Chapter 236: Putting Righteousness First is Actually the Same as Amitabha Buddha.

South of Central Province, Yaoshan County.

This was the location of the First Uprising Gang's main headquarters.

The First Uprising Gang ranked second among the four great Gangs in the world, known as the leader of a thousand Gangs, with loyalty above all else.

Gang Leader Huangfu Song was known in the Jianghu as 'Peerless Benevolence and Loyalty.' Not only was he ranked eighth on the Earth Rankings, but he was also an instructor for the Imperial Guards, possessing very strong connections within the imperial court.

Currently, within the First Uprising Gang's headquarters, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Because a certain piece of news was currently circulating through Central Province.

Blade Demon Yan Chu was entering the capital!

Technically, the First Uprising Gang and Yan Chu had almost no previous interaction, yet they had somehow developed a deep grudge.

This was because the First Uprising Gang's Protector, 'Nine Heavens Vulture' Ji Guiying, and Fifth Elder Bei Liangcai had died at Yan Chu's hands.

When the Protector and Elder first died at Yan Chu's hands, many within the First Uprising Gang were incensed, demanding that the murderer be severely punished to avenge the Protector.

After all, the First Uprising Gang was founded on the principle of 'Loyalty.' They valued the brotherhood above all else and could never stand by while their brothers were killed without taking action.

Even if he was a world-renowned young Prodigy, he had to be buried with blood to appease the souls of the Protector and the Elder.

But shortly after, news arrived that Yan Chu had killed the old Marquis of Annan, Sima Tao, and the Joyful Buddha. The voices calling for revenge grew much quieter.

Some of the First Uprising Gang's Elders and Disciples began to ponder what true 'Loyalty' actually meant.

Sometimes, revenge isn't the sole objective of loyalty.

Ensuring the Gang's brothers could pass on in peace, taking good care of their wives and daughters, and making sure they had no worries in the afterlife was also a form of 'Loyalty'.

Taking Grand Elder Wan Liyuan as an example, he took very good care of the widow of his sworn brother, Ji Guiying.

Soon after that, the Hidden Sword Palace changed masters overnight. When the news of Awakening to emptiness being killed spread through the Jianghu, the voices calling for revenge for the Protector vanished completely.

In private, many people began to curse under their breath:

"That Baldy Ji, why did he have to go and provoke Great Hero Yan for no reason? Now he's left our First Uprising Gang in an impossible position!"

"Exactly, who doesn't know what kind of character Baldy Ji had? Yan Chu must have had a reason to kill him!"

"Good riddance! It's wonderful! Simply fantastic!"

"Even if Baldy Ji hadn't died then, his way of doing things would have dragged down the First Uprising Gang sooner or later!"

Although everyone silently agreed to let the grudge of Ji Guiying and Bei Liangcai go, the news of Yan Chu's imminent arrival in Central Province still caused a stir within the First Uprising Gang.

They heard that the Protector had been the one to strike first against Yan Chu. Would Yan Chu take the opportunity to retaliate now that he was coming to Central Province?

The Elders of the First Uprising Gang felt it was very likely.

They heard that Yan Chu was extremely petty, and those who offended him rarely met a good end.

Moreover, rumors said he carried a small notebook with him, recording everyone he had a grievance with. It was highly probable that the First Uprising Gang was listed in that little notebook.

At this moment, inside the magnificent main hall of the First Uprising Gang.

Gang Leader Huangfu Song sat in the central seat of honor, with the Protectors and Elders seated in order on either side.

Huangfu Song was a short, stout middle-aged man, presenting a bit of a contrast to his nickname, 'Peerless Benevolence and Loyalty.'

To his left was the First Uprising Gang's Left Protector, Tian Ge, nicknamed 'How Can One Say They Have No Clothes.' He was also famous in the Jianghu for putting loyalty first and being willing to take a blow for his brothers.

Below him were Grand Elder Wan Liyuan, Second Elder Deng Qingyang, Third Elder Wu Wei, and Fourth Elder He Fang, all of whom were Supreme Grandmaster powerhouses.

The rest were the various Hall Masters of the First Uprising Gang, mostly Great Grandmasters, with quite a few Grandmasters as well.

In addition, there was the Gang Leader's wife, Peng Qi.

Her cultivation was not inferior to Protector Tian Ge's. Although she rarely appeared at formal First Uprising Gang events, she was deeply involved in the Gang's internal affairs. Many Elders and Hall Masters had been personally promoted by her, giving her a group of trusted followers.

This level of strength was considerably greater than that of the Hidden Sword Palace; it truly lived up to its status as the second largest Gang in the world.

Currently, the First Uprising Gang was divided into two factions regarding how to deal with the threat of Yan Chu.

One faction advocated for resisting Yan Chu to the end, led by Protector Tian Ge and Second Elder Deng Qingyang.

Their reasoning was clear: as the second largest Gang in the world and the leader of countless Jianghu Gangs, they could not yield to Yan Chu's tyranny.

Otherwise, with so many of them, they might never be able to hold their heads up in the Jianghu again.

