Chapter 45: If Chen Mu Doesn't Die, My Heart Won't Rest Easy!

Of course there must be!

Chen Mu kept a calm face on the surface, but his heart was overjoyed.

This External Affairs Hall Master position suited him perfectly.

Chen Mu was already planning to travel around the neighboring prefectures to pick up cards.

With his Acquired Seventh Stage realm, moving around outside added another major boost to his safety.

He hadn't expected Guan Tong to actually come up with an "External Affairs Hall."

Its duty was to gather intelligence on the other factions?

Wasn't this practically handing Chen Mu the convenience of knowing where private fights happened and people died?

Relying on Chen Mu alone, wandering outside every day—even with the "Wind-Listening" skill activated—he couldn't cover the entire South Cloud Prefecture.

He couldn't even cover the city, let alone outside it.

But it would be different with a group of subordinates running around everywhere, gathering information.

Chen Mu would only need to sit at the hall and know exactly where people were dying!

Thinking of this.

Chen Mu sincerely bowed to Guan Tong and said, "Thank you, Hall Master! This subordinate will do his utmost to complete the intelligence gathering!"

No matter what Guan Tong was planning, Chen Mu wasn't losing out—he was making a killing.

"Haha, just do your best."

Guan Tong laughed heartily, "Handing the External Affairs Hall to Brother Chen, I'm very much at ease. When you're out on missions, Brother Chen, you must pay attention to safety!"

"Yes!" Chen Mu bowed again.

The others offered their congratulations.

Huang Feiyang was thrilled and fired up.

'My brother's a hall master now! Haha...'

……

……

In half a month's time, from Inspector to External Affairs Hall Master.

The moment Chen Mu's promotion speed was announced, it immediately caused an uproar in the Great Blade Gang.

Last time, the "Inspector" position had made everyone green with envy.

When Chen Mu broke through to become a martial artist, the reaction was still manageable.

But this time, the Hall Master post—Acquired Fourth Stage cultivation—left every gang member shocked and stunned.

What it meant to be Acquired Fourth Stage before the age of sixteen—everyone knew except fools.

At this realm, holding the External Affairs Hall Master position, no one objected except for a handful of people.

The gap was just too great.

A martial artist who had just broken through might still invite jealousy.

But reaching Acquired Fourth Stage in less than half a month—even if Chen Mu had been hiding his strength before—a realm was a realm, and it couldn't be faked.

Such a wide gap left no room for comparison in anyone's mind.

What remained was only envy, and shock.

"Acquired Fourth Stage before sixteen—even the scions of the great clans in the inner city, there aren't many, are there?"

"Indeed, not many. Who would've thought Er Er Huzi was a martial arts genius? If I'd known earlier, no matter what, I should've built a good relationship with him back then."

"Still calling him Er Er Huzi? He's a hall master now!"

"Right, right—Hall Master Chen's martial arts talent is so high, it's enough to make one look up in awe!"

"If only I had Acquired Fourth Stage—no, even Acquired Third Stage strength, that'd be great."

"Wake up, stop dreaming!"

……

Throughout the Great Blade Gang, from top to bottom, people marveled, sighed, and envied because of Chen Mu's realm and his External Affairs Hall Master identity.

The Green Snake Gang and Blood Wolf Gang, also of the East District, were deeply affected upon receiving the news.

Green Snake Gang.

Han Qing sat at the head seat, frowning, "Acquired Fourth Stage before sixteen—where did Guan Tong find such a genius?"

"Hall Master, the key isn't just Acquired Fourth Stage—it's also this new Hall Master named Chen Mu, who, according to rumor, has an Innate Realm 'master'!" the advisor said solemnly.

"What, Innate Realm?"

Han Qing's expression changed, "Chen Mu has an Innate master—true or false?"

"Just a rumor, the truth is unknown," the advisor replied, "But whether it's true or not, Chen Mu can't be touched for now."

"You don't need to tell me that—I know it too."

