Chapter 26

After discussing the matter of teaching martial skills to his subordinates, Su Xin took a turn around and, seeing nothing amiss, prepared to return home.

There were people guarding the hall, and his small courtyard was close to Kuaile Forest. If anything happened, someone would immediately come to report it.

Moreover, with Su Xin's current reputation, it was unlikely that many people would dare to cause trouble.

Even Hu San, who disliked him, and the Punishment Hall Master Dong Chengwu would not provoke him at this time.

It was almost noon, and on his way back, Su Xin bought a pound of braised beef and a lotus leaf chicken to take home.

Two gang members were still guarding the entrance to the small courtyard.

Actually, after Su Xin's strength greatly increased, he wanted to dismiss them, but considering that Xiner was at home, he decided against it.

He had offended quite a few people, and although misfortune usually did not affect family members, if he encountered someone who was completely insane, it would be good to have some precautions.

Seeing Su Xin return, the two gang members immediately said respectfully, "Boss."

Su Xin threw them a silver coin: "You've worked hard. It's noon, go have a meal and a drink, and take a rest."

The two gang members took the silver coin and said excitedly, "Thank you, Boss."

They were not excited because Su Xin had given them a silver coin, but because they felt a sense of respect from his actions.

Pushing open the door, Xiner was wielding the small wooden sword Su Xin had carved for her, moving with a fierce and lifelike manner.

Seeing this, Su Xin immediately thought that it was time for Xiner to start practicing internal skills.

Although Xiner was young, she had a natural talent for understanding martial skills. For example, the complex Great Mustard Sword Technique, which Su Xin had only taught her a few times, she could already perform quite well.

This talent was even better than Su Xin's, and he believed she would learn internal skills quickly.

Su Xin did not want to cultivate Xiner into a female martial artist. This life, he would protect her, and if Xiner were to be harmed, he would directly commit suicide.

However, even if she did not go to battle, she still needed to practice internal skills, as he had told Huang Bingcheng, to strengthen her body and health.

Moreover, Xiner's personality was suitable for practicing internal skills; she could endure loneliness and preferred quietness to activity.

Although she was still young, she did not run around like other children of her age. Instead, if given something, she could play quietly for a whole day.

"Brother, why are you back so early today?" Seeing Su Xin return, Xiner immediately threw down the wooden sword and ran over, taking the braised beef and lotus leaf chicken from his hands.

"Of course, I missed our Xiner." Su Xin rubbed Xiner's little head: "Wash your hands and get ready to eat. Slice the braised beef, and remember not to sneak a bite."

Xiner ran to the kitchen with a smile, already forgetting that Su Xin had told her to wash her hands first.

After eating, Su Xin took out a piece of paper and copied the "Quanzhen Sect Basic Internal Skills" for Xiner.

The book he had obtained from the system was given to Li Hua, and he did not ask him to copy it. When teaching internal skills, he would simply read it out loud.

Most of his subordinates were locals from Changley坊, all children who grew up in the slums. How many of them could read? Copying it would be useless.

"Xiner, come over. Today I'll teach you something new. Remember to study well; you can't be lazy with this."

Handing the skill to Xiner, Su Xin said, "First, memorize the skill."

"Okay."

Xiner made a pained face and struggled to read: "Da... chu... tong jiu..."

She stumbled over the words, getting two out of three wrong.

"Xiner, you don't recognize these characters?" Su Xin asked in surprise.

Xiner pouted, looking aggrieved: "Mother only taught me to read for a year before she passed away. I've already forgotten most of it."

The fusion of two lifetimes' memories had buried some things deep in Su Xin's mind. It was only when Xiner mentioned it that he remembered she had not really studied much.

In his memory, his mother had started teaching him to read and write when he was young, so even though he grew up in the slums, he could write a decent hand and had some knowledge of poetry and classics.

Xiner's mother had also taught her when she was young, but at that time, Xiner was only four or five years old. Her mother had only taught her for less than a year before passing away, and with Xiner being so young, she had probably forgotten most of what she had learned.

"Alright, I'll read it, and you listen. 'At the beginning of the Great Way, the nine orifices are opened, the nine orifices originate in the tailbone, first from the Yongquan point at the bottom of the feet, the Yongquan point gradually rises to the knees...'"

After reading the not-so-long skill to Xiner, the little girl was already half-asleep, clearly not as interested in this as she was in sword techniques.

Su Xin tapped her little head: "Don't be lazy. Tomorrow I'll get a teacher for you to learn to read and write, and then you'll memorize the skill for me."

"No! Xiner doesn't want to study and learn to read!"

Xiner immediately made a pained face and refused, her big eyes misty with tears, looking aggrieved.

