Chapter 669: Clues to the Black Hand

*Puff! *

Even though Zhang Tiankui retreated immediately, he still got a face full of red smoke.

He was shocked and furious, but just as he was about to move, he felt his whole body go limp, his head dizzy, and he stumbled and fell to the ground.

What a powerful poison!

A chill arose in Zhang Tiankui's heart, and he wanted to reach into his bosom.

He was also an old hand in the martial world, and he often kept antidote pills in his bosom, which he had spent a great price to get from the White Cloud Temple in the capital. Whether it was poison or venom, it could be temporarily suppressed, and then he could find a way to ask a brilliant physician to take action.

But what terrified him was that he was now weak, and he couldn't even take out the pills.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Tiankui hurriedly gathered his spirit to guard the one, his spine tensed.

This was his last trump card.

Being able to achieve what he had today was all because he had been different from ordinary people since childhood; his spine was tough, and he had an extra tendon.

This was the "Dragon Spine." Physiognomy says: Those with curved and stretched dragon bones have strength that penetrates a thousand jun and a fierce nature.

When he was young, he couldn't bear the power of the dragon spine and almost became a crippled person with a hunchback. Fortunately, Lu Jinghai returned and found him, pushing his palaces and passing blood with clever force every day, and also invited a Mystic Sect Daoist physician to use precious medicinal materials to refine it, which allowed this dragon spine to grow smoothly.

In any kung fu, the strength of the waist and spine is crucial.

With this dragon spine, he could support his wrestling techniques with extremely strong explosive power.

Not only that, he also became a cultivator because of this and learned the Divine Striking technique.

This "Dragon Spine" hid Daoist evil aura using a secret method similar to Wang Daoxuan's, specifically used for breaking the situation at critical moments, which was his trump card for saving his life, and he hadn't told anyone.

But just as he moved, he saw Lu Jinghai approach him.

That strange arm covered in scales clamped onto his spine like an iron tong.

Under the stinging pain, Zhang Tiankui had no power to resist anymore.

"Tiankui..."

Lu Jinghai sighed, one hand hooked onto Zhang Tiankui's spine, the other patting his shoulder, "When you were twelve, your father blocked a poisonous arrow from the Wolf Country shaman for me. I ask myself that I have treated you well; why do you want to rebel against me?"

Just as he was speaking, the outside had already returned to calm.

In a short time, all of Zhang Tiankui's subordinates were killed by those men in black.

They were ruthless, cooperated tacitly, and were extremely good at sneak attacks, with only three casualties.

What was even more important was the weapon held by these people.

The blade was narrow and curved, the back was thick and sharp, and the blade spine had a groove to reduce weight and increase toughness.

On the docks of Jinmen, not only were there people from all walks of life from the north and south, but there were also quite a few foreigners over the years.

Zhang Tiankui recognized this object as a Japanese sword, used by Japanese pirates.

Seeing this, how could he not understand what had happened?

"Foster father!"

Zhang Tiankui gritted his teeth and said, "I am unconvinced, but I just can't stand that bastard Yu Wenhai. If I really had a black heart and wanted to harm you, would I have stayed in the South City wrestling arena so miserably all these years?"

"Plotting the Nine Cauldrons is a capital crime, and colluding with outsiders is even more infamous for ten thousand years. Don't be fooled by Yu Wenhai!"

"Fooled?"

Lu Jinghai laughed dumbly. "If I didn't nod, Yu Wenhai wouldn't have the guts."

"You... why?"

Zhang Tiankui was speechless, simply unable to believe it.

Just at this moment, a cold voice came from the courtyard wall.

"Because he is afraid of death!"

"Who?!"

Lu Jinghai was shocked in his heart, hooked Zhang Tiankui's throat, and blocked him in front of himself.

And those Japanese men in black turned around in unison, their hands flipping up and down.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! *

Densely packed hidden weapons whistled out.

Accompanied by the sound of *ding-ding-dang-dang*, the wall was covered with shuriken and cross-shaped car blades.

"So you were hiding here?"

The flickering voice sounded again behind them.

These men in black were shocked and hurriedly drew their blades to turn around.

"Yare (Do it)!"

Taking advantage of the turn, they exploded with waist and abdomen strength, and as they turned, the blade light had already arrived.

Clearly, it was some kind of unique Iaijutsu.

However, it was all too late.

