Northern Dongting Lake became a chaotic battlefield.

Ruffians suddenly appeared and began destroying shops and streets in every alley. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"These damn crazy bastards!"

Guo Xian, the patrol captain responsible for maintaining minimum security, couldn't hide his bewilderment at the sudden chaos.

But he lacked the manpower to block all the ruffians pouring into the alleys.

"Where are the reinforcements! How long has it been since I requested support and they still haven't arrived!"

"We have no available forces."

"What? Why do we have no forces? We have a hundred patrol soldiers—where did they all go!"

"It's not just the tavern district that's under attack."

"What do you mean?"

"The entire northern district is like this."

"The entire northern district?"

"Yes."

At his subordinate's words, Guo Xian's face became helpless.

Crash!

Even as he spoke, sounds of destruction continued from all directions.

Customers eating in taverns screamed and rushed out, while shop owners could only stamp their feet anxiously.

If the entire north was like this...

"Damn, a hundred patrol soldiers are far too few."

There was no answer.

With chaos erupting from all directions, they were in complete disarray.

At that moment, Zhuge Wuhui came to Guo Xian's mind.

Hadn't the Second Young Master of the Zhuge family visited not long ago?

He had said he would establish a Zhuge family branch in the northern district soon and asked for discretion, even slipping him some money.

But what was discretion in this situation?

If he failed to maintain security during this chaos, his head would roll.

With no other choice, Guo Xian rushed to the estate located at the junction connecting the southern and northern districts of Dongting Lake.

It was where the Zhuge family was staying to establish their branch, though it hadn't been officially founded yet.

* * *

The Zhuge family's situation was no different.

"S-Second Young Master! The Gongbaek Faction!"

"What?"

What was this now?

Zhuge Wuhui, who had just finished unpacking after returning, couldn't hide his bewilderment at his subordinate's report.

"Gongbaek? Wasn't that bastard defeated by the Tang Family?"

"I'm not sure how it happened, but Gongbaek is now attacking the northern district."

An attack?

It had only been half a day since they returned.

What kind of sudden disaster was this?

Tang Cheonyeong came to mind.

If he were Tang Cheonyeong...

"Could it be that bastard orchestrated this?"

It had to be. Who else could plan something like this?

That bastard who had precisely targeted them in the south.

Though he didn't know how they had learned about it, they clearly knew the Zhuge family controlled the north and deliberately sent the ruffians they had eliminated.

The fact that ruffians were sent to the north the day after the south was conquered meant he was being given no time to formulate a strategy.

"This bastard is trying to overwhelm me with speed."

Zhuge Wuhui ground his teeth and stood up.

"You dare compete with me in strategy? A mere rural family head from Sichuan dares challenge the Zhuge family!"

In the case of the south, they had been caught off guard, but the north was different.

Hadn't they already established their foundation there?

Even if that bastard spread rumors like last time, the merchants they had already won over wouldn't be swayed.

Ruffians?

Though only fifty of the Zhuge family's martial artists were staying in the building they would use as their branch, they were all elite.

Moreover, wasn't there a Beggar Gang branch in northern Dongting Lake?

With this much commotion, they would surely move.

Maintaining public security was one of the duties those belonging to orthodox sects had to fulfill.

"Where is the bodyguard captain!"

At Zhuge Wuhui's command, his subordinate answered.

"The bodyguard captain is in the reception hall."

"The reception hall?"

"Yes! Guo Baihuo, the patrol captain of northern Dongting Lake, has come."

"Guo Baihuo came?"

"Yes, sir. He says the patrol soldiers alone cannot control the ruffians' disturbance and has come to request help."

"Mm, I understand. Tell Zhe Xiandazhu to gather all available martial artists without exception and prepare for deployment."

"Yes!"

Having given his orders, Zhuge Wuhui walked quickly toward the reception hall.

This was actually fortunate.

Guo Xian was an official who had accepted bribes from him.

With the Zhuge family's martial artists, the patrol soldiers he commanded, and the help of the Beggar Gang branch in the north, they could suppress the chaos in an instant.

Creak!

As he opened the reception hall door, Huang Yunshang stood and bowed respectfully.

"You've come out?"

"Mm."

"I was just about to come find you with Guo Baihuo."

"I see."

Zhuge Wuhui, having received Huang Yunshang's greeting, looked at Guo Xian.

"Second Young Master, what is this chaos? I came here despite your request for discretion because the situation was so urgent."

"Not at all. You came at the right time."

"Thank you."

"Let's discuss the situation first since time is pressing. What's the current status?"

"It's a complete mess."

"..."

"Ruffians everywhere. If I don't suppress them quickly, my head will roll."

"Those damn bastards are making a mess of people's lives."

"Huh? Damn bastards? What do you mean?"

When Guo Xian looked puzzled, Zhuge Wuhui smiled sinisterly and spoke.

"It seems news hasn't reached you yet."

"What news?"

"The ones attacking the north now are ruffian factions that were in southern Dongting Lake."

"What?"

"There's a thunderbolt of a bastard called the Tang Family who came from Sichuan. With cunning schemes, he deceived the people of the south and pretended to eliminate the southern ruffians before pushing them north."

"What? Such a crazy bastard!"

"He's setting his sights on the peaceful north as well."

"Truly a damn bastard."

