Chapter 465

Chapter 465: Taking Responsibility and Atonement

A group of people were kneeling outside?

Wang Chen was momentarily stunned and couldn’t help but ask, "Who are they, and what do they want?"

He couldn’t shake the suspicion that they might be there to lodge a complaint or seek justice.

Although Wang Chen was merely a celestial guardian at the Xun district’s Celestial Guardian’s pavilion, within the jurisdiction of seven workshops and thirty-nine streets, he was the supreme authority.

It was akin to holding the combined power of a district chief, mayor, and political commissar in a major city from his past life; his authority was immense.

Moreover, without a decree from the West Sea Sect, even the Grand Celestial Guardian could not dismiss him from his position!

If his subjects had grievances, it was not unusual for them to kneel before the Celestial Guardian’s pavilion to voice their complaints, even though it was somewhat overstepping.

However, Steward Zhang’s response was unexpected: "Reporting to Master Celestial Guardian, they are from the White Wolf Gang, and their leader is none other than the gang’s master, Bai Jingqi!"

The White Wolf Gang!

Wang Chen let out a "ha."

Just a few hours earlier, he had struck down a group of White Wolf Gang members with Sky Thunder.

Now their leader had come knocking at his door!

Steward Zhang, observing Wang Chen’s expression, boldly asked, "Master Celestial Guardian, shall I drive them away?"

The White Wolf Gang had a notorious reputation in the marketplace, but Steward Zhang, hailing from the Xi family, felt no fear. If Wang Chen gave the order, he would roll up his sleeves and take action himself.

No matter how small the Celestial Guardian’s pavilion might be, it represented the supreme authority of the West Sea Sect and was not something just anyone could offend!

"No need," Wang Chen waved his hand. "I’ll go take a look."

He let Meng Fei follow behind him as he left the conference hall and approached the front gate.

At the foot of the steps, he saw dozens of burly men in tunics kneeling in the shadows.

Not far off, many people gathered to watch, pointing and whispering among themselves.

The man kneeling at the front was lean and bare-chested, with a bundle of thorny branches strapped to his back, embodying the stance of taking responsibility and atonement.

This world also had its own examples of taking responsibility and atonement.

"Bai Gang Master?"

Wang Chen stood at the door, displaying a half-smile. "Are you here to stage a coup?"

The lean man’s expression changed drastically, and he immediately bowed deeply, knocking his head three times against the stone floor with loud thuds.

Though he was at the Qi Training seventh level, with formidable strength from entering the Dao through martial arts, the blood burst forth from his forehead, showing he hit the ground with all his might and did not use his protective power.

"I, Bai Jingqi, have come to see Master Celestial Guardian."

Bai Jingqi lifted his head, ignoring the blood flowing down his forehead, and spoke in a low, humble voice, "I have come to plead for mercy and ask Master Celestial Guardian to be merciful."

Wang Chen smiled and asked, "What crime have you committed?"

Bai Jingqi wiped the blood from his face and forced a smile. "I have not managed my subordinates properly and have offended Master Celestial Guardian; please punish me!"

As he spoke, he heavily knocked his forehead three times against the ground.

This time, he did not lift his head again.

"If you hadn’t spoken, I would have thought you were here to accuse me," Wang Chen said lightly. "Everyone, disperse. Kneeling here is hardly a dignified sight."

After saying this, he flicked his sleeve and turned to return to the courtyard.

He left behind a group of White Wolf Gang members, exchanging bewildered glances.

Bai Jingqi clenched his teeth and stood up, his gaze fixed on the plaque of the Celestial Guardian’s pavilion hanging from the eaves, his expression shifting unpredictably.

Wang Chen’s reaction had completely taken him by surprise.

The leader of the White Wolf Gang had braced himself for the possibility of being struck down by Wang Chen, yet Wang Chen treated him as if he were nothing more than an insignificant insect, unworthy of even a second glance.

Though this was not the worst outcome, Bai Jingqi felt an unbearable frustration in his heart.

He could truly sense Wang Chen’s disdain for him!

"Why are you all still standing here?"

Seeing that Bai Jingqi and the others had not left immediately, Steward Zhang stepped forward to shoo them away. "Did you not hear the Celestial Guardian’s words? Hurry up and leave; don’t invite trouble!"

Bai Jingqi took a deep breath and, with a forced smile, presented a storage bag with both hands. "Steward Zhang, this is our humble offering to the Celestial Guardian. Please, would you be so kind as to present it to him on our behalf?"

He had intended to offer it earlier, but Wang Chen had not given him the chance.

Steward Zhang was about to accept it when his ears twitched slightly, and his expression darkened. "The Celestial Guardian has no need for your offerings. Be gone, all of you!"

Steward Zhang was unyielding, and Bai Jingqi had no choice but to leave reluctantly with his followers.

Steward Zhang watched their figures disappear at the end of the main street, let out a cold snort, and returned to the Celestial Guardian’s pavilion.

The onlookers had witnessed everything clearly, and it would soon spread throughout the Xun district’s seven workshops and thirty-nine streets, becoming the talk of the town.

"Celestial Guardian,"

Back in the conference hall, Steward Zhang reported to Wang Chen, "The people from the White Wolf Gang have left."

If it hadn’t been for Wang Chen’s mental message earlier, he would have accepted Bai Jingqi’s offering.

In Daying City, it was common for gangs occupying the marketplace streets to present offerings to the celestial guardians. Bai Jingqi’s attempt to make amends was only to be expected, given that he had offended Wang Chen.

"Hmm,"

Wang Chen nodded. "Have someone keep an eye on the White Wolf Gang and report any unusual movements to me."

Xi Manyun had once shared details about the Xun district with him.

She had mentioned the White Wolf Gang, among others.

In the Xun district’s seven workshops and thirty-nine streets, there were dozens of gangs, big and small. While many were insignificant, they were merely groups of individuals banding together for mutual support against outsiders.

However, some gangs held considerable power and even monopolized certain industries in the area.

These gangs were mostly backed by local aristocratic families.

The White Wolf Gang was one of them!

The White Wolf Gang boasted several hundred members, including many cultivators and martial artists, and typically acted with arrogance, leaving local residents too intimidated to voice their grievances.

This gang had long-standing ties, both overt and covert, with Wu Jingwei, the chief steward of the Xun Celestial Guardian’s pavilion.

Wang Chen had been unaware of this; had he known, he would never have treated Bai Jingqi with any semblance of kindness.

To let bystanders see him appear cautious of the gang’s power would have been the greatest joke of all!

"From now on, if the White Wolf Gang comes knocking again, drive them away without hesitation!"

Steward Zhang responded, "Understood!"

Wang Chen then turned to Meng Fei, who stood beside him, and said, "You should go as well. Focus on recovering your strength and take good care of your younger siblings. Once your Qi and blood are restored, I will pass on the techniques of immortality to you."

Meng Fei immediately bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Immortal Master!"

In his heart, he reflected on how Wang Chen had treated Bai Jingqi with such disdain and mockery.

What an awe-inspiring display of authority and dominance!

A true man should aspire to be like this!

He knew that the leader of the White Wolf Gang had once been a figure of great importance in his eyes.

Yet, in front of Wang Chen, he had been reduced to nothing more than a worm.

This planted a seed of ambition in the young man’s heart, a burning desire to grow stronger.

At that moment, Steward Zhang, who had just stepped out of the conference hall, overheard Wang Chen’s words and felt a pang of envy toward Meng Fei.

This group of lowly individuals was on the verge of rising to greatness!