“So it’s Brother Chen Feng. I’ve heard a lot about you. No wonder you have such ability! Brother, please accept my bow!”
Seeing this, the other bandits on board also threw down their weapons and knelt down.
Zhou Jing looked around and raised his eyebrows, “Oh, you know my name?”
The bandit leader’s tone was excited, “Everyone in the Green Forest knows Brother’s deeds in Jiangchun. We all admire him. Some time ago, I heard that Brother had left Jiangchun, but I didn’t expect him to come to Huyang. It’s my honor to see Brother today!
Why didn’t Brother report your name earlier? We almost committed suicide by facing you at your forte! Previously, we faced each other with blades. I hope Brother won’t blame us. If Brother doesn’t mind, why don’t you come to my stronghold to drink and let me welcome Brother?”
Chen Feng’s current reputation was like that of a superstar in the Green Forest. He had fans everywhere. When ordinary men saw him, they were as excited as if they had seen their idol.
Even if he did not use martial arts now, just by seeing his face was enough for many Green Forest Strongholds to welcome him as a guest. His status was even greater than Guo Haishen’s.
“That’s good too.” Zhou Jing agreed to the invitation without hesitation.
He was thinking of looking for a local gang to ask about the current situation in Huyang. At this moment, it was exactly what he wanted.
The bandit leader was overjoyed. He hurriedly called his lackeys to repair Zhou Jing’s ship and pulled the people who had fallen into the water to escort the group into the water stronghold hidden in the lake.
The environment of the water village here was dirty and messy, and the conditions were quite limited. It was not suitable for raising chickens and pigs, thus most of the time, they fished for a living.
The bandit leader held a banquet and took out the food in his inventory to entertain everyone.
Zhou Jing, Guo Haishen, and the other experts of the Green Forest sat down and introduced themselves according to the way of the Green Forest.
The leader of the pirates also introduced himself. His name was Sheng Rong, and he was the chief of this place. He had a nickname, “Water Flier”, praising his swimming skills.
This group of water bandits entrenched in the Small Wind Lake had a total of about 700 to 800 people. Their scale was not big.
The boatmen of the fishing village by the lake were on the same side as the water bandits. They were in charge of pulling the guests crossing the river to the middle of the lake and chiseling the boat, waiting for the water bandits to come and capture them.
However, this business could only be opened once in a long time. Because there were many water bandits in Huyang, it had already become a consensus. Ordinary people were unwilling to take the water route here, so the water bandits could only scam some small fish and shrimp from outside.
This was the first time they had encountered a big fish like Zhou Jing and the others. Therefore, they could not wait to attack previously, afraid that they would miss it.
During the meal, Zhou Jing asked about the surrounding operation of the Green Forest and received a reply that piqued his interest.
“I don’t dare to hide it from Brother. In the territory of Huyang, most of the water bandits who can occupy a lake and a river to do business have a backer. Although there aren’t many of us, we’re also under the rule of the Golden Scale King, Fan Zong. I’m one of the 22 water generals under him.”
This “Golden Scale King” Fan Zong was one of the Three Flood Dragons of Huyang. He was one of the Green Forest bigwigs here.
There were many groups of Huyang water bandits, and because the terrain was complicated, the way they joined was different from ordinary strongholds.
The structure of the water bandits here at the docks was similar to a loose alliance. They relied on the name of the Three Flood Dragons of Huyang and relied on the signboard of their backer to protect their territory. Only then could they avoid the offense of the other gangs. Otherwise, without this signboard, no matter what territory they occupied, as long as others took a fancy to them, they could come and find trouble with them.
When their boss needed it, the water bandits under him would listen to his orders. Usually, these groups would stay in their own territory, do their own business, and develop on their own.
The three flood dragons of Huyang fought for territory. Many times, they poached the other party’s people and made their opponent’s water bandits turn to work for them to strengthen their power and authority.
After Zhou Jing asked, he made up his mind. He suddenly stood up and raised his wine bowl,
“Brothers, I want to enter Huyang and create a stronghold in the Green Forest here. I wonder if you’re willing to work with me?”
“Haha, it should have been like this long ago!”
Fang Zhen laughed.
Everyone was also excited and responded enthusiastically.
On the way here, Zhou Jing had already mentioned his intention to become a chief in Huyang to everyone, so no one was surprised.
Then, Zhou Jing looked at the leader of the pirates, Sheng Rong, and smiled, “Brother, what do you think?”
Sheng Rong was a little surprised, but after thinking for a moment, he no longer hesitated.
He suddenly stood up and drank the wine in his bowl, before loudly proclaiming,
“Thank you for thinking highly of me, Brother. I’m willing to respect you as the chief. From now on, I’ll follow your lead!”
In any case, if he wanted to continue in Huyang, he would have to pay his respects to someone stronger. Under Fan Zong, he was only a small transparent person at the end of the line. Turning around and following this famous Chen Feng might be a better choice.
In Sheng Rong’s opinion, with Chen Feng’s ability, he would most likely be able to make a name for himself and break the current three-way situation of the Lake Yang Green Forest. In the future, he might even be on par with the “Three Flood Dragons of Huyang”.
If he submitted as soon as possible, he would have a better chance of standing out in the future.