We're practicing all martial arts, so why did you switch to easy mode?

Chapter 161 Appointed as Deputy Gang Leader, Li Mo's Awakening

Qiao Qiliang explained the reason.

Having failed to rebuild in Dafeng City before, and now with the turbulent situation and the redistribution of power, Qiao Renzhou has once again considered this idea.

After all, Fengbei City's territory is right here; if you don't fight for it, someone else will take it over.

If another Xuan Shui Gang were to emerge, it would pose a significant obstacle to the City Lord's Mansion.

Having learned from such mistakes, Qiao Renzhou naturally wouldn't repeat them and planned to rebuild the Sihai Gang, laying the groundwork in advance.

Seeing Su Chen remain silent, Qiao Qiliang said, "I'm just giving you the position of deputy gang leader. You won't have to do anything on a regular basis. Just show up when it matters. After all, your strength is more than enough to intimidate those small and medium-sized forces."

Su Chen thought for a moment and then nodded, "Okay."

Overjoyed to receive a clear answer from Su Chen, Qiao Qiliang chatted with Su Chen for a few minutes and was about to leave when Su Chen called him back.

"Do you know which blacksmith shops in the city are particularly good?" Su Chen asked.

"A great blacksmith shop? You want to have weapons made, right?" Qiao Qiliang pondered for a moment and said, "If you want weapons made, you can go find Master Tie Rang. He recently opened a blacksmith shop, and his forging skills are excellent."

Tie Rang?

Su Chen was taken aback when he heard the name. Wasn't this Hong Ming's friend?

"it is good!"

After a moment's thought, Su Chen nodded.

Seeing that Su Chen had nothing else to do, Qiao Qiliang got up and left.

Su Chen didn't waste any time. After leaving the Qiao residence, he found Tie Rang's blacksmith shop based on the address he had found out.

Perhaps because it had just opened, there were quite a few people there. And unlike other blacksmith shops, Tie Rang made more weapons.

Seeing that Tie Rang was busy, Su Chen did not disturb him, but instead went into the blacksmith shop to look at the weapons hanging on the wall.

After looking around, he agreed with Qiao Qiliang's words; Tie Rang's forging skills were indeed very strong.

At least among the blacksmiths he had ever met, he was top-notch.

When crafting the same type of steel weapon, he could clearly sense that the other party's skills had been honed through countless trials and tribulations.

"Young friend Su."

As he was looking around, Tie Rang noticed Su Chen and took the initiative to go up and greet him.

Su Chen replied with a smile, "Master Tie."

"What's this?" Tie Rang asked, puzzled.

Su Chen explained his purpose, and Tie Rang smiled and said, "If you want to forge a weapon that is stronger than one made of refined steel, you can consider using Xuan Tie."

Afterwards, he briefly introduced the characteristics of the Xuan Tie weapon to Su Chen, and Su Chen made up his mind after listening.

He nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble Master Tie to forge these two weapons for me using black iron."

As he spoke, he handed the blueprints for the steel knife and the goose feather knife to Tie Rang.

The steel knife was no different from an ordinary knife. When he saw the goose feather knife, Tie Rang's eyes lit up slightly, but he didn't say anything.

He accepted the blueprints and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, young friend Su, but there's a shortage of black iron recently, so it may take some time before it arrives..."

"There's no rush," Su Chen waved his hand, then asked about the price, "How much is it?"

"I am able to settle in Fengbei City thanks to my friend Su. I haven't thanked him yet. Consider these two weapons as a gift to you. It's just a small token of my appreciation, and I hope you won't find them offensive."

Finally, under Tie Rang's insistence, Su Chen had no choice but to give up.

Over the next few days, Su Chen stayed home and rarely went out, spending his days refining pills.

This day.

"Young Master Li, something terrible has happened! Young Master Li has been... has been beaten up..."

A servant boy ran into the courtyard and called out urgently.

"Who did it?" Su Chen, who was looking through medical books in the courtyard, was taken aback when he heard this. He put down the book and immediately asked.

"Yes, it was someone from the Luo family who did it. Young Master has already gone to find the Luo family," the servant replied hurriedly.

"Where is my senior brother now?" Su Chen asked expressionlessly.

"They've already been carried home."

Before he could finish speaking, the servant saw Su Chen's departing figure and shivered, feeling as if the temperature had dropped a few degrees.

When Su Chen arrived at the Zhang residence, Hong Ming, Fang Rou, and the others were already there. After greeting everyone, Su Chen went into the room.

Zhang Wan'er was taking care of Li Mo, who looked like he had just woken up.

