"Hehe, guess?" Li Miao's eyes revealed a hint of mockery, as if looking at a fool.
Tang Wen deduced with a bit of reasoning that it couldn't possibly be true.
Li Miao said, "Keep this little badge safe! Once it's lost, unless you find me to prove your identity, it can be reissued. Otherwise, whoever picks it up owns it."
"Besides proving identity, what else is it for?"
"In the middle stone buildings, you can take on tasks. Go ask for specifics yourself. You're a one-star hunter now, so you can only enter the one-star building."
The hunter token felt heavy in his hand.
He squeezed it hard; it was extremely rigid, showing no sign of deformation.
Tang Wen asked, "Does a Martial Master represent a one-star hunter, and a Transcendent a two-star?"
Li Miao shook his head, "The threshold isn't that high. A Transcendent becomes a three-star hunter upon joining. An ordinary Martial Master can also slowly rise through the ranks by completing tasks."
After asking a few more questions,
Tang Wen packed his belongings, and Li Miao looked at him and asked, "When will you come next time?"
The former was taken aback: How could there be a definite answer?
Li Miao understood, "Do you have an address? I can have someone send you a message."
Tang Wen scratched his head, "I'm going to the Black Water Gang, and it's hard to say how long I'll stay. But I have a Blood Raven that can fly over often to check, and it can deliver messages to you then."
Over the past few days, besides honing the Dark Night Divine Fist, he spent a thousand taels of silver to meet Elder Li from Mountain Chasing City and the Black Water Gang.
For the meeting, he specifically went out of the city to find a Sand Wolf.
He concealed his true Martial Arts Realm with the Aura Concealment Art.
And used the face powder commonly used by women, mixed with hot spring mud, to smear on his face.
Making himself look like a young man in his twenties with a beard and a dark face.
When he met Elder Li, he delivered his well-prepared lines:
"My name is Tang Wen, I've long heard of the great name of Elder Li from the Black Water Gang.
I've heard that you are very powerful, and all your brothers praise you, saying there's always meat to eat when following you!
I've admired you for a long time!
Today, I've come specially, with the recommendation of the manager of the Four Seas Inn, hoping to follow you!"
Elder Li, with his silver hair, held two young beauties in his arms.
Truly, an old tree pressing down on the spring flowers.
Seeing Tang Wen speak sincerely, and offering five hundred taels of silver, and even more rare, he was a peak Martial Practitioner and a Beast Tamer.
It was also said that he had just viewed the Contemplation Method of the Dark Night Divine Fist at the Four Seas Inn.
With all these conditions combined?
How could there be any reason not to accept him?
He immediately agreed to Tang Wen's request.
And made it clear that at least he would be a team leader, and with merit, he would soon be promoted to Deputy Commander, even Commander!
By then, beauties, cultivation methods, fields, and mansions would all be his!
Tang Wen ate up this promise with a face full of excitement.
Confirming that this Transcendent-level Elder Li had not seen through his true state, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Today was the day Elder Li would take him back to Mountain Chasing City to join the Black Water Gang.
A quarter of an hour later, Tang Wen, with a light beard and his disguise ready, met Elder Li and his entourage downstairs, who had white hair and a youthful face, and a lean figure.
The latter, with one hand on his waist, rode a Superior Exotic Beast horse.
Seeing Tang Wen approach, he smiled, "Young brother Tang is here, alas! I'm old and useless, just a few days of fun and my waist is already starting to hurt."
Tang Wen smiled apologetically, "Not at all, Elder Li is still as strong as ever."
Elder Li twisted his waist and sighed, "Not like the old days! Wine and women have hurt me so, from today, I quit drinking!"
Tang Wen: ...
The crowd gradually gathered, and Li Miao suddenly emerged from the back of the inn.
Elder Li turned around and saw her, exclaiming in surprise, "Shopkeeper Li, what brings you here?"
Tang Wen also noticed Li Miao, who was personally leading a horse with two bundles tied to it.
After greeting Elder Li, Li Miao walked straight up to Tang Wen and said, "I'm here to see off a friend. I hope Elder Li will take good care of my brother in the future."
Elder Li was inwardly surprised but readily agreed.
Tang Wen took the reins, feeling a warmth in his heart.
Just then, Li Miao whispered in his ear, "So, did I give you enough face? If you ever run into trouble with women, you better come back and give me some advice!"