Amidst the whistling gale, several paper dolls burned without wind, and a figure appeared—it was Li Yan.

Facing the three blades attacking, Li Yan didn't even blink.

*Clang, clang! *

The sound of a dragon's roar rose from his waist.

He saw two rays of light like silk ribbons flying up and down.

The three masked Japanese men only felt a huge shock from their hands, and their weapons were shattered.

They were terrified, but before they could retreat, the blade light had already pierced their foreheads and simultaneously pierced through the hearts of their companions behind them.

It was Li Yan's Soul-Severing Duanhun Feidao.

Controlled by the Soul-Snatching Thunder Rope, it was like an arm within twenty meters, similar to a flying sword.

The Soul-Severing Duanhun Feidao kills, and the soul is bound to scatter.

Under normal circumstances, Li Yan wouldn't use it indiscriminately.

For one, it could be used as a trump card, and for another, he didn't want to do things too absolutely.

But facing these people, he was very happy to use it.

Blade light flickered, and blood splattered.

In the space of a breath, seven or eight masked Japanese men were killed.

At the same time, another figure appeared on the wall behind, it was Lu San.

He waved his arm, and steel awls whistled out.

*Puff, puff, puff! *

They directly pierced into the back of the heads of several Japanese men.

With wolves in front and tigers behind, these Japanese men were completely terrified.

Several people in the center took out pills from their bosoms and threw them hard against the ground.

*Boom! *

An explosion sounded, thick smoke scattered, and the remaining Japanese men took the opportunity to escape in the smoke.

And Li Yan couldn't be bothered to care, directly turning around and striding into the small courtyard.

"Lu Jinghai, don't waste your efforts!"

Looking at Lu Jinghai who wanted to escape, he walked and said in a deep voice: "Who taught you this 'Demon Snake Zhao Changsheng Technique'!"

After Zhang Tiankui left, he used an escape technique to follow secretly and came to this Jade Emperor Pavilion.

Lu Jinghai revealed his arm covered in green scales, and the hook also captured the aura of demonic energy.

After taking some time to accept the mission, he had already figured out the roots of the demonic energy.

What Lu Jinghai practiced was the "Demon Snake Zhao Changsheng Technique," originating from a demon god named "Gui Long."

This demon god was originally a monster from the time of Emperor Zhuanxu, looking like a dragon without horns, good at driving clouds and mist, wandering mountains and rivers, fond of eating human brains, devouring a large amount of demonic energy, immortal, and was suppressed in Luo Feng Mountain after the Battle of the Gods.

Regarding the Battle of the Gods, he had a general understanding by now.

That was also a transformation of human morality.

Not only did the Shang Dynasty perish in the mortal world, but a turmoil also occurred in the Great Luo Dala Fajie.

It involved deep matters, concerning ancient gods, human sacrifice, and other customs.

In short, since then, human sacrifices and the Great Luo Dala Fajie have both changed.

This "Demon Snake Zhao Changsheng Technique" was very cruel, requiring the capture of water demon snakes to swallow alive, and also going through many cruel secret methods.

The benefit was being able to imitate a snake shedding its skin, being reborn time and again, and maintaining the vitality of the physical body.

But the hidden dangers were also quite numerous.

Not only did one have to endure extreme pain during shedding, but one also had to eat human brains regularly.

No wonder Lu Jinghai hid in this place.

Relying on money, he had already bribed the Daoists of the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect stationed in the temple, using folk gods to cover his aura.

At the same time, the Jade Emperor Pavilion was close to the docks, which also made it convenient for him to eat human brains and destroy the bodies.

The Jinmen docks had complex traffic, with many merchants coming and going; if someone went missing, it couldn't be seen at all.

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

Hearing Li Yan's words, a trace of panic flashed in Lu Jinghai's eyes.

"What are you pretending for!"

Li Yan sneered: "The taste of shedding skin isn't good, right? Why are you hiding in the dark and not daring to see the sun?"

At this moment, it was sunset.

The setting sun sank, just passing over the top of the side hall, but Lu Jinghai always hid in the shadows.

This was also the weakness of the "Demon Snake Zhao Changsheng Technique": one cannot see sunlight for seven days during shedding.

"Shut up, what does a young boy understand?!"

Lu Jinghai practiced evil techniques, and his nature had long since changed. Being repeatedly exposed by Li Yan, he became somewhat manic and roared: "I have fought for a lifetime and made great contributions to this Great Xuan, but just for playing with a few women, they stripped me of my official robe!"

