Chapter 298: Chapter 128: Mysterious Token, Post-Calamity Celebration
’Why did only the Third Elder return?’
’Where’s Yang Jing?’
’Could it be that Yang Jing’s speed allowed him to catch the killer first, only to be wounded in the process?’
’Did the Third Elder arrive just in time to scare off the killer, only able to bring back a gravely injured Yang Jing?’
As this thought surfaced, Li Tieyun’s heart sank.
He hadn’t known Yang Jing for long, but he deeply admired the young man’s heroic spirit and was even more grateful for his help in this time of crisis.
If Yang Jing was severely injured because of this, and the killer had escaped, then the River Gang would be truly doomed.
He silently cursed himself, realizing he never should have let Yang Jing chase after the man alone.
Although Yang Jing was already a Huajin Powerhouse, his breakthrough was recent. Among other experts of that level, he was likely one of the weakest. Letting him face that cunning and ruthless fiend alone had been far too risky.
"It’s all my fault. I was too eager for a quick victory..." Li Tieyun reproached himself in a low voice, his brow furrowing even more deeply. His anxiety was contagious, and Ma Chaoyun and Xiang Yongfeng grew tense as well, not daring to breathe.
The surrounding gang members also sensed that something was wrong. Their chatter gradually died down, and they all craned their necks to see, their hearts in their throats.
Li Tieyun led the other two forward to meet him. The closer they got, the clearer the figure became.
When they were just over ten paces apart, a subordinate beside them promptly thrust a torch forward. The light scattered the thick darkness, making the scene ahead perfectly clear.
Li Tieyun froze.
The Jiang Family Third Elder was indeed carrying someone. The person’s clothes were tattered, their body a mess of mangled flesh and blood, and they were long since silent.
But standing beside the Third Elder was, astonishingly, Yang Jing!
However, Yang Jing looked absolutely wretched at that moment.
He was covered in soot from head to toe, as if he’d rolled through a charcoal kiln. His clothes were in shreds, and the exposed skin was covered in dried scabs of blood. The mix of black and red made him look just like a beggar who had just crawled out of the mud.
No wonder Li Tieyun hadn’t even noticed him in the darkness earlier.
"Young Hero Yang!" Li Tieyun hurried forward, his eyes scanning Yang Jing. Seeing that he was standing steadily despite his wretched appearance, he breathed a small sigh of relief, but his expression remained full of worry. "What happened? How did you get hurt this badly?"
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but glance at the corpse in the Jiang Family Third Elder’s hand. A suspicion formed in his mind, but he didn’t dare to be certain.
Yang Jing looked at Li Tieyun’s concerned expression and said slowly, "Gang Leader Li, there’s no need to worry. I’m fine. After I caught up to Li Hongyu, he made a desperate move and tried to ambush me with three hidden weapons similar to fire grenades. I couldn’t dodge them all and suffered some superficial injuries from the blast."
He didn’t elaborate on the dangers of the fight, only giving a brief summary of what happened.
After hearing this, a cold sweat instantly broke out on Li Tieyun’s back. A wave of fear washed over him.
Though he hadn’t witnessed the weapons’ power firsthand, he had heard rumors of similar devices in the Jianghu. He never imagined that Yang Jing could survive such an ambush and still kill Li Hongyu. It was a true testament to his incredible skill and daring.
The Jiang Family Third Elder, standing to the side, spoke up, his tone filled with awe and praise. "We have Young Hero Yang to thank for eliminating this killer. By the time I arrived, Young Hero Yang had already slain Li Hongyu with ease. I’m afraid I wasn’t much help at all."
"Young Hero Yang, the River Gang will never forget this immense kindness!" Li Tieyun quickly cupped his hands and gave Yang Jing a deep bow. "If not for your intervention, everyone in the River Gang would likely be ghosts under Li Hongyu’s blade today. I, Li Tieyun, will engrave this debt of gratitude in my heart!"
Ma Chaoyun, Xiang Yongfeng, and the other River Gang leaders also stepped forward, their gazes filled with admiration and gratitude as they looked at Yang Jing.
