Starting from Tianlong, Wudu Tianxia

It's the time of year when autumn and winter are indistinguishable.

A leaden-gray sky hung over the capital, and the wind whistled softly against the windows.

Hong Zhaoren, accompanied by two disciples from Penglai, rode into Jingzhao Prefecture. He had no intention of dawdling and went straight to the Tianyi Gang's headquarters upon entering Jingzhao.

After all, local thugs are the best at finding people, and it's better to finish this sooner so they can go back to their parents' home. He has no interest in continuing to accompany Du Lingzi and wander around like headless flies.

"Please inform your esteemed leader that Hong Zhaoren of the Kuangfeng Sect has come to pay his respects with a visiting card from Penglai."

The disciples guarding the gate of the Tianyi Gang accepted the visiting card and immediately ushered him into the inner hall in a fluster.

Seeing the young man's flustered face, the Penglai disciple beside Hong Zhaoren was full of pride. As for the Tianyi Gang, receiving the Penglai invitation card naturally made them feel apprehensive.

They don't need to make a fuss or emphasize it; the name Penglai is the faith of all Penglai disciples, revealing their superior status to others on both sides of the Jingdong Road.

Hong Zhaoren was good at reading people's expressions, and he could tell what the two were thinking with just a glance.

He chuckled to himself: These two have probably forgotten that the Tianyi Gang is not located in the Jingdong area. Putting on airs on Tianyi Gang's territory may not be effective.

Penglai might be able to quell the Tianyi Gang, but why would you, Penglai, want to throw away your prestigious reputation for no reason?

Besides, they're not here to show off.

Before long, a man who was about forty years old and not particularly burly entered the inner hall with a smile. His steps were steady, and he showed no signs of old age.

The newcomer was none other than Shen Xuanmo, the leader of the Tianyi Gang.

He personally went to the inner hall and treated Hong Zhaoren and his party with exceptional enthusiasm.

Upon seeing his arrival, Hong Zhaoren stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "It's been several years since we last met. How are you, Chief Shen?"

Shen Xuanmo laughed heartily: "What gang leader or not, Brother Hong, you're too polite. I've missed you dearly since we last met. Please come again."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two walked together into the courtyard.

The Tianyi Gang is not well-known in the martial arts world, but its manor is exquisitely decorated and cleverly designed to prevent foreign invasion.

Shen Xuanmo invited him to sit down, and a servant brought tea. He then asked:

"Brother Renzhao, what brings you to our humble abode? You didn't even inform us beforehand so that we could send someone to welcome you. It seems rather disrespectful of you to come here like this."

"I came to Jingzhao to handle some personal matters for Senior Du Lingzi. I was afraid of alerting him if I made too much of a fuss. Since I am unfamiliar with the area, I thought I would ask Brother Shen for help, so I came."

Speaking of Du Lingzi, Shen Xuanmo felt a deep sense of respect. Du Lingzi was of a very high generation, the same generation as the head of Penglai Sect, and definitely a master of the martial arts world.

Those who can become the leader of a gang are not stupid. Hong Zhaoren brought a name card from Penglai. Thinking of the rumors from a few days ago, the answer was obvious.

"But what is it?"

Seeing that Shen Xuanmo was pretending not to know, Hong Zhaoren felt a surge of annoyance.

He thought that Shen Xuanmo was also a man of few words and not very straightforward, and that he didn't speak clearly, so he immediately got straight to the point.

"It is about the Penglai Sect Leader's Order. I followed Senior Du Lingzi here to help him, and I was just looking for your help to find this person's whereabouts."

Shen Xuanmo weighed the situation silently, remaining as steady as an old dog.

Penglai's reputation is certainly impressive, but the two places are far apart. If he pretends to be stupid and declines, Penglai can't do anything to him. After all, Penglai is not a Zoroastrian sect or a bandit group that dares to disregard everything.

When the strong bully the weak, someone will uphold justice. The world of martial arts is not about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and social customs.

Shen Xuanmo carefully considered his excuses and spoke them eloquently.

"It's not that I don't want to help, it's just that I've had some dirty dealings with the Qinghong Gang recently, and the relationship between the two gangs is currently tense, so I really can't spare any people."

Shen Xuanmo was being disrespectful, and just as the Penglai disciple beside Hong Zhaoren was about to reprimand him, he stood up first.

"As long as Chief Shen is willing to help, and with Penglai's backing, wouldn't taking down the Qinghong Gang be a piece of cake?"

Hong Zhaoren did not fall out with Shen Xuanmo. Without Tianyi's help, finding someone in the vast Jingzhao Prefecture would be like climbing to heaven, and he did not want to blindly stumble around with two idiots.

Damn it, if Du Lingzi had come in person, how dare Shen Xuanmo put on such airs!

But we can't just wait for him for days and do nothing.

