Chapter 24

In the private room of the hall, Su Xin sat in a chair, sipping tea. Soon, Huang Bingcheng brought Li Hua in and pushed the door open.

"Boss."

"Boss Su."

The "Boss Su" was called by Li Hua, which surprised Huang Bingcheng greatly.

When he first met this guy, he was very arrogant, even openly saying he wouldn't listen to Su Xin's orders. Why was he now calling him "Boss Su"?

But Huang Bingcheng didn't think much about it. His boss was very skilled, and it wasn't surprising that he could win over Li Hua.

"Sit down, don't stand there. I called you here to discuss something."

Su Xin gestured for the two to sit down and asked, "What do you think of the people under me now?"

Li Hua, who usually didn't care about such things, let Huang Bingcheng excitedly say, "In short, four words: the people's hearts can be used!"

Su Xin laughed and scolded, "Don't misuse idioms. If the authorities heard that, they might throw you in jail."

Huang Bingcheng chuckled, "Anyway, that's what I mean. Boss, you are generous, and our brothers earn more than those in the War Hall.

Moreover, you are willing to fight the head of the Green Bamboo Gang for your brothers, which moved them to tears. Even if you ordered them to attack Yongle Fang now, they would dare to charge in with their knives."

Su Xin tapped the table with his finger and said, "Yes, the morale is indeed good, but it's not enough."

Huang Bingcheng was a bit confused. In his view, Su Xin's subordinates were already excellent.

Like the subordinates of other minor leaders, most of them were seasoned old-timers. They were fine with extortion and brawls, but when it came to real combat, they would hide at the back.

But Su Xin's subordinates were all young and daring, already won over by Su Xin. Even the few older ones had gradually adapted to this atmosphere.

If Su Xin were to fight with others now, they would charge forward with a roar. This kind of momentum was probably only found in the War Hall of the Flying Eagle Gang, where the待遇 was generous.

Su Xin shook his head, "I thought it was good too, but when I went to the main hall last time, you saw the War Hall disciples at the gate. With just under two hundred of my men, the other side could take them all out with only ten people."

Huang Bingcheng was stunned, "No way! Twenty to one, and still can't win?"

He knew the War Hall disciples were strong, but he never imagined they could be this strong.

Su Xin shook his head, "You haven't practiced martial arts, so you can't feel the powerful aura and the intense killing intent they exude. To put it bluntly, my men, who haven't seen blood, are just scraps compared to them."

Li Hua, who had been silent, now spoke up, "Boss Su is right. The War Hall disciples are very strong. I can fight one, but not three."

Huang Bingcheng's eyes widened. He hadn't seen how strong the War Hall disciples were, but he knew how capable Li Hua was.

This guy used to be the top enforcer under Tiger San, and the number of people from other gangs who died at his hands was in the double digits.

Moreover, last time Li Hua followed Su Xin to assassinate Dai Chong, they fought their way out of the Green Bamboo Gang's territory. His strength was evident.

But even Li Hua couldn't match three War Hall disciples?

Li Hua said calmly, "The War Hall disciples are carefully selected by the Flying Eagle Gang. They are strong and robust, trained from a young age. They eat beef and eggs for every meal, and have five meals a day. At night, they soak their bodies in herbal medicine to strengthen their blood and qi.

They don't patrol the territory; their only task is to practice martial arts. Moreover, they are personally guided by the War Hall leader, Lin Fuhu. Sometimes, even the gang leader will personally teach them.

But this still doesn't make them true War Hall disciples. Only those who have killed more than ten people in gang battles and survived have the资格 to become true War Hall disciples."

Huang Bingcheng asked curiously, "How do you know so much?"

"Because I once wanted to join the War Hall, but was ultimately rejected."

"With your skills, you were rejected?"

Li Hua said calmly, "My parents died, and my uncle took over our property and abused me for a year. By the time I escaped and wanted to join the War Hall, I was already pale and weak, so of course I was rejected."

Huang Bingcheng, hearing about Li Hua's family background for the first time, couldn't help but ask, "What happened to the uncle who took your property?"

"Killed!"

Huang Bingcheng shrank back, cursing himself for his loose lips. He should have known that would be the result.

Su Xin tapped the table, "Enough gossip. I called you here today to discuss a plan to enhance the strength of my men. My people can't be inferior to the War Hall!"

