Chapter 21: Chapter Twenty-One: A Memorial for a Friend

Kang Qiandeng turned back in shock, staring at Qian Chen charging forward, filled with regret: “How could I have ever doubted such a righteous man?”

The Soul-Claiming Bronze Hammer flew toward Qian Chen’s chest, while Qian Chen had just rotated the Heaven-Roaming Umbrella to his back and sent Kang Qiandeng away; Suo Sanguan’s face already wore a bloodthirsty grin—such tragic scenes only excited him more, and he had already planned how to exploit this moment to torture Kang Qiandeng: perhaps… using the corpse of this boy who had saved his life as a weapon?

Force him to chop down the corpse of his own savior?

At that moment, the jade ring in Qian Chen’s hand flew off his wrist, just slightly faster than the hammer, soaring above Suo Sanguan’s head and instantly snapping down, tightening around his thick neck—this single constriction severed Suo Sanguan’s breath entirely.

With his breath cut, the magical rhythm controlling the hammer faltered.

Qian Chen’s figure flashed, stepping upon the hammer as he flipped over Suo Sanguan’s head.

He gripped Suo Sanguan’s neck with the jade ring; blood surged into Suo Sanguan’s skull, his broad, muscular face turning crimson with strain. Qian Chen sighed in disappointment: “Of course—the Dragon Phoenix Ring can’t snap the neck of a cross-linked martialist protected by body Gangqi .”

“Blood Dripper! What good are you!”

Qian Chen scowled at the Dragon Phoenix Ring: “All you’re good for is releasing five poisons… maybe killing a brute who doesn’t use his brain!”

As he spoke, Suo Sanguan ceased struggling, his massive body collapsing to his knees.

His neck, constricted by the Dragon Phoenix Ring, swelled to the thickness of an adult’s thigh, crawling with dense black veins that spread across his face—until his eyeballs were entirely filled with black lines, and the Mighty Ox of the Twelve Zodiacs—the Gladiatorial Divine Lord—ceased breathing.

The Green Phosphorus Golden Scorpion had merely pierced outward once from within the Dragon Phoenix Ring’s sealing space.

“Slain one of the Twelve Zodiacs: 500 merit points for the kill, 200 for assisting.”

“Completed: Chengwu Divine Lord (slain), Gladiatorial Divine Lord (slain).”

Kang Qiandeng and the others stood frozen in shock—the events unfolded too swiftly to react. Someone murmured as if in a dream: “Isn’t he a disciple of the Medicine King Wang Chen?” “I thought he blushed often…”

At this, Qian Chen’s face instantly flushed red, even his ears turning crimson.

He coughed twice and explained: “I am a disciple of the Medicine King—so being skilled in poison is only natural!”

“And I’m truly new to the martial world, ignorant of everything—I merely took advantage of this villain’s distraction by Grandmaster Kang, slipped in a poison covertly, and succeeded by luck. My true martial skill is negligible!”

Everyone immediately turned their eyes toward Kang Qiandeng, as if asking: “Is that true?”

Kang Qiandeng hastily waved his hands: “Qian Brother, you jest.” He smiled bitterly: “I lack experience—I was driven to the brink the moment I clashed with Suo Sanguan… Qian Brother’s poison…” He hesitated, unable to judge such underhanded tactics, and awkwardly shifted: “But Qian Brother saved my life when I was retreating—your strength must be extraordinary…”

Qian Chen smiled faintly; this Three-Perfection Swordsman had never once suspected Qian Chen’s delay in acting was due to cowardice, nor considered that Qian Chen had waited until last to exploit Kang Qiandeng as bait to draw out the enemy’s weakness—or even if he had, he harbored no dark thoughts.

Such an upright man was oddly endearing.

Some people, even when you save their life, immediately wonder if you stole an extra grain of their rice… such people are not endearing—and yet, they’re everywhere.

So he smiled and said: “The Gladiatorial Divine Lord is dead. Let’s hurry to support the others!”