"Can……"

Hong Zhaoren laughed and patted Shen Xuanmo affectionately, saying, "I heard that when Young Master Shen went to Funiu to seek a master, Ke Baisui rejected him, saying that he lacked comprehension and only had brute force."

Hong Zhaoren's tone became more seductive.

"The Penglai 'Heavenly King Heart-Mending Needle' is a top-tier skill in the martial arts world, no less powerful than the Hundred-Victory Whip of the Ox-Taming Cow. If one could become its disciple, wouldn't that be far more promising than a rough gem being cast into an ox?"

Hong Zhaoren believed that Shen Xuanmo understood his meaning. He had already given him face, and to refuse again would be ungrateful.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuanmo was overjoyed.

What he cared about most was his son's apprenticeship. He knew the true quality of his family's martial arts. Although it had lost some of its reputation due to the favor of Nianhua Manor, it was nothing compared to the divine skills of Penglai.

Previously, his son had been turned away by Ke Baisui, which caused him a lot of gossip in the underworld. He dared not offend Ke Baisui, and he felt very aggrieved.

Now that he heard that Hung Chao-jen had allowed his son to study the "Heavenly King's Heart-Nourishing Needle" at Penglai, he no longer cared about the trouble.

"Senior Du Lingzi cherishes talent the most. Your son has brute strength. With a little polishing and the exquisite 'Heavenly King Heart-Nourishing Needle,' his reputation in the martial arts world may not be inferior to that of Ke Baisui's disciple."

"Furthermore, with Penglai as a backer, and Tianyi helping Wenjian and Gai Qinghong, it's not impossible for them to dominate Jingzhao."

It's no wonder that Hong Zhaoren, despite his burly build, possessed exceptional eloquence; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to climb the ladder of success.

"good!"

Shen Xuanmo slammed his hand on the table, his refusal completely gone.

"Brother Hong, rest assured. The matter of Penglai is Tianyi's matter. There's no need to say anything else. It's just a matter of searching for a person. Jingzhao Prefecture is your territory, so it's a small matter."

Hong Zhaoren saw this and his smile deepened, while the two Penglai disciples looked on with disdain.

Little Tianyi also wants to learn the sect's unique skills. You should know that not everyone in the Penglai inner sect can learn the "Heavenly King Heart-Mending Needle".

"Should we search immediately?"

"No."

Hong Zhaoren pointed to the sky: "The birds are startled and fly away. I don't know if this person has run to Jingzhao. If he is, the commotion is too great and may alert him."

"Send people to disperse and act in groups of two or three. They must not gather or cause disturbances. They can continue their normal activities even when the area is expanded."

"Do you have a portrait of this person?"

"Yes, there will inevitably be some differences between the portrait and the person in question, but they shouldn't be too far apart."

"OK."

Hong Zhaoren recalled Du Lingzi's words and gave him another piece of advice: "If you discover anything, do not act rashly. Even Yan Bo is no match for him, and your men are no match for him. Just come back and report."

Shen Xuanmo understood this principle. If he made any discovery, he knew that such a ruthless person would be useless unless he and Hong Zhaoren went in person.

"Haha, good, all according to Ren's arrangements. Come, come, brother, it's rare for you to come here. Whether this person is in Jingzhao or not, you should stay for a few more days so that your brother can show you the hospitality of a local."

Hong Zhaoren smiled slightly: "Of course."

"Brother, I've had some wine and food prepared. After we've had the wine, we'll make further plans. Please, everyone."

Tianyi Gang has its own private kitchen and elegant room for entertaining guests, and Shen Xuanmo smiled as he led everyone away.

Later in the day.

At a tavern on Zhengyang Street, the young man who led the fight yesterday greeted a Tianyi Gang member with a smile.

"Brother He, what are you and your men doing here?"

He Yong didn't stop walking, forcing a smile on his face: "It's nothing, I have some business to run for the gang, I need to hurry to the docks."

The young man stepped forward: "Brother He, what do you think about my joining the gang?"

"Sigh, the gang is full of useless people. If no one recommends you, you'll only be a menial worker. You won't even get to participate in the council meetings. You're having a great time on Zhengyang Street now, spending your days daydreaming."

"but."

"Brother He, please speak!"

He Yong's eyes darted around: "It's not entirely impossible. The gang has always taken care of the families of its disciples. If your little sister and I..."

The young man's smile faded slightly, but he still followed half a step closer:

"Brother He, you're too kind. I'm still young..."

"Alright, alright, it's the same old story again. We'll talk about it when we have time. We're busy right now."

He Yong interrupted the young man's excuses with an impatient look on his face.

You don't know what's good for you. When you can't afford to pay more, I'll have my own ways to make your little sister obediently go to my bed.

After saying this, he turned and left, with several Tianyi Gang disciples hurrying after him.