Chapter 2: Truly Stupid or Acting Stupid?

“Old Third is back.”

As Chen Yuan was about to bow, a streak of greenish-black True Qi emerged and lifted him up.

An old man in his seventies, tall and robust with hair that remained pitch-black, walked out from the inner hall and said with a smile, “We are all family; there’s no need for such formalities.”

This old man was the Sect Leader of the Heaven Wolf Gang, nicknamed ‘Northern Heaven Wolf’, Jiang Kaitai.

Jiang Kaitai came from a humble background, having been a caravan guard and a bandit before starting from scratch to establish the Heaven Wolf Gang and seize control of half of Lianshan City. He was a textbook example of a grassroots hero.

Chen Yuan shook his head. “Etiquette must be maintained. Foster Father, you took me into the Gang and taught me martial arts; your kindness exceeds that of my biological parents. I feel that I haven’t bowed to you enough.”

Such sappy words were something the previous ‘Chen Yuan’ could never have uttered.

The former Chen Yuan was somewhat honest and dull, with his only redeeming quality being his remarkably stunning martial arts talent.

In the path of martial arts, the earlier one begins cultivation, the greater the advantage.

Among the nine realms of martial arts, the first three are Body Tempering, Pulse Opening, and Blood Transference.

Of Jiang Kaitai’s three foster sons, the eldest and the second had cultivated for over a decade before reaching the Pulse Opening Realm.

Chen Yuan had cultivated for less than two years and had already stepped into the Peak of the Quti Realm, just a step away from Pulse Opening. This showed how strong his talent was; he could definitely be called a Genius.

However, there is a saying in the Jianghu: a Genius who has grown up is a true Genius; a dead one is just a corpse.

In the original plot, Chen Yuan was exactly like that. Before he could even grow up, he was implicated by Jiang Kaitai and killed by the Murong Clan.

Jiang Kaitai patted Chen Yuan’s shoulder lightly and said with a smile, “I heard you killed someone at Wangyou Tower just now?”

A look of anger appeared on Chen Yuan’s face. “Those low-level Jianghu People, no better than pigs or dogs, dared to slander you, Foster Father, and our Heaven Wolf Gang. Their deaths are not worth pitying!”

“Our Heaven Wolf Gang has been established in Lianshan City for so many years; it’s not uncommon for people to talk behind our backs.”

Jiang Kaitai waved his hand magnanimously. “It’s nothing more than the Blackwater Gang being aggressive lately, and our Heaven Wolf Gang temporarily avoiding their edge. So what if they talk? By killing them, you instead make the Heaven Wolf Gang seem overbearing.”

Chen Yuan cupped his fists. “This child knows his mistake, but since they dared to humiliate Foster Father, I would still kill those dogs even if it happened again!”

Jiang Kaitai patted Chen Yuan’s shoulder lightly and nodded in satisfaction.

In his early years, he had damaged his Meridians during cultivation, so he was destined to have no biological children. Thus, he began to take in foster sons.

The eldest and second were now the mainstays of the Gang. Although they were capable, as children grow older, their thoughts become more complex.

These two were engaged in open and secret struggles within the Gang, both wanting to seize more power and take over the Heaven Wolf Gang.

Now it seemed that only the third, Chen Yuan, didn’t have so many scheming thoughts. No matter the time, he put his foster father first, even above the Heaven Wolf Gang.

Naturally, he liked foster sons with strong abilities, but he preferred those who were filial and loyal.

“Let’s go. Follow me to the Council Hall. I’ve already called your eldest and second brothers, as well as some of the Gang’s hall masters, for a meeting.”

Chen Yuan followed behind Jiang Kaitai with his head lowered. His face no longer showed any trace of anger; he was extremely calm.

To seize the fragment of the seven killing stele, the first step was to gain Jiang Kaitai’s trust—true trust.

Jiang Kaitai was a grassroots hero, ruthless and suspicious by nature.

He had never trusted anyone in the Heaven Wolf Gang, including his three foster sons like Chen Yuan.

