Chapter 121: Demon Head |
Heavy snow filled the sky, falling like goose feathers, completely shrouding Nine Waves Island in a vast expanse of white.
The rampant shouts of battle had diminished considerably. Between heaven and earth, only the wailing howl of wind and snow remained.
"With my spear technique reaching the perfection realm, my strength has improved quite a bit. If I were to face Tu Gang again now and unleash my full power, I could kill him in just a few moves."
Chen Qing sat cross-legged in the cabin of his brand new treasure ship.
Reaching perfection in a superior martial art required constant refinement and comprehension, something that couldn't be achieved overnight.
Although Nie Shanshan from Guishui Courtyard and Yan Yaoyang from Gengjin Courtyard were among the Five Heroes and Seven Talents, their sword and fist techniques had only reached major achievement, not yet perfection.
Just then, a burst of intense, brief sounds of clashing weapons and wails pierced through the wind and snow, coming from behind a stretch of jagged rocks not far away.
Chen Qing's brow furrowed slightly. His figure silently swept to the bow of the ship as he looked in the direction of the sounds.
He saw two groups fighting desperately on a relatively flat snowy area in the rocky zone.
The other side was a couple who looked to be in their thirties. The man wielded a heavy, plain saber with sweeping, forceful techniques. The woman used twin swords, her movements as nimble as a snake, her strikes cunning and ruthless.
Both had cultivations at the early embracing elixir strength stage. Their coordination was flawless, clearly having fought side by side for years.
Although the small family's retainers and guests outnumbered them, their individual strength was slightly inferior. The couple's combined attacks forced them into retreat.
Within the time it took to brew a cup of tea, four or five corpses already lay in the snow.
The remaining two or three saw things going badly. Their courage shattered, they turned to flee.
"Trying to run? Too late!" the saber-wielding man roared like a thunderclap.
He suddenly hurled his plain saber. The blade spun through the wind and snow, precisely impaling the back of one fleeing man's heart.
Simultaneously, the woman's movement technique closed in. The long sword in her left hand flashed with cold light, slitting another person's throat.
The last person was scared out of his wits. His feet slipped and he fell in the snow, only to have the man catch up and crush his skull with a stomp.
The battle ended extremely quickly.
The couple panted heavily for a few breaths, alertly scanning their surroundings. After confirming there were no more threats, they immediately began skillfully searching the bodies on the ground and the scattered packages.
They rapidly stuffed valuable gold and silver, small jade objects, several bottles of pills, and some faintly glowing ore into large leather pouches they had prepared in advance.
Their movements were so practiced it was chilling, clearly not their first time doing such things.
The woman seemed to sense something. She suddenly raised her head, looking to one side.
"Let's go quickly!" the man said in a low voice tinged with tension.
Just as the two were about to shoulder their pouches and flee, several hidden weapons shot out from the forest.
"Swish swish swish!"
They were poison-coated throwing darts, coming from tricky angles, aimed directly at the couple's backs, waists, abdomens, and lower bodies.
"Watch out!"
The husband's eyes nearly split with rage. He roared and violently pushed his wife toward a nearby snowdrift!
At the same time, he wildly swung his plain saber, trying to block.
"Pfft!" One dart grazed past his shoulder blade, drawing a line of blood but when he pushed his wife down, the heavy leather pouch slipped from her hands and fell in the snow. The gold, silver, jewels, jade objects, and ore spilled out, glittering with tempting yet deadly light on the snow.
"Hahaha! What a fine pair of 'Life-Stealing Mandarin Ducks'," a sinister voice rang out.
Several figures emerged from the forest. The leader was a one-eyed man with a lean build and a cold smile on his face.
"'One-Eyed Tiger' Tian Ban'an!?"
When the couple saw who had come, their hearts jumped in shock.
Tian Ban'an's figure flashed as he charged at the two. The long sword in his hand transformed into cold stars, striking at the man's heart and throat.
Seeing this, the woman hesitated and struggled for a moment before gathering up the wealth on the ground and fleeing in panic toward the distance.
