I Become a Martial Arts God in the Chaotic Demon World

Chen Jiuzhen was not a good man, but he was a gang leader with a conscience.

This was the conclusion Han Zheng reached after reviewing the information about the Black Water Gang.

The Black Water Gang occupied all the docks along the coast of Smoke Wave Prefecture, and had done its fair share of bullying and exploiting the merchant ships that passed by.

But at the same time, because Chen Jiuzhen came from a hard life, he never refused those from the lower tiers of society, such as the porters and ordinary people, who wanted to join the Black Water Gang. This, in turn, hindered the gang's development, resulting in its current state.

People always have two sides to them, and Han Zheng never judged a person by simply labeling them as good or bad.

It was precisely because of Chen Jiuzhen's nature that Han Zheng chose him as the breakthrough point.

"So, Gang Leader Chen, your Black Water Gang has already come to this state, do you still plan to stand with those noble families and sects?" Han Zheng asked.

Chen Jiuzhen stared intently at Han Zheng and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Han, I am blunt with my words, so don't take offense.

It's not that I choose to stand with those martial noble families, but rather I do not trust your Demon Cleansing Bureau!

Which of the previous Demon Sweeping Captains of the Demon Cleansing Bureau has ever defeated those sect noble families? In the end, didn't they all leave with their tails between their legs?

They could leave, but can my Black Water Gang leave?

Once I choose to stand with you in the Demon Cleansing Bureau, and if you are defeated, there will be no place for the Black Water Gang in Smoke Wave Prefecture!

If we cower a bit now, if we endure a bit now, at least the Black Water Gang can survive.

But if we follow you, once defeated, it would be self-destruction!

Honestly, I had high hopes for the previous generation Demon Sweeping Captain of the Smoke Wave Prefecture's Demon Cleansing Bureau, Liao Hongsheng.

He was powerful, decisive, and unyielding, daring even to confront the Guiyuan Sword Pavilion.

It's just unfortunate that he died so quickly.

And Mr. Han, you, at such a young age, taking charge of Smoke Wave Prefecture, naturally I can't be convinced."

"What about now? Are you willing to trust me now?" Han Zheng pressed.

Chen Jiuzhen hesitated slightly and then nodded slightly, "In Martial Arts, the accomplished lead the way, Mr. Han's strength is, of course, unquestionable.

Moreover, eliminating the Red Flag Thieves proves your superior methods, something even Liao Hongsheng never achieved.

However, once the Black Water Gang stands with the Demon Cleansing Bureau, the outcome might be doom.

So I want to know, Mr. Han, what exactly are your plans? You can't possibly think that just the Black Water Gang plus the Demon Cleansing Bureau would go to war with the other sect noble families, right?"

Han Zheng squinted and said, "Of course not. You have to eat one bite at a time. I'm not insane, how could I possibly create such a mad plan as waging direct war against the other sect noble families?

There's actually an unwritten rule when the Demon Cleansing Bureau takes action: we cannot punish without teaching first, otherwise it doesn't sit well with anyone.

To make a move, we need a reason, one that allows me to act openly and that the major noble families cannot find fault with."

Actually, this unwritten rule of the Demon Cleansing Bureau not punishing without teaching first was rather disheartening.

When the Demon Cleansing Bureau was at its strongest, if they said you consorted with demons, then that was taken as fact, no need for evidence.

Although overbearing, it truly struck fear into the hearts of the martial forces and kept them from stepping out of line.

The establishment of this unwritten rule is actually a sign of the Demon Cleansing Bureau's weakness.

The reason the Demon Cleansing Bureau cannot punish without teaching is because they no longer have the strength to do so.

"So Mr. Han, what reason are you going to find?"

"You, Gang Leader Chen, are the reason," Han Zheng said solemnly. "The majority of your Black Water Gang's members work in the mines run by the Lishan Sect and Xuanyuan Cave's disciples.

I'm aware that the person in charge of the Lishan Sect's mine has a volatile temper, frequently abuses the miners, and has even killed your gang's members.

You've endured all this previously and even paid out of your own pocket to compensate the families of those gang members, but this time you don't have to endure anymore.

The Lishan Sect and Xuanyuan Cave's mines are actually part of the same huge mine, simply split between the two.

