Holy body, start with the Five Animal Exercises

39: Strange Tide“Sit down, we’re all family,” Lu Xuanwu said, waving his hand.

After the two sat down, Wang Minglang looked at the wooden tray on the table. “Gang Leader, this is?”

He recognized the black robe; it was the standard uniform for the Gang’s Head Enforcers.

Lu Xuanwu nodded, “The position of Deacon is still a bit premature. It’s not too late for Qin Jiang to be promoted after he’s accumulated some experience as a Head Enforcer. Of course, the Red Tiger Fist Manuscript is essential. How about it?”

Wang Minglang glanced at Qin Jiang, who nodded slightly, expressing no objection. In his view, positions were merely empty titles.

What Jianghu Gang would truly care about contributions?

Once he mastered the Red Tiger Fist, let alone the position of Deacon, he could even claim the position of Hall Master through his strength.

Seeing this, Wang Minglang said no more.

Qin Jiang was new to the Gang and hadn’t yet achieved any merits, so it was good for him to adapt to the Head Enforcer position first.

Moreover, the Gang Leader had given him Face. According to the Gang rules, one would only have the opportunity to learn the Red Tiger Fist after becoming a Deacon.

“I will follow Gang Leader Lu’s words,” he said.

Lu Xuanwu smiled, “Good, I’ve already made arrangements. I’ll have Qin Jiang go to the Sixth Hall. The Sixth Hall Master position is currently vacant and is temporarily managed by Elder Chen.

There is only one Deacon below him. Although Qin Jiang will nominally be a Head Enforcer, he will actually control influence equivalent to a Deacon.

It’s just that as the Gang Leader, I must ensure everything is proper and legitimate.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Minglang’s eyes lit up. He knew that the Gang Leader still valued their old friendship.

“Old Wang, come back and help me? I’m truly getting old. If you return, you’ll be the Red Tiger Gang’s fourth Elder, and the Fourth Hall will still be yours,” Lu Xuanwu said.

Wang Minglang’s body trembled at the words. He sharply looked up, staring directly at Lu Xuanwu.

After a moment, he sighed, his gaze somewhat dim. “Let’s… just forget it. My current strength can only maintain the first layer of the Red Tiger Fist. With such strength, what right do I have to sit in that Elder position?”

The Elders of the Red Tiger Gang have always been those who mastered the third layer of the Red Tiger Fist.

If it were back then, he would naturally have taken it without hesitation, but now, his strength was far from what it used to be. How could he still be qualified?

A hint of guilt appeared in Lu Xuanwu’s eyes. “If I say you’re qualified, then you are. Besides, this position rightfully belongs to you. After all these years, do you still resent me?”

Back then, Wang Minglang and Nie Dongsheng competed for the Elder position, but Nie Dongsheng used a dirty trick to ambush him, causing him to fall into a slump ever since.

At that time, the Red Tiger Gang was at war with the Autumn Leaf Gang of Luoshan City. He had intended to deal with Nie Dongsheng after the conflict.

But who would have thought that fellow would achieve great military exploits in the battle against the Autumn Leaf Gang, completely solidifying his Elder position and leaving him with no reason to target him?

“Gang Leader, I don’t mean that. I just genuinely believe I truly don’t have the qualifications, nor the ability. You say you’re old, but you forget, I, too, am old.”

Wang Minglang looked at Lu Xuanwu, the clarity in his eyes from years past now gone.

Lu Xuanwu was startled by his words, then lowered his head slightly. “Yes, I forgot. Now… it’s no longer the past.”

He looked at Wang Minglang, his guilt deepening. “Junior Brother, Senior Brother was wrong.”

Wang Minglang’s eyes widened slightly, then became calm again.

Indeed, he had long shed his resentment, but it was still hard to voice it.

Qin Jiang, at the side, was a little surprised, not expecting Uncle Wang and Gang Leader Lu to be Senior Brother and Junior Brother.

Lu Xuanwu took a deep breath, pulled a whistle from hisin arms, and blew it.

The clear whistle had extreme penetrating power and seemed to have a specific frequency.

Not long after the whistling stopped, a middle-aged man in a black cloak walked in. The cuff of his left sleeve was embroidered with the same red fierce tiger as Nie Dongsheng.

The newcomer walked in and looked at Wang Minglang with a smile, “Old Wang, long time no see.”

