The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 95

Ok?

Jiang Ning stopped on the roof of one of the rooms.

Voices could be heard coming from the room below.

Jiang Ning came to the window of the room and looked inside through the crack.

A middle-aged man was standing in front of an incense table, praying to something. Behind him knelt a burly man, and around him were seven or eight thugs.

"Master Zhou, please let me go. I will never dare to do it again."

The burly man knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing to the middle-aged man in front of him.

"Hey."

Hearing the burly man's pleas for mercy, the middle-aged man sighed, turned around, squatted down, and looked at the burly man, saying, "Er Tuo, you know I'm a Buddhist and don't like bloodshed, but you've violated the family rules. I'm willing to forgive you, but if I let you go, how can I command respect? How can I lead this whole family?"

"Master Zhou said earnestly."

The burly man looked terrified and kept kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Master Zhou, I really will never dare to secretly work for those people behind your back again. Please give me a chance."

"I'm willing to accept any punishment, even if it means going to Wuyi Lane to guard those stinking beggars, please don't kill me."

Master Zhou sighed: "I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it."

After saying that, Master Zhou stood up and didn't look at him again.

Immediately, two thugs stepped forward, grabbed the burly man's arms, and lifted him up. One of the thugs looked at Master Zhou, intending to ask him how to handle the situation.

Grandpa Zhou kept his eyes closed and didn't speak, his face showing a look of reluctance, but he reached out and gestured at his neck.

The two thugs understood and immediately dragged the man out.

A scream suddenly came from outside the room.

"Hi~"

As if startled, Master Zhou quickly put his hands together in prayer before the Buddha statue on the altar.

"Amitabha, may Buddha protect you, may Buddha protect you."

"Brother, what's the point of worshipping this?"

A young man, looking at Master Zhou's actions with a puzzled expression, asked, "You're killing people while praying to Buddha. Will Buddha protect you?"

Without even looking up, Master Zhou replied, "What do you know? Doesn't the Buddhist saying go, 'Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot'? I've already put down the butcher's knife, so why doesn't Buddha bless me?"

"what?"

The young man, seemingly not quite right in the head, asked, "So if you become a Buddha, you can't kill people or eat meat, right?"

You wouldn't believe me if I told you you were stupid.

Master Zhou turned to him, exasperated, and said, "Can't I become a Buddha after I've killed people? Can't I become a Buddha after I've eaten meat?"

"Oh, I got it."

The young man suddenly realized: "When I want to kill someone, I pick up the butcher's knife; after I'm done killing, I put the butcher's knife down and I'm still a Buddha."

Master Zhou smiled and nodded: "Indeed."

"Hey, this is interesting."

The young man laughed: "Then I'll believe in Buddhism too, so I can be a Buddha too."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Upon hearing this, Master Zhou burst into laughter.

Jiang Ning listened to their conversation from outside the window with an expressionless face, but frowned when he heard what the burly man had said earlier.

Wuyi Lane?

A stinking beggar?

Jiang Ning remembered the little beggar she had seen during the day.

So far, no other discoveries have been made. Jiang Ning has already observed the organizers in Juedefang. Apart from the one called Master Zhou who has some martial arts skills, the rest of the thugs are all ordinary people with strong physiques.

Jiang Ning left quietly. He was going back home and planned to visit Wuyi Lane, which these people had mentioned, the next day.

Chapter 143: The Next One (5,000 words)

Jiang Ning returned to the inn and knocked on the door. The waiter in the lobby heard the knock and quickly removed the beam to open the door.

"Sir, where have you been? Why did it take you so long to come back?"

After Jiang Ning entered, the waiter peeked out and looked around. Only after finding no one was there did he close the door.

"walk around."

Jiang Ning smiled.

The waiter said, "It's not safe at night, sir. You should try to stay home as much as possible at night."

"Ah."

Jiang Ning nodded, then returned to his room, pondering the information he had just heard from Juedefang.

the next day.

After inquiring about the direction of Wuyi Lane, Jiang Ning went out again.

Wuyi Lane is the dirtiest and most chaotic alley here, inhabited by beggars. When Jiang Ning arrived, there were hardly any people here; the beggars had already gone out to beg.

Jiang Ning searched and found a house at the deepest part of Wuyi Lane, where more than twenty people lived. They were all burly men, one of whom had some martial arts skills and had reached the third-rate level.

During their conversation, it was discovered that the third-rate man was the manager of Wuyi Lane. These people were also complaining that there was less money to be made here than in Juede Lane.

Jiang Ning left after listening for a while. In the following days, his investigation revealed the extent of the Green Gang's influence and the number of its members.

The Green Gang has a total of six branches: one in Jude Lane, one in a brothel, one in Wuyi Lane, and three others occupying three streets. The headquarters is located on South Street. Each branch has more than twenty people and six branch leaders. Each branch leader has third-rate strength, and most of the members are ordinary people who know some martial arts.

There are nearly fifty people stationed on South Street. The gang leader is a man named Wang Qiye, who is second-rate in martial arts. There is also a deputy gang leader who is also second-rate, but he is not in the Green Gang and no one knows where he went. It is said that he was taken away by the Sun Moon Sect more than twenty days ago and has not returned since. There has been no news of him.

During the gang members' conversation, the deputy leader was mentioned as someone who could use a chain hammer. Jiang Ning recalled that a man did indeed use this weapon that night.

It seems that the man is their deputy leader.

To date, the Green Gang has a total of nearly 170 members, including one gang leader with second-rate strength, one deputy gang leader who was also second-rate but was killed by Jiang Ning, six hall masters with third-rate strength, and the rest are ordinary people who only know how to use fists and feet. This is the overall strength of the Green Gang.

