Chapter 277: Giant Whale Gang Leader

Zu'an was startled, thinking, "What's gotten into this guy?"

Chu Zhongtian reacted more quickly, his figure a blur as he stepped between them. "Brother Wang," he said, "there’s been a great misunderstanding about this matter."

"What misunderstanding?" Wang Fu retorted angrily. "If he hadn’t arranged to meet Yuanlong at the pleasure house, would Yuanlong have faced such a terrible ordeal?"

Wang Fu's rage increased by 446.

Zu'an couldn't help but interject, "Brother Wang isn't dead. Isn't it a bit inauspicious to say such things now?"

Wang Fu nearly burst with fury. "What utter nonsense is this brat spouting!" he roared.

Wang Fu's rage increased by 514.

Standing nearby, Qin Wanru suddenly felt a touch of schadenfreude. She was usually the one driven half-mad by this fellow, and now there was finally someone else sharing her misery.

Chu Zhongtian quickly stepped in, blocking Wang Fu with a wry smile. "Brother Wang," he urged, "let's discuss this inside. We shouldn't make a spectacle of ourselves."

"Hmph!" Wang Fu scoffed, brushing Chu Zhongtian's hand away. "You're not afraid of people laughing when you take a fellow like him as your son-in-law, so why should I be afraid!"

Chu Zhongtian was speechless.

Qin Wanru was equally speechless.

Zu'an also wore a look of utter speechlessness. You don't hit below the belt; saying something like that was truly going too far.

Just as he was about to retort, Chu Chuyan quickly pulled him back, signaling him not to be impulsive.

She then stepped forward and addressed Wang Fu, "Greetings, Esteemed Uncle."

"Ah, Chuyan," Wang Fu said. Even though he had been impolite to Chu Zhongtian moments earlier, his tone instinctively softened a few degrees upon seeing Chu Chuyan.

Zu'an secretly curled his lip, thinking, "Hmph, men!"

"This matter isn't actually Zu'an’s fault," Chu Chuyan explained. "Inviting Yuanlong to the Immortal's Abode was actually my idea."

"Your idea?" Wang Fu looked utterly shocked. He found it difficult to associate a reserved and aloof woman like Chu Chuyan with such a scheme, wondering if she was fabricating it to protect her husband.

"Precisely," Chu Chuyan confirmed, lowering her voice. "It was primarily to create a diversion, demonstrate the Chu family's goodwill, and de-escalate the crisis between our two families…" She then quietly explained the full story, from beginning to end.

Wang Fu's expression fluctuated between dark and light. "While your method is indeed clever and theoretically very discreet, why did something happen to Yuanlong immediately after they parted ways?" he pressed. "Could it be a play orchestrated by your own family?"

Chu Chuyan explained, "Esteemed Uncle, why would you think that? While two hundred thousand taels of silver is a considerable sum, it's not a massive amount for either the Chu or Wang families. Would we truly resort to such a scheme for that little money? You must surely understand who wishes to divide and dismantle the alliance between our two families."

Wang Fu was startled. "Could it be the Sang…"

"I dare not speak rashly about that," Chu Chuyan replied, shaking her head. "However, your son should be temporarily safe. He was abducted by Chen Xuan. Since the abductor didn't kill him on the spot but instead expended greater effort to take him away, it indicates a clear motive. They would naturally not harm the hostage's life."

"Chen Xuan, the ruthless bandit!" Despite the sound reasoning behind Chu Chuyan's analysis, Wang Fu was overcome with paternal worry. Hearing Chen Xuan's name, his hands and feet instantly turned cold.

He suddenly whirled around and glared at Zu'an. "It's all your fault! I heard that Chen Xuan was trying to assassinate you; he must have been trailing you, and that’s how our Yuanlong stumbled upon him!"

Zu'an was utterly speechless. He was getting blamed even when he had done nothing.

Never mind, he thought. Given his deep concern for his son, I won't argue with him.

At this point, Chu Zhongtian also spoke up. "Brother Wang, please rest assured. Our Chu family will do everything in our power to rescue Yuanlong."

