Translator: AnubisTL
Unfortunately, Li Qing didn't overhear the final exchange between City Lord Qin Xiu and Red Fish Merchant Guild Master Ge Wen.
If he had, he would have been ecstatic. The Immortal Cultivation World he had been desperately searching for had finally revealed a crack before his eyes.
After the banquet, Li Qing followed Ke Luoda back to the Sand Crocodile Gang.
Upon their return, both men shared a similar mood: a heavy silence.
The City Lord's Manor and the Red Fish Merchant Guild had colluded for years, establishing themselves as deeply rooted mountains in Giant Rock City, mountains that ordinary people couldn't hope to overcome.
Witnessing how easily Jia Dachun, also an Inner Strength expert, had been killed made Li Qing even more cautious about revealing his own status as an Inner Strength expert.
Both Qin Xiu and Ge Wen were already quite old. To ensure their descendants could maintain their grip on Giant Rock City, they would stop at nothing to eliminate any potential threats.
They wouldn't want to see new Inner Strength experts emerge, even if they could still suppress them while they lived. But once they were gone, any new Inner Strength experts arising from other gangs would inevitably pose a major challenge to the City Lord's Manor and the Red Fish Merchant Guild.
"Gang Leader Ko, it seems the City Lord's Manor and the Red Fish Merchant Guild don't want to see any new Inner Strength experts emerge from your gangs."
Inside the Sand Crocodile Gang's headquarters, Li Qing sat casually in the Gang Leader's seat.
Ke Luoda gently stroked the scar across his nose and forced a bitter smile. "Reaching the Inner Strength realm isn't something that can be achieved easily. I never even considered it. But..."
"But you're worried there might be spies like Shi Dong among the Sand Crocodile Gang?" Li Qing finished for him with a chuckle.
The iron-fisted tactics displayed by City Lord Qin Xiu and Guild Master Ge Wen at the recent Birthday Banquet had cast a shadow over everyone's hearts.
Even an Inner Strength expert had died so easily, betrayed by someone they trusted most. This was the nightmare scenario for any gang leader.
If they ever offended the City Lord's Manor in the future, they'd be forced to live in constant fear, unable to eat or sleep soundly, always wary of being stabbed in the back.
"Don't worry too much. The City Lord probably won't take much interest in you. Didn't you see how he praised you at the banquet? He said your way of handling things was something other gang leaders should learn from," Li Qing teased.
As soon as Li Qing finished speaking, Ke Luoda's face turned ashen, then flushed with anger. "While that's true, your very existence could attract the attention of that old bastard, Qin Xiu."
Li Qing laughed, his laughter unrestrained and joyful. "Hahaha, you're overthinking it. I have no intention of antagonizing the City Lord's Manor, so why would he target me?"
"Besides, I'll be traveling for a while, leaving Giant Rock City to explore the world. Is he really going to charge out of the city to chase me down?"
Ke Luoda was completely unprepared for Li Qing's sudden decision to leave. Had the events of the recent Birthday Banquet truly frightened him so badly?
"You... you're really leaving?" Ke Luoda asked in astonishment. He had assumed he would be forever under Li Qing's thumb, yet here he was, planning to depart so soon.
Li Qing nodded. "Yes. You no longer need to worry about me stealing your position as Gang Leader. But before I leave, I have something to entrust to you."
"What is it?" Ke Luoda asked warily.
"After I'm gone, record every major and minor event that happens in the city. Then secretly send trustworthy people to observe the Red Fish Merchant Guild and the City Lord's Manor's activities."
"When I return, I'll give you all of Giant Rock City."
Li Qing said softly, his voice dripping with temptation.
Thump, thump, thump!
Ke Luoda's heart pounded wildly in his chest. He stared at Li Qing in shock, momentarily speechless.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Send trustworthy people to observe the Red Fish Merchant Guild and the City Lord's Manor? But how can I know who to trust? Even Shi Dong betrayed Jia Dachun."
Li Qing raised an eyebrow at Ke Luoda's hesitation to refuse, his smile widening.
"You idiot! Send the people you don't trust to do it."
"Like those four useless fellows who were slapping each other earlier? Do you really think City Lord Qin would plant spies like that?"
Ke Luoda's eyes suddenly lit up.
Right!
Those four buffoons couldn't possibly be spies for the City Lord's Manor. Considering the manor still didn't know Li Qing existed, they were almost certainly not secret agents.
"How could I have overlooked that? And those four layabouts are so idle they'd hardly attract any attention."
Seeing Sand Crocodile grasp the situation so quickly, Li Qing nodded in satisfaction. He pressed his advantage: "You don't need to do anything at all. Just continue as you have been. City Lord Qin and Guild Master Ge Wen are old men; they certainly won't live as long as you. All you need to do is wait quietly in the city for my return."
These final words stirred Ke Luoda's heart completely, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes.
"Very well!"
Seeing his agreement, Li Qing smiled and said no more, turning to leave.
After Li Qing departed, Ke Luoda took a deep breath and called out in a low voice, "Summon those good-for-nothing Guo Cai and his gang!"
Back at the blacksmith shop in Giant Rock City, Li Qing summoned Miao Qi.
"Brother Li, what do you need?"
During Li Qing's attendance at the Birthday Banquet, Miao Qi had been secretly observing the Red Fish Merchant Guild, but it was clear his efforts hadn't yielded much.
Li Qing wasn't overly concerned about this. There was no need to rush. He said, "I'll be traveling for a while. Before I leave, I need to give you some instructions."
Miao Qi was stunned. He hadn't expected Li Qing to leave so soon, leaving him feeling somewhat at a loss.
"Ah?"
"Listen carefully. After I leave, continue to keep an eye on the Red Fish Merchant Guild for me. But remember, under no circumstances must you reveal your presence. Be smart about it, understand?"
"Also, Sand Crocodile is now one of my people. He'll help gather information about the City Lord's Manor and the Red Fish Merchant Guild. However, I don't fully trust him."
"Ke Luoda still doesn't know about you. While you're at it, keep an eye on the Sand Crocodile Gang in secret. If you find them unreliable, let me know when I return."
"Oh, and make sure to keep the Blacksmith Shop closed. Don't let anyone enter unless it's absolutely necessary."
Li Qing laid out all his instructions in one breath. Miao Qi nodded slowly, signaling his understanding.
"Brother Li, when do you think you'll be back?" Miao Qi asked.
Li Qing smiled. "I'm not sure, but don't worry, it won't be long."
While the Sand Crocodile might not be entirely trustworthy, Miao Qi was a member of the Righteous Gang and could still be relied upon.
After sending Miao Qi away, Li Qing spent the night digging a small cellar beneath his Blacksmith Shop, just large enough to accommodate one person and one tiger.
Without hesitation, Li Qing led the listless Fan Tong into the cellar, sealed the wooden planks tightly, and immediately teleported back to Shengtian.
"Damn it, three times the time! I don't believe I can't outlast those two old geezers!"
That's right, Li Qing had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation with Qin Xiu and Ge Wen, two Inner Strength experts of his level. While he was confident in his Martial Path, he wasn't willing to take such a risk.
He would leverage his greatest advantage: longevity. He would simply outlast them, wearing them down until they died!
TL/N: Sorry about the name Koloda, It was actually Ke Luoda, and it will be so from here on out.
(End of the Chapter)
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