"Chase her quickly!"
Seeing this, Tian Ban'an's offensive became even more ferocious, not holding back in the slightest.
Hearing this, the people behind him quickly rushed toward the woman.
Within a few moves, the man died under Tian Ban'an's sword. Then he quickly gave chase.
Chen Qing watched this, his eyes narrowing to slits. Among the exposed wealth, he had spotted an inner armor.
Quite valuable!
Just then, another group of people charged out from the other side of the rocks.
"Quick, chase them! There's a lower-grade treasure weapon level inner armor inside."
Several black-clothed figures pursued in the direction the woman had fled.
Chen Qing shook his head secretly, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. But who knows if there isn't a slingshot beneath the tree? On Nine Waves Island now, countless hidden slingshots lie in wait, ready to harvest the orioles who think they've profited."
Nine Waves Island had now become a flesh-grinding mill. The scene before his eyes was merely a small glimpse of the chaotic slaughter.
The initial objective was to exterminate water bandits and the remnants of the Zheng family. But when enormous wealth was exposed before their eyes, greed completely ignited everyone's bestial nature.
Kill water bandits, kill Zheng family members, kill competitors, kill everyone standing in the way of wealth... Human greed was shown to its fullest here.
Chen Qing looked no further, quietly returning to the waterway he was guarding.
His main purpose this time was to guard the waterway. He didn't want to provoke all this fighting and killing.
The wind and snow grew heavier, almost freezing the entire waterway solid.
The next morning, the wind and snow abated slightly, but heaven and earth remained covered in silver, the cold piercing to the bone.
The sound of ice-breaking ship passage came from the waterway entrance.
A slightly worn small fast ship carrying three men approached.
The three had clearly also gained abundant harvests. Several bulging packages were piled on the deck. They wanted to quickly escape this place of conflict.
One of them said in a low voice, "Big brother, once we pass the waterway ahead, we'll be outside Nine Waves Island's waters."
"Hurry!"
The scarred leader also showed a trace of joy.
In the next moment, the three felt their hair stand on end.
Boom!
A cold, sharp spear qi shot from the distance, heavily smashing into the water surface and splashing up countless droplets.
"Who!?"
The three were greatly shocked, looking toward the direction the spear qi had come from.
Chen Qing stood at the bow. Wind and snow stirred his robes as he said, "Five Terraces Sect is clearing out Demon Sect remnants and guarding this passage. Leave fifty percent of the wealth on your ship as passage money, and you may proceed."
"Fifty percent!? Kiss my ass!"
One of them flew into a rage, "A wet-behind-the-ears brat dares to learn from others and collect passage..."
"Shut up!"
The scarred leader coldly shouted at his brother.
Having walked the jianghu for many years, licking blood from his blade, his intuition for danger was extremely keen.
Though this waterway appeared to be guarded by only one person, that person was likely a truly tough opponent!
Nine Waves Island was now a man-eating demon cave that didn't spit out bones. To lose one's life by kicking an iron plate over a bit of wealth was absolutely not worth it!
He forcibly suppressed the greed and ferocity in his heart, cupping his fists toward Chen Qing, "This... brother, my brother was rash just now. Please don't take offense. This humble one is Liu Hou from Changping County. I brought two worthless brothers to respond to the bandit suppression order, trying to make a living. We were fortunate enough to obtain some water bandit relics."
He pointed at the packages on the ship, "Five Terraces Sect is clearing out the Demon Sect here, maintaining order. A small token of appreciation, please consider it buying you and your honorable sect a cup of warming wine. We humbly request your convenience."
As he spoke, he turned without hesitation and personally dragged two packages from the ship. With a strong throw, they landed steadily on the deck of Chen Qing's treasure ship.
The packages hit the deck with a dull thud, their weight substantial.
"This is fifty percent! Please accept it, brother!"
Scarred Liu's posture was very humble, but deep in his eyes lurked a trace of heartache.
Chen Qing nodded slightly, stepping aside to clear the waterway. His voice remained flat, "Pass through."
