#144 - Chapter 144 Way Out

Cheng Feng had once considered whether to seek advice from Wang Tieshan in the martial arts hall regarding the future path of the Hong Sect.

After all, within his current circle of martial artists, only a highly esteemed, knowledgeable, powerful, and close mentor like Wang Tieshan could offer him guidance.

However, after careful consideration, Cheng Feng felt that the time was not yet ripe. There was no immediate emergency, and asking about the future too early might lead his master to believe he was young, impetuous, and incapable of achieving anything.

He had originally wanted to seek advice from his senior brothers and sisters, but they were all away from the martial arts hall, busy with their own affairs.

It must be said that Blood Refinement martial artists indeed had a very high degree of freedom in the martial arts hall.

Occasionally, Wang Tieshan would also send someone to summon Cheng Feng to the martial arts hall to check on his progress.

And each time, Cheng Feng's improvement never disappointed Wang Tieshan.

Watching Cheng Feng's cultivation level increase, Wang Tieshan felt a mixture of joy and apprehension, fearing that Cheng Feng might fail at the crucial moment of breaking through to Bone Refinement.

In Wang Tieshan's eyes, only three disciples—Zhao Wei, Zhang Hu, and Cheng Feng—had the potential to cross that insurmountable gap and enter the Bone Refinement realm.

As for the others, they were not entirely dedicated to pursuing the martial path.

The third and fourth disciples were recently discussing marriage. Wang Tieshan did not object, but among disciples with average talent and ordinary temperament, he rarely saw anyone who could persevere with determination and reach the peak after starting a family.

The eighth disciple's family had encountered some problems, and they might not even be able to afford the martial arts hall's tribute in the future.

Not to mention the ninth disciple, who had reached the peak of Skin Refinement but had not yet broken through. It might be difficult for him to break through in the future.

Only the eldest and second disciples were brave and diligent, with promising breakthroughs.

The tenth disciple had a slow start but accelerated later, keeping pace and likely to overtake the others.

Among all the disciples, Cheng Feng was perhaps the most likely to break through to a higher realm.

The martial arts hall's most confidential secrets would definitely be given to the strongest person; otherwise, they would not be able to protect them.

If the character was not upright, it would be fine; the secrets could simply be taken to the afterlife.

But if they could be passed down, it would be a good thing to explain clearly to the ancestors below, not a bad thing even in death.

Cheng Feng, unaware that Wang Tieshan was giving him preferential treatment behind the scenes, was still troubled by the development of the Hong Sect.

Experts: None.

Mid-level: Fifty Blood Strengthening martial artists.

Low-level: Ordinary people who had just entered the sect and were undergoing training.

There was always a surplus of silver every month, but Cheng Feng no longer cared about that little bit of money.

To avoid attracting attention, Cheng Feng felt he needed to continue recruiting people and seizing territory.

As long as the lower-level fighting and killing did not lack the tribute to the higher-ups, the government would turn a blind eye.

Occupying the Tiger Head Gang was Cheng Feng carving out territory for himself, and taking down the Si River Gang was Cheng Feng's test of the Green Bamboo Gang.

Xu Miao said that the Green Bamboo Gang was currently experiencing intense internal strife, and Cheng Feng would not miss this opportunity.

He dared not eat big fish and big meat, but small fish and shrimp were always an option!

Even a gluttonous snake grows from small to large!

Cheng Feng had plenty of patience to slowly expand the Hong Sect's territory.

Cheng Feng had originally planned to abandon the salt business, as it was too high-profile, and making money without the life to spend it was not a good idea.

However, on the way back to the village to pick up his parents, seeing so many refugees on the road, Cheng Feng keenly sensed a slight difference.

This was a change in the situation.

The situation in the Great Zhou Dynasty was likely to collapse.

Cheng Feng dared not be certain that he was right, but the advantage Cheng Feng could gain was to absorb those refugees.

The refugees who could travel long distances to get here must have some skills. Cheng Feng did not need many, but if he could find a few with technical skills, Cheng Feng might prosper.

Daring not delay any longer, Cheng Feng immediately wrote down what he had just thought of on paper:

1. Absorb talented people from among the refugees. Bringing their families makes them easier to control.

2. The address for resettlement can be in the mountains on the east side of Liu Family Village. The terrain is partially flat, with many trees, suitable for building houses.

