In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

"We pay our respects to the Master!"

"Please rise, everyone. From now on, we are all brothers."

This time, we can avoid the use of weapons (ma li de). I, Lu, also know that you righteous heroes of the martial world will only suffer mutual destruction if you fight each other.

Here, Lu Guanying promised his brothers, "As long as Guiyun Manor provides a bowl of soup, none of you will be shortchanged on a single piece of meat!"

"The lord is so generous!"

Taihu Longshou was the chief bodyguard of the bandits in the five provinces of Jiangnan. His promises and character were trusted by everyone.

Compared to Yang Chenghu's temporary retreat, everyone else was actually relieved.

···

"Who are you? Does the Buddha not intend to let the Yang family go?"

The outskirts of Lin'an Prefecture.

Yang Chenghu, who was preparing to leave Jiangnan with a few trusted men, was stopped by a group of assassins in black less than ten miles outside the city.

In the chilly autumn wind, a terrifying murderous aura transformed into a biting north wind that swept towards us.

Inside the carriage, a baby was crying, the noise of which was quite unsettling.

Yang Chenghu suddenly realized something, and said with a look of fear:

"Are you assassins from the Luo Wang organization?"

Yang Chenghu was a veteran of Ghost Street for over a decade, and he was familiar with the reputation of the Zhang family and the Golden-Faced Buddha.

Now that this matter has been entrusted to Lu Guanying, we will never make things difficult for him again.

The appearance of these assassins, and their terrifying killing intent, were clearly similar to the legendary assassins of the Luo Wang organization!

kill!

Without any explanation, the sword energy was as cold as frost, and in the blink of an eye, several assassins had already closed in.

Chapter 563 The Salt Gang Changes Hands: Guo Jing's Worries

Puff! Puff! Puff...

As a dark shadow flashed, a cold blade slashed through the throats of seven Salt Gang disciples.

Ghost Shadow's Shadow Kill Sword Technique, combined with the Spiral Nine Shadows, made her appear like a ghost even in daylight, wiping out all the Salt Gang sentries.

Meanwhile, outside, the experts from Shilong Dojo swiftly infiltrated the Salt Gang.

In terms of influence, the Shilon Dojo has trained no fewer than several thousand experts over the years, who have joined government agencies, gangs, and security escort companies after graduation...

Various trades and professions, too numerous to mention!

Therefore, in Jiangnan, Shilong's reputation is also at the level of a 'grandmaster'.

All of this was done in accordance with Zhang Xiaoshan's instructions, to strengthen China, starting from the common people.

The experts this time were all instructors from the Shilong Dojo. Each of them was a third-rate expert who had achieved minor success in body tempering, and they could easily deal with a group of small fry.

Woo woo woo...

As the horn sounded, the salt gang was thrown into a panic.

Because when they realized the enemy had invaded, the enemy had already reached the salt gang's stronghold.

With Ghost Shadow's Shadow Kill Sword Technique added to the mix, the Salt Gang had no power to resist and their second formidable barrier—the city wall—was breached!

The Salt Gang was the wealthiest gang on the Longjiang River, earning at least 300,000 taels of gold annually just from transporting smuggled salt.

After joining Ghost Street, not to mention the convenience of smuggling salt, the profits of the Salt Gang more than doubled just from the sideline sales of glass, soap, and brown sugar.

With the salt permits provided by the Zhang family, the salt gang made a fortune!

However, the Zhang family's investment was not without purpose. After all, the Salt Gang was the largest shipping company in the Jiangnan region, so the Salt Gang became the Zhang family's exclusive "Dongfeng Express".

With the Salt Gang now expelled, Zhang Xiaoshan naturally wouldn't let them off the hook.

The headquarters of the Salt Gang was located on Longyan Island in the Longjiang River system.

Using the Longjiang River as a natural barrier and a three-zhang-high wall as a defense, they patrolled day and night, with seven people in a group and twelve groups forming a shift.

The interior is fortified with a five-zhang (approximately 10 meters) city wall, and the core area is riddled with traps and mechanisms.

Such a fortified stronghold would normally be extremely difficult to breach, but now, with the Luo Wang intelligence network and the secret weapons provided by Ghost Street, Shi Long easily stormed into the core.

However, the group did not go in directly; instead, they aimed their crossbows inside, determined not to let a single enemy escape.

At this moment, inside the Salt Gang's main hall, salt smuggler Feng Dao and a group of Salt Gang leaders all looked terrified.

By the time they realized what was happening, the invaders had already reached the second natural barrier and swiftly breached it.

Even who the enemy is, they don't know.

Since none of the hall masters and branch leaders who went out returned, it was clear that the enemy was too strong.

Ghost Street!

The only place that Feng Dao and the other leaders could think of was Ghost Street, which possessed such terrifying power.

"Salt smuggler, it's been a long time!"

Ignoring all obstacles, Shi Long transformed into a faint, ethereal figure, like a wisp of smoke, and entered the Salt Gang's main hall.

The sheer skill of the lightness skill was so great that even the high-ranking members of the Salt Gang looked at the Longevity Venerable Shi Long in astonishment.

As expected, Ghost Street has made its move.

"Stone Dragon!"

Feng Dao was filled with rage, his anger directed at Shi Long.

"The Buddha has decreed that traitors will be killed without mercy."

From now on, I will be in charge of the Salt Gang. If you don't want to be hunted down by Ghost Street, abandoning darkness and embracing light is the right path!

what?