Scarred Liu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly cupping his fists, "Many thanks, brother!"
Then he fiercely glared at the two brothers behind him who still seemed somewhat indignant, barking in a low voice, "Why aren't you setting sail! What are you dawdling for!"
The fast ship quickly started up, carefully passing by Chen Qing's treasure ship before soon disappearing at the end of the winding waterway.
Chen Qing opened the packages to check. Their value was roughly several thousand silver taels.
Near noon, the wind and snow gradually lessened.
Shen Xiuyong, hands clasped behind his back, leisurely steered his treasure ship over.
He had originally come to see if any fat sheep had passed by Chen Qing's way, while also following up on the debt from those three Thunderbolt Fire Seeds.
When his gaze fell on Chen Qing's brand new treasure ship and the packages on the deck, those lazy eyes instantly went wide.
"Hmm!?"
Shen Xiuyong's figure flashed, appearing beside Chen Qing's ship. He looked up and down at this treasure ship with its smooth, new lines, then at the several obviously valuable packages piled on the deck. The corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
"Good lad!"
Shen Xiuyong walked half a circle around the ship, clicking his tongue in wonder. His tone was full of surprise and teasing, "Just one night, and you've upgraded from shotgun to cannon! This ship... tsk tsk, ironheart wood with cold iron reinforced dragon bone. The rudder mechanism looks even newer than mine. From the Zheng family treasury, right? And these..."
He pointed at those packages, "Quite a harvest! No less than what I get squatting on the main waterway for a day! Confess honestly, did you catch a big fish last night?"
Chen Qing had long since concealed his aura. Hearing this, he merely cupped his fists, "Elder Shen jests. Last night the wind and snow were too heavy. I only encountered a few waves of reckless stragglers trying to force their way through. This disciple imitated the elder's method, having them leave some passage money. As for this ship... this disciple was lucky and picked up an ownerless broken ship in the waterway. After some minor repairs, it can barely be used. It doesn't compare to the elder's vessel."
"Picked up? Broken ship?" Shen Xiuyong rolled his eyes, clearly not believing.
He stared suspiciously at Chen Qing for a long while, as if trying to see something on that calm face.
Chen Qing's gaze remained calm, allowing him to scrutinize.
He still had a medium-grade treasure weapon saber that he hadn't taken out.
As for Wang Zhenshan and Zheng Da, he would never voluntarily mention them. Being involved with Zheng family remnants and the Wang family that secretly communicated with them would cause no small trouble. Making a fortune quietly was the way to go.
Shen Xiuyong couldn't spot any flaws after a long time and could only give up on questioning.
"Fine, fine. You had good luck, kid. But..."
He changed the subject, smiling as he held up three fingers, "Luck is luck, but accounts must be settled clearly. Young Chen, those three Thunderbolt Fire Seeds of mine, thirty-three thousand bright silver taels, when do you plan to repay them? I'm waiting for that silver to feed myself."
Chen Qing had long calculated in his heart. He immediately bowed, his attitude extremely respectful, "Elder Shen, please rest assured. How would this disciple dare delay repaying the elder's silver? It's just that we're currently in a dangerous place, and carrying such a large sum is inconvenient. When this matter is concluded and this disciple returns to the sect or the fishing ground, I will certainly gather the silver at the first opportunity and personally deliver it to the elder's hands, not a penny short! I absolutely dare not keep the elder waiting long."
Shen Xiuyong stared at Chen Qing for a few seconds, asking, "You're not planning to renege on the debt, are you?"
"This disciple wouldn't dare." Chen Qing bowed again.
"You'd better not dare!"
Shen Xiuyong waved his hand, seeming somewhat disinterested, "Fine, continue guarding here. Be sharp, don't capsize in a gutter. If there's 'big business,' contact me with the paper figure!"
Finished speaking, he paid no more attention to Chen Qing's new ship and wealth, heading toward his own waterway.
In the afternoon, far fewer people came out, and those entering the island were even more scarce.
