Chapter 370 - 314: Joining the Gang of Swindlers

A Seed General, as Jiang Xu would have put it in his previous life, was essentially a spy.

They were the eyes and ears that the Lower Eight Generals quietly planted among the gamblers before executing a carefully laid plan.

These Seed Generals specialized in Stealth and passing on vital intelligence. They provided crucial support for their accomplices' operations, ensuring every scheme went off without a hitch.

"Don't worry, Elder Hong. I considered that possibility from the very beginning," Xiong Anling reassured him in a calm and confident tone.

Through the storms of Xiao Jin Island, Xiong Anling had long been tempered like a piece of steel forged a thousand times. Neither open attacks nor hidden schemes could easily faze him in the slightest.

Years of navigating the underworld meant he had frequently clashed with organizations like the Lower Eight Generals. For every one of their methods and every one of their roles, Xiong Anling possessed a sensitivity and vigilance beyond that of an ordinary person.

In fact, the moment he first met Jiang Xu, alarm bells had quietly gone off in Xiong Anling's mind.

This seemingly random stranger—his every action, his very appearance out of nowhere—set off warning bells in Xiong Anling's gut.

He suspected this might be a piece his opponents had carefully placed, intended to probe his strength or execute some secret plot.

This suspicion was not baseless, but founded on the experience and wisdom Xiong Anling had accumulated over many years of crossing swords with all sorts of experts.

He had therefore been highly guarded and cautious with Jiang Xu from the start.

Even after Jiang Xu tried to cozy up to him by claiming to know Xiong Liangsheng, Xiong Anling's suspicion remained undiminished.

'Forget the fact that I haven't seen my own father in decades.'

'Even if he knew my mother.'

'What does that have to do with me?'

'You know them, not me.'

'Trying to use that to get close? Sorry, not happening.'

People and events of the past, though connected by a thousand threads, could not easily become the foundation of trust.

In a place like Xiao Jin Island, emotional ties were often fragile, insufficient to support a true alliance or trust.

But when Jiang Xu's topic turned to Xiong Anling's daughter, Xiong Wenxue, the situation changed completely.

A daughter's safety is the most sensitive and concerning pressure point for any father.

The release of this information immediately touched the softest yet most guarded part of Xiong Anling's heart.

At this moment, Jiang Xu's identity was no longer important. Whether he was friend or foe, he possessed intelligence that Xiong Anling desperately needed, and that alone was enough to make him valuable in Xiong Anling's eyes.

And Xiong Anling never let go of anything valuable.

Xiong Anling calculated that even if he was facing a potential Seed General, as long as the man was willing to reveal clues about his daughter, he would temporarily set aside his suspicions and seize this rare opportunity.

'Whether Jiang Xu is a spy or not, if he wants to join my side and win my trust, he'll have to give up some important information.'

He understood the importance of information perfectly well, especially in such a complex situation, where every clue could be the key to saving his daughter.

Even if Jiang Xu had his own motives and was deliberately releasing certain information, Xiong Anling was confident that his years of experience and judgment would allow him to sift the truth from whatever was offered and use it to his advantage.

Watching Xiong Anling's calm, composed, and calculating demeanor, the uneasiness in Elder Hong's heart gradually subsided.

In truth, Elder Hong knew that as an outstanding True General, every move Xiong Anling made was carefully considered and needed no one else's input.

Elder Hong's questioning was more a form of instinctive concern and self-reassurance, a way to ensure that every step was foolproof.

"Alright, I understand then."

"But what should we do now about this 'Uncle Zong' of yours?"

"Should we let him stick with us so we can keep an eye on him?"

Xiong Anling pondered for a moment.

"Let's see what information he's actually holding first."

"If it's information we already have, he's useless. No need to waste our time."

"But if his information is critical, we can consider bringing him in."

Jiang Xu saw Xiong Anling and Elder Hong whispering but remained calm.

He had, in fact, anticipated Xiong Anling's concerns.

After all, no one would immediately accept a man who suddenly appeared claiming to be their uncle.

'Actually, there's something else I've been thinking about.'

'Namely, when I should give Xiong Anling what Xiong Liangsheng entrusted to me.'

'No matter what, I have to give it to him eventually.'

'In truth, I only ever had two options: Xiong Anling or his daughter.'

'His daughter is trapped right now.'

'Her life isn't in danger yet, but her freedom is restricted, and I can't rescue her on my own.'

'So really, I've only ever had one choice: Xiong Anling.'

'But Xiong Anling is an Old Cheater.'

'He's a True General in the Upper Eight Generals, and compared to the Lower Eight Generals, he isn't as unscrupulous or reckless.'

'But at the end of the day, Xiong Anling is still a con man. He might have more principles and restraint than the Lower Eight Generals, but he's fundamentally an Old Cheater who operates in the shadows. His methods are unpredictable, his morals, ambiguous.'

'It's like they say: walking a dark road in broad daylight, where benevolence and morality become blurred.'

'Who knows if Xiong Anling will try to silence me to keep the secret after I give him the Golden Core Technique?'

'If I give the item to Xiong Anling and immediately run off to hide on another main island, he probably won't be able to do a thing to me.'