Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Whoever They Are, Kill Them First
"Squad Leader, it’s been taken care of..."
An hour later, Jia Gui’s cautious voice came from outside.
"Come in!"
Chen Xuan said.
CREAK. The door was pushed open.
Jia Gui walked in carrying a basin of fish soup, placed it gently on the table, and said with a smile, "Please, enjoy your meal."
He then immediately withdrew.
Chen Xuan lifted the lid and looked at the milky-white fish soup inside. Being extra cautious, he dropped a piece of crushed silver into it. When he saw the silver didn’t change color, he finally relaxed.
He couldn’t afford not to be careful. In this line of work, you’re bound to get stabbed in the back sooner or later.
One of these days, he might just fall at the hands of some nobody.
Chen Xuan picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
’As expected of a spirit fish, it tastes incredible.’
Plus, it had no small bones, only a single main spine.
Chen Xuan devoured it all in one go. He immediately felt a powerful warmth surge through his body. His abdomen felt like a furnace, his qi and blood roiling and surging endlessly.
’Retribution points, continue deducing the Great Strength Eagle Claw Skill!’
[Ding! A massive amount of Spiritual Power has been detected in the host’s body. This time, you only consumed 500 retribution points to easily obtain a 30x Cultivation Speed!]
[Congratulations, Host! Your Great Strength Eagle Claw Skill has reached perfection, deriving the profound art: Dislocating Joints and Tearing Tendons!]
BOOM!
He once again felt waves of immense power flooding his arms and hands. The muscles and bones within seemed to be further enhanced. As he channeled his energy, all ten of his fingers turned a golden color.
It was as if he now possessed the ability to tear and rend anything apart.
’Good. Next, let’s put some points into the Red Fiend Palm.’
A glint in his eye, Chen Xuan immediately took out the Red Fiend Palm manual and began reciting it in his mind.
[Ding! You have consumed 500 retribution points to begin upgrading the Red Fiend Palm. Detecting the massive Spiritual Power within your body, you have successfully obtained a 30x Cultivation Speed!]
[At this moment, you feel a sinister, scorching energy welling up inside you. A burning, stabbing pain spreads through your meridians. The skin on your palms turns crimson at a visible rate, and wisps of scorching white steam rise from your body.]
[Your Red Fiend Palm is on the right track and is currently being cultivated...]
[Congratulations, Host! Your Red Fiend Palm has reached the Sixth Layer in a single breakthrough!]
[This cultivation session has ended!]
[Remaining retribution points: 125]
WHOOSH!
The intense heat enveloping Chen Xuan’s body began to rapidly subside.
He slowly raised his palms, feeling the terrifying heat and formidable Dark Energy contained within him. With a single leap, he burst through the window and landed in the courtyard.
He spotted a millstone weighing over a thousand jin. With a casual grab, he tossed it into the air.
The thick, heavy millstone let out a sharp WHOOSH as it fell rapidly.
But in the instant it descended, Chen Xuan struck out with his palm.
BANG! His entire palm punched straight through the millstone.
It was like passing through tofu.
The thousand-jin millstone was left suspended on his arm.
’My strength has really increased. This power is at least three or four times stronger than when I faced the Gang Leader. Even a Transforming Force expert would have a hard time neutralizing this...’
Chen Xuan’s eyes glinted.
As of now, his Golden Vajra Fist, Eagle Claw Skill, and Blast Fist had all reached perfection.
Once his Red Fiend Palm also reached perfection, he could begin to merge them.
Whether he could break through to the Transforming Force realm would all depend on the result of that fusion.
THUD!
He tossed the millstone aside, the power in his body receding until he was calm once more.
’I’m burning through these retribution points fast. I need to figure out a way to get more.’
...
「Two days passed in the blink of an eye.」
Back at the docks.
The middle-aged man from the Han family had returned. His face was deathly pale, his appearance utterly wretched, and his eyes were filled with terror. He had even lost an arm.
The men behind him were all bloodied, their expressions panicked. Only seven or eight had made it back alive.
Chen Xuan’s eyes showed his curiosity. He eventually walked over.
"Elder Han, did you... run into a demon beast too?"
He asked subconsciously.
’That azure monster hasn’t fled yet?’
’It dares to linger there?’
"Yes."
The moment the man from the Han family saw Chen Xuan, he grabbed his hand and said, "There was a demon beast. It was enormous and incredibly powerful. Even with all our experts, we couldn’t subdue it. We were nearly wiped out. And what’s more, there seemed to be someone controlling the demon beast, launching sneak attacks on us one after another..."
"Someone controlling it?"
Chen Xuan frowned.
"Yes, and the one in control was even faster and more terrifying..."
