Chapter 394: Fifty Years and One and a Half Years

The Grand Master of San Ying Men, Bao Yingchen, personally led over fifty men in silence toward Xiao Yao Wu.

The Third Master of San Ying Men, Yang Xingbo, said: "Big brother, this is a small matter—I can handle it with the brothers. Why must you come all the way?"

Bao Yingchen shook his head: "Third brother, today's matter is serious. I don't need to fight, but I must be here—to let the brothers know this is serious."

"Big brother, is Li Qi really in Xiao Yao Wu?"

"He's definitely there. I planted a spy under Qin Tianjiu—he didn't notice, and even sent him to Xiao Yao Wu to deliver a message to Li Qi, arranging a meeting at a teahouse."

"Li Qi has been staying in Xiao Yao Wu this whole time. Second brother tried using Qin Tianjiu to connect with him and stir up trouble inside the gang—I know about it."

"After I deal with Li Qi, I'll return to clean house. Third brother, you've worked tirelessly for the gang. The second seat in San Ying Men is yours."

Yang Xingbo quickly bowed: "All thanks to Big Brother's mentorship."

Bao Yingchen smiled: "I'm getting old; I can't oversee everything anymore. You'll need to take more responsibility for the gang's affairs."

"First, finish tonight's job. Li Qi comes and goes without a trace—he's hard to pin down. Tonight, Xiao Yao Wu must be leveled. No survivors."

"Don't worry, Big Brother—you've told us several times already."

The group arrived at the gate of Xiao Yao Wu and saw two gatekeepers staring blankly in their direction.

By Yang Xingbo's usual habit, he would have captured them and interrogated them for Li Banfeng's whereabouts.

But since the Grand Master was present, Yang Xingbo dared not act on his own—he asked: "Big Brother, kill them or bring them in for questioning?"

Bao Yingchen shook his head: "No need to question them—they wouldn't know anything anyway. Deal with them quickly. Don't make noise."

Yang Xingbo waved his hand; two men stepped forward, each drawing a blade and cleanly killing the two gatekeepers.

The moment the gatekeepers fell, a crowd burst out of the house.

There were singing girls in qipaos and dancers, musicians in bow ties and attendants, laborers in short jackets and servants, and armed guards holding weapons.

Bao Yingchen frowned at Yang Xingbo: "I told you not to make noise—why can't you be more careful?"

Yang Xingbo was puzzled—his men had made no noise.

At least, not when they killed the gatekeepers.

But the Grand Master was displeased, so he said nothing and ordered his men: "No survivors—kill them all!"

The fifty-plus men he brought today all had cultivation bases no lower than Level Four.

These ruthless killers could slaughter ordinary people as easily as stepping on ants.

A Level-Five Fire Xiu unleashed a flame that reduced a laborer to ash.

A Level-Four Clothing Xiu flung a storm of silver needles—first piercing, then threading, then pulling the thread tight to tear an attendant into shreds.

A Level-Five Food Xiu opened his massive mouth and bit off half the dancer's skull, chewed, and swallowed.

This was his signature killing method—he enjoyed watching people scream in terror and pain as half their head was gone.

But this dancer didn't scream.

Her face showed no fear.

Her head did feel a bit crisp and sweet…

The Food Xiu was confused; in his moment of shock, the dancer lunged with a knife.

The Food Xiu easily dodged, ready to examine her origins—when a scythe sliced open his throat from behind.

The attacker was a Level-Six Wu Xiu, nicknamed Ghostly Tiger, Yang Xingbo's favorite general.

His task was to search the crowd for Li Qi and prevent him from escaping in the chaos.

A guard charged Ghostly Tiger, who casually slashed with his dagger, severing the guard's head.

Such nuisances weren't worth his time.

The headless guard swung again, cutting through Ghostly Tiger's clothes.

Ghostly Tiger wasn't hurt—the guard was slow and inaccurate—but he couldn't understand this.

How could a headless man still fight? What sect was this?

As he was stunned, another slash struck his back—still no injury.

Ghostly Tiger turned to see a cook wielding a cleaver, swinging again from behind him.

Beside the cook stood a Level-Four Literature Xiu, panicked: "I just used Tong Wen Gong Gui—this man didn't react…"

Ghostly Tiger frowned: "Is this even a human?"

"It's human," said a man in a black suit and black top hat, the brim pulled low, appearing before them.

He spoke the truth—these were all humans. Cabbage people were humans too.

Zhang Wanlong had given Li Banfeng many seeds and plenty of potions. With the potions and the blood of Xiao Yao Wu's inhabitants, Li Banfeng could rapidly grow large numbers of cabbage people.

But the cabbage people Zhang Wanlong grew could only wear one type of clothing: short greenish-white jackets.

But Li Banfeng's cabbage people wore qipaos, long gowns, tailcoats—anything. They looked far more lifelike.

Most importantly, these cabbage people could fight the cultivators. Even if they lost, they could hold their own for a few rounds—something Zhang Wanlong's cabbage people couldn't do.

Here was Li Banfeng's technique: Jin Wu Cang Jiao.

Because his painting and carving skills were poor, Jin Wu Cang Jiao had become his weakest technique.

