Chapter 237: Chapter 139: Momentum of Slaughter
Zhou’s Blacksmith Shop was only a few hundred meters from Lotus Pier. It was a large complex of private buildings, right next to the bustling Lotus Avenue, making it very accessible.
The street-facing front hall was spacious and impressive. During the day, it was crowded with customers, bustling with people coming and going.
Passing through the front hall, one would find a vast interior filled with one Blacksmith Workshop after another. In the very center of the workshops was the blacksmith shop’s warehouse. The backyard contained private housing for personnel like craftsmen, Hospital Martial Artists, and servants.
A few hundred meters north of the blacksmith shop, two alleys away, was the Zhou Family residence. A wide corridor connected the two.
The defenses at Zhou’s Blacksmith Shop were quite formidable. There were forty to fifty Hospital Martial Artists alone. The regular Hospital Martial Artists were all Martial Artists who had achieved Great Success in Saber Technique, while the Hospital Guard Leader was even stronger—a Perfect Martial Artist of the Skin Grinding Realm.
In addition, the Black and White Double Slaughter, who had reached Great Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm, stood guard.
As for the Zhou Family, they typically had dozens of Hospital Martial Artists on guard as well. Zhou Hongda himself was a Perfect Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm, and his sons had all reached Skin Grinding Realm Perfection.
It was no exaggeration to say that within the territory of Lotus Pier, the combined strength of all the Jianghu Gangs and the City Guard Department Officials did not match that of the Zhou Family.
The Zhou Family dispatched patrol teams day and night to patrol the nearby streets. At the first sign of trouble, the Zhou Family residence and the blacksmith shop would be quickly alerted and provide mutual support.
Under the cover of night, Chen Cheng silently crept to the mouth of an alley not far from Zhou’s Blacksmith Shop. He glanced at the shop’s main gate from a distance and couldn’t help but frown.
Seven or eight Hospital Martial Artists, armed with Long Sabers, stood guard at the entrance.
Not far away, several more Hospital Martial Artists holding torches patrolled the street at a slow pace.
’The number of guards at Zhou’s Blacksmith Shop seems to have increased significantly. Could it be that because the City Guard Department withdrew its constables from this district, the Zhou Family sensed danger and has become like a frightened bird?’
Chen Cheng noted this silently. He waited for the Zhou Family’s patrol to move farther away before his figure flashed, and in a few leaps, he arrived at the courtyard wall on the other side of the blacksmith shop.
He held his breath and listened intently for a while from behind the wall. Then, he vaulted onto the wall and looked down into the courtyard.
He saw that torches were lit between the various workshops, and at every interval, a Hospital Martial Artist stood guard with a saber.
’Hah! The defenses at this Zhou Family’s Blacksmith Shop are even tighter than the Lishui Sub-Department’s! It seems the warehouse must be full of treasures. Perhaps my coveted Black Gold is among them.’
Clicking his tongue in admiration, a flash of excitement crossed Chen Cheng’s eyes. This trip shouldn’t be for nothing.
Composing himself, Chen Cheng leaped lightly down from the wall. With another few bounds, he mounted the wall of an adjacent private residence and sped toward the Zhou Family residence.
Before coming, Chen Cheng had anticipated that Zhou’s Blacksmith Shop would be heavily guarded. But this was even better, because his goal on this trip was not only to seize the treasure but also to annihilate the Zhou Family.
The plan was to go to the Zhou Family residence first and eliminate Zhou Hongda, then set a fire. When Zhou’s Blacksmith Shop was alerted, the Black and White Double Slaughter and the guards stationed there would surely rush to provide support. He would then execute a feint, doubling back to the blacksmith shop’s warehouse to grab the Black Gold and leave.
Chen Cheng’s steps were light, even lighter than a prowling nocturnal cat. His movements were nearly silent, and he smoothly arrived outside the Zhou Family residence.
The main gate of the Zhou Family residence was shut tight, with a faint, dim light seeping from the door seams.
After a brief observation, Chen Cheng circled around, flashed onto the courtyard wall, and saw that the front yard was completely empty and pitch-black, without a single soul in sight.
’Something’s not right. The defenses at Zhou’s Blacksmith Shop are so tight. The Zhou Family’s main residence should at least have some Hospital Guards on duty.’
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Chen Cheng leaped into the courtyard, growing even more cautious. After searching the area, he found that other than the gatehouse, there wasn’t a single Hospital Martial Artist in the front yard.
’How strange! There’s no way Zhou Hongda would leave his home without a single Hospital Martial Artist.’
Passing through the corridor beside the garden, he slipped into the Double Courtyard. It was quite spacious, lit by a few dim lamps. Several figures were scattered about, hidden nearby, completely motionless.
Their positions seemed random, but they subtly guarded the entire courtyard and the corridor leading to the rear court. Any disturbance in the courtyard would not escape their eyes.
’Now this is more like it. If a place as large as the Zhou Mansion had no defenses at all, I would have had to cancel my plans for tonight and head back home.
These men should have decent Martial Arts Power. I can’t alert them. But this level of defense is not enough to stop me.’
He mused silently, observing his surroundings and pondering his next move.
Just then, the figure nearest the corridor to the inner courtyard suddenly strode out. Chen Cheng hastily dodged behind a rockery.
The man wore a suit of black Armor. He charged into the center of the courtyard, came to a sudden halt, and then began to practice his Saber Technique, swinging his Long Saber.
His Armor was clearly very heavy, and practicing his Saber Technique created quite a stir.
"Third Brother, have you lost your mind? It’s the middle of the night!"
Another Hospital Martial Artist emerged from his hiding spot, his tone laced with a hint of displeasure.
"Big Brother, how about we switch places?" Third Brother asked, but the Long Saber in his hand only moved faster.
"Sigh... Forget it. If you want to practice, go ahead. Just don’t disturb Second Master and get the rest of us brothers reprimanded along with you."
Big Brother sighed softly and slipped back to his original position.
Third Brother continued to practice his saber work and muttered in a low voice, "Second Master is having his fun right now. He doesn’t have the time to reprimand us. If he wasn’t making so much noise, I wouldn’t be so pent-up that I need to practice my saber to blow off steam, would I?"
"Third Brother, you’ve been holding it in all night. I feel sorry for your wife tomorrow."
