Chapter 39: Delivering a Gift

Although Hong Xi was changed from Gang Leader to Vice Gang Leader by Ruan Xing, he felt no resentment toward Ruan Xing in his heart; instead, he felt a sense of relief. He was originally just a spokesperson propped up by Hongtou Daoren, not the true head of the gang, and possessed no real authority of his own. Whenever there was a difficult problem he couldn't solve, he would simply report it to Hongtou Daoren.

Once Hongtou Daoren died, all the difficulties fell squarely onto Hong Xi alone. He suddenly felt a sense of suffocation. His years of experience as Gang Leader allowed him to appear calm and composed on the surface, but in reality, his heart was in turmoil. He did not know how he, a mere practitioner of Internal Strength Small Success, could lead the Red Head Gang to gain a foothold in Jiangning City without Hongtou Daoren as his backing.

After all, he had enjoyed wealth and status for these years, so naturally, he was unwilling to fall into the dust.

Now that Ruan Xing had arrived, he had a backbone once again. Naturally, he did not want Ruan Xing to run away from the bottom of his heart. Moreover, his intuition told him that Ruan Xing was genuinely planning to take the Red Head Gang for her own use; she truly wanted to resolve the crisis from the City Lord for the Red Head Gang. If it were finally confirmed that Ruan Xing had really run away, Hong Xi couldn't help but feel his heart sink—that would prove the City Lord was determined to purge the Red Head Gang, and if even she couldn't save them, he would have to find an opportunity to run away himself.

He was just about to speak up to soothe the few people and tell them not to argue pointlessly when he heard a familiar sneer.

The sound came from afar and drew near. A dilapidated carriage slowly drove over. The horse pulling the carriage was already listless, looking as if it hadn't traveled a long distance.

Ruan Xing sat inside the carriage, lifted the curtain by the window, and revealed half of her face. She said with a half-smile, "This Guan is right. I did indeed take the money and run. Now that there is no money in the account, what should we do? Since this Guan is so worried about the gang's major affairs, why not raise charitable funds, starting with you?"

The few people who had just been disrespectful to Ruan Xing in their words instantly turned pale. They trembled and couldn't speak, not knowing how much this little demoness had heard. Given her temperament, would she start a massacre again? Hong Xi sighed inwardly. He could see it now: the new Gang Leader was a person who valued money above all else. Seeing that the others didn't know how to react, in order to save their lives, Hong Xi had to take the lead himself. He cupped his fists and said, "The Gang Leader is righteous! This subordinate is willing to donate one thousand taels to help the gang overcome this difficulty!"

With Hong Xi breaking the deadlock, the others also woke up as if from a dream, vying to pledge their loyalty to Ruan Xing.

"This subordinate is also willing to donate one thousand taels!"

"This subordinate is willing to donate one thousand two hundred taels!"

"This subordinate is willing to donate one thousand five hundred taels!"

"This subordinate is willing to donate two thousand taels!"

The Guan who had just scolded Ruan Xing felt uneasy in his heart. Hardening his heart, he shouted the high price of two thousand taels with trembling lips. This was already one-third of his net worth, and he hoped it would buy back his life.

The lingering prestige from yesterday was still present. Ruan Xing was very happy to see such a scene. She had acted so ruthlessly yesterday just to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys. Now that the monkeys were scared to death of her, she didn't need to commit unnecessary slaughter, lest it produce the opposite effect, and these people might feel that working under her was too terrifying and run away with their families.

As for being scolded a few times, it was nothing. Leaders are always going to be scolded, and anyway, they couldn't do anything to her. When she was a corporate slave, she used to scold her superiors eight hundred times a day.

"All you Guans are so deep in righteousness, this Gang Leader is very gratified!" Ruan Xing smiled. "Hu San, go and record the amounts donated by each Guan, and bring them to me after the income is verified and stored."

"Yes, this subordinate obeys!"

Hu San responded and jumped off the carriage. The Guans immediately crowded around him to go home and get the money.

Although their hearts were bleeding at having to donate part of their net worth, being able to escape the scene could be considered a blessing in disguise. They didn't want to stay in the same place as this little demoness at all right now.

Hong Xi and Zhang Chenghui, however, did not leave. Ruan Xing glanced at them and remembered the task she had given him yesterday, asking, "Xiao Hui, is the Coffin bought?"

"Yes, please instruct me, Gang Leader." Zhang Chenghui answered with lowered eyes and a submissive expression. That was close; luckily he hadn't said anything extra just now, otherwise, if the Gang Leader had noted it, he would be in trouble. He had just donated one thousand taels, so the Gang Leader should be able to let go of her anger, right?

"Mm, have the corpse encoffined, and come with me to the City Lord Mansion later."

Ruan Xing got off the carriage, holding a little girl about her own age by the hand. The little girl's gaze was dull and vacant; she would only move when Ruan Xing pulled her, otherwise, she would stand still like a sculpture.

There was no help for it. Now that the little girl's Puppet essence had no master, Ruan Xing could not order her to act and could only lead her along step by step.

