Chapter 80

The next day.

The rain had passed, leaving a clear blue sky without a single cloud.

Xia Daoming and Zhuo Xingji whipped their horses and galloped swiftly along the mountain path.

Last night, the five of them had huddled in a shabby hut, eating steaming hot spiritual rice porridge while discussing their plans.

When the porridge was finished, the plan was settled.

That night, under Zhuo Xingji’s guidance, Xia Daoming led a night raid on a bandit nest deep in the mountains, while the Ji family disciples guarded the perimeter to prevent any escapees.

After wiping out the bandits, the Ji family took over the den, temporarily settling the women, children, and elderly to rest and recover.

Those capable of fighting were given rest as well as various assignments and arrangements.

Worried that the situation in Li City might change, Xia Daoming left the bandit nest early with Zhuo Xingji and raced back to Li City at full speed.

The sun hung directly overhead.

The two rode their horses up a hilltop, where the path below lay fully visible.

A horse caravan was moving slowly toward Li City along the path.

There were only seven men, but over ten horses, each laden with cargo.

The distance was too great to see clearly, but the leader—a particularly tall man—had a bald head that gleamed in the sunlight, making him unmistakable.

“That looks like the Lin family!” Zhuo Xingji said.

“Oh? Really the Lin family?” Xia Daoming’s eyes instantly lit up.

Zhuo Xingji squinted, straining to see better, and said, “Almost certainly—it’s only half a day’s ride from here to Li City, and with the recent warfare in Mangzhou, few caravans come here anymore.

Timing-wise, it’s about when the four major factions’ pursuit teams should be returning to Li City. And coincidentally, Lin Zhaomou is tall and has been bald since childhood.”

“Then it’s definitely him!” Xia Daoming nodded, pulling a black cloth from his sleeve and covering his face.

“Daoming, what are you doing?” Zhuo Xingji gasped, startled by his sudden action.

“Since we ran into them, of course we’ll rob and kill them!” Xia Daoming said as if it were obvious.

Zhuo Xingji stared at his brother, who seemed to have transformed into a completely different person, dumbfounded. After a long pause, he said, “Lin Zhaomou is naturally powerful—his strength ranks second only to the Lin patriarch, Lin Zhaonan. Isn’t this too risky?”

Last night, Zhuo Xingji had been stationed in the shadows behind the mountain and hadn’t witnessed Xia Daoming’s ferocious slaughter firsthand.

Moreover, he still held the preconceived notion of his younger brother, and now hearing he intended to ambush a caravan guarded by an eighth-rank Great Martial Master, his heart pounded with fear.

“Heh, no problem. He’s not a True Master, so Brother just stand here and watch—don’t show your face, or someone might recognize you.” Xia Daoming clicked his heels, spurring his horse down the mountain path.

“Lin Zhaomou!” Xia Daoming caught up to the caravan and roared.

The towering, bald leader spun around, his gaze landing on Xia Daoming’s masked face. He grinned mockingly. “What do you want, old man?”

“It really is you, you old bastard! I’m here to avenge the Dong family!” Xia Daoming bellowed like a fool, spurring his horse forward, his sixth-rank Great Martial Master’s qi and blood energy exploding outward.

The other martial masters immediately roared in anger, drawing their blades to block him.

“Hah! Let him come!” Lin Zhaomou laughed loudly, unhooking a thick spiked club from his saddle. His gaze toward Xia Daoming was filled with mockery and contempt.

The Lin family martial masters, now recognizing Xia Daoming’s cultivation level, chuckled and stepped aside, clearing a path.

“Die, boy!” Seeing Xia Daoming charge with his spear, Lin Zhaomou sneered and swung his massive spiked club down hard upon the spear.

*Bang!*

The spiked club flew into the sky.

*Ssssh!*

The spear tip pierced through Lin Zhaomou’s back, blood dripping steadily.

Lin Zhaomou stared in disbelief, lowering his eyes to the spear protruding through his chest.

*Ssssh!*

The Black Dragon Spear was withdrawn.

Blood sprayed.

Lin Zhaomou toppled backward off his horse, eyes bulging wide.

Unwilling to die!

The six Lin family martial masters beside him stood frozen like statues.

They had expected to watch Lin Zhaomou brutally crush this masked fool.

Instead, they never imagined—in a single instant—the spiked club flew skyward, and Lin Zhaomou was skewered off his horse.