Han Qing raised his hand and sighed, "The Green Snake Gang shouldn't start any more fights for half a year. As for Chen Mu, just keep an eye on him—no need to provoke him."

"Yes!"

……

Blood Wolf Gang.

"That scheming bastard Guan Tong stepped in dog shit luck—he actually dug up a teenage genius."

Li Xiangyang paced back and forth in the room, cursing.

"Hall Master, this Chen Mu is undoubtedly a genius, and rumor has it he also has an Innate Realm master," a big man beside him said in a low voice, "Although the truth is unknown, with a teenage genius like this, unless you kill him outright, it's best not to provoke him—the future trouble would be too great."

"Relax, I haven't lost my head yet."

Li Xiangyang chuckled lightly, "So Chen Mu is a genius, and behind him there supposedly stands an Innate expert. Guan Tong set up a new hall to win him over—but can a genius like that be controlled by Guan Tong?"

"I dare bet that within a year at most, this Chen Mu will break free from Guan Tong's control. If Guan Tong is smart, he'd best choose to let go. But if he loses his head—hah!"

"A genius isn't someone just anyone can control!"

"True enough." An elder on the other side, hearing this, lit up and said with delight, "Perhaps we won't even need to lift a finger—Guan Tong will be toppled by someone else!"

"Hahaha…"

……

South Cloud Prefecture, South District, Hungry Tiger Gang.

"Head of the External Affairs Hall?"

Pale-faced Cheng Dongfeng had bandages wrapped around his chest, one arm slung up high. The pain of his broken ribs and the slash across his palm now sent wave after wave of stings coursing through his whole body.

His eyes brimmed with venomous resentment. His other hand clenched in a death grip as Cheng Dongfeng gritted his teeth and growled low, "Damned bastard, why won't you just drop dead!"

"You'd better save your breath."

In the room, an old man with a full head of black hair sat in a grand armchair and spoke calmly, "According to reliable intelligence, that Chen Mu is suspected to have a master at the Innate Realm. If you dare seek revenge on him—setting aside whether you could even beat him—even if you truly killed him, you wouldn't survive. And you'd drag the whole gang down with you. When that happens, I'd die too!"

"……"

Cheng Dongfeng fell silent, his face so dark it could be wrung of water.

His body trembled slightly; the resentment and killing intent in his eyes were almost tangible.

As long as Chen Mu lived, his heart would know no peace!

However, wanting to kill Chen Mu—anger alone was useless.

Huff—huff—

Cheng Dongfeng took deep breaths, exhaling again and again. After a long moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Then by Uncle's meaning, this hand of mine was chopped off for nothing?"

"More or less."

The old man said calmly, "Unless you can come up with a way that doesn't implicate the gang or drag in anyone else. Otherwise, this loss—you take it whether you want to or not."

"……"

Cheng Dongfeng's body trembled again; the pain in his chest grew ever more intense.

But he seemed not to feel it, his eyes seething with venom.

Don't implicate anyone else? Don't drag the gang in?

The Hungry Tiger Gang has so many people—would they really fear the Great Blade Gang?

Even if Guan Tong is Postnatal Eight-Layer, he's still just one man.

Cheng Dongfeng gritted his teeth—aggrieved, furious, going mad.

But no matter how angry, for now he could only endure.

"I've got it!"

His mind spun fast. Suddenly, Cheng Dongfeng thought of something, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

"I have a plan!"

Cheng Dongfeng growled low, "That Chen Mu brat—didn't he break through to Postnatal Four-Layer before the age of sixteen and get called a genius?"

"He does indeed deserve to be called a genius." The old man nodded calmly. "At that age, to have such cultivation—across all of South Cloud Prefecture, he'd rank in the top ten, no problem."

"Yes, he's a genius."

Cheng Dongfeng laughed darkly, "Since he's a genius, being challenged by others is a perfectly normal thing, isn't it?"

"……" The old man's eyelids rose as he stared straight at him. "What are you planning to do?"

"Of course, make that Chen fellow die!"