"Very well," Wang Fu huffed. "I'll give Brother Chu some face today. But don't blame me for speaking plainly: if anything happens to Yuanlong, I will hold your Chu family accountable to the very end!" With a final snort, he stomped off sullenly with his subordinates.

Watching their retreating figures, Qin Wanru trembled with indignation. "This is absolutely outrageous!" she fumed. "Now anyone feels they can come to our Chu family and throw their weight around! It's as if *they* are the duke’s family!"

Chu Zhongtian smiled wryly. "My dear, why take it to heart? You know our family's situation is currently grim. The Wang family is one of the few allies we have left, and we still need their assistance. Furthermore, his beloved son is in trouble this time, so some loss of composure is inevitable."

Qin Wanru snorted. "You always think so much of others, but when do they ever think of you?"

Chu Zhongtian said gravely, "I don't expect others to reciprocate my kindness; I only seek to have a clear conscience."

Qin Wanru realized her words had been a bit harsh. Taking his hand, she said apologetically, "Husband, you truly are a good man."

Zu'an, standing nearby, rolled his eyes. An old married couple, still flaunting their affection like this. He thought, "Perhaps Chuyan and I should flaunt ours back."

However, when he looked at Chu Chuyan, her brows were tightly furrowed, clearly pondering a solution to their predicament. "If we fail to rescue Wang Yuanlong this time," she murmured, "the alliance between our Chu and Wang families will be completely shattered. Alas, if I had known, I shouldn't have gone to such lengths; I should have just sent the silver directly to the Wang family."

Zu'an quickly comforted her. "How can you blame yourself for this? No one knows what tomorrow will bring, or when an unforeseen event might occur."

"Unfortunately, my physical condition isn't good right now, so I can't investigate Wang Yuanlong’s whereabouts myself." Chu Chuyan bit her lip tightly. Although Zu'an's treatment over the past few days had made her capable of daily activities, using her primal energy would likely exacerbate her injuries.

Having been accustomed to strength since childhood, her current weakness made her profoundly uncomfortable.

Zu'an said, "Don't worry, let me handle the investigation. I will definitely rescue Wang Yuanlong."

"How do you plan to investigate?" Chu Chuyan asked, still a bit uneasy.

Zu'an replied, "I'll start by investigating the various properties owned by the Plum Blossom Gang within the city. I believe Chen Xuan must be hiding in one of them."

"Alright," Chu Chuyan cautioned. "Be careful, and take plenty of guards with you."

Zu'an chuckled, "I have such a beautiful wife waiting for me at home; I certainly can't afford to let anything happen to me."

Chu Chuyan, blushing, scoffed, "Pah, you're incorrigible!"

After leaving the Chu family, Zu'an went directly to the academy to find Jiang Luofu. Since she intended to appoint him as an agent to take over the Plum Blossom Gang's assets, she would have undoubtedly had their properties thoroughly investigated beforehand. With her guidance, he believed his search would be much more efficient.

While Zu'an searched for Chen Xuan's whereabouts, Chen Xuan himself appeared on an island in a lake on the city's outskirts.

A large group of burly, knife-wielding men surrounded him.

Chen Xuan stood calmly in the center. "I'm here to see your gang leader," he stated. "Is this how the Giant Whale Gang treats its guests?"

"Impudent fool!" one shouted. "Our gang leader is not someone you can simply demand to see!"

"How did you even know this was the Giant Whale Gang's hideout?"

"With so many patrols on the island, how did you manage to get here undetected?"

...

Hearing the barrage of questions from those around him, Chen Xuan laughed heartily. "The authorities can't find your Giant Whale Gang," he declared, "but do you really think I, Chen Xuan, cannot?"

"Chen Xuan?"

"The Black Wind Bandit!"

...

In the Bright Moon City region, Chen Xuan's name was enough to make crying children quiet down at night.

The men, who had initially appeared fierce and courageous, visibly faltered upon learning his identity, each taking a few steps back nervously.

