"Xi Wen."
Just as Xi Wen reached the door, Fu Ning called out to him again.
"What are your orders, Gang Leader?" Xi Wen asked calmly.
"Prepare a generous gift and send it to the Eight Directions Sword Sect..." Fu Ning paused for a moment. "Congratulate them on taking in the Ruthless Sect, and convey our wish to coexist peacefully. Let's stay out of each other's way."
"Understood, Gang Leader." Xi Wen did not object. Any objection at this time might enrage Fu Ning, who was not a broad-minded person. Xi Wen also knew that since the Ruthless Sect was mostly women, and he disdained the Mad Blade Gang, and he had a past conflict with Zhou Yan of the Eight Directions Sword Sect, it was a mistake to have ended up with the Flying Eagles Gang.
Xi Wen prepared the generous gift and went to visit.
When Zhou Yan heard the guard's report: "Who did you say is here?"
"Xi Wen from the Flying Eagles Gang."
Zhou Yan sneered, "What, is he here to pledge allegiance?"
"If he were here to pledge allegiance, it would be Fu Ning, not him," Xiang Jian interjected. "He's probably here to scout, to see if we have any plans to attack the Flying Eagles Gang."
Zhou Yan immediately said, "Do not see him."
"It's still best to meet him," Xiang Jian glanced at Zhou Yan. "Your conflict is not insurmountable. Xi Wen, he's not a bad person."
"Vice Sect Master, I don't want to..."
"If the Flying Eagles Gang can be subdued with minimal sacrifice, then your conflicts are minor matters." Xiang Jian saw Zhou Yan's reluctance. "Or do you want to personally experience our Sect Master's methods?"
Zhou Yan shivered. He still had no idea how many tricks their new Sect Master possessed, but their Sect Master had many unpredictable methods. If his personal grudges with Xi Wen were to disrupt the Sect Master's plans... Zhou Yan felt he might not see the sun tomorrow.
Xi Wen had already prepared for rejection, after all, he had a conflict with Zhou Yan, and Zhou Yan managed the day-to-day affairs of the Eight Directions Sword Sect. Although Xiao Qin was the Sect Master of the Eight Directions Sword Sect, he did not interfere in their affairs unless it involved the survival of the sect. However, not long after, Zhou Yan came out.
"We meet again."
"I wish we hadn't. Speak, why are you here?" Zhou Yan asked with a displeased tone. He had not forgotten what happened before; Xi Wen had almost taken his life!
Xi Wen remained composed. The reason he and Zhou Yan had clashed back then was for survival. They had both just ascended from the Eight Divisions, while Mad Blade was an old-timer in the Land of No Return. When they fell into Mad Blade's hands, Mad Blade wanted them to kill each other, and to survive, they had no choice but to fight!
"Our Gang Leader has ordered me to deliver a congratulatory gift, to congratulate the Eight Directions Sword Sect on becoming the foremost gang," Xi Wen instructed his men to bring the gift forward and personally carried it to Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan made no move to accept it. The wound on his rib was aching faintly. Although it was out of necessity at the time, Xi Wen was truly fierce. Had that knife been an inch further, he would have died. Fortunately, it had not struck a vital spot, otherwise, he would have been dead already.
Seeing that Zhou Yan did not intend to accept it, Xi Wen said, "Our Gang Leader hopes that the two sects can coexist peacefully, and stay out of each other's way."
Zhou Yan chuckled upon hearing this. "Xi Wen, you are as naive as ever. Do you think the Flying Eagles Gang still has a place in the Land of No Return today?"
"What are you saying?" The man standing behind Xi Wen stepped forward angrily, but Xi Wen stopped him. "You all go out first, I'll handle this."
"Elder Xi Wen..."
"Get out," Xi Wen said with no room for argument.
The man gritted his teeth and reluctantly went out to wait. In the reception hall, only Zhou Yan and Xi Wen remained. Not long after, Xi Wen emerged. No one knew what they had discussed or how their conversation had gone, only that Zhou Yan had accepted the gift.
Upon leaving the Eight Directions Sword Sect, the man cautiously inquired, "Elder Xi Wen, what did the Eight Directions Sword Sect say?"
"They agreed," Xi Wen's voice sounded very indifferent, but the man was used to it. Xi Wen was the second-in-command of the gang, but he was extremely obedient to Fu Ning and had no ambition, which was why Fu Ning was willing to let him be the second-in-command of the Flying Eagles Gang.
"That's wonderful! Then we can rest easy."
Xi Wen did not reply. A flicker of mockery flashed in his eyes. Two of the four forces were gone, how could the Eight Directions Sword Sect allow the Flying Eagles Gang to become a serious threat? However, as long as the Eight Directions Sword Sect was not fully prepared, the Flying Eagles Gang would still have time to breathe.
Xi Wen reported the negotiation details to Fu Ning. Fu Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even though he knew the Flying Eagles Gang would eventually be annexed, Fu Ning still held out hope that they could successfully pass the assessment and enter Wuji City, thus having no further ties to the Land of No Return.
However, what Fu Ning could not believe was that on the same night, Xiao Man led people to attack the Flying Eagles Gang. The patrol guards gave no warning, and the Eight Directions Sword Sect forces advanced unimpeded. If he hadn't run fast enough, he would have fallen into the hands of the Eight Directions Sword Sect!
"Xi Wen, you traitor!" Fu Ning cursed Xi Wen as he fled. Without an inside source, no matter how powerful the Eight Directions Sword Sect was, they could not have infiltrated the Flying Eagles Gang so silently. He just couldn't understand why Xi Wen had betrayed him, despite his good treatment.
"Fu Ning, surrender." Xiang Jian followed with his sword. "In the Land of No Return, there will only be the power of the Eight Directions Sword Sect. Surrender is your best option."
"I refuse!" Fu Ning fled without looking back. As long as the green hills remained, there would be wood to burn. As long as he was alive, he could re-establish a gang. If he surrendered here, he would never be able to hold his head up again in this life!
Xiang Jian was somewhat helpless. Although Fu Ning was narrow-minded, he was not truly vicious. He had originally intended to give him a way out, but this man seemed unwilling to live. And their Sect Master had great ambitions. Even he dared not thwart Xiao Man's plans, for if she became angry, she would take it out on his face again.
"Fu Ning, our Sect Master is very generous. Following our Sect Master, your future is boundless." Xiang Jian did not give up persuading him. "Even Xi Wen has surrendered, why should you persist? Our Eight Directions Sword Sect is large enough to accommodate you."
Fu Ning hated Xi Wen to the bone at this moment. He did not hate Xiang Jian, who led the attack on the Flying Eagles Gang, nor did he hate Xiao Man, but he hated Xi Wen, who had betrayed him. He believed that without Xi Wen, he would still be the esteemed Gang Leader of the Flying Eagles Gang, not someone with nothing, being chased after.
Xiang Jian pursued relentlessly. No matter what, he had to capture Fu Ning, otherwise, he would not be able to report back to Xiao Man. When Xiang Jian cornered Fu Ning at the edge of a cliff, he stopped. "Gang Leader Fu, you have nowhere to run. Surrender now."