"Thank you, Elder Yang."

Qiu Xiaoping accurately stated the elder’s name, pleasing him greatly, making him feel valued by the rebel army’s leadership, which increased his respect for Qiu Xiaoping.

Qiu Xiaoping led the way, holding a torch as they descended, with Fang Yu and others following.

As they followed the stairs downward, Fang Yu noticed that the construction of this tunnel was actually quite rough, with many repair marks, and furthermore... the marks were very fresh.

Fang Yu felt a bit peculiar inside, but didn’t ask further.

Seeing the firelight below, Fang Yu knew they had reached the location.

This underground space was far smaller than he imagined; just a few steps and they had arrived.

Inserting the torch in place, Qiu Xiaoping turned to look at Fang Yu.

The entrance above had sealed off, and now they were completely within the rebel army’s base.

"Young Master Diao, what do you think of this place?"

Fang Yu hesitated, then said, "...Marvelously crafted, quite concealed."

"Hahaha, Young Master Diao need not say insincere words. But regarding concealment, you spoke correctly. Young Master Diao, why don’t you guess how many years this underground base has existed?"

This stumped Fang Yu.

He wasn’t a native of Thunder City, how would he know when this underground base had been built?

Thinking for a moment, he uncertainly replied, "Three to five hundred years?"

"Wrong! It’s three months."

Fang Yu’s eyes widened instantly.

He suspected he heard wrong.

"Three months? So this was built as a temporary measure??"

"Correct! Even in the original designs of Thunder City, there were never any underground tunnels or bases like this. It was us, the rebel army, who gradually built this over the years!"

Fang Yu frowned.

"Such a large project... only relying on your rebel army? Just how many people do you have in the rebel army?"

Qiu Xiaoping sighed, "Young Master Diao still doesn’t understand."

She reached out to touch the uneven walls.

"Haven’t you noticed? These walls and stairs are not the work of martial artists."

Fang Yu was slightly stunned, then suddenly realized, immediately his expression changed.

"You mean..."

"That’s right!"

Qiu Xiaoping abruptly turned, eyes fixed fiercely on Fang Yu’s.

"The rebel army has never been our rebel army, but the rebel army of Thunder City’s citizens!"

"Thunder City has suffered the old oppression of the Ten Major Families for too long!"

"The history of Thunder City is a glorious continuation for the Ten Major Families, but a bloody and tearful history for the lower classes!"

"The Elder Yang who opened the door for us above, without wife or child, do you think he wanted it this way? It was the Ten Major Families who killed them, the Foolish Underworld who harmed him! But what could he do? He’s just a commoner without martial skills, his family tragically dying before his eyes, what else could he do!"

"But does that hatred, that fire in his heart, extinguish just because he’s powerless?"

"No, that fire will only burn brighter, burn hotter!"

"And we, the rebel army, merely gather everyone’s sparks, turning them into a raging flame that, one day, will sweep across the city, dragging those lofty figures down from their seats, making them taste the hardships Thunder City’s citizens have endured for years!"

Qiu Xiaoping spoke with increasing passion, slamming her hands onto Fang Yu’s shoulders.

"Young Master Diao, the rebel army did not appear suddenly, nor rise suddenly, but is the inevitable trend under long oppression!"

"Join us, do the right thing! Contribute a force for Thunder City’s citizens, for the masses!"

One has to admit, Qiu Xiaoping spoke with great persuasion.

But...

Fang Yu’s heart, in fact, was not greatly moved.

However, one thing he was sure of.

That was within Thunder City, a large proportion of citizens supported the rebel army.

Because Qiu Xiaoping had mentioned that the rebel army’s bases dotted throughout Thunder City were very numerous.

If these bases, these underground facilities, weren’t created by the rebel army, then it was the citizens everywhere transforming their own underground areas into rebel bases.

Although there were rebel army members assisting, those actively providing locations, those creating underground secret rooms, must be these citizens.

A single spark can start a prairie fire.

Could this rebel army truly have the chance to overthrow the dominant Ten Major Families of Thunder City?

Fang Yu thought of those ten towering pillars, feeling the matter likely wasn’t that simple.

