Chapter 90: Annihilation

Cheng Chun, the chief of the Seven Discs Road bandits, besides mastering the martial art Fire Cloud Palm, loved nothing more than meat and alcohol.

Thus every night, his stronghold would host its usual spectacle of heavy drinking and hearty feasting.

With the entire Seven Discs Road to support him, he occasionally raided outside settlements—not just wine and meat, but gold and silver too were never lacking.

With the title of chief, his life was like that of a god.

“Master, a young man outside claims to be the son of the Lingyun Road chief and says he’s come to present you with a treasure.”

Cheng Chun’s drinking paused mid-sip; he understood at once: “Lingyun Road must need something from us Seven Discs Road.”

Each road kept to its own territory, no interference.

Even if our Seven Discs Road was weaker than Lingyun Road, they had no reason to provoke us.

“Bring him in,” Cheng Chun said at once.

Whether to help or not was another matter—but etiquette must be observed; after all, we’re all bandit heroes, and face must be preserved.

Who knows when I might one day need to beg favor from Lingyun Road myself.

The visitor arrived quickly—not alone, but with three others.

“Wang Zhao, greetings, Chief Cheng,” Wang Zhao said at once, then presented the saddle: “A small gift from my father. Please accept it, Chief.”

At first, Cheng Chun paid little attention to the saddle—until Wang Zhao peeled back the outer layer, revealing its golden inner lining.

Cheng Chun’s face lit up instantly—who didn’t love gold?

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he suddenly felt a gaze upon him, fixed on a young man beside Wang Zhao.

Chu Danqing immediately received the man’s dataized profile.

【Seven Discs Road Bandit Chief】

【Attributes】

【Health: 100%】

【Internal Qi: 380】

【Strength: 8】

【Agility: 8】

【Constitution: 8】

【Spirit: 8】

【Perception: 8】

【Skills】

【Fire Cloud Art LV.30】

【Fire Cloud Palm LV.25】

【Fire Cloud Step LV.20】

【Melee Basics LV.MAX】

【Palm Technique Basics LV.MAX】

As he prepared to rebuke him, sudden chaos erupted.

Before the hall, a Dujiaojiao and a Zhuanji Tiger appeared out of nowhere, while a human-shaped shadow lunged at him.

The sound of crossbow strings being drawn echoed.

Simultaneously, Wang Zhao and the others with him launched their attack.

In an instant, the hall became a riot.

“How dare you!” Cheng Chun roared, charging toward Wang Zhao.

On the other side, Zhao Mingqian stepped forward to meet him.

The two joined forces against Cheng Chun—but even together, they were restrained by his palm techniques.

“Green Cloak Sword Art? Too unrefined,” Cheng Chun recognized Zhao Mingqian’s style and sneered: “The Can Luo Sect is too far away to save you.”

With that, he slammed both palms toward Zhao Mingqian’s chest.

Fortunately, Chu Danqing had prepared himself after seeing Cheng Chun’s data profile—he hurled his Five Elements Orb to intercept the blow for Zhao Mingqian.

Thanks to Zhao Mingqian’s one-day training in ranged combat, Chu Danqing’s accuracy had improved.

With the attack blocked, Zhao Mingqian and Wang Zhao seized the opening to strike again.

But they were still young—attributes, skills, and battle experience all paled beside Cheng Chun’s.

Though Chu Danqing’s aid gave them an edge, they could not fully exploit it.

“Damn it, how dare you!” Cheng Chun retreated three steps to evade their combined assault—then realized he’d been tricked.

These two were holding him off while the others slaughtered his men inside the stronghold.

If this continued, the entire stronghold would be left with only him alive.

His gaze shifted to Chu Danqing—he decided to break through with him.

But Zhao Mingqian and Wang Zhao were no pushovers; though they couldn’t defeat him, holding him back was no problem.

As for why Wang Zhao was fighting so fiercely? Naturally, because of Xiong Zhigang.

With Xiong Zhigang’s return, once he entered the capital to investigate, Lingyun Road would inevitably be implicated.

The court might struggle to eradicate the bandits—but Xiong Zhigang’s return, if he wished to destroy Lingyun Road, needed only one word.

Not to mention Lingyun Road was directly involved in arms trafficking.

He was here to redeem himself.

As for killing Xiong Zhigang? If he had the ability, he’d have done it long ago.

Today, as he followed the group in clearing Seven Discs Road, he’d seen with his own eyes how powerful Chu Danqing’s summons were.

CRASH~

After Cheng Chun cursed, a blood-red shadow slammed into him, sending him tumbling.

The next instant, another black shadow surged upward from below, piercing straight through his chest.

In midair, a crossbow bolt glowed blue, aimed precisely at his throat.

In this death trap, Cheng Chun tried to evade with Fire Cloud Step—but a sudden tiger’s roar deafened him, throwing off his footing.

The black shadow pierced his chest, the blue bolt pierced his throat, and five elemental orbs struck his skull.

In perfect coordination, Cheng Chun died instantly, without a single struggle.

A superior-grade treasure chest floated above Cheng Chun’s corpse, its surface etched with shimmering patterns.

The patterns were even deeper than those on the Mother of Grievances’ chest.

Clearly, of higher quality.

Da Bao snatched it up and brought it back; meanwhile, Chu Danqing completed his side quest, having fully cleared Seven Discs Road.

【Quest Completed. Reward: Paradise Points ×2000, Attribute Points +2】

One of the three side quests was finally cleared; Chu Danqing casually stuffed the chest into his storage space.

On the other side, the crossbowmen retrieved the fallen Golden Jade Saddle from the battlefield.

【Golden Jade Saddle】

【Type: Equipment·Saddle】

【Quality: Superior】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Cloud Rider (Passive): Movement Speed +10, Stamina +10】

【Equipment Requirement: Mountable Equine Creatures】

“This is mine now. You’ve got no objections, right?” Chu Danqing simply took it—what’s there to feel guilty about, stealing from bandits?

He certainly wouldn’t return it to Wang Zhao—he was a good man, but not a bleeding heart.

This equipment wasn’t for humans—it was for horses.

Chu Danqing had no equine summons yet, but if he could acquire a horse before selling it, he’d keep it for himself.

“No objections. Of course none.” Wang Zhao could only say that.

Da Bao’s claws were nearly reaching him; Zhuanji Tiger crouched in hunting stance; the Dujiaojiao ’s head glowed with blue light.

The Heart Demon had already drifted behind his back; the crossbowmen’s bolts were drawn and ready.

If he refused, Cheng Chun’s corpse was his fate.

Xiong Zhigang and Zhao Mingqian cared even less—they were already lenient for not killing Wang Zhao, and would never speak for him.

He held no moral claim, no kinship—why should they defend a bandit who’d wronged them against their own ally Chu Danqing?

Besides, Chu Danqing took the saddle? So what—he contributed the most, so he deserves it.

(End of Chapter)