Chapter 10: The Bald Man of Black Sand Road

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One might wonder if there could be any black path gang in Jiu Long City, one of the Four Great Overlords and the ruler of the southwestern part of the Central Plains. However, these scoundrels exist wherever there are crowds. They are so resilient, even collecting protection money in front of the Shaolin Temple in Songshan. Truly, they have the survival skills of cockroaches.

Anyway, the area controlled by these black path gangs is called Black Sand Road. Originally, it was a part of Jiu Long City's outer district known as Black Dragon Road, but as it became the base of the black path gangs, people started calling it Black Sand Road.

In fact, the outer faction had tried to clean up this area before. Just last year, I and the other seventeen members of the team conducted a preliminary investigation here. However, the Black Sand Road cleanup operation never started. For some reason, the high-ranking officials in the inner city pressured us to stop the operation.

As a result, the number of black path gangs increased, and they continued to prey on the hardworking residents of Jiu Long City.

"So, you didn't have any money, so you just moved into an empty house and started living there?"

"Y-Yes, I'm sorry."

"Damn brat."

Kicking the guy in front of me, he foamed at the mouth and fainted. I called over the one I had hit less with my finger.

"Yes, sir!"

"What do black path gangs do when they encounter something like this?"

"…We mainly receive compensation in money."

"Do you have any money?"

"No, we don't."

I figured as much. If they had money, they wouldn't be secretly living in someone else's house.

"Then, what are you going to do about it?"

"We'll fix it. No, we'll make it look brand new."

"You will?"

"Yes, I've done some carpentry work back in my hometown. I can definitely do it."

"If you have such skills, why are you living like this?"

"Because I wanted to live comfortably…"

"Ah… brat."

Thus, I entrusted the house repairs to these black path gang members and set the moving date for two days later. After work, I moved my belongings and bought what I needed, and time flew by.

"…It's big."

Thanks to the gang members doing a good job, the house looked half-new. I felt like a newly married couple who had won a housing lottery and moved into a new house.

Knock knock.

"What? Why are you poking me in the side all of a sudden?"

"To think you could buy such a big house, you're more capable than I thought."

"Hem hem, I'm Jin Wu Hall. The top graduate of the 99th class of Dang Chuan Pavilion."

"I know. Who raised you? Hehe."

Miaoxiang smiled happily and looked around the house.

"This room gets good sunlight, so it's good for drying clothes, and this room is…"

She looked like a newlywed moving into her first home. I felt an indescribable sense of achievement.

'This is what it feels like to own a mansion?'

I felt as if I owned the world.

Then, a thought occurred to me.

'My social status has risen even further.'

That's right. Today, my social status in Jiu Long City has risen from the lower class to the middle class. And it's a large mansion with three halls and a spacious courtyard!

Rushing rain.

Perhaps intimidated by my authority, the hot sun hid behind the clouds and started raining.

"What are you doing?! It's raining!"

Just a moment, I want to keep feeling this.

***

"Congratulations. After being so stingy, you finally managed to buy your own house."

"Congratulations, Chief. It's nothing much, but please accept it."

"Congratulations, here…"

"…Congratulations…"

Yang Jiang, Liu Xiaoping, Xia Jinxiang, and Li Dangba, the members of the Seventeenth Team, took turns to greet me.

Except for Yang Jiang, everyone brought housewarming gifts, so I relayed my opinion to Miaoxiang.

"Don't put meat in that guy's bowl."

"I'll put the meat as far away as possible."

Indeed, husband and wife… no, siblings are of one mind.

Just as the cheerful drinking party was about to start—

Creak.

"…I heard there would be alcohol, so I came."

"Jiu! Long!"

"I'm bothered. Everyone, sit down."

"Yes."

It was the outer faction leader, Beigong Bai. It was like a company commander joining a platoon dinner. The atmosphere cooled down rapidly, which was to be expected.

'For a division leader to not know how to join in, the future of Jiu Long City is bleak!'

I wanted to punch him, but he is one of the top martial artists in Sichuan Province. The chances of me surviving for three seconds were slim.

"Alcohol."

"Yes! Here it is!"

Thus began an uncomfortable housewarming party.

Gulp gulp.

'Oh no! That precious alcohol!'

Beigong Bai, the best drinker in Jiu Long City, drank the precious Chuyeqing wine from a large jug.

"Enjoy yourselves, I don't mind."

That's not going to happen.

Sip. Sip.

The team members drank cautiously.

Then, the craziest person I've ever seen, Yang Jiang, suddenly stood up and—

Thud.

Sat right in front of Beigong Bai.

"Does drinking alone even taste good? Let's drink together."

Thud.

It was like a private first class challenging a battalion commander. Naturally, everyone, including me, was speechless.

However, Beigong Bai seemed to have a more laid-back personality than expected.

"Then, have a drink."

He poured a full cup of alcohol into Yang Jiang's bowl.

"Thank you, Chief."

Gulp gulp.

"You're a real man. I like you."

"I hear that a lot."

A moment later, the party heated up, thanks to the advanced drinking culture of 21st-century Korea.

"Zhang Ba likes random games!"

As the atmosphere grew lively, the team members started to get drunk one by one. Yang Jiang and Beigong Bai were having a drinking battle.

As the mood rose—

Ding ding ding ding.

Suddenly, the sound of a seven-stringed zither echoed from a corner of the courtyard. Miaoxiang had changed into a beautiful dress and was playing the zither. The mysterious light of the full moon enveloped her beauty.

