149: The legendary younger brother effect

Moreover, those locked tin shacks were too strange. Since they were locked and covered in dust, it meant they weren't in use. But if they weren't in use, why were so many built?

Zhuang Sanming counted and found there were eight such tin shacks in the selection area, more than the accommodation buildings.

The accommodation rooms were for ten people each, with ten bunk beds inside.

As mentioned before, even if many people came this time, there were only a little over forty, so five dormitories were more than enough. Thus, there were only six dormitory rooms here, the sixth being reserved for the coaches.

Zhuang Sanming naturally wanted to quickly figure out what was going on, but he had only been here for less than a day, so no matter how much he observed, he could only get this much information for now.

The rest would have to wait until he had trained for a few more days.

As Zhuang Sanming thought this, he was about to sit down and rest for a while when he saw Tao Erbao and several other people walking towards him.

“We’re going to eat, want to come?” Tao Erbao said, gesturing to the people behind him, and chuckled foolishly.

Zhuang Sanming recognized them; these people were all warriors. Including himself and Tao Erbao, five warriors were gathered here.

That’s why Zhuang Sanming was surprised. This Tao Erbao looked simple-minded and not very smart, yet he could gather all the warriors?

Was this the legendary charisma? The natural kind?

“Alright.” Zhuang Sanming nodded. Getting to know more people would be more beneficial for his undercover operation.

“See, I told you, he’d definitely want to come with us,” Tao Erbao said with a grin to the other three warriors after receiving Zhuang Sanming’s affirmative answer.

The three people behind him all looked overjoyed, as if eating with Zhuang Sanming was a great honor.

“Wow, Brother Tao, you’re amazing.”

“As expected of a Level 2 Warrior.”

“Brother Tao, then we’ll follow you two from now on.”

Zhuang Sanming: ?

Tao Erbao scratched his head sheepishly, walked over to Zhuang Sanming, and said, “Actually, my strength isn’t that great. He’s the strongest. Anyway, since I’m Brother Tao, you guys can call him Brother Zhuang.”

Zhuang Sanming: ?

Before Zhuang Sanming could question it, the three Level One Martial Artists all bowed to Zhuang Sanming, then looked up and said, “Brother Zhuang!”

Zhuang Sanming: ???

“Wait, I’m younger than all of you, no need to call me 'Big Brother',” Zhuang Sanming quickly declined.

“Brother Tao said that warriors never go by age; whoever is stronger is the Big Brother,” one of the warriors said seriously.

“That’s right, strength is what matters. Brother Tao is so strong, yet he’s only willing to be our Second Brother.”

“Brother Zhuang, if we all join the Axe Gang later, we’ll all follow you.”

Even Tao Erbao said, “Brother Zhuang, if you don’t mind, let’s become sworn brothers right now!”

Zhuang Sanming: “Huh?”

Is this the legendary 'follower effect'?

Follower effect: As long as one person calls you Big Brother, others will follow suit.

“No, why do you all think I’m the strongest?” Zhuang Sanming was very confused. He had clearly pretended to be clumsy during training.

No one should have been able to tell that he was actually a Level Three Martial Artist.

Zhuang Sanming was afraid he had inadvertently revealed his strength, so he asked that question.

“Brother Tao said so. He said your strength is greater than his.”

“Only you two are Level 2 here. Brother Tao said you are stronger than him, so you must be the strongest.”

Tao Erbao then showed his signature foolish grin: “Actually, I could tell.”

?!

Zhuang Sanming’s heart suddenly sped up. He could tell? Tell what?

Was he about to be exposed?

Just as Zhuang Sanming was considering what to say to bluff his way through, he heard Tao Erbao speak again: “I could tell you’re as smart as me. I felt hot during training this afternoon and wanted to rest, but I couldn’t just say it, so I pretended to do the moves incorrectly to make Coach Wang kick me out.”

Hoo!

Zhuang Sanming’s eyes widened. So Tao Erbao was even better at acting than him!

Even he had been fooled.

Tao Erbao continued, “Then you also got kicked out with me, and I knew you were definitely faking it too. But then I stopped faking it, and you were still faking it. Doesn’t that prove you’re stronger than me?”

Zhuang Sanming: ?

What in the world was this!

“Anyway, from now on, we all recognize you as our Big Brother!”

“Right!”

“Brother Zhuang, you can definitely lead us into the Axe Gang, right?”

The three Level One Martial Artists, plus Tao Erbao, all looked at Zhuang Sanming quietly, their eyes filled with admiration and anticipation.

Oh boy... Zhuang Sanming didn’t quite understand them at first, but his mind worked quickly. After a moment’s thought, he decided to go with the flow.

“Ahem, since you are all so sincere, then alright, I will reluctantly be your Big Brother and lead you all into the Axe Gang, to become official members.”

Rather than explaining to these people that his strength wasn’t high, it was better to just go along with it. They were all the warriors in this selection. Forming a warrior team in a place like this... perhaps he, Zhuang Sanming, would be able to directly challenge Steward Xiao He later on?!

“That’s great!”

Everyone was very happy, calling him Brother Zhuang repeatedly. Eventually, Zhuang Sanming couldn’t take it anymore and said, “Alright, aren’t you hungry? Let’s go eat first.”

“Okay, let’s eat.”

Zhuang Sanming thus acquired four followers. He had no idea at the time that this decision, made in just a few minutes, would entail consequences that would last his entire life... Night fell.

Outside the 155 Fortress, the Axe Gang.

Tonight was the auspicious day for Boss Xiong, the Third Elder of the Axe Gang, and the Valley Master of Hundred Flowers Valley to get married. The Axe Gang had not seen such a grand event in a long time, so everyone had prepared everything during the day, with red “ 囍” characters posted everywhere and red silk hanging in front of the main hall.

The four characters “ 百年好合” (A Hundred Years of Harmony) were also pasted on Boss Xiong’s door.

The gang members in Boss Xiong's faction were all very happy because their Boss Xiong was finally getting married.

Boss Xiong was different from Bao Hui. Bao Hui was a pervert. Every time the Axe Gang went out to fight and won, Bao Hui would abduct beautiful girls, play with them until he got bored, then kill them and throw them out.

The Old Gang Leader turned a blind eye to this. As long as Bao Hui brought profits to the Axe Gang, what did it matter if he was a little perverted?

So, Boss Xiong’s people always felt indignant for Boss Xiong, privately discussing how Bao Hui had killed so many beautiful girls, yet he didn’t even save one for their Boss Xiong.

It was truly a case of some dying of thirst while others drowned in abundance.

But now it was good; Boss Xiong was finally getting married.

Although he wasn't marrying a young girl, the Valley Master of Hundred Flowers Valley was still charming and graceful, worthy of their Boss Xiong.