Chapter 122: I’m Not Pretending Anymore
The County Yamen burned down, why is Brother Chen so delighted?
Sun Xiao looked at Chen Shun’an strangely.
Then Chen Shun’an seemed to think of something, immediately restrained his expression, and his mouth drooped down again.
But near the County Yamen, there are still several Water Wells, why go far for the nearby Grit Well several streets away to fetch water for the fire?
But being in the Martial World, one has no choice.
Seeing Instructor Lin already heading to the County Yamen, Chen Shun’an hesitated slightly, then followed Sun Xiao and the others, pushing wooden buckets filled with Turbid Water, to the County Yamen.
The closer to the County Yamen, the more chaotic it became.
Rolling thick smoke choked people, making it hard to breathe, everywhere firelight and collapsed pillars.
Many Martial Artists and Runners ran shouting, all carrying wooden buckets, pushing Water Carts to various fire sources.
Chen Shun’an could clearly hear the sharp clashes of Weapons, the dull thuds of Qi collisions, and angry shouts from deep within the County Yamen, evidently the combat inside was exceptionally fierce.
Instructor Lin’s face was grave as he said to Chen Shun’an and the others,
“You just put out the fire outside, do not enter the County Yamen, if the situation turns bad, leave immediately! Understand?”
Instructor Lin felt the terrifying Intent pressure coming from the County Yamen, his hair standing on end, his body instinctively urging him to flee quickly.
Second-rate invincible Instructor Lin was now at the bottom of First-rate.
He couldn’t even intervene in the battle inside the County Yamen.
“Got it.”
“Don’t worry, Instructor Lin, we know our limits.”
“Quick, over there, someone is buried under the bricks and tiles.”
Sun Xiao and the others were also busy fighting the fire, carrying the wounded.
In the chaos, no one paid attention to Chen Shun’an, this little old man.
While splashing water, Chen Shun’an quietly observed the County Yamen gate.
The Eight Characters walls on both sides of the gate were blackened by smoke and fire, covered in cracks.
Even the stone lions at the gate seemed to have been cut by some sharp Weapon, broken into several pieces, the breaks remaining with terrifying Sword Intent.
Through the thick smoke, Chen Shun’an could clearly see figures flashing and darting up and down the Corridor and platforms behind the County Yamen gate.
Chen Shun’an’s thoughts raced, yet he pushed the Water Cart, using the thick smoke and crowd as cover, silently circling to the rear side of the County Yamen’s high wall, near the main hall where the County Magistrate worked.
Just one wall away from the main hall.
……
“A bunch of jumping clowns, thinking this can make me hesitate?”
In the County Yamen, Nie Zheng stood like a mountain.
His figure wasn’t exceptionally burly, but every inch of Muscle seemed to contain explosive power, surrounded by a formless yet heavy as mercury Intent, firmly locking onto the figures flashing in the firelight and thick smoke.
“Wang Herui isn’t here!”
“Zhao Kai and that dog official Erhe aren’t here either!”
In the thick smoke, Zhou Yiyong and Bai Manlou exchanged glances, their faces ugly.
According to the Sacred Dynasty’s standard official setup for ordinary counties, a County Yamen would have one Seventh Rank County Magistrate, overseeing the county’s documents.
Below him, an Eighth Rank County Magistrate, also called Deputy County Magistrate, managing agriculture encouragement, grain, water conservancy, etc.
Then the Ninth Rank Clerk, also considered Second County Magistrate, assisting the County Magistrate.
Then many From Ninth Rank, or even unregistered temporary workers not even counting as Officials.
So Wuqing County was actually controlled by these three true ‘Parental Officials’ in county affairs.
But logically, all three Officials should be working in the County Yamen today, even if not, at least one should remain?
How could they all be so coincidentally idle, off elsewhere amusing themselves?
The time is not with us!
This thought flashed through the minds of the Guo Lu Society crowd.
“Kill!”
The Guo Lu Society crowd roared and attacked together.
Bai Manlou’s Long Sword pointed diagonally, the tip trembling, buzzing nonstop, slashing out streaks of Sword Light, his figure suddenly vanishing from the spot.
Zhou Yiyong grinned fiercely, wielding a pair of huge octagonal copper hammers, bringing dull wind sounds, like thunderbolts, smashing down explosively.
Money Grabber’s two fingers together, fingertips faintly glowing jade color, Qi condensed, toes pointed, already before Nie Zheng.
“You don’t even know, after Slaying One Bandit, that despairing strength gap… Without Red Fifth Master, who can stop me?”
Nie Zheng didn’t even lift his eyelids, oblivious to the combined assault, neither dodging nor dispersing.
Hearing this, anger flashed in the eyes of the crowd.
“So arrogant…”
The one crouching on the wall, Formless and Shapeless, silently watching this side, muttered inwardly.
Nie Zheng merely slowly inhaled.
This inhale seemed to draw in the surrounding light and thick smoke into his chest, the Intent pressure around him surging violently, like a substantial tsunami, exploding outward!
Bai Manlou, first to bear it, felt his mind go blank, as if an invisible fierce god roared in his Sea of Consciousness.
He couldn’t help grunting, nearly falling from the Sword Light.
The others weren’t much better off.
“Clang—!”
Deafening metal clash exploded!
Sand and Stone flew wildly, Qi and Blood soared, this place seemed turned into a Qi and Blood furnace, even a Second-rate Martial Artist approaching probably couldn’t last several breaths.
Nie Zheng’s right arm shook out like a great spear, the Fist Intent condensed to the extreme and unmatched Gang Qi already erupting through the air!
