Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 209 The Truth About the White Dragon Gang
"Is Senior Sister Zhong... really that fierce?"

Ye Hanxing was amazed and couldn't help but take a few steps back, whispering to Qin Jiang, who was her best friend besides Zhong Hui.

Qin Jiang swallowed hard and whispered, "I think it's because Senior Sister Zhong always hangs out with Second Senior Sister and has been corrupted by her!"

As the two whispered amongst themselves, the junior leader's face turned cold.

Hearing Zhong Hui's words, he assumed that this was a young disciple of the Jade Void Sect who had just ventured out into the martial world and wanted to learn the "helping those in need" act. He wondered where he had heard that the gang had abducted a few women and was now "upholding justice."

Especially looking at these people, each one is younger than the last, how profound can their cultivation be?

So what if it's the Jade Void Sect? As long as they're all wiped out, the emperor is far away, and they won't be able to find their way back here!
However, unless absolutely necessary, the leader was unwilling to offend the disciples of the Jade Void Sect, so he suppressed his anger and said in a polite tone, "This heroine, we from Baishui Village are all people of impeccable character and have never abducted any women. You must have misunderstood, or perhaps you have been deceived..."

"Our leader does indeed have a few beautiful brides, but they were all properly betrothed, had red veils sewn on them, and were carried into the village. There was no robbery involved. Everyone in the surrounding area knows that our White Dragon Gang is the most loyal and righteous, and the people support us the most!"

Zhong Hui waved his hand, unmoved, and still shouted, "Stop talking nonsense, just say whether you're releasing them or not!"

The leader was also furious, gritting his teeth and saying, "Are the disciples of the Jade Void Sect really so indiscriminate?"

Zhong Hui's repeated aggressive actions aroused the righteous indignation of the surrounding White Dragon Gang members. Many of them drew their knives and picked up sticks, banging them on the ground and shouting slogans. This was to bolster their morale and also to warn outsiders not to be presumptuous.

Just as the atmosphere was about to erupt, a bare-chested man with a bandaged arm hurriedly came over from afar using his light-footed skills. The group looked up and saw that he was the same person they had seen at the Peach Blossom Sect not long ago. It was he who led the White Dragon Gang members to attack the Peach Blossom Sect.

The man used his inner strength and shouted, "Stop!"

With a few leaps, he landed in front of Zhong Hui and the others. He first winked at the minor leader who had been at loggerheads with Zhong Hui, and said, "Don't be presumptuous! These are all immortal masters from the White Stone Immortal Sect!"

Then, he nodded to Zhong Hui and the others and said, "Greetings, esteemed immortals. My surname is Liu, and I am the eighth leader of the White Dragon Gang. I was truly offended at noon today. I beg you immortals to be magnanimous and not hold it against me. If you are so angry that you want to take my life, please do not harm our innocent brothers in the White Dragon Gang!"

"I have absolutely no interest in your worthless life!"

Zhong Hui rolled his eyes, clearly realizing that the other person was trying to force him into speaking.

But she didn't give him any face at all, and said directly: "I told you, your leader, to release all the women you kidnapped. From now on, watch your own flesh and blood. The Peach Blossom Sect is under my protection now, and I've even left some magical treasures. If I find out that you scum have any more ideas you shouldn't have, I'll destroy your lousy village! Do you understand?"

"Immortal Master, you have misunderstood! It is truly a misunderstanding!"

Liu Ba protested, "Immortal Master, please don't listen to that old woman from the Peach Blossom Sect's slander! The marriage between our leader and that woman was arranged when the former Peach Blossom Sect leader was still alive, and we even sent quite a few betrothal gifts! It's just that the Peach Blossom Sect isn't doing so well right now, so we wanted to get that woman into the family as soon as possible, so we could help her out, right? Who knew that woman would get so worked up, not only refusing to acknowledge the marriage, but also beating up our leader. I couldn't stand it, so I went back to settle the score..."

As he spoke, Liu Ba smiled ingratiatingly: "If you're not happy, Immortal Master, then we'll just admit defeat. At worst, we'll just keep to ourselves and that woman from now on. You don't have to stand up for that woman who's full of lies!"

Ye Hanxing's face turned red with anger as she loudly questioned, "You mean, Sect Leader Qin, who only has a seventh-grade cultivation, beat up your gang leader, who has a sixth-grade cultivation?" Liu Ba stammered, "Well, this, uh, it's just that our gang leader is being chivalrous, how could he be so ruthless, that's why, uh, that's why he let her hit him!"

"I don't care about you!"

Zhong Hui raised his sword, pointing it directly at the sixty-eight gates, and said coldly, "Either release everyone now, or I'll kill ten of your men if you lose even one!"
"Or, how about I just charge in and cut a few gashes in your ranks, to let the blood bleed a bit?"

When Liu Ba heard that Zhong Hui was so unyielding, he was completely at a loss.

There's no way we can beat them in a fight. Everyone knows that the disciples of the White Stone Immortal Sect are capable of defeating even a Grandmaster with a single move.

But he couldn't bear the responsibility of backing down—he had witnessed the young woman's ability to 'create things out of thin air,' but no one else had! If he were to be intimidated by a young woman now, he would become a laughingstock in front of his brothers!
After much hesitation, the leader of the White Dragon Gang finally arrived late.

The leader of the White Dragon Gang was shirtless, wearing only a tiger-skin robe with several ferocious dragons tattooed on his chest, the flamboyant design extending all the way down his back.

He had a dark complexion, a thick beard, and was blind in one eye, wearing an eyepatch over his eye. Two henchmen followed him.

Two henchmen were carrying a nine-ringed golden broadsword, which looked much more powerful than the precious sword that Zhong Hui had broken with a single cauldron earlier.

The burly man with a thick beard approached and said in a gruff voice, "I am Dong Sihai, the leader of the White Dragon Gang. The immortals from the White Stone Immortal Sect have come to visit. I apologize for not welcoming you properly!"

Zhong Hui waved his hand impatiently: "Stop talking nonsense, quickly release all the women you've kidnapped!"

"Release them, release them all."

Dong Sihai waved to the men following behind him with a smile, seemingly in a very good mood, and instructed, "Bring over my eight beautiful concubines, as well as the three women they recently sent over. Don't leave any out!"

After giving his instructions, he turned around, still smiling. Although he was facing Zhong Hui, his gaze swept over the other four people, lingering on Sun Ping's face for a moment before finally looking at Feng Guang. He cupped his hands and said, "I'm afraid you immortals have some misunderstandings. Although some of my wives and concubines in this village were not so willing to come here, they have stayed in the village for a long time and have become like brothers and sisters to us!"

“This place is tough, the harvest is poor, and the officials try every means to exploit the people. I have been trying my best to mediate and be on good terms with everyone in order to keep this place safe.”

"Naturally, this has led some people to send their daughters to me. While it's not exactly a life of luxury, it's enough to keep them from going hungry. I'm just trying to make a living! Please, esteemed immortals, don't misunderstand..."

"If you really don't believe me, why don't you wait until they arrive and ask them, esteemed immortals, when have I, Dong Sihai, ever mistreated them? I'm afraid that even if you esteemed immortals wanted to lead them away, some of the women would not want to leave!"

Dong Sihai spoke with such certainty that Zhong Hui and the others became somewhat suspicious.

Before they arrived, in the county, they encountered a blind old man begging them to save his daughter, who he said was named Sui'er and had just been abducted into the White Dragon Gang...

If what the blind old man said is true, why is Dong Sihai so confident?
(End of this chapter)