Chapter 42: Live Capture

Xu Jin had ridden horses in his previous life.

But usually someone held the reins; he wanted to gallop freely, but was forbidden, told he must first learn from a professional wild-riding instructor and wear full protective gear.

Back then, Xu Jin had wanted to try, but the price was too shocking.

Xu Jin never expected that in this world, he would finally fulfill his dream of wild riding.

The steed went from a slow trot to a full gallop in just ten minutes.

But after the thrill of speed passed, those ten minutes shattered Xu Jin’s wild-riding dream—he no longer wanted to ride, not one bit.

Not afraid.

But it hurts.

His thighs were raw, his buttocks were bruised, and every so often, his testicles took a brutal jolt, making him feel like he’d vomit his breakfast.

And this was with stirrups and a saddle.

The horse was a one-star war steed trained by a Beast Tamer—its strength lay in endurance, twice that of an ordinary war horse, with only a slight edge in speed.

That slight edge meant even more jolting.

Less than half an hour after leaving the city, all the disciples were stiff as boards, teeth clenched, none knew how long they could last.

Niu Gui whispered to Xu Jin from the front; Xu Jin pulled the reins to a stop. “Rest in place for fifteen minutes.”

The group groaned as they tumbled off their mounts, dramatically rubbing their legs.

But Niu Gui silently gathered all the horses together, giving them water and feed. Qian Xiaohu, surprisingly, helped him as if nothing had happened. Xu Jin watched, lost in thought.

A few minutes later, Niu Gui came over.

“When we ride again, use your waist and back, but don’t tense up—stay loose. By the time we reach Heshui County, you must retain full combat readiness.”

“We’ll reach Heshui County in one hour, before dark. At that time, the Chunyu Bureau will deliver the target information. Follow orders exactly,” Niu Gui said.

Chunyu Bureau?

Xu Jin had heard of it.

The official intelligence agency of Chen Guo—obscure in public reputation, but rumored to be everywhere. Beyond that, Xu Jin knew almost nothing.

After all, he’d only been in this world for three months; his knowledge beyond Jinshan County was minimal.

But with Chen Guo’s Chunyu Bureau involved, this mission was clearly not ordinary.

Like in his past life—capturing a common criminal never required the State Security Bureau.

“Big Brother Niu, what does the Chunyu Bureau do?” Qian Xiaohu, of low origin and limited information-gathering ability, asked casually.

“They handle intelligence gathering.”

Niu Gui chuckled in explanation—he clearly liked Qian Xiaohu. “From now on, execute only the mission. Don’t listen, don’t ask, don’t speak. Violators will be dealt with under military law.”

His tone had turned deadly serious by the end.

A reminder—and a warning—to the entire squad.

While resting, Xu Jin, with nothing else to do, focused inward on his Star Palace, continuing to solidify the Chengpo Star Pattern.

He didn’t yet know what lay ahead—better to solidify it while he had time.

Though his legs ached, his buttocks throbbed, and his testicles still hurt, Xu Jin’s riding skill improved rapidly.

Especially with Star Force—he possessed immense strength and precise control over his body. To ordinary people, such danger meant nothing.

One man fell off his horse, then pulled himself back up using only his arms.

One hour later, the team stopped at a tea stall, twenty li from Heshui County’s gates. After drinking tea and resuming travel, Niu Gui mysteriously received intelligence from the Chunyu Bureau.

“Five targets total. Hong Li is the primary objective, but all five are likely connected. Hong Li is a Seventh Layer Meal of Mist cultivator. After we capture him together, we split up.”

“Review the target intel,” Niu Gui said, passing the report to Xu Jin.

Xu Jin glanced at it—and felt like his head would explode.

“Hong Li, Seventh Layer Meal of Mist, Incense Master of the Tianhe Gang. Entered Heshui County eight days ago. Committed twelve crimes: killed nine, raped and murdered four, sold twelve women—all under the guise of demonic acts. Gang size: seven to eight members. Three possess cultivation.”

“Zhao Zhen, formerly a child-snatcher in Heshui County. After Hong Li’s arrival, he was corrupted. Abducted countless children, forcibly broke into five households at night, stole silver, kidnapped women for sale, then slaughtered all remaining elderly and weak.”

“Liu San, former government office runner in Heshui County. Corrupted by Hong Li, committed crimes under demonic guise. Broke into three homes in one night, slaughtered Liu Zheng’s entire family, then seized their land and wealth.”

After reading the report, everyone’s expression turned grim.

They lived in Jinshan County City, where order was relatively good—but they hadn’t imagined how bad things had become in other counties.

Under the banner of “demonic acts,” they burned, killed, and looted without restraint.

Meanwhile, government forces were all deployed to the wilds hunting demons. Many crimes were covered up—evidence destroyed, witnesses killed—leaving cases unsolved.

But the root of it all was Hong Li, Incense Master of the Tianhe Gang.

Only after Hong Li arrived in Heshui County did the demonic crimes spike.

This triggered a sudden insight in Xu Jin—he sensed the true objective of this mission, but lacked supporting evidence.

Before nightfall, the group reached Heshui County’s gates.

Niu Gui waved his hand and led them straight to the county government office. In the gatekeeper’s stunned gaze, Niu Gui slammed a token onto the man’s face.

“Xunxing Guard on official duty. Thirteen war horses. Watch them. Lose one, lose your head.”