Moo.

Everyone was mesmerized by her beauty.

For about ten minutes, the performance continued, and then I and the team members stood up and clapped.

Clap clap clap clap.

"Shy, why are you doing that?"

"I didn't know you had such talent."

"Amazing!"

"…Wow."

Even Beigong Bai was impressed.

"Good music."

"I haven't properly introduced myself. I am Miaoxiang."

"Sorry for the late introduction. I am Beigong Bai."

"I've heard a lot about you."

Beigong Bai, with his usual expressionless face, handed over a money pouch. As the CEO of a subsidiary of the giant corporation Jiu Long City, it was unlikely that the pouch contained just coins.

A few jugs of alcohol for such a lucrative side income.

My heart raced and my nose flared.

"It's a gift. I intended to give it to Chief Jin, but since he's not good with money, I'll give it to you."

"Me?! I'm not that close to Chief Jin…"

"Since you live in the same house, it's only a matter of time, isn't it?"

With that, Beigong Bai left with a jug of alcohol. Miaoxiang's face turned red with embarrassment.

Before the misunderstanding grew, I told her,

"Hem hem, Chief is just like that, don't misunderstand. He's not a bad person."

"…Really?"

"That's why the money pouch Chief gave should be given to me…"

"No."

"Huh? No, that's not what I meant…"

"No, I mean it."

"What I mean is…"

"No."

"Sister!"

Miaoxiang rushed into the room, and I couldn't get the money pouch back. It was the result of the prejudice that women should control the finances.

***

The next day, using the move as an excuse, I took a day off and started to patrol the neighborhood. While it didn't matter for me alone, I needed to ensure the safety of the area for Miaoxiang, who doesn't know martial arts.

However, I overlooked one fact.

"Black path gangs don't wander around in the morning. They probably sleep in and wake up late."

It was the lifestyle of these good-for-nothings. I wasted the morning and was now eating a bowl of noodles at a nearby restaurant to pass the time.

"Is there anything else you need? A young person like you won't be full with just that."

"No."

"The portion is small, isn't it?"

Actually, the portion was small, but the taste was bad and the price was high, so I refused.

'If the value isn't good, consumers will turn away.'

Indeed, good value is a universal truth.

As I was passing the time, black path gang members with knives started to appear.

"Good meal."

Clank.

Leaving a coin, I followed one of them.

Because I was following openly, when we reached an alley, the guy turned around.

"Who are you, and why are you following me?"

"I'm a concerned citizen, curious about what a scum like you does for a living."

"What?"

The guy, hearing my provocation, scowled.

If we met in the real world during my high school days, I would have wet my pants, but I'm different now.

I'm Ultra Capsule King of Jin Wu Hall now.

Smack!

"Ugh!"

I kicked the guy's thigh. It was a powerful low kick.

The guy, clutching his thigh, lost balance and fell to the ground.

"I didn't break it, so don't make a fuss and get up."

Clang.

I threw a small token in front of the guy.

"Huh! Jiu Long Token!"

It was the employee ID of the giant corporation Jiu Long City. Although it was the lowest level, to the black path gangs, it was like a death warrant.

"I didn't recognize a hero of Jiu Long City!"

"I have a question about Black Sand Road. Do you have a moment?"

"Y-Yes, I'll tell you everything!"

A moment later, I heard the guy's explanation about Black Sand Road and quickly concluded.

"So, the control of Black Sand Road is being fiercely contested by Li Xian Hall and Black Mist Hall?"

"Exactly."

"And the decisive battle is tonight."

"Yes. They agreed to meet at the downstream of Qiling River outside the outer city."

"Thanks. Since you've told me this, can you do one more thing for me?"

"Yes?"

***

Half a day later, the time of the decisive battle arrived. I changed into the clothes of the black path gang member I had captured and arrived at the place where the gangs were to fight.

The battle was imminent, and fierce sounds could be heard from all around.

"What kind of idiot comes to a battlefield without a weapon?!"

"…Me?"

"Yes! You! Who else here isn't carrying a weapon?"

"Well… my main weapon is my fists…"

"Ha! Who picked you? You can't defend against a sword with your fists. You'll be killed in no time. What are you waiting for? Go get a club or something."

After hearing that, I broke a branch from a nearby tree and stood in line with the others.

After about an hour,

Rumble.

Men appeared from across the river. The sight of the fierce-looking gang members with knives reminded me of a Korean gangster movie in VR.

Then,

"Ha ha ha! You Li Xian Hall brats. You came to your graves!"

A large man from the Black Mist Hall shouted loudly. He looked like a third-rate extra villain, and I was sure I wouldn't need to look at him twice.

In response to his shout, a man stepped forward from the Li Xian Hall side.

Tap tap tap.

His movements were not ordinary.

"Where did you gather these ragtag soldiers? No matter what, your death anniversary will still be tomorrow."

A line straight out of an old martial arts novel.

However, I was surprised when I saw the man.

'Mi Shan Ke Zan?'

That's right. The man was the bald man I had fought at Mi Shan Ke Zan. I had made him give me a hundred bottles of alcohol as a quest reward.

As I was sorting out the situation, an idea came to me, and I sent a telepathic message to the bald man.

"…!"

The bald man was startled and nodded slightly. I continued the telepathic message.

In the future, the battle known as the Qiling Great Victory in Li Xian Hall's history began.