Chapter 65: Fire Centipede Shows Its Might! Watch Yourself in the Next Life!

The legend of the Head-Chopper spread even faster than they had imagined.

Before dawn had even broken, this terrifying moniker had spread like a plague from the Ding family estate to the entire length of the main street.

Some even suspected that the Head-Chopper was still lurking within the estate.

The Ding family's servants and maids were in a complete state of panic.

Regardless of their wages or their belongings, they rushed out like madmen.

They were terrified that they would be the next ones to be decapitated.

"Captain, should we... head back first?"

A young guard shrank his neck, his voice trembling.

"Yeah, it's too dark at night, we probably won't be able to find anything anyway..."

"Better to put our energy into tomorrow..."

"The strength of this Head-Chopper might already be beyond what we can handle..."

Others chimed in, their faces pale, their eyes darting around incessantly.

They were scared too!

This Head-Chopper was a madman who could strike from the shadows and kill two waves of people; what if he was hiding in some dark corner right now, staring at them...

Aside from their leader Wei Cheng, who was at the Transformation of Force Realm, they were all only at the Hidden Force Realm.

They were fine for maintaining order in the prefecture city during the day, but if they had to face a vicious killer like the Head-Chopper...

Then they would just become the next wave of victims.

"Don't panic!"

Wei Cheng coughed lightly, suppressing the surge of unease in his own heart, and barked a command to stop his subordinates' agitation with a stern face.

He scanned the crowd with a solemn expression and said in a low voice:

"Before we came over, I already sent someone to invite Lin Tao."

"Once he arrives to inspect the scene, we will withdraw."

"Otherwise, with such a massive bloodbath, it won't be easy to answer to our superiors tomorrow."

Hearing this, the team members finally settled down a bit.

"Lin Tao? Is that the famous bounty hunter Lin Tao from the prefecture city!"

"That Lin Tao really has some tricks up his sleeve; he's quite famous in the bounty hunter circles of the prefecture, and I've heard his strength has reached the peak of the Transformation of Force Realm, with a swift sword technique that is incredibly sharp!"

"I've heard of him too; they say even some Primordial Realm experts ask him for help!"

"As expected of the Captain's connections, to be able to call him over so late at night."

Just as everyone was chattering, a figure, led by a guard, walked through the courtyard at a steady pace and headed toward them.

The man was dressed in blue martial attire, with a lean build and a cold expression. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and paired with his prominent hooked nose, he exuded a piercing sharpness.

This was the famous bounty hunter of the prefecture, Lin Tao.

"Brother Lin, I am truly sorry to have invited you over so late."

Wei Cheng immediately went to greet him, cupping his hands with a face full of apology: "It's just that this bloodbath..."

Lin Tao waved his hand slightly, "No matter, there is no need for words between us."

With that, he followed Wei Cheng to inspect the scene.

Seeing the headless corpses, Lin Tao's expression, while not as horrified as Wei Cheng's, grew increasingly grim.

Lin Tao squatted down and carefully examined each corpse.

His movements were light, his gaze heavy, occasionally turning over the severed necks or leaning in to observe the smooth, mirror-like cuts.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Lin Tao stood up slowly beside the corpses, his brow furrowed with solemnity.

"How is it? Brother Lin, do you have any leads?"

Wei Cheng hurried over and asked in a low voice.

Bounty hunters like Lin Tao, who dealt with all sorts of vicious criminals in the prefecture year-round, were more knowledgeable about blade techniques, sword arts, and the modus operandi of killers than they were.

"Brother Wei, the blade technique used by the killer is indeed familiar to me."

Lin Tao said with a grim expression: "It looks a bit like the blade technique of Huang Laoliu from the 'Six Devils of Yunling'. Vicious and poisonous!"

"The 'Six Devils of Yunling'?!"

"I heard they had already been recruited by the Qisha Sect..."

"Black Fifth from the 'Six Devils of Yunling' was just executed by the Profound Heaven Sect's true disciple Wen Yuelao not long ago!"

