Just a few steps outside, Xu Nian halted at a shout.
The voice was powerful and resonant, like a great bell.
A majestic-looking middle-aged man could be seen approaching at a leisurely pace, accompanied by two young disciples. After a moment of surprise, Xu Nian understood. These were people from Liang City’s Fish Dragon Gang. This middle-aged man was ’Soul-Chasing Sword’ Zhao Xiongtu, the current leader of the Fish Dragon Gang.
Within the bounds of Liang City, there were three gang factions: the Fish Dragon Gang, Black Tiger Hall, and Profound Yellow Sect. Those who had previously left the Profound Yellow Sect had joined either the Fish Dragon Gang or the Black Tiger Hall. Now, both factions were eyeing the Profound Yellow Sect with covetous intent.
Such a blessed land couldn’t just be left unattended, could it? Who wouldn’t want their territory to be a bit larger? For Liang City, one dominant power would be sufficient.
"So, it’s Gang Leader Zhao. What brings you strolling into the Profound Yellow Sect’s territory today?" Xu Nian sneered, "Did one of your disciples get lost again, and you’ve come to my Profound Yellow Sect to look for them?"
The Fish Dragon Gang often loitered nearby. Every visit, if it wasn’t a missing disciple, it was some flimsy excuse, like the gang leader’s wife wanting to pick hawthorns. Xu Nian knew they were after his territory, but he was helpless to stop them. After all, he had far too few people under his command.
Zhao Xiongtu laughed heartily, waving his hand. "Sect Leader Xu, you jest. I simply heard the Profound Yellow Sect was short on members, so I came to see how you were managing all alone."
"Zhao Xiongtu, do you really think I’m dead?" Xu Nian snorted coldly. "Let me tell you straight, you won’t take this mountain of the Profound Yellow Sect, not in this lifetime!"
This mountain peak was situated right on the Official Road, and the Government Office also valued it highly. Normally, they wouldn’t intervene in minor friction between the three powers, but if this matter led to loss of life, the Government Office would naturally not just stand by and watch. Zhao Xiongtu couldn’t make a direct move against Xu Nian, so he had come up with the idea of taking in the Profound Yellow Sect’s defecting disciples. He planned to use this method to slowly chip away at the Profound Yellow Sect, forcing Xu Nian to hand over the sect himself.
"Now, now, Sect Leader Xu," Zhao Xiongtu said, his face showing a flicker of regret. "Your master and I were acquainted, you know. You and I are practically like brothers from different mothers! I didn’t come here today for the Profound Yellow Sect’s territory. I just heard that a gang of Greenwood bandits had appeared on the mountain recently. I was worried you might run into trouble, so I came to check on you."
His words were true. Xu Nian was also aware of this matter. Behind this mountain range of the Profound Yellow Sect, there was a bandit stronghold called Black Wind Stronghold, notorious for its plundering and pillaging. The Government Office had dispatched men to eradicate them multiple times, but they had always returned empty-handed.
However, Zhao Xiongtu’s words at this moment seemed to carry not only a threat but also a deeper implication.
"Gang Leader Zhao, what exactly do you mean by that?" Xu Nian narrowed his eyes slightly.
’Soul-Chasing Sword’ Zhao Xiongtu smiled openly, explaining, "The Government Office also knows the Profound Yellow Sect might not hold out much longer. So, the Deputy County Magistrate came up with an idea: whichever of our three factions takes down Black Wind Stronghold first will take over this mountain range. Brother Xu, I was worried you wouldn’t realize Black Tiger Hall was encroaching on your territory, so I came all this way specifically to inform you."
Hearing this, Xu Nian’s expression turned utterly grim. What was the Government Office thinking? Using them as tools for murder? And then awarding the Profound Yellow Sect’s territory as a prize? Without dispatching a single soldier, they’d eliminate the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold and eliminate one Jianghu faction in Liang City. What a cunning move! The Deputy County Magistrate? This didn’t seem like a plan that fat-headed, big-eared Deputy County Magistrate could devise.
