Han Zheng stood at the street corner, watching the two factions of the gang engage in an internal struggle.
It had to be said that the strength and quality of the Sanhe Gang's members were indeed very strong.
Many had reached the early stage of Postnatal cultivation, and were also rich in combat experience, incomparable to those disciples in the Martial Arts Hall who had never been through a real fight.
However, these folks knew how to pull their punches, nobody used weapons, nor did they aim to kill.
After all, this was just a strife within the gang, drawing blood was acceptable, but taking lives was unnecessary.
Han Zheng frowned slightly.
This was not the outcome he wanted, he needed to fan the flames a bit more.
Han Zheng casually smeared his face with dirt from a corner of the wall, making himself look filthy, and quietly blended into the midst of the battle.
Dozens of people were fighting chaotically, and although neither side was seeing red, the fight was incredibly fierce, and no one noticed an extra person had entered the fray.
At this time, Deng Bao and his men were at a disadvantage.
Cao Bin had a soft spot for his son and had given Cao Rui's men the best of the best, far stronger than Deng Bao's subordinates.
Deng Bao and his men were forced to retreat step by step, with some of them already injured.
Wang Tiezhu was a formidable underling under Deng Bao, striking with his strong body at the frontlines, only to be ganged up on by several opponents.
"Damn it, have you no sense of honor? Fight me one-on-one if you dare!"
The opposition sneered coldly, and with a single kick knocked Wang Tiezhu to the ground, then viciously stomped down on his leg!
What did it matter if they were all from the Sanhe Gang? They were the Gang Leader's men, not Gao Kaiyuan's.
Just as Wang Tiezhu was about to be left crippled, a figure suddenly appeared, kicking the attacker and sending him flying.
Wang Tiezhu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead in relief and gratefully said to the man, "Thanks, brother."
At the same time, he subconsciously felt puzzled, which brother was this? Why couldn't he quite remember?
Yet the brother who saved him didn't even turn his head, simply cursing under his breath, "That bastard Cao disregards brotherhood within the gang and resorts to lethal attacks, why the hell are we holding back? Let's ****ing get him!"
Wang Tiezhu had nearly been crippled by the opponent and immediately saw red at those words.
The Sanhe Gang, this kind of low-level gang, was extremely cruel.
If you could fight and kill, you could rise to the top. If you became disabled and useless, you would simply be kicked to the side.
If he became crippled, his life would be completely ruined!
With this thought, Wang Tiezhu let out a roar and charged forward.
The man beside him followed closely, not initiating attacks on his own.
But as soon as someone attacked Wang Tiezhu, he would block the attacker, allowing Wang Tiezhu to heavily wound the opponent.
So at first glance, it appeared as if Wang Tiezhu was demonstrating extraordinary prowess, leading his underlings in a charge all the way to Cao Rui's front.
"Brother Zhu is mighty!"
"Brother Zhu has got the guts!"
Deng Bao's underlings, seeing Wang Tiezhu's valiant fighting, shouted loudly to cheer him on.
"Block them!"
Seeing how the tide had turned against him, Cao Rui quickly ordered two of his personal guards to charge forward.
But Han Zheng simply pinched with his hand, crushing the opponents' fists, and Wang Tiezhu rushed forward, knocking the two guards to the ground with one punch each.
"Thrilling!"
He, too, was seeing red, not caring that the person before him was the Gang Leader's son, and charged forward all the same.
"Seeking death!"
A cold and sinister look flashed in Cao Rui's eyes.
Gao Kaiyuan's men really didn't take him seriously, daring to lay hands on him.
A green dagger, inlaid with gems, slipped from Cao Rui's hand.
His movements were as elusive as a Spirit Snake, and in almost the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Wang Tiezhu, striking straight for Wang Tiezhu's chest like a snake lunging for its prey.
Cao Rui's Spirit Snake Eight Strikes was a true inheritance from Cao Bin, far more ethereal than what Song Tianqing had used.
Moreover, the dagger was the matched weapon for Spirit Snake Eight Strikes, each move was a ruthless and lethal strike.
Other gang members were afraid of causing a fatal incident, but Cao Rui was not.
Killing a gang member was one thing; even if he killed Deng Bao, could Gao Kaiyuan make him pay with his life?
At the instant the dagger was thrust forward, Wang Tiezhu with his level of cultivation couldn't react in time.
He didn't even see the dagger, just surprised by how quick Cao Rui's movements were, suddenly appearing right in front of him?
Han Zheng's arm extended like an agile ape picking peaches, suddenly reaching out a great distance and precisely grasping Cao Rui's wrist.
That immense strength instantly stopped the dagger from moving further, as if the snake's vital spot had been grasped.
"Innate…"
Cao Rui's complexion instantly changed.
That hand, gripping like an iron hoop, wouldn't let him move in the slightest, was definitely from someone in the Innate Transcendence Realm!
Before Cao Rui could shout out, Han Zheng flipped his hand, breaking Cao Rui's wrist directly.
The dagger was snatched away by Han Zheng in an instant, thrust into Wang Tiezhu's hands, and at the same time, he pulled Cao Rui's body to collide with Wang Tiezhu.
With a terrible shriek, Cao Rui's body flopped down lifelessly.
The dagger pierced his chest, splattering Wang Tiezhu with blood.
