Chapter 142: Internal Strife and External Threat

At this moment, the atmosphere in front of Zhanlang Barbecue Shop was solemn!

More than forty new and veteran gang members ignored Boss Cang Luo and Internal Affairs Vice Boss Wang Fuhai, yet showed deep respect to Zhao Renwu, the General Affairs Vice Boss.

Zhao Renwu acted as if nothing had happened, wearing a faint smile, standing half a step behind Cang Luo to demonstrate his respect for the boss.

Wang Fuhai also stood half a step behind Cang Luo, but his face was filled with worry.

Although Cang Luo's expression appeared calm, his heart was already seething with rage.

The situation was far worse than he had imagined—these forty-odd Zhanlang Gang members recognized only Zhao Renwu, not him!

Cang Luo had originally planned to slowly win over Zhao Renwu's followers, then find an opportunity to expel him from the Zhanlang Gang, but he never expected this kid had grown so powerful—he controlled half the gang.

So infuriating!

Fortunately, He Cheng and Gan Lei and others were not among these people...

Cang Luo was troubled, unsure what to say.

Zhao Renwu said nothing, waiting to watch Cang Luo's humiliation.

The standoff lasted several minutes, each side lost in thought, until a group of over fifty people appeared across the street, breaking the silence.

These fifty-odd individuals were all outer-disciple students of Xuantian Men, standing across the street, glaring menacingly at the Zhanlang Gang members—clearly hostile.

Upon seeing them, the Zhanlang Gang members clenched their fists; someone muttered angrily, "It's Lie Tian Gang!"

Zhu Que Tang's boss, Zhao Jin, whispered, "Brothers, don't be afraid—the Senior Brothers from the Enforcement Pavilion are nearby..."

Cang Luo's eyebrows lifted—Lie Tian Gang?

Wasn't Lie Tian Gang Ouyang Lie's gang? What were they doing here? Coming to smash the shop?

Suddenly, Cang Luo spotted someone he knew.

Chen Dahu!

This guy had been defeated by him twice; his brother Chen Dalong had been killed by him in the Beast Forest—these two brothers had been ordered by Lie Tian Gang's boss, Ouyang Lie, to repeatedly try to kill him.

The first time was the day after he transmigrated, when Chen Dahu provoked him in the outer-disciple canteen, trying to cripple his hands, but Cang Luo outwitted and defeated him.

The second time was over half a month later in the Beast Forest, when Chen Dahu's brother Chen Dalong led a group to hunt him down—but Cang Luo's strength had surged, and he slaughtered them all.

He hadn't even sought revenge on Ouyang Lie yet, and now Lie Tian Gang had come knocking!

Did they really think he was easy to bully?

Top ten in the outer-disciple rankings? Impressive? Peak Level 9 Wu Jiang cultivation?

Cang Luo sneered—he was certain his current self could easily match Ouyang Lie: Satellite's many abilities, Meiti Shengong, Tu Long Palm, and his two beast companions.

Combined, these hidden cards were more than enough to eliminate a Level 9 Wu Jiang outer-disciple.

Even against an inner-disciple Wu Shi, with Erha's infinite flame breath, he could wage a war of attrition.

Perfect—killing Ouyang Lie would not only avenge him, but also establish his authority and intimidate Zhao Renwu, allowing him to reclaim control of the Zhanlang Gang...

But Lie Tian Gang had hundreds of members, dozens of Wu Jiang cultivators—if he fought them one by one, his infinite Qi could wipe them all out, but he feared a mob attack.

If Ouyang Lie led a group of Wu Jiangs to swarm him, even three or five would force him to flee.

What would happen to the Zhanlang Gang if he lost?

The Zhanlang Gang had only a hundred-odd members—all Wu Shi cultivators besides himself—utterly no match for Lie Tian Gang.

If the Zhanlang Gang was destroyed, the Zhanlang Barbecue Shop would collapse, and his business plans would die before birth...

What should he do? This was far more complicated than he'd imagined.

This was internal strife and external threat!

Internally, Zhao Renwu was vying for power; externally, Ouyang Lie and Lie Tian Gang were a massive enemy!

Cang Luo suddenly felt this might be the greatest crisis he'd faced since his transmigration.

Across the street.

Chen Dahu glared at Cang Luo, teeth clenched, craving to drink his blood and eat his flesh.

His lower body had been crippled by Cang Luo; his brother Chen Dalong had gone to hunt Cang Luo, but two months had passed and he hadn't returned—while Cang Luo stood unharmed across the way.

He knew his brother was almost certainly dead at Cang Luo's hands.

Just now, a masked man had told him: your brother was indeed killed by Cang Luo, and your senior brother Zhang Zhen was also killed by Cang Luo...

Chen Dahu erupted in rage, his hoarse throat shrieking as he pointed at Cang Luo: "Chen Tangzhu, this is Cang Luo, boss of the Zhanlang Gang—the murderer of my brother!"