"Our Giant Whale Gang and your Black Wind Fortress have always kept to our own affairs. Why are you here?"

A bold young leader, steeling himself, asked.

Chen Xuan held his hands out, palms open, for all to see. "Rest assured," he said, "I'm not here to kill today. I've come to discuss a business deal with your gang leader."

"Since Chieftain Chen is a man of the underworld, he should know that our gang leader never receives visitors," the young leader replied.

Chen Xuan smiled faintly. "I've long heard that the Giant Whale Gang's leader is exceedingly mysterious, like a dragon that shows its head but never its tail. No one has ever truly seen your leader. Some claim the Giant Whale Gang leader is a peerless beauty, others say it’s a stooped old man, and still others insist it's a burly, wild brute. Today, I'm quite keen to see what your leader truly looks like."

"Are you intending to force your way in?" The Giant Whale Gang members' expressions darkened, and they tightened their grips on their knives.

"Can any of you truly stop me from going where I wish?" Chen Xuan scoffed, and an arrogant aura radiated outward from him.

The Giant Whale Gang members were utterly outmatched. Each instantly found it difficult to breathe, involuntarily retreating under the pressure.

Only a few, those with some remaining strength, managed to struggle and hold their ground.

"Let him in." At that moment, a soft, ethereal voice drifted from afar.

The voice was clearly deliberately disguised, making it impossible to discern if it was male or female.

Upon hearing it, the Giant Whale Gang members offered no objection whatsoever. They respectfully parted to either side, revealing a clear path.

Chen Xuan chuckled softly and walked straight inside.

He walked until he reached a house, where two large doors automatically swung open.

Chen Xuan, bold due to his exceptional skill, didn't hesitate and stepped directly inside.

"Speaking of mystery, Chieftain Chen of Black Wind Fortress is no less enigmatic than I am," a voice said from behind a screen. "Yet, you've recently been appearing openly in various places. Why is that?"

"To meet the gang leader, one naturally must demonstrate sincerity," Chen Xuan replied with a slight smile. "I simply hadn't anticipated that the renowned Giant Whale Gang leader would be a woman."

"Oh? How are you so certain I'm a woman?" the figure behind the screen asked with a hint of surprise.

"I possess a unique ability," Chen Xuan explained, "I'm exceptionally sensitive to a woman's essence. I don't need to see; merely by sensing the air around me, I can tell the gang leader is a woman, and a very beautiful one at that." His eyes instantly filled with a fervent intensity. He had initially come for a transaction, never expecting such an unforeseen discovery.

A soft laugh emanated from behind the screen. The voice was no longer deliberately altered; it was indeed a woman's, as delicate as an oriole's song and as smooth as a porcelain cup filled with warm tea.

"I hadn't expected Chieftain Chen to possess such an extraordinary ability," the woman chuckled softly. "It's hardly a disadvantage for my identity to be revealed. In fact, Chieftain, your luck is quite remarkable. I'm typically not on this island; had it not been for a particular matter today, you likely wouldn't have found me here at all."

Chen Xuan laughed heartily. "My luck has always been quite good."

"To have remained free and unfettered despite the combined efforts of Duke Bright Moon and the City Lord to suppress you, your luck is certainly considerable," the woman remarked.

"And aren't you the same, young lady?" Chen Xuan countered. "One might say we share a similar plight." He felt a surge of curiosity about her appearance; such a pleasant voice certainly made him eager to see her face.

Under normal circumstances, he would have acted without hesitation, simply rushing forward to pull aside the screen and take a look.

However, the Giant Whale Gang had been thriving in recent years, making him unsure of their true strength and hesitant to act too brazenly.

So he pulled over a stool and sat down, intending to assess the situation before proceeding.

The woman evidently had no great interest in engaging in casual conversation and promptly got to the point. "Chieftain," she said, "since you insisted on seeing me, what exactly is your purpose?"

Chen Xuan said gravely, "My purpose in coming here is to discuss a business proposition with the gang leader."