Having received word from General Li that Qinghu Island had conquered Jiulang Lake and was sending a large army to garrison the area, awaiting Teng Qingshan's arrival to take charge, Teng Qingshan immediately set off with General Li. They rode one of the three great Dragon Horses prepared by Qinghu Island, the 'Black Nightmare Horse,' racing towards Jiulang Lake that very day.
In the entirety of Yangzhou, among all the great lakes, Jiulang Lake ranked first in terms of water surface area! Despite its vast expanse of water, the central island of Jiulang Lake was considerably smaller than Qinghu Island. This was precisely why the founding ancestor of Qinghu Island had established their sect on Qinghu Island.
To the east of Jiulang Lake lay the foremost mountain range in Yangzhou, the Tai'a Mountains, stretching for six hundred li.
At this moment, hidden within the dense forest of a mountain nearly a hundred zhang tall, situated at the border between the Tai'a Mountains and Jiulang Lake, were several hundred fierce bandits. Many of them bore dried bloodstains on their clothing. These hundreds of men were currently looking down from the high mountain.
"So many people."
"Damn Qinghu Island, what are all these Silver Flood Dragon Army soldiers doing here?"
The bandits muttered curses under their breath.
Below the mountain, beside a dock on the shore of Jiulang Lake, a massive contingent of soldiers was assembled. Each soldier was clad in heavy black armor that faintly exuded the scent of blood. The edges of the black armor, helmets, and boots were lined with silver stripes, clearly identifying this massive force as Qinghu Island's elite troops—
The Silver Flood Dragon Army!
Every soldier of the Silver Flood Dragon Army resembled a ferocious wild beast, yet these beasts stood in perfect order at this moment, with only occasional low murmurs of discussion.
"Young Master, why exactly did Qinghu Island destroy our Jiulang Gang? Did they take a liking to Jiulang Island?"
"Hmph, don't mention the 'JiuLang Gang' again. There is no... Jiulang Gang anymore. We are the Blood Wolf Gang now!" A tall man with a handlebar mustache, wearing a thick sheepskin coat, barked, "We have many enemies among the gangs. If they knew we were trying to re-establish the Jiulang Gang, would we survive?"
"Yes, yes."
The bandits beside him assented in unison.
"Damn it, why did Qinghu Island destroy our Jiulang Gang for no reason and occupy Jiulang Island? What exactly are they planning?" This surviving Young Master of the Jiulang Gang was seething with suppressed anger.
Eight days prior, Qinghu Island had sent orders demanding the Jiulang Gang vacate Jiulang Island. The Jiulang Gang, with its ten thousand brave fighters, had grown accustomed to dominance. They never imagined Qinghu Island would wage war against ten thousand men over a mere island. Thus, the Jiulang Gang completely ignored the command.
But who could have foreseen that three days ago, the Silver Flood Dragon Army would arrive at Jiulang Lake, sailing on a vast fleet of warships, and launch an assault on Jiulang Island?
In this battle, Jiulang Island was utterly slaughtered amidst utter collapse!
How could common bandits and brigands compare to the Silver Flood Dragon Army? The actual number of Jiulang Gang members killed in action was only about one or two thousand; the vast majority of members had scattered and fled. What sealed their fate was that upon the Silver Flood Dragon Army's arrival, they annihilated the Jiulang Gang's elite, especially all nine major leaders!
Once the leadership was wiped out, the Jiulang Gang naturally disintegrated.
However... for the fleeing members of the Jiulang Gang, with the nine leaders all dead, many ambitious figures began gathering followers, seeking to establish their own factions. Meanwhile, the other major gangs in the Tai'a Mountains immediately began attracting the scattered Jiulang Gang members with various inducements.
In just a day or two, the Jiulang Gang, which had reigned supreme in the Tai'a Mountains for hundreds of years, vanished into thin air.
"Young Master, look quickly."
"So fast."
Those bandits and brigands watched in astonishment as two streaks of light hurtled towards them at extreme speed from the distance. The thousands of Silver Flood Dragon Army soldiers, who had been standing rigidly, instantly fell silent; not a single soldier dared utter a word. The two streaks of light eventually stopped; they were two figures riding warhorses.
