Chapter 68

The man holding a gun strode forward, and he also noticed something was off.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the White Dragon Sect's bitterest enemy, for since the Guard was founded by the Great Wu dynasty's first emperor, Emperor Wu, it has ceaselessly hunted the Sect's members.

Likewise, the White Dragon Sect knows the Embroidered Uniform Guard inside out.

They all knew that, no matter what mission, a Hundred Household Office or Chief Flag Office must always leave someone to guard the post.

But today it's really too quiet.

"Wuhao, any movement there? I've checked a few rooms—no one, not even a hair."

When the White Dragon Sect goes on missions, they use callsigns: Wuhao is the swordsman, Sihao the gunman, and Jihao the fist fighter.

A voice came from behind: "No, I see it too."

Sihao didn't turn his head, just felt the voice was a bit odd, but didn't think much of it.

The voice behind continued: "Hey, do you have the poison Bai Li used to poison Shen Qing today?"

Sihao seemed to think of something, a teasing smile appearing on his face: "Impossible, that stuff is rare even in the Sect; I heard Bai Li bought it especially for Shen Qing, spending several thousand taels of silver—he even lost his underwear."

"Hey, why are you asking about that? You're acting weird today, your voice changed."

Saying that, he turned around—only to regret it instantly, seeing the most terrifying sight of his life.

Behind him, Wuhao's limbs were twisted in a strange posture, his mouth covered tightly by a hand, unable to make a sound, his eyes full of struggle and wailing.

A beam of moonlight fell, and Sihao also saw Shen Qing's stern face clearly.

Shen Qing snorted, looking at Sihao with some disappointment.

"You don't even have the poison—why did you come looking for me?"

Shen Qing still couldn't forget that poison.

Sihao stepped back two steps, voice trembling: "Shen Qing, you didn't take the poison?"

Shen Qing lightly moved his palm, plucking Wuhao's head off and tossing it aside, then slowly stepped toward Sihao.

"I ate it—no taste, like plain water; if you want to eat it, best mix it with porridge or wine."

Sihao realized for the first time in his life that he could sweat like this, beads of sweat pouring from his forehead like a fountain.

He turned to run, but as a peak Innate Realm expert he was so frightened by Shen Qing's overbearing true qi that his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground.

Sihao watched Shen Qing approach, bracing himself on the floor and retreating, when his hand seemed to touch something; a glance showed a round object—it was Jihao's head.

Jihao's head had already been lopped off by Shen Qing at some unknown time.

Sihao's face turned ashen: "Shen Qing, Shen Qing, you don't want to know what this poison is? I know who sold it to Bai Li…"

With a bang, Sihao's voice cut off—his head exploded outright from Shen Qing's overbearing true qi.

"Isn't begging for mercy supposed to come with some decent leverage?"

"This poison is fine as is; if it ended up on my face and I just happened to grab it, that'd be okay—a nice bonus."

But if I only know where it is and have to fetch it myself—even if the person delivers it personally, it'd take a month or so, making it utterly worthless.

After all, nothing beats having it handed to you.

Shen Qing walked up to Sihao, took a sleeve arrow from his wrist, and shot a red firework into the sky.

The conflict began.

At this moment, everyone in Luo Shui City kept looking toward the West City direction—whether White Dragon Sect members, Embroidered Uniform Guard, or city guard soldiers.

With the explosion of the red fireworks, Luo Shui City began to seethe with undercurrents.

Outside the South City Hundred Household Office, several white‑masked White Dragon Sect members emerged from a dark corner, their leader letting out a low chant.

"Sihao's side should have succeeded—Shen Qing is dead!"

"Get ready to move—take the South Hundred Household Office in half an hour!"

Inside the South Hundred Household Office, Zhang Shan sat in the courtyard gripping a zhan dao, his eyes filled with killing intent.

"The fireworks have gone off—Shen Qing's side is settled; now it's our turn—take down the rebels assaulting the Hundred Household Office in the time it takes to burn an incense stick."

"We will surely win tonight!"

Separated by a wall, both sides had prepared for a fight to the death.

At the same time, several government officials on Luo Shui City's bustling street charged out on fine horses, torches in hand, shouting loudly.

"Everyone! Find nearby shelter!"

"Everyone! Find nearby shelter! Immediately! Right now!"

The townsfolk showed a brief stupor, heedless of everything, rushing into any open door they saw.

The White Dragon Sect's targets, besides the Embroidered Uniform Guard, included the city's money shops and treasure pavilions.

The government officials had barely left when White Dragon Sect members poured out from everywhere; of course, since the Garrison Command knew of this, it wouldn't stand by—officials, city guard soldiers, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard streamed out from all places, without a word, and immediately clashed with the Sect's people.

As the saying goes, enemies meeting are especially enraged; the two sides have feuded for more than a day or two, and after fighting a short while they went berserk, with casualties on both sides rising in a straight line.

On Tian Shui Street, Ding Yi barred the entrance to a money shop with a black‑iron long spear, while the officials accompanying him had already been wounded and sent inside the shop.

The West City Magistrate's Office was unclean; its officials had been replaced, the newcomers lacking experience, and before long they were wounded and sent to the rear money shop.

Now outside the money shop only Ding Yi remained, while the White Dragon Sect members still numbered at least a pair of hands.

Ding Yi retreated three steps, panting; though he could hold his own briefly, he ultimately lacked stamina.

A black‑clad White Dragon Sect member's voice was full of mockery.

"When did the West City Magistrate's Office get a tough guy like you?"

"But seriously, you risk your life for a few taels of silver a month?"

You, hurry up and get out of the way—behind the money shop is all silver! Get out of the way, we might even give you a few taels later.

Ding Yi snorted: "Little brat? When I was dealing with silver, you were still nursing."

"Grandpa, I have just one sentence: if you want to enter this door today, you must first kneel down and lick my feet clean!"

The black-clad White Dragon Sect members' voices turned cold: "What a guy who refuses a toast and drinks a penalty—let's give him a lesson."

As soon as the words fell, the White Dragon Sect members surged forward. Ding Yi, spear in hand, went on the attack, but his stamina ultimately couldn't keep up—a hammer flew straight at his face.

Unable to dodge in time, Ding Yi raised his arm to block the blow, only to hear the sound of bones shattering; the bones in his arm cracked from the impact, and the whole person was slammed against the wall, losing all fighting ability.

Several people walked over, grabbed Ding Yi's arms, and lifted him up.

The black-clad cultists laughed, then seized Ding Yi's mouth in one grip: "Your bones aren't as hard as your mouth, huh."

Ding Yi spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm onto the cultists' mask: "You guys hit people like you're throwing a tantrum."

The black-clad cultists wiped the blood from their mask, then landed three successive punches on Ding Yi's waist; the pain pierced his heart, but Ding Yi endured it—only the blood could no longer be contained, spilling from his mouth.

"Tough enough, huh?" Having said that, the black-clad cultists raised their fists to continue beating Ding Yi.

But just then a breeze blew past; Ding Yi seemed to see something, his eye sockets reddened, and he cried out in aggrieved tones.

"Lord Shen! I'm guarding the money shop, protecting the people!"

"But they're hitting me!"