Chapter 44: Earth-Shattering Revelation

Within seconds, countless members of the Azure Dragon Gang had fallen at the hands of the ghouls. I swung my sword in fury, forcing back a wave of the undead. “Everyone, spread out! Fall back and take turns firing!” I commanded. In the current situation, if we didn’t disperse, we’d be annihilated in moments—something I was most unwilling to see.

Heeding my call, the group began to fire in rotation. As one group finished their rounds, the next immediately opened fire, ensuring no gaps appeared in our defense. After kicking away a clawing ghoul, Qin Tian glanced at me with a slight smile and said, “Brother Li, you truly have the makings of a leader.”

“Brother Qin overestimates me. In my eyes, you’re far more suited for the role,” I replied, withdrawing my sword from a ghoul’s corpse.

“At a time like this, you two still have the leisure to pass compliments? Think of a solution, quickly! I can’t hold on much longer,” Yu Jing said, struggling as he warded off the relentless ghouls.

The number of ghouls on Yu Jing’s side was at least double mine—no wonder he was so anxious. So this kid did get flustered after all!

Just then, those drained of blood began to rise from the ground, joining the ranks of the undead. As their numbers swelled, ours dwindled. This couldn’t go on.

“Everyone, fall back! Leave these things to me!” Qin Tian declared confidently, eyes fixed ahead.

All this time, I had never seen Qin Tian reveal his true strength. Judging from earlier, he had relied solely on martial arts. Yet with his dual cultivation of magic and martial prowess, I doubted he was limited to physical techniques alone. The group slowly retreated, putting distance between themselves and Qin Tian as the ghouls were held off a few meters away by gunfire. Facing the swarm, Qin Tian’s body began to emit a dark, swirling aura.

“He has demonic energy within him too?” Yu Jing asked, incredulous.

Murong Xue had already explained the black aura within me—it was demonic energy, sinister and corrupting. Mishandling it could lead one astray, down the path of demons. Worse, it could backfire if not properly controlled, which is why I rarely tapped into mine.

I arched an eyebrow and continued to watch Qin Tian, unable to answer such a profound question. The ghouls were about to encircle him, their arms stretching out as if they saw a feast before them, ready to tear him apart. The members of the Azure Dragon Gang looked on in terror. But at that moment, Qin Tian moved.

“Heaven-Shattering Fist!” With a furious roar, Qin Tian slammed his fist into the ground. The earth shook violently, as if struck by a magnitude seven earthquake. Most people were unable to keep their footing and fell to the ground.

Barely managing to steady myself with my sword, I glanced over at Yu Jing, who looked equally disheveled—one knee on the ground, dagger reversed and stabbed into the earth, managing to appear rather dashing. With his good looks and this rakish pose, if there were a female ghoul nearby, she’d surely be smitten.

The ghouls before Qin Tian were flung aside by the tremor, severed limbs soaring high, and those too close were reduced to mangled flesh. So this was Qin Tian’s true power—formidable indeed! But the presence of demonic energy in his body troubled me. If not kept in check, it could lead him astray. I'd have to warn him to use it sparingly.

Surveying the carnage, I wiped the sweat from my brow and approached him. “Brother Qin, that technique was truly formidable! I’m in awe!”

“Brother Li, you flatter me. That was my strongest move,” Qin Tian replied, handing me a cigarette.

I lit the cigarette with my palm, inhaling deeply. The rush made my head spin—a rare moment of exhilaration.

Now, fewer than seven hundred members of the Azure Dragon Gang remained alive. In mere minutes, we had lost over two hundred. Qin Tian looked at the bodies scattered everywhere and sighed, tossing his cigarette to the ground. I could sense his feelings—watching comrades who had fought and bled at his side fall one by one, powerless to save them, not even leaving whole corpses behind, dying in a foreign world. Such a fate was cruel indeed.

I patted Qin Tian’s shoulder. “Brother Qin, war always claims lives. Don’t let it weigh too heavily on you.”

He gave me a grateful look, then murmured as if to himself, “Why must there be war?”

Yes, why must there be war? I too longed for a peaceful, simple life, just enough to get by. Yet, for me, such wishes seemed forever out of reach. Was I truly destined to bear such a burden? Why me? Perhaps Qin Tian felt the same. We shared so much in common. As the old saying goes: In the world of men, one’s fate is seldom one’s own.

“Disciples of the Azure Dragon Gang, heed my command!” Qin Tian stood tall and proud, hands clasped behind his back.

I had to admit, he carried a trace of a king’s demeanor. Qin Tian glanced at me. “From this day forward, Li Yunfei will take my place. None of you shall object.”

The members exchanged glances and murmured among themselves until a steady-looking man with a scar on his arm stepped forward. “Boss, we’ve followed you for years. If not for you taking us in, we’d have been dead long ago. Your word is law, and we will obey. But about appointing a new leader…”

So these men had once roamed the streets—lone wolves or minor gangsters. The law of the underworld was survival of the fittest, with betrayal and backstabbing commonplace. To survive, one needed sharp eyes, a clear mind, and even to sleep with one eye open. The scarred man was someone Qin Tian had saved years ago. Qin Tian’s body had started changing back then, though he didn’t know why. After accidentally arriving in another world and learning its fate and the disasters awaiting the twenty-first century, he resolutely chose to return—back to the world he was born in, to shoulder the mission of saving its people. From then on, Qin Tian had expanded his influence, gathering these brothers—men he’d saved from death. Thus, the gang was free of traitors. Qin Tian’s loyalty had earned their unwavering devotion; they had long since resolved to follow him unto death, never to betray.

Qin Tian waved a hand, interrupting the man. “Enough. I’ve decided. From now on, Li Yunfei is the leader of the Azure Dragon Gang and will manage all its affairs.”

His decision took me by surprise. I had intended to bring the gang under control, but after getting to know Qin Tian, I changed my mind. He was someone who saw the bigger picture, while I often acted impulsively—hardly the temperament for great responsibility.

“Brother Qin, appointing a new leader is a serious matter. Let’s find a place to settle first, then decide at length,” I suggested, scanning the group.

“Very well, Brother Li. Where do we go now?” Qin Tian asked, gazing into the distance.

“Old Li, I think I’ve been in these woods before. We’re not far from the Illusory Spirit Pavilion, and to the right is Phoenix Blue City,” Yu Jing said.

Hearing him mention Phoenix Blue City, I suddenly remembered Blue Moon, Iron Hammer, Chen Yu, and that rascal Blue Sky. Without realizing it, I’d been away from them for a month already.

I wondered if Ye Yun in Phoenix Blue City was searching for me. In the end, Ye Yun doted too much on his precious son. Perhaps now would be a good time to head to Phoenix Blue City. Establishing the Azure Dragon Gang there wasn’t a bad idea—it was one of the better-known towns nearby, and most importantly, there were no powerful figures, making it perfect for a small force like ours to develop.

“We’ll head to Phoenix Blue City,” I said, motioning for everyone to follow as I led the way.

Just as we were about to leave the woods, Shi Feng—who had been supported by two members of the gang—suddenly awoke. His eyes snapped open, and he seized one of the men, tearing him in half with a surge of strength. Shi Feng’s eyes burned red, black energy swirling around him as he glared at us. Dozens of gun barrels immediately swung to aim at his chest.