Confused, Wang Tiezhu looked around. Everyone was eyeing him with horror.
At this moment, Wang Tiezhu had only one thought.
What happened to the brother who had just been slaughtering the enemy side by side with him?
How had it come down to just him alone?
Quietly withdrawing from the fray, Han Zheng took out a crude wooden mask from his bosom.
The mask, painted with oils to resemble a monkey's face, bared its teeth and grinned, appearing somewhat comical.
Because it was the Year of the Monkey, many merchants in Black Stone County were selling these monkey masks during the New Year—it was quite common.
Donning the mask, Han Zheng glanced at the time and snuck into the residence of the Sanhe Gang's third Gang Leader, Jiang Tai.
Jiang Tai had a penchant for luxury, which meant he often wasn't at Shenghe Hall.
After all, he didn't have any real power there—better to return to the enjoyment of his own manor.
Today was no exception. Burping from drink, Jiang Tai was just about to head to his study for tea to sober up when he pushed the door open and his expression changed at once.
Unbeknownst to him, seated in his study was a person wearing a monkey mask, regarding him with that seemingly goofy face.
"How dare you sneak into my residence—you've got some nerve!" exclaimed Jiang Tai, his vital energy surging, his palms frothed with power, and a scorching aura already emanating from him.
"Do not be hasty, Gang Leader Jiang. I bear no ill will toward you. Otherwise, I wouldn't be waiting here openly for you.
I've come to offer you a chance at wealth and power—I'm here to help you," Han Zheng said, purposely lowering his voice, which, when coupled with the monkey mask, appeared all the more bizarre.
Jiang Tai furrowed his brows slightly but closed the door to the study and coldly said, "Hiding behind a mask, your intentions unclear, yet you claim you want to help me? Ridiculous! Who exactly are you?"
He could sense that the person before him had certainly reached the Innate Transcendent Realm.
But there weren't many martial artists in Black Stone County who had attained the Innate Transcendent Realm—almost all of whom he had met and could recognize—but none matched the stature of the person before him.
Han Zheng shook his head: "Who I am is not important. What matters is the news I bring could be beneficial for you, Gang Leader Jiang.
Today, outside Shenghe Hall, your Sanhe Gang's Grand Gang Leader Cao Bin's son Cao Rui and the second Gang Leader Gao Kaiyuan's trusted lieutenant Deng Bao clashed. Cao Rui died at the hands of Deng Bao's men."
"Impossible! How would the brother's subordinates dare to kill the leader's son? That's suicide!"
Han Zheng smiled and said, "Nothing is impossible in this world. Both sides blinded by rage—it could've been anybody's death.
Of course, that's not the point. The real issue here is that Cao Bin's only son is dead.
What was his years-long intense rivalry with Gao Kaiyuan for, if not for his son?
Now that his son is gone, could he possibly not be enraged?
There's bound to be a conflict between Cao Bin and Gao Kaiyuan, and that is where your opportunity lies, Gang Leader Jiang.
When two tigers fight, one is bound to get hurt. Sanhe Gang doesn't need so many leaders—one is enough."
Jiang Tai's heart skipped a beat. In a cold voice, he said, "You're just trying to instigate conflict between my brothers and me!
Would Sanhe Gang still be Sanhe Gang if there's only one leader?"
Han Zheng laughed heartily, "A Sanhe Gang with only one Gang Leader wouldn't be called Sanhe Gang, indeed. But it would become your very own faction.
Over the years, Cao Bin and Gao Kaiyuan have been vying for control—one wanting to rise to power himself, the other wanting to place his son in power. When have they ever considered you?
Gang Leader Jiang, you, too, were once a promising youth of Black Stone County. Yet you've been suppressed for so long, reduced to idling away your days in leisure—are you content with that?
Anyway, the opportunity lies right before you; it's up to you to seize it.
Cao Bin is old, his vital energy on the wane, he can't face Gao Kaiyuan directly.
If you side with Cao Bin, Gao Kaiyuan is doomed. After dealing with Gao Kaiyuan, getting rid of Cao Bin will make Sanhe Gang yours and yours alone!
The path is laid out before you. How you walk it is for you, Gang Leader Jiang, to decide."
After a moment of silence, Jiang Tai gazed intently at Han Zheng: "Who are you, really? By inciting me to take action against my brothers, what do you benefit from it?"
Han Zheng shook his head, "I have nothing to gain. I simply have a grudge against Gao Kaiyuan, but I can't make my move openly, lest I become an enemy of the entire Sanhe Gang.
Gang Leader Jiang, you need not have any doubts. Our goals may differ, but we both seek the same outcome.
I want Gao Kaiyuan dead. As for what becomes of the Sanhe Gang afterward, I couldn't care less.
By now, Cao Bin must already have received the news. Time waits for no one, Gang Leader Jiang."
With that, Han Zheng leaped away, jumping out of the study's window.
He believed Jiang Tai would certainly make his move.
Although Jiang Tai had always appeared nonaggressive on the surface, never involving himself in the power struggles between Gao Kaiyuan and Cao Bin.
But that was only because he had no opportunity, no power.
United, the trio of the Sanhe Gang stood powerful; divided, they faced ruin.
The moment they harbored selfish desires to possess the gang for themselves, internal strife and mutual destruction were inevitable.
Han Zheng had merely expedited the process.