"They still dare to come to the prefecture to cause trouble?!"

The guards were shocked, discussing it in a flurry.

These 'Six Devils of Yunling' were notorious in Yunling Prefecture, every one of them a lawless thug with a trail of blood cases.

If it really was Huang Laoliu, it would make sense.

"I only said the killer's blade technique is very similar to Huang Laoliu's..."

Lin Tao's brow furrowed, a trace of hesitation on his face, his voice growing deeper:

"I once had a brief exchange with Huang Laoliu in the past and have some understanding of his strength."

"I feel that the killer in tonight's bloodbath has a blade technique even more refined than Huang Laoliu's."

"Of course, it's not impossible that Huang Laoliu's technique has improved further."

Hearing this, Wei Cheng and the others were silent for a while, discussing it briefly before deciding to pin the bloodbath on Huang Laoliu for now.

"Brother Lin, thank you. We have an idea of how to proceed."

Wei Cheng cupped his hands in thanks.

Lin Tao shook his head slightly, saying nothing more.

He took one last look at the corpses and the mirror-smooth cuts, a deep sense of worry flashing in the depths of his eyes.

If this bloodbath wasn't the work of Huang Laoliu...

Then a much more terrifying character had come to the prefecture.

It was unlikely to be peaceful here from now on.

Early the next morning.

The morning light spilled through the window lattice into the room, dispelling the chill of the night.

Liu Qingshi sat at the table, holding a bowl of freshly brewed medicinal soup, his brow slightly furrowed as he drank it slowly, one sip at a time.

Zhao Gang ignored his own minor injuries, and the dull thud of Shi Lei practicing his punches in the courtyard drifted in, making the room seem even quieter.

"Brother Liu, something big has happened!"

Su Chen's figure practically rushed through the courtyard gate, followed by a hurried-looking Su Yan.

He was carrying a few packages of medicinal herbs, but couldn't spare the time to put them down; as soon as he entered, he lowered his voice and let out a gasp of irrepressible shock.

"What happened?"

Liu Qingshi set down his medicine bowl and looked at him, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

Su Chen walked quickly to his side, took a deep breath, and lowered his voice to recount the rumors of the previous night in detail.

He spoke very quickly, occasionally using hand gestures, as if that were the only way to express the shocking nature of the events.

Su Yan listened quietly from the side, occasionally nodding or adding a few words.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the composure on Liu Qingshi's face was finally replaced by shock.

"The 'Three Wolves of Kanglin' and the Ding couple were all killed... the Head-Chopper..."

He repeated Su Chen's words in a low voice, his brow knitting together.

When the guards came to ask questions the previous night, he had vaguely felt that something big had happened, but he hadn't expected it to be such a shocking bloodbath.

He had personally experienced the strength of the Three Wolves; even with the three of them working together, he would have had to avoid their edge.

To be able to slaughter them all, plus the Ding couple...

"Brother Liu, this is absolutely true."

Su Chen lowered his voice and leaned in closer: "The gossip I heard says it's very likely the work of Huang Laoliu from the 'Six Devils of Yunling'!"

Su Yan, standing to the side, shook her head helplessly and interjected:

"There are even rumors outside now saying that our Su family hired someone to do this."

Her tone carried a helpless, bitter laugh.

Whether these rumors were a blessing or a curse, she didn't know.

Hearing this, Liu Qingshi was amused, "Hahaha, I never imagined the Su family had such profound foundations."

Su Chen shook his head with a bitter smile, "Brother Liu, stop joking. We'd like to hire someone, but we can't."

He paused, a complex expression appearing on his face, a mix of relief and emotion:

"However, these rumors aren't entirely bad."

"Those families who previously looked down on the Su family as a declining house have started to become polite when we meet this morning."

"It looks like our trade route won't have to be stopped for the time being."

Liu Qingshi was silent for a moment and nodded slowly.

He picked up the now-cooled medicinal soup, took a sip, his voice carrying a sense of worldly weariness:

"Blessings and misfortunes are intertwined..."