Chapter 88: Action

Ling Chi could not let Cao Hubao take He Qian away. His impression of the man in his heart was already dropping. Should he hand him over for some kind of benefit swap? It would be better to lock him away in He County, where he could still be useful if the need arose.

Old Six was right. He Qian had brought people to disrupt your fourth brother’s wedding, so how could he possibly let him return alive to the state capital?

Zhao Qing declared without hesitation. He now placed unlimited trust in his little disciple. The youth was meticulous in thought, learning to kill and burn without a teacher, his talent in this area far surpassing that of his several legitimate disciples.

Cao Hubao offered no objection. Taking or leaving He Qian made no difference; the face had already been torn, so He Zhi Xian would never come asking for his return.

Ling Chi gave Zhao Shanhe a signal, and the latter dragged He Qian away like a dead dog.

The grand wedding had been ruined. After a hasty meal, Cao Hubao had no desire to linger. He led his men away without delay.

That night, in the Jing An Division tea house, Zhao Qing and Yang Shu sat with the disciples.

“Master, this Cao is no good man.”

“He Cao Hubao dares claim he knew nothing of today’s events?” Ling Chi asked Zhao Qing in a low, languid tone.

Zhao Qing’s face grew grave. He set down his teacup.

“The moment the incident occurred, I guessed his intention.”

“We stand together in the Jing An Division camp. Even without this matter, we could still ally with He Zhi Xian, could we not?”

“Master, do you think Cao Hubao has other plans?” Xiao Zhan added.

“Before arriving in He County, Cao Hubao had not yet fallen out with He Zhi Xian. He said they met on the road, which may be true, but he clearly intends to ride the tide or at least see what these people plan.”

Yang Shu picked up the thread, offering her speculation.

“We joined the Jing An Division only recently and are short of loyal troops. Regardless of his motive, his goal has been reached. Our relationship with him is not that deep. We must rely on ourselves from now on.”

Zhao Qing made the decision.

“With power shifting in Yingzhou to prevent He Zhi Xian from panicking and striking out wildly, you must be cautious in the coming days.”

A hush fell over the group.

“Old Six, stay in Jiqing Town a few days. He Quan is gone; go and clean house. Remove all his trusted men and tear down his Tide Gang base there.”

Zhao Qing pondered quietly, assigning Ling Chi a task.

The little disciple moved decisively, his killing aura heavy—perfect for such work.

“Leave the Tide Gang to me. The man beside He Zhi Xian is only at the ninth layer of Qi Hai, a decrepit old fellow.”

“Master is in his prime. How could he stand against you? One big man to pull out, the rest are chickens and dogs.”

Ling Chi rubbed his neck and spoke.

“Now is a troubled time. Remain vigilant. You should all return to your posts. Practice diligently in peace and quiet. Sister-in-law still hopes you all live safely.”

Yang Shu sounded faintly sad. In these chaotic times, whether man or woman, survival demanded bloodshed. Though her own cultivation was modest, she was no fragile woman. If the worst came to the worst, she would fight herself.

The brothers and sisters offered comfort and dispersed to their own stations.

Watching Ling Chi fight with effortless mastery and overwhelming power, they could only lament their own lack of effort.

Ling Chi turned and vanished in a flash of lightning, heading toward the state capital. Knowing the Tide Gang’s headquarters location, why strike its outer outposts first? Zhao Qing wanted to vent anger by removing He Jia’s forces from his own territory. Ling Chi intended something sharper: severing one finger rather than injuring ten.

He would not suffer in silence. When he struck, he would break them completely.

Ling Chi did not wish to play the turtle. He set out directly for the headquarters to see what methods He Jia would use against him.

And that Li Changyuan—Ling Chi could never feel at ease until the man was dead.

Galloping swiftly toward the prefecture and state.

After a simple disguise, Ling Chi became a black-robed, disheveled man with a gloomy face—an obvious ruthless type who drew steel without a word.

Ghost Sect, Liushu Town branch. Sect Master Wu Song online.

The golden-black scabbard and handle of the horse-slashing blade were too conspicuous. Wrapped tightly in cloth to hide the telltale hoof.

He had planned to storm the Tide Gang headquarters directly, but the occasional tremor from the Thunder Pearl in his body made him change course.

Ever since mastering the Divine Hidden Art, he had grown bolder. Time no longer mattered; daylight attacks were now routine.

He trailed the plump, garishly dressed man ahead, no more than dozens of steps, and selected a perfect spot for his wind and water.

The target led his guards into a narrow alley lined with one modest house. A young married woman waited at the door, rising eagerly as people approached, then welcoming them inside.

The guards lounged at the entrance, laughing and trading gossip.

“Nobles are all the same. In Qingyuan there are plenty of fine young girls, yet he prefers decent married women, sneaking around when their husbands are away.”

“What husbands? The man’s already locked away by the noble.”

“You think you know everything, but you don’t… heh… heh.”

The short blade gripped backward, Ling Chi leaped like lightning.

A single stroke removed the violence. The guard’s head was severed, dangling by a thread of flesh and bone, twitching.

Dark blood sprayed. The other two heads flew; their dying faces twisted in terror, mouths agape.

This was almost as efficient as Ximen Dagongren at his trade?

Fate decreed that the Wanderer Wu Song would uphold justice today.

Ling Chi slipped inside. Voices drifted from the inner room.

“Why so fast today?” the woman asked, her tone resentful.

“Too much yamen business, wore me out.” The man panted.

He had been gone less than the time to blink, yet everything was done? Undressing alone should have taken ten breaths.

Ling Chi could not bear to watch. He kicked the door open.

Two disheveled figures on the bed startled and turned. A black flash passed. The pair became a pair of doomed lovers.

Extreme Yang energy flared and consumed them—body and blood reduced to ash, exactly as his usual method.

His knowledge of the Ghost Sect came only from scrolls. Lacking guidance from sect brothers, full imitation was impossible.

But Ling Chi was no perfectionist. Let them guess.

He could be the Ghost Sect Master, the Ming Sect Master, the Dark Sect Master, even the Yami God Sect Master. He chose no path. It mattered little whose back carried the burden.

Leaving the alley, his detection range expanded. Within thirty paces, evil and demonic beings were laid bare. He wanted no evidence. Following the Thunder Pearl’s command, he struck.

Street after street fell. The Thunder Pearl trembled ceaselessly; Ling Chi felt pleasantly surprised.

This was a proper metropolis. The numbers of evildoers and demons far exceeded those in He County. Thunder spirit qi thickened, the sea of thunder condensing more and more viscous.

Emerging from a human-teeth den, he felt the hundred strands of spirit qi fed back by the Thunder Pearl. The children and women inside were stunned.

He left some of the looted wealth behind. The clever would know to hide with their money. The foolish had no choice—let their own fate decide.

Chaos finally erupted on the main street. People vanished without reason. Yamen and Jing An Division received endless reports and now hunted criminals through the lanes.

They passed Ling Chi as though he were air, searching back and forth. The Divine Hidden Art was truly formidable. He wondered what it would look like when he reached the great accomplishment stage.

Ling Chi grew increasingly eager.