Han Rulong said hurriedly, "Squad Leader Chen, I apologize for my previous words. Please, don’t hold it against me."
"It’s fine, it’s fine."
Chen Xuan replied instinctively.
"Then I’ll be taking my leave."
His face ashen, Han Rulong released Chen Xuan’s hand and led his men away.
Chen Xuan stroked his chin, lost in thought.
’Raising a demon beast?’
’What kind of person has that kind of ability?’
’If I kill that demon beast, can I get more retribution points?’
’My strength now is several times greater than it was before.’
...
On a nearby river channel, a black-canopied boat drifted. Inside the cabin, a kettle of water was boiling, sizzling and steaming.
A handsome man and woman were seated there, looking in this direction.
"Brother, is that Chen Xuan?"
The beautiful woman, Bai Ling’Er, asked, her eyes lighting up as she gazed at the figure on the docks.
"Yes, that’s him."
Bai Qianli, beside her, smiled warmly.
He always wore a calm and confident smile.
It seemed nothing could ever faze him.
"So, tell me... what’s the best way for me to teach him a lesson later?"
Bai Ling’Er suddenly let out a soft laugh. "How about this? First, I’ll beat him up. Then, I’ll make him kneel and kowtow to me three times. Then, I’ll step on his face, look down on him, and tell him, ’You’re mine now.’ What do you think?"
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
This was the plan she had spent three days racking her brain to come up with.
Just like how Chen Xuan had forced Lu Yao to kneel and apologize.
And she, Bai Ling’Er, would use an even more humiliating method to force Chen Xuan to become her slave.
Bai Qianli smiled faintly and ruffled his sister’s hair.
"Do as you please. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. Who told you to be my little sister, after all?"
"I knew you were the best to me, Brother."
Bai Ling’Er giggled. "Brother, do you think I sound like a bad woman?"
"How could you?"
Bai Qianli chuckled softly.
"If anyone’s to blame, it’s that Chen Xuan. He’s an absolute bully. I learned this method from him, you know."
Bai Ling’Er giggled.
"It’s called giving him a taste of his own medicine."
Bai Qianli smiled, looking up at the wide expanse of the river. "Alright, the imperial court’s prisoner transport ship is about to arrive for the handover. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the show. Let’s hope that Chen Xuan doesn’t die in the chaos. If he does, that would be far too pathetic."
"Oh?"
Bai Ling’Er’s beautiful eyes flickered as she looked out at the river.
A massive sailboat emerged from the far side of the river, slowly approaching.
At the same time, many figures in constable uniforms suddenly appeared on the docks, along with hired blades hidden in the crowd, their sharp eyes all waiting for the handover.
Furthermore, an unknown number of experts from the Thirteen Golden Dragon Fortress were already lying in ambush among the surrounding crowd, their eyes glinting as they subconsciously began to circulate their qi and blood.
...
On the docks,
Chen Xuan had just seen Han Rulong off when he suddenly sensed something was wrong and glanced back.
His gaze immediately fell upon the black-canopied boat on the river.
His eyes met Bai Qianli’s and Bai Ling’s.
"Brother, he can actually sense our presence?"
Bai Ling said in surprise.
"It’s nothing. Those with Innate Divine Strength always have some extraordinary abilities."
Bai Qianli smiled. "If you’re not confident you can take him, I can help you capture him later."
"No need. It’s better if I do it myself. It’s rare that I get to come out and play. I can’t rely on you for everything, can I?"
Bai Ling said with an excited smile.
"You silly girl. I’m your brother. If you don’t rely on me, who else can you rely on?"
Bai Qianli said with a laugh.
’Who are they? Why are they constantly staring at me?’
Chen Xuan frowned.
’Is that hostility?’
His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared intently at the man and woman.
Suddenly, he turned around again.
A huge sailboat, casting a dark shadow, was approaching the docks as if riding the wind and waves.
Many people on the docks cried out in alarm.
Then, a number of constables rushed out, charging toward the pier.
"Prisoner handover! All unauthorized personnel, clear the area immediately!"
"Move it, all of you, move it!"
A series of sharp shouts rang out.
"Squad Leader, it’s the yamen’s fugitive ship. They’re transporting a major criminal and it looks like the handover is happening here..."
Jia Gui’s eyes darted as he quickly whispered.
This sort of thing happened every month.
He was long used to it.
"Is that so?"
Chen Xuan couldn’t care less about some prisoner handover. What he truly cared about was the man and woman in the black-canopied boat.
’They’re still looking at me?’
’Forget it.’
’If they’re hostile, I’ll just kill them and be done with it.’
’Better than getting plotted against later.’
Once the thought arose, Chen Xuan found it nearly impossible to restrain himself.
