Chapter 114: Second Young Master Fang Arrives

“Wh-What’s going on here?”

The cultivators on the boat looked terrified, their faces pale with shock.

The reason these people dared to come aboard this vessel to discuss the new leader of Willow Lake City was precisely because they believed the Devouring Sea Gang was finished. Countless Helmsmen and Guardians were dead. Even the former Great Chief, Lao Chao, had been beheaded on the street by the Second Young Master Fang. Those Qi Refiners who used to bully them had all been swept away. They’d thought their time to rise had finally come…

Who could have guessed that Lady Hongtao and Lin Jiyi, who escaped when the Devouring Sea Gang fell, would now appear? Worse, along with these two, came so many strangely dressed rogue cultivators. Their bizarre methods marked them clearly as Qi Refiners, and each radiated an imposing aura. Many among them seemed no weaker than the former Great Chief himself…

When did Willow Lake City get so many demonic Qi Refiners?

…

“Oh no, this is bad. I didn’t realize so many stayed behind…”

Cao Bazi’s heart gave a lurch when he saw so many demonic cultivators show up. He groaned inwardly.

Ever since the appearance of the Human Elixir in Willow Lake City, plenty of rogue Demonic Cultivators from afar had been drawn in. Yet, after the Black Water Fort was destroyed and its treasures plundered, most of those visiting evildoers, their goals achieved, quietly slipped away back to their lairs.

Who’d have imagined this many remained?

“Heh heh, looks like many are eyeing Willow Lake City, this juicy piece of meat…”

The newly appeared rogue demonic cultivators sized each other up, assessing strength and background. After the initial commotion, someone chuckled coldly. “Look at all you esteemed peers—many famous names in the underworld, heavyweights with vast resources. Why bother with a small place like Willow Lake? Why not leave it for us poor souls struggling for a meal?”

Someone nearby immediately sneered in response. “Master Qing, the expelled disciple of the Southern Borderlands’ Corpse Refining Sect! Your ‘Ten Thousand Corpse Pavilion’ is famous. You must have earned mountains of silver selling demon corpses. Why pretend to be poor and rob our chances here?”

“Haha! Green Frost Sword of Chenmei County! Three thousand taels per thrust! Kill the target, then kill the client! Break all rules to earn from both ends! After all these years of killing, surely your wealth is immense—you must have several Dragon Stones by now? Rumor says, if you weren’t so utterly without honor, even the Path of Heaven would recruit you. With riches like that, why muck about in Willow Lake?”

“Mount Hu Elder, your family’s wealth is already great. Why covet Willow Lake’s paltry trade?”

…

With each identity exposed, Cao Bazi and the Old Knives Gang leader felt their hearts skip a beat.

These were infamous, ruthless names in the underworld! Some had reputations originally no less fierce than Lao Chao’s, let alone low-level thugs like themselves. The two exchanged looks, finally understood the situation, and quietly retreated towards the corner of the room. One ripped a chicken leg from someone nearby; the other snatched a wine jar from someone behind him. They started to slowly drink.

Finished. Better play humble…

Let these mighty outsiders fight it out. Us local snakes stay humble. Whoever wins, we hail as boss.

These rogue and demonic cultivators who had come from elsewhere, each with their own reputation, truly looked down on the local Willow Lake snakes. They’d come for the Human Elixir. Though they hadn’t seized it, most had profited handsomely during the Devouring Sea Gang’s collapse. Seeing Willow Lake leaderless, they considered taking over the “business” themselves…

The illegal profits from controlling an entire city were tempting indeed.

To seize control meant profit. To fail meant simply walking away—hardly a loss…

After all, the current Willow Lake City lacked not only capable low-level leaders among the powerless masses, but even the remnants of the Devouring Sea Gang, Lady Hongtao and Lin Jiyi, were low-level practitioners. Against these powerful figures, they had no real choice…

“Hah! I thought Willow Lake City was a mess nobody wanted, just came for a look. Didn’t expect so many peers eyeing this dump! Well, friends, must we measure strength now?”

They eyed each other warily, cold smiles forming.

“Heh, without a fight, sheer talk won’t convince anyone. So who stays to be the Great Chief?”

One shook his head. “We Qi Refiners, every strike costs money! Unless it’s a life-or-death feud, better avoid violence!”

Someone else sounded impatient. “Then what? Strip and measure each other down below?”

“… Heh heh, if we compare like that, the ladies among us are at a disadvantage!”

“Don’t say that. What’s passed through their undergarments might be taller than you…”

“Looking to die!”

“Thud!”