"Prince Ying's Mansion seems to treat me well, but in reality, they only treat me as a dog, calling me when they want and dismissing me when they don't!"

"This Great Xuan has failed me, the Divine Land has failed me. Can't I live a few more days?!"

The bitterness accumulated over many years seemed to be completely released at this moment.

Fine green scales also appeared on his face and neck.

And Zhang Tiankui, whose throat was hooked by him, finally found an opportunity at this moment.

He used the remaining evil aura in his dragon spine, his body shook suddenly, and he grabbed Lu Jinghai's arm and swung it.

The current Zhang Tiankui's reputation even surpassed that of the Cangzhou Wrestling King of that year.

Although it was an explosion of remaining strength, it was also extremely fierce.

*Swish! *

While he crawled to the ground, Lu Jinghai was also thrown out directly.

"Ah~"

After flying out of the side hall and landing, touching the sunlight, Lu Jinghai let out a miserable scream.

The green scales on his skin smoked black and withered rapidly, falling off in pieces.

This kind of pain was about the same as being skinned.

Lu Jinghai struggled to crawl into the hall, but a stinging pain suddenly came from his ankle.

It was Li Yan who had already stepped forward, waving his blade and inserting it, pinning his leg to the bluestone slab.

"Ah~ ah~"

Lu Jinghai struggled frantically, actually reaching back and tearing his leg off by force, blood and flesh blurred, crawling toward the hall.

"Li Li Shaoxia, please stop!"

In the side hall, the limp and powerless Zhang Tiankui spoke, his eyes full of unbearable pain and pleading.

Although Lu Jinghai tried to kill him, he had raised him since he was a child, and their feelings were no less than those of a biological father and son.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and did not continue to attack.

It was not because Zhang Tiankui pleaded for mercy.

How many families had been broken by the Jinghai Gang? When those people pleaded, they cried to heaven, but heaven didn't answer.

Similarly, when these people fell into his hands, they shouldn't think about pretending to be pitiful.

In fact, some intelligence still needed to be asked from Lu Jinghai's mouth.

Lu Jinghai used both hands to struggle and crawl, dragging a long trail of blood behind him.

After crawling into the shadows, he finally exhausted his strength and lay on the ground, panting heavily.

Li Yan followed closely behind, gave another fierce kick, stepped on his wound, and said coldly, "Speak, who taught you the evil technique? Which old bastard is hiding the Jianmu in Jinmen, and what's going on with the opium?"

"Haha... haha..."

Lu Jinghai's white hair was disheveled, and he was panting heavily, but he just laughed crazily, "Screw your grandmother, I just won't say it, you kill me!"

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, twirled his Dust-Severing Blade, and with a *puchi* sound, inserted it into the other leg of the opponent, dragging him as he walked out.

"Ah~ let me go!"

Seeming to recall the pain of sunlight exposure, Lu Jinghai struggled crazily again.

"Foster father, speak quickly!"

Zhang Tiankui roared anxiously, "Li Li Shaoxia, let me talk to him."

Li Yan let out a cold snort and stopped, just at the junction of sunlight and shadow.

Zhang Tiankui stuffed the antidote pill into his mouth indiscriminately, not caring about dignity, and climbed a few meters with great effort.

Looking at Lu Jinghai's appearance, he couldn't help but feel sorrow from his heart, "Foster father, you are not this kind of person. You taught me before that when being beaten, you must stand straight, and you also told me that you never regretted going to the Northern Frontier."

"You even bragged to me about how many Wolf Country remnants you killed..."

"Woo woo~ that bastard Yu Wenhai, what kind of ecstasy soup did he pour for you..."

At this moment, Lu Jinghai's evil technique had been broken, and his eyes were already somewhat unfocused.

It seemed that Zhang Tiankui's shouting had awakened his reason. Lu Jinghai opened his lips slightly, and after a long while, he looked at the sky and opened his mouth, "The person who taught me the secret technique is named Kong Zizai, a Nanyang merchant who is hiding on a red-haired barbarian ship at the wharf."

"Kong Zizai?"

Killing intent flickered in Li Yan's eyes, "What's going on with Yu Wenhai, and how did you get to know him?"

What Kong Zizai, he was mostly likely the Rotten Document Mr. Kong Hui.

This Jianmu organization really was colluding with the red-haired barbarians.

