Longxi Town, like an ancient Jiangnan street out of an ink painting.
Small bridges over running water, high gables and curved eaves, even the paths paved with bluestone slabs have an antique charm.
By the river wharf, a couple of won wield wooden mallets to beat clothes; on the banks, threads of white smoke twist and rise from coal stoves.
In the midst of this tranquil and rustic scene, suddenly there ca the sounds of shouting and the roaring of firearms.
On a small stone bridge stood a towering hulk of a man who, snorting with a 'hmph' from his nostrils, summoned all his strength and launched a ferocious punch.
His opponent promptly pulled out a Colt revolver and fired.
The burly man did not dodge or evade, but smashed another punch down, causing his opponent's chest cavity to cave in, blood spraying wildly as it splattered out.
He himself was shot in the abdon, bursting a spray of blood.
Ripping off his clothing, the strong man bound his wound tightly, then sawed off his opponent's head with a knife.
Raising the dead man's head high, he shouted for all around to hear, "Taihu Manor's Ming En has slain the Linjiang Gang's Longxi Hall Master here!"
From around ca waves of applause and cheers, along with enthusiastic clapping.
After showing off the head, the strong man then vanished into the houses, clutching his wound.
Nowadays, one must shout like this after killing a mber of the Linjiang Gang.
Not only is it profitable, but it also brings fa and is much loved by the people of the martial world.
~~~~~~~~~
Linjiang Gang Headquarters
The imposing residence, usually stern with killing intent, now seed slightly desolate.
The guards on duty were sparse, their faces bearing a look of anxiety.
Zuo Gong's public statent in the newspaper, sealing this matter with finality, even subtly supported Lu Yao.
The Linjiang Gang was thoroughly branded as a rat crossing the street, becoming the public enemy of the martial world, fair ga for all, thrown completely into chaos.
Currently, the loss of the lower and middle-rank gang mbers was severe, and even those above the Marrow-Cleansing Realm dared not step out. Those branches outside of Mingzhou could no longer be contacted.
In just three days, the once mighty Linjiang Gang was on the verge of collapse!
At this mont, Hou Bo reported to his father with a grim expression,
"The Prefectural Governor won't see anymore; Lu Xiaozi's backer—Yu Yani—has even reached the Jin Wulou Realm and is now serving under Zuo Gong. No wonder Zuo Gong suddenly spoke out!"
Hou Lin was not surprised by the Prefectural Governor's actions, his face expressionless as he asked, "Are you certain that Yu Yani is in the Western Frontier?"
"Confird, in the Western Frontier, highly regarded by Zuo Gong," Hou Bo sighed. "Father, let's accept our defeat. Fortunately, we have a way out; we can emigrate to nes."
"It's not that easy to leave. Who knows how many eyes are watching us."
Hou Lin knew well that the Linjiang Gang had now turned into a succulent piece of at, and countless others were eager to take a bite.
He made a snap decision and said to his son, "You take the silver and deeds and leave stealthily first. I'll stay behind to draw attention."
"What about you, Dad?"
"Don't worry about . Just make sure you escape," he replied curtly.
Hou Lin's eyes narrowed, a fierce expression covering his face, "I'll go et that Lu fellow and show him how many eyes a 'Prince' has!"
~~~~~~~~~
Inside Jin Garden
Liao Qe was ticulously wiping the inside of a Fire God Cannon's barrel with a steel rod wrapped in oilcloth.
After maintenance, she loaded 20MM cannonballs one by one into the magazine with a "reloader."
The young woman bent over, constantly working the lever of the reloader, her peach-shaped buttocks swaying slightly with the motion.
Lu Yao walked over and grabbed a handful; it was incredibly springy. He teased with a smile, "You're quite capable, huh~"
Liao Qe tilted her head and gave him a kiss, cooing, "Didn't you say we should be prepared for an attack by an Innate Expert? I am just making extra preparations, better safe than sorry."
She continued her work even while chatting, and soon a box of ammunition was ready.
Lu Yao smiled and said, "Nowadays, for us, the Innate Realm is no longer a threat."
Just as he finished speaking, three Spiritual Sparrowhawks suddenly circled in the sky around one spot.
Sensing sothing amiss, Lu Yao said gravely, "It seems we indeed have a visitor; let's go et this leader of the Hous."
~~~~~~~~
Hou Lin arranged for his son to sneak away alone, while he himself deployed his light body techniques and rushed to Jin Garden.
"This little beast sure knows how to enjoy himself!" Seeing the elegant and magnificent garden, Hou Lin's face twisted with venomous hatred, "Today I'll chop off your limbs and kill your won right in front of you! You'll know the consequences of offending an Innate Grandmaster!"
Unfortunately, his surprise attack was discovered by the Spiritual Sparrowhawks from more than ten miles away.
These high-flying hunters possessed exceptionally keen vision, easily spotting rabbits three kiloters away, even among Blue Star's mundane creatures.