Kang Qiandeng and the others’ expressions turned solemn: “Indeed—the Twelve Zodiacs are not to be underestimated. Other heroes must be fighting desperately; with our fresh force, we must reach them quickly!”

Qian Chen and Kang Qiandeng returned together to the main hall—only from here could they conveniently support all directions—but as they reached the entrance to the Five Lakes Hall, they sensed an atmosphere of solemn gravity: Master Kongming gripped his staff tightly, and all the heroes wore expressions of grief and fury, leaving Kang Qiandeng stunned.

Even if they had suffered setbacks against the Twelve Zodiacs—or heavy casualties—it should not have plunged them into such despair.

Kang Qiandeng stepped forward, too rushed even to announce that the Gladiatorial Divine Lord had been slain, when Master Kongming spoke: “Young Master Kang, you’ve returned! Go inside quickly… alas…”

Qian Chen and Kang Qiandeng entered the main hall and saw Hong Sihai standing silently before the central altar, his left hand resting on a low couch, upon which lay a motionless figure. Kang Qiandeng’s mind flashed one thought—Who else has been killed?

The figure on the couch was Master Liang Dou, known as the “Spirit Soaring Through Crimson Clouds.” His eyes were open, his face utterly pale, still bearing a trace of shock.

Kang Qiandeng wished he had been lying with his eyes closed—then he wouldn’t have to see Liang Dou’s incredulous gaze.

Then he wouldn’t have to accept this truth…

“Master Liang was murdered from behind by someone he trusted completely!” Xu Xiaoyang of the Righteous Mountain Villa declared: “One of us must be a member of the Twelve Zodiacs!”

Master Kongming slowly entered from outside: “At this point, I have nothing left to hide. According to reliable intelligence I’ve obtained, at least one of the Twelve Zodiacs has a verified identity among us—and likely more than one.”

“The Shaolin Temple has secretly investigated for ten years, yet our knowledge of the Twelve Zodiacs remains minimal.”

“We can now confirm: The Gladiatorial Divine Lord is the most vicious bandit in the martial world, wielding a hammer, possessing hardened sinews—he is suspected to be Suo Sanguan, the bandit who vanished fifteen years ago. The Mist-Riding Divine Lord is a disciple of the Green Phosphorus Five Poisons Sect. The Flying Yellow Divine Lord is a respected martial magnate among the righteous. The Ghost-Eating Divine Lord is not one person, but a group. The Sun-Chasing Divine Lord possesses peerless skill in identifying people and objects. The Pestle Divine Lord is a woman…”

Qian Chen approached Liang Dou’s body and saw no wound on his front—he lay peacefully, as if asleep.

Only when he turned him over did he see blood staining the green robe: a blade of extreme sharpness had pierced his heart from beneath the ribs, yet precisely without piercing through the chest.

To so easily breach a Master’s protective Gangqi , the weapon must be a divine blade.

Judging by the attacker’s stance—rising from below, thrusting upward through the soft spot beneath the ribs into the heart—the weapon must have been a dagger. Yet Qian Chen noticed a subtle inconsistency in the wound, and his spiritual sense also detected—Master Li Qianqiu’s face had flickered with unnatural tension when he saw Qian Chen moving Liang Dou’s corpse.

“He knows something!”

Qian Chen silently noted this. At that moment, someone objected to Qian Chen disturbing Liang Dou’s body—Xu Xiaoyang of the Righteous Mountain Villa snapped angrily: “Master Liang’s body is still warm, and it holds vital clues to the killer—how dare you touch it?”

Qian Chen gently laid Liang Dou’s body down and asked softly: “Is there any other physician present?”

Xu Xiaoyang glared at Qian Chen: “The Divine Physician Qi Qiuzi has not arrived—perhaps he was killed by the Twelve Zodiacs on the way. They plotted to attack the Four Seas Hall, so of course they’d fear a divine physician coming to save lives!”

“Then I’m the only physician here!” Qian Chen spread his hands: “If not me, who will examine the corpse?”