Online: I Can See Health Bars Chapter 1319 - 587: Invitation (Part 2)

Outside, he spied the second Gang Leader.

To be more precise, it was a man, unguised, yet bearing an exact resemblance to the Gang Leader.

This man claimed to be the genuine Fa Xiao, the true leader of the Forest Snake Gang.

And the current figurehead within the gang was, in fact, an impostor.

Initially, Tian Xinghan found the entire situation ludicrous.

For everything unfolded precisely as the Gang Leader had foreseen; a clandestine force had engineered an impostor to usurp the true leader's position!

The Gang Leader's wisdom was unparalleled!

All events were meticulously orchestrated within the Gang Leader's grand design!

He scoffed at this doppelganger, even preparing to confront him then and there.

However...

He found himself outmatched.

Indeed, the impostor possessed strength surpassing his own, the Hall Master!

Truly, an impostor, ignorant of the Gang Leader's actual circumstances, had merely located a look-alike to impersonate him!

The Gang Leader's martial prowess was notoriously subpar amongst the gang's ranks; setting aside the elite members, even among peers of similar standing, his skills were at the very bottom.

Years dedicated to the gang's administrative matters had evidently left the Gang Leader's martial arts talent to wither; such formidable abilities were unthinkable.

Despite being at a disadvantage, Tian Xinghan fought with heightened valor, his spirit soaring, yet...

"Uncle Tian, have you not yet perceived why these particular techniques feel so familiar to you?"

Familiar? In what way?

Had Tian Xinghan persisted in his attacks without reflection, he would only then have grasped that the opponent's movements echoed the Gang Leader's long-past techniques.

Except now, these techniques were refined, potent, and fully realized!

It was as if years of diligent study, incremental improvements, and adaptations to personal circumstances had culminated in an optimized masterpiece.

How could such a thing be possible?!

A muddled mind led to sluggish reactions.

Bang!

He was propelled backward several paces.

Yet, the impostor refrained from pressing the attack, instead calmly unveiling a narrative utterly foreign to Tian Xinghan.

Thus, Tian Xinghan departed.

He returned with a countenance etched with conflict.

For the tale he had heard was profoundly disquieting, intricately woven!

"So, you are the actual Gang Leader, and the one currently leading the gang is merely a later-substituted impostor?"

"Precisely." Fa Xiao offered a subtle smile.

Tian Xinghan struggled to accept it, simply unable to reconcile the revelation.

Furthermore, even if the assertion held truth... through all the arduous years, the very leader who had endured hardship alongside them, who had guided the Forest Snake Gang through its trials, bore little resemblance to the man currently before him.

"At the time, my understanding was incomplete. But now, I possess clarity and the requisite capability."

"I believe the position of Gang Leader for the Forest Snake Gang need not be occupied by myself. Perhaps Uncle Tian assuming control of the gang's operations would prove more beneficial than that ineffectual figure."

To claim he was unswayed would be a falsehood.

Trapped in a precarious situation, facing a power imbalance that made refusal tantamount to demise!

Consequently, Tian Xinghan assented.

Nevertheless, his course of action afterward was already firmly resolved in his mind.

How could he possibly betray the current Gang Leader! That was the one who had truly weathered the storms together with him! Not this interloper seeking to claim the spoils!

Yet, the impostor's subsequent words struck him with sudden alarm!

"Incidentally, Tai Xuelin ought to be deceased by now. And that obstinate woman, Zhang Xiangzhi, who refuses to yield, what do you suppose became of her? Fear not, I shall not lay a hand on her. I am aware of Uncle Tian's regard for her, your enduring affections. As long as Uncle Tian complies, I shall return her to you. The gang, in due course, will also fall under your dominion. What are your thoughts?"

"You?!"

Fury!

Unbridled rage!

Yet, beneath the surface of his anger, a tremor of fear lurked.

What implications did this hold... what did this truly signify!

Did he possess the power to decree death upon anyone within the gang?

Enigmatic, potent, incomprehensible... terrifying!

An impostor, what exactly had transpired over the years to bestow upon him such extraordinary capabilities?

Burdened by his thoughts, Tian Xinghan returned to the gang, only to be summoned immediately to the assembly hall by Fa Hongwen.

"Master Tai is deceased."

The Gang Leader's initial statement, delivered with the impact of a physical blow, brought Tian Xinghan to an abrupt halt.

But what followed was a narrative entirely unknown to Tian Xinghan.

