C22 Tiger Head Gang

Jiang Yuan, cloaked in black, slipped through a dilapidated wooden door, winding his way down the alley.

He had entered the notorious den of the Tiger Head Gang, the largest refuge for outlaws in Tianyang Town.

"What's your business here!?" barked the burly man guarding the entrance.

Lowering his voice and channeling his spiritual energy to mimic an elder's tone, Jiang Yuan responded, "I require your assistance with a matter."

"You think the Tiger Head Gang is at everyone's beck and call?" the muscular guard retorted, his aura flaring with a burst of fiery red spiritual energy as he launched a punch.

"Enough noise!" Jiang Yuan remained unfazed, silently manipulating his own spiritual Qi. With the Flame Step technique, his feet ignited in a blaze of red, his form flickering like a flame caught in a breeze. He effortlessly sidestepped the guard's attack and with a casual backhand, sent the man tumbling out of the house.

Brushing dust from his robe, Jiang Yuan declared in a steady voice, "Peace at last."

The knife-scarred man, who had been observing the scene in silence, cracked a slight smile and rose to his feet. "My apologies for the disturbance. What brings an elder like yourself to us?" he inquired.

"The Ma Family," Jiang Yuan stated.

"The Ma Family? With the Lee Family gone, they're now the second most powerful in Tianyang Town. We don't peddle their secrets lightly," the scarred man chuckled.

Without a word, Jiang Yuan produced a Universe Bag and tossed it over, his voice grave, "Twenty thousand gold coins."

"Twenty thousand? You've got a deal! What's the scoop? The Ma Family Clan Master's mistress, or perhaps the scandal of the Great Clan Elder's affair with the Clan Master?" the man said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Jiang Yuan shook his head, "Neither. I just need you to track the movements of the Ma Family's eldest son."

"Ma Yao? The Ma Family scion, the top prodigy of Tianyang Town?" The knife-scarred man was taken aback, deeming such information as trivial.

But Jiang Yuan was well aware that Ma Yao was no ordinary individual.

Ma Yao was recognized as the Ma Family's preeminent prodigy, a title he could only aspire to as second-best a year prior. At that time, he was utterly overshadowed by the top contender, his presence barely noticed in the radiant glow of Jiang Yuan. Yet, following the theft of Jiang Yuan's Martial Pulse, Ma Yao's reputation skyrocketed at an unnaturally rapid pace.

Throughout the past year, his focus was not solely on his cultivation; he also kept an eye on the dynamics within the clans. It was through Jiang Ming that Ma Yao first learned of these matters. Given the longstanding rivalry between the Ma and Jiang families, with the latter reigning as Tianyang Town's most prominent clan for centuries, their animosity ran deep, influencing every member of both lineages.

Despite this, Jiang Ming never exhibited any animosity when speaking of Ma Yao to Jiang Yuan. In fact, Jiang Yuan had even heard rumors of the two sharing drinks together. This suggested that Ma Yao was far from a straightforward character.

Jiang Woo and the Great Elder, being loyal to the Jiang Family, would never seek to undermine Patriarch Jiang Wenn from within. They would inevitably need to ally with outsiders, and the Ma Family was the prime candidate for such an alliance.

The Ma Family's patriarch was not one to settle for minor gains. Should he decide to act, the Jiang Family would undoubtedly suffer a significant blow. Ma Yao, young and eager to make his mark, could easily be swayed by small incentives to play a pivotal role.

Considering his rapport with Jiang Ming, Ma Yao emerged as the optimal ally.

Jiang Yuan, with a nod and hands clasped behind his back, commanded in a firm tone, "Correct, he's the one. Just find out who he's been meeting with."

"Rest assured, we'll have a complete dossier by tomorrow night."

"Mm…"

With nothing more to add, Jiang Yuan left the room, his demeanor that of a sage, leaving the ruffians thoroughly cowed.

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