Chapter 10, The Spy

The girl in the red dress was so angry that her eyebrows shot up, and one delicate hand was tightly gripping the hilt of her sword. The middle-aged man also glared at Jiang Yu, a faint aura of authority emanating from him. Jiang Yu's gaze was vicious, and he could tell at a glance that this man likely had two to three decades of internal martial arts cultivation, making him a top-notch expert in the martial world. "This is bad; I can't let them take advantage of me verbally. It's fine to talk, but if I truly anger these people, it would be quite a hassle. I am now an official of the court, unlike the days of my freedom. Isn't my elder brother pretending to be a wise old man in the court now?"

Having finished breakfast and wiped his mouth, Jiang Yu, with a Qian Niu knife at his waist, rode a tall horse and arrived at the yamen of Huaying. Just after signing his name, he saw Feng Xiaoxiao and several other camp leaders, all adorned with flowers, joyfully emerging from a side room. They clasped their hands towards Jiang Yu and smiled, saying: "Congratulations, Brother Jiang, you have indeed been promoted! What a coincidence today, with you, all nine camp leaders are present. As a newly appointed official, you should treat your brothers to a good meal, shouldn't you?"

With a sideways glance at Feng Qingqing, Jiang Yu noticed the look of envy on her face and inwardly scolded, "What an inexperienced person. According to their Daoist beliefs, merely drawing energy into the body at the level of twelve is not even enough to form a Golden Core, yet they can still be considered celestial masters? But can they refine pills? Can they help others enhance their power?" Jiang Yu instinctively recalled the dark and arduous days of consuming tens of thousands of pounds of herbs, and the mountain of top-grade medicinal materials piled up in his wish pouch: "Heaven, if that old Daoist is willing to help me refine a batch of pills, wouldn't I immediately be able to elevate my power to the highest realm of the wooden body? Then, heh heh!"

Matters that do not concern oneself should be left aside; such disputes should not be engaged in. The wind laughs at them, as they remain oblivious to Jiang Yu's true nature, yet they all focus their thoughts entirely on the banquet, calling Jiang Yu their brother and downing cup after cup of aged wine, causing Jiang Yu to slur his words, thoroughly enjoying himself

Feng Xiaoxiao and the other eight camp leaders burst into laughter, applauding, "Wonderful, wonderful! Brother Jiang is indeed our good brother. Not only is he efficient in his work, but he is also exceptionally generous! Hahaha, innkeeper, today’s banquet will be charged to our flower camp. At the end of the year, you can settle accounts with the palace treasury yourselves!" The plump, round innkeeper gave Jiang Yu a thumbs-up and left with a smile.

With a kindly expression, Jiang Yu affectionately patted Zhang Laosan's head, much like one would caress a beloved pet dog. He smiled and said: "Alright, very good. Remember, from now on, you are my people. If anyone dares to bully you, just mention my name, understood? Call me Master Yu!"

Not noticing the small movements of the subordinates behind him, Jiang Yu rushed in front of the ruffian leader, eagerly helping him up and asking in surprise: "This big brother, who dares to hit you? What is the background of those outsiders?"

Consciously breathing in and out for an entire night in the city of Chang'an can yield effects comparable to those found in the blessed lands of Kunlun Mountain. Jiang Yu felt a surge of self-satisfaction and thought to himself: No wonder that old schemer Li Tianba possesses such profound skills; it is likely that the imperial palace has not spared any effort on him. After all, the dragon's lair, where the nine dragon heads converge, is located in Xingqing Palace. It is also understandable why the current emperor chooses not to reside in his splendid palace but insists on managing state affairs in his own Crown Prince's East Palace. There are indeed extraordinary individuals within the Tang court.

The ruffian leader was kicked into a daze, his head spinning and unclear. He stared blankly at Jiang Yu and said, "So it’s Brother Zhao San, long time no see, long time no see. Where have you been making your fortune these past few years? Hey, hurry and take us brothers to the branch, gather the men, and we will definitely dismember these few ignorant rascals who don’t know the rules of the martial world! Once we reach Chang'an City, who would dare to disrespect our 'Shuangzun Gang'? Who would dare to touch our people?" Hey, hurry and take us brothers to the branch, gather the men, and we will definitely dismember these few ignorant rascals who don’t know the rules of the martial world! Once we reach Chang'an City, who would dare to disrespect our 'Shuangzun Gang'? Who would dare to touch our people?

At this time, Chang'an is the most prosperous place in the world, while the countries of the West are still in a nearly barbaric and uncivilized era. Only Chang'an is rich and elegant, a truly extraordinary paradise. On Zhuque Street, one can see merchants from various nations coming and going, with strange and exotic goods filling the shops on both sides of the street. Moreover, there are Hu women dancing in the streets, enticing customers to enter their shops for food, drink, and entertainment. In addition, the citizens of the Tang Dynasty are bustling in groups along the street, making the scene even more extraordinarily vibrant. With the skills of Jiang Yu and his companions, they could hardly cover a distance of one mile in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, which illustrates the sheer number of pedestrians on the street.

