Chapter 235: The Three Halls of Yuanfu
"Swear allegiance to me?"
Hearing the Tiger Gang leader's words, Mo Yu was momentarily taken aback, then a faint, enigmatic smile appeared on his lips.
Although loyalty wasn't highly valued on the Dou Qi continent, in any world, loyalty was still a virtue admired by many. Generally, unless someone was truly committed, they wouldn't easily swear allegiance to or join a particular person or faction. After all, the human heart is complex.
Yao Lao ended up in his current situation precisely because he was betrayed by a trusted disciple. Otherwise, with his strength and influence, even the Soul Hall would have found it difficult to take him down if not for an insider's betrayal. If even a trusted disciple could turn against his master, it's no wonder that betrayal and conspiracies are so common on the Dou Qi continent.
Therefore, when Mo Yu heard Ling Feng's pledge of allegiance, he didn't feel any surge of joy as if some grand destiny had arrived, nor did he feel the thrill of subordinates flocking to him. Instead, a hint of scrutiny flickered in his eyes.
After arriving in the Black-Corner Region, Mo Yu, who was isolated and alone, had no intention of joining any existing faction. Hence, he realized that forming his own force was crucial. But creating a faction wasn't just a matter of words. Having led a major force in his previous life, Mo Yu knew that building a faction could be both difficult and straightforward.
It was difficult because, in any world, competition was brutal. The establishment and growth of a new faction would undoubtedly provoke hostility and suppression from established powers. If it couldn't withstand the pressure, it would be destroyed.
However, it was straightforward because as long as two key elements were in place, a faction could rapidly grow. These two elements were people and money.
People were the foundation of any faction. Without people, there would be no force. The more people, the stronger the faction. A faction needed not only top experts but also a solid backbone and a steady stream of grassroots members. Only then could it continue to grow healthily.
Money was the key to maintaining the faction. After all, a faction had to support many people, recruit members, and train experts, all of which required vast amounts of money. Without funds, the lower ranks would struggle, and the faction would gradually weaken without fresh blood.
For Mo Yu, money wasn't much of a problem. As a blacksmith, he could amass wealth by forging weapons. What he lacked was manpower, especially the mid- and lower-tier members needed to sustain a faction. As for top-tier experts, he wasn't too worried, especially with Zihuo by his side.
So when Ling Feng offered to pledge the entire Tiger Gang's loyalty, Mo Yu was intrigued. He began to consider the idea more seriously.
As he scanned the members of the Tiger Gang, he was slightly surprised by their strength. Among the thirty or so members, apart from Ling Feng, who was a six-star Da Dou Shi, there were five other Da Dou Shi-level fighters, with most of the rest being Dou Shi. This force might not be much in the Black-Corner Region, but compared to the Xiao Clan, it was much stronger.
Moreover, Ling Feng, who was still young and already a six-star Da Dou Shi, could have been a Dou Ling by now if the Tiger Gang were a first-rate power instead of a third-rate one. His talent was quite impressive.
If Mo Yu could use the Tiger Gang as a foundation to build his own faction, it would save him a lot of time and effort.
Meanwhile, upon hearing their leader's decision to swear allegiance to the mysterious young man with silver eyes, the other members of the Tiger Gang exchanged uncertain glances. Ling Feng's sudden decision left them confused. Some of the elders wanted to advise against it, but seeing Ling Feng's determined gaze and the mysterious strength of the iron tower-like man, they sighed and remained silent. The Tiger Gang was on the brink of collapse, and this might be their only chance for survival.
Seeing that both sides were in agreement, Mo Yu nodded slightly.
...
Half an hour later, at the Tiger Gang headquarters.
After accepting the Tiger Gang's allegiance, Mo Yu naturally wanted to inspect his new territory. The Tiger Gang headquarters was located in the northwest corner of Shiyan City. There were no powerful forces there, allowing the Tiger Gang to establish a foothold. However, because they had only recently arrived, their territory was small, occupying just a corner of the street.
In the main hall of the headquarters, Mo Yu sat in the central seat, gazing at the large chunk of Crimson Refined Copper that Ling Feng had presented. A smile appeared on his lips.
With the Fire Crystal Stone and the Crimson Refined Copper, Mo Yu had now gathered two of the four main materials needed to forge the Soul Fusion Holy Grail in just over half a month since arriving in the Black-Corner Region. This was certainly cause for joy.
With these two materials, even if he couldn't forge the Holy Grail yet, he could start crafting a smaller version. The Lesser Holy Grail was a fourth-tier weapon, not as powerful as the full Holy Grail but still incredibly beneficial for cultivating spiritual power. Mo Yu's spiritual power had been stuck at the fourth tier for a while, and with the help of the Lesser Holy Grail, he might be able to break through to the fifth tier within half a year.
