Chapter 189: Now That You

Jiang Cheng sighed.

If he just leaves like this, this group will surely die.

Even if Qiu Feng fails the mission, the Dawn Society will send even stronger people over.

Moreover, his current situation also seems unfavorable.

If he chooses to obey and strike at members of the Lingyun Gang, it would go against his conscience.

If he does not obey, even if Qiu Feng says nothing, the matter will reach Bing Li and the others, and they will be extremely displeased with him; the consequences would be unpredictable.

"Seems like I've stepped on a thunderbolt I was bound to step on."

Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile.

As his strength grows, someday he will have to choose between the mission and his conscience.

Unless he leaves the Dawn Society, but he knows that leaving is not that easy.

"Fine, then I'll act according to my conscience."

Jiang Cheng walked to an empty corner, put on a mask, and headed toward the Lingyun Gang's location.

He thought of a way to secure the Lingyun Gang while also freeing himself: first, drive them away.

"What business do you have? This is a Lingyun Gang stronghold; outsiders stay out." At the courtyard gate, two Lingyun Gang members stood, one of them shouting.

"Where's your Gang Leader? Let him come out to see me."

"How dare you! Our Gang Leader is someone you can just call to meet?"

The two gang members instantly became furious.

"What if I insist on seeing him?"

Jiang Cheng let out a cold snort and, speaking, walked toward the courtyard.

"Stop!"

The two reached out to grab Jiang Cheng, but his vision blurred for a moment; when he opened his eyes again, Jiang Cheng had already entered the courtyard.

"Stop!"

"Grab him!"

"Stop!"

With a roar, more than a dozen people surged from all directions—some bare‑handed, some armed—surrounding Jiang Cheng in the center.

"What's happening?"

A steady voice sounded.

The crowd ahead split, and a middle‑aged man in his forties with a pair of small side whiskers stepped forward.

"Hall Master!"

"Hall Master!"

The crowd shouted in unison.

"Hall Master, this man says he wants to see the Gang Leader but won't state his identity. We wouldn't let him in, yet he barged in!"

The man who had been guarding the courtyard pointed at Jiang Cheng angrily.

The middle‑aged man clasped his fists toward Jiang Cheng and said, "Friend, our Gang Leader has important matters to attend to, and this is also a Lingyun Gang stronghold. If you have no business here, please leave promptly."

"What if I do have business?" Jiang Cheng said in a low voice.

The middle‑aged man furrowed his brows slightly, then patiently asked, "May I know what business this friend has?"

"I heard this place is under the Lingyun Gang's rule. Dare you spar with me? If I win, you must leave this place at once."

"What!"

The surrounding crowd was stunned.

"Is this someone looking for trouble?"

Even the middle‑aged man was quite angry at this moment, "Did the Sanquan Gang send you? Or the Qinglong Gang? Or a few gangs together?"

"Why ask so many questions? Will you comply?"

"What if you lose?"

"If I lose, I leave it to you to deal with me," Jiang Cheng said calmly.

"Of course, that's just talk."

If he really loses, he'll draw his gun and run away.

"Fine, then let me witness your skill; clear the way!"

The surrounding gang members, hearing this, stepped aside.

The middle‑aged man inhaled sharply, leapt forward in a single arrow‑step to Jiang Cheng's front like a raging tiger, and punched at Jiang Cheng's chest.

To the onlookers, the middle‑aged man's speed left only an after‑image.

Yet before his arm could fully extend, a thunder‑fast kick struck his chest.

Under the stunned gazes of the gang members, the middle‑aged man was flung several meters away.

"You're too weak; let your Gang Leader step up."

Jiang Cheng said lightly.

"You!"

The middle‑aged man fell to the ground, one hand covering his chest, the other pointing at Jiang Cheng, fuming.

The surrounding people also clenched their teeth in anger, but even the Hall Master is not a match, let alone them. Unless they all attack together.

"What, did I say something wrong?"

Jiang Cheng asked.

The middle‑aged man lowered his head in unwillingness.

Got KO'd in a single move, what else is there to say?

"Wu, what happened?"

"Gang Leader!"

"Gang Leader!"

The Lingyun Gang members nearby instantly became agitated.

A short‑haired woman wearing a red jacket and white trousers walked over.

A few people followed behind her, all glaring angrily at Jiang Cheng.

Someone stepped forward a few paces and helped the middle‑aged man on the ground to his feet.

Jiang Cheng, hearing this, looked at the woman with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

The Lingyun Gang's Gang Leader turned out to be a woman? "Gang Leader."

The middle‑aged man said shamefully, "This person suddenly barged in, saying he wanted to spar with us; if he won, we'd have to leave here, my subordinates engaged him, and the result was they were kicked away."

Upon hearing that, even the short‑haired woman showed a flash of surprise in her eyes.

You should know the former is a First-level Force Warrior; even though she is a Second-level Force Warrior, she couldn't land a single KO.

"How about it? Dare to accept?"

Jiang Cheng spoke.

"Why don't you dare!"

A man in his thirties stepped out from behind the woman.

As the words fell, he accelerated, sprinted to Jiang Cheng's front, and his right fist, accompanied by a gust of force, swung fiercely at Jiang Cheng's left cheek.

Jiang Cheng extended his right hand, and with a "snap", easily caught the opponent's right fist.

Then, under the opponent's incredulous stare, he kicked his stomach.

Just like the middle‑aged man earlier, this man in his early thirties was also flung backward.

Everyone present was stunned.

They knew the Deputy Gang Leader was a Second-level Force Warrior.

And it was defeated so easily?

"You!"

After the man fell to the ground, he was still unwilling, quickly got up again, and tried to strike.

"Stop!"

The short‑haired woman scolded.

"Gang Leader!"

The man, still resentful, looked at her and said, "I was careless earlier; this time, this time I will definitely defeat him!"

"Can't you see he showed mercy?"

The short‑haired woman stared at Jiang Cheng while saying, "If he had used his full strength just now, do you think you could still stand up now?"

The man was stunned.

Seems that's really the point, huh?

If we assume the opponent is also a Second-level Force Warrior, then that single kick earlier, even if it didn't kill him, could have broken several of his bones.

But the result?

Aside from a bit of pain, there was nothing else.

Even the middle‑aged man who was kicked earlier realized it.

Indeed, even the Deputy Gang Leader wasn't a match for this man, so if he really intended to go heavy just now, does he still have any life left?

The short‑haired woman took a deep breath, bowed slightly toward Jiang Cheng, and said, "Thank you for your mercy. In terms of skill, we truly are not your match, but we cannot comply with the request you made."

"Why?"

The short‑haired woman hesitated for a moment and said, "If we leave, the nearby gangs will surely intensify their exploitation of the people on this street."

Upon hearing that, several people behind her showed reluctant expressions.

Indeed, even if they used their buttocks to think, they could tell what would happen next.

"Stupid, just kill the members of the nearby gangs, and it would be fine, right?"

Jiang Cheng let out a cold laugh.

If we can't get money from the Lingyun Gang, then we'll get it from the other gangs.

Since we're already here, we can't just come empty‑handed.

It's perfect that he's already displeased with those guys; it's not just a day or two.

Later we can still use the Lingyun Gang to take the heat.

(End of chapter)