Chapter 141: The Seven Rings Gang Seventy Years Later
Sitting in the car earlier and traveling all the way here, Chen Mo could clearly see that New York today, compared to seventy years ago, had undergone changes so drastic they could be described as earth-shaking.
But walking down this familiar street, Chen Mo noticed that the surroundings had not changed much from when he left.
The rows of red-brick buildings on both sides of the street still looked the same as before, though they now carried a deeper, weathered historical aura from the passage of time. The slightly narrow streets were cleaner and tidier than they had been in the past.
The black retro-style lampposts, aged and mottled, still stood straight along the street. The amber lights cast a golden hue, representing the passage of time, over this era-filled street, rendering the entire scene tranquil and serene.
It was already evening, with streetlights just beginning to glow, and the windows of the houses lining the road also lit up one after another.
In front of a standalone three-story building, Chen Mo halted his steps. Standing by the roadside, he gazed at the familiar martial arts school ahead, and a hint of nostalgia involuntarily surfaced on his face.
Bright light spilled from the school's windows, and faint but intense sounds of combat echoed from behind the door.
Chen Mo couldn't help but smile slightly. He stepped up to the entrance, raised his hand, and gently knocked on the martial arts school's door.
...
Back then, Chen Mo had handed the Seven Disciplines Gang over to Wang Kun. Now, seventy years later, Wang Kun, over a hundred years old, no longer involved himself in the gang's affairs, having fully entrusted it to his son and grandson. He now spent his retirement in the martial arts school, keeping an eye on his great-grandson's martial arts training.
Wang Kun's great-grandson, Wang Jin, grew up listening to stories of Chen Mo. His greatest ambition was not to inherit the Seven Disciplines Gang and become the underground ruler of New York or even the entire U.S., but to follow in Chen Mo's footsteps and become a powerful superhero, vanquishing evil forces and safeguarding world peace.
For generations, Wang Kun's family had only one male heir. His son and grandson devoted most of their energy to managing and expanding the Seven Disciplines Gang. Over seventy years of growth, what was once an organization controlling only Brooklyn's underground forces had now evolved into a colossal entity dominating over half of America's underworld.
However, they never violated the family disciplines Chen Mo had established. Aside from gray-area industries like smuggling, casinos, and nightclubs, actions such as drug trafficking, robbery, human trafficking, and coercing people into prostitution were strictly prohibited. Violators faced severe punishment without exception. It was precisely because of the Seven Disciplines Gang that public security across the U.S. remained far more stable than in reality.
Although they no longer engaged in many criminal activities, under Chen Mo's guidance, they achieved tremendous growth in many legitimate industries.
In sectors such as construction, transportation, food, pharmaceuticals, clothing, livestock, hotels, and real estate, the Seven Precepts Gang firmly occupied a significant position. Many well-known large enterprises and conglomerates were, in fact, part of the Seven Precepts Gang's holdings. In terms of total assets, it amounted to an astronomical figure, unmatched by any single corporation.
As the future successor of this colossal organization, Wang Jin, however, showed no interest in the gang's affairs. After graduating from university, he did not follow his father's demands to join the gang and assist in managing its operations. Instead, he moved directly into a martial arts hall, training daily with the retired Wang Kun.
Thanks to the improved super-soldier serum provided by Albert, their lifespans were extraordinarily long. Wang Kun, over a hundred years old, appeared to be in his fifties, his body robust and vigorous. He was in no hurry to have Wang Jin take over the Seven Precepts Gang. With Wang Kun's approval, they let Wang Jin remain at the martial arts hall to train.
From childhood, Wang Jin's favorite place was not the luxurious and expansive family estate on Green Street, but this simple, unadorned martial arts hall—because it was filled with wondrous tales.
As a child, he treated Wang Kun's stories as mere fiction. But after inexplicably receiving the super-soldier serum as an adult, his physical abilities tripled in a short time. Only then did he realize that the fantastical stories he'd dismissed were actually true!
A lone man with twin guns, wiping out a dozen mafia members who came to attack in the blink of an eye; infiltrating a dock alone, rescuing his great-grandmother and grandfather from dozens of armed assailants, then eliminating all enemies; seven men storming the headquarters of two major mafia families overnight, toppling both clans.
Leaving seven fist imprints bare-handed on thick tower shields, intimidating all underground forces to establish the Seven Precepts Gang; on European battlefields, cleaving tanks with a sword, tearing apart armored vehicles with bare hands, single-handedly annihilating the mighty Hydra Corps, destroying their base, and obliterating the vast Hydra organization to alter the course of war.