3. Absorb martial artists from among the refugees. After assessment, they can also be recruited into the Hong Sect's Hall of Offerings.

4. … …

Cheng Feng recorded his thoughts on how to use the refugees, where to settle them, which talents to recruit, and the subsequent support issues, and only stopped writing when he understood everything.

The situation in the county town was not so easy to change, so the refugees ignored by the county town might be the best choice to change the strength of both sides.

Moreover, there were the belongings within the Black Wind Fortress that Cheng Feng had been longing for.

After hearing Xu Miao say how much money the Black Wind Fortress made in one deal, it seemed to open up a new world for Cheng Feng.

Money, it could be earned this way too.

Cheng Feng used to think that having the martial strength to protect himself was good enough.

Now someone was telling him that having martial strength could be used to rob wealth, and he could still get rich.

Cheng Feng naturally would not go against the government. Cheng Feng never did anything illegal or criminal.

Then, if Cheng Feng risked his life to fight bandits and wiped out their lair, shouldn't the wealth also be Cheng Feng's?

Cheng Feng's plan had two weaknesses: first, martial strength, and second, numbers.

Martial strength to ensure that he would not be killed by others.

Numbers to ensure that the bandits would not escape.

Cheng Feng had also inquired that the Black Wind Fortress had nearly 200 people at its peak, a well-known bandit den in the vicinity.

Later, several bandit suppression efforts had been somewhat effective, reducing the number of people by half, but even so, it was still a large fortress of over a hundred people.

The three most famous were:

Chief of the Fortress, Liu Dong, possibly at the Blood Refinement Completion stage, skilled in swordsmanship.

Second Chief of the Fortress, Wu Jiang, at the Blood Refinement mid-stage, possessed rare horizontal training skills, coupled with natural strength, making him a fierce general in battle.

Third Chief of the Fortress, Liu Ding, wielded a Raindrop Sword Technique, with excellent agility.

This was all what Xu Miao told Cheng Feng.

That was why Cheng Feng dared to set his sights on the Black Wind Fortress.

He was already at the Blood Refinement late stage, not too weak.

The Hong Sect could not always support these disciples with money.

Without seeing blood, how could it work?

What Cheng Feng needed was not a pampered army.

This plan might result in many deaths, but Cheng Feng had no choice.

The salt business might be cut off at any time.

Territorial expansion could also be used to train troops.

Cheng Feng decided to launch this plan after Chen Min and Lian Niang gave birth.

Externally nurturing internally, absorbing refugees to become Hong Sect disciples, once the numbers were up, they would attack the Black Wind Fortress. They might be very strong, but with enough numbers, even if they lost a small soldier, the Hong Sect would gain.

The refugees had already lost hope. Cheng Feng gave them hope, possibly a better hope. Those who were unwilling were free to leave, and those with ambition and strength would definitely stay, increasing the strength of the Hong Sect.

Everyone was risking their lives, so who would look down on whom?

Cheng Feng carefully polished his plan that came to him in a flash of inspiration, ready to check for omissions and make up for deficiencies at any time.

Chen Min and Lian Niang were still about two months away from their due dates. Cheng Feng thought to himself that the Thunderclap Bloodburst Art (Late Stage 380/500) on the panel still had 120 points left.

He should be able to gather them in two months.

He himself could be the mainstay in terms of strength.

The birth of the children could also see what the lucky bag would give.

If he got a few more robots, Cheng Feng felt that just sending humanoid intelligent robots could kill all those small fries.

The archery skills of Eight Hundred and Cheng Yi were definitely at the level of hitting the bullseye from a hundred paces.

After selling the fourth batch of fine salt and getting the silver, Cheng Feng planned to start forging the Redscale Serpent's scales and fangs into weapons.

The scales on the Redscale Serpent had blocked several of Cheng Feng's full-strength chops, so they could be made into inner armor, just right for Cheng Feng himself, Eight Hundred, and Cheng Yi, all equipped with them, and the rest would be put away for later use.

The fangs, four in total, would all be forged into arrowheads, absolutely sharp and unparalleled.

And when the silver came in, it would be the night after tomorrow.