Hooligans 04

Wang Ergou led him into the branch helmsman's room. It was a bit dim inside, and an old man was currently calculating accounts with an abacus. Seeing Wang Ergou enter, he merely glanced up without saying a word, leaving Wang Ergou to stand waiting to the side.

Fang Zhiyi found it rather novel. It seemed the so-called demonic cult wasn't just about fighting and killing all day; everyone still had to make a living.

Only after Wang Ergou handed over the collected money did the branch helmsman look toward Fang Zhiyi.

"Who is this person?"

"Branch Helmsman, this is a little brother of mine who wants to join our Heaven-Shrouding Cult." Wang Ergou's words made Fang Zhiyi freeze again. What exactly was going through this guy's head to join a demonic cult? Were they really that close already?

The branch helmsman looked at Fang Zhiyi and nodded. "Alright, tell him the rules of our Heaven-Shrouding Cult later. If there's nothing else, you may step down."

Fang Zhiyi looked completely dumbfounded. Was that it? Was it really that simple? Were they truly not going to check his background at all?

Looking at Fang Zhiyi's blank expression, Wang Ergou suddenly remembered something. He stepped closer to the branch helmsman and whispered, "He has good skills. Should we assign him to the brothers who run errands?"

The branch helmsman finally looked at Fang Zhiyi seriously. "Good skills? Which sect are you from?"

As soon as his voice fell, the abacus in his hand suddenly burst apart. Several abacus beads shot toward Fang Zhiyi at high speed. Fang Zhiyi immediately dodged, his fingers striking out in rapid succession to knock down several of the flying beads.

The sudden turn of events left Wang Ergou somewhat stunned.

"I actually can't see your lineage. You must be a spy sent by some sect, right? Men!"

Only then did Fang Zhiyi realize he had underestimated this demonic cult branch. Six figures instantly appeared at the doorway behind him, stepping forward to surround him completely.

"Branch Helmsman, what is the meaning of this..." Wang Ergou was at a loss for what to do.

"You're blindly bringing people into our place again. The last spy was also brought by you, why don't you ever change?" The branch helmsman stood up, his eyes narrowing as he stared intently at Fang Zhiyi.

As the first person made a move, Fang Zhiyi tilted his head to dodge and counterattacked in one smooth motion. Although he had no inner strength, his martial techniques and reflexes were absolutely superior to anyone else's.

He landed a punch right in the man's armpit, causing the expert to jump up instantly. Fang Zhiyi followed up with a vicious upward kick to the groin. Watching this, Wang Ergou tightly clamped his own legs together.

A blade slashed down. It was as if Fang Zhiyi had eyes on the back of his head; he turned sideways to evade it. The attacker let out a surprised sound but didn't stop, following through with a horizontal sweep. However, Fang Zhiyi firmly clamped the blade between two fingers, rendering it unable to advance or retreat.

The man immediately became vigilant and tightly clamped his own legs together, but what greeted him instead was a full-force slap to the face.

The loud smack sent a shock through everyone present.

"Yeesh..." Wang Ergou winced, baring his teeth.

Relying on his agile footwork and keen observation, Fang Zhiyi consecutively took down four of the cultists attacking him.

"Strange, this martial arts style... is so mixed." The branch helmsman stroked his beard, his face full of confusion.

Seeing Fang Zhiyi thrust two fingers toward his opponent's eyes, the man immediately raised his hands to protect his face. But in the next moment, a sharp pain shot through his lower body, and he instantly curled up and fell to the floor.

"Stop!" The branch helmsman shouted, halting the last remaining cultist who was still standing.

Fang Zhiyi stood there. "I came here to join you, don't be ungrateful."

Wang Ergou's face was full of embarrassment. Brother, you don't look like someone begging to join at all, you look more like you're here to conquer us.

"He shouldn't be a spy from those orthodox sects." Helmsman Zuo made his conclusion. Wang Ergou turned to look at him as Helmsman Zuo continued, "Those people don't use such shameless methods. He's more like a street thug in a brawl."

Fang Zhiyi felt a bit uncomfortable. Being called shameless by a member of a demonic cult felt somewhat insulting.

"But we cannot keep you, so please leave." After the branch helmsman finished speaking, he began to walk around picking up the abacus beads he had just blasted out, sticking his rear in the air without any regard for his image.

"Branch Helmsman, why?" Wang Ergou asked in confusion. The twists and turns today were too thrilling, and he could hardly handle it.

"He has some skills but absolutely no inner strength. He'd have no problem making a living, and he could easily join those orthodox sects. Yet he's clamoring to join us. Don't you find that strange?"

For a moment, Wang Ergou didn't know what to say. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed true. He looked at Fang Zhiyi apologetically, but just as he was about to speak, Fang Zhiyi beat him to it.

"The main branch eats lavishly while you guys eat scraps. Helmsman, are you really content with this?"

The branch helmsman's hand, which was picking up an abacus bead, froze.

"I'm afraid you also know that the so-called branch is nothing more than a pawn thrown out by the main branch to draw enemy fire."

The branch helmsman slowly stood up straight and turned to look at Fang Zhiyi. "What did you say?"

Fang Zhiyi frowned; he didn't like dragging things out. "I said, we're all out here navigating the martial world, whether it's the demonic cult or the orthodox sects, it doesn't matter. Who isn't in it for fame and fortune..."

"No! I mean what did you say in your previous sentence!"

Fang Zhiyi paused. "The previous sentence? I'm afraid you also know..."

"The one before that!"

Fang Zhiyi was getting a bit confused now. "The main branch eats lavishly while you guys eat scraps. Helmsman, are you..."

The branch helmsman lunged forward and grabbed Fang Zhiyi. Only then did Fang Zhiyi realize that this man's martial arts were quite high—at least, he wouldn't be able to defeat him.

"That's the sentence! What did you call me?"

"Helmsman..."

"That's it!" The branch helmsman's face was flushed with excitement. "Excellent! A teachable youth! Truly a teachable youth!"

Little Hei gave a brief evaluation: "He's just a title-chaser."

Fang Zhiyi had considered using force to make them let him stay, and he had even considered more radical methods, but he never imagined he would win this old man's appreciation just by calling him "Helmsman."

"Right, right, what were you saying about eating lavishly?" The old man asked again only after the injured cultists had been carried away.

Fang Zhiyi felt helpless. It turned out the man hadn't listened to a single word! He only heard the word "Helmsman"!

But it didn't matter, his goal was achieved anyway.

"Helmsman, if we want to establish a strong foothold, we must find another way to make changes."

The old man had a look of pure enjoyment on his face.

"Branch Helmsman, then should I..."

The old man suddenly glared at Wang Ergou. "Go, go, go, didn't you hear we're talking about serious business?"

Wang Ergou left feeling somewhat wronged, having no idea why the branch helmsman had suddenly lost his temper.

"Helmsman, I was thinking we could expand our scope of operations a bit. For example, smuggling, or perhaps opening a mine, or even tomb raiding..."

The old man shook his head. "I've already thought about the things you mentioned. Our situation here is different from over there." He specifically referred to the main branch as 'over there', and the look he gave Fang Zhiyi held some disappointment. "We don't have that many experts, nor do we have specialized people to handle these things. Furthermore, once those people from the Law Enforcement Hall find out, we'll be waiting for death. Did you think you were being very clever?"