Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Annihilation
Outside the Drunken Immortal Tower, the members of the Quicksand Gang glared maliciously at the Garrison Commandant’s Office constables a short distance away, creating a tense standoff.
Unlike in other cities, the White Stone Town Garrison Command had lost much of its authority over the years, so these gang members held little reverence for it.
"Every last one of them deserves to die!"
A constable muttered from within the Garrison’s ranks.
"That’s right! I’d love to kill them all!"
another constable beside him chimed in.
The other constables and patrol leaders listened, their hearts resonating with the sentiment. These gangland thugs preyed on the common folk. They were vicious criminals who had shattered the peace of White Stone City. Every single one of them deserved to die!
But...
’So what if they deserve to die!?’
It was common knowledge that the Garrison was weak. If they flipped the table and tried to wipe out the Quicksand Gang in one fell swoop, the other powers would grieve like a fox for a dead rabbit. They would band together even more tightly, and the fragile balance Commander Feng struggled to maintain would be completely shattered. What would become of the Garrison then!?
These men were no longer greenhorns. Their once-fearless resolve had long been worn down by one retreat after another.
Watching the arrogant Quicksand Gang members across the way, who clearly held them in contempt, the Garrison’s constables and patrol leaders seethed with a fury they dared not voice.
BANG!
A sudden noise erupted from within the Drunken Immortal Tower.
"What’s going on?!"
The constables and gang members outside reacted instantly, all eyes fixing on the top floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower. They were awaiting the outcome of the discussion between their leaders.
Just then, a voice boomed from the Drunken Immortal Tower, echoing across the scene.
"The Quicksand Gang’s Leader, Yin Zisheng, and Vice Gang Leader, Shen Taiyuan, attempted to assassinate this official. The evidence of their crime is irrefutable, and they have been executed on the spot! The Quicksand Gang preys upon the people; their crimes are heinous and unforgivable. I, on behalf of the White Stone Town Garrison Command, hereby declare them subject to annihilation! Any who resist will be killed without mercy!"
’Annihilation!?’
’Killed without mercy!?’
’Is this for real!?’
The Garrison constables and patrol leaders on the scene were stunned. It wasn’t just them; even the members of the Quicksand Gang thought it sounded like a tall tale.
’Annihilation?’
’What a joke!’
’The Quicksand Gang has dominated White Stone City for over a decade. Where did the Garrison get the nerve to annihilate us? Aren’t they afraid of destabilizing the entire city?!’
As everyone stared in disbelief, two hands emerged from a window of the Drunken Immortal Tower, each holding a severed head!
The Gang Leader, Yin Zisheng!
The Vice Gang Leader, Shen Taiyuan!
’Dead?’
’Really dead?’
The Quicksand Gang members and their leaders on the scene felt their minds go completely blank.
’This... How is this possible!’
Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a figure leaped down from the Drunken Immortal Tower and landed steadily in their midst. His posture was as straight and imposing as a pine tree. It was none other than the Deputy Commander of the White Stone Town Garrison Command, Chen Ping’an!
"The ringleaders are dead. Those who lay down their arms will be treated with leniency. Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"
Chen Ping’an’s gaze swept across the crowd as Inner Qi pulsed from his body, radiating an incomparably tyrannical aura that filled the area.
...
The Quicksand Gang.
In a small courtyard south of the Inner Hall, the Quicksand Gang’s Great Vajra, Duan Peng, sat sprawled in a large chair, downing bowl after bowl of fine wine.
It was a drinking habit he’d picked up when he first started running with the gang. All these years later, it hadn’t changed.
’I wonder how the negotiations with the Gang Leader are going? They didn’t do anything too rough to that little whelp, did they!?’
’A newborn calf really doesn’t fear the tiger. So ignorant of the ways of the world, daring to provoke our Quicksand Gang right after arriving!’
’This time, we’ll teach him a harsh lesson. Let’s see if he dares to mess with the Quicksand Gang again!’