The slight sense of gratitude Tang Wen had just felt instantly vanished. "...Don't overdo it, it's bad for your health."
"Pfft! You think I'm like those useless men?" Li Miao straightened her back.
After bidding farewell to Li Miao, Elder Li led Tang Wen and the group, spurring their horses toward Mountain Chasing City.
The distance between the two places was only about three to four hundred miles.
The group, all at least Martial Practitioners in strength, rode on either Mutated Beasts or exceptionally fine horses.
In just one day, they arrived at the foot of Mountain Chasing City.
Under the setting sun, golden light bathed the mountain walls.
The grand city built against the mountain stood tall and majestic, its imposing presence no less awe-inspiring than the towering peaks behind it!
The stronghold was as solid as iron!
The phrase instinctively popped into Tang Wen's mind!
Just as he was about to express his admiration, he noticed Elder Li's gaze on him.
In a flash of thought, he changed his words and uttered a heartfelt exclamation:
"This city is freaking huge! It's a hundred times bigger than our camp!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
The group burst into laughter.
This description was truly down-to-earth.
Indeed, this kid came from a small camp and hadn't seen much of the world.
"It really is big!"
"A big city, a huge city!"
Chatting and laughing, they passed through the tent areas where the poor and slaves lived and entered the outer city.
"Greetings, Elder Li, everyone."
The fully armored guard captain at the gate clasped his fists in salute.
Both sides nodded, and Elder Li rode into the city.
There were many rumors about Mountain Chasing City.
Most spoke of how dark and terrifying it was.
The strong ruled everything, holding the power of life and death over the weak.
As soon as they entered the city, Tang Wen saw several men in shackles, dressed in gray clothes, holding brooms and shovels, cleaning up garbage.
One of Tang Wen's companions, knowing he had connections with Shopkeeper Li of the Four Seas Inn, had been trying to get closer to him along the way and explained:
"Our city didn't care about this before, but after our city lord went on a trip to some Tri-Alliance City, he came back and had all the major gangs contribute money and manpower to clean up the city and repair the roads."
"But you have to admit, after the cleanup, it looks much better than before."
"And it smells better too."
The Mountain Chasing City lord had been to Tri-Alliance City?
After walking through a few more streets, someone shouted:
"We're here!"
Tang Wen looked up and saw what resembled an ancient government office.
White walls, black tiles, upturned eaves, and bracket sets.
Eighteen black steps led up to a wide black gate.
On either side of the gate, white characters on black walls read:
"Black Water nourishes White Mountain, warm-hearted and renowned far and wide."
"Ice sculptures adorn Snow Ridge, bold wine and people dominate the mountain city."
Inside the gate, a black stone pillar, too tall to be hidden by the courtyard wall, bore three golden characters in a flamboyant script—Black Water Gang!
The aura of the martial world hit them head-on.
"Majestic! Bold!"
Tang Wen was brimming with excitement, like a newcomer fresh into the martial world, with the words "easy to fool" practically written on his face.
Elder Li smiled and said, "The initiation ceremony will be held a few months later, presided over by the gang leader, where you and the other newcomers will be inducted together."
As he spoke, he led the way to the side gate.
The iron gate was wide open, with no stone steps, allowing everyone's horses and mounts to enter easily.
Elder Li took Tang Wen on a tour, showing him the various major departments within the gang: the Law Enforcement Hall, the Loyalty Hall, the Valor Hall...
The Black Water Gang had tens of thousands of members, and without proper organization, chaos would ensue.
Seeing the Law Enforcement Hall, Tang Wen found it amusing. The Black Water Gang was considered a dark and evil force, with no connection to righteousness whatsoever.
Yet, one of the most important departments within the gang was the Law Enforcement Hall.
Old Li explained that every member of the Law Enforcement Hall was a master. Anyone who dared to violate the gang's rules would not escape their punishment.
After a long journey and being away from home for half a month, everyone was eager to return.
That night, there was no welcoming banquet.
Tang Wen stayed temporarily at an inn a few streets away from the Black Water Gang headquarters.
This inn, naturally, was also owned by the Black Water Gang.
Out of respect for Li Miao, Elder Li showed considerable care for Tang Wen, allowing him to have a small courtyard all to himself at the inn.
Two days passed, and as he was pondering over the Dark Night Divine Fist in the courtyard, he suddenly heard someone call from outside the gate:
"Brother Tang Wen, Elder Li requests your presence."