When Su Chen saw Li Mo covered in wounds, his face immediately darkened.

Li Mo, who was lying on the bed, saw Su Chen and forced a smile: "Junior Brother Su, you've come."

"What's going on?" Su Chen asked in a low voice.

Zhang Wan'er, standing to the side, looked at her husband with heartache. Hearing Su Chen's words, she then began to recount:
"Today, my husband and I went out to buy things for Yue'er's 100-day celebration. Unexpectedly, we ran into the Luo family's people on the way. They were the same group that Young Master Qiao had captured before. These people recognized me and wanted to teach me a lesson. My husband was trying to protect me, which is why they beat me up like this..."

Her voice was mournful, filled with more anger than sorrow.

Seeing Zhang Wan'er's distress, Li Mo comforted her, "Wan'er, I'm fine. You can go out first. I'll talk to my junior brother."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wan'er nodded slightly, took the medicine, and walked out, closing the door behind her.

Soon, only Li Mo and Su Chen remained in the room.

"Junior brother, don't be fooled by my severe injuries. They're mostly external wounds, and I'll be fine soon. Please don't be impulsive and seek revenge on the Luo family," Li Mo said with a smile, though the smile, combined with his swollen and bruised face, made him look somewhat ferocious.

Su Chen didn't speak, but nodded.

Li Mo knew Su Chen's personality all too well; not answering didn't mean Su Chen had agreed.

So he had no choice but to ask, "Junior brother, you're not planning to go secretly, are you?"

"Huh?" Su Chen was taken aback. Why would he go secretly? Wouldn't it be better to go openly and honestly?

Seeing Su Chen remain silent, Li Mo thought he had guessed Su Chen's thoughts and continued, "Junior brother, I'll take care of the revenge myself."

Li Mo ignored Su Chen's doubts and said to himself, "If it weren't for Young Master Qiao's timely arrival, the fate of Wan'er and me would have been unimaginable. Without strength, even with your protection, we could only seek temporary peace."

To live a stable life, strength is indispensable.

I have called myself your senior brother and am already a father, yet I only understand such a simple truth now.

Since getting married, I have neglected my martial arts training. If it weren't for the good fortune I received last time, I'm afraid I would never have been able to begin practicing internal strength.

Although I was badly beaten this time, it also woke me up and made me more determined to practice martial arts.

I want to start practicing martial arts again, not only for myself, but also for my family.

So, junior brother, I'll avenge this myself, how about that?"

Su Chen never expected that this setback would cause such a big change in Li Mo. He saw an unprecedented firm belief in Li Mo's eyes, like a flame burning fiercely.

After giving Li Mo a deep look, Su Chen nodded and said, "Okay!"

After talking with Li Mo for a while, Su Chen left the Zhang residence.

……

The main hall of the Luo Mansion.

"Young Master Qiao, what a rare guest you are," Luo Sheng greeted with a forced smile as he led a group of people out of the inner hall.

Qiao Qiliang's expression was cold as he turned his gaze to a fierce-looking man in a blue robe behind Luo Sheng. He said sternly, "Young Master Luo, enough with the idle talk. Your men have committed violence and broken the law in the street. I'm here to arrest them. Please release them, Young Master Luo."

Upon hearing this, Luo Sheng's smile froze instantly, and the entire hall fell silent.

"I wonder who it is?"

Luo Sheng's smile vanished completely. Without even greeting Qiao Qiliang, he sat down on his own, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip.

"This is the person. Take him away."

Qiao Qiliang locked his gaze on the man in the blue robe, waved his hand, and the constables behind him immediately stepped forward and surrounded the man in the blue robe.

Snapped!
Luo Sheng slammed his teacup down, then looked at Qiao Qiliang with an overbearing air: "Young Master Qiao, you took my people away without any evidence. Isn't that going a bit too far?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Sheng's men all stared at Qiao Qiliang and the others with murderous intent, and a chilling atmosphere filled the hall.

"What, are my eyes not evidence?" Qiao Qiliang asked indifferently. "Hehe, not at all. It's just that what you said, Young Master Qiao, is quite different from what my subordinate, Luo, said. For a moment, I don't know who to believe," Luo Sheng chuckled.

"Naturally, I, this young master, shall prevail," Qiao Qiliang replied indifferently.

"Not necessarily."

Luo Sheng shook his head and said coldly, "I heard that Young Master Qiao is friends with the person who was injured today. Who knows if there's something fishy about this?"