When Wang Jin listened to Wang Kun's stories again, his shock was indescribable. His admiration for this legendary founder—who established the martial arts hall and built the Seven Precepts Gang—was no longer mere idolization of a story's hero, but genuine reverence and yearning from the depths of his heart.
How he wished he could meet this legendary hero in person! But the man had vanished seventy years prior. It was said that during the final battle to destroy Hydra, he piloted Hydra's super-aircraft into the sea to prevent a city from being bombed. Wang Jin deeply regretted this.
One evening, Wang Kun and Wang Jin were sparring in the martial arts hall.
Though over a century old, Wang Kun looked barely fifty, his physique no weaker than the young Wang Jin—even slightly stronger. Combined with decades of relentless training, his martial skill far surpassed Wang Jin's. Had he not held back, Wang Jin would have lasted mere moves.
However, Wang Jin had exceptional combat talent and a solid foundation from childhood training. Since returning to the martial arts hall after university, his abilities had improved significantly under Wang Kun's tutelage. Though outmatched by Wang Kun, he was already considered a top-tier fighter in the outside world.
As they fought intensely, knocking sounds suddenly interrupted their battle.
Enhanced by the super-soldier serum, their senses were extraordinarily sharp. Even mid-combat, they clearly heard the knocking at the door.
The two paused. Visitors to the martial arts hall were rare, and Wang Kun's family always notified him in advance. They couldn't guess who might be at the door.
Wang Jin looked up at Wang Kun.
"Go answer it," Wang Kun instructed.
Wang Kun assumed it might just be a passerby unaware of the situation. The guards stationed around the martial arts hall were only meant to deter large groups of armed threats. Unarmed civilians were never stopped, and in the past, there had been people knocking to inquire about martial arts training. Wang Kun didn't dwell on it—he'd simply tell them it was a private facility that didn't accept disciples, and that would be the end of it.
When Wang Jin heard Wang Kun's order, he reluctantly turned to answer the door. Moments earlier, he'd felt in top form and had hoped to test how long he could last against Wang Kun this time. The interruption annoyed him, but he didn't resent the visitor. After all, they weren't some ruthless gang; they treated ordinary people kindly. Still, he couldn't help wondering who it might be.
As Wang Jin slowly opened the door, the figure outside came into view: a tall young man roughly his own age, with sharp, coldly chiseled features and piercing eyes that seemed to look straight through him. The man wore a sleek black suit, radiating an air of noble elegance. Instinctively, Wang Jin knew this was no ordinary person.
Though the stranger appeared stern and imposing, Wang Jin's sharp senses detected no hostility. Instead, the way Chen Mo looked at him—almost like an elder regarding a younger family member—felt oddly similar to Wang Kun's gaze. It was strange, given the man's youthful appearance.
Puzzled but polite, Wang Jin asked:
**"Who are you looking for?"**
Chen Mo studied the young man's face, noting its faint resemblance to Wang Kun's. It wasn't hard to guess his identity—this was Wang Kun's great-grandson. Back when Wang Kun had first joined the martial arts hall, he'd been about this age. Now, even his great-grandson was grown.
With a flicker of nostalgia, Chen Mo replied calmly:
**"I'm looking for Wang Kun."**
**"Wang Kun?"**
Wang Jin blinked in confusion. As the family patriarch, almost no one dared address Wang Kun by his full name. For a moment, he didn't realize Chen Mo was referring to his great-grandfather.
But someone else did.
After sending Wang Jin to the door, Wang Kun had retreated to a nearby sofa for tea, planning to resume training his great-grandson afterward. The visitor was likely just another civilian—letting Wang Jin handle it was fine.
Yet as soon as he lifted the teacup, a familiar voice called his name from the doorway. His hand jerked, spilling tea. The name itself wasn't shocking—few knew it these days, but some still did. What shattered his composure was the voice itself.
*Clang!* He slammed the cup down and leapt to his feet, face flushed crimson with emotion. Striding toward the door, he glimpsed the figure through the open entrance—unchanged from seventy years ago, yet radiating an even greater aura.
Decades of leading the Seven Precepts Gang had honed Wang Kun's calm, but now his lips trembled as he rasped hoarsely:
**"Hall Master!"**
**"You've finally returned!"**