Chapter 43: Swift and Ruthless
Zhang Zhiliang nodded. “That’s a wise idea, Junior Sister. Let’s go.”
Using the shadows of the night, the two quietly descended from the rooftop into the courtyard, planning to slip away through side streets and avoid becoming crossbow fodder. After all, no ordinary martial artist could contend with military weapons on the battlefield.
But just as the two black-clad figures, with their faces covered except for their eyes and brows, turned to leave… They suddenly saw a tall, handsome young Daoist standing silently in their path.
They both froze in shock. When had this person appeared in the courtyard?!
The young Daoist smiled at them warmly. “What are you two doing, sneaking around on my rooftop this late at night? Flirting?”
The pair had already been reaching into their robes, ready to pull out daggers and kill to silence. But at his words, their hands involuntarily stiffened. They glanced at each other, thrown off by his bizarre tone.
What is this guy talking about?!
But Zhang Zhiliang's expression hardened. He didn’t care whether this Daoist was acting dumb or being clever, their mission tonight for the gang could not be exposed. No matter what, this young Daoist had to die.
A flash of cold steel gleamed in Zhang Zhiliang’s hand as he lunged straight at Li Yanchu with murderous qi.
The two of them had been operating undercover lately, on a covert mission for their gang, hiding among the common folk. Though they had heard that Wei City was now home to masters like Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu, they never imagined that one of them would be this young man standing right before them.
Primordial Chaos Technique! Qqi shield!
Clang!
A finely forged steel dagger was blocked outright by the layer of qi shield around Li Yanchu’s body, emitting the sharp ring of clashing metal.
A look of shock appeared in Zhang Zhiliang’s eyes. This young man was actually a hidden master, one who had been concealing his strength all along. In an instant, he realized who this must be. It was none other than the most renowned young Daoist priest in all of Wei City.
Zhang Zhiliang immediately felt the urge to retreat. The fact that he was entrusted with such secret tasks within the gang proved that he was sharp and quick-witted. Now, facing an expert who had cultivated qi shield, he decisively backed away.
Wang Wanrong, afraid her senior brother might get taken down, feinted with her dagger at Li Yanchu’s eyes and followed up with a sudden, vicious kick aimed squarely at his groin.
But Li Yanchu’s qi shield covered his entire body. Unlike ordinary brute-force techniques that had weak points, his had no such vulnerabilities. Instead, that ruthless kick ended up injuring Wang Wanrong’s own foot.
“Trying to run?” Li Yanchu sneered, eyes locking onto the retreating Zhang Zhiliang.
Seeing his junior sister wounded, Zhang Zhiliang quickly made up his mind. He suddenly shoved Wang Wanrong toward Li Yanchu, then leapt toward the courtyard wall, attempting to escape.
“Senior Brother, you…!” Wang Wanrong let out a startled cry.
She hadn’t expected a powerful force to strike her from behind, sending her stumbling uncontrollably toward Li Yanchu.
Li Yanchu calmly caught her with one hand, and in the same motion, lashed out with a powerful strike into the air!
Divine Astral Hands, Old Ape Worships the Moon!
A sharp, searing pain tore through Zhang Zhiliang’s back. His body trembled violently as he spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, utterly defeated.
Li Yanchu glanced at Wang Wanrong on the ground and smiled lightly. “That senior brother of yours, not exactly a man of honor, is he?”
Though Wang Wanrong had been knocked down, her injuries weren’t serious. When she heard Li Yanchu’s words, she couldn’t help but glare viciously at Zhang Zhiliang.
Zhang Zhiliang showed no hint of shame, but that strike to his back had nearly killed him on the spot. His internal organs had shifted, his qi and blood were in complete disarray. His fear of Li Yanchu now ran deeper than ever.
He striked Zhang Zhiliang from a distance as he carried an invisible qi shield… The martial prowess of this young Daoist left Zhang Zhiliang shaken to his core. He now realized painfully that even their master, Ren Wanweng, might not be this Daoist’s match.
The thing Zhang Zhiliang regretted most in his life was listening to his junior sister and coming down from the rooftop. Had he run into the authorities instead, he might’ve had a slim chance of escape. But encountering this unassuming yet terrifyingly powerful young man? That was a death sentence.
Who would’ve thought that randomly picking a quiet rooftop to sneak around on would land them face to face with a once-in-a-generation martial expert? The man was so strong that they hadn’t even managed to withstand a single move. This was a hopeless situation, one where death was all but certain.
“Which gang are you from? And what are you plotting in Wei City?”
Li Yanchu didn’t carry the overbearing presence of a martial expert who looked down on the world. His demeanor was calm and gentle.
He seemed more like the boy next door casually greeting someone he ran into with, “Have you eaten?”
He was casual and relaxed. But it was precisely this attitude, so unlike the usual rough-edged demeanor of jianghu folk, that left Zhang Zhiliang and Wang Wanrong uncertain how to react.
They couldn't quite figure out what kind of temper this young Daoist had. For a moment, they were both silent.
Li Yanchu smiled faintly. “Seems I may not be suited for interrogation. Perhaps I should hand you over to the authorities and let them use their methods.”
At those words, Zhang Zhiliang and Wang Wanrong’s expressions changed dramatically, especially Wang Wanrong’s.
As a woman, she had never taken part in anything truly heinous within the gang. She had only gotten involved this time because Zhang Zhiliang invited a few of their fellow disciples to join.
She had some idea of the methods used by the authorities. Still, Wang Wanrong hesitated. To confess now felt like a betrayal of the Jianghu code, a breach of proper conduct.
Surprisingly, it was Zhang Zhiliang, who was usually seen as shrewd, capable, and fiercely loyal, who spoke first. “So long as you’re willing to spare my life, I’ll tell you everything.”
Li Yanchu thought for a moment and replied, “Very well. As long as you tell me everything clearly, I’ll let you go.”
A glimmer of joy appeared in Zhang Zhiliang’s eyes. He didn’t mention the fate of his junior sister, Wang Wanrong, at all. To him, she was just a woman, and the entertainment districts were full of those. Though Wang Wanrong was indeed beautiful, a real man couldn't afford to be held back by a woman.
Zhang Zhiliang's image of a good man had completely collapsed now. Even Wang Wanrong felt as if she were seeing her senior brother for the first time. Who would have thought he could betray their gang without a second thought?
The locations where they buried their items had all been personally determined by their gang leader. To preserve secrecy within the gang, these locations were instructed solely by the gang leader.
“Daoist Master, you must keep your word and spare my life,” Zhang Zhiliang said hesitantly, clearly still uneasy.
He didn’t mention Wang Wanrong at all.
Li Yanchu found this amusing and asked, “Have you forgotten your junior sister already? Aren't you going to plead for her as well?”
Zhang Zhiliang was momentarily startled but quickly responded with a flattering smile, “I’m merely seeking to save my own skin; how could I spare attention for her? Daoist Master, you may deal with my junior sister however you wish. Whatever she knows, I likely know as well, so it won't inconvenience you.”
Zhang Zhiliang's smile was ambiguous, carrying a hidden meaning.
Having spent years immersed in gang life, he inevitably became somewhat cunning. Moreover, he had followed Wang Wanrong and secretly observed where she had hidden their things.
“Zhang Zhiliang, you actually...” Wang Wanrong was choked with anger.
Li Yanchu felt even more amused. “You really are quite the character. Go ahead, speak.”
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