6: 【Nine】

[Daily summon refreshed.]

[Today's Death Warrior has been delivered.]

A cold, mechanical voice woke Lin Mo from his light slumber.

The warm current within his body arrived as scheduled; his muscles and bones felt as if they were soaking in warm spring water, a subtle yet continuous sensation of strengthening spreading throughout his body.

He opened his eyes; in the dim light of the temple, a new figure was already kneeling on one knee.

Codenamed Jiu, the figure had a well-proportioned build and a unique focus in his eyes. Random Skill: [Basic Poison Identification and Handling].

Lin Mo's heart stirred slightly. Poison? This skill might have extraordinary uses in Gang conflicts and self-preservation.

He told Jiu to rise, briefly instructing him to first familiarize himself with the surroundings and try to find potentially toxic flora and fauna nearby for preliminary identification and collection.

Just as dawn broke, Er returned with a hint of urgency.

"Master, there is unusual movement from the White Sand Gang." Er's voice was kept very low.

"About twenty of them returned from outside the town, all carrying weapons. Their leader is named Wind Over Mountains, a sworn brother of the White Sand Gang's leader, White Sand Child, known for his ruthlessness.

Last night, their people clashed with ours at the docks and suffered a slight loss. This morning, Wind Over Mountains took his men directly to the Hall of Joy. Liu Kui sent someone with a message, but our people intercepted it."

Lin Mo's gaze narrowed. They came faster than he had anticipated.

It seemed the White Sand Gang valued the dock interests more than Liu Kui had previously judged.

Was this "Wind Over Mountains" heading straight for the Hall of Joy to apply pressure, or did he want to flip the table entirely?

"What was Liu Kui's reaction?"

"The messenger said Liu Kui has already gathered Scarface, Smiling Tiger, and One-Eye, along with about thirty capable Gang members, and they are in a standoff at the Hall of Joy. Liu Kui wants you to... make the decision."

Er paused. "The messenger also said Wind Over Mountains declared that the Black Fish Gang must surrender half of the East Wharf's shares, or he will smash the Hall of Joy today."

The East Wharf was the Black Fish Gang's primary source of income. Giving up half was equivalent to cutting off their own flesh.

"To the Hall of Joy." Lin Mo stood up.

He couldn't sit by and watch Liu Kui be crushed; that would mean the Puppet and channels he had just acquired might collapse.

Moreover, this was an opportunity—an opportunity to thoroughly establish his authority and potentially extend his reach into the White Sand Gang.

He picked Yi, Er, San, Si, and Jiu to accompany him.

Yi and Si were the main combatants, Er was responsible for tracking and alertness, San for stealthy reconnaissance, and Jiu... might come in handy.

The remaining Death Warriors stayed behind to continue their respective missions.

The group arrived near the Hall of Joy quickly and covertly.

The usually bustling gambling den was now deserted, its doors tightly shut, with the faint sounds of shouting and cursing from the standoff inside.

Both sides had men tensely guarding the back alleys and side doors.

San vanished like a ghost and returned a moment later: "In the main hall, the two sides are in a standoff. There are twenty-three from the White Sand Gang. Wind Over Mountains is at the front; he's a lean man with very vicious eyes.

There are thirty-one from the Black Fish Gang, with Liu Kui in the middle and three minor leaders standing in front, but their Aura is being suppressed. There are three archers from the White Sand Gang at the second-floor windows."

Archers too? The White Sand Gang was better prepared.

Lin Mo pondered for a moment: "San, you and Jiu find a way to deal with the archers on the second floor. Be quick and silent. Yi, Si, follow me through the front door. Er, provide support from the perimeter and watch for any other ambushes."

"Yes!"

San and Jiu nodded, their figures flashing as they vanished into the shadows of the building.

Lin Mo straightened his clothes and took a deep breath, suppressing most of the vast, sea-like sense of power within him, leaving only a faint, sharp Aura lingering around him.

What he wanted was this enigmatic Martial Artist air.

Leading Yi and Si, he walked straight toward the closed doors of the Hall of Joy.

The Black Fish Gang members guarding the door recognized Yi. Seeing Lin Mo, a stranger but a young man of extraordinary bearing, along with the tower-like Si beside him, they hesitated, not daring to block them, and quickly opened the door.

The heavy doors were pushed open, revealing the scene inside.

In the hall, tables and chairs had been pushed to the sides, leaving a clear space in the center.

On the left were the Black Fish Gang members led by Liu Kui, blades and clubs in hand, though many had tension on their faces.

On the right were the people from the White Sand Gang. Their leader was a lean man with triangular eyes and a pair of Water-parting Stings at his waist—this was Wind Over Mountains.

The men behind him were clearly more capable, with fierce glints in their eyes.

Both sides were at each other's throats, the atmosphere tense to the extreme.

The sudden entrance of Lin Mo's trio instantly drew all eyes.

"Who are you?!" Wind Over Mountains narrowed his triangular eyes and barked. He hadn't seen Lin Mo before, but his intuition told him this young man was not simple.

Seeing Lin Mo, hope instantly flared in Liu Kui's eyes, and he hurriedly bowed: "Young Master Lin! You've come!"

At his bow, the Black Fish Gang members were all stunned, then realized—was this the mysterious Martial Artist behind their leader?

Lin Mo nodded slightly and, without stopping, walked straight to the open space between the two sides. His calm gaze swept over Wind Over Mountains: "Quite lively for so early in the morning, isn't it?"

Under Lin Mo's flat gaze, Wind Over Mountains' heart skipped a beat for some reason. However, relying on his superior numbers and his hidden card, he forced a cold sneer: "And who the hell are you? Has the Black Fish Gang run out of men, so they found a pretty boy to hold up the front?"

The Black Fish Gang members stirred in a commotion, glaring at him.

Lin Mo didn't get angry; instead, he smiled slightly: "Who I am isn't important. What's important is, did you bring these people here to wreck my place?"

"Your place?" Wind Over Mountains scoffed. "Since when did this Hall of Joy become yours? Liu Kui, you're a pathetic leader; any random nobody can ride over your head?"

Liu Kui's face flushed red, but he didn't dare to argue, only looking at Lin Mo.

Lin Mo ignored Wind Over Mountains' clamor and turned his gaze toward the second floor, as if talking to himself: "Friends upstairs, having held that for so long, aren't your arms tired?"

Wind Over Mountains' expression changed. How did he know?

Almost the instant Lin Mo's voice fell, several short grunts and the sound of heavy objects hitting the floor came from the second floor.

Wind Over Mountains' heart jolted, and he looked up sharply.

He saw three figures limp and sliding down from the second-floor windows—the very archers he had arranged! Meanwhile, two ghostly figures flashed and vanished.

"You!" Wind Over Mountains was both shocked and furious, glaring at Lin Mo. "What did you do?!"

"Just cleared out a few noisy flies." Lin Mo's tone remained flat, yet it carried a cold edge.

"Now, we can talk. Either take your people and get out of the Hall of Joy and the East Wharf, or stay here forever."

"Arrogant!"

Wind Over Mountains laughed out of extreme anger. Although he was alarmed by how the archers were dealt with, he was confident in his own martial prowess, and his subordinates were all fierce thugs who lived by the blade.

"Get him! Hack this kid to pieces first!"

Several fierce bandits behind him immediately howled and lunged at Lin Mo.

Lin Mo didn't move.

He The Yihe behind him stirred.。

Yi was like a tiger among sheep; his fist, carrying the sound of whistling wind, smashed directly into the chest of the foremost man.