"It's the Black Nightmare Horse!"
"Indeed, that’s the Black Nightmare Horse; I’ve seen it before. Who are these two people that could make thousands of Silver Flood Dragon Army soldiers wait here?" To these bandits, the Silver Flood Dragon Army was an absolutely terrifying presence.
...
Teng Qingshan leaped down from the Black Nightmare Horse, while General Li followed respectfully by his side.
"Commander Wang!" General Li called out.
A Silver Flood Dragon Army commander, clad in dark blue battle armor, rushed over like an iron ox of a fierce beast. He stopped and respectfully said, "Senior Jing, upon the Island Master's orders, I have led six thousand Silver Flood Dragon Army soldiers here to receive Senior. The warships are ready." The surrounding six thousand Silver Flood Dragon Army soldiers were utterly still, like a deep, silent expanse of seawater.
"En." Teng Qingshan’s gaze swept over the surrounding Silver Flood Dragon Army soldiers; not one dared meet his eyes.
"Let's go," Teng Qingshan stated, walking directly toward the warships.
"Yes."
Commander Wang and General Li followed behind him. Commander Wang explained beside him, "Senior, there are still two thousand soldiers guarding Jiulang Island. We have mostly demolished the old, dilapidated residences of the Jiulang Gang, leaving only a few good living quarters. We have also specially constructed a manor for your rest."
Mobilizing troops, destroying the Jiulang Gang, completely cleaning up and renovating Jiulang Island, and building a manor—
All achieved in just nine days!
"Damn it, who is that person? The Silver Flood Dragon Army Commander acts like a grandson in front of him?" The Young Master's eyes widened. Commander Wang’s voice hadn't been soft earlier, and they could hear him from the mountain. "What did he call him? 'Senior Jing'? He doesn't seem to be from Qinghu Island." Due to the recent crisis faced by the Jiulang Gang, this Young Master hadn't had contact with the outside world and was unaware of the incident where 'Jing Yi wreaked havoc on Qinghu Island.'
"So majestic," some bandits muttered, their eyes gleaming with envy.
"If only I could live to see a day when the Silver Flood Dragon Army would respectfully serve me like a grandson; then I could die without regret." Most of these bandits did not fear death, but they yearned for such power and prestige.
**
JiuLang Island, situated in the center of Jiulang Lake, occupied an area of about ten li in circumference.
Teng Qingshan stood on the edge of Jiulang Island, where numerous trees grew, and patches of lingering snow from a recent heavy snowfall had yet to melt completely.
"The scenery is truly wonderful," Teng Qingshan remarked, a slight smile touching his lips as he gazed upon the vast lake. "This Jiulang Island is about ten li across; I might as well live here from now on... Perhaps in the future, my entire Teng Clan could relocate here."
"Senior." Commander Wang and General Li approached.
"Do you have any further instructions, Senior? We will certainly do our utmost to complete them," Commander Wang said respectfully.
"En. Take your men and leave now." Teng Qingshan said lightly; he was disinclined to put on airs for men of the rank of Commander or General.
"Yes."
Commander Wang hesitated slightly, then spoke, "Senior, although our Silver Flood Dragon Army conquered Jiulang Island, if we depart... given the strategic location of Jiulang Island, especially being right next to the Tai'a Mountains, it is highly likely that some of the larger bandit gangs in the Tai'a Mountains will try to seize the island."
"I know." Teng Qingshan waved his hand.
Commander Wang bowed in deference, and together with General Li, led the remaining Silver Flood Dragon Army personnel stationed on Jiulang Island onto the warships and departed swiftly.
An hour later, Teng Qingshan was the sole person remaining on Jiulang Island.
"It's time to bring the Six-Legged Blade Cicada, Little Gray, and Xue Xin over." Teng Qingshan took a step, instantly appearing over the distant rippling surface of the lake, and with a flicker of his form, he vanished completely.
...
Night.