"The perpetrator is Lady Tai, or rather, the monstrosity inhabiting Lady Tai's form!"

What...?

This starkly contradicted the impostor's account.

The contingency he had alluded to was actually a lurking fiend? And it had already been dealt with by the Gang Leader himself??

With this pivotal revelation, Tian Xinghan's thoughts began to gradually coalesce.

...

Within the chamber.

Ding Hui meticulously wound strands of golden thread around the index finger of Fang Yu's right hand.

The wrapping was exceptionally tight, leaving no discernible gaps.

An uninformed observer might have concluded that Fang Yu's finger was broken and subsequently replaced with a golden prosthetic.

These threads were the outcome following treatment initiated by the Golden Feather.

"Is this sufficient?" Fang Yu inquired, a note of wonder in his voice.

"Observation is key," Ding Hui responded curtly.

It couldn't be definitively stated that the process was complete, yet the situation was progressing as anticipated.

If all went smoothly, the solidified fingertip formulation derived from the Golden Petal Flower was expected, through the Golden Feather's softening effect, to extend its properties. This would then integrate with the golden thread, ultimately enveloping the entire finger.

At that juncture, leveraging the potency of the Golden Petal Flower would not only expand the treated area but also amplify the strength. This was due to Ding Hui incorporating experimental enhancements into the blend, boosting the Golden Petal Flower's inherent effects.

These experiments had been previously stalled due to a scarcity of Supreme Golden Petal Flower, but the innovative concept remained, awaiting the opportune moment for its materials to materialize.

Now, while the circumstances differed slightly, the underlying principle remained the same, prompting their inclusion.

"Should more materials become available, fingers, palms, arms, then the entire body... one day, Diao Deyi, your very skeleton might shimmer with a magnificent golden radiance!" Fang Yu envisioned this, a flicker of amusement crossing his features.

A gilded physique did not strike him as particularly impressive or ostentatious.

However, Ding Hui’s aesthetic sensibilities were indeed peculiar, and witnessing her evident excitement and hope, it seemed prudent not to dampen her spirits.

Knock, knock. A gentle rapping echoed from the door.

"Who is it?" Fang Yu called out.

"Young Master Diao, it is I." It was Qiu Xiaoping.

"Enter." Qiu Xiaoping pushed the door open, and an intense medicinal aroma immediately permeated the space.

After closing the door, she glanced at Fang Yu and Ding Hui, a smile gracing her lips. "I had heard that the Divine Doctor Ding employs unconventional methods and possesses unparalleled medical expertise. To witness it firsthand today is truly remarkable."

Ding Hui, linking her arm with Fang Yu’s, turned to Qiu Xiaoping with a smile. "In mere years, the Rebel Army has grown to the point of challenging the ten great families. That, in itself, is the true extraordinariness."

Despite her Rebel Army affiliation being mentioned, Qiu Xiaoping remained unfazed, her expression barely shifting. She stated plainly, "Let us dispense with pleasantries. I wish to extend an invitation to both of you: join the Rebel Army!"

Aligning with the Rebel Army meant standing in opposition to Thunder City's ten major families and confronting the formidable Foolish Underworld. This path was fraught with exceptional challenges and immense pressure.

Nonetheless, Fang Yu and Ding Hui had anticipated Qiu Xiaoping's invitation, thus their reactions were subdued. Considering the pursuit had reached their very doorstep, few other outcomes seemed plausible.

"We require time to deliberate," Fang Yu stated, deep in thought.

However, before Fang Yu could elaborate, Ding Hui interjected, "My husband means that we require your Rebel Army to make a definitive move."

Ding Hui?! Fang Yu was taken aback. This deviated from their prior understanding and agreed-upon strategy.

Upon hearing Ding Hui’s words, Qiu Xiaoping’s eyes immediately brightened. With her current standing as a Minister of the Autumn Division within the Rebel Army—an organization comprising only four seasonal Ministers—their collective might was insufficient to confront the Foolish Underworld directly.

As for the Commander and Deputy Commander positions above the Ministers, their power was legendary, yet it remained uncertain whether they could truly overcome the Lord of the Mansion of the Foolish Underworld.

The Foolish Underworld alone, a mere subordinate of the ten great families, had the Rebel Army perpetually on the defensive, struggling against its might. To say nothing of their familial overlords.

Indeed, any single one of the ten major families represented a force the Rebel Army could not possibly challenge head-on. The Rebel Army's sole significant advantage lay in its youthful ranks.