Becoming a god starts with one certificate becoming eternal.

Chapter 79 The Pledge of Allegiance

When Ye Xiao left the inner courtyard and returned to the training area, the sound there seemed to have been pinched.

The practice of boxing, the laughter and swearing, the commotion—all of it all quieted down.

Some people instinctively made way, taking a half-inch step to the side; others tried to pretend they didn't see it, but still lowered their eyes.

The familiar faces inside the gate were even quieter.

Those who disagree are still there, but they dare not speak out.

Those who wanted to curry favor were there, but dared not get too close.

In just a few breaths, the rules were written into everyone's actions —

Ye Xiao didn't stop or look at anyone, as if he had long been used to it all.

He left the martial arts school and turned the corner, where a figure came to greet him.

"Ye Huixiu." The newcomer clasped his hands in greeting. "My name is Li Yi, and I am a member of the Wild Wolf gang. Lord Wolf requests your presence at his residence."

Ye Xiao paused in his steps.

Wild wolf.

After he became Gray Sleeve, he had someone investigate Zhang Tu's affairs, so he already knew that it was Wild Wolf who was investigating the truth behind Zhang Tu's death.

He just didn't expect that the wild wolf would come to him on its own initiative.

"What is it?" Ye Xiao asked.

Li Yi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he forced himself to finish his sentence: "Master Wolf said—some things need to be said face to face. You'll understand when you arrive."

"Lead the way," Ye Xiao said calmly.

Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly led the way.

Soon, the two arrived at a courtyard in the inner city.

The high walls, narrow doors, and dim lighting made the place seem even more formal and austere.

Li Yi led the way, even holding his breath before entering the room.

Two rows of people were kneeling in front of the main hall.

They were bound with hemp rope, their mouths stuffed with cloth, and they struggled so hard that their shoulders and backs trembled, and the cloth strips were bitten until they were wet.

Ye Xiao recognized several faces at a glance; they were all Zhang Tu's men, who usually acted arrogantly and were most good at bullying the mute alley.

A wild wolf sat in the hall.

Seeing Ye Xiao enter, he stood up, pointed to the row of people, and began to lay out the accounts: "The first time the alley fee was increased, it was ordered from above. More people are dying from the miasma, so the rules have to be changed."

"The second round of money exchange was neither ordered by higher authorities nor by me."

"It was Zhang Tu and his gang who were greedy and used the gang's name to cause trouble, which angered you."

Ye Xiao remained calm, waiting for him to continue.

The wolf paused, its eyes showing no pleading, only a chilling clarity: "Say one word to me."

"I'll release them if you want them to live."

"If they want to die, I'll take care of it myself."

The courtyard was so quiet it felt like it was sealed off.

Li Yi stood to the side, his forehead covered in sweat, but he didn't dare to raise his hand to wipe it.

Ye Xiao remained silent for a moment, then looked at the Wild Wolf: "You want to pledge allegiance to me?"

Wild Wolf nodded decisively: "Yes, these people are my pledge of allegiance."

"I can't catch up with your current momentum."

"Instead of waiting for you to find the time to get rid of me, I'd rather choose a way to survive first."

Ye Xiao's eyes were calm.

After a half-breath, he spoke, uttering only one word, yet it was as if laying down a rule: "Kill."

The wolf did not utter a second sentence.

He stood up, and a flash of light appeared on his blade.

Nothing fancy.

One slash, one kill, as fast as cutting a thread. Blood fell onto the stone, the sound echoing softly, making one's heart tighten.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten people died.

The last man was still whimpering and struggling when the wolf stopped in front of him, tipped its blade, and cleanly and swiftly took him away.

The courtyard became quiet again.

The wolf casually set the knife aside, his hands barely stained with blood, as if he had just done something completely ordinary.

He turned around, clasped his hands in a gesture of humility, and said, "The accounts are settled, and the people are gone."

"We've never met before, and we have no direct grudges against each other."

"My surrender today is not just talk; from now on, I will be your subordinate."

Ye Xiao didn't buy into his show of loyalty, but instead set the bar: "If you want to follow me, you'll have to accomplish one thing first."

The wolf raised its eyes: "You speak."