Old Zhang San suddenly burst forth with unexpected strength, leaping up and kneeling on the ground, repeatedly bowing his head like pounding garlic towards Jiang Yu, saying: "Grandfather, you are my dear uncle, please do not hit me, please do not hit me, I remember now, I do not recognize anyone named Zhao San! Uncle, you are the powerful dragon crossing the river, why bully a mere local worm like me?"

Consider that Jiang Yu, even at the peak of his physical form, possessed a strength of several thousand pounds in his arms. Now, with the powerful effects of the Essence Blood Spirit Pearl, he has transcended his physical limits and reached the pinnacle of the wooden body realm. With a mere swing of his arms, he can exert a force of tens of thousands of pounds. Although he only gently pushed to the sides, dozens of onlooking citizens found themselves unsteady, stumbling awkwardly as they were pushed aside. Jiang Yu casually waved a few times and had already positioned himself at the innermost part of the crowd, eagerly observing the dispute between five wandering heroes and a dozen members of the City Fox Society from Chang'an.

The ruffian leader chuckled a few times, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a playful grin as he addressed the girl in red: "Alright, we've chatted enough about trivial matters. Miss, just now you splashed some soup on me, so let's not dwell on it. You can join us for a drink, and then we can pay a visit to our big brother. That will settle the matter. Hehe, who knows, you might become our sister-in-law in the future, of course, as a secondary wife, but still, you would be our sister-in-law, right?" Hehe, who knows, you might become our sister-in-law in the future, of course, as a secondary wife, but still, you would be our sister-in-law, right?

Another camp leader, a man who was only two inches shorter than Jiang Yu but at least a foot wider and a full foot thick, laughed heartily. His muscular body seemed ready to burst from the confines of his clothing as he said: "This is exactly the point. Let’s have a good meal and drink, and we can also share some details about the Flower Camp with Brother Jiang. Now then, gentlemen, let’s not dawdle. Brothers, let’s set off to the 'Drunken Dragon Pavilion' for a hearty drink."

Having seen this, it was clear to Jiang Yu that Zhang Laosan knew only this little. Without a word, Jiang Yu swung his fist and unleashed a flurry of blows on Zhang Laosan. After two punches, Zhang Laosan let out a miserable howl, spitting out several broken teeth, lying on the ground like a dead dog. However, Jiang Yu grabbed him by the belt and lifted him up, raining down fists the size of bowls upon Zhang Laosan. Amidst the storm-like sounds of bone and flesh colliding, Zhang Laosan howled a few times, spitting out mouthfuls of blood, and finally collapsed to the ground. Yet Jiang Yu was still unwilling to let him go, stepping down hard and delivering several vicious kicks to Zhang Laosan, causing him to howl in agony. His vision blurred, and he felt as if he might faint, but it was impossible to lose consciousness.

A group of ruffians burst into wild laughter, each of them spreading their arms like ducks about to lay eggs, waddling towards the young girl. The middle-aged man looked up to the sky and sighed in anger, shouting, "The tree wishes to be still, but the wind does not cease. Brothers, let’s take action! Chang'an is a place governed by law; do not be too ruthless in your actions." He was the first to kick out, his foot, which was nearly a foot long, leaving a large footprint on the ruffian leader's body. The ruffian leader let out a howl, his body flying back three zhang, landing on the ground and rolling around while clutching his stomach.

Feng Xiaoxiao gently patted Jiang Yu's shoulder and smiled, saying: "It is nothing more than mutual supervision and the sharing of intelligence sources. In the vast realm of the Tang Dynasty, according to the current trend, it seems that the Emperor intends for us to each oversee one of the ten departments, which is why he eagerly appointed you as the new camp leader. If your subordinates do not have a reliable group of people, how can you shoulder such a great responsibility? Brother Jiang, you currently have only over two hundred subordinates, and they are merely receiving their salaries, living quite comfortably. But if a major case arises that requires your intervention, and we cannot spare the energy, do you expect to rely solely on these two hundred people?"

The middle-aged man, who appeared somewhat older and more mature, stood in front of the young girl in red and said in a deep voice: "Little sister, do not waste your breath with these rascals. In broad daylight, could it be that there is no law? If they continue to chatter, we shall report them to the authorities."