During the investigation in Jiangning, another thing was discovered: the predecessor of the Green Gang was a branch of the Beggars' Gang. However, it later submitted to the Demonic Sect, broke away from the Beggars' Gang, and established the Green Gang. Their leader, Master Wang Qi, was originally an elder of the Beggars' Gang, but he also surrendered and became the leader of the Green Gang.

After investigating the Green Gang, Jiang Ning returned to the inn.

Jiang Ning examined the injuries within his body.

His internal injuries had healed, leaving only some superficial wounds, but that no longer prevented him from killing.

Jiang Ning packed his bags and prepared to leave the inn.

As soon as I went downstairs, I saw the staff tidying up the tables and chairs in the lobby.

"Sir, are you leaving already? Won't you stay a little longer?"

The waiter looked at Jiang Ning in surprise.

Jiang Ning shook his head and smiled, "I have some things to attend to, so I'll stay here."

At this moment, the young girl went to the market to buy groceries, and the old man also went out, leaving only the waiter and the cook in the inn.

"OK then."

The waiter nodded, then chuckled and said, "If you have time, you're welcome to come to Sichuan again."

"it is good."

Jiang Ning nodded, then led Maodou from the backyard and left the inn, speeding towards Qingcheng Mountain.

Songfeng Temple.

Jiang Ning then arrived at the Qingcheng Sect's headquarters.

A young Taoist priest was sweeping the ground at the entrance of the temple.

Upon seeing someone approaching at the temple gate, the young Taoist was about to put down his broom and bow when he saw Jiang Ning's appearance, at which point his pupils dilated.

next second.

"what!!!"

The young Taoist priest screamed in fright, dropped the broom in his hand, and ran into the temple, shouting as he ran.

"Master! Master!! It's terrible! That person is here again!!!"

Jiang Ning was about to speak, but he stopped when he saw the boy's appearance.

Is he so scary?

Seeing this, Jiang Ning did not go directly into the Taoist temple, but waited at the entrance. After a short while, a middle-aged Taoist priest led some other Taoist priests out of the temple in a hurry, looking nervous.

"Blessings and blessings are immeasurable."

The middle-aged Taoist priest bowed to Jiang Ning, first offering a blessing, and then said, "Master Jiang, it's been many days. How have you been?"

Jiang Ning nodded in return: "Thank you for your concern, Daoist Master. Everything is fine."

Seeing that Jiang Ning looked calm and didn't seem to be there to cause trouble, Zhang the Taoist priest finally felt relieved.

Only then did a smile appear on Zhang Daoshi's face. He said, "Please come inside, Layman Jiang."

Although I don't know what Jiang Ning is here for this time, I'll just treat him as an honored guest.

Jiang Ning smiled and nodded, then walked into Songfeng Temple again.

Zhang Daoshi intentionally let Jiang Ning walk in front while he followed behind. However, Jiang Ning noticed this and slowed down to walk alongside Zhang Daoshi. This action reassured Zhang Daoshi, and the smile on his face unconsciously became more genuine.

Jiang Ning looked at the Taoist temple with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

This place has changed a lot since the last time he came.

The Songfeng Temple used to be magnificent and grand, looking more like a palace than a Taoist temple. But now that feeling is gone. The ornate and eye-catching elements on the buildings have been removed, leaving only some basic structures that exude an ancient and rustic atmosphere.

"Hehe, I have already removed all the carvings from the previous one by Uncle Yu. This is actually the original appearance of my Songfeng Temple."

The Taoist priest Zhang said with a smile, "I plan to use the dismantled items to exchange for some money to help the people."

The temple's wealth had been almost entirely squandered by Yu Canghai and his disciples and sons, leaving only some jade and jewelry. However, those belonged to the Fuwei Escort Agency and were returned to Jiang Ning by Zhang Daoshi.

Jiang Ning nodded without saying anything.

Zhang the Taoist priest welcomed Jiang Ning to the main hall, and soon a Taoist priest brought in tea and placed it in front of Jiang Ning.

"We don't have much to offer Mr. Jiang in the temple. We hope you won't mind if we are not hospitable."

Zhang the Taoist priest sat opposite Jiang Ning and smiled.

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "My uninvited visit is already an intrusion into your esteemed sect; it is I who have been impolite."

Zhang the Taoist priest chuckled, completely relieved.

The other party wasn't there to cause trouble.

"I wonder what important matter brings you to my Songfeng Temple, Layman Jiang?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhang the Taoist asked.

Jiang Ning put down his teacup and said, "I do indeed have something that requires the assistance of the Daoist Master and your esteemed sect."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Daoshi's expression turned serious: "Please speak, layman. As long as there is anything my Qingcheng Sect can do to help, I will do my best to assist."

As expected, the other party came to our door with business.

"Then thank you very much, Daoist Master."

Jiang Ning responded with a question, then asked, "I wonder if you know anything about the Green Gang?"

"The Green Gang?"

Upon hearing this, the Taoist priest pondered for a moment before replying, "I have heard a little about it."

Before Yu Canghai and his disciples died, Zhang Daoshi had heard them mention the Green Gang. The Qingcheng Sect had previously planned to destroy this gang, but for some reason failed. Yu Canghai even went to the Green Gang in person, but returned shortly afterward looking very grim. No one knew what had happened, so the Qingcheng Sect stopped interfering and let things take their course.

Later, the Green Gang also sent people up the mountain to give gifts to the Qingcheng Sect, but Yu Canghai refused to accept them and drove them down the mountain. From then on, the two gangs did not interfere with each other, and Zhang Daoshi was unaware of the inside story.