Fifth-tier spiritual power was comparable to that of a Dou Wang (Battle King). At that level, Mo Yu could also begin forging fifth-tier weapons, which would make him incredibly wealthy.
Thinking about this, Mo Yu felt even more pleased. He stored the Crimson Refined Copper in his storage ring and then turned his attention to the group before him.
By his side, Zihuo stood firmly, while Ling Feng and several elders of the Tiger Gang, along with dozens of elite members, stood below. Mo Yu was surprised to learn that the Tiger Gang even had a second-tier blacksmith among their ranks.
"Young Master, this is Elder Meng Yang. He is not only the Tiger Gang's blacksmith but also a close friend of my late father. Over the years, it was thanks to Elder Meng that the Tiger Gang managed to establish itself in Di Yan City," Ling Feng explained, pointing to a middle-aged man with a square face.
Seeing Mo Yu's gaze, the square-faced man respectfully cupped his hands in greeting. Whether it was Mo Yu's act of saving the Tiger Gang or Zihuo's terrifying strength, Elder Meng felt compelled to show his respect.
Mo Yu nodded in acknowledgment. Although blacksmiths were not as rare as alchemists, they were still highly valued. Many of the magical weapons sold in the Black-Corner Region's auction houses were crafted by blacksmiths like Elder Meng.
Ling Feng then introduced the remaining elders of the Tiger Gang. After the introductions, Mo Yu had a good understanding of the gang's current state.
Although the Tiger Gang was no longer at its peak, it still had some resources. They had six Da Dou Shi, around forty to fifty Dou Shi-level fighters, and nearly a hundred regular members. No wonder the Wolf Fang Gang had tried to wipe them out. It wasn't just about the Crimson Refined Copper; they were also concerned that the Tiger Gang might threaten their interests if they established themselves in Shiyan City.
As Mo Yu surveyed the group, they also observed him in return. The Tiger Gang members had mixed feelings about their leader's sudden decision to pledge loyalty to this young man—some were hopeful, others indifferent, and some even dissatisfied.
Mo Yu ignored the complex emotions in their eyes. After a moment of silence, he looked at Ling Feng and asked, "Why do you want to swear allegiance to me?"
Mo Yu could tell that Ling Feng wasn't the type to be deceitful, which was one of the reasons he had agreed to accept their allegiance. After all, no one wanted a subordinate who might betray them at any moment.
When Mo Yu asked the question, Ling Feng was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, he raised his head, and with a determined expression, bowed to Mo Yu and said, "To be honest, Young Master, the reason I'm pledging my loyalty to you is because I want to one day avenge my father's death!"
"If I remember correctly, your father was killed by the Man Beast Sect. So why do you believe that following me will allow you to exact your revenge?" Mo Yu said, lightly tapping the table with his fingers.
Ling Feng's expression remained unchanged as he respectfully replied, "Because of my intuition. You give me a feeling that you're unfathomable. I believe that by following you, I will one day be able to avenge my father!"
"Oh…" Mo Yu raised an eyebrow. He had thought that Ling Feng's decision to pledge loyalty was due to Zihuo's strength, but it turned out to be because Ling Feng saw potential in him. Whether this statement was true or not, Ling Feng's loyalty didn't seem to be in question for the time being.
Moreover, Mo Yu wasn't afraid of betrayal. As long as he continued to grow stronger, he would have nothing to fear.
Having decided to turn the Tiger Gang into his own force, Mo Yu didn't hesitate. He stood up, his silver eyes sweeping over the group below.
The Thunder Silver Eyes were the first ability Mo Yu awakened with the Tian Gang Thunder Body, and their power was incredibly domineering. Even though Mo Yu didn't actively use them, the gaze alone carried a faint pressure that spread throughout the hall, causing everyone's hearts to tremble.
Feeling this pressure, the elders of the Tiger Gang, who had been dissatisfied with Ling Feng's decision, were taken aback and quickly let go of their discontent. Initially, they assumed that Mo Yu's strength came from his family's power and that he himself wasn't particularly formidable. However, sensing the terrifying pressure emanating from Mo Yu's silver eyes, they realized that this seemingly young man had an extraordinary strength hidden beneath his exterior.
While most of the Tiger Gang members were visibly shaken, Ling Feng remained calm, as if he had expected Mo Yu's strength all along.
Noting the expressions of those around him, Mo Yu smiled slightly. When he saw that Ling Feng's expression hadn't changed, he raised an eyebrow and then said slowly, "Since you've all decided to pledge your loyalty to me, it's only right that you know who I am. My name is Mo Yu, and this is Zihuo. We come from a distant place called the Jia Ma Empire. As for why we're in the Black-Corner Region, it's because I'm a student at Jia Nan Academy."
