Chapter 23: The Creed of the Heavenly Dragon Society! (Second Update—Please Vote!)

Not long after Bai Muge and his companions had departed, the bustling streets of the capital saw the hurried arrival of the Tianlong Gang, led by Master Liu. Their steps were brisk as they made their way toward the site of the acrobatic performance.

“Isn’t that Master Liu from the Qinglong Gang?”
“Why are they here?”
“Could it be that the Qinglong Gang is planning another scheme today? Or…”
“Are they going after Young Master Bai?”

Amid the shocked whispers and speculations of the unsuspecting townsfolk, Master Liu had already arrived at the acrobatic show with his men. With a stern face, he swept his gaze over the performers and issued a cold command, “Surround them all!”

“Yes, Chief!” his followers responded immediately.

In the blink of an eye, those who had accompanied Master Liu had encircled the performers. Even the few remaining remnants of the Qinglong Gang, who had been hiding among the crowds, were forcibly dragged out on the spot.

Every one of them was utterly bewildered.

[Why is the chief arresting us?]
[We’re from the same gang!]

Not only were they confused, but the surrounding spectators were also at a loss, utterly baffled.

[What is going on?]
[Why would Master Liu arrest members of his own gang?]
[What has happened?]

At that very moment, Tianlong Gang members began escorting the performers back to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, loudly proclaiming to the crowd, “Tianlong Gang is handling business—bystanders, keep away!”

“Tianlong Gang is handling business—bystanders, keep away!”

Several voices shouted in unison, clearing the area lest innocent civilians be harmed by what was to come.

The powerful shouts startled everyone.

“Tianlong Gang? Isn’t it the Qinglong Gang?”
“Exactly!”
“Isn’t Master Liu the leader of the Qinglong Gang? How did he suddenly become the chief of Tianlong Gang?”
“What on earth is happening?”

The entire crowd was riddled with confusion, scratching their heads in uncertainty. Just the existence of the Qinglong Gang had already been enough to trouble merchants and common folk alike. If there was now a Tianlong Gang, would it not be the same people suffering?

While the townsfolk hesitated, Master Liu raised his booming voice and declared, “Do not fear, fathers and elders! I, Liu the Third, am no longer a member of the Qinglong Gang. Having received the favor and trust of Master Bai, I am now the newly appointed chief of the Tianlong Gang! As for the infamous Qinglong Gang, founded in secret by that rebel Prince of the South, it will henceforth be erased from the capital! The Tianlong Gang will no longer collect protection fees, nor engage in shameful deeds! Our purpose is to serve the people wholeheartedly, and to work for the court and the emperor! I ask of you, fathers and elders, to supervise the members of the Tianlong Gang. Should anyone violate our principles, we shall rid ourselves of such pests!”

With these words, Master Liu felt a fresh clarity and satisfaction, and with a light heart, he led his men onward to the next location, hunting down the remnants of the Qinglong Gang loyal to Zhao Wujie and the Prince of the South.

Only after Master Liu’s group left did the townsfolk slowly regain their composure. They exchanged glances, yet none could quite believe what Master Liu had just announced.

[Master Bai? That must be Young Master Bai, Bai Muge.]
[Wait!]
[This Tianlong Gang… meaning the emperor and Master Bai have refashioned the Qinglong Gang and turned it into a proper society?]
[So it’s… an official government force?]
[That must be it!]
[Didn’t Master Bai help the emperor secretly eliminate the rebel Prince of the South? Now, with the Qinglong Gang, which he supported in secret, also wiped out, it makes sense.]
[In any case, with Master Liu as the chief and Bai Muge’s personal promise, we can trust them!]
[Indeed, Young Master Bai has become a much better person over this past month!]

Once the townsfolk understood, the weight that had burdened their hearts was finally lifted, settling with relief. Many merchants and lower-class citizens found their eyes brimming with tears.

“Young Master Bai is truly a good official!”
“Long live the wise and mighty emperor!”

Those escorted back to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness by the Tianlong Gang, upon hearing Master Liu’s speech, finally understood.

Their Qinglong Gang had been overtaken by Master Liu, who had changed its name and pledged allegiance to the imperial court! Moreover, just earlier, Bai Muge and Li Shixuan had attended their acrobatics show, yet left decisively—either Bai Muge had seen through their scheme, or Master Liu had betrayed them.

Otherwise, it would not have happened that Master Liu arrived so soon after Bai Muge’s departure!

The diehard followers of the Prince of the South gritted their teeth, veins bulging on their faces. The kidnapping plan, meticulously crafted to perfection, had been ruined by a traitor in their midst—none other than the chief himself, Master Liu!

“Damn it! If only I’d acted directly, instead of this elaborate kidnapping scheme!”
“You’re right! We should’ve struck right away, killed Bai Muge and Li Shixuan, and been done with it!”
“Liu the Third, you dog-hearted traitor! How dare you betray our prince and the Qinglong Gang—I’ll kill you!”
“Liu the Third, you won’t die a good death!”

After a few curses, the Tianlong Gang members responded with harsh blows to their stomachs, leaving them contorted in pain and utterly powerless.

“Shut your damned mouths!”
“Dare insult our chief? Insult our master? Do you want to meet your ‘dog lord’ now?”
“If not for old times’ sake, you’d already be dead!”
“Any further insults, and you’ll be executed right here—sent to meet the Prince of the South!”

As expected, after such discipline, the loyalists dared not utter another word.

At that moment, Bai Muge was personally escorting Li Shixuan back to the palace. He had not realized that the acrobatics show, seemingly ordinary, had in fact been a carefully planned plot by the remnants of the Qinglong Gang—a scheme to kidnap Princess Li Shixuan.

Moreover, they had managed to avoid unnecessary trouble without even knowing it.

At the palace gates, Li Shixuan suddenly halted, glanced toward the imperial study, then looked at the guards behind her. Seeing they had not followed, she breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

“Brother Mu, thank you for escorting me back to the palace today.”

Li Shixuan clasped her hands behind her back and spun lightly in a little circle, head lowered, her voice soft as a whisper, “Um… do you have important matters to attend to? Are you going to the imperial study to see my brother?”

“???” Bai Muge was somewhat perplexed.

He felt that Li Shixuan was acting rather strangely today, so very different from her usual self.