"Oh?" Qiao Qiliang's eyes narrowed, and he turned to Luo Sheng, asking, "What did your men say?"

Luo Sheng's gaze fell on the man in the blue robe. The man in the blue robe stepped forward and sneered, "Young Master Qiao must have misunderstood. I did not commit any violence in the street. It was clearly that guy's wife who was indecent. She saw that I was handsome and tried to seduce me. After I rejected her, she slandered me instead."

Enraged upon learning this, that fellow attacked me. I was on the defensive the entire time, but he was so weak and easily defeated. He was simply outmatched; how can he blame me?

"Haha..." Several undisguised laughs echoed from inside the hall.

Qiao Qiliang remained unaffected and said, "I will investigate the matter thoroughly and determine right from wrong. Now, please come with me."

"Wait a minute."

At this moment, Luo Sheng let out a soft shout, looked at Qiao Qiliang with a sinister gaze, and said, "I have made myself clear enough. If Young Master Qiao really wants to arrest someone unreasonably because of a good-for-nothing, I will let the people of Fengbei City judge for themselves. Justice will prevail."

"So, you're saying you're not going to release them?" Qiao Qiliang's tone hardened as he asked sharply.

Luo Sheng did not answer, but his attitude spoke volumes.

The two groups faced off in the lobby, the atmosphere unusually tense, with a strong sense that they might start fighting at the slightest provocation.

"No, this is terrible, Young Master Sheng, someone has broken in..."

Suddenly, a sharp cry broke the stalemate between the two sides. A servant of the Luo family rushed in and knelt on the ground, shouting loudly.

Upon hearing this, Luo Sheng's eyes flickered violently. He thought he had misheard and couldn't help but ask, "What did you say?"

"Someone has broken in..." The servant replied in a trembling voice, sensing Luo Sheng's sharp gaze.

"They've broken in?" Luo Sheng laughed in fury, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. It was the first time in his life that someone had dared to break into the Luo residence.

His voice, tinged with suppressed anger, rang out: "Come, let's go see."

Before they could even set off, everyone saw a tall and slender figure walk in. His steps were slow, but his speed was surprisingly fast.

In no time at all, he arrived in front of everyone.

"Who are you?" Luo Sheng had never seen Su Chen before, but he could sense the dangerous aura emanating from Su Chen.

Upon hearing Luo Sheng's words, Su Chen didn't even look at the other person, but instead looked at Qiao Qiliang questioningly. Qiao Qiliang turned his gaze to the man in the blue robe.

The exchange of glances between the two did not escape Luo Sheng's notice. Luo Sheng chuckled and said, "So you are a friend of Young Master Qiao. Then may I ask, Young Master Qiao, your friend has now broken into the Luo residence and injured my men. What is his punishment?"

"Is that so? I didn't see it," Qiao Qiliang said quietly.

At this moment, Su Chen's gaze fell on the man in the blue robe. The instant Su Chen stared at him, the man in the blue robe suddenly stiffened, his hair stood on end, and a sense of fear rose inexplicably in his heart.

This feeling vanished quickly, leading him to believe that he had imagined it.

Su Chen withdrew his icy gaze, turned to Luo Sheng, and asked coldly, "How about we make a bet?"

Luo Sheng looked at Su Chen with confusion, wondering what he was up to.

Su Chen pointed at the man in the blue robe and continued, "Didn't he say that my senior brother's skills were inferior? Then let them have a proper competition."

Upon hearing this, not only did the man in the blue robe reveal a contemptuous smile, but Luo Sheng also made no attempt to hide his sarcasm: "Why should I listen to you?"

"There's a wager," Su Chen replied indifferently.

"What's the stake?" Luo Sheng's smile faded, replaced by a hint of interest as he asked.

Su Chen replied, "Haven't you Luo family always wanted to divide up Fengbei City's territory? How about this, let's use the territory of the South District as the stake this time."

“Not enough.” Luo Sheng’s eyes lit up, but quickly dimmed as he shook his head.

"How much do you want?" Qiao Qiliang asked before Su Chen could speak.

Luo Sheng chuckled upon hearing this and made an outrageous demand: "The entire territory of Fengbei City."

"Arrest them."

Su Chen turned to look at Qiao Qiliang and said seriously. Qiao Qiliang was stunned for a moment, but quickly nodded, signaling to arrest him.

"Wait a minute."

Luo Sheng was thinking of taking the opportunity to acquire more territory for his family, but he never expected Su Chen to make a move so suddenly. He became anxious and shouted.

He looked at Qiao Qiliang and said in a deep voice, "If we lose, half of Fengbei City's territory will belong to your Sihai Gang!"