Lu Jinghai was already breathing his last at this time, but his eyes were becoming clearer and clearer, losing the previous gloom and madness.

Hearing Li Yan's inquiry, he hesitated for a moment and opened his mouth, "Yu Wenhai is Kong Zizai's disciple. As for how we met, I cannot elaborate; I can only tell you: Capital, Peach Blossom Assembly."

After saying this, he turned his head to look at Zhang Tiankui and grinned, revealing an ugly smile, "You blockhead, do you know why I distanced myself from you?"

"I was jealous of you. If I had such good talent, would I have mixed with these filthy people?"

"Back then in the Northern Frontier, if I had performed more meritorious service, I wouldn't have..."

Before he finished speaking, he had completely lost his breath.

"Father!"

Zhang Tiankui let out a howling roar.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, too lazy to say more, turned around, and left.

He didn't expect that this Zhang Tiankui would have such feelings for Lu Jinghai.

Letting this blockhead control the situation, I'm afraid he won't cooperate.

The top priority is not to let Kong Zizai go.

*Peng peng peng! *

Just at this moment, a few corpses also fell from the air.

They were those Japanese men in black who had escaped; their masks had been lifted, and they were all bald, their faces blue and swollen.

Long Yan'er's figure also appeared on the roof of the side hall.

Since they had already turned against each other, the Twelve Yuan Chen naturally had to cooperate in the attack.

"San'er, notify the Commandant's Office to arrest Yu Wenhai."

"Go to the wharf and arrest Kong Hui!"

Lu San nodded and blew a whistle toward the air.

The falcon Lidong circled in the air and headed toward the east of the city.

And Sha Lifei on the opposite roof also picked up his Divine Fire Gun and jumped off the courtyard wall.

The Jinmen Commandant's Office was in the east of the city. Before Battalion Commander Wang headed to the garrison, he had already taken the token left by Battalion Commander Tian and gathered all the personnel of the Commandant's Office, ready to act at any time.

As for Li Yan, he could no longer care about the situation in the city.

This Rotten Document Mr. Kong Hui laying out a layout in Jinmen was very likely plotting the Jizhou Cauldron.

Compared to Lu Sheng and the Ghost Emperor Wang Xuanmo, this person was hidden deeper and was even more sinister.

Who knew what terrible plan he had already made.

As long as he was killed, all conspiracies would naturally end.

The group strode out the door; the Daoists who had been knocked unconscious along the way had already woken up faintly.

Seeing Li Yan and the others, they were immediately scared into trembling and retreated repeatedly.

Li Yan was too lazy to pay attention; most of these Daoists were fake Daoists brought by Lu Jinghai, who only knew how to burn incense and collect money. Having caused such a big disaster, whether it was the Mystic Sect or the imperial laws, they would regret it for the rest of their lives.

After leaving the Jade Emperor Pavilion, the group immediately headed toward the Sancha River mouth.

"It's them!"

On the street, hundreds of people suddenly rushed over.

Each of them held a sharp blade, their faces fierce, and they wore the Green Scale Badge of the Jinghai Gang at their waists.

"They harmed the gang leader; whoever can avenge him will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver!"

In the crowd, someone shouted excitedly.

These gang members' eyes immediately turned bloodshot, and they quickened their pace.

"Old Sha, clear the way!" Li Yan let out a cold snort.

He knew that these people were definitely sent by Yu Wenhai to obstruct and harass them.

"Hehe~"

Sha Lifei let out a grim laugh, raised his Divine Fire Gun, and pulled the trigger directly.

They were people who had killed their way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood; these Jinmen hoodlums had really provoked the wrong target.

*Boom! *

With a roar, blood splattered on the street, and limbs were scattered everywhere.

"Murder!"

The commoners watching the excitement in the distance were immediately panicked and scattered.

The surviving Jinghai Gang pot-cook hoodlums were even more scared, defecating and urinating in their pants.

They were vicious and domineering, but where had they ever seen such living Yamas?

Li Yan and the others were too lazy to pay attention and rushed directly toward the wharf.

"It's that ship!"

Li Yan looked ahead; it was the Tulip, which they had seen when they first arrived in Jinmen.

But just at this moment, a strong warning sign suddenly arose in his heart.

"Quick, scatter!"

As soon as the words fell, he saw several cannons on the Tulip begin to move slowly, aiming at the wharf...

(End of chapter)