After speaking, Niu Gui turned and walked away. At that moment, a man in gray robes with a wide-brimmed hat emerged from a corner beside the government office. Xu Jin spun around sharply, alert—then Niu Gui waved. “Follow him. He’s the Chunyu Bureau’s guide.”

Through streets and alleys, the guide led them to a well-maintained estate.

“They’re all inside. Half an hour ago, a large amount of food and wine was delivered—enough for at least fifteen people. But there are likely women held captive for their amusement.”

“Hong Li’s group numbers at least seven, but no more than ten,” the guide said.

Hearing this, Niu Gui glanced at the team and ordered, “Hong Li must be taken alive. The rest—dead or alive. Resist, and be cut down.”

Xu Jin tightened his pack, drew his longsword in one swift motion, signaling he was ready.

Xu Jin had assumed they’d sneak in.

But the next instant, Niu Gui kicked open the main gate. “Go!”

Boom!

As the gate shattered, Niu Gui and Xu Jin charged in with the squad. Inside the main hall, chaos erupted. The hall’s front door flew open, revealing a bare-chested man who froze in shock.

The next moment, he roared.

“Boss! Xunxing Guard! It’s the Xunxing Guard!”

This one has experience.

Clashing weapons rang out. When the squad burst in, they saw ten bandits already armed. In the opposite corner, seven naked women huddled together.

One could imagine what they’d been doing.

The two sides faced off—neither side struck first.

Xu Jin stepped forward. “Who is Hong Li?”

No one answered. But the other nine bandits all turned their eyes to one man—a long-faced brute wielding a demon-headed greatsword, his triangular eyes radiating viciousness.

“Found him!”

“Kill!”

As Xu Jin spoke, he and Niu Gui lunged simultaneously—but their targets differed.

Niu Gui charged Hong Li. Xu Jin targeted another bandit whose body shimmered with starlight.

The rest also chose their targets and charged.

After days of training against death-row convicts, none hesitated now.

Xu Jin’s target was a Fifth Layer Meal of Mist bandit. Starlight glowed faintly from his neck down. Seeing Xu Jin charge, he showed no fear.

Hong Li glanced once and sneered. “Brothers! Since the Xunxing Guard came, break out! Don’t worry—they’re all weaker than me!”

One slash sent Xu Jin reeling—but he rolled, surged forward again, channeled Star Force, and unleashed a flurry of slashes.

As he shifted his momentum, he unleashed a Star Ring.

The Star Ring expanded slightly over a meter, just enough to stagger the bandit and perfectly complement Xu Jin’s attack.

Xu Jin pressed the advantage, relentless slashes—each strike fueled by the Five Directions Killing Blade’s momentum, each one releasing a basic Star Ring.

He overwhelmed the bandit, forcing him into panic.

This was one success from three days of brutal training—launching a basic Star Art during offense.

Of course, this required mastery of the Five Stars Killing Fist.

Everyone present except Xu Jin had failed to achieve this.

After three strikes, Xu Jin’s left hand unleashed the Five Stars Killing Fist, firing a basic Star Arrow simultaneously.

The bandit, struggling to block Xu Jin’s Star Rings, never expected the sudden, lightning-fast Star Arrow.

The Star Arrow struck the bandit’s body—starlight exploded instantly.

But the bandit had also channeled massive Star Force into defense.

No critical injury.

As the Star Arrow faded, the bandit staggered backward.

Xu Jin lunged like lightning—decapitated him.

After the first kill, Xu Jin didn’t pause. He spun like a whirlwind, slashed another bandit back, unleashed a Star Ring that sent him reeling, then charged forward again.

Second kill.

He rolled on the ground, lunged to Qiao Ruonan’s opponent, severed both legs, left him for Qiao Ruonan to finish, then charged at the fourth.

Third kill.

After three kills in quick succession, the remaining bandits were terrified—chaos erupted.

Once chaos set in, they were finished.

Soon, the fourth, fifth, and sixth bandits were slain.

Suddenly, Niu Gui let out a muffled groan as Hong Li slashed him back; he had failed to forge a Star Core in his youth and now possessed only the sixth layer of Meal-the-Mist cultivation.

“Watch out, he’s trying to escape!”

Qian Xiaohu and Song Ye, stationed at the door, lunged simultaneously at Hong Li as he tried to flee.

“Get out of my way!”

But Hong Li feinted, hurling his demon-headed great knife straight at Qian Xiaohu while his body lunged for the window.

He intended to smash through the window and escape.

Xu Jin, who was near the window, spun his body and blocked the path.

“Get out of my way!”

Hong Li roared and threw out a single punch; a star arrow shot forth like lightning toward Xu Jin.

Xu Jin slightly puffed out his chest; a star shield appeared, blocking the star arrow. As he slashed at Hong Li, he also unleashed a Basic Star Ring.

In that same instant, Niu Gui, having caught his breath, lunged forward and severed Hong Li’s left leg with one slash.

“Take him alive!”

Niu Gui cried out.

The next instant, Qian Xiaohu’s long blade swept past Hong Li’s neck, while Xu Jin slammed into him, driving a fist straight into the Star Pattern on Hong Li’s chest and detonating a burst of Star Radiance.

Boom!

Starlight exploded from the Star Pattern on Hong Li’s chest; as blood gushed from his mouth, the starlight around his body rapidly dimmed.

With his Star Pattern damaged, Hong Li could no longer draw upon Star Qi until it recovered.

First target captured alive!

(End of Chapter)