Chapter 59: Kill Guo Jinnian First!

"Come on, brother, one more cup."

"From now on, don't call me Gang Leader—just call me Big Brother!"

"Sure thing, Big Brother. When d'you reckon we'll unify the East District?"

"Soon, soon."

"..."

One man playing two roles.

When the time was about right, Chen Mu stood up and walked toward the door. As he walked, in Guan Tong's voice, he called out loudly, "Brother, take your time eating. Big Brother still has some business—heading back to headquarters first."

Finished speaking, he switched to his own voice: "Safe travels, Gang Leader!"

Switching back to Guan Tong's voice: "Told you from now on it's Big Brother—how'd you slip back into the old way?"

Switching to his own voice: "Just not used to it yet."

Switching back to Guan Tong's voice: "Hahahaha!"

Amid the laughter, he opened the courtyard gate, walked out, and casually closed it behind him.

"Let's go, to headquarters."

In Guan Tong's voice, Chen Mu said calmly, "I'll come back later to tidy up the room."

"Yes!"

The two trusted subordinates guarding the door replied softly.

Chen Mu in front, the two behind, heading to the Great Saber Gang headquarters.

The little hut was empty.

Guan Tong's corpse—Chen Mu stored it in his palm space!

The three had walked far away. If anyone entered the room now, they'd only assume "Chen Mu" had already left.

When impersonating Guan Tong, mannerisms and little habits were the first key; height was the second.

Chen Mu was still growing—under one meter eighty.

Guan Tong, on the other hand, was just over one meter eighty, and a bit burlier in build.

Looking closely, one could still tell them apart.

But that was only when the two stood side by side for comparison. Looking at just one, for now you couldn't tell.

Just to be safe, when walking Chen Mu still straightened up slightly, making himself look a bit taller.

Returning to Great Saber Gang headquarters.

Just through the main gate, Chen Mu, in Guan Tong's voice, instructed, "Go call Old Dao and the other four over, and bring Uncle Kang along too."

"Yes!"

The several gang members guarding the gate answered in unison.

Then they rushed out the gate and vanished into the night.

Chen Mu walked straight to the council hall and sat in the chief seat to wait.

Very quickly.

The four hall leaders of the Great Saber Gang, along with the steward from Guan Tong's residence—Uncle Kang—arrived at headquarters.

"Greetings, Gang Leader!"

"What's up, Gang Leader? I was in the middle of a good drink."

"..."

The four hall leaders—some saluting, some calling out.

Chen Mu kept to Guan Tong's usual expression and said in a deep voice, "Called you here to tell you something. I have a mission—I'll be away for a while. When I'll be back is unknown for now; my initial estimate is about seven days."

"During my absence, gang affairs continue as usual. If anything urgent comes up, Uncle Dao, you handle it as you see fit."

"Yes, Gang Leader!" the Internal Affairs Hall leader answered with a clasped fist.

Chen Mu looked at Uncle Kang and instructed, "As for things at home, Uncle Kang, just coordinate with Wan'er."

"Yes, Gang Leader!" Uncle Kang replied with a bow.

Guan Tong had one wife, two concubines, and three mistresses outside.

Generally speaking, the person most familiar with you is the one by your pillow.

For that reason, Chen Mu hadn't gone to Guan Tong's main residence—instead he'd called everyone to headquarters.

After the instructions, he let the five leave.

Loose lips sink ships; the necessary caution couldn't be skipped.

In a room in the rear courtyard of headquarters, he sat in meditation for the whole night.

At first light, Chen Mu, still wearing Guan Tong's face, rode out on horseback, heading for the city gate.

He left through the East Gate, rode along the official road for a stretch, and when there was no one ahead, behind, or to either side, he turned into the mountain forest. In a hidden corner, he removed the human-skin mask and changed back into his own clothes.

Coming out of the mountains, he rode to the nearest town and found an inn to stable his horse.

