Chapter 131: The Nine Dragons Society

"Are you really going to talk to me here?"

The old man in the mask gestured with a chuckle toward Su Qingli, who was still fast asleep.

Jiang Hao frowned, then climbed out of bed, put on his shoes, and said, "Let's go to the kitchen to talk."

"That is exactly what I was thinking."

The masked old man let out a raspy, low laugh before heading toward the kitchen. Jiang Hao followed closely, locked the door behind them, and then turned to face him.

"Speak now. Who exactly are you?" Jiang Hao asked, calm and composed.

The masked old man was silent for a moment before asking, "Have you heard of the Nine Dragons Society?"

The Nine Dragons Society? What on earth was that? Was it some sort of youth gang similar to the Sky Dragon Group?

Before Jiang Hao could ask, the old man began to explain: "The Nine Dragons Society is a secret department in China, specifically responsible for managing matters related to martial artists. The headquarters of the Nine Dragons Society is located in Beiping, and every city has a branch. Each branch has one or more members, with at least one branch leader in charge."

Upon hearing this, a look of astonishment appeared on Jiang Hao's face. China actually had a secret department like this? Did this mean the authorities had known about the existence of martial artists all along and had established this department specifically to keep them in check? It truly surprised him.

Seeming to notice Jiang Hao's shock, the masked old man chuckled. "Surprised? That’s normal. After all, we live in a modern society, not ancient times. If we didn't have a secret department to manage martial artists like you, wouldn't you all turn the world upside down?"

Jiang Hao thought for a moment and asked, "Since the Chinese authorities established the Nine Dragons Society to manage domestic martial artists, does that mean martial artists are exempt from the law?"

"It’s not that martial artists are exempt from the law; it’s that grudges and battles between martial artists are beyond the reach of the law."

The old man paused before continuing: "Jiang Hao, you are a martial artist now, but if you engage in illegal activities as a commoner, you will still face legal sanctions. However, if you fight with other martial artists, as long as you do not harm innocent people or cause significant social disruption, the law will not interfere, and the Nine Dragons Society will not get involved."

Jiang Hao nodded slightly. He understood now. The Nine Dragons Society was a relatively loose organization. They only handled events involving martial artists, and even then, not all of them. For example, they would not intervene if two martial artists fought to the death. It was only when a martial artist used their power to harm or slaughter civilians that the Society would intervene and execute them.

"Are you the member of the Nine Dragons Society responsible for Maple Leaf City? What is your rank?" Jiang Hao asked immediately.

Seeing how quickly Jiang Hao grasped the situation, the old man nodded with satisfaction.

"It’s a pleasure to speak with someone smart. You can call me Silver Moon. Aside from the Grandmaster, our members are ranked into four tiers, from high to low: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. I am a Mysterious-tier member and the branch leader of Maple Leaf City."

So, this Silver Moon was the branch leader! No wonder he had shown up out of the blue.

"Did you come here specifically because you found out about my fight with Yang Ziyun, the second young master of the Yang family, at the Pan family banquet today?" Jiang Hao asked.

"Yes," Silver Moon admitted readily.

"Fine. I understand why you're here, and I won't violate the rules set by your Society. So, are you going to leave now?" Jiang Hao asked, effectively showing him the door.

Silver Moon let out a raspy, amused laugh. "Jiang Hao, is there a need to rush me out? Actually, I’m quite interested in you. I’d like to ask: are you interested in joining the Nine Dragons Society?"

The old man was inviting him to become a member? If he joined, wouldn't he become an official government operative? Jiang Hao found it somewhat amusing. "Tell me, what benefits do I get if I join?"

"You get a fixed monthly salary... though I know you aren't short on money, so I won't dwell on that. The biggest benefit of joining is access to information about other martial artists. You'll gain intelligence from the Society, which is a huge advantage—at the very least, it will help you know who you can provoke and who you shouldn't."

"Furthermore, as a member, if you encounter a situation you cannot handle alone, we may provide assistance depending on the circumstances."

Silver Moon stopped and waited for an answer. Jiang Hao hesitated for a moment before asking, "What if... suppose I want to seek revenge on someone in the future? The person might be a martial artist, or they might be a commoner."

Jiang Hao had not forgotten the hatred he felt for those who harmed his parents. He was determined to have his revenge. Now that he had embarked on the path of martial arts and possessed both medical skills and martial power, his resolve was stronger than ever.

Silver Moon, perhaps not expecting this question, thought for a moment before replying, "If the target of your revenge is a commoner and you intend to kill them, we will stop you. If the target is a martial artist, the Society will not interfere."

"Of course, if you use means other than martial arts against a commoner, we will turn a blind eye. After all, we only deal with martial artist-related incidents."

Jiang Hao nodded. "I understand."

"So, what is your answer?" Silver Moon pressed.

Jiang Hao did not hesitate. "I'll join."

The eyes visible beneath Silver Moon's mask crinkled into a smile. "Good, good. My breath wasn't wasted. In that case, fill these out."

Silver Moon produced several A4-printed forms from his clothing, laid them on the kitchen counter, and handed him a pen.

Seeing this, it dawned on Jiang Hao: "You came prepared. You intended to recruit me from the moment you arrived!"