Transforming the false into the true, I am the only one in the world who possesses the true Dharma.

What a masterful move to first offer courtesy and then resort to force; what a masterful combination of kindness and severity.

Xu Yan did not show any dissatisfaction.

Xu Tong then began to speak slowly.

"Three days. I need three days to recover to my peak condition. After three days, the two of us will go find Liu Yuan and kill him."

Xu Yan nodded and said, "Okay."

Xu Tong narrowed his eyes, stone chips falling continuously: "Remember this, don't even think about running away after you go back. You can't escape Qingyang County. As long as you do as I say, you will naturally rise to prominence."

"At that time, all your desires—cultivation techniques, wealth, beautiful women—will come true."

Xu Yan did not reply.

Xu Tong said impatiently, "Step back."

He said no more, as if he had already won over Xu Yan.

In fact, in his view, he had Xu Yan completely under his control.

Xu Yan nodded, said no more, and turned to leave the courtyard.

The door to the house closed again, and only sounds of pain could be heard.

……

After leaving the house, Xu Yan returned to Willow Flower Lane.

As soon as I entered the house, I saw Huang Yuxian searching everywhere.

"What are you looking for?" Xu Yan asked, frowning.

Huang Yuxian was startled and patted her chest, "I thought you weren't coming back, so I was preparing to pack my things and run away."

"Valuables? What valuables do you have?" Xu Yan sat down in the chair. "You just want to see what valuables I have here and pour me a glass of water."

Huang Yuxian pointed to herself: "You want me to pour water?"

Xu Yan glanced at Huang Yuxian: "What's the problem?"

Huang Yuxian opened her mouth, then took back what she was about to say and poured Xu Yan a glass: "What exactly happened?"

People have to bow their heads under the roof.

Besides, it's just pouring a glass of water; it's not like he's trying to take advantage of her. She's not that dramatic.

Instead, they became curious about Xu Yan's experiences.

Xu Yan took a sip, narrowed his eyes slightly, and recounted what had happened.

Huang Yuxian frowned slightly, her fingertips brushing the edge of the table: "Not simple. Xu Tong is ruthless. How could he easily give you the position of chief?"

Xu Yan nodded: "You're very smart. What he wants isn't just the big boss, but the entire Blackwater Street. The Blackwater Street manager died a long time ago, and the higher-ups want them to fight it out and elect a new manager."

"Is it like raising a venomous insect?" Huang Yuxian said thoughtfully. "If you kill Liu Yuan, Xu Tong will make a move against you. Once there are no more martial artists on this Blackwater Street, he will not only be able to resolve the terror between life and death, but he will also be promoted directly to manager."

Xu Yan twirled the teacup between his fingers, nodded slightly, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "That's right."

Both men were intelligent, and with one sentence from each of them, they analyzed Xu Tong's thoughts.

Huang Yuxian thought for a moment, then pressed Xu Yan's shoulder and said seriously, "Why don't we run? If we run together and look after each other, it might not be so dangerous."

Xu Yan slapped Huang Yuxian's hand away, took a bag of silver coins from the cabinet, and walked outside: "Things haven't gotten to that point yet. Maybe this position of manager will actually be mine."

Huang Yuxian craned her neck and shouted, "Where are you going again?"

Xu Yan didn't answer, but went straight out the door and closed it behind her.

Huang Yuxian looked at the empty room and muttered, "What a weirdo."

……

After leaving the house, Xu Yan carried the silver coins and headed towards the gambling den in Willow Flower Lane.

The gambling den was thriving, with people coming and going frequently.

When Xu Yan arrived, the people guarding the entrance of the gambling den immediately went up to him in a fawning manner.

"Hey Boss Xu, what brings you here today? Want to play a couple of rounds?"

Xu Yan was the one who called the shots in the entire Willow Flower Lane, so the gambling dens naturally dared not offend him.

Xu Yan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is Officer Chen playing around inside?"

The man on the left said shrewdly, "Everyone on this Blackwater Street knows Officer Chen's hobbies; he's here to buy goods again."

Chief Constable Chen of the yamen enjoyed gambling, especially at the gambling dens on Blackwater Street.

Even the Willow Flower Alley dared not let Constable Chen lose the bet, so they could only find ways to make him win money.

It can be considered a different kind of bribery.

Xu Yan nodded slightly and walked straight into the gambling den.

The dimly lit gambling den reflected a complex interplay of emotions.

The gamblers shouted loudly, their faces flushed.

Xu Yan found Constable Chen in the crowd and slowly walked over to him.

At this moment, Constable Chen, clutching a pile of silver coins, wore a satisfied smile.

How much silver did the government only give?

Isn't the point of doing this job to make some extra money?

If he works for a few more years, he can marry several beautiful concubines and live a comfortable life as a wealthy man.

"Again! Again!"

Chief Constable Chen waved his hand, preparing to continue.

Just then, footsteps sounded.

"Officer Chen, I have something to say."

Officer Chen was slightly taken aback. He turned his head and, seeing that it was Xu Yan, frowned slightly: "Boss Xu, what do you want with me?"

He couldn't understand why Xu Yan was looking for him at this time.

Xu Yan put his arm around Constable Chen's shoulder and said with a smile, "Lord Chen, let's talk in private. We'd like to discuss a business deal."

Although Officer Chen was puzzled, he immediately became interested when he saw the money in Xu Yan's hand and when he said he wanted to talk business.

The two went to a secluded spot and began to discuss it in detail.

……

"Is this the underworld?"

After waking up, Zhang Chi endured the pain in the back of his head and looked around at his surroundings, finding himself in a wilderness.

He was a death row inmate who had been imprisoned by the authorities for raping several women and was to be executed soon.

Yesterday, I suddenly smelled a strange fragrance and then fainted.

There were a bunch of people in prison uniforms lying around him. Zhang Chi recognized them; they were all death row inmates in his cell.

Not far away, a young man with a long sword hanging at his waist stood and was flipping through a booklet.

People gradually woke up, looking around with puzzled expressions.

After seeing that everyone had woken up, Xu Yan closed the booklet and said, "I have a deal. Join the Dust Sand Gang and become my subordinates. Are you willing?"

Zhang Chi snapped out of his daze, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

The Dust and Sand Gang is the largest gang in Qingyang County. It's difficult for ordinary people to get in, so this opportunity to enter is something they've always dreamed of.

The other death row inmates also showed signs of excitement.

They didn't know why they were there, or why this young man had appeared.

But there is hope here.

Xu Yan continued, "However, I only want ruthless people. Tell me what you have done and whether you meet the requirements to join the Dust Sand Gang."

As soon as these words were spoken, the death row inmates began to speak rapidly.

"I've killed someone, a woman. She wouldn't give me money, so I had no choice but to kill her."

"I broke into a house and saw a child inside, so I sold him to the next village."

"And me too! I sold two women to brothels!"

Zhang Chi also raised his hand and confessed everything he had done.

Xu Yan listened slowly, nodding as she listened.

After the last person finished speaking, Xu Yan slowly drew his long sword.

"Very good, Officer Chen handled this matter well; none of them were wronged."

The death row inmates were slightly taken aback, not understanding what this meant.

At that moment, a gentle breeze swept by, transforming into a chilling sword intent that grazed their necks.