Hongcheng, the main wharf of the Red Scale Gang.
The Red Scale Gang, which was once prosperous and popular in the past, is now not what it used to be. Although the scale is still the same, the problem can be seen from the sparse gang members at a glance.
Guan Lingxiao and the other three were invited here by Huo Qian. After all, there was no irresolvable conflict between the two parties. Since Guan Lingxiao intended to help the Red Scale Gang, Huo Qian had no reason to hold on - even to death. The attitude of treating a horse as a living horse doctor is better than leaving it alone and continuing to let it go.
As for whether Guan Lingxiao wants to be detrimental to him, that is not something Huo Qian can consider - if he wants to be detrimental to Huo Qian himself, he can do it on the ship. Huo Qian has no confidence that the three of them can join forces to attack. Survived; if he wanted to take advantage of the Red Scale Gang... to be honest, the Red Scale Gang no longer had the capital to challenge others.
Therefore, when Guan Lingxiao said that he could negotiate a deal with the Red Scale Gang, Huo Qian had no better way even if he didn't agree. He might as well listen to what the young master of the Eternal Life Alliance had to say first.
"You said... you are the young leader of the Eternal Life Alliance? Do you have any evidence?" The questioner was Huo Shen, the brother of Huo Qian's mother. Except for the different directions of their tattoos and the different positions of their earrings, the difference between the two brothers is that Different temperaments can also be judged. The elder brother Huo Shen is more calm and reserved, while the younger brother Huo Qian has a more aggressive look on his face. "Although Huo doesn't know much about the Eternal Life Alliance, he has always heard the name of the alliance leader Song Guichao. Why doesn't the young leader of the Eternal Life Alliance take his father's surname?"
Song Guichao was an extremely cautious person, so his son's surname also followed his mother's. The position of the young leader was only known within the Changsheng Alliance and was kept secret from the outside world. But Guan Lingxiao looked down upon his father's character, which was almost hypocritical, and he was not afraid of reporting his name to outsiders.
Guan Lingxiao was not surprised that Huo Shen had such doubts. It would be abnormal if Huo Shen did not doubt his identity. He took out a jade pendant inlaid with gold and jade from his arms, with the words "Eternal Life Alliance" engraved on it: "Brother Huo must have You also know the Immortality Order of the Eternal Life Alliance...the most advanced one is this kind of gold-inlaid jade token, which can only be held by the gang leader and the young gang leader, and even the deputy gang leader and the leader of the Five Sacrifice can only use jade."
Huo Shen took the gold-inlaid jade token and looked at it. He didn't say he could tell the authenticity of this thing, but there were not many people in the world who could afford tokens of this size, at least the Red Scale Gang. I don't have the spare money.
"I think... the identity of the leader of Guan Shao is now very clear." Huo Shen nodded at the young man and threw the token back to him, "It's just that there is still something undecided in Huo's heart... Please also ask Leader Guan Shao to answer your questions."
"But it doesn't matter."
"With the strength of Young Master Guan and these two little brothers, they can do whatever it takes to save the merchant ship or defeat my younger brother. Even from your point of view, it is reasonable to kill my younger brother on the spot, but why? Will you... offer to help my Red Scale Gang revive?" Huo Shen also listened to his younger brother's account of everything that happened on the Jishui River today, and this was the biggest mystery in his mind.
What he wanted to know was not the method, but the purpose.
If Guan Lingxiao came to offer advice to the Red Scale Gang, Huo Shen would not be surprised, because in order to further consolidate their power, many sects will support some small sects. The local snakes come to mutual benefit. But after being robbed by the Red Scale Gang, Huo Shen couldn't figure out what the other party was going to do even if he tried hard.
Guan Lingxiao's appearance is extremely ordinary, and his temperament is the kind that you wouldn't find in a crowd, but the aura unintentionally revealed from him at this moment actually overwhelmed the two brothers Huo Shen and Huo Qian: "It's simple to say , it’s just that I want the Red Scale Gang to be used by me.”
"You said...for your use?" Huo Qian's anger rose again. He could accept his defeat and even die in the hands of the other party and had nothing to complain about. But if the red scales that his two brothers had guarded for half their lives were If someone joins in, he will fight for the other person's life even if he dies. "Is it possible that you want us, Red Scale, to be the dogs of your Eternal Life Alliance?"
At the critical moment, it was Huo Shen who suppressed his younger brother's anger: "Young Master Guan, you are so straightforward..."
"Huo accepted the kindness of Leader Guan Shao." Huo Shen paused and looked at Guan Lingxiao's expressionless face: "It's just that although our Red Scale Gang is not what it used to be, it is far from reaching the point where it is at its end. , not to mention those of us on the green forest road who are free and unwilling to depend on others; secondly, we are afraid of damaging the reputation of the Everlasting Alliance by getting involved with the Everlasting Alliance..."
"So... let's forget it."
Although his ability to run the gang is not good, he has taken over the position of leader for so many years. Huo Shen's thoughts are quite clear - he neither wants to lose the reputation of the Red Scale Gang in his hands, nor does he want to Listen to other people's orders - If the Red Scale Gang really merges into the Eternal Life Alliance and becomes a part of it, the minions and leaders under them will still be the leaders of the minions, but the two brothers will be the leader of the gang. He became someone's thug. What's more, considering the current situation of the Red Scale Gang, their entry into the Immortal League is more or less like "depending on others".
"I would rather be a chicken head than a phoenix tail. The ambition of the two heads of Honglin is worthy of admiration." Guan Lingxiao praised Huo Shen after hearing Huo Shen's euphemistic rejection, but it was obvious that his next words had nothing to do with praise. : "It's a pity that the size is still a little small..."