Furthermore, they believed that given the Gang Leader's strength on the Earth Rankings and his background as an Imperial Guard instructor, Yan Chu might not necessarily dare to attack them directly.

Of course, they didn't suggest actively provoking Yan Chu either; it was best to maintain the status quo.

The other faction advocated for befriending Yan Chu.

This faction was led by Grand Elder Wan Liyuan and Third Elder Wu Wei.

They suggested catering to Yan Chu's tastes by selecting beautiful female Elders from the Gang to please him, turning their swords into silk and jade.

Their reasoning was also very clear.

Yan Chu's pettiness was famous in the Jianghu, but his lust was equally well-known.

Those who had been Yan Chu's enemies but ultimately survived were all people who had offered up various stunning women, establishing a good relationship.

It could be said that Yan Chu was particularly easy to talk to when it came to beautiful middle-aged women.

Even if there were major grievances before, a night of passion could resolve the enmity.

Fourth Elder He Fang had originally been neutral.

But after hearing Grand Elder Wan Liyuan's suggestion, she immediately and resolutely opposed it.

"Grand Elder, what do you mean by 'beautiful female Elders from the Gang'?"

"Does our dignified First Uprising Gang really need to use female charms to curry favor with a Blade Demon?"

"Even if he is an expert on the Earth Rankings, our Gang Leader is also on the Earth Rankings. He isn't necessarily weaker!"

As the only female Elder among the Supreme Grandmasters present, He Fang spoke not just for herself, but for all the other female Elders in the Gang.

Since this was a closed-door meeting, He Fang's tone was somewhat unfriendly.

Although Grand Elder Wan Liyuan was up there in years, it was clear he had been good-looking in his youth, though his face now appeared somewhat slick and oily.

He looked at He Fang's expression, his gaze lingering for a moment on her slightly heaving chest, then curled his lip and thought to himself:

"Your figure is barely passable; Yan Chu might not even fancy you!"

Out loud, he said:

"Elder He, you're being too sensitive. This sort of thing is about mutual consent. We naturally wouldn't force the female Elders; we would still seek their opinions."

"Besides, Yan Chu is a young Prodigy. To have a night of passion with him, how can that be considered curry favor? He might even complain about an old cow eating tender grass!"

"You—"

He Fang's face immediately darkened.

Wan Liyuan didn't act like a Grand Elder at all. The current high-level leadership of the First Uprising Gang no longer shared life and death or honor and disgrace; they were all full of depravity and intrigue.

This was not unrelated to Gang Leader Huangfu Song's negligence.

For all these years, he had always been a hands-off manager, maintaining only the empty shell of the First Uprising Gang.

She sneered:

"The Grand Elder makes it sound so nice. Why don't you offer up your own wife and daughter to that Yan Chu?"

"Haven't we heard he likes other people's wives and daughters the most?"

Wan Liyuan chuckled and said:

"If it's for the sake of our brothers in the First Uprising Gang, that wouldn't be out of the question!"

...

...

Impressive!

For Grand Elder Wan Liyuan to say such a thing in front of so many Elders, everyone silently gave him a thumbs up.

The Grand Elder had played around quite a bit over the years; everyone present had seen it.

However, his wife was already an old woman with wrinkled skin and white hair. Even the Grand Elder himself wouldn't touch her, let alone Blade Demon Yan Chu.

Fourth Elder He Fang was so furious at his shamelessness that her face turned ashen.

Her ample bosom heaved up and down with rage, drawing the gazes of several other Elders.

Protector Tian Ge spoke up for He Fang, saying coldly:

"The Grand Elder may be thick-skinned and shameless, but don't expect everyone to be like you!"

"Hehe, the Protector is right. But when the day comes that Yan Chu actually comes knocking, I hope you can still be as tough as you are today!"

Wan Liyuan retorted without hesitation.

The other Protector, Ji Guiying, was already dead, and Tian Ge wasn't much stronger than Ji Guiying.

The internal strife within the First Uprising Gang was severe; both sides were exposing each other's flaws without mercy.

If the smaller Gangs that followed them saw this, they would likely be shocked.

"Gang Leader, what is your opinion?"

Seeing Huangfu Song sitting at the head of the table appearing to be lost in thought, not listening to their argument at all, He Fang couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

Thirty years ago, when the First Uprising Gang first became the second largest Gang in the world, how majestic and domineering were they? How high-spirited?

Truly, a thousand Gangs came to pay homage; their momentum was immense.

Back then, the Gang Leader was also truly peerless in benevolence and loyalty, enjoying a great reputation in the Jianghu. When blood feuds occurred, people were willing to come to the First Uprising Gang to ask the Gang Leader to mediate.

The First Uprising Gang's current influence was inseparable from the Gang Leader's wise leadership back then.

But at some point—perhaps after the great battle between the Gang Leader and the Southern Wei General Zhuo Zhiheng, who was sixth on the Earth Rankings—he gradually changed.