Zhang Chenghui went to handle the task she had ordered. Hong Xi was still in place, and he asked, "Gang Leader, were you working hard and running about last night for this child?"

"Yes." Ruan Xing looked at Hong Xi and suddenly asked, "This is the City Lord's little granddaughter. Do you know about Hongtou Daoren kidnapping her?"

"This..." A flash of surprise crossed Hong Xi's face. "This subordinate does not know."

She had expected that he wouldn't know; otherwise, she wouldn't have died there every time in the previous Simulations. Hongtou Daoren had even hidden this from him and hadn't trusted him much.

"Prepare the carriage. Pick a few good items from those boxes at the entrance of the study and pack them up. You will come with me to the City Lord Mansion later." Ruan Xing's own carriage was rented from a rental agency, and after being slashed by swords in the Simulation, it was already dilapidated. It would be too shabby for her to go to the City Lord Mansion in such a carriage.

Giving a gift, after all, must be done with decency.

She called for a Maid to prepare hot water and new clothes, and personally cleaned the little girl up, dressing her neatly.

She yawned and took a cold shower herself to wake up. Originally, she had wanted to let the Maid clean the little girl, as the little girl had no aggression, but she was worried that the stitching marks on the little girl's mouth and the unhealed wounds on her body would frighten the Maid and cause extra trouble.

Better to do it herself. She would catch up on sleep after returning from the City Lord Mansion.

After the two of them finished washing and changed clothes, Zhang Chenghui and Hong Xi had also finished their tasks, and they immediately set off for the City Lord Mansion.

Just like in the Simulation's memory, after stating their purpose and passing through the announcement, the gatekeeping servants let them in readily, though only Ruan Xing was allowed to enter to pay respects to the City Lord.

Ruan Xing held the little girl's hand, patted her hand, and let her wait at the gate while she went in alone.

The servant led her to the pavilion in the garden. The City Lord was lying on a recliner in the shade, resting with his eyes closed.

"I am Ruan Xing, the newly appointed Gang Leader of the Red Head Gang. Greetings, City Lord."

The City Lord lifted his eyelids to look at her and put on a gentle smile. "So it is the little Gang Leader Ruan. I am old and my eyes are dim, and I cannot hear clearly. Come closer and sit down to talk."

There were stone tables and small stools in the pavilion. Ruan Xing walked over and sat down.

The City Lord asked, "What is the matter?"

"Naturally, I have come to bring you a gift. It is a small, humble gift, but please accept it."

"Gang Leader Ruan has a kind heart, but I am an old fellow with one foot in the grave; I have no use for those things. You should take them back."

Ruan Xing smiled slightly. "Those are just extras. The real grand gift is outside the door." The City Lord was immediately interested. He straightened his body slightly, his sharp eyes staring at Ruan Xing. "Is the grand gift you speak of something I need?"

"Whether it is or not, you will know when you see it. Shall I bring her over now?"

"... Good." The City Lord straightened his disheveled lapels and sat up straight. Having lived for so many years, what great storms and waves had he not seen? Yet he suddenly felt a sense of nervousness. He was expectant, yet timid, and actually felt a bit afraid.

He couldn't help but wonder, was what Ruan Xing said the same thing he was thinking? In his lifetime, could he really see Nannan again?

Ruan Xing received the City Lord's permission and went back to lead the little girl over. Just as she appeared in the City Lord's field of vision, before she had even walked close, the City Lord was already streaming with tears. He walked toward them with unsteady steps and knelt on the ground.

"Nannan, it's my Nannan... how has she not grown at all... she is exactly the same as before..." His withered, wrinkled palms reached out and quickly retracted, not daring to touch her.

After hesitating for a long time, his fingers finally stroked the little girl's cold cheek.

The little girl remained dull, without the slightest reaction.

As expected, her luck was still this bad; the little girl couldn't recognize her grandfather at all. Ruan Xing looked at the sky with sorrow.

When the City Lord's emotions had stabilized slightly, he asked, "What has happened to Nannan?"

"She is already dead." As soon as the words fell, seeing the old man almost lose his breath from the sudden joy and sorrow, she hurriedly continued, "Although she is dead, Hongtou Daoren turned her into a Puppet. She can still run and move, and in this current state, she can live for another forty or fifty years without a problem. If the City Lord is willing, you can even connect your mind with hers to communicate."

"But how is she any different from being dead like this!" The City Lord spoke with some grief and indignation. "Do you have any way to let her regain her consciousness? It doesn't matter if her body doesn't grow; I can raise her for a lifetime, but she cannot live her whole life in a daze. I want her to live a happy and joyful life."

Ruan Xing hesitated. "This... I cannot."

Perhaps there are cultivators of the Ghost Dao in this world who could do it, but she was only a mortal.

The City Lord held the girl's cold body in his arms, his eyes sharp. "You want to use Nannan in this state to trade for the lives of hundreds of people in your gang?"

Facing the City Lord's dissatisfaction, Ruan Xing had long expected it. She said indifferently, "Your granddaughter is precious and noble, while my gang members are but cheap lives. If the City Lord is unwilling, then so be it."