Jiang Yu's eyes nearly bled from the sight. He cast a glance at the innkeeper standing at the door of the private room, grinning as if he had just stolen a little hen, and shouted in a fit of rage: "Come on, serve each brother a jar of good wine, and add another portion of these dishes. Today, we won't leave until we're drunk. Anyone who crawls back without getting drunk is disrespecting me, Jiang Yu, and I will definitely beat him to death!" He thought fiercely: If your price is too outrageous, I will use that jade pendant as collateral. Let's see if you at 'Drunken Dragon Pavilion' dare to accept this genuine imperial jade pendant! Today, we won't leave until we're drunk. Anyone who crawls back without getting drunk is disrespecting me, Jiang Yu, and I will definitely beat him to death!" He thought fiercely: If your price is too outrageous, I will use that jade pendant as collateral. Let's see if you at 'Drunken Dragon Pavilion' dare to accept this genuine imperial jade pendant!

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Yu ultimately refrained from broaching the taboo topic of "private military forces." He pondered for a while and nodded in agreement, saying: "In that case, I truly need to consider this carefully; this time is indeed not easy. However, since I have important matters at hand, why does Your Majesty still require me to undertake some inexplicable mission as an envoy for gold?"

Feng Qingqing secretly pointed at several Daoists from the Heavenly Master Sect and said: "Ying Touer, these Daoists from the Heavenly Master Sect have a really good relationship with our Flower Camp. The Chief has astonishing power, which is due to the Golden Elixir refined by their Master Yuan, whom he has been taking since childhood to achieve his current cultivation. Our Flower Camp has also received their strong support during investigations; last time when we besieged the Breaking Heaven Net, those twelve young Heavenly Masters were also sent by the current real person of the Heavenly Master Sect to stay in our Flower Camp."

Li Tianba's statement that Jiang Yu should find funding for the case himself does not imply that the flower camp is so impoverished that it cannot even disburse salaries. Rather, it means that Jiang Yu must find ways to earn money to establish his own network of spies. Each leader of a flower camp possesses a unique network of spies, none of whom even hold a formal position within the camp. All expenses must be borne by the camp leaders themselves. For instance, Feng Xiaoxiao has a silk shop and a restaurant in Chang'an City, and all the profits from these establishments are used to subsidize his spies. Each leader of a flower camp possesses a unique network of spies, none of whom even hold a formal position within the camp. All expenses must be borne by the camp leaders themselves. For instance, Feng Xiaoxiao has a silk shop and a restaurant in Chang'an City, and all the profits from these establishments are used to subsidize his spies

No need to spend money oneself? Jiang Yu immediately felt a sense of great relief. Amidst the clinking of glasses, Feng Xiaoxiao and the others began to cheer and drink heartily. For a moment, Feng Xiaoxiao and the others earnestly advised Jiang Yu, revealing some private matters regarding the Huaying.

As for the intelligence network in the hands of Li Tianba, it extends east to the Three Han states, north to the Turks, west to Tubo and the various countries of the Western Regions, and south to Nanzhao. It is likely that it does not have a scale of less than tens of thousands of people. With such enormous expenses, Li Longji's private funds are certainly insufficient to support it, which is why it forces Li Tianba to lament his poverty day in and day out

A group of ruffians laughed heartily, and Jiang Yu also felt a deep sense of familiarity as he burst into laughter—such words were reminiscent of his elder brother Li Linfu's behavior years ago in Yangzhou, when he led a group of unruly and immoral soldiers to tease the wives of others in the streets! This was an indelible memory from Jiang Yu's childhood, one that remained deeply etched in his heart even after Wu Fan had taught him the ways of the Dao for ten years. Unable to contain himself, Jiang Yu let out an extremely loud and prolonged whistle, smiling as he asked the girl in red, "Little sister, are you available for marriage?" This was an indelible memory from Jiang Yu's childhood, one that remained deeply etched in his heart even after Wu Fan had taught him the ways of the Dao for ten years. Unable to contain himself, Jiang Yu let out an extremely loud and prolonged whistle, smiling as he asked the girl in red, "Little sister, are you available for marriage?"

Just as I was feeling pleased with myself, a loud argument suddenly erupted ahead. The citizens of Chang'an are known for their eagerness to meddle in affairs, and soon hundreds of people surged forward, surrounding the site of the dispute so tightly that not a drop of water could pass through. From within the crowd, a clear female voice rang out: "You bandits of the rivers and lakes, do you only know how to bully us outsiders?"

The five rangers' eyes simultaneously flashed with brilliance, especially the girl in red, whose fingers gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. The cousin of the White Dragon Gang's leader in Yangzhou, Jia Yu, must be waiting for an opportunity to immediately head to Yangzhou and establish a good rapport with Jia Yu. Jiang Yu felt a great joy in his heart; as the saying goes, causing harm to others is the source of happiness, and the ancients truly did not deceive me! Feng Qingqing and the other flower-adorned young men mixed in the crowd stared at Jiang Yu with expressions as if they had seen a ghost: Who is this person? Jiang Yu felt a great joy in his heart; as the saying goes, causing harm to others is the source of happiness, and the ancients truly did not deceive me! Feng Qingqing and the other flower-adorned young men mixed in the crowd stared at Jiang Yu with expressions as if they had seen a ghost: Who is this person? He is even worse than a local ruffian!

