Chapter 69 A Personal Visit to the Enemy Gang

"Who dares trespass into the rear courtyard!" a guard shouted.

Ning Zhuo strode forward and kicked, directly knocking the guard over.

Then, he thrust an order token right in front of the guard's face.

"Open your eyes and take a good look!"

"I am here on orders from Lord Fei Si, on urgent business, to see Leader Yuan Er. Do you dare block my way?"

Ning Zhuo raised his voice, his gaze sweeping over the other guards with authority.

"Another one from the City Lord's Manor?"

"Last time, that envoy forcibly bought our gang's monkey corpse, and the Leader didn’t even dare make a sound!"

"What's this envoy here for this time?"

The entire Monkey Head Gang was already harboring resentment against Yuan Er.

Most of the gang members were beast tamers who had nurtured their monkey pets for years, growing attached to them.

A respectful burial for the monkey corpse was only proper.

However, last time, Yuan Er had crumbled under pressure and sold it to the Mechanical Workshop, severely damaging his reputation.

Now, with the severe injury and near death of Yuan Dasheng, the entire Monkey Head Gang was in turmoil.

With just an order token, Ning Zhuo raised his head high and strode in without obstruction.

Soon, he reached the rear courtyard.

In the dimly lit main bedroom, Yuan Er sat dazed, gazing at the unconscious Yuan Dasheng lying on the bed, silently shedding tears.

He had always known the significance of Yuan Dasheng to himself and the Monkey Head Gang.

But it was only when the ape truly fell that Yuan Er realized the immense weight of this connection.

Although Zhu Xuanji had saved Yuan Dasheng’s life, it was only a temporary reprieve.

Even after consuming the Autumn Life-Saving Pill, Yuan Dasheng would be permanently disabled, bedridden.

This devastating news was a crushing blow to Yuan Er.

Voices stirred outside the door.

Yuan Er trembled, thinking, "Could it be the elders coming to depose me?"

Without Yuan Dasheng, who could support him?

Instead, he heard Ning Zhuo’s voice: "Where is Leader Yuan Er? I come on Lord Fei Si’s orders, with urgent business."

With tear stains still on his face, Yuan Er stepped out of the bedroom and saw the proud expression of Ning Zhuo.

Being at the Foundation Establishment stage, he already possessed divine sense.

One sweep confirmed the authenticity of the order token.

He didn’t dare delay, cupping his hands to Ning Zhuo. "Uncle Monkey watched me grow; his kindness is as vast as a mountain."

"Now that he is gravely injured, I must take care of him and cannot leave his side. Please convey to Lord Fei Si that I can no longer participate in the Fire Persimmon Festival."

Yuan Er's face was filled with defeat.

The explosion in the millennia-old Fire Persimmon Forest, along with Yuan Dasheng's near-fatal injuries, had left him and the entire Monkey Head Gang utterly broken.

Without Yuan Dasheng’s protection, how could he venture out again?

At that moment, Ning Zhuo smiled and stowed the order token. "Leader Yuan Er, I’m here to save your life. Do you know that your days are numbered?"

Yuan Er scowled, "Why does the envoy resort to such fear-mongering?"

Ning Zhuo replied immediately, "Fear-mongering or not, would Leader Yuan Er dare dismiss everyone to hear me out?"

Yuan Er snorted coldly, his gaze wavering, but finally waved his hand, instructing the servants, "All of you, withdraw."

Once they were alone, Ning Zhuo strode into the main bedroom.

His boldness was highly disrespectful, and Yuan Er’s face turned blue with anger, but he managed to restrain himself.

Upon entering, Ning Zhuo's gaze fell on the bed where Yuan Dasheng lay, clinging to life.

In that instant, Ning Zhuo felt an intense urge to kill the ape right then and there!

But he took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

He couldn’t kill it.

Things that seemed straightforward often were not.

For one, if he acted suddenly, Yuan Er would surely stop him.

