Wandering Swordsman |

"Thank you for your praise, Chief. It is our duty to serve you on important matters," the Azure Dragon Saint Lord replied respectfully.

The Black Wind Gang Leader nodded slightly, his one exposed eye scanning the crowd as if checking everyone's expressions. "Get up," he said, his voice cold yet carrying an undeniable authority.

The four holy rulers slowly rose, their movements perfectly synchronized, demonstrating the tacit understanding honed through long-term training.

The White Tiger Saint Lord's voice was deep and tinged with doubt: "Master, what is the purpose of capturing this beauty, Situ Meng,?"

The Vermilion Bird Saint Lord stood not far away, a playful smile on his lips. He gently shook his folding fan and said slowly, "Brother White Tiger, as everyone knows, Situ Meng is the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world. A person like our leader, who is destined for great things, naturally needs such a beauty by his side." His tone was slightly teasing, as if he were joking, but his eyes revealed a deeper meaning.

However, Li Fanglin disagreed. He frowned slightly and said seriously, "No, capturing Situ Meng is firstly to intimidate the martial arts world, and secondly to retrieve the 'Wu Xiang Jing'."

After saying that, his eyes turned serious, and he continued, "Now that we've captured Situ Meng, Jingtian Pavilion will definitely organize the righteous sects of the martial arts world to attack us. We need to prepare a trap in advance so we can catch her like a turtle in a jar."

As soon as Li Fanglin finished speaking, Qinglong Shengjun said in a sly voice, "Chief, since we already have Situ Meng as a good card, we can take out Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan, whom we have captured for a long time, and kill them to make an example of them. Let the people of the martial arts world see that there is no good end for offending our Black Wind Gang." His voice was full of cold ruthlessness, as if killing people was nothing more than a trivial matter to him.

Upon hearing Qinglong Shengjun's suggestion, Li Fanglin shook his head and said, "Chief, I think what Brother Qinglong said is inappropriate. If we really kill Luo Wangchen and Qu Yi, it will probably only have the opposite effect. If it arouses the hatred of those who claim to be righteous in the martial arts world, it may be detrimental to the Black Wind Gang." He calmly advised, looking firmly at the chief, hoping to persuade this leader with supreme power.

Hearing this from the side, the White Tiger Saint King couldn't help but interject, "Li Fanglin, do you really think our Black Wind Gang is afraid of those righteous martial arts sects?" His words were laced with disdain, as if he were accusing Li Fanglin of not understanding the Black Wind Gang's code of conduct.

At this moment, the Black Wind Gang Leader, seated at the head of the table, finally spoke. His voice was deep and authoritative, as if it came from the abyss: "Gentlemen, regarding the execution of Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan, the Azure Dragon Saint Lord's view is not without merit." Before his words had even finished, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense, and everyone's eyes were fixed on him. "Eliminating them will indeed deter those with ulterior motives and uphold the prestige of my Black Wind Gang," the Black Wind Gang Leader continued, his eyes sharp as knives as he swept over the crowd. "However, this matter is of great importance, and we need to discuss the details further."

"Furthermore," the gang leader's voice suddenly became more serious, "to prevent any accidents from happening, Azure Dragon and White Tiger, you two will personally guard the secret prison from now on."

The White Tiger Saint Lord proudly raised his head, a disdainful smile playing on his lips: "Chief, let alone the fact that this is the Black Wind Gang's headquarters, no one but us knows how to enter that secret prison. There's absolutely no need to worry about anyone sneaking in to rescue anyone." His words were brimming with confidence, as if he were proving to everyone his confidence in the Black Wind Gang.

However, after hearing this, the Azure Dragon Saint Lord merely glanced at the White Tiger Saint Lord with a strange look, a look that contained a hint of displeasure. Sensing the Azure Dragon Saint Lord's gaze, the White Tiger Saint Lord immediately noticed the change in his emotions, his heart skipped a beat, and he instantly realized that his words might have been too rash. He quickly adjusted his posture and respectfully said, "Master, this subordinate will now accompany Brother Azure Dragon to the secret prison."

Azure Dragon Saint Lord didn't speak, only nodded, then bid farewell to the gang leader and turned to lead White Tiger Saint Lord away. Their footsteps echoed in the empty hall, gradually fading into the distance, leaving only the gang leader, Vermilion Bird Saint Lord, and Li Fanglin standing quietly in the hall.

As the two stepped out of the hall and into a narrow, dimly lit corridor, Azure Dragon Saint Lord suddenly stopped. He turned to look at White Tiger Saint Lord, a warning glint in his eyes: "Second brother, remember, the leader's orders are not to be questioned, and you must act with caution. You know the leader's temper is unpredictable; don't put yourself in danger because of a momentary remark."

The White Tiger Saint King's face flushed slightly, then he nodded solemnly: "Brother Azure Dragon is right, I understand."

The two continued onward, eventually arriving at a hidden entrance—the passage leading to the secret prison. The surrounding air grew even colder, as if even their breath froze into frost. The Azure Dragon Saint Lord gently pushed open a stone door beside him, revealing a winding, seemingly endless staircase leading downwards. The two stepped into it one after the other, each step accompanied by a soft echo, remarkably clear in the silent underground space.

Inside the hall, as the Azure Dragon Saint Lord led the White Tiger Saint Lord away, the atmosphere instantly became silent and solemn. The candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the half-mask of the gang leader on the ebony chair, adding to his air of mystery and majesty.

At this moment, the gang leader's deep voice broke the silence: "Li Fanglin, what happened to your injury?"

This sudden question startled Li Fanglin. His gaze involuntarily fell on himself. Although he was neatly dressed and tried his best to appear normal, the gang leader's eyes were sharp, as if they could see through appearances to the truth. This made Li Fanglin secretly admire the gang leader's strength, that he could see through his hidden injuries at a glance. He immediately knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in apology, and said, "Please punish me, Gang Leader. I am not strong enough. On the way back from escorting Situ Meng, I was ambushed by a strange person."

The gang leader wore a mask that only revealed half of his face, making the changes in his expression all the more subtle. Even with only half his face exposed, the slightly furrowed brows and the curiosity in his deep eyes were clearly visible. He slowly asked, "Who are you?"

Li Fanglin felt an invisible pressure emanating from the gang leader, but he knew he had to remain calm. He raised his head, looked directly into the gang leader's eyes, and replied, "Reporting to the gang leader, they are from Guigu."

In an instant, the entire hall seemed to freeze, so quiet that only the sound of each other's breathing could be heard. Although the gang leader's expression changed only for a moment, the obvious shock that flashed across his face was hard to ignore.