Feng Qingqing and the others had flushed faces, stepping back two paces from Jiang Yu. "Unskilled and unlearned, lazy and aimless, absurd and unruly, this Jiang Yu is indeed just like his elder brother, yet lacks his brother's depth of character. It is truly difficult to serve him, truly difficult to serve! The reputation of the Huaying has been completely tarnished by him"

Led by Zhang Laosan, a group of ruffians simultaneously bowed their heads and said: "Grandfather, we will remember this. From now on, all matters concerning the Shuangzun Gang will be reported to you. Moreover, we will keep you informed of any developments in the neighborhoods of Chang'an City. We will also report to you every three days at the market entrance in the West City. We will remember this!"

Stifled in the crowd, Jiang Yu shamelessly hummed, "I am the uncle of the cousin of Jia Yuzhi, the leader of the White Dragon Gang in Yangzhou. Ah, the waters of Yangzhou are too shallow to support a big fish like me"

Jiang Yu felt a cold sweat breaking out from his back, astonished by the immense hidden power of the Flower Camp, shocked by their great authority, and even more surprised by their pervasive network of spies spread throughout the world. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Jiang Yu said with a bitter smile: "With so many spies already in place, why do I need to maintain a group of my own?"

Clearing his throat, Jiang Yu looked at Zhang Laosan with malice and asked, "Brother Zhang San, you have truly made it big, haven't you? Joining the Shuangzun Gang is a remarkable opportunity! But I wonder, just how powerful is this Shuangzun Gang? How formidable are the two gang leaders?"

Zhang Laosan boasted proudly: "It's not that I, Zhang Laosan, am bragging, brother, our Shuangzun Gang has five hundred inner disciples and two thousand outer disciples. In the vicinity of Chang'an City, we are one of the top gangs! The two gang leaders, the Grand Gang Leader Tianzun, can kill a cow with a single punch! The Second Gang Leader Dizun can lift a two-thousand-jin stone lion with his arms. Tsk tsk, what skills, what abilities. Not to mention the few venerable elders in our gang who are like immortals, tsk tsk, they are truly remarkable." Zhang Laosan's eyes twinkled, and he continued to boast nonsensically: "Let me put it this way, those venerable immortal elders, when they toss their swords, the sword light can fly thousands of miles and behead a person!"

Behind these seven individuals lies a formidable family influence. Coupled with the Lingnan Feng family, represented by the brothers Feng Xiaoxiao and Feng Qingqing, and Jiang Yu, who has a brother serving as a high-ranking official in the current dynasty, the nine leaders of Huaying can be likened to nine porcupines, each bristling with strength. Their power is undeniably substantial. Moreover, these nine individuals are closely connected to the current royal family. For instance, the entire business lifeline of the Feng family relies heavily on the royal family's strong support to sustain itself, making them the most trusted, reassuring, and loyal subjects of the current emperor.

For instance, among these nine leaders, besides Jiang Yu and Feng Xiaoxiao, the tall, dark man is Yan Maoer, the fair-skinned young man is Tang Xiaoxi, the middle-aged man with a mustache is Yan Bufe, the emaciated old man is Nangong Zhenxi, the one resembling a stern judge is Dugu Bugu, the chubby and cheerful one is Hu Laoshi, and the small, thin, and cunning-looking one is Li Mutou. While Feng Xiaoxiao was introducing these leaders, Jiang Yu secretly cursed in his heart: "What kind of ridiculous names are these?"

Yan Mao'er's Golden Bell Shield and Golden Sand Palm have been perfected to an extraordinary level; Tang Xiaoxi is filled with poison, and her hidden weapons are exquisite; Yan Bu Fei wields a purple soft sword that sweeps across the three major sword sects, forcing them to close their doors and retreat from the martial world; Nangong Zhenxi excels in the unique Qi refining technique, Longyin, with profound internal strength; Dugu Bu Gu is adept at using unconventional curved blades, and his unique lightness skill, Yan Hui Xuan, is unparalleled; Hu Laoshi is proficient in calculations, wielding a golden abacus and a Spring and Autumn brush, earning the titles of master strategist and brilliant writer; as for Li Mutou, he is a master of traps and various ingenious mechanisms, unmatched in the world.