Studying every day was so annoying; practicing swords was much more interesting.

"No, being pitiful won't work. I don't want to cultivate you into a lady, but you must at least learn to read and understand principles." Su Xin waved his hand, leaving no room for negotiation.

After protesting for a long time without any result, Xiner had no choice but to accept it with a pained face, feeling extremely unwilling.

The next morning, Su Xin had Huang Bingcheng gather all his subordinates at the hall, not missing a single one.

After more than a month of development, he had 190 subordinates, nearly three times as many as when he first took over Kuaile Forest.

Because of Su Xin's reputation in the Flying Eagle Gang, not only locals from Changley坊 but also members within the Flying Eagle Gang wanted to transfer to his command, with the ten silver coins monthly pay being the main reason.

Huang Bingcheng had a good eye for people, and these 190 subordinates were the ones left after removing some who were lazy and just wanted to get by. Most of them were trustworthy.

Kuaile Forest was not large, and normally, only a third of the nearly 200 gang members patrolled the area, while the rest either rested or practiced martial arts in the training ground at the back of the hall.

This time, gathering everyone, the gang members knew something significant was about to happen.

Su Xin, along with Li Hua and Huang Bingcheng, walked out from the back yard. Seeing the boss, everyone straightened up, and some of the young members even showed admiration in their eyes.

Most of these young members came from the slums of Changley坊 and joined the Flying Eagle Gang for one reason: to earn a living.

However, after seeing Su Xin's achievements, their attitude of just getting by turned into admiration.

Just like them, Su Xin was a poor boy from Changley坊 who, in just over a month, rose from a low-level gang member to a leader.

This legendary story was highly attractive to these young members.

Standing in front of everyone, Su Xin said clearly, "Before we talk about the matter, I have a question for everyone. Why did you join the Flying Eagle Gang?

Do you know that once you enter the world of the gang, it's like diving into the sea? Even though the Flying Eagle Gang is just a small gang in Changning Prefecture, it is still part of the world of the gang, where life and death are not in your control!

One moment you might be drinking with your brothers, and the next, you could be lying dead on the street, becoming a stepping stone for others in the gang war!"

Su Xin's words caused a stir among the crowd, unsure of what the boss meant.

The new members of the Flying Eagle Gang might not understand, but the old members sighed.

Outside the city, the mass grave was filled with hundreds of people every year.

Among these hundreds, there were few civilians, but the most were gang members, the lowest level of "gangsters."

"Have you thought about it? You, speak first." Su Xin pointed to someone.

This person was familiar to Su Xin, the brother of Chen San, who was beaten to death by the Green Bamboo Gang, named Li Qing.

He and the beaten Chen San were both new members of the Flying Eagle Gang, but Li Qing left a deep impression on Su Xin as a man with blood and righteousness, not rash, and quite sensible.

Pointed out by Su Xin, Li Qing was taken aback and then smiled bitterly: "Boss, I'll speak bluntly, don't take offense. I joined the gang for money.

My parents passed away early, and they worked hard to raise me but never saw me get married.

I, Li Qing, am not ambitious. I carry heavy loads in the East City every day, earning only ten coins, and two of them are taken by the brokers.

Living like this, I can barely survive, let alone get married.

So I'm not satisfied and want to take a chance while I'm young and still have some strength!

If I survive for a few years, I'll save some money to get married and leave a descendant for the Li family. Otherwise, I'll have no face to meet my parents in the afterlife!"

After Li Qing finished speaking, the gang members were silent, feeling uncomfortable, especially those who also came from Changley坊, as Li Qing had spoken their hearts.

In the past, when Changning Prefecture was the capital of the Zhou Dynasty, it was relatively prosperous, but since the capital moved, it has declined year by year.

Changning Prefecture is located in southern Xiang, close to the Southern Barbarians. The land is not barren, but it is mostly highlands and forests, unsuitable for farming.

Originally, because it was the capital, commerce was thriving, but after the capital moved, even merchants became fewer. The only advantage left for Changning Prefecture was its proximity to the Southern Barbarians, allowing it to purchase some local specialties from them for trade.

This way, the merchants in Changning Prefecture could still make a decent profit, but the common people suffered. Without farmland, the opportunities for work were extremely scarce.

Like Li Qing, those who carried heavy loads and loaded goods at the city gate, earning just enough for a meal a day, were considered lucky, at least better than those who had no work and starved.

In the past, when Su Xin joined the Flying Eagle Gang, it was also for money. He was young, had some strength, but when he tried to work, people refused him because of his age.

Moreover, even if they accepted him, the wages were not enough to support him and Xiner, so Su Xin eventually chose the Flying Eagle Gang.

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