Qingyi Sect Master Feng Shaoguang watched as the Martial Artists under his command were cut down one by one. He himself was gravely wounded and had lost his combat ability. His face was deathly pale. His arms hung limp at his sides as he retreated step by step, glaring at the approaching Yulong Gang group while baring his teeth against the pain.
“The Yulong Gang Leader is finished! Qingfeng Escort Agency is finished too!”
“If you’re willing to join the Five Poison Sect now, there’s still a way to live!”
Even at death’s door, Feng Shaoguang still tried to twist words and turn the tide.
Wang Yuehui, bow in hand, warned the others:
“He’s stalling for ti!”
Everyone’s hearts tightened. Snake Elder was a Third-Rank expert, and he commanded four pythons that were impervious to blades and spears. This was no place to linger.
“Hall Master! Kill him and run!”
Chen Ergou was also worried that delay would bring disaster.
Wangchuan’s gaze flickered. He clenched his jaw.
“Finish off the wounded Martial Artists first! Leave Feng Shaoguang alive—for now.”
At his command, Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao led three Inner Disciples toward the remaining Qingyi Sect Martial Artists.
“No!”
“Spare us!”
“Brother Wangchuan, spare our lives!”
“We’re on the sa side!”
“We’re from Black Panther Studio!”
Two of the wounded Martial Artists had been playing dead. Hearing the approach of finishing blows, they scrambled up and begged desperately.
Wangchuan frowned slightly.
Black Panther Studio?
Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao hesitated as well.
These were players.
Killing a player ant account deletion in reality.
Everyone present understood what it took to reach Martial Artist level or close to it.
Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao looked toward Wangchuan, uncertain.
Wangchuan glanced in the direction where Instructor Yu and others had fallen. His eyes hardened.
“When you were chasing us alongside the Five Poison Sect, I didn’t see you showing any rcy.”
“Kill them!”
The order was decisive.
Two Inner Disciples swung their blades without hesitation.
Pfft!
Pfft!!
Terror, despair, and regret froze in the players’ eyes as their heads rolled into the dust.
Wangchuan drew a deep breath.
Sothing churned uncomfortably in his chest.
Wang Yuehui walked over and patted his arm.
“Hall Master, you did nothing wrong. They followed the Five Poison Sect to kill us. Instructor Yu is dead. Many of our brothers are dead. If they are slain in return, it is of their own making.”
“…Yes.”
Wangchuan nodded.
Thud!
On the other side, Zhao Heiniu moved decisively, knocking Feng Shaoguang unconscious and binding him tightly.
“Wangchuan, no ti to waste! Let’s go!”
“Retreat!”
They stripped the corpses of silver and weapons and hurried after Lin Dahai’s group.
…
anwhile, Snake Elder led a band of brigands along the riverbank, pursuing Yang Feiyue, He Han, Constable Wu, and the others.
Constable Wu had the poorest swimming skills.
When he saw the snake swarm approaching, his face turned white. He tried to turn back, but a volley of arrows cut him down in the water.
He Han and several saber-wielding escorts from the agency were only average swimrs. Before they reached the far side, the venomous snakes caught up to them. Their flesh was bitten and torn. Within monts, they were entangled and dragged under.
The Yulong Gang mbers were strong swimrs and had mastered 《Water-Subrged Breath Regulation Art》. They dove deep beneath the river’s surface, holding their breath and evading the snakes as they swam downstream.
Snake Elder barked orders along the bank:
“If they’ve gone under, don’t let them co back up!”
“The mont anyone surfaces, shoot!”
“Yes!”
Dozens of bandits stood with bows trained on the river.
Venomous snakes weaved through the water in search of prey.
After a while, Yulong Gang disciples began surfacing one after another.
Each head that erged was t with a hail of arrows. The river blossod with red.
Once struck, the Inner Disciples’ swimming faltered. They were either bitten to death by snakes or riddled with arrows.
So ti passed.
Snake Elder grew uneasy, glancing toward Liangshui Bridge.
“Why hasn’t Feng Shaoguang returned?”
“He can’t even handle a re First-Rank Martial Artist?”
“Shall I go check?” Lei Zhiyin asked with a frown.
Snake Elder shook his head.
“Our mission is to ensure Yang Feiyue’s death. The others are insignificant. At worst, the news leaks and Qingyi Sect changes its master.”
“If Feng Shaoguang cannot manage even that trivial matter, then he deserves to crawl back to the branch helm in disgrace.”
Even so, he sent a few n to investigate.
They soon returned with grim news.
All eight Qingyi Sect Martial Artists lay dead along the road. Feng Shaoguang was nowhere to be found.
Snake Elder’s face turned extrely grim.
“There’s been a mistake.”
“That useless Feng Shaoguang is likely finished as well.”
He barked at Lei Zhiyin:
“Yang Feiyue’s water skills exceeded expectations. We can no longer maintain the blockade. Pass the order—after one stick of incense, withdraw! Return to the stronghold!”
“Yes!”
Lei Zhiyin obeyed.
They searched the calm river surface repeatedly, finding nothing. In the end, they collected their own dead, seized the escort carts and goods, and retreated into the mountains.
The official road was left littered with corpses.
In the river, over a dozen bodies—mangled by snake bites—floated and sank in the cold wind.
…
On Wangchuan’s side, he had caught up with Lin Dahai’s group.
Lin Dahai was like a startled bird, constantly glancing behind him, afraid the Five Poison Sect would capture him again. His composure was worse than that of the seven newcors.
Wangchuan watched in silence, his heart heavy.
Lin Dahai likely understood now that 《spirit realm》 affected reality.
After all…
Heipi had died. Old Li had died.
Even the slowest mind would begin to understand.
Yet anyone who entered 《spirit realm》 could no longer escape it. That was a fact.
So Lin Dahai appeared more afraid of death than anyone.
Because he had no ability to protect himself.
Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao said nothing. The only difference between them and Lin Dahai was that they had near-Martial Artist strength and so ans of self-defense.
Leading the group, Wangchuan followed the Sanhe River. They waited along the bank for a ti. Near midday, they spotted a cargo ship bearing the Yulong Gang’s flag and sent out the gang’s distress signal.
Several n erged from the vessel and recognized Wangchuan from afar. They hurried to dock.
“Hall Master!”
“Greetings, Hall Master!”
“What happened to you?”
Fei Zai leapt from the ship, shock written all over his face as he took in their state. Then his gaze fell on the bound Feng Shaoguang, and his pupils trembled.
“Feng Shaoguang.”
Wangchuan was equally surprised to encounter Fei Zai’s ship.
“On board first. We’ll talk there.”
“Understood!”
They boarded swiftly.
Several Inner Disciples briefly recounted the ambush. Expressions grew grave. The crew pushed off and sailed downstream.
Along the way, they saw bodies floating on the river.
“That’s Escort Leader He!”
“And Constable Wu!”
“That’s one of our hall’s disciples…”
Wangchuan scanned the riverbank and the official road vigilantly. There was no sign of the Five Poison Sect or Snake Elder.
Only then did he give the order:
“Retrieve Escort Leader He and Constable Wu’s bodies. We will bring them back to the county. As for the other brothers, we will have to send more ships to recover them.”
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