The river fish was furious, staring blankly at Zhang Laosan, and suddenly threw a punch at his face. Nonsense, a swordsman capable of killing from thousands of miles away, would such a practitioner with such cultivation and magical power come to Chang'an City for a leisurely stroll? And serve as a patron for your gang of thugs? Practitioners of such strength would not fear the collective attack of the Celestial Masters and True Persons of the Celestial Master Sect, who could seal them all? Who is backing the Celestial Master Sect? That is one of the four major sects in the world that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Wangyue Sect, as mentioned by Wufan! Chang'an City is the territory of the Celestial Master Sect!

After Li Longji ascended the throne, he further adhered to the principle of honoring Daoism while suppressing Buddhism. He widely propagated that the Li family was a descendant of the Daoist ancestor, Laozi, and even personally annotated the "Tao Te Ching," which was printed and distributed throughout the realm. Consequently, on the streets of Chang'an, one could often see Daoist priests in robes parading about, whether buying rice, oil, or items such as vermilion and mercury. Among them were Daoist priests of the Tianshi Dao, dressed in blue robes, each exuding a clear aura and vibrant energy, walking through the streets, distinctly different from other Daoists.

Jiang Yu was taken aback. He looked at Feng Xiao with a puzzled smile and said, "Are we going to settle accounts with Gongku? Could it be that we, the people of Huaying, can eat and drink in Chang'an without paying?"

Having been promoted and having gained wealth, Jiang Yu was in high spirits. Although the dragon-patterned jade pendant could not be sold for money, the jade pendant worth over 2,000 guan hanging from his belt made him feel indescribably comfortable. Look, although it was just an ordinary steel wire belt, it was the valuable item hanging from it that made all the difference! Jiang Yu felt a sudden thrill; in Chang'an, there were many young nobles with various items hanging from their belts, but whose accessories could compare to his? Look, although it was just an ordinary steel wire belt, it was the valuable item hanging from it that made all the difference! Jiang Yu felt a sudden thrill; in Chang'an, there were many young nobles with various items hanging from their belts, but whose accessories could compare to his?

After much contemplation, he found himself repeatedly complaining about Li Longji. Jiang Yu, tapping his fingers, attempted to calculate the intricacies of the situation. However, he had not cultivated any spiritual powers or refined his Taoist practices, and despite possessing great magical abilities, how could he, Jiang Yu, decipher the secrets of heaven? Moreover, the person who set up this grand formation of the Nine Dragons paying homage possessed a level of Taoist cultivation that far surpassed his own by more than a hundred times. How could he possibly calculate it?

Ah, dear brother, you are a person of high status and easily forgetful, am I not Zhao San from Anqing Fang? It has been several years since I last saw you

Five rangers stood by, and the girl who spoke was dressed in a long, bright red gown. Although the color was only six or seven parts vivid, her youthful and robust physique made her appear to possess eight or nine parts beauty. Coupled with her long, powerful legs and the sword hanging at her waist, she exuded a striking aura that set her apart from ordinary women. The onlookers, with their lustful gazes, roamed over the girl's chest and hips, while the dozen or so city dwellers surrounding them drooled, wishing they could grab and squeeze her with their hands.

As Feng Qingqing and the others approached the scene of the "tragedy," a dozen ruffians, with mouths missing half of their teeth, knelt before Jiang Yu like devoted worshippers, gazing at him with utmost reverence and earnestly committing his every command to memory. "From today onwards, you are my people! I will not concern myself with your food and drink, nor with your means of supporting your families. You will infiltrate the Shuangzun Gang and report all their activities back to me. Let me tell you, if you dare to betray me, the territory of Chang'an is not that large, and it will be quite easy for me to find you. When I do, I will beat you each time I see you, until your own mother wouldn't recognize you!" I will not concern myself with your food and drink, nor with your means of supporting your families. You will infiltrate the Shuangzun Gang and report all their activities back to me. Let me tell you, if you dare to betray me, the territory of Chang'an is not that large, and it will be quite easy for me to find you. When I do, I will beat you each time I see you, until your own mother wouldn't recognize you!

Suddenly, the violent blows came to an abrupt halt. Jiang Yu's fierce and terrifying face loomed in front of Zhang Laosan as he shouted angrily, "Are you convinced now? Huh? You son of a dog?"

Hearing this, the local ruffians had yet to speak, but Jiang Yu was already rolling his eyes in anger, accusing the middle-aged man: "You there, look at you, a proper man, how can you utter such spineless words? In our line of work, we value the principle of entering with a white blade and exiting with a red one, enduring wounds and bloodshed without batting an eye. How can you shamelessly suggest reporting to the authorities? If you are a man, draw your knife and take care of these few. Is the foreign knife you carry at your waist merely for attracting the attention of women?"

A punch struck the wall on one side of the alley, and the powerful force of the punch shattered the entire wall into countless fragments that flew out. Jiang Yu grinned maliciously and said, "Look at my fist, which is three points harder than a hammer! If it lands on you, heh heh, 'puff' one, 'puff' another, your heads will be like rotten watermelons!"

