The desert was scorching during the day, especially under the midday sun. Yet the busy people in the temple continued to come and go without stopping.
The new Scorpion Gang had only thirteen members. The gang leader did no work, instead lying against the wall to observe the carvings. The rest took turns working.
Taking turns meant that every so often, four people had to take shifts on lookout duty, which served as their rest.
There was no other choice. Knowing that the Eagle Gang would not give up on this place, they naturally had to remain on guard at all times to prevent a counterattack.
In fact, the Eagle Gang did return. Not many people came, only a few. They did not dare to approach closely. They stood behind a sand dune, poking out their heads, wearing headscarves of the same colour as the desert to observe secretly. The leader was Duan Yunyou, concealed within a cloak.
Shortly after, someone circled around from the desert and reported, “Gang Leader, it is correct. It is the Scorpion Gang people digging.”
Duan Yunyou’s expression gradually grew serious. He stared tightly in the direction of the temple and said slowly, “Notify everyone. Left Protector Gong Ziting does not need to search anymore.”
The attendant was surprised. “No longer searching? Left Protector is severely injured. Without assistance, he may encounter trouble.”
Duan Yunyou shook his head slightly. “He has already fallen into the hands of the Scorpion Gang.”
The attendant was confused. “How can you be sure?”
Duan Yunyou remained silent and did not answer.
Just then, someone flew over from behind. It was none other than Tong Zaitian, a former member of the Scorpion Gang. He quickly arrived at his side, also looked towards the temple, and said with a heavy tone, “How could such an expert emerge among the new members of the Scorpion Gang?”
During his journey here, he had already heard about the drastic changes from the previous night from his own people.
Duan Yunyou glanced at him. “Why have you come?”
Tong Zaitian said, “Gang Leader, I have stabilised Xu Fengji. I can eradicate the weeds and roots at any time. My strength alone is insufficient, and I fear mishaps. I still need some manpower to cooperate with me.”
Duan Yunyou was silent for a moment, then said, “Just keep a close watch on her. Do not make a move against her for now.”
“Why?” Tong Zaitian was very confused.
Duan Yunyou lifted his chin towards the temple. “She is the second-in-command of the Scorpion Gang. I do not know if those people will still listen to her.”
Tong Zaitian pondered thoughtfully and murmured, “But that woman has harboured evil intentions again. Knowing that revenge is hopeless, she asked me to help spread rumours, saying that we discovered clues about the Qilin Ginseng in the temple. Clearly, she wants to borrow other people’s hands to cause us trouble.”
“Cough, cough.” Duan Yunyou coughed for a while. After taking two deep breaths to calm himself, he said, “Tell her what happened last night. Do not mention that Cao Dingkun was killed over there. Just say that those people drove us away. She knows that those newcomers have the ability to deal with us, so she will naturally have expectations. The matter of spreading rumours will naturally pause.”
Tong Zaitian understood. He knew that after being driven away here, it would be unreasonable to say that the Eagle Gang had discovered clues about the Qilin Ginseng in the temple, especially since it was now the Scorpion Gang people digging there. However, he hesitated. “Does not the Gang Leader want to eradicate the weeds and roots? Are you just letting her go like this?”
Duan Yunyou said, “What you need to do now is persuade her to go back and find those Scorpion Gang people in the temple.”
“…” Tong Zaitian stared at him blankly, not quite understanding the meaning of his actions.
Duan Yunyou did not hide the specific reasons from him. After clarifying the situation, Tong Zaitian did not linger and left quickly.
Duan Yunyou did not stay long in the scorching desert either. After leaving two informants behind, he also departed.
In the evening, the vast sky was heavily adorned, with brilliant and dazzling red clouds and mist.
Tong Zaitian appeared in the desert again, wrapped in a cloak. Beside him was a companion dressed similarly. Judging by the figure, it was a woman. In fact, it was none other than Xu Fengji, the former second-in-command of the Scorpion Gang.
She had asked Tong Zaitian to spread rumours. Tong Zaitian said that when he acted accordingly, he was mocked. People said he was talking nonsense and that the Eagle Gang had already been driven away by the Scorpion Gang. So Tong Zaitian went to the desert to verify and found that the Eagle Gang people were indeed gone. Only the Scorpion Gang people remained. Tong Zaitian did not know the exact situation and did not dare to approach.
Xu Fengji was also confused by this situation. After listening to Tong Zaitian’s explanation, she called him to come and see the situation together.
The two hid behind a sand dune and observed for a while. They discovered that it was indeed those unfamiliar faces from the Scorpion Gang. Xu Fengji could not help but look at Tong Zaitian and sighed, “Earlier, you refused to participate in the action against the Eagle Gang. I thought you were heartless and unrighteous. True feelings are revealed in times of hardship. Those who agreed verbally have all fled. At the critical moment, Brother Tong, you are the one who values loyalty and righteousness.”
At this point, having someone stay by her side made her feel somewhat moved.
Tong Zaitian sighed. “I previously only felt that the action against the Eagle Gang was too hasty. It was easy to hit a wall, so I did not participate.”
Xu Fengji also regretted. “You all reminded me. I was blinded by hatred and did not listen. It is too late to regret now.”
Tong Zaitian said, “Second-in-command, the matter is in the past. Look forward.”
Xu Fengji nodded slightly, but there was still doubt in her eyes as she looked at Tong Zaitian. She could not help but ask, “The Scorpion Gang is in such a state. Did you really never think of leaving before?”
Tong Zaitian was stunned. He stared at her, not expecting the other party to ask such a direct question in this situation. He did not know how to reply. Suddenly, he blurted out, “As long as the Second-in-command is still here, I will not leave. Wherever the Second-in-command goes, I am willing to go.”