Chen Qing knew that after several rounds of slaughter, there were probably no more small fry left on the island.
Next, he would need to be even more careful and alert.
Now, anyone able to emerge from Nine Waves Island had their hands stained with fresh blood.
…
Deep within Nine Waves Island, in a dense forest.
Song Ming clutched a bone-deep saber wound below his ribs, leaning against a tree trunk and gasping violently.
His face was pale as paper, his lips dry and cracked.
Just half a joss stick ago, he and two other Lihuo Courtyard disciples had been ambushed by a group.
Those two had fought to the death to cover his retreat. Now they were two stiff corpses in the nearby snow.
"Almost got planted there."
Song Ming spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.
After confirming there were no more threats, he endured the severe pain and staggered toward those two fellow disciples' corpses.
His movements were nimble as he searched them, quickly pulling out several blood-stained pouches and a small bag of scattered gold and silver.
Then he turned to the other corpses nearby, stuffing all the valuable items into his own bosom: jade thumb rings, gem-encrusted short daggers, several bottles of pills, even a jade pendant of decent quality.
"How could guarding a waterway compare to such gains?"
Song Ming's eyes flashed with brilliance, "Once I've saved enough silver, I'll buy a Breakthrough Meridian Pill. Then I'll have a forty percent chance of breaking through to mid-stage embracing elixir strength."
Thinking of this, his heart burned with passion.
Meanwhile, on another side near the stronghold ruins.
The Lihuo Saber in Xiao Ruize's hand surged with true qi, the blade wrapped in scorching air currents.
The blazing saber qi transformed into a roaring fire dragon, instantly slaying two resisting water bandits before him.
"Ahhh...!"
Miserable screams accompanied the smell of scorched flesh spreading through the air.
The two water bandits' bodies erupted in flames as they struggled and fell to the ground.
Lin Wei's figure appeared behind another water bandit.
The Mysterious Water Snake on her arm silently shot out, transforming into a dark blue cold light that precisely bit the water bandit's nape.
Terrifying cold poison instantly invaded. The man didn't even have time to groan before he fell rigid, white frost rapidly forming on his skin.
"Senior Brother Xiao, left side cleared!"
Lin Wei's voice was cold as she retracted the Mysterious Water Snake.
True qi formed a thin protective shield around her. Snowflakes that landed on it quickly melted.
Just then, a Lihuo Courtyard disciple hurriedly said, "Senior Brother Xiao, we've discovered Zheng Hui's whereabouts over there!"
"Quick! Chase him!"
Hearing this, brilliant light flashed in Xiao Ruize's eyes.
You must know that Zheng Hui was Zheng Yuankui's legitimate son. The Zheng family's precious treasures should all be on this person.
Lin Wei and the others were also greatly moved.
Then Xiao Ruize's group leaped toward the direction Zheng Hui had fled.
This last legitimate descendant of the Zheng family had torn brocade robes and disheveled hair. A bone-deep saber wound on his chest was gurgling blood, staining the snow beneath his feet red.
Like a startled bird, he fled in panic along a hidden path.
"Zheng Hui! You can't escape!"
Xiao Ruize shouted sternly, his voice like thunder, shaking the accumulated snow from the surroundings.
Lihuo true qi erupted beneath his feet. His speed suddenly increased. In a few leaps, he had closed to within ten zhang behind Zheng Hui.
Lin Wei and three other early embracing elixir strength Lihuo Courtyard experts followed closely, forming a fan-shaped encirclement.
"Block him!"
Xiao Ruize swung his saber, pointing. A blazing saber qi broke through the air, sealing off Zheng Hui's left flank.
Lin Wei coordinated perfectly, waving her hand. The Mysterious Water Snake transformed into a dark blue cold gleam, shooting straight at Zheng Hui's right leg.
The other three also employed their methods. Sword qi and fist force wove into a net, instantly forcing Zheng Hui into a dead end with jagged rocks on three sides!
"Pff!"
Zheng Hui was shaken into spitting out another mouthful of fresh blood, staggering into the cold rocks.
