Chapter 182: Raiding The House!
“Pa-da!”
Firewood crackled and burned, emitting waves of warmth.
On the main road not far from the deep pit, many thatched sheds had been set up.
A crowd of martial artists gathered in groups of three or five, wrapped in cotton clothes as they waited by the campfire, rubbing their hands to warm themselves.
“Doesn’t that mean we’re stuck in this godforsaken place for two or three months?”
“Keep your voice down! What’s wrong with waiting here? Even those True Intent Masters and Leader Lu are staying put obediently, guarding until the Yin Sha Qi dissipates. You think you can just run off?”
“I’m not trying to run. Everyone else is slaying demons and treasure hunting at the Sancha River. How did us brothers end up stuck guarding the deep pit?”
“Why? Our strength is lacking, skill inferior to others! Enough talk. It’s time for shift change. Go rest first, and come relieve me in the latter half of the night.”
A sturdy old veteran of the martial world added more firewood to the fire, then took out his own strong liquor and sipped a shallow mouthful, holding the spicy alcoholic beverages in his mouth for a long time until the taste was completely gone before gulping it down.
Although this place was quite far from the deep pit.
But even the faint traces of Yin Sha Qi that occasionally drifted over made this group of martial artists suffer endlessly, as if swallowing mouthfuls of ice shards in the depths of winter, chilling them to the bone.
Not to mention the air was filled with the stench of rotting corpses and rust, just like a mass grave.
That damned Zhao Guanghui did all sorts of evil deeds, and even in death he’s still tormenting people like this!
After an unknown amount of time, nearing the latter half of the night.
Including this old veteran, many of the night-watch martial artists couldn’t help but doze off.
Suddenly, river wind hit him, and the old veteran shivered, instantly snapping awake.
He opened his eyes and saw the Yin Sha Qi swirling chaotically all around, as if blown apart by the wind, dissipating greatly.
The old veteran’s nose twitched suddenly: “Eh? That stench has faded too?”
No sooner had he spoken than the martial artist beside him jerked his head up, reached out to probe the air, then quickly pulled back, face full of shock: “Yin Sha Qi… it’s gone?!”
The crowd instantly erupted, all surging out of the sheds.
They saw the Yin Sha Qi that had originally shrouded the cave drifting upward bit by bit into the air; the black frost on the surrounding ground melted into water, and even the chill in the air retreated completely clean.
“Yin Sha… really gone?”
Someone rubbed their eyes and staggered forward a couple steps. Vaguely visible was the deep pit, originally bottomless and obscured by Yin Sha Qi, now revealing a corner of the collapsed underground palace.
“Wasn’t it supposed to take two or three months? How did it suddenly dissipate!”
Plop!
A heavy, slow footsteps sounded.
Lu Jing’s sleeves fluttered loudly as he appeared at the edge of the deep pit.
He looked at the bottom of the deep pit with some suspicion, then without hesitation, jumped in.
The Yin Sha Qi had not fully dissipated yet, but he seemed to have greatly advanced in strength. His clothing suddenly billowed in the wind, and under the flow of his force, it was like metal and iron. Crackling sounds rang out wherever he passed; the Yin Sha Qi could not approach, and wood and stone along the way were all shattered.
“Immortal fate, gone? Did Zhao Guanghui escape, or… did someone get there first?”
Lu Jing’s gaze was like lightning as he patrolled the underground palace.
Then, he stood before a corner, slowly bending down to touch the broken soil there. His fingertips felt not only cold stone fragments but also a lingering terrifying killing intent.
This place seemed to have just seen a great battle erupt.
A battle no less than the one just now, when he and the others had joined forces to surround and kill Zhao Guanghui.
But it had started and ended quickly.
Victory and defeat were decided.
Even through the broken soil and stones, from this lingering killing intent alone, Lu Jing could clearly sense that the owner of this killing intent had strength far above his own.
Zhao Guanghui was dead.
The immortal fate had been seized by another.
Realization dawned in Lu Jing’s heart.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Not long after, Liu Qingyi, Zhao Guangxi, and Qiu Chen returned.
The three of them had just arrived back at the public office at the Sancha River, about to rest briefly, heal their wounds, and sit in meditation, when they received the news from here.
Naturally shocked beyond words, they hurried back without stopping.
The three also used their respective methods to search the collapsed underground palace for a while.
Then they reached similar conclusions.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—someone had plucked the peach!
Liu Qingyi’s face flickered with uncertainty. He who held military authority and dominated Wuqing County for over a decade—even the county magistrate had to show him some respect.
He never imagined he’d be used as a gun by someone.
This was simply too outrageous!
However, this person had actually braved the Yin Sha Qi to probe the deep pit forcefully.
Whether relying on some other mysterious item or on his own strength and unique aptitude.
This level of ability left even Liu Qingyi secretly alarmed.
If it had been some petty clown using schemes and tricks to snatch the immortal fate.
Liu Qingyi would naturally mobilize the Wuguan Camp for a blanket sweep, vowing not to rest until capturing the culprit.
But…
“This person’s strength is no less than my own, at least at the Slay Five Thieves realm… just a bit shameless.”
Though Liu Qingyi was furious, he could console himself.
Zhao Guangxi’s expression was complex. For some reason, he inexplicably thought of someone.
Someone he had never met but who gave him a strangely familiar, as-if-known-before feeling.
“It couldn’t be him again… Could this senior really be one of the old undyings from my water station?”
Zhao Guangxi was even at a loss for words.