Moreover, having many people is useless; combat power is key.

The rebel army struggles even with the Foolish Underworld, let alone the superior Ten Major Families.

One could only say... the future holds possibilities.

As the timeline extends, more and more people of ambition join, and one day, the Rebel Army might really be able to topple the Ten Major Families.

But by that time, I might not be in Thunder City anymore.

After all, I’m only here to find someone, and if they’re not in Thunder City, there’s no way I would stay.

"No need to say more, Lord Qiu. I, Diao Deyi, am willing to lend my strength to the Rebel Army!"

What I think doesn’t matter; on the surface, I must display my stance.

Beside him, Qin Er watched this scene with an odd expression.

Because when he and Scarface joined the Rebel Army, they didn’t receive such treatment.

They were just the bottom of the bottom within the Rebel Army, joining only for self-preservation.

Things like saving Thunder City, or overthrowing the Ten Major Families were far beyond their reach.

"Good! With Young Master Diao’s words, I can rest easy!"

He left Qin Er and the others waiting while Qiu Xiaoping opened the door and led Fang Yu into the secret room.

Fang Yu looked around and saw three people already seated in the simplistic room.

One person was holding a sword, her face covered with a woman’s waist fan, and her slightly heaving chest gently rose and fell with each breath as she seemed to be meditating.

Another had a full beard, looking steady and reliable, and immediately cast his gaze.

And the last one, appearing carefree and dressed as a Taoist, even carried a wooden sword on his back.

[Xu Qingqi: 8911/8911.]

[Nian Jiachen: 8000/8000.]

[You Shouliang: 8000/8000.]

"Qiu Xiaoping, thank you for your hard work. This must be Young Master Diao, quite an impressive figure!"

The bearded Nian Jiachen was the first to greet him.

He cupped his hand at Fang Yu and the others, and naturally, Fang Yu returned the gesture.

"Please take a seat, take a seat, we can talk after sitting."

He made a gesture inviting them to sit, and Fang Yu glanced at Qiu Xiaoping before following his direction and sitting in the third seat on the left. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"This must be the new Black Department Chief then. The old Taoist here is called You Shouliang, we’re all on the same side now."

After Fang Yu sat down, the Taoist across the room greeted him.

"Greetings, Lords. I am Diao Deyi, officially joining the Rebel Army today!"

"Well said! Hahaha!"

"No need for formalities, we’re all on the same side now!"

The Taoist and the bearded man both accommodated him with laughter.

Only the one sitting in the middle, with her face covered by a woman’s waist fan, did not react at all.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Yu stood up and said.

"Diao Deyi, paying respects to Lord Commander of the Rebel Army!"

His words fell, and the other people present looked surprised.

"But he’s not..."

Qiu Xiaoping just started speaking, when a hearty burst of laughter drowned him out.

"Hahahaha!"

Xu Qingqi removed the fan from her face and stood from her seat.

"Well said! Because the position of Rebel Army Commander will be mine sooner or later! You have sharp eyes, I like you!"

Fang Yu:...

He looked at the others, who could not help but cover their faces, and murmured inwardly.

Is it possible? With such overwhelming vitality, yet also a Chief?

"This is Xu Qingqi, the... adopted daughter of our Rebel Army President..." Qiu Xiaoping quietly explained to Fang Yu.

But in the next moment...

"Wrong! I am the Chief of the Rebel Army Summer Department! Diao, I’ll cover you in the Rebel Army from now on!"

Xu Qingqi waved her hand grandly, even putting a foot on the table, offering ambitious support.

A Chief with nearly Nine Thousand Blood, the Rebel Army has quite a foundation!

Fang Yu was greatly surprised.

Because even when he was in Sunset City and saw the Hai Family Patriarch, they had just over nine thousand blood.

Though under the enhancement of the array in the city, the actual combat power soared to unknown heights, only to stand equal against monsters like the Qingling Taoist.

But consistent combat power of over nine thousand blood is typically at the top in small cities like Sunset City.

Yet in Thunder City, this level of strength is still subordinate.

Moreover, above this, there is the Rebel Leader, the Foolish Underworld, and the Ten Major Families...