Chapter 362: Locating Another Relative

Chapter 362 -310: Locating Another Relative

What is a Flowing General?

Within the Thousand Gates, Old Cheaters were originally only divided into the “Eight Generals.”

They orchestrated elaborate schemes with supreme intellect, relying on their consummate skills of deception to ply their trade.

Their contests were like a chess match between grandmasters, a duel of wits and a display of the art of the scheme.

In this circle, those who could prevail through intellect earned both respect and wealth.

Losers would typically admit they had been outsmarted, a sign of respect for the craft and an acknowledgment of the rules of the game.

However, as time went on, another faction gradually emerged.

This group, unlike the traditional Old Cheaters, pursued results above all else, using any means necessary and stopping at nothing, with no regard for morality.

They may have lacked the necessary intellect, but they excelled at using extreme methods like violence and threats to achieve their goals.

This behavior not only disrupted the original order of the Thousand Gates but also stained the profession, earning them the scorn of their peers.

And so, these unorthodox Old Cheaters came to be contemptuously known as the “Lower Eight Generals.”

Meanwhile, the Old Cheaters who upheld the original code of the Thousand Gates were known as the “Upper Eight Generals.”

Among the “Lower Eight Generals,” there was a special role: the “Flowing General.”

They were the sleight-of-hand artists in the shadows of the gambling table, specializing in surreptitiously swapping out gambling equipment or outright stealing stakes during a game. Their hands were so quick, they were impossible to guard against.

During a con, they relied on their skills in theft, using agile movements and practiced, stealthy actions to lead victims into a trap before they even knew what was happening.

Though this method may seem simple and crude, it demanded exceptional skill and nerve, making it one of the most demanding roles among the Lower Eight Generals.

The reason Lou Yanguang was so surprised wasn’t just because of a single Flowing General.

On Xiao Jin Island, no member of the Thousand Gates was a lone wolf.

They operated in organized, systematic crews, setting up Thousand Games to ensnare their targets.

To go up against one Old Cheater was to go up against their entire crew.

On Xiao Jin Island, there were plenty of Old Cheaters who claimed to be from the Thousand Gates, running cons all over the place.

If it were just an ordinary Flowing General, Lou Yanguang certainly wouldn’t have given them a second thought.

But for someone to dare to steal something so valuable—and succeed—was another matter entirely.

This was no simple matter.

‘On all of Xiao Jin Island, there’s only one Flowing General with that level of skill, isn’t there?’

“This…”

Lou Yanguang’s brow furrowed slightly as a ripple of unease washed over him.

He knew full well that confronting the Lower Eight Generals, who operated in the shadows, was no easy task. Even he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hesitation.

Lou Yanguang considered himself a capable man, but when it came to dealing with people like that… ‘I’m probably not enough.’

But when he looked into Xiong Anling’s unwavering eyes, he felt a subtle jolt of astonishment.

Xiong Anling’s attitude had clearly gone beyond mere displeasure. It was an unshakeable resolve, a clear sign that he was determined to have a showdown with that Flowing General and the powers behind them.

‘Is Xiong Anling actually serious about this?’

Although the Upper and Lower Eight Generals were rivals, they maintained a delicate balance and did their best to avoid direct conflict.

After all, both sides knew what the other was capable of, and fighting each other would be a messy affair.

But from the looks of it now, this wasn’t going to be settled easily. It looked more like a fight to the death.

Lou Yanguang mused that there had to be some unknown, deep-seated hatred behind Xiong Anling’s fury.

‘Could it be that this Flowing General, or the crew behind him, did something unforgivable to Xiong Anling?’

As a businessman, Lou Yanguang’s first thought was how he could leverage this situation for the greatest possible profit.

Since he had already agreed to get involved, he had no intention of being a mere pawn. He wanted to be one of the players controlling the board.

But to be a player, you needed strength and strategy. Without enough power or importance, you could never break free of being a piece.

Lou Yanguang found this more and more interesting.

After years of navigating the ups and downs of the business world, Lou Yanguang’s mind and body hadn’t faced a real challenge in a long time. Life had become comfortable, lacking the thrill of high-stakes conflict.

Now, this sudden turn of events was reigniting the fighting spirit in a heart that had grown numb from years at the top.

‘It’s been too long since I’ve really stretched my legs. I’ve gotten rusty from this comfortable life.’

His status had reached a point where few people dared to cross him, and few problems ever made it to his doorstep. That was why he had grown so complacent.

‘So be it.’

‘I’ll see this through to the end.’

‘Let’s see if this old blade is still sharp!’

…

After leaving Xianya Garden, Jiang Xu didn’t give up the chase. He continued to use his Seeking Technique to keep a close watch on Xiong Anling’s aura, like a cheetah on the plains silently waiting for its prey to make a move.

Two days slowly ticked by, but the familiar aura within Xianya Garden showed no sign of leaving. This left Jiang Xu both puzzled and anxious. It completely stumped him.

He wondered to himself, ‘Is this Xiong Anling a permanent resident of Xianya Garden, or is there something keeping him there that he can’t let go of?’

‘What could possibly be so complicated? How can they talk for days on end without him even stepping outside?’

‘Don’t tell me he actually lives in Xianya Garden?’

This really threw Jiang Xu for a loop.

The sands of time seemed to be testing Jiang Xu’s patience. Like a watchman, he waited silently on Xiao Jin Island, anticipating a change.