Xu Fengji was surprised. “Why?”
Tong Zaitian lowered his head somewhat shyly.
Combining his words, Xu Fengji seemed to realise something. Her heart skipped a beat. She suspected that she might be overthinking it.
Who would have thought that after Tong Zaitian gathered his courage and looked up, he voiced her guess. “To be honest with the Second-in-command, I did think of leaving. But your image has always lingered in my mind. As I walked, I still returned to your side.”
These words made Xu Fengji’s old face turn red. She did not expect to hear such words at her age. She immediately spat and said, “What nonsense are you speaking? Do you know what you are saying?”
Tong Zaitian decided to go all the way. He stared straight at her and continued, “Of course I know what I am saying. Some words, when the former Gang Leader was still alive, I could only keep silently in my heart and dared not speak them. Now, Second-in-command, if not for you, why do you think I was so determined to find you before? What other reason is there for me to continue staying by your side?”
Xu Fengji restrained herself and scolded, “Nonsense. Do not say such things in the future. If the Third-in-command hears this, he will not spare you.”
Although she felt that the other party was unlikely to favour a woman of her age, inwardly she believed that what he said was probably the truth. She vaguely felt that she still had some charm. Even though her husband had just died, a trace of suppressed joy still rose in her heart.
She could not help but look at him more carefully and found that he actually looked quite decent.
After speaking, she stood up and looked at the temple ahead. “Let us go. Let us go and take a look.”
Tong Zaitian also slowly stood up. His mood seemed somewhat disappointed.
Xu Fengji did not know if he was affected by her ruthless scolding. She spoke to comfort him. “I have seen your loyalty and righteousness. Later, when the troops are gathered, I will be the Gang Leader, Dingkun will be the Second-in-command, and you will be the Third-in-command.”
Seeing that he had managed to handle the situation, Tong Zaitian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Still appearing low-spirited, he nodded and said, “Thank you, Second-in-command.”
Xu Fengji could not bother to continue chatting nonsense with him now. Staring at the temple, she wondered aloud, “What is going on with the Third-in-command? Since he turned defeat into victory, why did he not send anyone to contact us?”
Tong Zaitian said, “It is probably because after the defeat and retreat last night, the Third-in-command did not know our whereabouts.”
Xu Fengji nodded, thinking that this was likely the case. She waved her hand and said, “Let us go. I want to see what kind of hidden talents are among these newcomers.”
She strode forward, not feeling that it was inappropriate for hidden talents to accept their command, after all, they had been willing to accept their command before.
The two appeared openly and approached. Naturally, the temple guards discovered them. The latter quickly alerted the busy people inside the hall.
Thus, Yu Qing and the others ran out one after another to prepare for battle.
Afraid of misunderstanding, Xu Fengji and the other person also lifted the hoods of their cloaks, revealing their true identities as they approached.
Seeing that these two had come, especially seeing Xu Fengji, Yu Qing and the others were all somewhat dumbfounded. They looked at each other.
Moli could not help but mutter, “Using the original gang name is good. We even got the gang leader’s wife included.”
These words made many people grimace, including Mu Aotie. Yu Qing’s mouth corner twitched even more.
Arriving in front of the crowd, Xu Fengji stopped and scanned everyone. She asked directly, “Where is the Third-in-command? Is he putting on airs with me? Call him out to see me.”
Tong Zaitian beside her also acted as if nothing was happening, but in reality, he was secretly nervous.
Third-in-command? The new Scorpion Gang members looked at each other again. They realised that it referred to Cao Dingkun. They all looked at Yu Qing, who had killed him.
Everyone also realised that the other party did not know that the Third-in-command was already dead.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Otherwise, if she knew that Cao Dingkun had been killed here, how would she dare to come to their door voluntarily?
No one had expected that this Second-in-command would actively seek them out. They had not discussed a countermeasure, nor did they know what the Gang Leader meant. They could only watch and see what the Gang Leader would do.
Xu Fengji frowned. She also vaguely sensed something was wrong. These people did not salute her upon seeing her. Their attitude lacked respect.
Yu Qing cleared his throat dryly. Not knowing the other party’s purpose, and not mentioning that he had killed Cao Dingkun, he replied, “Last night, before the fighting began, the Third-in-command ran away. Nor did I see the Second-in-command leading people to attack from the front and back as agreed. I wanted to ask the Second-in-command, what was the meaning of last night?”
The Third-in-command ran away? Xu Fengji was stunned and confused. Then why are you people still gathered here?
Just as she was pondering, she suddenly woke up. She sensed something abnormal behind her. She felt severe pain in her back and chest. Blood sprayed before her eyes. She slowly lowered her head and saw the blood-stained sword tip protruding from her chest. Her eyes were full of disbelief. She slowly turned her head to look at the person behind her.
She saw the attacker holding the sword. It was Tong Zaitian, the man who had previously expressed his admiration for her. Her eyes were full of disbelief. Red blood gurgled from her mouth. “You… you…”
Tong Zaitian frowned angrily and shouted sternly, “We are all brothers of the same gang. From the beginning, I opposed you sending the newcomers to their deaths. You said you would not. Unexpectedly, you still did it. With such despicable means, Tong is ashamed to be associated with you. How can I tolerate you!”
Before Xu Fengji could open her bloody mouth to explain, he kicked her hard. He directly kicked her off the sword blade, sending her flying.
What was the situation? Something sudden happened. A shocking change occurred right before their eyes. The group of new Scorpion Gang members were all astonished.
They saw Tong Zaitian flash over again. He added another sword strike to Xu Fengji, who was lying on the ground choking on blood and unable to move. “Shameful villain. If I do not kill you, I will be letting down the brothers who died in vain last night!”