. The Qingyun Society caused trouble at He Jiaqing's silk store time and again; it was reported in the papers. That clearly counted as provocation. Furthermore, He Jiaqing mostly had his subordinates carry out the retaliation. I suspect he only stepped in personally to kill Han Yaomen. In circumstances like that, the peddler truly couldn't intervene.
"The Hundred Flowers Sect matter was somewhat different. Zhang Xiuling likely never offended He Jiaqing, but sect gangs in the jianghu inevitably indulge in sordid dealings, which gave He Jiaqing ammunition. He Jiaqing clearly didn't hold the moral high ground either, so when he moved against Zhang Xiuling, he held back, which was how Zhang Xiuling survived. And afterward, He Jiaqing visibly pulled his punches."
Puluo Province's rules were strict at the top and loose at the bottom, and the peddler enforced them with utmost rigor. Even Qin Tianjiu tailing Boss Lu counted as an act of provocation; even if the peddler caught wind of it, Boss Lu wouldn't face punishment.
Bai Wusong looked at Li Banfeng.
They couldn't just talk rules; they still needed to settle the matter of the sect master.
After Li Banfeng cajoled and reasoned with all his might, Qiu Luoye finally agreed.
However, he had conditions. "If I'm to be sect master, I must be allowed to set sect rules."
Shui Yongquan chimed in, "The White Crane Gang already has rules!"
Qiu Luoye snorted. "They are them, and I am me. If I'm the sect master, new rules must be established!"
Shui Yongquan said, "You barely know a handful of characters. What sect rules could you possibly write!"
Realizing writing sect rules was indeed a challenge, Qiu Luoye simply stated two: "Little Songzi, we'll be two sect masters, one inner and one outer. Let's settle it between us right now.
"First rule: no reckless or wicked conduct. If any disciple in the gang dares bully common folk, I'll be the first to chop him down!"
Bai Wusong nodded. "Consider it settled. If we encounter such disciples, we'll kill every one we find, with zero tolerance!"
"Second rule: the gang can't only recruit bird-shifters! Anyone from our pathways can be taken in, as long as their character is upright and they seem suitable!"
Bai Wusong said, "That was already agreed upon with Master Seven earlier!"
"Good!" Qiu Luoye clinked bowls with Bai Wusong and downed the wine. "Let's put it in writing. Old Seven, you witness it."
Li Banfeng prepared brush and ink. Qiu Luoye picked up the brush and wrote the pledge with his own hand:
*From now on, follow ol' Qiu Luoye to champion justice and aid the weak!*
Big Brother Qiu was as literary as ever!
He had trouble writing the character for chivalry, but after Shui Yongquan taught him twice, he managed to scrawl it down.
Both parties pressed their handprints. Bai Wusong rose and said, "Big Brother Qiu, let me take you to see our gang's forbidden grounds—"
Chapter 682