"Yes. However, don't worry. Who am I? I'm the Second Young Master of the Zhuge family."

"Ha ha, how fortunate that you're here."

"For now, move your forces according to my plan."

"Understood. Just say the word and I'll do my best to help."

"Good."

With a satisfied expression, Zhuge Wuhui ordered Huang Yunshang.

"Yunshang, bring the detailed map."

"Yes!"

What was spread on the table was a detailed map of northern Dongting Lake's streets.

"I'll explain to Guo Baihuo. You quickly contact the Beggar Gang branch in the north and request their help. Their numbers are considerable and will be a great help in eliminating the ruffians."

"Understood."

Huang Yunshang rushed out with his orders, and Zhuge Wuhui began explaining his strategy quickly.

"First, this alley here..."

Guo Xian continuously nodded in admiration at his explanation.

The Jade-faced Divine Dragon, they called him... it seemed his talents weren't just in appearance.

"Truly, Second Young Master. I've often heard that the Zhuge family gathers the greatest wise men in the world, but I didn't know you were so skilled in military strategy."

"You flatter me."

"No, that's not it. Honestly, this is the first time I've seen someone explain urban warfare so skillfully."

At Guo Xian's praise, Zhuge Wuhui stood up proudly.

"Then let's move quickly."

"Understood! I'll gather my scattered patrol soldiers first!"

"Yes."

The plan was complete.

Now it was time to act.

Having informed Guo Xian in advance that everything was the Tang Family's scheme, they could even counterattack after suppressing the chaos.

The Tang Family had become the villain disturbing Dongting Lake's peace with cunning schemes.

Just wait.

He would definitely reclaim the south.

With such determination, he stepped forward confidently.

"S-Second Young Master."

"Huh?"

Just as he was leaving the reception hall, Huang Yunshang, who had gone to contact the Beggar Gang, came running back desperately.

Conscious of Guo Xian's presence, he bowed his head and sent a voice transmission.

[The Beggar Gang is not responding.]

"What?"

[Second Young Master.]

At Huang Yunshang's continued voice transmission, Zhuge Wuhui realized his mistake.

In his shock, he had almost spoken aloud.

[What do you mean they're not responding? Why won't the Beggar Gang respond?]

[They say all the branch leaders are currently outside on other business and have no available forces to help.]

[What? These bastards...]

He felt like a thousand fires were burning inside him.

How could the Beggar Gang have no people available?

It had to be Tang Cheonyeong's doing again.

Hadn't that bastard seemed close with the southern Beggar Gang branch chief?

He must have contacted the northern branch.

Crazy bastards...

But could he just ignore the ruffians causing this chaos?

There was no choice. The immediate fire had to be dealt with first.

Gritting his teeth, Zhuge Wuhui vowed to hold the Beggar Gang accountable for their non-response.

"Why do you look troubled? Is something wrong?"

"Huh? No, nothing. Let's hurry."

"Yes."

Though Guo Xian tilted his head in confusion, he headed out to gather the patrol soldiers.

"Everyone, let's go!"

"Yes!"

Zhuge Wuhui also led the martial artists he had ordered to assemble and left the estate.

But then something strange happened.

"Run away quickly! Hurry!"

"The Tang Family! The Tang Family is coming!"

"..."

Guo Xian and Zhuge Wuhui, who had just stepped out of the estate, stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene before them.

The ruffians were suddenly fleeing in panic.

Abandoning the things they had been plundering...

"What is this..."

Guo Xian blinked in confusion and unconsciously looked toward the end of the main street.

Under the pouring moonlight.

A black dragon ascending fluttered as it approached.

"Don't leave a single one alive!"

A large man, Yongcheon, shouted powerfully while wielding an iron ball, and martial artists in green and blue robes followed behind him, filling the street as they charged.

Boom! Screech!

Yongcheon caught up with the fleeing ruffians in an instant and swung the iron ball powerfully, while the Tang Family's martial artists fired hidden weapons from their hands.

"Ahhh! Argh!"

The streets echoed with screams.

Ruffian corpses filled the streets where the Tang Family's martial artists passed.

A chance to escape?

There was none.

Cheonyeong, who had sent the ruffians away with promises, had given the Tang Family's martial artists only one order: annihilation.

"Scatter through the alleys! Never spare the ruffians who disturb people's lives!"

"Yes!"

At Yongcheon's command, the Tang Family's martial artists scattered through the alleys.

"The Beggar Gang will help the Tang Family!"

"Yes!"

Following this, Beggar Gang members from the southern district appeared and joined forces with the Tang Family's martial artists.

Guo Xian and Zhuge Wuhui could only stand frozen, staring blankly as the ruffians were quickly annihilated.

But soon, Zhuge Wuhui came to his senses.

It was obviously the Tang Family's scheme.

But who would know that fact?

Only his suspicion and circumstantial evidence.

What if the Tang Family cleaned everything up before they even had a chance to act?

"This is..."

What would people think seeing the Zhuge family appear late?

"Um, Second Young Master? What should we do? Should we still gather the patrol soldiers?"

The bewildered Guo Xian asked.

But with the situation like this, when would they even gather the patrol soldiers?

It looked like they were cooking rice only to feed it to dogs.

"Zhe Xian, move immediately! Eliminate the ruffians!"

Strategy and tactics aside, they had no choice but to act now...

(End of Chapter)