He patted Jiang Yu on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Brother Jiang, you may not know this. The signboard of 'Drunken Dragon Pavilion' was personally inscribed by the current Emperor; the major owner of 'Drunken Dragon Pavilion' is also the current Emperor; and seventy percent of the annual profits from 'Drunken Dragon Pavilion' are our operational expenses. So, tell me, isn't it only fitting that we brothers gather together today to treat you to a hearty meal to celebrate your promotion here? This is what we call not letting the good water flow to outsiders' fields"

The ruffian, clutching his stomach, got up with Jiang Yu's assistance. He furrowed his brows and scrutinized Jiang Yu for a while, then asked in surprise: "Who are you? Do you perhaps recognize me?"

Zhang Laosan's more than a dozen subordinates were so frightened that they trembled all over, huddled in the corner of the alley like young girls facing a group of frenzied lechers, shrinking back as they looked at Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu, however, wore a sinister smile as he approached those ruffians, lifting them one by one. With a heavy fist infused with a hint of vibrant natural energy, he engaged in a brutal physical exchange with them, causing each of these thugs to scream in agony. The earth-shattering cries terrified any passerby on either side of the alley, leaving no one daring to enter except for Feng Qingqing and a group of flower-adorned young men.

After a drunken stupor, Jiang Yu rested at home for two days, carefully refining the true energy within his body. He also prepared some clever little gadgets. However, he heard that Feng Xiaoxiao and the others had left Chang'an with people, heading to various public offices. Upon hearing this news, Jiang Yu immediately became alert and rushed to the headquarters of the Flower Camp. He gathered Feng Qingqing and two or three other leaders, bringing along a dozen of the best skilled flower-picking men. This group did not wear the Flower Camp's distinctive white tribute silk robes, but instead changed into ordinary attire of wandering heroes. Each carried a few coins in their waist and wore long swords and broadswords at their sides, making their way along Zhuque Street.

Feng Qingqing and the others exchanged glances, then looked at the group of thugs who had fallen into a daze, their faces simultaneously displaying an expression of extreme admiration. They shook their heads and then followed Jiang Yu out.

With a grand flourish of his sleeves, Jiang Yu walked out with his hands behind his back, head held high, and an air of arrogance.

A jolt ran through his heart, and Jiang Yu felt a pang of concern for the little money in his purse. He hurriedly shouted, "Brothers, the official business is urgent, the official business is urgent! Haven't I just made a seal? I haven't even asked General Er what I am supposed to do!"

Oh no! Jiang Yu slapped his thigh, excitedly forcing his way through the crowd towards the center. Feng Qingqing and the others, unaware of why Jiang Yu was so excited, hurriedly followed. They heard Jiang Yu mumbling, "Is someone causing trouble? I was just worried about finding a target to strike, and here comes one! Assaulting a respectable woman in public, first we’ll send you to the Chang'an government office, give you a hundred lashes, and then, we’ll follow the clues to catch your boss. If I don’t extort a few hundred thousand taels of silver, I, Jiang Yu, would be too embarrassed to call myself the 'Tiger of Clean Streets in Yangzhou'!"

With a cough, Jiang Yu's tall figure shrank back into the crowd, falling silent. The gang leader smiled in Jiang Yu's direction and said, "Is that brother from out of town? I haven't seen you around Chang'an! Why not share your name, so we can get to know each other better? Are you here in Chang'an to pass the time? You've come to the right person!" Why not share your name, so we can get to know each other better? Are you here in Chang'an to pass the time? You've come to the right person!

Hey, hey, yes, yes! Jiang Yu, with a smiling face and careful demeanor, helped up the leader of the gang. Following this leader were several other thugs who had been knocked down, and behind them trailed three unfortunate souls holding two bloody ears. The group squeezed into a narrow alley, winding their way towards the western market of Chang'an City. After walking less than half a mile, the gang leader, known as Zhang Laosan, began to boast about himself, claiming that his "Shuangzun Gang" was unparalleled in the world and that they had no rivals. He further exaggerated the prowess of the two gang leaders, portraying them as extraordinary figures, as if any martial arts expert in the world would be instantly reduced to dust upon encountering them.

With a few exclamations of admiration, Jiang Yu stood on the roof of his small building, gazing enviously and somewhat jealously at the terrifyingly dense purple-golden dragon energy hovering above Xingqing Palace. He gritted his teeth and vented his frustration. "You, Li Longji, although you are an emperor, are not a practitioner. It is truly infuriating that you occupy one of the top dragon vein treasures of this world for no reason! It is indeed strange; how is it that the Nine Dragons have gathered here now?" You, Li Longji, although you are an emperor, are not a practitioner. It is truly infuriating that you occupy one of the top dragon vein treasures of this world for no reason! It is indeed strange; how is it that the Nine Dragons have gathered here now? My master once said that the Nine Dragons often fight, which signifies great chaos in the world. During the late Three Kingdoms period, the Nine Dragons fought to the death, and only one in ten of the common people survived. How could it be that now they are all peacefully resting underground in Chang'an? What is the reasoning behind this?"

