91 Play a Traitor (2/2)

The target of the 20 killer apprentices was of such a small gang. It had been around for less than one year, and its name was Tianshan Sect. It was also known as the Ten-Dragon Gang since it was founded by 10 wandering machetemen.

The gang's regular meeting place was a courtyard outside the city. It was located near the wilderness and looked more like a nameless tavern since there were obviously much more liquor jars than weapons in the yard. At night, the seven or eight thatched cottages in the courtyard became even livelier than Southwall Tavern. Gu Shenwei could often see some people get kicked out of the cottages or scuffled all the way from the cottages to the yard.

It was indeed very simple to join the Ten-Dragon Gang. With Xu Xiaoyi as his sponsor, Gu Shenwei paid only 10 taels of silver to get a rough iron sheet as the admission voucher. He did not even need to give a kowtow to anyone or go through any other kind of ceremony to join the gang.

Compared to the drinks offered by Southwall Tavern, the liquor here tasted like vinegar. Gu Shenwei did not drink it since he had to stay sober to observe everyone here and obtain information.

The Ten-Dragon Gang seemed to have lots of members. Gu Shenwei roughly counted the people who visited this place tonight and found out that there were about 200 of them. Most of them were dressed in worn-out felt jackets and carried machetes like bandits. They came here to drink, brag and fight. Gu Shenwei could not help thinking of his mentor. He believed Tie Hanfeng would get along with these people very well.

In his view, this group of people looked more like some a disorderly mob than a gang. They did not seem to share a common goal or work on a common plan.

When Elderly Dragon came to the courtyard one or two hours before midnight, these people finally acted like proper gang members.

Elderly Dragon, one of the founders of the Ten-Dragon Gang, was in his 60s. He had protruding eyes, which made him look as if he was always staring at someone. The moment he entered the room he took off his short jacket and threw it to his followers, revealing his tattoos, which were ten fierce-looking dragons.

”Is everybody here?” Elderly Dragon shouted. His voice boomed out above all the other sounds in the room. Hearing his voice, the people in the other cottages all hurriedly rushed over.

”Elderly Dragon! Elderly Dragon...” the gang members chanted their leader's name enthusiastically. They appeared intoxicated as if they had just drunk the best wine in Jade City.

”With a thousand members, Tianshan Sect will soon become the biggest gang in the whole Western Region!”

The crowd burst into cheers.

”Who're we going to defeat?”

”Golden Roc Fort, Golden Roc Fort...” the members, as if possessed, shouted repeatedly. The loud sounds shook the cottage.

”Who're we going to rob?”

”Meng Yuzun, Meng Yuzun...” the gang members got even louder this time, calling the head of the Meng family by his full name. Meng Yuzun was one of the richest men in the Western Region.

This Q&A lasted for nearly an hour. Elderly Dragon guided the gang members to yell out answers to a series of questions, describing how Tianshan Sect was going to crush Golden Roc Fort and ransack North City. After that, Elderly Dragon put on his jacket and left. The gang members, intoxicated and thrilled, also began to leave the courtyard after Elderly Dragon's departure. They walked into the boundless wind and snow with shining eyes. It seemed that this daydreaming could encourage them to endure a few more days of hard life.

Gu Shenwei found the whole situation very absurd. He could hardly describe this group of people as a gang. From his point of view, the Tianshan Sect was probably just organized by some con artists with no real victims except for its members that paid to join.

Despite that, he still strictly carried out his mission and stayed there until no one else was left. He pretended to be drunk and slept at his table, letting Xu Xiaoyi carry him away in the end.

It was snowing hard. The footprints left by hundreds of people were already nowhere to be found. Without Xu Xiaoyi's help, Gu Shenwei could not even tell which direction the city was.

After they returned to the city, Xu Xiaoyi brought the killer apprentice to his home. The two shook off the snow on their bodies at the door. Gu Shenwei felt extremely cold even though he practiced Internal Strength, he looked at Xu Xiaoyi. That boy was unable to utter a word now. His lips were purple because of the cold.

Fortunately, there was a burning brazier in the room. Xu Xiaoyi went to start up the fire, and Gu Shenwei came to sit opposite to him. They sat quietly by the fire to warm themselves. No one wanted to speak.

”Xiaoyi, you came back?”

”Yeah.”

Gu Shenwei turned around and saw Xu Yanwei standing upstairs. She was dressed in a silk robe and looking at him curiously. The next moment, she recognized him and her face changed. ”Why did you bring him here?” She shouted.

”I didn't have a choice. The fort sent him to contact me,” Xu Xiaoyi murmured while shivering.

Gu Shenwei turned away to avoid Xu Yanwei. He did not want to speak with anyone at this moment.

Xu Yanwei went back to her bedroom and locked herself in.

”I hope you don't mind. She nearly became a queen, but now she's still just a prostitute. She's not in a good mood,” Xu Xiaoyi said to Slave Huan.

”I see.”

Gu Shenwei replied reluctantly. He was still thinking about the Ten-Dragon Gang. The gang members were no threats at all except for Elderly Dragon and a few of his followers, which made him wonder why Golden Roc Fort wanted to attack such a group of people.

”We need to go to the courtyard again tomorrow night, but I need to get myself a saber first.”

”What for?”

Gu Shenwei did not answer. He just needed a saber. Without it, he could not fall asleep.