Seeing Ruan Xing answer this way, the City Lord became suspicious and uncertain instead. After a moment of silence, he said, "My term of office still has three years before it expires. I will submit a memorial to the Emperor requesting to return to the Capital as soon as possible. Huaining City has the National Preceptor stationed here, and I have heard that the National Preceptor possesses heaven-reaching and earth-shattering abilities. I will ask him to help me save Nannan."

After a pause, the City Lord continued, "The evil Daoist who harmed people with wicked arts has already been brought to justice, and his head has been displayed to the public. Jiangning City can now be at peace."

"And the case of the Assistant Prefect's assassination?" Ruan Xing asked with pointed intent.

"This case has nothing to do with the evil Daoist; it was the work of some petty villains seeking private revenge. Fortunately, Gang Leader Ruan is impartial and incorruptible, and has already assisted the Patrol Security Division in capturing and detaining the culprits. The criminals in this case are guilty of heinous crimes and have shown contempt for official authority. I have already issued an order: all personnel involved are to be executed immediately."

"The City Lord is wise." Ruan Xing bowed with cupped hands, then took a small Wooden Tablet from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"This is...?"

"Her soul."

The City Lord hurriedly took it, glanced at it once, and then carefully hid it against his body. He looked at Ruan Xing with a complex expression: "I didn't expect that at such a young age, your depth of mind would not lose to an adult's."

If he hadn't softened his stance just now, Ruan Xing would likely have taken the Wooden Tablet and fled. Even if he had washed the Red Head Gang in blood three days later to vent his anger, there would have been no hope left to save Nannan.

"I dare not accept the praise," Ruan Xing said calmly.

This was the result she had obtained after multiple Simulations. If she had given the Wooden Tablet to the City Lord directly, he would have immediately turned hostile and denied her.

A gentleman's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold. If she waited until after he had made the promise to give him the Wooden Tablet, the City Lord—who still carried a bit of a scholar's pedantry in his bones—would not go back on his word.

Ruan Xing had delivered all three great gifts one by one: the valuable treasures, the culprit's corpse, and the City Lord's granddaughter. The cooperation was achieved. Ruan Xing headed home; the sun was high, and it was the perfect time to catch up on sleep.

Soon, the news of the case being closed spread. When Ruan Xing had just woken up and was eating dinner, Hong Xi came to report to her.

She lay lazily on a chaise longue, surrounded by several young maidens. One was fanning her from the side, two were massaging her legs to help her relax, and another was holding a bowl of iced fruit platter, feeding her with a silver skewer.

In the sweltering summer, this was truly enjoyable...

Ruan Xing felt comfortable in body and mind, listening to Hong Xi's praises.

"The Gang Leader is truly amazing! You resolved the gang's top priority in just one day. I am full of admiration!"

Previously, Hong Xi was either frowning or had a dark face every day, but now he was full of relaxed joy. Seeing Zhang Chenghui sending people to serve Ruan Xing like a fawning eunuch, he couldn't help but consider in his heart whether he should also flatter Ruan Xing more. It was one thing for Zhang Chenghui to send beautiful Maids before, but why was he still sending beautiful Maids after changing the Gang Leader? Hong Xi felt that although the Gang Leader was still young, her intelligence far exceeded these big men in the gang who only grew muscles and not brains; he should have sent some beautiful young boys instead.

He decided that when he went back, he would let Lu Youqi search carefully; he had experience in finding young boys.

"Alright, stop saying these useless things. Have you put your heart into finding news about the Luoqi Pill? It's already been an entire afternoon; your efficiency in handling matters needs improvement." Ruan Xing asked in a cool tone while eating the cold, sweet fruit.

Although she was enjoying herself, she hadn't forgotten her main business. She was currently stuck at the Acquired Realm and unable to improve, so she urgently needed the Luoqi Pill. When she returned from the City Lord Mansion, she had ordered Hong Xi to investigate. Whether it was finished pills, pill formulas, or raw materials, as long as there was news to be found, he was to bring it all to her.

She had been awake for quite a while now, and Hong Xi still had no progress.

Hong Xi was speechless. He had only heard the term Luoqi Pill for the first time today. Moreover, in the entire Jiangning City, only the Qianling Guard beside the City Lord had reached the Acquired Realm; there were no other experts. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been hooked by the cultivation techniques and Medicine Liquid provided by Hongtou Daoren, relying on a series of Internal Strength Small Success experts in the Red Head Gang to act recklessly in Jiangning City.

The Qianling Guard beside the City Lord were specially dispatched by the Emperor to protect his safety. The Imperial Palace certainly had Luoqi Pill, but she didn't want to get involved with the Capital at all.

After all, the male and female leads of the original book were both in the Capital, Huaining. She hadn't forgotten that she had actually transmigrated into a book and had long since deviated from the plot. With her bad luck, how could she dare to collide with the destiny-favored protagonists?

Unless she absolutely could not find any news about the Luoqi Pill, she would never go to Huaining.

(End of this chapter)