Martial Saint: Starting with Accumulating Experience

Chen Feng took a closer look at the coachman in front of him.

He was around forty years old, dressed in thin clothes, with a dark complexion and wrinkles all over his face from the wind and sun. When he grinned, he would reveal a mouthful of crooked, yellow teeth.

An ordinary old rickshaw driver.

"Alright, keep this money and use it for future fares." Chen Feng took out some silver from his pocket and stuffed it into the driver's hand.

The old driver was overjoyed. Since it was clearly stated that the fare would be for future rides, it meant that Chen Feng would continue to ride in his car.

He exclaimed, "Thank you, sir! I will use this money to renovate the carriage and make sure you are comfortable!"

Chen Feng couldn't help but chuckle: "That's unnecessary. You'd better put on some more clothes. It's almost winter, and you're still wearing so little."

"Thank you for your concern, sir!"

The old man couldn't stop smiling.

Chen Feng waved to indicate that he could leave, then turned and walked towards the gate of the Canglang Gang.

The same gang members were guarding the gate today as yesterday. The two men stared in disbelief as Chen Feng, dressed in a dark blue robe, walked toward the gate.

The two recognized Chen Feng as a newcomer who had just joined the gang yesterday. Their minds went blank, with only one thought repeating in their minds:

What on earth is going on?!

How did he become a hall master after just one night?!

"Master, Master!"

As soon as Chen Feng approached, the two men stood at attention, not daring to be negligent, but their eyes were full of horror.

The higher the rank, the more powerful they are. They didn't know if Chen Feng would become their superior in the future, but it wouldn't hurt to make a good impression.

As for whether Chen Feng's clothes were counterfeit, neither of them had even considered that question.

To cheat at the gate is suicidal; if caught, the entire fabric shop that produces the robes will be uprooted.

Chen Feng nodded slightly to the two of them in greeting, and then stepped straight into the gate.

Even after Chen Feng left, the two gatekeepers were still in shock.

"I... I didn't see wrong, did I? Wasn't he a newbie who just joined the gang yesterday?"

The two looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment.

......

......

"Brother Chen Lang, since you live in the west of the city, why don't you take a position in the West District? It just so happens that the West District leader has applied to be transferred back to headquarters, so you can take his place."

The person sitting in the main seat in the hall was none other than Qi Hai, the deputy gang leader whom I had met yesterday.

Compared to his imposing demeanor yesterday, Qi Hai's expression was somewhat more peaceful at this moment.

"Many merchants from the north and south of Yongning Bay deal in jewelry and rare items and want to rely on the power of my Canglang Gang to operate safely in the bay. There are many people in the western district, so I'll leave it to you to take charge."

Chen Feng's heart stirred, realizing the significance of this position.

A large number of merchants means a lot of money to be made. Not only do they have more power and responsibility, but they also have access to a lot of money and connections, making it a truly lucrative position.

But he has only just joined the gang, which makes one wonder: is it because he is at the Qi Condensation Realm that they value him, or is it because they want to secretly test him? Or perhaps both?

Despite careful consideration, the things that need to be agreed to should still be agreed to.

Chen Feng bowed and clasped his hands in greeting: "I will leave it all to the Vice Chief's arrangements."

Qi Hai nodded with a smile.

"Go."

Once his responsibilities were confirmed, Chen Feng took the appointment letter bearing the seal of the Canglang Gang and immediately went to the West District to assume his post.

As Chen Feng stepped out of the gate, he saw the coachman who had brought him there still waiting not far from the entrance.

The old man was quick-witted; he kept his eyes on this side, and as soon as he saw Chen Feng come out, he immediately drove over.

Then, with a fawning smile, he looked at Chen Feng and respectfully asked, "Sir, where are we going?"

Chen Feng didn't answer that question, but instead asked the driver his name: "What's your name?"

"Huang San, my name is Huang San." The driver was trembling with fear, but his smile remained unchanged.

"To the Canglang Gang branch in the West District." Chen Feng lifted the curtain and got into the carriage.