“Ah!”

“Who’s ‘longest’ now is anyone’s guess, but you are definitely the shortest…”

…

Chaos erupted on the boat for a moment. Lin Jiyi retreated to a side, grabbing a handful of peanuts to slowly eat.

The situation wasn’t unfolding as he’d imagined…

He’d received advice from a powerful figure—the Devouring Sea Gang’s leftover “business” in Willow Lake City seemed a huge prize but was actually just a massive trap. To survive and rule steadily in the underworld, true strength was key. So he’d planned to back down, letting stronger dragons take the seat. But he hadn’t expected so many strong dragons to show up, making the chaos even worse.

Seeing the group grow angrier yet unwilling to actually fight, Lin Jiyi understood. No one who survived this long and made a name in the underworld was simple. Many were eyeing the Willow Lake business, but the city was small, its profits limited—enough for one Great Chief, but not two or three. Compromise was impossible, yet no single one dared to think they could defeat and expel all rivals.

The weak, of course, had no hope. Even the strong, like Ancient Demon Mount Hu Elder himself, scanned the crowd. His gaze landed on someone in an odd green robe—Eccentric Gu-Master Guai Li, a notorious insect master. He spotted a woman in a Bronze Mask too—looked troublesome. So even he dared not be too arrogant.

…

“Young Master, all those who needed to show up have shown up. Then we…”

At this moment, beside Willow Lake City’s shore, on a black carriage, a servant asked softly.

“Not quite time yet,” a voice inside the carriage chuckled lightly. “Do you know what’s most important in the underworld?”

The servant paused. “Strength?”

“Wrong!”

The voice inside laughed. “It’s the grand entrance. The grand entrance is vital…”

“… Young Master, you are truly remarkable!” the servant immediately praised. “Though I never understand your words, the less I understand, the more sense they seem to make!”

“Nice setup line!”

The voice inside laughed. “Understanding isn’t needed. Are our people ready?”

Xiao Qingliu smiled. “Yes, we await only your grand appearance aboard the boat…”

“No rush…”

The voice inside chuckled. “I am waiting for a line!”

…

Meanwhile, on the lake, amidst lantern flames, the debate raged.

Someone sneered coldly. “You want to be Chief? I want to be Chief? Nobody yields. No rules convince us. Should we just shout all night on this lake? I say we each show one trick. Let the one we respect stay and claim Willow Lake’s bounty. The rest? Wait for another chance elsewhere. Let’s leave a path of goodwill…”

“Heh, goodwill? Will it fill your belly?”

“Heh heh, if someone gives me ten thousand taels of gold? I’ll yield, even help them win!”

“Lao Gutou, what a cunning plan! Trying to profit from both sides? Anyone believe we hack you first?”

“Underworld has its rules! Find someone we all respect!”

“Respect? How find someone truly respected?”

Someone mocked. “Honorable fellows, who here can truly overpower everyone? Resources? Background? Who still standing lacks formidable backing? Since none are confident they truly command respect, who’ll rightfully devour Willow Lake, a city bereft of its master?”

“Must find a fair reason satisfying all…”

“Heh, a fair reason?”

“Before old Devourer Chao ran with the Human Elixir, someone declared whoever killed him becomes new Great Chief! But that Second Young Master Fang lopped off his head! Should we invite that young noble here to become our Great Chief?”

Hearing this, the assembled cultivators burst into laughter.

…

“Finally, the line arrived…”

Just then, the Young Master in the shorebound carriage let out a long sigh. It drifted faintly across Willow Lake.

“Who’s there?!”

The sudden voice shocked everyone on the boat.

They couldn’t tell how the voice reached them. They felt no approach, yet the words rang clearly beside their ears. The words themselves were baffling. After the shock, everyone rushed to the ship’s railing, straining towards the sound’s source…

The cultivators aboard were hardened killers of the underworld—ruthless bandits who licked blood off blades, rogue Demonic Evils who dug hearts and ate livers. Their courage was undeniable. Yet, looking towards the shore now, an inexplicable dread gripped them. Their faces twisted into shades of astonishment and dread.

The shore was pitch black against the endless night.

But gradually, a faint glow pierced the darkness, slowly easing into view.

A small boat drifted silently, unnaturally, towards the large vessel—no wind, yet moving.

At its prow stood a girl in resplendent robes, holding a Lantern casting light.

At its stern, stood a young man in white robes. An Old Umbrella tucked under his arm, one hand behind his back, he smiled softly.

“Who says Second Young Master Fang,” he asked, “cannot be your Great Chief?”