Chapter 54: Bow Your Head Once and I

"Master Chen, you've come here today for this subordinate of yours, right?"

Han Qiao, whip in hand, pointed at the suspended Liu Zi and sneered, "Master Chen, your man's no good—he overstepped his bounds, and even dared spy on our Green Snake Gang's secrets!"

"Doing something like this, even if I slit his throat with a knife, I'd still be in the right!"

"Don't you agree, Master Chen?"

"… " Chen Mu didn't respond, only sniffed lightly.

Seeing Chen Mu silent, Han Qiao's face darkened and he barked coldly, "What, Master Chen, the number one youth of Nan Yun, so young already going deaf?"

"If you're deaf, I can spare some money for you to buy medicine and get it treated!"

"Hahahaha~" The four Green Snake Gang members behind Han Qiao burst into mocking laughter.

The mockery in Han Qiao's eyes deepened.

But beneath the mockery lay a thread of jealousy.

At forty-five, Han Qiao had reached the Fifth Stage of Postheaven, but his path ahead was essentially finished.

For this reason, five years ago, Han Qiao began to despise talented youths most intensely.

He hated why his own martial talent wasn't so high!

Under this twisted psychological urge, every young martial artist he saw, he wanted to cripple.

Over five years, nearly seventeen martial artists had died in his hands.

Some came from common families, others from wealthy ones.

Often, the day after they broke through into martial arts and celebrated with their families, Han Qiao would show up—first sever their sinews, then break their bones, and finally let them die slowly from pain.

Each time, Han Qiao felt an indescribable sense of relief.

Chen Mu had originally been his target, but he'd just returned from a long journey.

By the time he came back, Chen Mu had become a chapter master, at the Fourth Stage of Postheaven, and was rumored to have an Innate Realm "master" behind him.

Combined with Han Qing's direct warning, Han Qiao had swallowed his anger.

Who knew, his own subordinate had secretly spied on him—and Han Qiao caught him red-handed.

This was amusing!

Bound by Han Qing's warning and the possible Innate Realm "master" behind Chen Mu, Han Qiao wouldn't kill Chen Mu—but to mock, humiliate, taunt him, and watch him choke down his shame and bow his head? That was deeply satisfying!

"What's wrong, Master Chen?"

Han Qiao sneered again, "You came here to get him back, didn't you? This is your trusted subordinate—how much are you willing to pay to redeem him?"

"How about this: Master Chen, kneel down, bow your head three times hard, and I'll let him go—no money needed…"

Swoosh~!

A blur of afterimages flashed.

Chen Mu's body shifted, crossing over ten meters in an instant, skimming low to the ground until he stood before Han Qiao.

Bang!

With no warning, Han Qiao was lifted high into the air, flying over the four men standing behind him.

Mid-air, he spat a thick gush of dark blood, then crashed backward ten meters, slamming onto the ground with a thud, kicking up dust.

"You… you…"

Lying on the ground, blood continuously oozing from his lips, face deathly pale, Han Qiao stared wide-eyed at Chen Mu, filled with horror, "You…"

Puff~!

Han Qiao spat another gush of dark blood upward, his head lolled to the side, and he passed out.

"Ahh!"

"Run!"

"… "

The four stunned Green Snake Gang members screamed and turned to flee.

Shhh~ Shhh~ Shhh~

Chen Mu flicked his wrist, launching four iron shards.

Puch~ Puch~ Puch!

In a series of wet thuds, the iron shards struck the heads of the fleeing four—they collapsed instantly, silent and still.

【Corpse detected. Retrieve?】

"Yes!"

…

Postheaven Eighth Stage—retrieval range: sixty-four meters!

Four cards acquired.

Chen Mu stepped forward to Han Qiao's side, knelt down, and searched his pockets, finding two small porcelain bottles; one cap was loose, and a peculiar pungent odor seeped out.

When he opened the lid, the smell intensified several-fold—thick and acrid.

Xiaoyao Pills!

Chen Mu had never seen these white-brown pills before, but he recognized the scent.

Because someone from the Great Knife Gang had taken them, got expelled, and later died in an alley.

They corrode the heart, dissolve the will, turning men into something neither human nor ghost.

Since the Green Snake Gang dares to sell them, they can vanish.

Han Qiao had been taunting nonstop, and Chen Mu had ignored him—because he was sniffing.

He'd planned to pressure him further, but this sniff revealed the pills were on Han Qiao, on his four men, and even inside the room!

So what was he waiting for?

Just cut straight to it.

……

He screwed the cap back on and tucked the bottle into Han Qiao's pocket.

Chen Mu hoisted Han Qiao up with one hand. Walking toward the door, he said, "Take Liu Zi back to be treated, then go find my big brother. Tell him I said to gather the men and get ready to take over the Green Snake Gang's territory."

"Huh?"

"Huh!"

"Huh!?"

"Y-yes! Yes! Yes!"

The two External Affairs Hall gang members who had brought Chen Mu here were stunned, dumbfounded, bewildered, then overjoyed. It took three turns before they came to their senses, nodding excitedly and answering with spirit.

That's right — take over the Green Snake Gang's territory!

Han Qiao was peddling Carefree Pills. Whether Han Qing knew it or not, the Green Snake Gang was finished!

Chen Mu carried the unconscious Han Qiao, avoided the rest of the Green Snake Gang, and headed straight for the inner city, arriving at the Zhenwu Division headquarters.

"Halt!"

Four doormen, armed with waist sabers, stepped forward — two of them closing in to block Chen Mu.

"This is the Zhenwu—"

The words died in his throat.

The next instant, their faces grave, they retreated to their posts.

Chen Mu, holding the token Long Tutu had given him and carrying Han Qiao, walked through the Zhenwu Division's main gate.

Once inside, he was about to find someone to report to…

"Chen… brother, what brings you here?" He Ningshuang came walking up to meet him and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Lord He!"

Chen Mu dropped Han Qiao, returned the fist-and-palm salute, and said, "I've come to make a report. The Green Snake Gang in the East District is trafficking Carefree Pills — large quantities. This Han Qiao is one of the handlers; he's got Carefree Pills right on him!"

Carefree Pills?

He Ningshuang's face changed. She strode forward in a single bound, crouched down, searched Han Qiao, and found two small porcelain bottles.

She opened one and looked — Grave Demeanor.

"Wait here a moment. I'll take him straight to see my lord!"

"All right." Chen Mu nodded, cupped his hands, and stepped aside.

He Ningshuang wasted no more words. She picked up the still-unconscious Han Qiao and strode off at a swift pace, quickly disappearing.

……

A quarter-hour later.

The Zhenwu Division headquarters erupted into commotion.

Squad after squad, led by their guards, burst through the main gate and charged straight for the East District.

……

Green Snake Gang headquarters.

Han Qing had just received word that Chen Mu had gone to see Han Qiao. His face darkened and he barked, "That bastard — I told him not to provoke Chen Mu, not to provoke Chen Mu! And he just wouldn't listen!"

"Don't panic, gang leader." Li Wenzhong soothed him. "He only met with Chen Mu. The situation shouldn't be that bad yet."

"What I'm worried about is—"

BANG~!!

A tremendous crash.

The half-closed main door of Green Snake Gang headquarters was smashed wide open, shattering to pieces.

"The Green Snake Gang traffics Carefree Pills — kill them all!"