"Alright, seeing you’re unharmed, Brother Xu, I’m relieved." Zhao Xiongtu patted Xu Nian’s shoulder and whispered with a laugh, "Brother Xu, you’d better make plans early. If Black Wind Stronghold occupies your Profound Yellow Sect, the Government Office will likely hold you accountable. That’s a burden you, Brother Xu, won’t be able to bear."
With that, he turned and left, laughing heartily.
In his eyes, the Profound Yellow Sect was already defunct. For their Fish Dragon Gang, the only true opponent was Black Tiger Hall. Once they took down Black Wind Stronghold, this mountain range would be theirs. Then, they could aggressively recruit experts, and Black Tiger Hall would be no threat!
Watching their receding figures, Xu Nian’s expression grew increasingly solemn.
Quite a character, this Zhao Xiongtu. By telling me all this, is he trying to make me resent the Deputy County Magistrate and simultaneously push me into conflict with the Black Wind Stronghold? This update is available on novel✶fire.net
He glanced towards Black Wind Stronghold’s location, his gaze growing heavier.
Fourth Calamity, my dear chives, you better not let me down!
Inside a chat group, thirty players were already chatting animatedly, and they had all gradually been receiving their Game Equipment.
Junlin: "I really received the Game Equipment! It’s only been one night."
Abbess, Don’t Love Me: "I just had lunch, and they said there was a delivery for me. I opened it and it was a Game Helmet, WTF, this is packed with sci-fi vibes! (image.jpg)"
Poisonous Panda: "About to go get my delivery."
Evil Queen Morgana: "No way! I thought it was a joke. Is this game actually sending out real Game Helmets?"
Under the Phoenix Tree: "Already starting to enter the game."
Daytime Alms: "My delivery also arrived! Feng Wu, wait for me, let’s team up. I’m really curious about this game now."
Players were sequentially receiving their Game Equipment and preparing for this groundbreaking gaming experience. After all, playing games with a Game Helmet was something one typically only saw in novels and anime. They were actually getting the chance to experience it.
In his rented room in Demon City, Su Bei also answered the door to receive his package. With a flicker of excitement, he took the impressively high-tech Game Helmet out of its box. The cool touch of it in his hands confirmed its reality. That game, spreading like a virus, was actually giving away free Game Helmets to players!
Could they be using us as guinea pigs? No, that’s not right. If it was just for guinea pigs, this game wouldn’t need to launch publicly online; doing so would surely attract national-level scrutiny. To be able to do this, they must have already gotten approval from the higher-ups, right?
Su Bei excitedly began to read the instruction manual included in the box. It was a finger-thick tome!
Damn, this is thick! Are they sure this isn’t a condensed Xinhua Dictionary?
He quickly skimmed the user instructions, then abandoned any thought of reading further. Who reads the entire instruction manual anyway?
The helmet had a slot for an ID card for binding – one helmet per person, effectively cutting off the possibility for workshops to run multiple accounts. Quite official!
Su Bei took a few photos with his phone and hurriedly opened the game’s Official Website, eager to show off. However, just as he was about to post on the Official Website Forum, he discovered someone had already beaten him to it.
[Game Designer didn’t lie, got the Game Helmet! (image.jpg)]
[Holy crap, is this really a Game Helmet? Which game company nowadays can make something this awesome?]
[A shill, right? Looks like a modified motorcycle helmet.]
[Got mine! ID bound, ready to enter the game.]
[I’ve got to say, the Game Designer is awesome for giving away such high-tech gear for free. It’s a shame we can’t disassemble it; I’d love to see how this Game Helmet is made.]
[Bro, don’t be an idiot. The manual warns that dismantling it means forfeiting your player status, and you’ll never get to play again.]
[Guys, see you in the game.]
[Did this game hire this many shills?]
[A shill? Go shill your dad! I’m a hardcore DNF grinder, and I got a Game Helmet too. Don’t believe me? Come find me on Server Cross-Three and I’ll prove it!]