Chapter 204: One Against Many
Old acquaintance?
Does my Guo Lu Society have any old acquaintances in the Capital City?
Moreover, at this critical juncture, others are all distancing themselves from the Guo Lu Society, afraid of being implicated. Who would take the initiative to visit?
Red Fifth Master was somewhat surprised.
Could it be…
Red Fifth Master vaguely thought of something, his gaze suddenly changed, and his usually calm-as-still-water mind rarely stirred with a few traces of excitement.
Is it that person?!
As he was thinking, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked toward the end of the snowfield, saying in a deep voice,
“Show yourself. You’ve been following me the whole way.”
Then, a gray-robed person emerged from a shadowy corner.
Followed by one figure after another, trailing closely behind.
Most had their faces covered with cloth, their muscles and bones shifted, their body shapes altered.
Only a few wore black official uniforms, figures of Wuqing constables, who showed no restraint and strode out boldly.
Red Fifth Master scanned the crowd and suddenly laughed, his laughter carrying a hint of mockery,
“Who would have thought that my Guo Lu Society is so hated? So many people want to kill me?”
A constable snorted coldly: “You lot disregard ethics and laws, disobeying the Sacred Dynasty’s decrees—naturally, anyone may slay you!”
Red Fifth Master laughed and said,
“Zheng Shicheng smuggled Hibiscus Paste Fire, causing such slaughter—you ignore it; Biao Shou Wo sells children and women into slavery, treating people as slaves—you ignore it; this person in my hands was cruelly poisoned, the culprit roams free outside the law—you ignore it, yet you insist on targeting my Guo Lu Society?”
The constable’s expression unchanged, he said,
“They have crimes, naturally the government offices and the court will handle them. When is it your place to interfere? Attack!”
The crowd said no more and charged forward together.
Then, a voice as clear as a bell suddenly came lazily from the tree top,
“Hey, hey, hey! You, Red Lao Wu, have some nerve, sneaking out like this without putting on the shackles—surrender without a fight?”
Zhang Xiangling was seen with hands on hips, leaping down from the tree, her toes just touching lightly, fast as lightning, appearing beside Red Fifth Master.
Xu Hong said nothing, following closely behind, his hand pressing on the broadsword at his waist, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a hint of intimidation.
The constables and others, seeing this person, halted their steps in shock and uncertainty, not daring to advance.
Sneaking out?
Wasn’t it you who deliberately let him out!
Red Fifth Master remained silent, grabbing the shackles from his waist and locking them back on his neck, then quietly stood behind Zhang Xiangling.
Seeing this, Zhang Xiangling clapped her hands in satisfaction and then looked at the crowd, saying,
“I intend to bring this villain back to Tongzhou City for trial proposed by the Shuntian Prefecture East Route Hall Prefectural Governor. Gentlemen, no objections?”
The crowd fell into collective silence.
This Shuntian Prefecture East Route Hall Prefectural Governor—isn’t he a Zhang Clan descendant?
It seems he’s Zhang Xiangling’s grandfather.
Who could have objections?
Seeing no one refute, Zhang Xiangling’s expression turned stern.
Her gaze swept over everyone present, lingering a bit on those masked gray-robed people, as if trying to see who was under the clothes.
“As soon as Red Lao Wu fled, you all followed immediately. I have reason to suspect you’re after the credit, disregarding my Zhang Family’s authority!”
Zhang Xiangling shouted righteously,
“A bunch of cowardly rats hiding your faces—let me see your true faces!”
With that, a fanatical battle intent flashed in Zhang Xiangling’s eyes, and a pure martial dao will surged forth. Merely looking at it stung the eyes and seized the mind; before the fight even began, their vigor waned, leaving only seven or eight tenths of their full strength.
Her figure rose and leaped, the hem of her tight-fitting clothes sweeping over the snowfield, her fist carrying a whistling wind as she boldly charged toward the crowd.
To fight the many alone.
“Come at me!”
……
In the quiet room, a furnace of pine smoke burned, its faint fragrance swirling around the beams.
Chen Shun’an sat cross-legged on the cushion, Ran Yi Calming Water turning into a cool sensation that flowed through his limbs and bones.
Like falling into an immortal dream, a short hour of deep sleep swept away the fatigue from last night’s night fishing to subdue demons and practicing cultivation to slay thieves.
Opening his eyes, a flash of essence light swept through them, illuminating the quiet room brightly enough to scorch, but the next instant it dimmed again, returning to turbidity and world-weariness.
“Qi and blood have progressed a bit more. The five thieves of body, ear, eye, nose, and tongue that I slew have come roaring back, but the frequency of obscuring my spiritual platform is decreasing. I can proceed to slay the mind thief—true intent perfection.”
Chen Shun’an exhaled a breath of turbid qi, like a dragon’s shallow roar echoing in the quiet room, lingering for a long time before slowly dissipating.
Moreover, after slaying the six thieves comes the true intent perfection realm.
The only passage to martial dao grandmaster is ‘yin dregs exhausted, corpse qi extinguished’.
There is no such thing as further tempering qi and blood or growing intent.
Muscle strength, jade tree, and true intent—the three refinements have reached the limits allowed by the human body.
Only by breaking through the passage, combining the three refinements, and stepping into grandmaster realm can human strength leap to a new level.
So, theoretically, as long as one can surpass the ‘yin dregs exhausted, corpse qi extinguished’ passage ahead of time.
In the instant of slaying and extinguishing the six thieves, one could cross two realms directly, breaking through to martial dao grandmaster realm.
But this is almost a pipe dream; in the nine-hundred-year Changbai Sacred Dynasty, and even earlier ancient dynasties, it has never happened.
