Chapter 129: Chapter 95: Counter-Kill
’Someone’s ambushing me?!’
Jiang Che was startled.
’Is it someone from the Blood Spirit Sect? Or the Black Wind Mountain Horse Bandits?’
After a moment’s thought, he decided the Blood Spirit Sect was more likely.
’Whatever. It doesn’t matter who it is. I’ll just kill them.’
As long as they hadn’t reached Force Integration, he had a fighting chance.
He cracked his knuckles, deciding to take care of these two.
It was also the perfect opportunity to fully test his strength after breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm!
Jiang Che shouldered his Kunji, left through the main gate, and headed straight for the city outskirts.
If he was going to kill someone, it was best to go somewhere it would be easy to dispose of the bodies!
Along the way, there was no one in sight behind him.
But his Omen continued to issue a warning.
This meant the two were still following him.
’Interesting. Their stealth abilities are quite strong...’
Jiang Che suddenly picked up his pace.
Sure enough, a faint rustling sound came from the bushes behind him.
The two followers sped up as well.
Jiang Che moved faster and faster, and his pursuers, realizing they had been exposed, also quickened their pace.
Soon, Jiang Che arrived at a deserted patch of woods by the Quicksand Riverfront.
Seeing that there was no one else around and that it was a good place to kill someone and dump the body, Jiang Che stopped.
"Friends, come on out!"
Jiang Che said in a low voice.
...
...
...
White Cloud Martial Arts Hall.
The Disciple Courtyard.
Two groups of people were warming up in the courtyard.
The group on the left was composed of the disciples of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall.
Aside from Gong Yulei and Lin Xue’er, Hu Hui and the rest of the senior batch were present, along with several new disciples who had just broken through to the Qi Blood level.
On the right was a group of young Martial Artists dressed in black training attire.
They had the character for "Fierce" on the backs of their clothes, identifying them as disciples of the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall.
Beneath the eaves, two Grandmaster’s Chairs were placed side by side.
Two old men sat in the chairs, watching the many disciples warming up in the courtyard.
The one on the left had a crop of silver hair that stood on end, and a long, sinister scar ran from the corner of his eye.
This was Luo Kun.
The one on the right was a plump, round-figured old man.
This was the master of the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall, Li Hong.
Behind the two of them stood a young girl in a long, cyan dress.
She was blinking her large eyes, watching the disciples practice their forms with an excited expression.
It was Jiang Ling.
Although she hadn’t yet broken through to the Qi Blood level, she was close, so Luo Kun had invited her to watch, as it would help with her future breakthrough.
"Old Luo, not bad this year. You even managed to produce an Iron Skin Realm disciple! If I recall correctly, isn’t he a new student from this year? Breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm in just one year... that’s some incredible Talent!" Li Hong said with a fake smile.
"It’s nothing compared to you, Old Li! I see that disciple of yours, Niu Yan, has been making quite a name for himself lately. I hear he’s one of the ’Four Young Masters of Martial Arts’? What’s that all about?" Luo Kun retorted sharply.
"It’s a title for the four people in Lin Yuan City who broke through to the Iron Skin Realm before the age of twenty. Speaking of which, isn’t that Shao Jianbo from your hall also on the list? I’d say whoever made this ranking is behind on the news. With your new disciple, it should be the ’Five Young Masters’!" Li Hong said with a laugh, patting Luo Kun’s arm.
Luo Kun sensed a powerful Qi Force flow into him from Li Hong’s palm. He immediately circulated his own Qi Force to his arm, bracing to resist it.
On the surface, however, Luo Kun just smiled nonchalantly.
"Heh, it’s just an empty title. Until one breaks through to Force Integration, one can never grasp the true essence of the Martial Dao."
"By the way, where is Shao Jianbo? What, he didn’t come again this year?" Li Hong asked, looking around in feigned confusion.
"The boy is probably busy with something," Luo Kun said.
"How can he be busy every year? You finally managed to train a disciple to the Peak of the Iron Skin Realm, and I was hoping my own top disciple could spar with him. It’s a shame there’s never been a chance! You know, my top disciple is just one step away from Force Integration. He needs to fight more people at his own level! What’s the point of reaching a high Realm if you don’t fight? Isn’t that just being a pretty-faced weakling? Wouldn’t you agree?" Li Hong said with a chuckle.
Luo Kun replied coolly, "My disciple who just broke through to the Iron Skin Realm has a combative personality. I also have another disciple who, though only at the Stone Skin Realm, possesses an Innate Iron Body. They would be happy to ask for your guidance."
"Oh? An Innate Iron Body? I’ll have to take a good look at that later! I see the children have warmed up. Shall we begin?" Li Hong smiled, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Luo Kun glanced toward the gate, wondering to himself why Jiang Che hadn’t arrived yet.
"What’s the matter? Are you waiting for someone?" Li Hong asked.
"It’s nothing. He should be here soon. Let’s begin!" Luo Kun said in a low voice.
With that, the disciples from both sides officially began their matches.
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「Quicksand Riverfront, in the deserted woods.」
Jiang Che looked at the burly man and young woman who had appeared before him, a little surprised.
"It’s you?"
The ones who had been following him were, of all people, Red Tiger and Lotus!
It turned out that after their last assassination attempt failed, they had immediately rushed back to Li Yuanwai’s Mansion.
After reporting the situation to the Sacrificial Minister, he concluded that their movements had been exposed and decided that everyone should immediately go underground.
He even had the mechanism in the main hall sealed shut, making it impossible for anyone to notice anything unusual.
At the same time, they released the real Landlord Li, along with his family and servants, who had been controlled by poisonous insects.
Under the insects’ control, Landlord Li and the others lost their memories of being held captive. Believing they had been living in the mansion all along, they resumed their normal lives.
When Shadow Owl from the Seven Stars Gang came to investigate that day, the one he met was the real Landlord Li.
Shadow Owl had secretly infiltrated Li Yuanwai’s Mansion for several days but had found nothing out of the ordinary.
