Chapter 74
"About fifty miles from here, there is a fort called the Happy Fort. It operates casinos and brothels, attracting rural landlords and idle villagers to spend their money."
"Occasionally, even some city dwellers seeking novelty come to experience a different kind of pleasure that the county town can't offer."
"That fort is actually one of the Black Wolf Gang's properties. It's said that the fort master is the ninth leader of the Black Wolf Gang."
"I think the Han Lao Wu and Zhao Xiong you mentioned are probably from there."
"Master Ma, what is the martial prowess of this ninth leader?" Lu Qing asked.
"I'm not too sure, but I don't think it's anything extraordinary, probably no higher than the Qi and Blood Realm," Mago replied.
"Just the Qi and Blood Realm?" Lu Qing was surprised.
"What do you mean by 'just the Qi and Blood Realm'?" Mago laughed, "Brother Lu, don't think that just because you have an extraordinary martial aptitude, practicing martial arts is an easy task."
"For ordinary people, reaching the Qi and Blood Realm means countless efforts and hard work, and even then, they only break through by luck."
"Many people practice martial arts for ten or twenty years, and all they achieve is a stronger body and more skilled techniques, without making any real progress.""But for someone like you, who can grasp the essence of connecting Qi and Blood so soon after starting, you are truly a rare talent."
"You should know that even the leader of the Black Wolf Gang, Black Wolf, is only in the Tendons and Bones Realm. So, how strong can his ninth leader be?"
"If a small leader of an outer industry were in the Tendons and Bones Realm, the Black Wolf Gang wouldn't be just one of the three major gangs in the county; it would be the number one."
Lu Qing then realized he had underestimated the situation.
Perhaps because he had been dealing with the Wei family every day recently and saw that even a guard in the Wei family was in the Tendons and Bones Realm.
He subconsciously felt that Tendons and Bones Realm martial artists were very common.
But he forgot that the Wei family was different; it was a colossal entity in the entire prefecture, incomparable to a small gang in the county.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master Ma. I will take my leave now."
After obtaining the information he needed, Lu Qing prepared to leave.
"Wait a minute, Brother Lu," Mago quickly called him back. "Are you planning to go to the Happy Fort?"
"Yes, as a son, knowing that my parents' death has other causes, I have to investigate," Lu Qing did not deny.
But I see that you don't seem to be going just for investigation.
Mago's eyes glanced at the battle knife on Lu Qing's back, silently thinking.
However, he knew that it was impossible to persuade Lu Qing.
A parent's death is an unforgivable enmity.
Moreover, this brother of his had already killed people from the Happy Fort.
The enmity was already irreconcilable.
Knowing the Black Wolf Gang's usual style, Mago understood that Lu Qing was better off striking first.
Otherwise, when the Black Wolf Gang truly took action, even if Lu Qing had extraordinary skills, he wouldn't be able to withstand it.
But thinking about Lu Qing's martial prowess, Mago couldn't help but worry.
No matter how talented Lu Qing was, he had only been practicing martial arts for just over a month.
Even if he had reached the Qi and Blood Realm, there could still be a significant gap in strength among those in the same realm.
Realm does not equal combat power.
Realm only represents the martial artist's physical quality and strength.
But whether the realm can be converted into combat power depends on the martial artist's application of techniques.
In this regard, Mago wasn't very optimistic about Lu Qing.
Still, Lu Qing had been practicing martial arts for too short a time.
Martial arts techniques require time to practice diligently and actual combat to hone.
Lu Qing spent his days in Jiuli Village, either studying medicine or fishing and farming. Where would he have the opportunity to hone his techniques?
If he really rushed into the Happy Fort, he might suffer a significant loss.
Thinking it over, Mago finally said, "In that case, why don't I accompany you to the Happy Fort?"
As a Tendons and Bones Realm martial artist, Mago was confident in his strength.
A small Happy Fort couldn't stop him.
However, Lu Qing shook his head, "Thank you for your kindness, Master Ma, but this is a matter between me and the Black Wolf Gang. You don't need to get involved."
Mago wanted to persuade him further, knowing that the Happy Fort had many people, and the fort master was also a martial artist. It was too dangerous for Lu Qing to go alone.
But seeing the calm and determined look in Lu Qing's eyes, he knew that further persuasion was useless.
He could only say, "Brother Lu, you must be careful. If you find anything wrong, run immediately. Don't fight head-on."
With Lu Qing's martial prowess, if he focused on escaping, unless he fell into a trap or the ninth leader of the Black Wolf Gang took action personally, ordinary gang members couldn't stop him.
Mago was worried that Lu Qing, in his youthful vigor, might get hot-headed and fight the entire fort.
"Don't worry, Master Ma. I know my limits."
After Lu Qing left with his battle knife, Mago sat there, deep in thought.
After a while, he called for Xiao Tian, "Prepare the horses and bring my sword."
"Master Ma, didn't Young Master Lu say he didn't want us to follow?" Xiao Tian asked.
"Do you want me to just sit and watch?" Mago glared, "The Wei family has instructed me to look after Brother Lu. If anything happens to him, how will I explain it to the Wei family?"
"Besides, who said I'm following Brother Lu? I just suddenly feel like hunting and will pass by the Happy Fort."
Xiao Tian was speechless.
Fine, you're the boss; whatever you say goes.
But...
"Master Ma, are we really going to confront the Black Wolf Gang? They're not easy to deal with, and the family head might not agree."
"Are you stupid?" Mago looked at him with disappointment, "Brother Lu is favored by the Wei family, and his master, the old doctor Chen, is also a strong Internal Organs Realm martial artist. In front of the Wei family and the old doctor Chen, the Black Wolf Gang is nothing!"
Suddenly, Mago froze, "By the way, does the old doctor Chen know about this?"
Whether his master knew about today's events, Lu Qing wasn't sure.
But he knew that his master had a kind heart and couldn't bear to see others suffer. He also didn't like to hurt people.
So he never thought of asking his master to help deal with the Black Wolf Gang.
He wanted to handle this matter in his own way.
After hearing about the Black Wolf Gang's vengeful nature from Mago,
Lu Qing understood that only one could survive between him and the gang.
Currently, he didn't have the ability to storm the county town.
But the Happy Fort was still within his reach.
As he left the Grand Bazaar and walked down a small path, a black figure suddenly jumped from a tree and landed on his shoulder.
It was Xiao Li.
This was why Lu Qing refused to let Mago accompany him to the Happy Fort.
Compared to the complex-minded Mago, he trusted Xiao Li, who was like family.
Moreover, Xiao Li's prowess far surpassed Mago's.
"Let's go, Xiao Li. From now on, my safety depends on you."
Lu Qing patted the Black Beast's head, his gaze fixed eastward.