Qiao Qiliang did not answer, but looked at Su Chen, which made Luo Sheng's eyes narrow slightly.

After a moment's thought, Su Chen nodded and said, "No problem. Words are no proof, let's write a written agreement."

"you……"

Qiao Qiliang ignored Luo Sheng's anger, had someone bring him paper and pen, looked at the man in the blue robe, and asked, "What's your name?"

“Huang Li,” the man in the blue robe replied.

Soon, the voucher was completed, and Qiao Qiliang handed it to Su Chen. After Su Chen glanced at it, he handed it to Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng didn't move, and snorted coldly: "Young Master Qiao, a nobody like you is not worthy of my signature."

Then, he asked disdainfully, "When did the Four Seas Gang become so ignorant of the rules?"

"He is the vice leader of my Four Seas Gang, so he is naturally qualified to replace the Four Seas Gang," Qiao Qiliang replied with a light snort.

"The vice leader of the Four Seas Gang..."

Luo Sheng frowned slightly as he glanced at Su Chen, but didn't say anything more. He picked up the voucher and signed his name.

After accepting the voucher, Qiao Qiliang exchanged a glance with Su Chen and left the Luo residence together.

Snapped!
Seeing the two of them come and go as they pleased at the Luo residence, Luo Sheng's face suddenly darkened.

After a long while, he glanced at Huang Li, the man in the blue robe, and asked, "How does that guy named Li Mo compare to you in strength?"

Huang Li bowed, his face full of confidence, and said, "Young master, please rest assured, this person is only at the beginner level of internal energy cultivation. I can easily defeat him in less than three moves."

"Okay, that's good. We'll go all out then."

"Yes!"

……

Su Chen did not return to the Qiao residence. Instead, he left with Qiao Qiliang and went to the Zhang residence to find Li Mo and tell him about the matter.

Upon hearing this, Li Mo was taken aback at first, then gave a bitter smile: "Junior brother, aren't you overestimating me? Huang Li's strength is at least at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, while I've only just entered the Qi Refining stage and am injured. If I were to fight him a month later, wouldn't I be asking for trouble?"

Although he wanted to take revenge himself, he did not want to involve Su Chen and Qiao Qiliang.

Especially after learning about the stakes in this competition, he felt a sense of helplessness and added pressure and worry.

Su Chen laughed and said, "Senior brother, how will we know if we don't try?"

Li Mo smiled bitterly, but he was determined to succeed no matter what.

Su Chen saw Li Mo's determination, left him thirty Qi and Blood Pills, gave him some instructions on how to practice his internal energy, and then left.

He then approached Hong Ming and Fang Rou, telling them his idea and urging them to improve their strength as soon as possible and enter the Qi Refining stage. The two of them, knowing what Su Chen was thinking, readily agreed.

After leaving a batch of Qi and Blood Pills for each of them, Su Chen returned to the Qiao residence.

Three days later, Li Mo's injuries improved, and he began to immerse himself in cultivation.

Besides his daily tasks such as improving the Bewitching Powder, refining Qi and Blood Pills, and combining sword techniques, Su Chen would also take time to visit Li Mo.

It wasn't about supervising Li Mo's cultivation, but rather about infusing his own Vajra Force into Li Mo when Li Mo was exhausted from cultivation, and then using the characteristics of Thick Earth Force to help him assimilate the Vajra Force.

The Vajra Iron Shirt technique incorporates the Thick Earth Technique, thus giving its power the characteristics of Thick Earth Technique. Su Chen was able to enhance Li Mo's power through this unconventional method. However, the Vajra Technique was too powerful, and even if Su Chen deliberately controlled the amount, it would still take Li Mo several hours to absorb it.

However, it was precisely because of this that Li Mo realized how powerful Su Chen was. A single strand of Su Chen's energy was stronger than all the energy in Li Mo's body. This further inspired Li Mo's desire to cultivate, and he became even more diligent in his training.

However, Su Chen did not come away empty-handed. Since the five forces merged, Su Chen could no longer use the function of the Thick Earth Force to assimilate other forces and quickly consume the effects of the Qi and Blood Pill.

The process of transferring energy to Li Mo not only accelerated the consumption of Qi and Blood Pills, but also allowed him to find a critical point where he could temporarily unleash 80% of the power of Vajra Force.

This surprised Su Chen, but he also felt helpless. He looked forward to the arrival of the Shadow Assassin Headquarters and to the book "Mysterious Heart Myriad Wonders" even more.

(End of this chapter)