This old senior was like a persistent ghost.
Wherever Zhao went, he followed.
At it again?!
Qiu Chen glanced at the three with varied expressions and different thoughts, fell silent for a moment, then seemed to think of something. His face unchanged, he feigned helplessness and left.
But once away from the deep pit, he moved with extreme speed. His arms spread like a goose flying over grass, landing at the foot of the mountain, then holding a breath of internal breath as he headed toward Wuqing County.
The remaining three hesitated for an instant, then suddenly reacted and hurriedly chased after him.
Since the immortal fate was no longer up for grabs, Zhao Guanghui’s remaining family assets, money house, and shops naturally went to whoever got there first!
After all, it was a makeshift coalition—how could there be clear rules dividing who gets what, or any merit-based rewards?
Whoever raids the house first gets it all!
Among the four, Zhao Guangxi had the weakest martial path cultivation.
Even exerting all his strength, he was gradually left behind by the three, only able to watch them disappear at the end of the rugged mountain path.
“Damn it, these court dogs are always last to act but first to raid homes!”
Zhao Guangxi gnashed his teeth.
……
“Old Chen, where did you just go? We didn’t see you around.”
Lin Shou Zhuo looked at Lin Shou Zhuo who had popped up from who-knows-where, carrying an iron shovel, eyes full of suspicion.
He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but lately Old Chen seemed all mysterious.
The brother was still the same brother, unchanged in appearance or personality.
But occasionally, he gave Lin Shou Zhuo the illusion of facing a vast ocean abyss, filled with unease and heart-pounding dread.
And he was a True Intent Master, no less!
A full major realm above Chen Shun’an!
Even if Old Chen had a Three Refinements Martial Body and was a late bloomer, that only meant future potential!
But, but, why was this happening…
Lin Shou Zhuo felt somewhat bewildered.
The four leaders had each gone their separate ways.
The remaining martial artists naturally had to clean up the battlefield.
Especially the mountain of corpses and sea of blood in the underground palace, with severed limbs and broken arms—even these battle-hardened martial artists who had seen plenty of death found it shocking. Some young ones even turned green and vomited nonstop.
Lime for disinfection, smoke to ward off plague; weapons and utensils of any value were collected.
As for the corpses, by the rules, they wouldn’t be returned to families but uniformly burned.
Chen Shun’an glanced at Lin Shou Zhuo, said nothing more, fetched some wood, and with palm like a knife, shaved it into planks, simply nailing together a crude coffin.
Then, he placed Cheng Bin’s curled-up remains—now just a dry corpse—into the coffin.
Lin Shou Zhuo instantly fell silent, subconsciously reaching for the pipe at his waist but grasping empty air.
To avoid encumbrance today, he had traveled light and left the pipe at the Three Forked Road.
“Bury him. Old Cheng was afraid of fire.”
Lin Shou Zhuo said listlessly.
In principle, private collection of bodies was not allowed.
But to some extent, Chen Shun’an and Lin Shou Zhuo could stand in for principles.
Moments later.
Bajia Village, mass grave.
On a relatively flat, open plot of grave land.
A new mound rose.
No gravestone, no stone platform.
Chen Shun’an and Lin Shou Zhuo stood before the mound.
Children of the martial world live and die in an instant; no lavish funerals.
Besides, Cheng Bin left no inheritance, wasn’t local, and had only an elderly pair of parents far away in his hometown.
The poor can’t be buried richly, the rich can’t be buried poorly.
Being laid to rest in the earth was already quite generous.
Moreover, after hesitating, Chen Shun’an had brothers on the road pry open Huo Ning’s mouth, learned Xiao Man’s burial spot, retrieved her bones, and placed them in the coffin with Cheng Bin for joint burial.
As for Zhao Guanghui’s former lackeys like Huo Ning and others, they were naturally locked in shackles and confined.
Report to officials where needed, persuade surrenders where needed; as for those who mysteriously vanished, let them vanish.
Chen Shun’an didn’t need to worry about these trifles.
Lin Shou Zhuo just kept smoking bag after bag in silence.
Tonight his pipe addiction was acting up; before leaving, he’d even borrowed a pipe and several bags of tobacco from colleagues.
But for some reason, no matter how he smoked, it didn’t satisfy.
After a long while, Lin Shou Zhuo said gruffly,
“Old Cheng, next life, don’t go hopping around and end up a cripple again.”
Chen Shun’an poured a cup of fine wine before the mound, turned to survey the surroundings,
“Pine grove behind, little stream in front, morning glow in summer, snowscapes in winter. You’re getting a good deal.”
Chen Shun’an smiled and shook his head, then abruptly turned, jerked his chin at Lin Shou Zhuo, and said,
“Let’s go.”
“Go where?”
Chen Shun’an half-smiled: “There’s still one good show that hasn’t finished playing!”
……
Around three in the morning, Guanghui Money House.
Torchlight licked the night sky, illuminating half of Scarred Liu’s face in light and half in shadow.
His coarse short robe open, a ring-pommel saber with chilling gleam at his waist, fingers idly tapping the scabbard—each tap like striking at the heart.
At his side, Jiu Chan Hui in kasaya robes, hands clasped, murmuring sutras to himself.
All around the money house, a group of water carriers held sabers and spears; torchlight gleamed off the weapon tips, blocking front and back doors airtight. The firelight formed a red wall—no rat could escape.
From nearby homes and inn windows, many commoners watched the excitement eagerly.
