Chapter 10: The Terrifying Black Dragon Gang

Chapter 10: The Terrifying Black Dragon Gang

First, we enter from the front...

At some point, Luo Feng took out a stack of papers and a brush, and began to write. As the teacher had said, "A good memory is no match for a bad pen." Ink spread across the paper, and at the top he wrote: Plan A-1.

Two hours later, the stack was densely covered with writing, sheets covering the entire table. Plan A1, Plan A2, Plan A3. Plan A1—Step One (Success)—Step Two (Success)—... Plan A1—Step One (Success)—(Step Two/Failure, execute A1-2)—... Plan A1-2—Step One (Success)—(A1-2 Success/A1-2 Failure)—Step Two (Success)—(A1-2-3 Success/A1-2-3 Failure)—... Plan A1-2—Step One (Success)—(A1-2 Success/A1-2 Failure)—Step Two (Failure)—...

Forty-nine variations unfolded like the branches of a lush tree, each step spawning the next. Luo Feng scratched his head as he looked at the full draft papers, worried he might have missed a calculation. In the end, at Zheng Zhe's strong urging, he reluctantly put away the paper and brush.

According to information provided by the son of the aunt of the third cousin of the seventh uncle of the village head of Yang Village, the pawnshop was only a place where the Black Dragon Gang hid their money; their true base was a vast mansion with gardens and artificial hills. Once the residence of a provincial governor in the previous dynasty, now, with the world in chaos and warlords battling, it had been taken over by the Black Dragon Gang.

The vermilion gates were imposing, flanked by a powerful couplet written by a famous hand—though whether the master had been invited, or coerced, was unclear. Behind the eaves, a white lotus bloomed, symbolizing the unity of all classes and trades, and also representing the Black Dragon Gang’s deep roots.

At the entrance, two doorkeepers stood, sizing up Zheng Zhe and Luo Feng with knowing eyes. Doorkeepers were responsible for their master’s reputation, witnesses to affairs and exchanges, and thus were always trusted confidants. The most important trait for a doorkeeper was their ability to recognize people—not being able to distinguish a disguised noble could spell doom for the household.

People carry an aura; as the saying goes, “With enough essence, one desires not lust; with enough energy, one desires not food; with enough spirit, one desires not sleep.” Those full of essence, energy, and spirit appear markedly different from ordinary folk.

Although Luo Feng and Zheng Zhe wore humble Daoist robes and round headgear, their fair skin and the refinement from fifteen years of education could not be concealed. The difference between someone who has read books and someone who has not is stark, immediately setting them apart from the muddled masses.

The previously stern-faced doorkeeper broke into a smile and stepped forward. “Where have you two masters come from?”

Luo Feng and Zheng Zhe exchanged a glance and smiled. The performance began.

Luo Feng chuckled, “My brother and I are disciples of an old friend of your master. Passing through Ping’an County, we’ve come especially to pay our respects.”

“So that’s it,” the doorkeeper’s eyes rolled, and he cupped his hands with a grin. “Please wait here a moment, and I’ll go report.”

He conferred quickly with the other doorkeeper, sending him inside to notify the household. Soon after, a steward in black appeared and appraised Luo Feng and Zheng Zhe. Their appearance was refined, and they carried a gift box—hardly troublemakers.

The steward stepped forward and cupped his fists. “Brothers, may I ask where you come from, which sect you belong to, and who is your master?”

These were questions the steward expected, and Luo Feng had already prepared several answers. If a youth appeared, they would claim to be from a neighboring gang, lowering suspicion. If it was an elder, he would name a major martial sect to intimidate; the older the person, the more cautious.

If it was a woman, then...

The steward before them was a middle-aged man. Luo Feng responded calmly, “We are disciples of Pure Yang Palace of Mount Hua, under the guidance of the Immortal Jingxu, Xie Yunliu!”

The steward frowned. He had heard of Mount Hua, a famous mountain, but Pure Yang Palace was unfamiliar, though it sounded Daoist. As for Immortal Jingxu, Xie Yunliu, the name was entirely unknown.

“Do you have any token or letter to prove your claim?” the steward asked suspiciously.

Seeing his doubts, Luo Feng shot a look at Zheng Zhe, who immediately understood and acted according to plan.

Zheng Zhe, impatient, barked, “Just take us to your master already! Why all the fuss? You’re as nagging as an old woman!”

The steward’s face stiffened, just about to retort when Luo Feng quickly interjected, “Brother, mind your manners!”

He then bowed politely and said to the steward, “We are merely here for a routine visit. If it’s inconvenient, we shall leave.”

Without waiting for the steward’s reply, Luo Feng and Zheng Zhe swiftly departed, leaving the steward standing bewildered.

Step One: Success.
Step Two: Success.
Step Three: Failure—did not gain the steward’s trust.
Activate twelve alternate plans.

Luo Feng and Zheng Zhe hurried to a corner, shed their Daoist robes to reveal new clothes underneath, their arms now bearing the unique insignia of the Black Dragon Gang. They donned two masks.

Then, scaling the wall, they followed the steward in black from a distance.

The Black Dragon Gang was no fool; they would not let strangers into their headquarters so easily. Yet, with mysterious visitors claiming to be disciples of an old acquaintance, the steward would surely report to the gang leader. At that moment, they could directly approach the gang leader.

More importantly, if anything happened, suspicion would fall on the two Daoists, not ordinary villagers from Yang Village. That is the benefit of using aliases.

Whether Luo Feng and Zheng Zhe’s skills were too high, or the Black Dragon Gang’s members too low, they encountered no resistance. They found the gang leader’s room with ease.

Luo Feng felt a bit disappointed; a major county gang should have multiple layers of guards, both visible and hidden. At the very least, there should be patrol teams of elite gang disciples. It was their main base, after all. They’d been inside for hours and only saw one martial artist heading to the kitchen for a snack.

With such ease, many of Luo Feng’s contingency plans were left unused.

Luo Feng’s expression grew serious. He patted Zheng Zhe and asked, “Do you think the Black Dragon Gang’s lax security is a sign of a plot?”

Zheng Zhe surveyed the surroundings and shook his head. “I don’t think so. No one has spotted us yet.”

For caution’s sake, Luo Feng and Zheng Zhe went back to back, thoroughly searching every room, pool, rockery, and corner, but found no mechanisms.

Instead, Zheng Zhe discovered a secret passage, and Luo Feng located a back door for a quick escape.

Everything went so smoothly that of the forty-nine plans Luo Feng had prepared, only three were needed.

This ease made Luo Feng uneasy, suspecting the Black Dragon Gang was hiding a great conspiracy, a deep secret.

Notification: Contract signing soon in a few days. Feel free to bookmark and invest.

Also, due to matters today, only one update.

(End of chapter)