Being at Foundation Establishment, his cultivation level far exceeded Ning Zhuo’s.

Secondly, even if he succeeded in killing the ape, he was in the heart of the Monkey Head Gang’s stronghold and would find it difficult to escape.

Thirdly, and most critically, killing Yuan Dasheng outright would mean openly offending Zhu Xuanji!

Zhu Xuanji had just saved its life, and here Ning Zhuo was, planning to kill it at Yuan Er’s home. How would that reflect on Lord Zhu Xuanji?

Zhu Xuanji was a divine constable, currently investigating the Lava Immortal Palace, and had already interrogated Ning Zhuo once.

By acting now, Ning Zhuo would be blatantly provoking Zhu Xuanji to come after him.

Even Fei Si wouldn’t dare to act so brazenly.

Yuan Er approached, lowering his voice with displeasure. "Do not disturb my uncle's rest. Envoy, this way."

Yuan Er led Ning Zhuo into a side room.

It was a small study.

Ning Zhuo closed the door himself and spoke directly. "How long do you think you can hold your position as Leader?"

Yuan Er’s face darkened. "If you’re here to sow discord, please leave."

Ning Zhuo sneered, "Leader Yuan Er, I’m here to help, to save your life. Is this how you treat your rescuer?"

"The pill and words from Lord Zhu Xuanji, everything recorded by the formation array, are now widely known."

"Even if Yuan Dasheng survives, he’ll be a cripple, bedridden for life. Without him, who would follow you, Yuan Er?"

"You know very well how your father rose to power."

"The Monkey Head Gang grew amidst bloody battles and death struggles, carving a place for itself."

"How many enemies did you offend in the process?"

"How many foes lie in wait for revenge? Now that they finally have the chance, do you think they’ll just sit back and let you live in peace and prosperity?"

These words struck deeply, making Yuan Er’s gaze flicker. "What is the envoy’s proposal?"

Ning Zhuo raised the order token again, deliberately showing the back, where Fei Si’s name was engraved.

"Relying on an ape as your support—how could that ever compare to Lord Fei Si?"

A gleam of understanding flashed in Yuan Er’s eyes, though tinged with disbelief. "Are you saying I can join Lord Fei Si?"

Ning Zhuo sneered, shattering his illusion. "Don’t entertain such dreams. Even at the height of the Monkey Head Gang's power, Lord Fei Si had no interest in it. Why would he now?"

"What I mean is, you can depend on me."

Yuan Er felt a surge of shame and anger but knew that Ning Zhuo was speaking the truth.

The gang members were a ruthless lot, entrenched in the gray areas and far from clean.

Officials of the Southern Bean Immortal Dynasty wouldn’t sully themselves by associating with such people, tarnishing their reputations.

Fei Si, at the Golden Core stage, wouldn’t even consider using the Monkey Head Gang as his henchmen.

Of course, this was under the assumption that Yuan Dasheng hadn’t displayed his true strength.

Yuan Er eyed Ning Zhuo up and down before cupping his hands. "May I ask, who exactly is the envoy?"

"My name is Ning Zhuo, of the Ning family."

Ning Zhuo invoked his family’s name as a shield.

Yuan Er adopted a serious expression.

Ning Zhuo then shook the order token in his hand. "I have also earned Lord Fei Si’s favor as a mere errand runner."

Yuan Er’s face grew solemn, and he extended his hand. "Please, sit."

Though Ning Zhuo spoke humbly, Yuan Er knew that, as Fei Si’s so-called errand runner, Ning Zhuo was indeed a close confidant, even an insider.

Yuan Er invited Ning Zhuo to sit, taking his own seat as well.

The two sat across a desk from each other.

Ning Zhuo continued, "I am also a member of the Flying Disc Workshop. Many mechanical monkeys have been crafted by my hands."

Yuan Er jumped up abruptly, his expression shifting to fury. "It was you who came to assassinate me? To poison the monkeys in my gang? How dare you come here!"