Chapter 20: Reaching the Peak!

"Xu Chong! The team leader is Xu Chong, a minor boss of the Green Snake Gang, nicknamed 'Poisonous Snake'!"

Changping Fang, headquarters of the Big Knife Gang.

Huang Feiyang's arms were wrapped in bandages, his waist and abdomen likewise bandaged, his face pale as he muttered, "This Xu Chong is known for being brainless and impulsive, but he has decent martial talent; his claw technique is highly refined. These wounds on me? All thanks to his poisonous claws."

On each of Huang Feiyang's arms were not only four bloodied puncture wounds but also four claw marks that tore through skin and ripped out flesh, nearly exposing bone.

Though not vital areas were struck, the injuries were severe at the flesh level.

For the next half-month, he won't be able to fight.

Of course, that's assuming normal wound healing speed.

"I'll take care of him tonight."

Chen Mu spoke calmly, "Since the Green Snake Gang has launched retaliation, they won't just strike once. If Xu Chong likes to lead the charge, let's eliminate him first! By the way, who's Xu Chong's superior?"

"The Green Snake Gang's major boss, Liang Feng," Huang Feiyang blurted out, then added quickly, "Don't touch Liang Feng—I heard his cultivation is high, nearly Post-Heaven Third Layer!"

"Don't worry, I know my limits."

Chen Mu smiled, "Brother, just rest and heal. By the way, I'll go buy you some ointment."

"No need—I've already applied medicine to these wounds," Huang Feiyang refused.

Hearing this, Chen Mu did not press further.

The medicine Huang Feiyang applied was ordinary.

To recover quickly and regrow flesh, you need to spend big money on high-grade ointment.

But where would the money come from?

Although Huang Feiyang's monthly salary as a minor boss had risen to one hundred taels of silver, it barely covered food, drink, and cultivation herbs.

He simply couldn't afford high-grade ointment.

Yet Huang Feiyang didn't have it—Chen Mu did!

From the hidden bundle in Ji Gang's memories, Chen Mu had acquired three thousand five hundred taels of silver; he'd spent only eight hundred taels on a high-quality sword, leaving the rest untouched.

He'd originally planned to give Huang Feiyang a thousand taels to study at Luo Yun Martial Hall.

But Luo Yun Martial Hall had been wiped out—luckily, Chen Mu had retrieved the scroll for the Rolling Cloud Technique.

……

Before nightfall, Chen Mu went to Jishi Hall in the inner city and spent five hundred taels of silver on five doses of ointment.

One dose cost one hundred taels of silver!

Expensive, yes—but this ointment was famed for its remarkable efficacy.

When Huang Feiyang saw it, he was both pained and moved, asking where Chen Mu got the money; Chen Mu brushed it off with "My master gave it to me."

The ointment was already bought and couldn't be returned.

When night fell.

Chen Mu changed into his night attire, took several pieces of equipment, and headed for the Green Snake Gang's territory.

First, to the street Xu Chong was in charge of.

Upon arrival, Chen Mu captured a Green Snake Gang member, interrogated him for Xu Chong's residence and current whereabouts, then rushed there, arriving at a narrow alley.

This Xu Chong, besides being brainless and impulsive, was also lecherous.

Every night, he had to sleep with a woman.

Any virtuous woman he targeted rarely escaped.

Tonight was no different.

As soon as it turned dark, Xu Chong went to the home of the woman he'd eyed during the day.

When Chen Mu arrived, Xu Chong had just finished and was stepping out of a common civilian's house.

"You bitch! Sleeping with me is your luck in eight lifetimes!"

As he tightened his belt, he cursed loudly while walking down the alley.

Xu Chong, alone without any subordinates, wore a look of arrogant defiance.

As a minor boss, he should have had several loyal followers.

Xu Chong had none—because when he flew into a rage, he'd cripple his own men.

So the men who followed him were the fewest; they all privately sought connections to transfer to other bosses.

Xu Chong didn't care.

When not fighting or killing, he trained.

In some ways, this man was rather pure.

But no matter how pure, he had nothing to do with Chen Mu.

……

Shiiii-shiiii!

Without a sound of rushing wind, ten flying needles suddenly erupted as Xu Chong turned the corner.

The needles swept toward Xu Chong's face in a dense barrage.

Caught completely off guard, Xu Chong only had time to raise his arms and shield his face as he sensed the attack.

Chit-chit-chit!

The needles pierced his arms, vanishing entirely into the flesh.

Before Xu Chong could cry out—

Shhh!

A flash of swordlight suddenly appeared in Xu Chong's vision.

"Puh~"

The sharp sword tip struck the throat with pinpoint accuracy, piercing straight through the windpipe.

Xu Chong, who had been keeping his arms up in a guard, stared wide-eyed, his body rigid on the spot, the light in his eyes fading in a single breath.

【Corpse discovered. Pick up?】

"Yes!"

Chen Mu sheathed his long sword, flicked the blood from it, turned, and left.

Xu Chong's body, with a dull "thud," toppled to the ground.

The reason he didn't deal with it was that Chen Mu had more than Xu Chong to kill tonight — there was also Xu Chong's boss, Liang Feng!

If there was time, the other bosses of the Green Snake Gang were also targets.

……

Walking along, he reached into his pocket to check the newly obtained card.

Cultivation Card!

The duration was still two years.

"This Xu Chong, looks like he wasn't that bad after all."

Chen Mu's lips curled up, and he used the card right there on the street.

This time, the Cultivation Card targeted Spirit Serpent Steps!

Two years of cultivation, day and night without rest.

Within two breaths, Chen Mu's mastery of Spirit Serpent Steps rose to the pinnacle realm!

This was the first time he had cultivated a Wu Gong to such a pinnacle level of attainment.

Whoosh~

His figure flickered — Chen Mu first darted right, then back, then left, then forward ten meters.

In a single breath, he shifted through four positions, covering more than ten meters!

When he stopped, a long string of afterimages trailed behind him.

A light-body technique at the pinnacle realm, even one of a lesser-grade post-heaven Wu Gong, already possessed some extraordinary qualities.

With such mastery of lightness skill at his side, killing Liang Feng would be even simpler!

However.

Arriving at the street where Liang Feng was, Chen Mu grabbed a Green Snake Gang member and asked where Liang Feng currently was. He didn't act immediately, but instead took out a human-skin mask and pressed it over his face.

Then, after a bit of kneading and rubbing, he had a completely different face!

……

In front of a tavern.

Liang Feng, with four gang members, walked out through the main door, hiccupping from drink.

He walked along picking his teeth and asked, "Any movement from the Broadsword Gang?"

"No, boss. Not yet," a gang member replied.

"Nothing?"

Liang Feng's brows knit slightly.

No movement — were they holding back?

Or……

Whoosh~!

A gust of fierce wind suddenly blew toward him.

Lost in thought, Liang Feng's heart lurched. Instinctively dodging to the side, he grabbed one of the gang members behind him and shoved him forward.

"Pfft!"

The sharp blade sliced across this gang member's neck. He didn't even get a scream out before his head slid off his neck.

Whoosh~

Sword light flashed.

The cold killing intent did not dissipate. After sweeping past the gang member's neck, it was as if it had grown eyes — it curved halfway around and thrust toward Liang Feng.

Liang Feng dodged again, but this time only halfway — half his cheek was pierced through by the sharp blade.

But the next instant……

"Squelch~!"

The sword light swiveled, slicing across Liang Feng's neck.

Along with the spurt of fresh blood, a head flew up into the air!