A few people chuckled oddly, and in unison said: "In that case, congratulations to Brother Jiang. This piece of prime real estate in Chang'an City is now yours. Our assigned territories are all in other places, and as for Chang'an City, it has always been as impenetrable as a fortress. It all depends on whether Brother Jiang can extract some benefits from this iron plate of Chang'an City." The group burst into hearty laughter, their faces filled with unabashed glee, prompting Jiang Yu to nod thoughtfully and chuckle darkly a few times.

With a sullen expression, Jiang Yu was 'escorted' into the 'Drunken Dragon Pavilion' by Feng Xiaoxiao and a group of people, resembling a zombie. A group of flower-adorned young men shouted for the manager to open the largest private room, setting up nineteen tables of banquets, disregarding the fact that it was still early in the morning, and began to pour the strong old wine into their stomachs as if it were plain water. Among this group of flower-adorned young men's leaders and captains, even the least skilled had the prowess of second-rate masters in the martial world, with their internal energy having reached a considerable level. Using their internal energy to dispel the effects of the alcohol was a task they were well-practiced in, and each person downed two jars of old wine in an instant.

Have you remembered?" Jiang Yu shouted fiercely, startling the group of ruffians into a sudden tremor

Moreover, the "Drunken Dragon Pavilion" was personally inscribed by Li Longji when he was still a prince. It is reputed to be the most ruthless tavern in Chang'an, charging the highest fees. One hundred copper coins per person—can you even come out of there? I fear that just one pot of wine inside would cost more than that.

Feng Qingqing nearly fell to the ground, while the other class leaders wore strange expressions, glancing at each other involuntarily taking a few steps back from Jiang Yu.

The other three rangers shouted in unison, moving like the wind, causing seven or eight local ruffians to scream in terror, rolling and crawling away in haste. Jiang Yu was applauding and cheering in the crowd when he suddenly saw the young girl in red let out a light whistle, drawing her long sword. A beam of sword light shot out, extending nearly ten feet in length, and he witnessed three ruffians scream in agony as six bloody ears fell to the ground. The onlookers, seeing the blood, shouted and turned to flee in all directions. The middle-aged man angrily scolded a few words, merely repeating old clichés like 'under the emperor's feet' and 'the law of the land,' as he pulled the girl along, leading the three rangers into a narrow alley.

With a clatter, a total of one hundred and eighty squad leaders rushed out from a shabby little room filled with books, making faces at Jiang Yu in a humorous manner. This time, Jiang Yu could see clearly that there were three small iron doors on the wall of that room, and it turned out that all one hundred and eighty squad leaders had poured out from those little doors. Well, there are nine battalions, with twenty squad leaders under each battalion, totaling one hundred and eighty. Even if each person only consumes one hundred wen from Jiang Yu, that amounts to eighteen guan of big money

The five rangers were momentarily taken aback. The leader among the ruffians, with a smug expression, clasped his fists towards Jiang Yu and laughed, "This brother speaks well. We are all out here in the world; if we are men, we should draw our swords and have a contest. We are merely inviting his sister to drink with us and then to accompany our big brother to bed. Why put on such a face?" The ruffian leader, with a frivolous demeanor, whistled at the girl in red and leered, "Sister, you do not know the benefits of our big brother. He is the famous 'Better than a Donkey' in Chang'an! I guarantee he will serve you until you desire to die, die and then die again, only to come back to life!"

With a cheerful wave of her hand, Feng Xiaoxiao forcefully placed it on Jiang Yu's shoulder and laughed, "What are you asking about? Last night, the Second General escorted His Majesty to Luoyang on official business. Who are you inquiring about? Currently, in this flower camp, we are the largest among the nine camps. The case of the Heavenly Net has just been concluded, and the officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Supreme Court are interrogating that monk Zhi Yi and a few small fry who were captured. It has little to do with us. If we don't take the opportunity to enjoy ourselves, what else should we do?"

Several camp leaders looked at Jiang Yu, feeling puzzled: how could the city of Chang'an, which was impenetrable and tightly sealed, be the place where the emperor personally issued an edict for Jiang Yu to come for official business? Tsk tsk, this Jiang Yu is like a slippery piece of meat, seemingly unaware of the principles of justice and law, and not afraid of causing a major scandal? ... Moreover, his elder brother Li Linfu enjoys the emperor's favor and has close ties with several senior officials in the court, along with support from people in the inner court, making his actions naturally reckless. If any trouble arises ... tsk tsk, this Jiang Yu is like a slippery piece of meat, seemingly unaware of the principles of justice and law, and not afraid of causing a major scandal? ... Furthermore, his elder brother Li Linfu enjoys the emperor's favor and has close ties with several senior officials in the court, along with support from people in the inner court, making his actions naturally reckless. If any trouble arises ...