A colossal creature soared rapidly through the night sky. Teng Qingshan and Xue Xin were seated on the back of the Six-Legged Blade Cicada, while the Gale Eagle leisurely swooped and ascended around it, appearing very excited.
"Xue Xin, your two senior brothers are currently in the Tai'a Mountains."
Teng Qingshan looked down from above, surveying the landscape. The Tai'a Mountains stretched for six hundred li; the Six-Legged Blade Cicada was flying at an altitude of only ten-odd li, so Teng Qingshan could clearly see everything.
"My two senior brothers?" Xue Xin asked with expectation.
"Let's go check out the Tai'a Mountains first." Teng Qingshan gently patted the Six-Legged Blade Cicada, pointing a finger to indicate the direction.
The Six-Legged Blade Cicada's triangular head nodded slightly, and it flew in the direction indicated by Teng Qingshan... Flying high above the Tai'a Mountains, Teng Qingshan easily sensed the presence of tens of thousands of living creatures through his domain: "There are actually demonic beasts at the Innate Golden Core level in these Tai'a Mountains too!"
"Hm? Stop." Teng Qingshan gently tapped the Six-Legged Blade Cicada.
The Six-Legged Blade Cicada understood his meaning and halted mid-air.
"Oh, what a coincidence, interesting." Teng Qingshan's ears distinctly picked up conversations from within the mountains. Judging by the content, his two major disciples, Teng Shou and Yang Dong, were currently competing with another gang for the scattered remnants of the Jiulang Gang's followers.
"Master?" Xue Xin looked at Teng Qingshan with confusion.
"Let's go; come meet your two senior brothers." Teng Qingshan grabbed Xue Xin's hand and leaped directly down from the back of the Six-Legged Blade Cicada, plunging toward the ground. As they fell, Teng Qingshan gave the Cicada a look... the Six-Legged Blade Cicada understood that Teng Qingshan wanted it to remain there.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The two figures plummeted like meteorites, accelerating rapidly toward the earth.
"M-Master." Xue Xin could barely speak due to the fierce airflow; his face was pale. Falling from such a height was clearly terrifying.
"Haha, relax," Teng Qingshan laughed.
As the two falling 'meteorites' neared the mountain, their speed drastically reduced, slowing continuously. When they landed, it was as if they had merely jumped down from a height of a few zhang, with almost no impact force.
It was pitch black as Teng Qingshan and Xue Xin walked through the mountains at night.
"Master, there's light ahead," Xue Xin said happily.
"Your two senior brothers are right there," Teng Qingshan replied.
As they approached, sounds of conversation could already be heard emanating from the direction of the firelight.
"Haha, Wang Laosan! You really have the gall of a leopard to compete with my Fierce Beast Gang for men... What, you think you can just leave? How are my two brothers of the Fierce Beast Gang supposed to make a living in the Tai'a Mountains from now on?" Teng Qingshan laughed upon hearing this; the voice belonged to his second disciple, 'Yang Dong.'
"Second Leader Yang, I admit I was out of line this time. Tell me, how shall we settle this?" a sinister voice responded.
"Heh heh, simple. I don't want your gold or silver... I heard you managed to snatch some fine liquor a while back? The fifty-year aged cellar stock from the Zhu family? Just three jars, and we can forget about this matter."
"Three jars? Second Leader Yang, you..."
Teng Qingshan did not listen closely to the negotiations taking place over there, as the mention of 'fine liquor' caused a sudden thought to stir in his mind.
'Fine liquor?' The best liquor Teng Qingshan had ever tasted flashed in his mind—the Vermilion Fruit Wine!
The Vermilion Fruit Wine from Iron Arm Ape Mountain!
"That Vermilion Fruit Wine made by those Iron Arm Apes was not only exquisitely delicious, but its effects were also marvelous; a small sip could greatly increase one's physical strength." Teng Qingshan slapped his forehead and laughed, "Haha, back then, I was chased off the mountain by that Ape King and almost ended up crippled from the fall. If it weren't for this, I would have completely forgotten; I need to make a trip to Iron Arm Ape Mountain. That Vermilion Fruit Wine, there was an entire stone pit full of it."