In the original plot, when Jiang Kaitai performed a Blood Sacrifice for the divine weapon in Lianshan City, he didn’t use anyone from the Heaven Wolf Gang, but rather a group of Death Warrior he had personally trained for over twenty years.

This was why no one had initially suspected the Heaven Wolf Gang or Jiang Kaitai.

What Chen Yuan needed to do now was to continuously increase Jiang Kaitai’s favorability until he gained the other’s trust and could participate in the Blood Sacrifice of the seven killing stele.

Only then could he seize the fragment of the seven killing stele from the hands of Jiang Kaitai, the Murong Clan, and the Yiqi Guanhri Alliance.

More than twenty people were already seated in the Council Hall, all of whom were hall masters of the Heaven Wolf Gang’s various branches.

Two people sat opposite each other at the very front. One was in his thirties, tall and robust, with a hideous scar on his face.

He was the eldest, Qin Yuancheng, who was in charge of the Blood Fang Hall, the strongest among all the halls in the Heaven Wolf Gang.

The man opposite Qin Yuancheng was in his early thirties, with feminine features, wearing a moon-white long robe, looking like a wealthy Young Master.

This person was the second brother, Chu Ziping, who headed the Punishment Hall, the most powerful of all the halls in the Heaven Wolf Gang.

As Jiang Kaitai stepped into the Council Hall, everyone present quickly stood up to salute.

“Greetings, Sect Leader!”

After saluting, everyone looked surprised to see Chen Yuan following behind Jiang Kaitai.

Since when had Chen Yuan’s relationship with the Sect Leader become so close?

Both Qin Yuancheng’s and Chu Ziping’s expressions were somewhat somber.

Over the years, as they fought back and forth, they seemed to have somewhat forgotten about their third brother, Chen Yuan.

You sneaky third brother! You looked like an honest guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes, but it turns out you were just pretending!

Chen Yuan ignored the gazes of Qin Yuancheng and Chu Ziping and walked straight to his seat.

Just two idiotic pieces of cannon fodder.

In the original plot, when few of Jiang Kaitai’s Death Warrior were left, he began to manipulate them into helping him kill people for the Blood Sacrifice.

As a result, these two fellows actually believed that Jiang Kaitai could fuse with the divine weapon and lead them to greatness, and they began a killing spree in Lianshan City.

In reality, Jiang Kaitai didn’t trust them at all; he was completely treating them as expendables.

After they finished the killings, when it came time for the Blood Sacrifice of the divine weapon, he sacrificed them as well, not caring about these two cannon-fodder foster sons at all.

Jiang Kaitai coughed and looked at the many hall masters present, saying, “The Blackwater Gang has been aggressive lately, seizing many of our businesses and territories. I know everyone is very angry.”

“But rest assured, my cultivation has progressed recently. We will bear with the Blackwater Gang for a while, and when the time comes, I will settle all accounts, old and new, with that fake monk Yuan Dongtian!”

Previously, the Heaven Wolf Gang and the Blackwater Gang had always been evenly matched.

However, for some time recently, Jiang Kaitai had been busy with the Blood Sacrifice of the divine weapon, naturally neglecting the Gang’s affairs.

He hadn’t personally taken action for nearly a year, claiming to the outside world that he was in secluded Cultivation.

But the Blackwater Gang thought Jiang Kaitai had grown old, his vitality exhausted and his strength declining, so they began their encroachment and testing.

Seeing that Jiang Kaitai still hadn’t acted, they pressed even harder.

Many within the Heaven Wolf Gang were starting to feel dissatisfied, and Jiang Kaitai had no choice but to come forward and appease these hall masters.

At this moment, a burly man stood up, his face full of grievance. “Sect Leader, it’s not that we can’t endure, but those bastards from the Blackwater Gang have gone too far!”

“One and a half of the three market districts under my command have been taken by them. Casinos and brothels have all been seized, and several of my brothers have been lost.”

“If we keep enduring, I’m afraid I, as a hall master, will end up as a commander with no troops!”

Jiang Kaitai frowned slightly.

As long as the divine weapon was in his hands, what was a mere Blackwater Gang worth?

