I Can Devour Spirits-Chapter 65: Whale Tiger Gang

Kong Bin waited in the front yard until dusk, but still didn’t see Xiao Zongting return.

Zhu Xiaoqi was busy with his own tasks and didn’t pay any attention to him.

Kong Bin stood alone in the front yard, parched, for most of the day, his stomach growling with hunger as the setting sun cast its glow on the building.

With a sullen face, Kong Bin walked over to Zhu Xiaoqi, who was watering the fruits and vegetables by the wall, and said, "Xiaoqi, please tell Elder Xiao that I came by!"

Zhu Xiaoqi simply grunted in response, not even lifting his eyelids.

Kong Bin’s expression turned to stone as he turned and left the yard.

The time Xiao Zongting agreed upon was missed, and he stood him up.

Xiao Baijiao made a sachet for Duan Rong, but when he just asked about it, he was cursed harshly.

Among the apprentice escort masters, one side was showered with attention like a star, while his side became an annoyance.

The taste of this situation can only be felt by those who are involved.

Although Kong Bin was resolute in temperament, as he walked out of Xiao Zongting’s courtyard, his mood gradually became dispirited, and he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of self-pity...

It was mealtime in the central courtyard’s dining hall, and although Kong Bin’s stomach was rumbling with hunger, he stubbornly decided to skip dinner, torturing himself by heading straight to the front yard’s wood and charcoal pile to begin training.

Kong Bin had only been practicing for a short while when he heard someone calling him.

"Bin Ge!"

Kong Bin didn’t break his stance; he just opened his eyes to glance.

In the twilight, he saw a familiar, blurred silhouette.

It was Zhang Zheng coming to find him.

"What’s the matter?" Kong Bin was in a foul mood, and his tone was somewhat unpleasant.

Kong Bin often came to the front yard to practice and had run into Zhang Zheng several times.

At this moment, Zhang Zheng clearly had business to discuss with him.

Zhang Zheng noticed the faint anger in Kong Bin’s tone but was aware it wasn’t directed at him. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Bin Ge, this morning, Wu Hui came to the front yard to find me."

"Wu Hui?"

"Yes." Zhang Zheng nodded, pausing before continuing, "He said Zhou Shoushan wanted to invite you for a meal!"

Kong Bin’s eyelids twitched as he exhaled, dispersing his skill, and straightened up.

That Zhou Shoushan is the gang leader of the Whale Tiger Gang, who has some background.

Though Xianggu County is small, it has two gangs: the Whale Tiger Gang and the Bitter Fate Gang.

These two gangs operate among the major forces, acting as their white gloves, engaging in clandestine and dirty dealings.

In the Nine Provinces Territory, gangs are always at the lowest level of the social structure.

On one hand, this realm respects martial arts, with almost every major force possessing strong martial prowess, spending money to raise or even train martial arts experts is commonplace.

More importantly, the sects of each state generally suppress gang development for a simple reason: gangs do not pay taxes!

Take Xianggu County, for example, where every major force must annually pay considerable taxes to the Taiyi Sect.

This isn’t just the Taiyi Sect’s source of wealth; it is also a means to control and monitor the various forces through a large and tight-knit network!

The sects absolutely do not permit gangs, which exist outside inspection, to grow strong!

The adage "Heroes break the law with martial arts!" applies here.

For scattered soldiers and loose warriors, they might turn a blind eye, but if one aims to grow big and strong, they must be dealt with!

Moreover, ordinary people, if they have prospects in society, wouldn’t join gangs.

The Whale Tiger Gang’s leader, Zhou Shoushan, originally had a criminal record and spent several years in the great prison. When he came out, unable to find a way in society, he founded the Whale Tiger Gang in desperate poverty!

Because Zhou Shoushan was at the Inner Breath Realm Second Level and knew some faces in the market,

The Whale Tiger Gang unexpectedly grew into one of Xianggu County’s two major gangs, even surpassing the Bitter Fate Gang.

Both Kong Bin’s and Zhang Zheng’s fathers were originally members of the Whale Tiger Gang and became core members.

Kong Bin’s father even arranged a childhood betrothal with Zhou Shoushan, but this matter faded into obscurity after Kong Bin’s father’s death.

In fact, it was only a few years ago!

Shen Yanliu came to Xianggu County to serve as the County Magistrate! Shen Yanliu’s first act was to suppress the gang forces!

The Whale Tiger Gang was the first to face his wrath!

Shen Yanliu personally led the charge, solving three major cases, all connected to the Whale Tiger Gang!

Shen Yanliu was ruthless! Preferring to err on the side of punishment rather than letting anyone escape!

A batch was arrested!

A batch was imprisoned!

A batch was executed!

After the three cases, not only was the Whale Tiger Gang crushed, but the major forces in Xianggu County were also terrified!

The Whale Tiger Gang was particularly unlucky; Shen Yanliu’s three inaugural fires were all directed at the Whale Tiger Gang!

Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng’s fathers, as core members of the Whale Tiger Gang, were killed during this purge.

This left Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng without their support, forcing them a few years later to join the Yuan Shun Escort Agency as servant disciples!

The Whale Tiger Gang’s leader Zhou Shoushan and strategist Wu Hui, due to not being directly involved in those three major cases,

Managed to stay alive by squandering their possessions and finding various connections.

Since then, they’ve been lying low, seldom seen in the marketplace.

"Did he say what it was about?" Kong Bin asked, his interest piqued.

"He said, having heard of your selection as an apprentice escort master at Yuan Shun Escort Agency, he wants to congratulate you and reconnect!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Bin fell silent in thought.

Originally, he didn’t want to have any further association with Zhou Shoushan.

Back when things went wrong, Zhou Shoushan and Wu Hui pushed Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng’s fathers to the forefront as scapegoats!

One could say, when nothing happened they’d strike pledges for brothers, but when trouble arose they’d stabbed those same brothers instead!

Moreover, Kong Bin knew that major forces now generally ignored Zhou Shoushan; he had become like a stray dog in Xianggu County!

However, recent events caused some thoughts to surface in Kong Bin’s mind.

Now, taking advantage of this connection with Zhou Shoushan, Kong Bin suddenly noticed that some previously disconnected ideas were slowly linking together to form a rather clear strategic chain.

"Bin Ge, are you going?" Zhang Zheng, seeing that Kong Bin had been silent for a long time with changing expressions, finally couldn’t help but ask.

"Going!" Kong Bin said decisively, his eyes resolute.

"Where at?"

"He mentioned it’d be at Swallow Building in three days!"

Upon hearing Swallow Building, Kong Bin was slightly taken aback.

Swallow Building was a well-known tavern in the South City of Xianggu Town!

Back in the day, the Whale Tiger Gang was centered in the South City, and Swallow Building was one of their regular gathering spots.

Kong Bin had been there several times with his father, and now, suddenly hearing this name again, some past memories resurfaced..."

On Duan Rong’s side, after closing the stall on West Main Street, only five people came for paintings today.

Among these five, two were repeat purchases from previous clientele!

They were two plump young girls with faces like full moons, and this time, they brought many bizarre requests, one asking for a painting of herself dancing gracefully, and the other even stranger, asking for herself and her lazy dog to be painted together in one piece...

In short, Duan Rong strained himself to finally send these two troublesome clients on their way.

"Looks like this wave of traffic is about to end..."

Duan Rong was already considering setting up shop every three days.

But even with a three-day rotation, business would likely only continue to be lukewarm for a short period.