"And Zhang Zhen, my senior brother, was also killed by him."

Then he added urgently in a low voice: "Chen Tangzhu, my brother and I were ordered by our boss to kill Cang Luo, but we failed, suffered heavy losses, and ended up with one dead and one crippled..."

"I beg you, Chen Tangzhu, to act—to fulfill our boss's command and avenge my brother. Your disciple will be eternally grateful and serve you faithfully!"

The Chen Tangzhu he referred to was Chen Yun, Vice Boss of Lie Tian Gang's Xuan Wu Tang, a Level 2 Wu Jiang—the highest cultivation among them.

Chen Yun nodded slightly—Chen Dalong and Zhang Zhen were both from Lie Tian Gang, members of his Xuan Wu Tang; when one of his own was killed by an outsider, he must restore the gang's honor.

Moreover, this was an order from the boss—anyone the boss wanted dead, he would kill.

And the target was the owner of Zhanlang Barbecue Shop—making action even more necessary.

Lie Tian Gang operated two barbecue shops, but both did worse than Zhanlang Gang's—less than half the business—and the gang had long wanted to seize Zhanlang Barbecue Shop, yet lacked a legitimate excuse.

Commerce in Xuantian Town was a vital income source for the sect, heavily valued by the sect master, who assigned Enforcement Pavilion disciples to patrol and maintain order.

Chen Yun knew that if he attacked Zhanlang Barbecue Shop without cause, Lie Tian Gang would be crushed.

But now, he could use Chen Dahu's revenge as an excuse to eliminate the Zhanlang Gang and take over the shop.

Revenge was righteous—if no large-scale battle occurred, the Enforcement Pavilion would say nothing.

With this in mind, Chen Yun swiftly approached Cang Luo, glanced at the Zhanlang Gang members, and sneered: "A rabble!"

The insult was loud enough for every Zhanlang Gang member to hear—even Yin Mengruo and Yun Jiao inside the shop, and the customers grilling skewers and drinking, could hear it.

Most of the skewer-eating customers were Wu cultivators—bounty hunters and Xuantian Men disciples—who, sensing drama unfolding, turned to look outside, faces eager for a fight.

Yet the Zhanlang Gang members, whether new or old, all clenched their fists in fury but dared not speak out against Chen Yun's taunt.

Nothing else; the War Wolf Gang's strength is inferior to the Fierce Heaven Gang.

The Fierce Heaven Gang is the largest faction in the Outer Sect, possessing hundreds of members, among whom are dozens of Martial Generals, and its leader is even a powerhouse ranked in the top ten of the Outer Sect's strength.

Ouyang Lie, with cultivation at the peak of the Ninth Martial General Stage, is the hot favorite to win the year-end grand competition!

As for the War Wolf Gang, it was established only a little over a month ago, with merely over a hundred people, all of whom are Wu Shi disciples, their strength being extremely low.

The highest cultivation in the gang belongs to the Vice Leader Zhao Renwu and the Leader Cang Luo, both at the Ninth Wu Shi Stage, not even reaching the Martial General level.

With such strength, how can they be a match for the Fierce Heaven Gang? How can they oppose the Fierce Heaven Gang?

How can they oppose Ouyang Lie, whose cultivation is at the peak of the Ninth Martial General Stage?

If they offend the Fierce Heaven Gang and anger Ouyang Lie, they speculate that Ouyang Lie could defeat Zhao Renwu and Cang Luo with a single move.

Not to mention Ouyang Lie, even the person before them, Chen Yun with cultivation at the Second Martial General Stage, not a single person in the War Wolf Gang could be his match.

Vice Leader Zhao Renwu, advancing from the Seventh Wu Shi Stage to the Ninth Wu Shi Stage in just half a month, can be called a small genius; his combat ability is not bad, capable of fighting across realms.

Yet even as strong as Zhao Renwu, when facing Chen Yun two days ago, he could only barely withstand a few dozen moves; had it not been for a squad of Law Enforcement Pavilion disciples arriving just then, after another ten moves, Zhao Renwu would have undoubtedly been defeated.

As for Leader Cang Luo, the newcomers do not know his strength and believe he is inferior to Zhao Renwu.

The veterans, although knowing he also possesses the ability to fight across realms, do not believe he can defeat Chen Yun.

Even if he could defeat Chen Yun, what then about the Fierce Heaven Gang behind Chen Yun? What then about Ouyang Lie with cultivation at the peak of the Ninth Martial General Stage?

Who will withstand Ouyang Lie's fury?

If they completely anger the Fierce Heaven Gang, where will the War Wolf Gang go?

Disband the gang?

Upon thinking of these things, the War Wolf Gang members immediately felt powerless, not even daring to get angry; they subconsciously stepped back a few paces, not daring to look directly at Chen Yun.

Seeing the timid and shrinking appearance of the War Wolf Gang members, Chen Yun immediately burst out laughing, laughing without restraint; the Fierce Heaven Gang members behind him also roared with laughter.