Then, using his lightness skill, he left, plunged into the dense forest, found a pit, buried Guan Tong's corpse, and covered it with a boulder.

Once done, he returned to Wulong Fucheng.

He went home first to report he was safe, then came back out, put the human-skin mask on again, and with an ordinary-looking face, entered the inner city.

Guan Tong dealt with—next is the Guo family. First target: kill Guo Jinnian!

The Guo family secretly controlled the sale of Carefree Pills. The best method was, naturally, to report it to the Town Martial Bureau.

But Guan Tong only knew the Guo family was selling them—he hadn't been involved, and there was no evidence!

Without witness or physical evidence, you couldn't bring the Guo family down.

In Guan Tong's memories, the Guo family had three Innate Realm martial artists!

This kind of force—even the Zhenwu Division of Wulong Fucheng would have to think twice before acting.

If it's the Gao family, then that saves the trouble.

Drawing on Guan Tong's memories, Chen Mu learned that behind the Great Blade Gang stood the Gao family of the inner city.

For decades, the Great Blade Gang had done all sorts of dirty work for the Gao family, paying tribute once every three months.

Guan Tong knew most of the Gao family's sordid affairs.

This time, when the Guo family came knocking, Guan Tong was very surprised at first, but after Guo Jinnian produced the "Innate Pill," his surprise turned into excitement.

This "Innate Pill" had now naturally entered the palm-space.

……

……

Inner city.

"Guan Tong left on a long trip early this morning?"

Guo Jinnian, who had just finished checking the restaurant's accounts, frowned upon hearing his subordinate's report.

The man surnamed Guan took the Innate Pill and ran?

Guo Jinnian's first reaction was that Guan Tong had fled.

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

Even if Guan Tong succeeded in breaking through to the Innate Realm with one "Innate Pill," if the Guo family wanted to wipe him out, it would be a simple matter.

Running was useless!

If he didn't run, then Guan Tong truly had left on some business.

Thinking of this, Guo Jinnian calmed himself; a few days' wait, he could still afford.

With that thought, Guo Jinnian waved his hand and dismissed his subordinate.

He took a stroll around the restaurant, then returned home.

Walking down the street, he ran into acquaintances face-to-face, exchanging greetings.

Until……

Whoosh!

A flash of sword-light suddenly burst forth, filling his vision.

Guo Jinnian started in horror, his heart pounding like a drum. As he retreated, he drew his sword to block.

Clang~

Hum~~~!

The sharp ring of clashing steel had barely begun when a fierce, vibrating force surged around the long sword in Guo Jinnian's hand; the tremor was so intense that his entire right hand, gripping the sword, went instantly numb, and the sword slipped from his grasp and fell.

Swish!

The sword-light, carrying a gust of wind, thrust straight at Guo Jinnian's face.

Guo Jinnian retreated, his left hand flicking out two sharp small knives.

Hiss~ hiss~

The small knives flew through empty air.

The cold sword-light, meanwhile, caught up to Guo Jinnian, the icy sword-tip piercing his heart.

"Pfft~!"

Fresh blood spurted out.

Guo Jinnian's pupils dilated, his eyes filled with shock, then unwillingness, resentment, fear, disbelief—until finally the light faded and his consciousness sank into darkness.

【Corpse detected. Pick up?】

"Yes!"

The card was in hand.

Chen Mu sheathed his sword and turned to leave.

His figure flickered, melting into the crowd, and quickly vanished.

The guards following Guo Jinnian, along with the surrounding onlookers, only then came to their senses.

"Stop!"

"Don't run~!"

"Murder!!"

"……"

Screams, cries of alarm, and roars of fury rang out along the long street.

In an instant, the street descended into chaos.

Chen Mu wove through the crowd, rubbed his face, changed his appearance, and calmly left the inner city.

At the same time.

A patrol squad from the Zhenwu Division arrived beside Guo Jinnian's corpse.

"This is…… 'Cloud-Sweeping Sword'?"