Chapter 81: Turmoil

Half an hour later.

The Golden Tiger Gang successfully took over the entire Iron Fist Gang.

Except for two hall masters of the Iron Fist Gang who refused to surrender and were killed while attempting to break out, and a handful of stubborn gang members who refused to submit and were dealt with, the rest either fled or surrendered.

“He Hongjun!”

“I’m here!” He Hongjun hurried to stand before Qin Yi.

Before attacking the Iron Fist Gang, he had felt unlucky, suddenly forced by someone into becoming the deputy leader. But now, with the Golden Tiger Gang’s territory expanding by more than half, even though he remained the deputy, his rewards would surely rise both openly and secretly. The larger the territory, the higher the gang’s profits!

He felt as if fortune had struck him hard. His new leader was undoubtedly a master of the eighth rank—no, perhaps even the ninth! With such prowess, the Golden Tiger Gang could surely flourish, perhaps even unify all of West City.

“First, take over the Iron Fist Gang’s enterprises—quickly!”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon, under He Hongjun’s arrangements, the Iron Fist Gang’s businesses were swiftly seized. As for the surrendered gang members, they were all escorted to the Iron Fist Gang’s main hall.

“Leader, how should we deal with these surrendering members?” Zheng Wei respectfully approached Qin Yi, cupping his hands.

Qin Yi glanced at the more than one hundred members before him, pondered, then said, “Those with strength above the first rank will be incorporated. The rest, ordinary members, should be dismissed.”

“Understood!” Zheng Wei trotted off to carry out the task.

Another half hour passed, and from the original group of over a hundred Iron Fist Gang attackers, only about fifty remained. The rest, who hadn’t reached first-rank strength, were all discharged.

Deep into the night.

He Hongjun, his face flushed with excitement, hurried before Qin Yi and cupped his hands. “Leader, we’ve finished taking over all of the Iron Fist Gang’s properties. Here is the cash we found in their main hall—eight thousand taels in silver notes. As for whether Deng Yuan and Deng Haifeng have hidden money elsewhere, we haven’t yet found any clues.”

Qin Yi took the eight thousand taels, pocketed five thousand, and handed three thousand to He Hongjun. “Well done! Take these three thousand to reward the members!”

“Yes, Leader.”

That night, news of the Iron Fist Gang’s destruction at the hands of the Golden Tiger Gang spread like wildfire across West City.

All the major gangs in West City were instantly shaken.

The most affected were the four more powerful factions, who immediately began investigating what had happened.

...

In the latter half of the night, Qin Yi returned to the inn.

He had already instructed He Hongjun to find a residence for him, planning to move tomorrow. Tonight, he would remain at the inn.

He walked to his father's door, listened to the steady breathing within, then returned to his own room.

The events of the night—subduing the Golden Tiger Gang and then annihilating the Iron Fist Gang—weren’t mere whims. Seizing control was only to earn some cultivation resources and facilitate his future search for the Dao Map. For now, the Golden Tiger Gang was disposable; he could easily abandon it and, elsewhere, take over a Black Cat Gang or White Cat Gang.

Black cat, white cat—so long as it’s useful, it’s a good cat.

Qin Yi took out the map again and studied it.

“Now that things are settled here, in a few days I’ll visit Quanzhen Daoist Temple in Ling County for another literary cultivation technique,” he mused, looking at the map. “Unfortunately, there’s no other Daoist branch in all of Xiang Prefecture.”

There were six other branches scattered in other provinces.

Among them, Grandmaster Zhang Daoxuan’s Taixuan Dao Palace had already been wiped out by the imperial court. Whether any disciples had escaped was unknown; if not, he might never learn that particular literary technique.

Indeed, to keep growing stronger, Qin Yi believed literary cultivation was essential—the more, the better.

So, only five branches remained: one was Shenxiao Daoist Temple on Kun Mountain in neighboring Qing Province; the other four, three were up north—within two provinces that had fallen under the occupation of Beiyuan. The last was to the east, in Donghai Province by the sea—too distant, with several regions infested by rebels along the way.

In other words, in the short term, aside from visiting Quanzhen Daoist Temple in Ling County for literary cultivation, he could only travel to Kun Mountain in Qing Province. The other branches were either lost to Beiyuan or too far to reach for now.

Seeing this, Qin Yi thought to himself, “Then I’ll first go to Quanzhen Daoist Temple in Ling County for literary cultivation, then consider a trip to Qing Province.”

“By the way, the ruins of the Taiping Dao Palace—the main branch—are atop the Taiji Mountains in Qing Province. If possible, I should visit and take a look.” Qin Yi hadn’t forgotten: the incomplete Dao Map he carried likely came from the main branch of the Taiping Dao Palace.

Perhaps searching the main branch’s ruins might yield a miracle?

Actually, Qin Yi wondered whether he could learn other literary cultivation techniques—not necessarily Daoist ones.

But he had already investigated: such techniques weren’t available in every sect.

For example, Daoist and Buddhist sects had literary cultivation.

But, as Sun Yuanzi had once told him, the Vajra Sect in northern Jiangning Prefecture, which possessed eighth-rank martial arts, had no literary cultivation.

On paper, the Vajra Sect’s strength surpassed the nine Daoist branches, since they possessed a first-class martial art—the Eighth-Rank Vajra Technique.

Yet, among the nine Daoist branches, none had a first-class martial art above the seventh rank.

This puzzled Qin Yi.

“I wonder if different literary cultivation systems might conflict? I’ll need to investigate this further when I have time.”

With his plans settled, Qin Yi slept peacefully.

The next day, Qin Yi instructed his father to remain at the inn, while he went alone to the Golden Tiger Gang.

At the main hall.

The crowd greeted Qin Yi’s arrival with respectful bows.

“Greetings, Leader!”

“Mm, everyone sit,” Qin Yi said, taking the main seat and gesturing for the senior members to sit.

“He Hongjun.”

“Here, Leader.” He Hongjun stood up.

“Sit down—I just have a few questions, no need to be so formal,” Qin Yi said with a chuckle.

He Hongjun blushed and awkwardly sat.

“Last night we took over the Iron Fist Gang’s enterprises. Give me the details.”

“Yes. The Iron Fist Gang occupied nine streets, with two taverns, three inns, three gambling halls, two brothels, one theater, forty-five shops, a brewery, and a textile workshop,” He Hongjun replied.

“Very good. Take care of these places properly.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Now, I have something for you to do.” Qin Yi extended a finger.

“Please instruct me, Leader,” He Hongjun said.