He stopped involving himself in Jianghu affairs and stopped caring about the Gang's brothers.

He gradually abandoned control over the Gang, allowing the Elders to fight for power and profit, acting recklessly.

By now, the First Uprising Gang was no longer the First Uprising Gang of the past.

He Fang's expression was complicated.

She owed her current position entirely to the Gang Leader's full support, providing her with massive resources to help her Breakthrough to Supreme Grandmaster.

However, He Fang owed Huangfu Song nothing.

What upset He Fang was that Wan Liyuan had insulted her in front of so many people, yet the Gang Leader hadn't said a word.

At this moment, Huangfu Song seemed to snap out of it and heard He Fang's words.

He pondered for a moment and said to Wan Liyuan:

"Take my token later and go to the treasury to pick out some treasures. When Yan Chu arrives in Central Province, go meet him personally and try to resolve the enmity between us as much as possible."

"Yes!"

Wan Liyuan was delighted.

From the Gang Leader's words, he was still inclined to establish a good relationship with Yan Chu.

Tian Ge and He Fang sighed inwardly; it seemed the Gang Leader had lost his former spirit.

That battle years ago had indeed dealt him a significant blow.

The people below had various thoughts, while Huangfu Song sat in the seat of honor with a deep gaze, seemingly looking past the hall into the distance, his thoughts unknown.

...

...

Once the meeting was over, the various Elders dispersed.

Gang Leader Huangfu Song entered the hall where he usually meditated and closed the heavy doors.

Everyone was already used to this.

Over the years, the Gang Leader had almost completely ignored Gang affairs, spending eleven months out of the year in seclusion, attempting to further his cultivation.

Tian Ge walked out of the main hall and headed toward the back of the First Uprising Gang.

This was the residence of the Gang's powerful Elders, covering over a thousand acres with rows of exquisite and luxurious buildings.

It was mid-winter, and with the New Year approaching, there was a festive atmosphere here.

Red lanterns hung before every building, decorated with red silk and colorful lights. The mellow aroma of Tusu wine drifted through the air, and many children—the descendants of the Gang's Elders—were chasing each other and playing on the road.

Tian Ge didn't stop, looking straight ahead as he walked all the way to the Gang Leader's daily residence.

The Gang Leader's wife, Peng Qi, usually stayed here.

Although she rarely appeared before the Gang members, many matters were left to her for decision during Huangfu Song's seclusion.

Currently, she was more like the de facto leader of the First Uprising Gang.

In an elegant little courtyard, several plum blossoms were in full bloom, appearing exceptionally vivid against the snow-covered yard.

There was a bamboo house in the courtyard, simple and plain, unlike the festive atmosphere outside, appearing quite lonely and quiet.

...

But within this quiet bamboo house was a beautiful figure.

This figure sat calmly at a wooden table, instantly making the simple courtyard seem incredibly bright, even more attractive than the plum blossoms.

She wore a pink dress, her hair styled beautifully. With a straight nose and a pair of almond-shaped eyes focused intently, she was engrossed in a book.

Tian Ge arrived respectfully at the door, bowed, and said:

"Madam!"

"What is it?"

Peng Qi, the Gang Leader's wife, didn't even look up, turning a page as she asked calmly.

Tian Ge recounted the discussion in the main hall and said:

"From the Gang Leader's words, he intends to settle the matter peacefully!"

Peng Qi paused upon hearing this, then gave a slight nod.

"There's nothing wrong with that!"

"Blade Demon Yan Chu's momentum is now established. If our First Uprising Gang overestimates itself and becomes his enemy, the Hidden Sword Palace will be our fate, and the Gang's high-level leadership will likely be purged."

"But..."

Tian Ge said with some dissatisfaction in his expression:

"Our First Uprising Gang was founded on loyalty, always emphasizing 'Loyalty Above All.' If we don't avenge our brothers now and word gets out, won't people look down on us?"

Peng Qi put down her ancient book and turned to look at Tian Ge, her tone relaxed and her voice soft.

"I always thought you were a smart person. How can you not see through something like this?"

"I do not understand your meaning, Madam," Tian Ge said, cupping his hands.

Peng Qi had a gentle nature, her voice as pleasant as a mountain spring.

"You are a smart person, and I have always liked using smart ways to talk to you!"

"I am all ears!"

A smile appeared on Peng Qi's red lips as she spoke slowly:

"Most educated and sensible people thrive in the Jianghu, yet they do no small amount of robbing and villainy. They are simply very good at hiding it; many of their forces are far superior to our First Uprising Gang!"

"So if we want to differentiate ourselves from them and attract more forces to join us, we have to use some foolish people."

"When dealing with those fools, you absolutely cannot tell them the truth!"

"You must use a form of religion to hypnotize them!"

"Make them feel that everything they do is right!"

"So 'Loyalty Above All' is just a slogan, exactly the same as 'amitabha'!"

"The Beggars Gang used the phrase 'The World for All' to gain the court's endorsement and attract the favor of those princes and ministers, stealing many of our territories and resources. That's why we have to go against them!"