"Difficult," Li Hua shook his head.

Huang Bingcheng,不服, said, "Isn't it just about eating meat every meal? We have the money now. What's a few more meals? We can expand the training ground in the back of the hall and have the boss personally teach them."

Li Hua sneered, "Martial arts can't be learned in a day. This way, they'll only learn superficial techniques, not the kind of experts in the War Hall who can take on dozens."

Huang Bingcheng was about to say more, but Su Xin waved his hand, "Li Hua is right. The War Hall disciples were trained by the Flying Eagle Gang for several years. We can't reach their level in a short time using this method."

"Li Hua, have you ever learned internal martial arts?" Su Xin suddenly asked, changing the subject.

"Of course not."

Li Hua, though the top enforcer under Tiger San, didn't even have the资格 to learn Tiger San's internal martial arts, let alone himself.

"If I gave you an internal martial arts technique now, how much do you think your strength would increase?" Su Xin asked.

"At least ten times!" Li Hua's eyes lit up.

Li Hua's strength had already reached its limit. He had been in the Flying Eagle Gang for several years, and as the top enforcer under Tiger San, he had no worries about food and drink. His body and qi were already very strong.

But for Li Hua, this was already his limit. He wasn't like Dai Chong, who had innate strength. His current strength had reached a point where no amount of training could increase it further.

Unless he practiced internal martial arts, using internal energy to nourish his qi and open his acupoints, he could advance further.

"Your strength can increase ten times, and even ordinary gang members, though not as strong as you, can increase their combat strength several times after practicing internal martial arts. So my plan is to have my men practice internal martial arts!"

Su Xin took out the "Quanzhen Sect Basic Internal Martial Arts" he had copied the night before and threw it on the table.

"Internal martial arts technique!"

Li Hua jumped up from his chair, scaring Huang Bingcheng, who was sitting next to him.

He had never seen this guy so excited before.

"Is this for us to practice?" Li Hua asked.

Su Xin nodded, and he could hear a slight tremor in Li Hua's voice.

But Li Hua had a good reason to be excited. Internal martial arts were something he had always dreamed of.

Without internal martial arts, Li Hua had already reached his limit. He was just a gang member, a slightly capable one.

Though he knew the gang leader and the three hall leaders understood internal martial arts, and even Tiger San and other major leaders did, he had never hoped they would teach him.

For martial artists, internal martial arts were a closely guarded secret, let alone for a small gang like theirs.

Even Tiger San's adopted son, Chen Dao, had never been taught internal martial arts by Tiger San. What资格 did Li Hua have to be taught?

Later, when he went with Su Xin to assassinate Dai Chong, he knew Su Xin must also know internal martial arts, but he didn't have any extra thoughts.

He wasn't close to Su Xin and had even spoken harshly to him before. Su Xin not holding a grudge was already a sign of magnanimity. What more could he hope for?

He never expected Su Xin to openly give him the precious internal martial arts technique today.

"Is there something wrong?" Su Xin asked, seeing Li Hua's reaction.

Li Hua looked up and said solemnly, "Internal martial arts techniques are closely guarded secrets. Even in martial arts sects, they must be learned after becoming a disciple. In our Flying Eagle Gang, no one has ever taught internal martial arts to ordinary gang members."

"Do you know why?" Su Xin asked.

"Because internal martial arts are precious?"

Su Xin sneered, "Precious my ass! No matter how precious it is, it's not a consumable. If one person learns it, another can't. The gang leader and the major leaders don't teach internal martial arts to their subordinates because they are afraid!"

Huang Bingcheng and Li Hua were stunned. Afraid? What were they afraid of?

"What is internal martial arts? It's the dividing line between ordinary people and martial artists. Only by learning internal martial arts does your future have endless possibilities. Otherwise, you'll spend your whole life struggling in this corner of Changning Prefecture.

Tiger San has practiced internal martial arts for over ten years and still hasn't opened all thirty-six acupoints. What if one of his subordinates learns internal martial arts and becomes stronger than him? Should he step down?

The gang leader and the three hall leaders are stronger, but they are also afraid of this. With strength comes ambition, and they become harder to control."

"Then aren't you afraid?" Li Hua asked, looking up.

Huang Bingcheng glanced at him. This guy dared to ask anything.

Su Xin smiled, "I'm not afraid."

"Why?"

"Because I will go further than you."