The vision of the three Spiritual Sparrowhawks was even more freakish; from their high vantage point, Hou Lin's efforts to conceal himself were in vain.
By the ti the gang leader Hou arrived at Jin Garden, Lu Yao's family had already been "waiting for a long ti."
Hou Lin wasn't too surprised; the young man before him had attained the Spirit Refinent of Divine Fetal Breathing and possessed ethereal sensory abilities, making him very difficult to ambush.
But it didn't matter, he had intended to fight head-on anyway. He wanted this man to know—just how much destruction an unbridled Innate Grandmaster could cause!
"Haah!!!" Hou Lin bellowed, channeling all of his True Qi and launching a full-power strike from the get-go, dispensing with any opening remarks or idle chatter!
Having roved across the vast regions of Jiangnan for decades, Hou Lin had never been one for excessive talk!
But in the following second, Hou Lin suddenly froze in place.
Across from him, that young Lu surna kid, had suddenly produced a radiant and colorful Pipa!
As an Innate Realm martial artist, he certainly had ample experience. Hou Lin stared, dumbfounded, unable to believe, "Impossible! How can you have a Magical Treasure?!!!"
Lu Yao, cradling the Pipa, posed with an otherworldly grace, nonchalantly replying, "A tune of heartrending sorrow, searching for a confidant across the world's ends."
With that, he rapidly plucked the strings, and suddenly "the big strings roared like pelting rain," as the lody of "Ambush From Ten Sides" was played.
Visible sound waves swiftly swept through the air, forming sharp blades that shot towards the enemy.
Hou Lin countered with a pair of Water-splitting Spikes in his hands, dancing so swiftly that not a drop could penetrate, deflecting the rain-like Pipa sound blades and simultaneously, with explosive force from his feet, charged towards Lu Yao.
A more rapid strumming followed, sounding like a torrent bursting from a silver bottle, as the Pipa's sonic blades rged into a wave, crashing down like a huge surge.
Amid the dense and chaotic clanging of tal, Hou Lin's clothes were reduced to tattered ribbons, and his Water-splitting Spikes were deeply notched.
Yet he clenched his teeth, his arms whirled like a windmill, ignoring attacks that weren't lethal and focused solely on advancing forward.
The imnse strength of an Innate Martial Artist surged tumultuously; a slight exertion cratered the ground, launching him far distances, his body impervious to swords and spears, his montum like a tank charging forward.
The Pipa's sound blades could only penetrate the skin, causing minor injuries, as effective as a handgun against soone in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm.
At a distance of 50 ters, Hou Lin roared, "You little beast, die!" Infusing True Qi into his Water-splitting Spikes, he suddenly hurled them forward!
The two Spikes flashed with the speed of silver light, shooting in different directions to disrupt Lu Yao's focus, while also blocking his space to dodge.
The real killing move followed closely behind—the person of Hou Lin himself, breaking through the air.
In this mont, should Lu Yao be at all distracted, he would find an Innate Expert at close quarters!
Hou Lin was confident he could end his foe within 3 to 5 moves! What pleased him even more was that Lu Yao's reaction seed suddenly to slow, motionless and about to be caught.
But right as the coup de grâce was about to be realized, Hou Lin's smile froze.
Lu Yao was motionless because he was gathering strength.
He simultaneously plucked all the strings, and with a sound like silk being torn, he released a penetratingly high-pitched note that could be heard even 3 kiloters away!
A massive, crescent moon-shaped white sonic wave ford and howled forth.
First it turned the two Water-splitting Spikes into brittle fragnts, then it shot towards the following Hou Lin.
Hou Lin, true to his Innate status, teleported mid-air to dodge, avoiding the massive sonic blade.
But guided by Lu Yao's Mind Force, the sonic blade adjusted its trajectory in mid-flight, still aiming for its target!
Hou Lin ultimately failed to dodge, watching the blade hit him squarely, having only enough ti to raise his arms in defense.
The mont he encountered this special form of attack, Hou Lin knew it was over.
The Pipa's sound blade was not just sharp; it was vibrating intensely, like a saw.
His arms were instantly severed, and the blade's montum didn't stop there, continuing to slash and hitting directly at his chest, splitting him nearly in half!
Hou Lin let out a soul-piercing scream, but it wasn't over.
Lu Yao, expressionless, rapidly plucked all the strings twice more, releasing the penetrating Pipa notes that echoed between heaven and earth; two enormous sonic blades howled out!
Hou Lin struggled desperately, leaping to the side to dodge.
The two sonic blades turned mid-flight, adjusting their trajectories, and precisely hit him.
A tallic tearing sound rang out, and this strong man who had established the Linjiang Gang and controlled the Yangtze River's population trade for 50 years, let out half a scream before being split into four large pieces, tumbling ssily to the ground.
Reviews
All reviews (0)