The Guo Lu Society group retreated several steps together, faces instantly pale as paper, Qi and Blood churning wildly inside.
“Weak, weak, weak, too weak, is this your confidence… No matter how many ants, still ants.”
Nie Zheng shook his head.
“Lord Nie, I’ll assist you!”
“We’re here too!”
At that moment, several shouts came from outside the fire.
Several Chamber of Commerce Guest Officials and Gang leaders stepped through the firelight, leaping out eagerly.
They had actually arrived long ago, busy ‘fighting the fire’.
Seeing Nie Zheng gaining the upper hand, they hurried out to show Loyalty…
And conveniently show face to claim credit.
Looking at these people, Nie Zheng thought of something, his face suddenly changing drastically, shouting,
“Get away!”
Before the words finished.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several Martial World figures hidden outside the County Yamen lit pottery jars filled with oilcloth and fire pitch, swung their arms, and smashed them onto the County Yamen main hall.
Bang!
Firelight blazed, thick smoke rose again, quickly engulfing and obscuring the crowd’s figures.
Shadows flashed rapidly in the thick smoke.
Several breaths later, Bai Manlou, Zhou Yiyong, and the others vanished.
In their place, pairs of ‘twin brothers’ appeared before Nie Zheng.
The later First-rate Martial Artists stared shocked at the figures opposite them, identical in appearance and aura.
“He’s the fake!”
“He’s the fake!”
“I’m the real one!”
“I’m the real one!”
“Lord Nie, see clearly, don’t kill me!”×N
Nie Zheng flew into a rage.
His Intent probed out, carefully distinguishing the crowd before him, helplessly finding that the top Martial World Mysterious Item, Big Black Hat, was indeed extraordinary.
Its ability to steal breath and mimic form was unfathomable, even with his strength, he couldn’t spot any flaw.
“How about… kill them all…”
Killing intent flashed in Nie Zheng’s eyes.
At that moment, a majestic voice boomed—
“Guo Lu Society Red Fifth Master, today taking brothers home, any daring to block, kill—!!”
This voice instantly echoed half of Wuqing County, each word heavy as ten thousand jun, shaking the roof tiles.
The Guo Lu Society crowd was overjoyed, Wuqing County’s major forces and Chamber of Commerce First-rate experts fell silent.
Many storytellers mixed in the crowd were excited, blood boiling, quickly fetching ink brush and ink to write furiously, weaving this scene into the latest segment.
Even Chen Shun’an squatting on the wall was somewhat dazed.
First have Bai Manlou and others set the roof ablaze, luring the enemy to divide, diverting attention.
Then Red Fifth Master makes the grand entrance, single-handedly charging Vegetable Market Intersection.
Rough yet fine, truly a hero!
“Now!”
In the County Yamen, Bai Manlou mimicking another with stolen breath and form, seized Nie Zheng’s moment of distraction, eyes flashing with sharp light!
He abandoned the sword, folded two fingers.
All his Qi and Blood and Intent madly poured into this finger!
Coughing blood, he stepped forward, surrounding air instantly drained, a terrifying Sword Intent spreading, tearing open Nie Zheng’s surrounding Intent pressure.
Momentum unabated, stabbing forward.
Shared Flow Qi Sword!
“Hm?”
Nie Zheng uttered in surprise, face showing some gravity, hastily only managing to mobilize partial Gang Qi for protection.
Zhou Yiyong and the others also seized the chance, attacking together.
Bang!!
Sword Qi like a rainbow, grazed Nie Zheng’s cheek, drawing a trail of blood beads!
Nie Zheng like hit head-on by a charging giant elephant, Qi and Blood slightly disordered, sent flying back, successively smashing through several walls.
Finally amid rumbling crashes, he smashed a huge hole in the County Yamen’s tall courtyard wall, momentum unabated, piercing several streets and alleys, heavily crashing into the outer Alley.
In this process, his right hand subconsciously reached beside him, trying to find support or a meat shield.
Then, vaguely, he seemed to see an old man in worn cloth clothes, hair slightly white, somehow squatting on the wall, sneaky.
“You it is!!”
Ferocity flashed in Nie Zheng’s eyes, preparing to use this person as a human shield.
His five fingers clawed fiercely, like an eagle preying!
Then…
Didn’t grab.
Rumble!!
Bricks and stones rolled, dust filled the air.
Nie Zheng staggered to the ground, somewhat dazedly looking at his empty palm.
Even with his aura unsteady, hasty strike, how could a mere ordinary Second-rate Martial Artist dodge?!
He subconsciously looked up, meeting Chen Shun’an’s slightly helpless face.
Chen Shun’an hunched and stooped, steadily holding a Gourd ladle full of clear water.
The clear water in the ladle didn’t spill a drop!
One Patrol Inspector from the public gate, one Water Carrier fighting the fire.
Their gazes met, the atmosphere somewhat strange.
“Forget it, since stealth failed, then Chen Mou… won’t pretend anymore.”
In the slightly quiet Alley, a faint sigh lightly sounded.
The next moment, Chen Shun’an’s originally hunched body seemed to infinitely straighten, a terrifying pressure making Nie Zheng’s soul tremble, nearly unable to breathe, like an ancient beast awakening, slowly emanating from his body!
“Slay, Slay Four Thieves…”
Nie Zheng’s pupils shrank to pinpoints, mouth agape in a daze, mind sluggish, face full of disbelief.
Nie Zheng had said it right.
First-rate Realm, even Slaying One Bandit brings a despairing strength gap.
Chen Shun’an diligently cultivated, day and night without cease, even taking loans…
Wasn’t it all for today?
Cross-realm reversal.
