Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Mud Gang, Killing the Chicken to Scare the Monkey in an Unconventional Way - Part 1
"Why are you following me?" Wang Linchi turned his head to look at the three suspicious-looking men tailing him. They were robust, but judging from the calluses on their hands and their gait, they didn’t seem like decent folk. They had the air of thugs who caused trouble wherever they went.
He had only left Li Huai’s house less than ten minutes ago when he noticed them. Their surveillance skills are so poor, it’s almost insulting, he thought.
The three men exchanged glances before their apparent leader spoke. "Our boss wants to see you."
"Follow us quietly, and don’t force us to draw our knives."
As he spoke, he subtly revealed the dagger hidden in his clothes, his tone dripping with menace.
"The Mud Gang?" The moment Wang Linchi heard the word ’boss’, the Mud Gang immediately sprang to mind. They had lost a significant number of members, so naturally, they wouldn’t let it slide.
Of the more than five hundred people involved in the recent events, the vast majority were from the Mud Gang.
The Mud Gang’s leader probably found out that I was the one who initiated the raid on the Rooster Crow Temple. Coupled with the ’gemstone’ Xu Sui has, he’s undoubtedly green-eyed with envy.
To consider the worst-case scenario, Xu Sui might have intentionally leaked this information. If they couldn’t complete the task, killing me, the initiator, would mean they wouldn’t have to do the work, nor would they have to return the money.
"Good that you know. Come with us," the leader said, seemingly unafraid to attempt a kidnapping on a busy street in broad daylight.
"Alright then. It just so happens I wanted to meet the Mud Gang’s leader. I have something I need his help with." Wang Linchi hadn’t initially wanted to go, but on second thought, it seemed he did need their help finding the missing heads from the Rooster Crow Temple.
Although the Mud Gang had lost over two hundred members, they still had the largest numbers.
Essentially, their nature was different. Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall and Zhenyuan Escort Agency certainly held considerable sway in Black Rain City and could even handle the Mud Gang. However, in terms of overall influence, they couldn’t compare to the Mud Gang.
Those two factions catered to the upper echelons, a limited audience.
The Mud Gang, however, was different. It was composed of local ruffians, gangsters, hoodlums, and idlers, not just confined to Black Rain City but also spread throughout the surrounding villages and towns.
The three Mud Gang idlers were taken aback. They hadn’t expected Wang Linchi to react this way; it was quite beyond their expectations.
But they quickly recovered their composure and said menacingly, "Don’t try any tricks, kid."
"Yes, yes, I know. Lead the way," Wang Linchi replied dismissively.
He was already mulling over how to control the Mud Gang’s leader and make him work for him.
The Fanciful and Fickle was definitely unusable; these Mud Gang members were all ordinary people. Even if he drastically reduced its power, it wasn’t something ordinary people could withstand.
The Soul Seed Page had a minimum requirement; it needed at least one point of spiritual power to activate.
However, one point of spiritual power was already the standard for most ordinary people. Activating it on someone would be like a person exploding inside their body. Even if they didn’t die, they’d be close to death.
Wang Linchi then glanced at the man who had just threatened him.
That stare made the man’s hair stand on end.
"What are you looking at? Stare again and I’ll gouge your eyes out!" The man couldn’t bear it any longer and resorted to further threats.
Only this time, his voice clearly lacked its earlier conviction.
"Nothing. I just think you’re quite handsome," Wang Linchi complimented casually. He was inwardly planning to make an example of this fellow later.
Killing an insignificant nobody was better than killing the Mud Gang’s leader.
Wang Linchi’s compliment, however, made the idler’s skin crawl.
His pace even quickened by a good thirty percent.
The Mud Gang’s headquarters was located in the western district of Black Rain City, which was more or less a slum.
It wasn’t exactly chaotic, but it was noticeably dirtier and more disorderly than the other districts by a significant margin.
The Mud Gang’s headquarters itself wasn’t much to look at either, appearing dilapidated and shabby.
Upon entering, Wang Linchi saw a large, fat man sitting in the main seat, tearing into a greasy roast chicken. With one bite, he ripped off a large chunk of meat and began chewing.
Seeing Wang Linchi enter, the fat man didn’t stop eating. He asked, his words muffled by food, "So, you’re the kid who’s been backing Xu Sui?"
"Yes, that’s me," Wang Linchi didn’t deny.
Hearing Wang Linchi’s admission, a glint flashed in the fat man’s eyes. He then waved his hand, signaling his three subordinates to leave. After all, the stakes are too high, and my underlings aren’t the type to keep secrets.
Seeing this, Wang Linchi felt a bit anxious. If you let them leave, who will I use to make an example of?
Ultimately, left with no choice, he had to act first.
Just as the three men reached the doorway, their heads exploded.
Brain matter and bone fragments splattered everywhere. The commotion startled the large, fat man before him.
Since they weren’t playing by the rules, they couldn’t blame Wang Linchi for not playing by them either when he killed those three.
As for killing indiscriminately, who cared? They were just a bunch of local ruffians; if they died, they died.
If anyone came looking for trouble with him later, he’d deal with them too. He had never considered himself to be on the side of good, nor did he intend to be a hero.
"Have you regained your composure? Let’s continue. What were you about to say?" Wang Linchi asked.
"You did this?" After the initial shock, a dark look appeared in the man’s eyes.
"Yes. These three were talking about gouging out my eyes and taking my life. To prevent them from fulfilling their promise, I had no choice but to strike first," Wang Linchi sighed, effectively painting himself as the victim.
"You’ve mastered a new symbol arrangement!"
In that instant, the image of forty-nine symbols—that powerful arrangement—flashed through the Mud Gang leader’s mind.
"You could say that. Anyway, I came to find you today because I have something I need your help with," Wang Linchi said, seeing the other man was still too stunned to speak.
"I... Please, tell me. If I can do it, I most certainly will." The Mud Gang leader had initially wanted to ask, ’On what grounds should I help you?’ But then he glanced at the three headless corpses near the doorway and meekly agreed.
He still had some discernment in such matters. Otherwise, if he had no foresight at all, how could he have developed the Mud Gang to this size? The government would have dealt with him long ago.
"I didn’t expect you to agree without even hearing what I need. You’re quite a good man," Wang Linchi said with a smirk. You’re such a ’good man’; don’t blame me for exploiting you for all you’re worth.
’No, I’m not good at all. I’ve done things like murder and arson...’ the Mud Gang leader grumbled inwardly, though he didn’t dare voice any objections.
"I need you to mobilize all the members of the Mud Gang. Have them gather all information regarding the events before and after the extermination of the Rooster Crow Temple. This includes any strange occurrences or movements of Demons and Ghosts. Most importantly, find the heads of the monks and the Buddha statue."
"I’ll give you three days to accomplish this. If you do, this will be yours."
Wang Linchi took out a ’gemstone’ identical to the one he had given Xu Sui. He then cut it into two pieces and tossed one to the Mud Gang leader.
Seeing this, the man’s pupils constricted. He quickly dropped the roast chicken in his hand and scrambled to catch the ’gemstone’.
"No problem! Within three days, I guarantee I’ll deliver what you require, sir!" the Mud Gang leader replied obsequiously.
The threat of violence could make him submit, and the allure of profit could make him compliant. The combination of the two would ensure he worked diligently, rather than scheming to kill Wang Linchi and seize his wealth.