#124 - Chapter 124 Xu Miao
As time passed, the Hongmen gradually gained a firm foothold in the territory of the Sisui Gang.
Their novel and strict system, coupled with high salaries, not only won the trust and support of the people but also attracted a large number of ambitious individuals to join.
The Hongmen's power expanded rapidly, becoming the most powerful gang in the area.
And this only took Cheng Feng fifteen days.
From three small gangs to the Sisui Gang, and now to stabilizing the situation and vigorously recruiting people, everything was within Cheng Feng's plan.
Of course, Cheng Feng also worked hard in private, taking time to go home and comfort the women, and by the way, taking away four 'blessing points' from one person twice a day.
Within fifteen days, he mastered the Crushing Mountain Fist.
Crushing Mountain Fist: (Mastery 33/200)
And the mastery of the Crushing Mountain Fist caused a miraculous change in Cheng Feng's body—his skin went through another molting stage!
This change greatly improved Cheng Feng's defense.
Once, Cheng Feng had tried to cut his skin with a sharp knife, and it felt like cutting leather.
Although there was some resistance, as long as he applied a little more force and cut a few more times, the skin would still be cut open.
However, the situation was very different now.
His skin not only retained its original toughness but also became harder.
Ordinary iron knives could no longer leave any marks on him.
Cheng Feng pondered in his heart, then took out his Silver Feather Blade for testing.
This Silver Feather Blade, carefully crafted from special materials, was still exceptionally sharp.
Even so, Cheng Feng's twice-tempered skin was only broken open with a small cut after three attacks.
For Cheng Feng, he inherited the belief of his previous life: "Under Heaven Martial Arts, Unbreakable, Only Speed Can Overcome."
He wouldn't pay too much attention to defense, after all, he didn't want to be a tank.
Being able to kill powerfully with speed and escape flexibly and lightly was what Cheng Feng valued most.
Once the person behind Xu Le appeared, and Cheng Feng solved this only trouble, Cheng Feng could be at peace for a while.
The night was as dark as ink, and the training ground was so quiet that only the rustling of the wind through the treetops could be heard.
Cheng Feng stood in front of the window, his eyes deep, contemplating his next actions.
"Xu Le, what kind of person is behind that kid?" Cheng Feng muttered to himself, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the windowsill.
Since Xu Le was captured, he had been well-fed and well-treated, hoping to lure out the person behind him, but now fifteen days had passed, and there was still no movement.
"It seems I can only take the initiative," Cheng Feng took a deep breath, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.
He ordered his men to release the news that Xu Le was being held in the Hongmen training ground.
This news was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up layers of ripples.
Not long after the news spread, someone came to inquire about the truth.
Cheng Feng's men stood ready, closely monitoring everyone who entered the training ground.
However, after several days, the people who came were just insignificant small characters, none of them were the people behind Xu Le.
Cheng Feng didn't want to wait any longer.
The background of a vague and ethereal big gang might scare others, but it would definitely not scare Cheng Feng.
The two late-stage Skin Refinement realm martial artists that day were obviously bodyguards for a young master like Xu Le.
Xu Le's strength was only in the mid-stage of Strength Training, his power scattered like cotton, probably forcibly raised through drugs.
But Cheng Feng didn't want to wait any longer.
Cheng Feng's capture of the Sisui Gang was to consolidate his territory, expand his manpower, and more importantly, to increase his earning channels.
Protection fees, brothels, teahouses, restaurants, and casinos were all local specialties, and privately selling fine salt was too risky.
Cheng Feng was ready to let go.
Cheng Feng could earn money,
Let whoever wants to take the blame, take it.
But Cheng Feng didn't regret it.
The previous risk-taking led to the current great cause.
Cheng Feng kept five hundred taels of silver from the fifteen hundred taels of silver seized from the Sisui Gang for the gang's operations, and took the remaining one thousand taels with him.
Adding the six hundred taels he had saved, one thousand six hundred taels was enough to achieve his small goal at the time.
The Hongmen's foundation did not lose strength in the battle with the Sisui Gang, but it was inevitable that everyone would be injured.
Fifty new people were recruited, but they only needed to undergo three months of training to know and abide by the discipline.
Plus food expenses, this meant a monthly expenditure of one hundred and seventy taels.
The first fifty people were already in the early stage of Strength Training, and two taels per person would cost one hundred taels.
Wang Hu was a little worried when he reported the accounts to Cheng Feng, this silver doesn't last long!
Cheng Feng said confidently: "It's okay, we already have a good start now, and there will be many ways to make money in the future!
Let's go see Xu Le, if the sister he mentioned hasn't come yet, then kill him!"
On the first day after capturing Xu Le, Xu Le had already revealed his background completely.
He had a sister with amazing martial arts talent, who was accepted as a disciple by a passing wandering Taoist.
After two years of teaching, the Taoist left.
Xu Le's sister, Xu Miao, wanted to pursue martial arts after the Taoist left, but unfortunately, the Taoist did not teach her how to manage her knowledge.
Xu Miao had no choice but to join a gang and work for the Green Bamboo Gang to earn martial arts resources.
Because she was a woman, even if she was strong, many of the Green Bamboo Gang's elders had a lot of opinions about it.
After all, when you come out to mix, you pay attention to face.
Does the Green Bamboo Gang not even have a man who can fight?
The Green Bamboo Gang leader had no choice but to keep Xu Miao in the dark, transporting goods for the Green Bamboo Gang, specializing in those who refused to obey.
Xu Miao made many unknown and outstanding contributions, but her identity was not easy to expose.
The Green Bamboo Gang had no choice but to stabilize her younger brother.
Even though Xu Le's aptitude was mediocre, he was still promoted to the mid-stage of Strength Training through pharmacological means.
This was the internal news given by Xu Le, but there had been no movement for the past ten days.
Cheng Feng's idea of resolving the matter in a less intense way had been shattered.
In the dark and damp dungeon, the air was filled with the smell of mold and rust, as if even breathing became heavy.
This used to be the place where the Tiger Head Gang imprisoned their mission targets, but now it was used by Cheng Feng to imprison Xu Le.
Xu Le was locked tightly behind the cold iron bars, his face pale, his eyes filled with confusion.
He looked up at the high window of the cell, where a faint ray of light shone in, as if it was his only connection to the outside world.
Life in the dungeon was not easy.
Xu Le, who was at the Strength Training realm, was only allowed to eat half a steamed bun and three bowls of clear water every day.
The dark and damp environment also gradually weakened Xu Le's body.
In the beginning, he clamored for Cheng Feng to wait for death, but now his mood became heavier and heavier.
The carvings on the wall were scratched by Xu Le's hand.
It had been fifteen days, and Xu Le had lost the domineering and clamorous look he had at the beginning.
Instead, he began to worry about his sister outside.
According to his sister's strength, she should be fine, but since there had been no contact for so long, Xu Le's mood was not optimistic.
"Those who mess with gangs will not have a good end," these were his sister's original words.