Upon hearing Shi Long's angry roar, the expressions of the entire leader and the Salt Gang's strongmen in the hall all changed drastically.

(bjca) Is Ghost Street starting to purge traitors?

The group of leaders looked at Feng Dao, the salt smuggler at the head of the table, and most of them immediately took a step back.

They knew of Ghost Street's power, even in this seemingly hopeless standoff. But Ghost Street, relying solely on its deep-rooted strength, managed to intimidate the Empire into retreating.

And now, a single stone dragon has wiped out the entire area without a sound.

Moreover, according to rumors, this Venerable of Longevity has already reached an unparalleled level and cultivates the supreme Taoist divine skill—the Longevity Technique!

How could Feng Dao possibly be a match for Shi Long?

As for the clearing out of Ghost Street?

A single stone dragon could suppress the Salt Gang with one hand, let alone Ghost Yama and Demon Blade Ding Peng.

It can only be said that Feng Dao made one wrong move, and the whole game was lost.

"I want to see Young Master Zhang."

"It's too late to plead with Young Master Zhang!"

Young Master Zhang has used the Zhang family's interests to protect the Jiangnan Escort Agency, thus repaying the debts of the past.

What is the relationship between the Salt Gang and the Zhang family? It seems the Salt Gang has profited considerably from its business dealings with the Zhang family. The Zhang family hasn't owed you anything, has it? And on what basis do you expect Young Master Zhang to protect your Salt Gang?

Furthermore, since I will be in charge of the Salt Gang from now on, given the relationship between the Buddha and the Zhang family, why would I need you to fill the role of the head?"

Upon hearing this, everyone knew that Feng Dao was beyond saving.

Zhang Jiabao's Jiangnan Escort Agency would naturally not be involved with the Salt Gang.

Besides, the Zhang family has no special relationship with the Salt Gang. Why should they protect you, Feng Dao?

"Too deceiving!"

Bang!

In his shock and anger, Feng Dao slammed his hand on the armrest.

In an instant, mechanisms were activated both in the sky and on the ground.

Above, extremely sharp bayonets poured down, below, the stone slabs suddenly collapsed, and at the same time, steel cages suddenly rose from all four sides, a truly deadly attack.

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the stone dragon that disappeared before their eyes must have been pierced through and died.

"What an absolutely devastating mechanism!"

A thunderous roar seemed to shake their ears. To everyone's disbelief, they saw Shi Long's figure already behind Feng Dao, looking at them with disdain.

Not to mention the hall masters and branch leaders, even the weakest among them are first-rate experts.

Feng Dao was a top expert, yet he still couldn't figure out how Shi Long avoided the traps or when he appeared behind him.

Such bizarre and unpredictable strength and methods instilled fear in everyone present.

boom!

With a flick of his sleeve, Feng Dao tried to stop him, but Shi Long was too fast.

Moreover, his sleeves were enveloped in an incomparably powerful innate qi, like a truck crashing at 100 miles per hour. In an instant, he slammed into the steel cage, his body slightly bent.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have been smashed to pieces, but Feng Dao was only severely injured.

The disparity in strength was so great that Feng Dao stared at Shi Long in astonishment.

Even when they worked together on Yangzhou Ghost Street, Shi Long had never displayed such formidable strength; it was a truly earth-shattering change.

"Is this the strength of a peerless grandmaster?"

Knowing that this was merely the Stone Dragon, and that there were at least three peerless grandmasters within Ghost Street, Feng Dao secretly regretted his actions.

No wonder the empire, despite gathering so many experts, still suffered a crushing defeat.

With two super bosses behind him, such a powerful backer, he actually gave up such a strong ally because he was afraid of the empire's crackdown!

···

In a single day, rivers of blood flowed through Jiangnan.

The Salt Gang changed hands, the Fierce Tiger Gang merged into Guiyun Manor, and the Chang Le Gang, the Twelve Linked Forts, and the Zhang San Niangzi, who was like a beautiful woman, were wiped out.

Everyone knew this was Ghost Street settling scores, but no one expected it to be so bloody.

Zhuo Qianshan, the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of the Jiangnan镖局 (escort agency), was grateful to Zhang Xiaoshan for remembering the help he had received years ago, after learning that the Zhang family had sacrificed an opportunity to annex the company.

Back then, he had already made a guaranteed profit from just one copy of the "Great Subduing Demon Fist".

Now that Zhang Xiaoshan can still remember the past friendship and protect himself, his reputation for benevolence and righteousness is undoubtedly well-deserved.

More importantly, Ghost Street can still reserve a place for him.

This is the Zhang family's right; it has no bearing on anyone else.

This bloodbath also made everyone realize the tyranny and power of Ghost Street; not just anyone can come and go as they please.

At least Yang Chenghu's death and the Luo Wang's murderous nature chilled all forces to the bone.

The Coolie King and the Snake King of Jiangdong were overjoyed.

At least the Zhang family is willing to accept them, so even the Luo Wang (a powerful organization) can't touch them.

Moreover, afterwards, they each received approximately 100,000 taels of gold.

They didn't feel they were losing out even with just these gold severance payments.

If Shi Long hadn't chosen the Salt Gang, the severance pay would have been double, since no one doubted the Salt Gang's wealth.

···

"Net!"

Upon returning to Niujia Village, Yang Tiexin and Guo Jing, after hearing Mu Nianci's account, immediately understood who the 'bad guy' the silly girl was talking about was.

Unexpectedly, the people from Luo Wang followed Lu Guanying and found their way here.

Guo Jing immediately looked at Yang Tiexin with concern.