Wang Minglang looked up at him and also smiled, “Old Chen, after all these years, you’re still at the third layer?”

Elder Chen’s mouth twitched at the words. “You old geezer, your words are still as sharp as ever!”

“Hahahaha! Just kidding! It’s rare to see you,” Wang Minglang laughed heartily.

“Alright, you old bastard, are you really settled in North City? You never even bothered to come find me for a drink!” Elder Chen said grumpily.

He sat down directly and looked at Qin Jiang. “Oh! To be able to cultivate the Iron Arm Fist to this level! Impressive!”

Qin Jiang was about to be modest when Wang Minglang directly interjected, “Stop right there! You can still tell how well the Iron Arm Fist is practiced just by looking? How come I didn’t know that?”

Elder Chen looked up slightly, then helplessly lowered his gaze. “You old bastard, I’m praising him, and you’re still not happy!”

With that, he slapped Qin Jiang’s shoulder broadly, “Qin Jiang, don’t mind this old geezer acting all reserved. Actually, when he was young, he was quite the playboy! Let me tell you…”

“Shut up! You scoundrel!” Wang Minglang immediately stood up, pointing his large pipe at Elder Chen.

The two glared at each other, Elder Chen with a smile on his Face, Wang Minglang with a livid expression.

“Cough, cough.”

Lu Xuanwu coughed twice. “Junior Brother, Elder Chen, why bring up old matters?”

He looked at Qin Jiang, “Qin Jiang, you’ll follow Elder Chen for now.”

Qin Jiang nodded, “Okay.”

“Alright then, take this Head Enforcer uniform and the Red Tiger Fist. The Sixth Hall is responsible for the Cultivation Market and An Ding District. I’ll have someone clean out a courtyard these few days.

In a few days… three days, you’ll go to Elder Chen’s place to work,” Lu Xuanwu said.

After speaking, he looked at Elder Chen, “Elder Chen, I’m entrusting Qin Jiang to you. He just joined the Gang and isn’t familiar with things yet, so I’ll have to trouble you to look after him.”

Elder Chen glanced at Wang Minglang, who pouted, put his large pipe away, and sat down.

Elder Chen smiled contentedly, “Gang Leader, what are you saying? I see Qin Jiang just like my own grand-nephew!”

Lu Xuanwu nodded slightly, “Alright, since the arrangements are made. Elder Chen, please take Qin Jiang to observe the Red Tiger Leaping Gorge Diagram. I still have something to discuss with my Junior Brother.”

Elder Chen nodded, “Qin Jiang, take the Fist Manuscript and follow me.”

After the two left, before Wang Minglang could ask anything, Lu Xuanwu’s Face flushed. He pulled out a handkerchief from his bosom and coughed twice, spitting out a mouthful of black blood.

Wang Minglang was greatly alarmed. “Senior Brother! What’s wrong with you?!”

Lu Xuanwu waved his hand. “Don’t be nervous. It’s just an injury from a malevolent entity. I’ve already reached the Peak of the fourth layer of the Red Tiger Fist. It’s just a bit of malevolent Qi. A month of rest will dissipate it.”

“A malevolent entity?! What exactly happened? Such a powerful malevolent entity appeared near Black Mountain City?!”

Wang Minglang asked in shock. His Senior Brother, Lu Xuanwu, had already reached the Transcendent realm in strength and could be called a Grandmaster! He was undoubtedly the number one expert in Black Mountain City!

It wasn’t that malevolent entities couldn’t injure Lu Xuanwu, but malevolent entities of that caliber shouldn’t appear in this small Black Mountain City.

“It’s the refugees. Recently, too many refugees have died. Although we’ve dealt with it urgently, we still haven’t completely prevented it,” Lu Xuanwu said.

Originally, the refugees in the outer city should have been handled by the Red Tiger Gang, but recently, strange mists frequently appeared within Dahei Mountain, forcing them to send people to clear them out.

As a result, they didn’t expect there to be so many malevolent entities within Dahei Mountain, and even several Hall Masters died.

Later, with the help of Magistrate Long, they temporarily stabilized the situation.

“Is it serious?” Wang Minglang asked.

Lu Xuanwu was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. “Dahei Mountain is temporarily under control, but malevolent entities are starting to appear frequently within Black Mountain City.

Although it hasn’t caused too much impact yet, this is not a good sign.

Magistrate Long and I discussed it and unanimously believe that within three months, there might be a surge of malevolent entities.”