Dugu Luo opened the jade box. There was a red fruit the size of the thumb sitting on a white silk handkerchief. There seemed to be some faint fluorescent light on the surface of the fruit.
"This is?" Jiang Li smelled a scent of Spirit Herb that had a high temperature. The scent was light and could easily be missed if he didn't pay attention. Besides, after the scent went into his body, his vital energy started running.
"This is a ten-year Red Fruit."
Dugu Luo slowly explained, "An inferior-class Spirit Herb of level one."
"It's a Red Fruit." Xu Ya looked at it curiously. "I heard that the Red Fruit is different from normal herbs. It'll become a Spirit Herb after growing for a decade and will reach the inferior class of level one."
"Yes." Dugu Luo smiled and gave Jiang Li the jade box. "Chief Jiang, the Red Fruit can improve people's physique, especially those who haven't formed their internal force. Chief Jiang, please accept it. This is to express our apologies. Something like this won't happen again."
"Thank you, Young Master Dugu." Jiang Li took the jade box and closed it with a smile. "I can totally feel the friendliness of the Chamber of Commerce of Spirit Herbs. I'll come to buy herbs more often."
"We certainly welcome you to do business with us. We'll offer you some discounts."
"Great, great, great." Jiang Li cracked a smile.
"…"
Dugu Luo also smiled.
Time flew.
Jiang Li asked the meches to clean up the battlefield and searched the dead bodies of the members of the Quicksand Gang, taking all of their money. They also took the bullet cases on the ground.
"Right, Young Master Dugu, please send a few people to help me bring these wooden boxes back to the Sirius Gang," Jiang Li pointed at the boxes on the floor and said.
"No problem." Dugu Luo nodded. "I promised you that before."
A few minutes later, the guards of the Chamber of Commerce of Spirit Herbs put the wooden boxes onto the carriage. However, they found that the boxes were very light when they were moving them and they didn't seem to have herbs inside. Of course, they didn't ask even though they were curious.
"Goodbye." Jiang Li walked out of the Chamber of Commerce of Spirit Herbs.
"Goodbye, Chief Jiang," Dugu Luo said.
"Hah!"
The carriage departed. Jiang Li sat on it with the four meches next to him, while Xu Ya, Wang Chao and Ma Han walked behind the carriage.
"Chief, I have a question. Why did you kill Heng Liusha? He's a Martial Artist at the perfected stage of level one. If he yields to us, we'll be able to take over the Quicksand Gang more easily and the Sirius Gang will have one more strong Martial Artist," Xu Ya asked.
"You must understand that the more powerful he is, the greater the threat," Jiang Li turned around and explained. "It's too dangerous to have such a strong Martial Artist next to me, so it's best for me to kill him."
"…"
Xu Ya nodded.
After a while, the carriage disappeared into the night.
"Young Master, you gave Jiang Li the Red Fruit. Isn't that a great loss?" Zhao Peipei said quietly, "Even an inferior-class Spirit Herb of level one is worth ten thousand taels of silver, let alone the Red Fruit that can improve one's physique."
"You won't get it." Dugu Luo smiled and didn't say anything else. He fiddled with a yellow bullet case in his hand. "I think Jiang Li has some secrets. His men are all strong and the weapons they use are very weird. We must establish a good relationship with him. Besides, we have a lot of herbs and Spirit Herbs. A ten-year Red Fruit is nothing."
"Young Master is indeed far-sighted," Zhao Peipei immediately said. "I'm definitely not as good as you are."
"Cut the crap. Send someone here to clear the dead bodies." Dugu Luo waved. "Jiang Li took everything and left me such a mess."
"I'm on it," Zhao Peipei quickly said.
…
At midnight Jiang Li returned to the Sirius Gang. The guards put the wooden boxes in the courtyard and left on the carriage.
"Go get some rest," Jiang Li said.
"Yes, Chief." Ma Han and Wang Chao nodded and left.
"Yes, Chief." Xu Ya bowed and left the courtyard.
"Heng Liusha and half of the members of the Quicksand Gang have been dealt with. We can officially take over the territories of their gang and the entire City East will belong to the Sirius Gang," Jiang Li mumbled. "I finally settled down after all these days. I don't have to be so fearful anymore. However, the Sirius Gang will only be a third-rate gang after that. We might be powerful in Yongan City, but we'll be nothing outside of the city."
"Besides…" Jiang Li murmured, "A bit of my secrets about the meches were exposed tonight. Many people, like the 'Chamber of Commerce of Spirit Herbs,' will start looking into it. I must ask someone to check who's supporting the 'Chamber of Commerce of Spirit Herbs' and get some information about them."
While he was thinking he went back to his bedroom.
That night Jiang Li slept very well at the Sirius Gang, but the entire Yongan City, including the White Dragon Gang in City North, Tianmen Gang in City South and Tingyu Tower in City West, was stirred because of Heng Liusha's death.
After the three strongest gangs in Yongan City received the news, they were extremely astonished. They immediately sent people around to get information about the Sirius Gang and Jiang Li. After all, the four gangs were comparable.
If Jiang Li could exterminate the Quicksand Gang, he could also finish them. So, to avoid the worst situation, they must be prepared.
…
At the government office.
"Jiang Li is pretty impressive. He killed half of the members of the Quicksand Gang in one night. Even Heng Liusha died in his hands."
The State Lord, Yang Zike, sat on a wooden chair with his hands on the desk in front of him. He was holding a letter. After reading the letter, he put it down and looked at the middle-aged man standing before him. "Zhang Ling, what do you think?"
"…"
Zhang Ling paused. "Those gangs all think that they're powerful, so they never listen to the government office. We should just let them be. It's really none of our business, but how could Jiang Li be so strong? And he has four subordinates that are at the perfected stage of level one. There must be something behind this."
"I'm also wondering." Yang Zike nodded.
"My Lord, there has been news from the villages around Yongan City these days, saying that the Monsters showed up. Is Jiang Li…" Zhang Ling said slowly.
"You mean, Jiang Li is probably related to the Monsters?" Yang Zike frowned.
"We don't have any proof yet. It's just my guess. I have to dig into it to find out what's actually happening," Zhang Ling said. "Besides, when Jiang Li takes over the Quicksand Gang tomorrow, he'll become more powerful. We shouldn't act rashly."
"Hm!" Yang Zike got up and grunted. "If Jiang Li is really working with the Monsters, I'll report to the Royal Court and I'll kill him even if I have to risk my life."
"Zhang Ling, try to get to the bottom of this," Yang Zike said.
"I will. Don't worry." Zhang Ling nodded. "I'll leave first."
"Okay." Yang Zike nodded and took out a tablet. "Take this tablet with you. You can mobilize the patrols of the government office. It'll be more convenient for you."
"Thank you." Zhang Ling took the tablet.
Creak! Zhang Ling walked out of the room and shut the door. He looked at the "tablet" in his hands, then looked back at the hall and smirked.