Just as the six martial masters were stunned into mental paralysis, a blinding storm of cold light suddenly erupted before them, engulfing all six—each felt the spear was aimed directly at him.

In an instant, they were seized by icy terror, their courage shattered. Without thought, they whipped their horses and fled, not daring to lift a finger in resistance.

Too bad Lin Zhaomou died too fast, too suddenly—they were caught in mental stagnation and had no time to react.

By the time they recovered their wits, it was too late.

One by one, blood spurted from their foreheads or chests as they toppled backward off their horses.

Only one sixth-rank Great Martial Master, positioned slightly farther back, barely escaped the spear’s strike and galloped wildly back the way they came.

On the hilltop.

The scorching sun beat down, yet Zhuo Xingji felt no heat—instead, a chilling cold crept up his back.

He knew his younger brother was strong, but he never imagined he was this strong!

One spear thrust had slain an eighth-rank Great Martial Master!

Was this still the brother who drank wine and listened to music with him at Yao Hua Pavilion?

Just as Zhuo Xingji stood frozen in shock, the rapid pounding of hooves reached his ears.

He snapped back to awareness, seeing a lone rider charging toward him. Remembering his brother’s terrifying prowess moments before, his blood surged—he gripped his spear, spurred his horse, and charged down the mountain.

*Clang!*

Spear met blade on the mountain path.

Zhuo Xingji’s arm went numb; the sheer force nearly threw him from his saddle.

Damn it!

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head.

My brother is my brother—I am me!

*Ssssh!*

At that moment, Xia Daoming arrived and drove his spear through the man.

Zhuo Xingji watched as his brother withdrew the Black Dragon Spear, lovingly pulled out a silk cloth, and wiped away the blood—his emotions tangled.

“What a fine spear!”

Xia Daoming wiped the blade, murmuring in awe.

Had he used his old spear, even if Lin Zhaomou had been careless and dismissive, Xia Daoming could never have shattered his spiked club with a single thrust.

But with the heavy, resilient Black Dragon Spear, it was different!

Hidden Dragon Martial Hall.

Inner Courtyard.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

Liang Jingtang paced the meeting hall, face dark as iron, veins bulging on his forehead like a caged tiger.

Liu Xiao Qiang, usually so graceful, lay on a reclining chair—half her face swollen, bruises covering her limbs, her internal qi in chaos.

Liu Qiaolian carefully applied bruise-relief ointment beside her.

“I will avenge myself—I will kill Shi Fengyuan, this monster!” Liu Xiao Qiang’s eyes burned with bitter hatred; as she spoke, she broke into uncontrollable sobs.

“Madam Liu, don’t grieve. When my master returns, he will surely stand up for you and the girls of Yao Hua Pavilion!” Liu Qiaolian soothed gently.

“Miss Liu, this time it’s hopeless! Previously, when Shi Yingdeng and Xu Shisen caused trouble at Yao Hua Pavilion, it was personal—our side could intervene.

But now, Shi Fengyuan this old bastard is acting on behalf of the Xu family to warn us—forcing us to pick a side. If we refuse, today it’s Yao Hua Pavilion, tomorrow it’ll be Zui Yun Pavilion—or even Xingyou Escort Agency!” Jiao Yongbao sighed bitterly.

“Damn it! If they push us too far, we’ll join the Ding family and fight the Xus to the death!” Yu Chi Xiao roared angrily.

“Shut up! Do you think this is children’s play? We’re gambling with our lives and our families’ lives—how can you act on impulse? And do you think our minor ties to the Ding family will earn us their favor?

Nothing! How much tribute did the Ji family send them every year? What did they get? Just a request to leave—and those monsters slaughtered them all!” Liang Jingtang stomped his foot, face dark with fury.

Yu Chi Xiao shrank back, then ventured cautiously, “Then… according to Master, we take no side?”

“It’s not up to me—wait and see what your Xia Shidi says when he returns!” Liang Jingtang replied without hesitation.

Before Liang Jingtang finished speaking, noise erupted from the front courtyard.

“Gentlemen, this is the inner courtyard—please wait a moment, I’ll go announce you!”

“Get out of the way! Do you think we can’t enter the inner courtyard?”

Liang Jingtang and the others all frowned in anger.

Yet Liang Jingtang quickly suppressed his fury and strode out of the meeting hall.

PS: During this new book’s PK period, if you enjoy this novel and wish it to go far, please try to read daily. Thank you very much.

Three chapters today, completed.

The third watch is done today.