This time, Gang Leader Chen, there's no need for you to hold back; you can go directly to the Xuanyuan Cave's people to seek justice."

If Xuanyuan Cave won't help you, then go find the Yue Family to take a stand.

If the Yue Family won't help you, then come directly to the Demon Cleansing Bureau to uphold justice, and I will naturally take action against the Lishan Sect and eradicate them.

In this way, in their eyes, it won't seem as if you, Gang Leader Chen, and I are conspiring about something. It will simply appear that because these major sects went too far and pushed you to a dead end, they won't suddenly unite and counterattack but will instead blame each other.

Once you take this step, you can then gradually devour and completely dissolve the alliances between these Martial World forces."

Chen Jiuzhen looked at Han Zheng with a slight sense of astonishment.

Han Zheng was truly different from Liao Hongsheng. One acted honorably; the other deviously.

Liao Hongsheng, when in charge of the Smoke Wave Prefecture's Demon Cleansing Bureau, never engaged in such insidious schemes and always acted openly and directly, crushing the opponent thoroughly.

However, Han Zheng was different. He went around in big circles, calculating the reactions of all these major factions within Smoke Wave Prefecture, displaying a significant talent in manipulating people.

"But all of this is merely your speculation, Mr. Han. What if those major sects don't act as you say?

What if I appeal to Xuanyuan Cave, and Xuanyuan Cave speaks up for me? What if I appeal to the Yue Family, and they agree to help me?

Even if all of these are successful, what if they don't blame each other in the end but instead unite to move against the Black Water Gang and confront the Demon Cleansing Bureau? What then?"

Han Zheng sneered, "I don't mean to underestimate these fellows, but if they had such a grand vision, would your Black Water Gang be oppressed as it is now? They don't understand the principle of leaving room for maneuver.

If they could set aside their prejudices and unite at any time, how then could the Guiyuan Sword Pavilion have risen?

Among these Martial World forces, only the Yuwen Family, as they lack various mines and spiritual lands and because they are the strongest and most revered, can have their words somewhat heeded by the other great sects.

This is why I didn't tell you to seek the Yuwen Family's help—because only the Yuwen Family might actually make the Lishan Sect give way or compensate the Black Water Gang.

But when it comes to the Yue Family, they absolutely will not help you.

Gang Leader Chen, this situation is actually beneficial to you as well.

You go from one to the other sharing your plight. If they really can help and don't want to push you too far, then you can completely choose not to cooperate with the Demon Cleansing Bureau.

If they all refuse, then you can rest assured and go down this dark path with me."

Chen Jiuzhen gently nodded.

He had been enduring all these years, not for himself, but for the whole Black Water Gang.

Chen Jiuzhen, who rose from humble beginnings, had survived countless life-and-death fights to reach this step—when had he ever feared death?

But he knew that the foundation of the Black Water Gang was too weak. If they declared war on those major sects, it would certainly be the Black Water Gang that would be annihilated.

Now Han Zheng had given him a chance, and Chen Jiuzhen wanted to take a gamble.

If the bet was won, the Black Water Gang wouldn't have to keep developing in such a stifled way!

"The next step is to see Gang Leader Chen's acting skills. I look forward to hearing good news from you."

Having said that, Han Zheng turned and walked away.

Looking at Han Zheng's retreating figure, Chen Jiuzhen's face showed a trace of grave seriousness.

Any choice he made now could spell the end for the Black Water Gang.

But it could also potentially stop the Black Water Gang from being oppressed as they were, with no chance to rise.

Of all the Demon Sweeping Captains of the Smoke Wave Prefecture for so many generations, Han Zheng was the first to come to him, willing to cooperate.

If he missed this opportunity, Chen Jiuzhen wasn't sure if he would have any other chances in the future.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Jiuzhen closed his eyes as though he had made a certain decision.

Han Zheng was not worried about Chen Jiuzhen changing sides and working with other forces.

After reviewing the files of these Smoke Wave Prefecture forces, Han Zheng was almost ninety percent sure that events would unfold as he had planned.

With the early stages left to Chen Jiuzhen's performance, Han Zheng returned to the Demon Department and immediately kept a low profile, spending his days in his study researching something, which also made Zhang Yan and others somewhat puzzled.

With Mr. Han's personality, after losing face to these Martial World forces, could he really hold back like this?

This was not Mr. Han's style.