"Okay, please sit down!"

The horses' hooves clattered on the bluestone pavement as they traversed the bustling main street.

About half an incense stick's time later, the carriage slowly came to a stop in front of a courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles.

"Sir, we've arrived," Huang San whispered a reminder.

Chen Feng lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage. His feet touched the ground, and he looked up to examine the Canglang Gang branch in front of him.

The courtyard gate is wide and imposing, the surrounding walls are thick and towering, and a black plaque with gold lettering hangs above the gate, solemn and orderly.

There were no guards at the entrance, but there were two stone lions, exquisitely carved and with a fierce expression, implying the gathering of wealth and protection of treasures.

As soon as Chen Feng stepped into the courtyard, someone came to greet him. They were ordinary members of the Canglang Gang, wearing dark blue coarse cloth short jackets.

When the group saw Chen Feng in his dark blue robe, their expressions changed, and they quickened their pace, walking up to him and bowing respectfully.

"Greetings, Master Chen."

They received news this morning that the new leader was coming, but they didn't expect Chen Feng to arrive so early, before noon.

Hearing the commotion, the people inside opened their doors and came out. Their previously listless faces lit up with excitement when they saw Chen Feng in his blue robes.

They quickly stood still in front of Chen Feng, awaiting instructions.

Chen Feng's gaze swept over the crowd. The gang members, dressed in gray, navy blue, and brown clothing, were arranged in three distinct rows.

Two people at the Bone Forging Realm, a man and a woman, both dressed in light gray cross-collar short jackets, stood in the front row.

Seven people dressed in dark blue stood in the middle.

Those wearing brown undergarments were servants; they were ordinary people with little vitality, and they stood sparsely at the very back.

After confirming the headcount was correct, Chen Feng asked, "Who's in charge here? Show me around."

From the second row of gang members, a man stepped forward with a smile on his face: "It's me, the leader. My name is Ma Song, and I'm usually in charge of coordinating the gang's affairs."

"Okay, everyone else can leave now. I'll call you if I need anything," Chen Feng said.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only Ma Song waiting for Chen Feng's instructions.

This Ma Song was dressed in a dark blue gang uniform, but he was not a martial artist. He was thin and probably had never practiced any martial arts.

"Alright, then show me around and give me a brief introduction," Chen Feng said casually.

Led by Ma Song, Chen Feng toured the gang and got a general idea of ​​the situation.

This branch is fully equipped, with a reception area in the front and an office area in the back. It even has a training ground for the members to practice martial arts. As the branch leader, Chen Feng also has his own dedicated space.

Chen Feng entered his study, which had been cleaned and tidy. The bookshelves were filled with notebooks, all containing detailed records of his affairs.

When the former head of the hall left, he cleared away all the accumulated affairs to make it easier for Chen Feng to take over.

After wandering around for a while, Chen Feng roughly understood what his role as a hall master actually entailed—

Externally, he was responsible for mediating disputes among merchants, apprehending spies from the canal gangs, and deterring troublemakers.

Internally, the recruitment, promotion, and assessment of disciples all need to be reviewed by him, and he also arranges the daily duty patrols.

Fortunately, he has people under him who can handle things, so he's not too busy. For example, he can have his subordinates handle mediation and deterrence matters.

You don't have to do everything yourself.

Even the most skilled troublemakers would quiet down upon hearing the name of the Canglang Gang.

Unless they encounter someone who is out of touch with reality and insists on causing trouble for the Canglang Gang in Yongning Bay, Chen Feng would not need to intervene to suppress them.

"Alright, you can go now."

Chen Feng said to Ma Song, who was standing to the side.

Ma Song hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward lightly, bowed, and said:

"Master, we are preparing a small banquet at Baiwei Restaurant tonight to welcome you and congratulate you on taking office as the new master."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "We arranged all of this ourselves, as a token of our goodwill, without touching a single penny of the temple's money or grain."

Chen Feng nodded slightly, his expression calm:

"Okay, I'll go."