When he finished speaking, the members of the Tiger Gang exchanged glances in surprise. They had heard of the Jia Ma Empire, which was an empire in the northwestern part of the continent, far from the Black-Corner Region. What shocked them more was that Mo Yu was a student of Jia Nan Academy. Known as the most powerful force in the Black-Corner Region, Jia Nan Academy was a neutral entity, but its influence was undeniable.
In their minds, Mo Yu was now considered a young master from a powerful family in a distant empire, accompanied by a Dou Wang as his personal guard on his journey to study.
With the thought of Mo Yu's powerful family and the prestigious Jia Nan Academy backing him, most of the Tiger Gang members gradually accepted the idea of pledging their loyalty to him. In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, having a powerful backer was undeniably good news.
Mo Yu was unaware of their thoughts, but even if he had known, he would have only smiled wryly. The Xiao Clan was likely no stronger than the Tiger Gang, and Jia Nan Academy, with its neutral stance, wouldn't favor any faction because of one student. The two great backers they imagined didn't exist at all.
Of course, Mo Yu didn't reveal this. He was confident that he could use his strength to lead this force into unprecedented glory.
"Since Young Master Mo Yu has accepted our pledge of loyalty, how about we give the Tiger Gang a new name to signify our rebirth?" one of the Tiger Gang elders suggested with a flattering smile. Having survived in the Black-Corner Region, they were all astute individuals. Now that Mo Yu was their new leader, they naturally wanted to curry favor.
Upon hearing this, many of the Tiger Gang members also started suggesting names.
"Since the name is being changed, how about calling it 'Yuanfu' (Origin House)?" Mo Yu said with a satisfied smile, as he wasn't particularly fond of the name 'Tiger Gang' either. Unlike Xiao Yan, who was more casual about names, Mo Yu carefully considered and then solemnly announced the new name.
'Yuan,' meaning first or original, symbolized the beginning of all things. Yuanfu would be Mo Yu's first force, and he intended to develop it into the strongest force on the continent.
"Yuanfu, what a good name," Ling Feng muttered, then turned to the former Tiger Gang elders and elite members and said solemnly, "From today on, the Tiger Gang is no more. From now on, we are 'Yuanfu'! Young Master Mo Yu is our Lord! From now on, we will follow his orders without question!"
"Yuanfu! We greet Lord Mo Yu!" Following Ling Feng's lead, the former Tiger Gang members were filled with enthusiasm as they bowed and saluted their new leader.
Seeing the high spirits of his new subordinates, Mo Yu felt a surge of determination. From this day forward, he would lead Yuanfu to establish a foothold in the Dou Qi continent, a land dominated by the strong.
After a moment of reflection, Mo Yu composed himself. Having led a major force in his previous life, he wasn't one to get carried away by emotions. Seeing how cooperative Ling Feng was, Mo Yu decided not to be stingy. After some thought, he said slowly, "Yuanfu has just been established, so there are no concrete rules yet. However, I've decided to set up a few halls under Yuanfu."
"The Lion Hall will oversee Yuanfu's military affairs. Zihuo will be the hall master!"
"The Tiger Hall will be in charge of Yuanfu's law enforcement. Ling Feng will be the hall master!"
"The Armory Hall will manage Yuanfu's finances. Meng Yang will be the hall master!"
With these arrangements, Mo Yu laid out the preliminary structure of Yuanfu. The Lion Hall was currently just an empty shell, created specifically for Zihuo. Aside from Zihuo, there were no other members yet. However, Mo Yu believed that under Zihuo's leadership, the Lion Hall would eventually become Yuanfu's most powerful department.
The Tiger Hall was established to stabilize the morale of the former Tiger Gang members and also served as Yuanfu's law enforcement. It was Mo Yu's way of rewarding Ling Feng. The Armory Hall was Yuanfu's source of income. Since Yuanfu currently only had Meng Yang as a blacksmith, Mo Yu appointed him as the hall master. But with Mo Yu, a master blacksmith, overseeing it, the Armory Hall's future growth was boundless.
After the appointments, Zihuo remained expressionless. To him, titles like 'hall master' didn't matter. As long as Mo Yu commanded it, he would go through fire and water without hesitation.
Ling Feng and Meng Yang were initially stunned, then their faces lit up with joy. The former Tiger Gang members were also delighted. Yuanfu had only three halls, and two of the hall masters were from the former Tiger Gang, which showed that Lord Mo Yu valued them.
Noticing their happiness, Mo Yu nodded slightly, then his expression turned serious as he suddenly declared, "Next, I have decided that Yuanfu's first mission will be to destroy the Wolf Fang Gang and dominate Shiyan City!"
(End of Chapter)
Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.