Seeing Yang Jing standing tall despite his injuries and thinking of his feat of killing a Huajin Powerhouse amidst an explosion, their respect deepened into something closer to worship. They all bowed in unison. "Thank you, Young Hero Yang, for saving our lives!"
Yang Jing waved his hand. "There’s no need for such formalities. Li Hongyu already saw me as a thorn in his side. Even if he hadn’t moved against the River Gang first, he would have come looking for me sooner or later. Killing him was also a matter of self-preservation."
A wave of warmth spread through Li Tieyun’s heart. He turned to Ma Chaoyun and said, "Quick, send word to all our brothers in the gang! Tell them the killer, Li Hongyu, has been slain by Young Hero Yang. Let everyone rest easy!"
"Yes!" Ma Chaoyun’s voice trembled with excitement. He turned and hurried away, unable to hide the ecstatic joy on his face.
Before long, the news that "the killer is dead" had spread to every corner of the River Gang Stronghold.
Days of repressed fear and despair were instantly replaced by wild joy. Deafening cheers erupted from courtyards everywhere, and many gang members even hugged each other to celebrate the hard-won victory.
Those who had been on the verge of collapse from fear finally let out a long sigh of relief, the color returning to their faces.
Li Tieyun turned to the Jiang Family Third Elder and Yang Jing, bowing slightly as he invited them in. "Third Elder, Young Hero Yang, the night is late and it’s cold outside. Please, follow me into the stronghold to rest. Thanks to your help today, I’ve had a simple banquet prepared. Firstly, to thank you for your aid, and secondly, to celebrate Li Hongyu’s demise. I insist you grace us with your presence."
Speaking of Li Hongyu, Li Tieyun still felt a lingering fear, a slight chill running down his spine.
He knew very well that Li Hongyu was a genuine Huajin Powerhouse. If not for the Jiang Family Third Elder holding down the fort, and a master like Yang Jing appearing out of nowhere to turn the tide, no one in the River Gang could have stopped him. They would have ultimately been slaughtered to the last man.
Now, looking at the scene of life returning to the stronghold, his heart was filled with a flood of emotions.
Yang Jing looked down at himself, covered in soot and dried blood, and frowned slightly.
The sticky feeling was unbearable. The dried blood on his wounds was especially uncomfortable, pulling tightly at his skin.
He looked up at Li Tieyun and said gently, "Gang Leader Li, would it be possible to arrange for a place to bathe? I’m terribly filthy and would like to wash up."
Hearing this, Li Tieyun nodded quickly. "Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, Young Hero Yang, I was about to. I just saw your injuries and was worried that getting them wet might be bad for your wounds."
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Yang Jing again. The scabs did look rather gruesome, and he couldn’t help but worry.
"It’s fine." Yang Jing smiled and flexed his arm. "They’re just superficial wounds. I took an Elixir earlier, and they’ve already scabbed over. A wash won’t be a problem."
The restorative power of his Indestructible True Skill was far beyond that of an ordinary person. Combined with the effects of the Hundred Herbs Spirit Pill, his surface wounds had already begun to heal. Getting them wet really wouldn’t be an issue.
"That’s great!" Li Tieyun sighed in relief and turned to a burly leader beside him. "Wang Hu, go to the rear hall at once and prepare everything. Also, bring a set of clean clothes. Remember, make it a scented bath!"
The leader named Wang Hu, his face still flushed with the excitement of having survived the ordeal, immediately straightened his back upon hearing the order and answered loudly, "Yes, Gang Leader! I’ll get it done right away, and I guarantee it’ll be done perfectly!"
With that, he turned and ran toward the rear hall, his steps light. He felt it was a great honor to be able to do something for Yang Jing.
The Jiang Family Third Elder chuckled from the side. "It’s a good idea for Young Hero Yang to go wash up first. He can wash away his fatigue and eat with a clear mind later."
"The Third Elder is right," Li Tieyun agreed, then gestured for Yang Jing to follow. "Young Hero Yang, this way, please. I’ll take you to the rear hall."
Yang Jing nodded and followed Li Tieyun toward the rear hall.
As they walked, the gang members they passed all stopped in their tracks, their eyes filled with gratitude as they watched him go. The atmosphere was fervent and sincere, a stark contrast to the previous fear and anxiety.