"Find me a place," Ye Xiao said. "The environment needs to be even worse than the Northern Furnace; even a quasi-martial artist would find it difficult to stay there for long."

"Come see me again when you find it."

A glint appeared in the wolf's eyes.

He didn't see it as an insult or a humiliation; on the contrary, it made him feel more at ease. The higher the threshold, the more it seemed like he was genuinely recruiting people.

He had been keeping a close eye on Ye Xiao's growth rate. Even though the gap wasn't large at the moment, he knew that this person would eventually leave him behind.

Rather than making enemies, it's better to choose the path ahead, and following such people will broaden your future path.

"Okay." Wild Wolf replied without hesitation.

Ye Xiao turned to leave.

As he reached the door, he stopped and uttered a sentence that seemed to be inserted into the bones of a wild wolf: "From today onwards, you shall ask me first before doing anything."

"7

"If I find out you've been doing anything behind my back, you'll suffer the same fate as Zhang Tu."

Wild Wolf chuckled, showing no displeasure: "Understood. The rules are in your hands."

Ye Xiao pushed open the door and stepped out, sunlight pressing down on the threshold.

Li Yi hurriedly followed, taking two steps before daring to catch his breath, his voice weak: "Master Ye—Master Wolf truly wants to—"

Ye Xiao didn't turn around, cutting off the conversation with a calm sentence: "If he gets it done, my word stands."

Even with the wind blowing, the streets of the inner city remain bustling.

But the stench of blood in the courtyard was cut off as soon as the door was closed.

Li Yi escorted the person to the hospital entrance. He wanted to say a few more words, but he only dared to swallow them back down.

Ye Xiao ignored him and walked away, as if the lives of the people in that courtyard were none of his concern.

Li Yi stood there with his fists clasped in front of him, only daring to lower his head and step back when Ye Xiao's figure turned into the street corner.

As Ye Xiao turned the corner, the crowd ahead suddenly thinned out.

He stepped onto a stone bridge. The water below was soft, while the wind on the bridge was strong, causing his clothes to flutter.

Just then, someone walked up from the front and blocked his way.

Xia Zhe.

His clothes were clean, his cuffs were neatly tied, his face was expressionless, and his gaze did not wander around, but only fell on Ye Xiao.

Xia Zhe spoke, his voice flat: "The battle for the position of Hall Master will begin in seven days."

Ye Xiao's eyelids twitched slightly.

He has a cooperative relationship with Master Huang. If there is any news about the position of Master Huang, Master Huang should be the one to approach him first.

The fact that Xia Zhe arrived first speaks volumes.

Ye Xiao looked at him, her tone indifferent: "I understand."

Xia Zhe turned and left, his steps neither fast nor slow, as if he had already completed his mission.

He took two steps, then paused, turned back, and uttered a sentence in a calm but authoritative tone: "Seven days. Don't let the higher-ups down."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the crowd, as if he had never been there at all.

The wind on the bridge grew stronger.

Ye Xiao stood in the middle of the bridge, his gaze withdrawing from the crowd, his heart already on edge.

Seven days.

The three-month deadline he had agreed to was not far off.

He didn't think much of it, nor did he have any doubts.

Suppress your emotions and keep walking forward.

But before he had gone two blocks, he heard a series of heavier footsteps behind him.

They weren't just idlers on the street; they ran over, in a hurry, but not in a chaotic manner.

"Brother Ye!" The voice sounded familiar.

Ye Xiao turned around.

Qin Yong had already arrived. He clasped his hands in greeting, his attitude more polite than usual, yet with an undeniable air of authority: "The Hall Master wants to see you."

Ye Xiao looked at him, not asking why, but only asking, "Now?"

"Now," Qin Yong nodded, "the hall master is waiting."

Ye Xiao's eyes were calm: "Let's go."

Qin Yong turned and left, quickening his pace slightly.

Ye Xiao followed.

The road narrowed as they walked, and the hustle and bustle was left behind.

Qin Yong walked ahead and added in a low voice, as if to remind him: "This matter—came very suddenly."

Ye Xiao hummed in response but didn't reply.

Even if the other party didn't say anything, he guessed it.

But he still felt a little puzzled as to why the Town Guard knew so early.

Unless—the outcome of the seven days was orchestrated by the Town Guard in secret.