His thoughts turned, and he glanced at the information in the corner of his vision.
【Wish+224】
【Wish: 992—>1216】
Most of the wish came from the Crouching Tiger Well, Sweet Dew Lottery, and daily life water distribution.
However, yesterday’s subduing of a group of lesser demons also contributed over ten points of wish.
Chen Shun’an slowly stood, changing into a robe.
This robe was the one gifted by the banner officer yesterday, in the style of Martial Arts Hall practicing cultivation clothes, with ‘Tongming Envoy’ embroidered on the chest.
The texture was light and soft, clearly top-grade cloth, especially with excellent waterproofing, like duck feathers.
Lu Jing had already left seclusion today and sent word for everyone to gather at the Three Forked Road dock to board the ship together and head to the bay where the Grand Canal Porpoise was.
But as soon as Chen Shun’an stepped out, he saw Warehouse Keeper Fang standing under the corridor, snowflakes on his cotton robe, hurrying over a few steps with a lowered voice,
“Shopkeeper Chen, something’s happened—Mo Long A Tai is dead.”
“What?” Chen Shun’an showed surprise and said,
“How did he die?”
“Unclear. This morning he was found frozen to death in the river channel. Leader Lu has already gone to see and instructed you all to go to the dock and wait; he’ll arrive shortly.”
At this, Warehouse Keeper Fang lowered his voice further and said,
“Be careful later—don’t anger Leader Lu. If it really comes to it… pretend to be ill!”
Mo Long A Tai had been extremely popular lately, especially for translating demon speech, which was what everyone hoped for.
Even Lu Jing thought highly of him.
And now, just as they were about to head to the Grand Canal Porpoise today, Mo Long A Tai died mysteriously.
Naturally, it sparked much speculation.
Could it be a rival in the trade who resented him and ambushed him?
But that was one thing.
Shopkeeper Chen came without assessment—if exposed, wouldn’t that be walking into the crosshairs?
Warehouse Keeper Fang had a headache.
And that banner officer probably had an even bigger headache.
By the time Chen Shun’an reached the dock, a tower ship was already waiting in the water.
Boarding the ship, Chen Shun’an saw Xiao Changping and the others, most already gathered on the deck.
“Shopkeeper Chen.”
“Brother Chen.”
There was not much tension in the air.
Seeing Chen Shun’an, most cupped their hands in greeting.
Even Xiao Changping nodded slightly to Chen Shun’an.
However, everyone found their own spots and stood apart, their mutual gazes filled with suspicion and distrust.
Clearly, Mo Long A Tai’s death had made everyone like startled birds, fearing the killer was among them.
“Lord Song, Chen Mou has arrived.”
Entering the tower ship’s wheelhouse, Chen Shun’an saw a man in a green robe with river algae patterns on the insignia, seemingly some kind of uniform, standing at the helm.
This man was a military officer from the Five Rivers Water Affairs Office named Song Qinghe, who would accompany them throughout the contact with the Grand Canal Porpoise, record the proceedings, and report to the Five Rivers Water Affairs Office.
Mainly to summarize the Grand Canal Porpoise’s habits, abilities, migration routes, etc.—in a sense, a ‘aquatic investigator’.
Not participating directly, just observing throughout.
“Oh, it’s Shopkeeper Chen…”
Song Qinghe smiled faintly, pointing to the saddle on the table, saying amiably,
“When approaching the Grand Canal Porpoise later, don’t shout loudly. When it calls your name, take the small boat and approach alone. This is the saddle… oh, and absolutely don’t bring weapons, in case you injure it by mistake.”
At this point, Song Qinghe paused slightly, his tone carrying a hint of goodwill as he said gravely,
“Also, you’d best bring some dried fish, preferably finely sun-dried precious fish like from Wan Ji River Goods Shop… that guy is sly as can be; if you don’t bring a gift, it won’t give you the time of day—might even spit on you.”
“Especially now that its tastes are spoiled—ordinary green scale fish or needle fish, it won’t even look at!”
Chen Shun’an took the saddle, listening to Song Qinghe’s instructions, his expression turning a bit odd.
Lazy and hating work, even bribery habits—passed down to monsters?
As for why Song Qinghe showed slight goodwill toward Chen Shun’an.
Simple reason.
The new landlord at Wuqing water station, Chang Liushui, was also from the Five Rivers Water Affairs Office and counted as Song Qinghe’s cousin.
Back and forth, Chen Shun’an naturally had some incense ties with Song Qinghe.
This was connections!
“Thanks for the advice, Lord Song—Chen Mou understands.”
Chen Shun’an cupped his hands, exited the wheelhouse, and returned to the deck.
He then asked a crew member to make a trip to the fish market to buy some fresh fish catch, quietly stashing it under the cabin.
To avoid detection by the others.
Cheating and backdoor dealings—Chen Shun’an was professional and felt perfectly justified.
In no time, Lu Jing’s figure appeared quickly at the dock.
With a gust of cold wind, Lu Jing landed on the deck.
“Set off, raise the sails!”
Lu Jing’s face was grave as he issued the order briskly and loudly.
Immediately, war drums boomed, beaten three times.
The crew raised the sails; especially at the bow near the water, there was a separate cabin where over ten martial artists held ice picks, great hammers, iron cudgels, and other long-handled tools, exerting full strength to break the ice.
The tower ship surged through the waves, smashing the ice river, steady as flat ground.
Martial artists, in this era, were the highest-efficiency production tools.
Seeing the inquiring looks from Chen Shun’an, Xiao Changping, and others, Lu Jing was silent for a moment before saying,
“Mo Long A Tai’s death has other causes, unrelated to you all. Just focus on taming the Grand Canal Porpoise.”
At these words, Xiao Changping and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
