Chapter 55: Strike and Ambush!

After completing his own defensive technique, Lu Zhangsheng prepared to strike again.

After the last surprise attack on the Sanhe Gang's business route, not long ago, the other side is likely outwardly relaxed but internally tight, constantly setting a net waiting for him.

This time he plans to change tactics, a feint to the east while striking west.

With his current footwork, at night he moves like a phantom, ordinary cultivators can hardly catch him.

If he ambushes unexpectedly, the effect will surely be significant.

Soon, Lu Zhangsheng dons a set of Night Walking Clothes, activates Bone Shrinking Skill, and his entire appearance changes.

To prevent passersby from accidentally recognizing him, he still altered his looks.

Then he quickly walks toward the courtyard exit.

After leaving the courtyard, he activates Spiral Nine Transformation Body Method, and after a few flickers disappears onto the street.

………

Late night, West Street.

At a corner.

Lu Zhangsheng hides in the shadows and stops.

This area falls within the jurisdiction of the Sanhe Gang Fenglei Hall.

Some Guardians and Deputy Hall Master‑rank cultivators also mostly reside here.

As for the Central Main Altar area, Lu Zhangsheng has not chosen to ambush for now.

His strength is still insufficient.

But dealing with these branch hall cultivators is more than enough.

After months of gathering intel, he has memorized several of the opponent's cultivators.

The courtyard beside him is the residence of a Fenglei Hall Guardian.

Lu Zhangsheng lightly leaps, jumping into a side courtyard.

His figure is like a ghostly shadow, not a single sound emitted.

Then he lifts the Pig Slaughter Knife, rushing toward the main house ahead.

"Squeak…"

Arriving at the front, he pushes the door and enters.

"Who!"

Inside, a middle‑aged man suddenly awakens, hurriedly reaching for the Short Knife on the bedside.

Unfortunately, he is still a step too slow.

In the darkness, a blinding cold flash streaks through the man's neck.

"Y‑you…"

The man covers his neck, unable to utter a word, and quickly collapses onto the bed.

With a single ambush strike, the opponent is instantly beheaded.

This was expected.

Using his own strength, ambushing ordinary Refining Meat cultivators is a dimensional‑reduction strike.

Then Lu Zhangsheng quickly searches the house, finds several silver notes and two Secret Manuals, and immediately heads to the next location.

Not long after.

He arrives again before a Guardian's residence.

Following the same method, another ambush easily slays the opponent.

After looting again, he immediately rides without pause to the next spot.

Throughout the latter half of the night, he never rests; either ambushing or on the way to ambush, specifically seeking Refining Meat cultivators to strike.

No one can block him with a single move.

That night, his spoils are abundant, directly cutting down the opponent's Eight Generals.

Near dawn, Lu Zhangsheng finally returns to his own courtyard.

After burning the blood‑stained Night Walking Clothes, he returns to his bedroom to inspect the haul.

He sees a huge pile of silver notes stacked at the bedside, along with more than ten Secret Manuals.

They cover various sword techniques and Refining Meat methods, and even two manuals on body techniques and defense.

It is simply an unexpected joy.

With these Secret Manuals, merging his next technique is not far off.

This is only one branch hall; the Sanhe Gang main hall is likely richer, truly the county's largest gang.

………

"Ah…"

At daybreak, a scream shatters the calm of the Sanhe Gang Fenglei Hall.

A large number of gang members quickly surround.

Seeing the headless corpse in the room, their faces turn horrified.

"Who… actually did this?"

An elder's tone trembles slightly.

Such a scene is reappearing in many Guardians' homes.

Soon, a group of gang members reports the incident to the Central Main Altar. Along with it, Hall Master Wang Yong rushes hurriedly toward the Central Main Altar.

Within his own sphere, such a major event cannot be concealed.

Shortly, eight headless bodies are quietly placed in the Central Main Altar's main hall, the scene is extremely chilling.

The several Hall Masters and deputy gang leaders around them fell silent as cold cicadas, their faces full of disbelief.

They hadn't expected anyone to be so brazen; it was as if a declaration of war against them.

Gang leader Huang Tianba's face turned a steely blue.

"Snap…"

He smashed the tea cup in his hand hard onto the ground.

"Investigate immediately; I must know who was so bold!"

At this moment, Wang Yong stepped forward cautiously, his expression uneasy: "Could it be the Shark Gang behind it?"

His hall had successive incidents, and even he could not escape blame.

"That's impossible; if the Shark Gang acted, we would be the first to know the news."

Huang Tianba shook his head outright.

Wang Yong heard this and immediately frowned.

The opponent left no clues at the site; all eight could kill with a single strike, making it almost impossible to trace.

Do they expect them to interrogate the county's Bone-forging Strongmen one by one? That's practically courting death.

Even if the opponent stole the Secret Manual and silver, they'd be hard to target.

These Secret Manuals aren't owned solely by them; many are shared.

A group of Hall Masters, aware of this thorny problem, fell silent.

A moment later.

Wang Yong had to steel himself and speak: "Since they've struck once, a second time is inevitable. How about we dispatch a gang strongman to lie in wait for a while?"

This period was truly tumultuous; not only were trade routes repeatedly attacked, but even the gang's own warriors were ambushed and slain, as if someone were watching them from the shadows.

"From now on, all of you be careful; report any abnormality immediately."

Huang Tianba's gaze turned icy, and murderous aura spread around him.

If the hidden assailant is found, he will skin and bone them out.

……

In the following days, Lu Zhangsheng did not act again.

Some matters cannot be done twice in a short span; the opponent is surely on guard. If I were to rush out like a reckless youngster, I'd be easily spotted.

He plans to wait until his power undergoes Metamorphosis, then deal with the Sanhe Gang.

But now that his Initial Martial Path is complete, it's time to investigate his father's disappearance.

He always feels this matter isn't that simple.

With so many goons disappearing simultaneously, there must be some unknown secret.

After breakfast, Lu Zhangsheng headed toward the outskirts of the city.

He hurried along, soon passing through the city gates.

He swiftly entered a dense forest, activated the Bone Shrinking Skill, altered his physique, and raced toward the road ahead.

An hour later.

Still by the road leading to the prefectural city.

Lu Zhangsheng quietly leaned against a large tree in the woods, watching ahead.

He saw caravan after caravan of merchants moving along the road.

They were adorned with flags of various colors.

He did not notice that the target of this journey was the Zhenyuan Escort Agency, which also employed his father.

For several consecutive days, he saw no trace of the other side.

But Lu Zhangsheng was not impatient; he kept waiting.

The only way to the prefectural city is this road; the opponent will appear sooner or later.

Another two days passed.

Morning.

"Creak…"

A small convoy moved slowly forward; the wagons were loaded with goods, pressing the ground and leaving marks.

The front of the convoy still bore several flags, bearing the characters "Zhenyuan".

Ahead, a group of burly men rode on horseback, looking quite imposing.

At that moment, Lu Zhangsheng burst out of the dense forest, halting the entire convoy in the middle of the road.

"Good sir, why do you block us?"

Among the convoy, a middle‑aged escort bowed his hand to Lu Zhangsheng.

Then he took ten taels of silver from his waist and tossed it over.

For him, with many years of escort experience, an extra matter

He would not easily resort to fighting.

(End of chapter)