But with Zhang Wanlong's seeds, things were different.

By sprinkling a drop of blood onto a grown cabbage person, Li Banfeng could modify them and greatly enhance their combat power.

Ghostly Tiger glanced at the man in the black suit, preparing to attack.

The man in black suddenly vanished.

Ghostly Tiger had experience—he judged from speed that this was a high-level Travel Xiu. He immediately shifted his gaze to track the figure.

The Level-Four Literature Xiu didn't react in time—his body shattered in an instant.

As Ghostly Tiger was stunned, he saw the man in black vanish into the chaotic crowd.

The man had no distinguishing features—his black clothes blended with the night, making him nearly impossible to spot among the masses.

Damn, where did he go?

Ghostly Tiger quickly moved from his spot—he knew the principle of Zou Ma Guan Hua: either find the man in black immediately and fixate on him, or get out of his line of sight as fast as possible.

He searched the crowd for a moment but couldn't find the man in black.

Could he be Li Qi?

He had to tell the Grand Master right away!

Ghostly Tiger turned to find Bao Yingchen—when a Tang Dao slashed down toward his forehead.

This ambush was well-prepared and advantageous—but his opponent was a Level-Six Wu Xiu.

The blade came down, blocked by the dagger.

Normally, a Tang Dao could snap ten or more such daggers with one strike—but in the hands of a high-level Wu Xiu, even ordinary weapons became supreme.

The Tang Dao was a magic treasure. His wife had once said it was an exceptionally rare type—living in the Suishen Ju, feasting and drinking with its lord, its cultivation had grown immensely.

Now it was blocked by a common dagger—it felt embarrassed and immediately swung a second strike.

Ghostly Tiger flicked his dagger and deflected it again.

"Idiot, don't be reckless!" the scythe scolded the Tang Dao, then struck from under the right elbow toward Ghostly Tiger's ribs.

This spot was nearly impossible to block or dodge.

But Ghostly Tiger still blocked it—he switched the dagger to his left hand and caught the scythe against his right ribs.

Unreasonable Wu Xiu—close combat had almost no openings.

Ghostly Tiger fought calmly, but inside he was tense—he still hadn't found the man in black.

These two weapons must be his magic treasures—he must be nearby.

Ghostly Tiger parried the Tang Dao and scythe purely by instinct, still searching for the man in black.

The Tang Dao lunged again at Ghostly Tiger's chest—he parried with his dagger, then suddenly felt a chill in his chest—the Tang Dao had pierced him.

Ghostly Tiger was stunned.

The Tang Dao's strike path was clear—how could he have missed?

Was he too slow?

He looked at his hand.

Not too slow—his dagger was gone.

It was there when he raised it—but vanished as he swung. The strike missed.

The Tang Dao twisted inside his chest, then slashed out through his ribcage, splitting Ghostly Tiger in half.

Ghostly Tiger staggered back, trying to flee—Li Banfeng, wielding the scythe, severed his head from behind.

"Every strike takes the head!" the Tang Dao sneered, then shrank into a small blade and slipped into Li Banfeng's pocket.

The scythe spat at the Tang Dao and followed Li Banfeng into the fray.

Li Banfeng patted the white glove in his pocket and murmured: "Big reward."

Over a hundred cabbage people clashed with the fifty-plus invaders. Li Banfeng slipped through the chaos, killing over a dozen in moments.

The Level-Seven Estate Xiu was too easily overlooked—only now did Yang Xingbo realize something was wrong: "Big Brother, there's a killer among these riffraff!"

Bao Yingchen remained calm: "You just noticed? He's a Travel Xiu—he's killed over a dozen of our men, even your Ghostly Tiger."

Yang Xingbo panicked: "Damn it, where is he?"

"He's hiding well—but I've spotted him now!" As he spoke, Bao Yingchen vanished.

Li Banfeng, hidden in the crowd, suddenly sensed imminent danger and moved instantly.

Li Banfeng had taken only two steps when Bao Yingchen appeared exactly where he had been.

Bao Yingchen smiled at Li Banfeng: "You're Li Qi?"

Li Banfeng didn't answer—and Bao Yingchen didn't need him to.

In a blur of motion, Li Banfeng retreated rapidly, trying to create distance, but Bao Yingchen appeared before him within five steps.

Kebu.

Faster than Li Banfeng!

This old man is a Lu Xiu, his realm higher than Li Banfeng's!

He stomped hard right before Li Banfeng.

A crater appeared on the ground; shattered stones, mud, and a shockwave surged toward Li Banfeng together.

Li Banfeng barely dodged, his clothes torn to shreds, his body covered in wounds, blood seeping from his collar and sleeves.

He had just barely avoided vital points when another thunderous crash rang out.

Bao Yingchen activated Kebu again, appearing behind Li Banfeng, and used Tapping Down Ten Thousand Rivers once more.

Can a technique be used this densely?

This time, there seemed no way to dodge.

PS: Bao Yingchen has cultivated for fifty years; Li Banfeng has cultivated for one and a half years.

This is the gap between one and a half years and fifty years—his technique mastery is far inferior.

(End of Chapter)