Downing another large bowl of wine, Duan Peng still felt unsatisfied.
He was supposed to have attended tonight’s banquet. However, the Gang Leader felt it was unnecessary. For a mere Deputy Commander, making such a big fuss would make it seem like they were afraid.
So, he had stayed behind at the gang’s headquarters.
It was a shame he couldn’t see the look on the new Deputy Commander’s face himself!
Still, when they returned, he could listen to Old Shen recount the whole process. That would be satisfying enough!
Just as Duan Peng was thinking this, he heard a series of alarmed shouts from outside.
Hmm?
Duan Peng frowned but didn’t pay it much mind, continuing to drink from his large bowl.
But the shouts and cries outside came one after another, showing no sign of stopping. In fact, the commotion seemed to be growing.
"These guys are getting more and more unruly!"
Duan Peng slammed his bowl down, stood up, and shoved the door open with a BANG, striding outside.
The moment he stepped out, he saw someone running toward him in a panic to deliver a report.
"Great Vajra, bad news, bad news! The Garrison is surrounding us!"
"What?" Duan Peng’s expression changed. Before his subordinate could explain further, he bolted outside.
Outside the Quicksand Gang’s headquarters, the cold glint of weapons filled the air, creating a grim and solemn scene.
The constables of the Garrison had completely surrounded the Quicksand Gang’s headquarters and, under the leadership of several Chiefs of the Patrol Office from various city districts, had begun a fierce assault.
"So many men! And five Inner Qi Realm experts!" Duan Peng’s face fell. No matter how slow-witted he might be, he knew they were in deep trouble.
Since a fight had broken out here, the negotiations at the Drunken Immortal Tower had obviously collapsed.
’So firm and decisive!’
’How... how could he dare!’
’Isn’t he afraid the other powers in the city will take advantage of the chaos!?’
"Defend the headquarters! We’ll figure out our next move once the Gang Leader and Old Shen return! Also, if we can just hold out for a while, the other powers in the city won’t just sit back and watch. They’ll definitely make a move! That will be our chance!"
As expected of someone who had long held a high position, Duan Peng formulated a plan in an instant.
However, before he could put his plan into action, a shout came from outside the gates.
"Listen up, everyone inside! Yin Zisheng and Shen Taiyuan have already been executed. Lay down your weapons and you will be treated with leniency. If you insist on resisting, you will not only be killed without mercy, but your families will also suffer the consequences!"
"What!?" Duan Peng’s expression changed drastically, his face a mask of horror.
...
As one of the four major gangs in White Stone City, the Quicksand Gang had a total of four Inner Qi Realm experts: the Gang Leader, the Vice Gang Leader, the Great Vajra, and a Tributor.
With the two Inner Qi Realm masters Yin Zisheng and Shen Taiyuan having been killed by Chen Ping’an at the Drunken Immortal Tower, the Quicksand Gang’s high-level combat strength was cut in half. Overwhelmed by the sheer number of the Garrison’s Inner Qi Realm experts and their tight coordination, the Quicksand Gang’s two remaining masters could hardly mount an effective resistance.
The news of Gang Leader Yin Zisheng’s and Vice Gang Leader Shen Taiyuan’s deaths, in particular, shattered the morale of the Quicksand Gang members. After a brief period of resistance at the front where some of them died, more and more members inside the headquarters began to lay down their weapons and surrender.
By dawn, the Quicksand Gang’s headquarters was filled with men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office.
In a single night, the Quicksand Gang was utterly vanquished by the Garrison. With the exception of the Great Vajra, Duan Peng, who managed to escape by a stroke of luck, not a single member of the gang got away.
In the span of a single night, the Quicksand Gang, one of the four major gangs, became history in White Stone City.
The heavens over White Stone City had changed!
News of the Quicksand Gang’s annihilation spread like wildfire to the ears of the city’s other major powers.
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