The veins on Huo Shen's square forehead have become stretched. Although he is more patient than his brothers, no one can bear the repeated ridicule: "This is a little too much..."
Guan Lingxiao took a deep breath and said slowly: "The rivers and lakes are this kind of rivers and lakes. If you sail against the current and don't advance, you will retreat. The Red Scale Gang fell here. The two leaders really didn't realize that you two should bear the main responsibility. What?"
"Why did the Sihai Gang withdraw from the dispute over the Yishui River? Are they really afraid of you, the Red Scale Gang? The Yishui River is just a tributary of the Yueyong River, and the main trunk is still in the hands of the Sihai Gang. The Yishui River is not considered an important water transportation route. For the Sihai Gang, they are like chicken ribs and are eaten without meat, and discarded are tasteful. The Sihai Gang has many rivers, but it is not much. Secondly, you, the Red Scale Gang, are also a tough opponent, and they will fight with you forcefully. I’m afraid the gains from this territory are not as much as the losses, so I’ll give them up.”
"But it's useless only for a gang like the Sihai Gang, which has a big business and spreads all over the world. It's still quite useful for a gang of your scale like the Red Scale Gang. It's just that since the emperor succeeded to the throne, Sheng Guo's business focus has changed. Gradually moving eastward, the powerful water gangs are now concentrated at the estuary of Jiangdong. How can the Jishui in the southwest be as lively as before? It is true that the power of your Red Scale Gang still exists in Jishui and even the surrounding areas, but up and down Hundreds of people are waiting to eat, but there are fewer and fewer merchant ships sailing on the Sheishui River. It can be said that there are more monks and less rice, so it is not surprising that more and more people are leaving the Red Scale Gang and turning to other places. .”
"In my personal opinion, the Red Scale Gang will certainly not collapse. At least when you two brothers are still alive, they can barely support the sect's turnover and operation with just two first-class masters." Guan Lingxiao is not an ordinary person. He ignorantly criticized the shortcomings of the Red Scales Gang and the Huo brothers, but he was objectively making suggestions for the Red Scales Gang: "But this will be the case in the future. I want to recreate the majestic power of the Red Scales Gang back then. Momentum... is difficult. Not to mention that when the two leaders are old, the Red Scale Gang may be in decline. The masters of the previous generation have faded out of the times, and the next generation has few talents. At that time, The reputation and banner of the Red Scales... don’t mention it.”
When Guan Lingxiao was speaking, none of the Huo brothers interrupted him, and even the simpler-minded Huo Qian didn't say anything - these brothers knew that what Guan Lingxiao said was true.
The Huo brothers are undoubtedly trusted by many members of the Red Scale Gang. No one will question their loyalty and ability to the Red Scale Gang, but unfortunately this is the fact - after the death of the old gang leader, due to many reasons, the Red Scale Gang It has been declining again and again. Not only have no new people joined for a long time, but even many old people have made other plans. Nowadays, the Red Scale Gang has canceled all its docks - most of the people are gone, so what's the use of having so many docks?
"Although the Red Scales and the Sihai Gang had a grudge because of the water, this grudge is not irresolvable. If the Red Scales Gang takes the initiative to show their kindness, the Sihai Gang may not be unable to tolerate others. What's more, eating on the waterway is your business. Okay, maybe joining the Sihai Gang is a way out." Guan Lingxiao's move to the Red Scale Gang was indeed a good idea. The Sihai Gang also gradually switched from river bandits to water transport at the beginning, and the Sihai Gang was very familiar with water transportation. All the small families on the road are welcome to join, and even if there was any dissatisfaction in the past, they can just laugh it off and forget about it. This is why the Sihai Gang is now firmly at the top of the four middle schools.
However, Guan Lingxiao also had his own purpose in saying this - he wanted to test the Red Scale Gang's attitude towards the Sihai Gang.
As expected, Huo Shen rejected the suggestion directly.
"It's like what we said at the beginning, you follow me." Guan Lingxiao paused deliberately, "It's not the Eternal Life Alliance, but me personally."
Huo Shen raised his eyebrows, as if he couldn't understand the focus of the other party's words: "Is there any difference?"
"The difference is huge." Guan Lingxiao smiled softly, but there was a bitterness in his smile: "The Eternal Life Alliance belongs to my father, and I hope you will become my direct descendants."
Huo Qian scratched his head: "Why us?"
Guan Lingxiao gave an objective but very hurtful answer: "Because you can fight and decline."
The corners of Huo Qian's mouth twitched, but in the end he was still unable to speak. His brother asked again: "If we are just your subordinates, wouldn't it be a level lower than joining the Eternal Life Alliance?"
"Then you can't think like that..." Guan Lingxiao was also unceremonious: "Today you are indeed inferior to the leaders of the Eternal Life Alliance, but if I take over the Eternal Life Alliance in the future, your status will not be superior to those people. What?"
"Are you going to make sure that you will be the leader of the alliance in the future? Your father is not just your child, right?"
"Does Mr. Huo want to sit back and enjoy the gains without paying anything?"
After a long struggle, Guan Lingxiao finally persuaded the Huo brothers - in fact, they did not do so because they admired Guan Lingxiao's abilities or considered talents, but because they knew the true situation of the Red Scale Gang better than Guan Lingxiao. And if the Eternal Life Alliance's thigh can be embraced, it will be much better than being alone.
"Huh... Then please allow us to think about it again." Although Huo Shen said this, Huo Shen was obviously moved and just wanted to discuss the terms with the leader Guan Shao.