With a chuckle, Jiang Yu exchanged a glance with Feng Qingqing and the others. Taking advantage of the chaos around them, he shrank his body, and with a few cracking sounds, he had reduced his height by about a foot, transforming into the figure he had when he was peeping at others' daytime debauchery from the roof of the Great Compassion Temple. He casually turned his coat inside out and put it on, then ran towards the gang leader, exclaiming, "Brother, brother, are you alright?"

In the span of one shichen, the eight of them, with lively chatter, divulged many secrets of the Flower Camp to Jiang Yu. For instance, the reason the Flower Camp does not take a single coin from the Ministry of Revenue is to maintain its absolute secrecy, preventing outsiders from knowing the annual expenses of the Flower Camp, thus making it impossible to assess its scale and other confidential matters. Part of the funding for the Flower Camp is directly drawn from Li Longji's personal purse, while another portion is earned from various subsidiary businesses. For example, the 'Drunken Dragon Pavilion' is an enterprise that directly belongs to Li Tianba within the Flower Camp.

Here, Li Linfu was already slowly donning his official robe and came out, calling to Jiang Yu: "Little Yu, your elder brother has gone to the court for a meeting. You might as well take a stroll in the flower camp. I do not know what official business he has in the flower camp, but this morning's signing is a routine matter that cannot be neglected." After a pause, Li Linfu added: "The dining hall has prepared some snacks and thin porridge for you; eat before you go. I do not know what official business he has in the flower camp, but this morning's signing is a routine matter that cannot be neglected. After a pause, Li Linfu added: "The dining hall has prepared some snacks and thin porridge for you; eat before you go. Your nephews are going to the ancestral school today; if you have time, take good care of them and do not let them get into fights and suffer losses."

Pain, an overwhelming agony dominated all of Zhang Laosan's senses. He wished so fervently that he could faint right now! However, a cool and refreshing energy within him continuously circulated, protecting his internal organs and muscles, preventing him from losing consciousness. Wherever this cool energy flowed, the pain would subside in waves, yet the subsequent heavy blows intensified the agony more than tenfold. The contrast between hell and heaven coexisted within Zhang Laosan, leaving him with a feeling that life was worse than death. Wherever this cool energy flowed, the pain would subside in waves, yet the subsequent heavy blows intensified the agony more than tenfold. The contrast between hell and heaven coexisted within Zhang Laosan, leaving him with a feeling that life was worse than death.

Jiang Yu responded with a nod, and Li Linfu, satisfied, walked out. Immediately afterward, he saw seven or eight guards surrounding a few of Li Linfu's children as they slowly made their way out. Jiang Yu chuckled to himself, "As expected of my elder brother Jiang Yu, this is well said—do not let them get into fights and suffer losses. It is acceptable for my nephews and nieces to hit others, but they must not be hit themselves. Hmm, should I teach them some martial arts techniques? Or perhaps not, as they are not in this line of work, and there is no reason for them to learn martial arts and end up causing trouble by killing someone." It is acceptable for my nephews and nieces to hit others, but they must not be hit themselves. Hmm, should I teach them some martial arts techniques? Or perhaps not, as they are not in this line of work, and there is no reason for them to learn martial arts and end up causing trouble by killing someone.

Early in the morning, I got up and practiced the 'Beast Fist' in the courtyard. I also went through dozens of profound techniques learned from the martial arts manual stolen from Wufan. Jiang Yu felt that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth he had gathered last night had transformed into an extremely pure true energy that merged into his dantian, and he couldn't help but burst into wild laughter. "The atmosphere of the Great Tang Dynasty seems to be hard-won over thousands of years. The dragon veins of the Nine Dragons converge beneath the city of Chang'an, which is quite a boon for me, Fish Master! Thinking of the Nine Dragons' veins, which usually remain disconnected, now they can unite as one. The fortune of the Great Tang indeed brings long-lasting blessings."

Jiang Yu was so focused on calculating others that he did not notice Feng Qingqing and the other leaders behind him, their eyes lighting up as if a miser had just seen a pile of gold. Faintly, one could hear Feng Qingqing murmuring: "Got it, got it, isn't this the person we were told to investigate a few days ago? So it's Jiang Tou, huh? A reward of 500 guan!" Faintly, one could hear Feng Qingqing murmuring: "Got it, got it, isn't this the person we were told to investigate a few days ago? So it's Jiang Tou, huh? A reward of 500 guan!"