This laughter made the War Wolf Gang members feel utterly ashamed!

Seeing this, Zhao Renwu immediately shouted: "Chen Yun, what do you want? I have said it, the War Wolf Barbecue Shop will not be sold to you; if you continue to use such despicable tactics, do not blame us for fighting to the death!"

Saying this, he immediately explained to Cang Luo: "Leader, while you were away, the Fierce Heaven Gang found me and said they wanted to buy the War Wolf Barbecue Shop.

After I refused them, they came to the shop several times to cause trouble, hindering our business, and even injured many brothers..."

Cang Luo listened silently, saying not a word, feeling extremely disappointed in his heart, disappointed in the more than forty War Wolf Gang members before him.

Facing the enemy's mockery, they actually do not even dare to curse back?

How long have I been gone? How has the War Wolf become a War Dog?

Chen Yun also heard Zhao Renwu's words and smiled: "Fight to the death? Zhao Renwu, last time, had it not been for the Law Enforcement Pavilion disciples appearing in time, this Hall Master would have certainly crippled you."

After speaking, he glanced disdainfully at Zhao Renwu, then said to Cang Luo: "This Hall Master has come this time for no other reason, only to seek justice for my junior brother."

Cang Luo remained silent, waiting for the other party to state their purpose; in fact, he could guess, it was nothing more than to stand up for Chen Dahu.

Beside him, Wang Fuhai felt something major was about to happen, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

Zhao Renwu, meanwhile, wore an expression of anger, seemingly rendered speechless by Chen Yun's retort, but in reality, he was hoping for both sides to start fighting quickly.

Chen Yun was the one Zhao Renli had secretly contacted Chen Dahu to summon, with the purpose of making the other party oppose Cang Luo, preferably fighting right there on the spot.

Regardless of who wins or loses, he would be the greatest beneficiary.

If Cang Luo loses, or is even killed on the spot, then the War Wolf Gang would belong to him, Zhao Renwu.

If Cang Luo wins, then they would completely offend the Fierce Heaven Gang, and sooner or later they would die anyway; the War Wolf Gang would still be his.

Chen Yun looked disdainfully at Cang Luo and said calmly: "Was my junior brother Chen Dalong killed by you? Was Zhang Zhen killed by you? You can deny it, because I have no evidence."

Saying this, he glanced maliciously at the War Wolf Gang members and smiled: "If you deny it, then do not blame me for being ruthless.

One life for one life, using the lives of your War Wolf Gang.

Rest assured, I will not let you find evidence; quietly eliminating a few trash is nothing, very easy."

Upon hearing these words, some on the War Wolf Gang side had their faces change drastically, while others did not understand the meaning.

Zhao Renli, who had just returned to the crowd, said in terror: "His meaning is, he wants to assassinate us? Using the lives of the War Wolf Gang to accompany Chen Dalong and Zhang Zhen in death?"

"Accompany in death?"

"Pay with a life?"

"Why? We didn't kill them; why come after us?"

After Zhao Renli's explanation, the War Wolf Gang members were in a state of panic and horror, all looking at Cang Luo, their eyes filled with blame.

A newcomer angrily said in a low voice: "One person bears their own deeds; if the Leader does not admit it, then I will quit the War Wolf Gang!"

"I, I also quit the War Wolf Gang; I don't want to pay with a life for someone else."

"And me, I also quit the War Wolf Gang..."

This is blackmail!

This is a forced abdication!

Many newcomers used quitting the War Wolf Gang to blackmail Cang Luo, forcing him to admit he killed Chen Dalong and Zhang Zhen.

Zhao Renwu still wore an expression of anger, but in his heart he was laughing wildly, laughing triumphantly.

This is an open scheme; Cang Luo has nowhere to retreat, nowhere to hide!

If they fight, regardless of winning or losing, it benefits him, Zhao Renwu.

If they do not fight, then he has no face to stay in the War Wolf Gang, no face to be this Leader.

"Truly a mob of undisciplined rabble!" Chen Yun shook his head very disdainfully; such a trash gang, the Fierce Heaven Gang could annihilate it in an instant!

Looking at Cang Luo, he continued: "If you admit that Chen Dalong and Zhang Zhen were killed by you, then I give you two choices.

One, face me on the Life-and-Death Arena, life and death decided by heaven.

Two, hand over the War Wolf Barbecue Shop, then cripple your own cultivation, and I will spare your life."

Upon hearing Chen Yun's words, the War Wolf Gang members looked at Cang Luo again, waiting for his decision.

This time, Cang Luo did not remain silent. He looked at the members of the War Wolf Gang and said calmly, "Do you remember what I said when the War Wolf Gang was first established?"

The crowd fell silent; the elders were mute, while the newcomers continued to glare in anger.

Cang Luo shrugged indifferently and said in a deep voice, "A lone wolf dies; a pack of wolves lives!"

With that, Cang Luo glared at Chen Yun and shouted, "If you seek battle, then I shall fight!"