He truly did not want to worry about these low-level Gang struggles right now.

But he still needed the Heaven Wolf Gang as a cover, so he couldn’t truly ignore its affairs.

Tapping the table lightly, Jiang Kaitai pondered for a moment before saying, “Eldest, it’s time for your Blood Fang Hall to take action.”

“Whichever hall has suffered serious losses, send people to help them hold the line. I don’t ask you to reclaim lost territory, but at least preserve our current grounds.”

“Second, don’t let your Punishment Hall stay idle either. Don’t just keep an eye on our own people; go down and help fend off the Blackwater Gang as well.”

Qin Yuancheng and Chu Ziping quickly stood up and bowed.

“Yes, Foster Father!”

Jiang Kaitai suddenly turned his gaze toward Chen Yuan. “Third, do you want to go out and lead a hall of your own?”

As soon as these words were spoken, both Qin Yuancheng and Chu Ziping stared intently at Chen Yuan.

Previously, Chen Yuan had been in charge of the Skill Transmission Hall, which actually held no real power; he was just a teacher who taught basic martial arts to the Gang members.

These members would be assigned to other halls after a period of learning.

Therefore, neither Qin Yuancheng nor Chu Ziping had taken him seriously.

But if Chen Yuan were to go out and lead another hall, with a group of capable and hardworking members under him, then the threat would be significant.

Chen Yuan shook his head. “Thank you for your kindness, Foster Father.”

“But my abilities are limited, and I haven’t been seasoned in the Gang’s affairs. Taking charge of a hall alone at this time might instead lead to trouble.”

“I only hope to train more members for you in the Skill Transmission Hall, to build a solid foundation for our Heaven Wolf Gang and share your burdens.”

The Heaven Wolf Gang wouldn’t last much longer before being completely wiped out; he’d have to be out of his mind to look for extra work.

On the contrary, it was very peaceful in the Skill Transmission Hall, giving him plenty of time to carry out his own plans.

Jiang Kaitai nodded in satisfaction.

Old Third was indeed still the same Old Third, unlike the Eldest and Second, whose minds were all on fighting for power and profit.

In fact, Jiang Kaitai really wasn’t testing Chen Yuan this time; he truly didn’t have many people available to use on the surface.

If Chen Yuan had agreed, he really would have given him a hall to help fend off the Blackwater Gang.

But at the same time, Jiang Kaitai would have developed an extra measure of wariness toward Chen Yuan.

“Alright, everyone is dismissed. Our Heaven Wolf Gang has weathered many storms over the years; this little setback is nothing.”

Jiang Kaitai waved his hand, dismissing everyone.

As Chen Yuan walked out of the Council Hall, Qin Yuancheng suddenly hurried up to him and sneered, “Old Third, you’re quite something now, knowing how to suck up to Foster Father.”

“Eldest Brother, what do you mean by that? What do you mean by’sucking up’?”

Chen Yuan looked astonished. “If not for Foster Father, you and I would be nothing more than ordinary Gang members. How could we have our current status?”

“Being filial and respectful to Foster Father and sharing his burdens—isn’t that what we should do? How can you call it sucking up?”

Qin Yuancheng was choked up, suddenly unable to find words.

Chen Yuan didn’t bother with him and turned to leave.

Chu Ziping also walked over from behind. Qin Yuancheng frowned and asked, “Do you think Old Third is truly stupid, or just acting stupid?”

Chu Ziping said leisurely, “Who cares if he’s truly stupid or acting?”

“He didn’t even take the chance Foster Father gave him to lead a hall. Even if he’s acting stupid, he’s become truly stupid now.”

“Don’t you know Foster Father’s personality? Since Old Third rejected him this time, who knows how long he’ll have to wait for another opportunity like this.”

“However, the Blackwater Gang’s aggression this time is an opportunity for me.”

“Although my Punishment Hall has great prestige within the Gang, there aren’t many chances to show off and earn merits outside on a regular basis. This opportunity is hard to come by, hahaha!”

Chu Ziping laughed loudly and turned to leave, leaving behind a somber-faced Qin Yuancheng.