Chapter 125: Loyalty is Not Absolute
Chapter 125: Loyalty is Not Absolute
"Alright."
Red Tea smiled and said, "Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you further. As for the leader, I'll put in a good word for you. I'm sure he'll agree to some extent."
"Thank you, Brother Red Tea," Jiang Cheng said hastily.
"Don't mention it." Red Tea waved his hand, "There's something else I want to remind you, little brother. If I manage to get the spiritual secret martial arts you desire, you must join our Dawn Society. If, at that time, you hesitate or refuse, we might have to teach you a lesson. And once you join, you can't just leave whenever you want. From time to time, you'll also have to complete tasks assigned by the society."
Nightingale's gaze turned a bit colder, as if warning Jiang Cheng.
"It won't happen," Jiang Cheng shook his head.
He had already prepared himself mentally.
In this world, there was no such thing as getting something for nothing.
The more you do, the more you get, and vice versa.
Moreover, his brief interaction with Red Tea made him believe that Red Tea was a decent person, and the Dawn Society was probably a decent organization. Of course, he would need more interactions to truly understand, as time would reveal the true nature of people.
"With your words, little brother, I'm reassured."
Red Tea laughed heartily, "Alright, I've said all I need to say. After we return, I'll communicate with the higher-ups. This back and forth will take some time. Little brother, be careful. The Iron Fist Bureau gave you three days to consider, but it might not actually be three days."
"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Red Tea."
"Mhm, then we'll take our leave. Oh, and if anyone asks, don't reveal our identities."
After this reminder, Red Tea looked at Nightingale, who nodded slightly, and the two of them left.
Jiang Cheng watched their figures disappear before turning to look at the furnishings in the room.
Although he had only been in this world for about half a month, the memories of his original body seemed to be influencing him, making him feel emotionally attached to the items in the room.
Knowing he would soon be leaving, he realized he couldn't take many things with him.
Shaking his head, he dismissed these thoughts.
In this world, nothing was more important than his own safety and that of his family.
Everything else was just material possessions; if they were lost, they could always be replaced.
The only uncertainty was whether Brother Red Tea could bring him what he wanted.
With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Cheng decided to practice his martial arts.
As Red Tea and Nightingale walked through the alley, they spoke in hushed tones.
"You really think highly of him?" Nightingale's voice was somewhat cold.
"I do have high hopes for him," Red Tea smiled. "With his strength, he doesn't need to provoke the gang. If he joins the martial arts academy, he'll have a comfortable life, better than ninety percent of the people in the slums. But he didn't choose that path, and that alone sets him apart from most people. Getting him to join the society is the right decision."
Nightingale hummed in agreement.
"By the way, Nightingale," Red Tea turned to look at her. "If the leader agrees to give him the spiritual secret martial arts, could you spare some time to guide him as well?"
"Let's wait until he can use his spiritual energy to lift objects. If he can't even do that, it would just be a waste of my time."
Red Tea couldn't help but smile at her words.
...
Night.
A few streetlights illuminated the street, and most shops on both sides had closed, except for a few still open for business.
In a bustling restaurant, the place was packed with people, each one adorned with intricate tattoos on their arms. However, upon closer inspection, one would notice the tension in the air as the waitstaff served the patrons with trepidation.
The reason for this tense atmosphere was simple; these dozens of individuals were members of the Iron Fist Gang, and they had gathered here for a celebratory banquet, which had just begun.
While the restaurant had backing from powerful individuals, it didn't mean that these gang members did not have their own protectors. A single misstep, a spilled soup on one of them, and it could mean the end of someone's life.
In a private room inside the main hall, a table was set up with over a dozen people seated around it.
Two leaders of the Iron Fist Gang, Cao Kun and Lin Feng, were among them, occupying the seats of honor. Aside from them, there were five or six other men who seemed to hold some status.
The rest were women, dressed to impress, sitting to the side and carefully serving drinks and dishes to the group.
The men clinked their cups and chatted merrily.
As the wine flowed and the atmosphere grew more relaxed, Cao Kun lit a cigarette and turned to Lin Feng, saying, "By the way, Ah Feng, what's the situation with that kid?"
The private room fell silent as soon as he finished speaking.
"I've already warned him," Lin Feng replied, exhaling smoke. "If he doesn't join us in three days, he'll have to get out of here. If he doesn't want to leave, I'll personally take care of him. Just because he knows a few moves with a stick doesn't make him special. He has no idea how far he is from me."
"That's right, Ah Feng! Even if you use just one hand, you can take him out!" a subordinate chimed in.
"Exactly! Do you think our Iron Fist Gang is comparable to some random Wild Wolf Gang? If it weren't for someone protecting them these past few years, we would have taken over this territory long ago," another added.
"That's right!"
The group erupted in agreement.
"Three days," Cao Kun said, exhaling a smoke ring. "Isn't that a bit too long?"
Lin Feng was taken aback and asked, "Ah Kun, what do you mean?"
"If he wants to join us, why would he need three days? He should have come looking for us on the streets today, but he didn't."
Cao Kun narrowed his eyes and said, "People like that, even if they join us, could become a variable in the future."
"Mhm," Lin Feng nodded.
Absolute loyalty was non-existent; disloyalty was absolute.
"Should we go and chase him away tomorrow, then?"
Lin Feng made a slashing motion across his neck.
The women in the private room, witnessing this gesture, trembled in fear.
"Since he can't be of use to us, we might as well get rid of him," Cao Kun said without hesitation.
"Although that kid's strength is inferior to ours, he's still much stronger than ordinary people. If we chase him away, he'll surely hold a grudge. As the saying goes, it's not the thief stealing that's scary, but the thief who keeps coming back. If he assassinates our people in the shadows, it'll be a constant headache."
"Indeed," Lin Feng nodded. "Have you informed the Martial Arts Academy about this?"
"Of course. The other two Martial Arts Academies won't accept him either, not even the Falcon Fist Gym. That Tang Guanzhu clearly stated that he wouldn't interfere with our decision."
"That's good," Lin Feng smiled.
The reason he hadn't taken action earlier was precisely because of this concern.
With everything prepared, they would go there after dinner tomorrow. Being taken care of by two First Rank Primordial Energy Warriors would be a fitting end for him.
(End of Chapter)
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