With his back against the rocks, he stared fixedly at Xiao Ruize and the others closing in step by step.
"Zheng Hui, surrender!"
Xiao Ruize spoke, "Reveal where the Zheng family's secret treasures are hidden. Considering your Zheng family was once a prominent clan in Yunlin, we may leave you an intact corpse and preserve your Zheng family bloodline!"
The Zheng family's accumulation over several hundred years was definitely not limited to what was on the island.
The core wealth must be in the hands of Zheng Yuankui and his son. Now that Zheng Yuankui was dead, Zheng Hui was the only key!
"Heh... hehehe..."
Zheng Hui laughed miserably, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. But his eyes burst with bone-deep venom, "Secret treasures? You think you're worthy of knowing?"
Xiao Ruize's gaze turned cold. His patience exhausted, he said, "Since you refuse to see reason, then take your secrets to hell with you! Attack!"
At this critical moment!
An unexpected change occurred!
Standing to Zheng Hui's side, a Lihuo Courtyard disciple who had been silent the whole time suddenly flashed a strange blood gleam in his eyes!
"Pfft!"
A light sound, quick as an illusion!
That person's right hand formed a blade with his fingers. His fingertips wrapped in a thread of dark red force, piercing through Xiao Ruize's back without warning.
Xiao Ruize's face filled with incredulous shock. He looked down at the dark red force-wrapped finger protruding from his chest before heavily falling to the ground.
This change was too sudden!
"Junior Brother Wang!? What are you doing!?" Lin Wei's expression changed drastically as she cried out.
That Junior Brother Wang withdrew his bloody finger, bringing up a trail of afterimages.
He flicked his left fingers, sending three condensed blood-colored finger forces like poisoned needles, silent yet swift as lightning, shooting toward the other two Lihuo Courtyard disciples.
Two finger forces precisely penetrated their brows!
Instantly killing two people!
"You, you're not Junior Brother Wang!"
Lin Wei felt a suffocating bloody murderous aura rushing at her face. The blood in her entire body seemed about to freeze.
She desperately urged her true qi. At the same time, the Mysterious Water Snake struck out again in a final struggle.
"Crack! Crack!"
The blood force claws destroyed layer after layer of ice shields with overwhelming force!
"Pff!"
The Mysterious Water Snake was precisely caught at its vital seven inches by the blood claw. The snake's body was instantly crushed by the terrifying blood force!
"No...!"
Lin Wei's pupils contracted sharply as she screamed in despair.
The blood claw penetrated her protective true qi without obstruction, viciously gripping her slender neck!
"Crack!"
A teeth-aching sound of bones breaking rang out.
The light in Lin Wei's eyes instantly extinguished. Her body fell limply, her neck twisted at a grotesque angle.
In the span of a lightning flash, several of Five Terraces Sect Lihuo Courtyard's most outstanding disciples of this generation were slaughtered like dried weeds by the newcomer's thunderous methods.
Zheng Hui leaned against the cold rocks, witnessing this bloody and shocking scene, completely stunned.
"You?"
'Junior Brother Wang' tore off the human skin mask on his face, revealing an aged countenance.
"Zuo Feng!?"
Zheng Hui's voice trembled.
He never imagined that in this desperate situation, it would be this Demon Sect villain who had acted to save him!
Zuo Feng slowly turned around, shaking off the blood on his hands, an evil smile on his face.
Zuo Feng said coldly, "The Zheng family matter happened too quickly. The altar master and other protectors were all in seclusion cultivating, so they couldn't arrive in time."
His tone was very flat, making it impossible to tell if it was true or false.
"It was all the Liu family fanning the flames behind the scenes. Otherwise, how could the four major sects have investigated so quickly!?"
Hearing this, Zheng Hui said through gritted teeth, "I, Zheng Hui, swear to heaven that if I can escape this predicament, I will repay this blood debt! Tear them into ten thousand pieces!"
He struggled to stand, bowing deeply toward Zuo Feng, "Protector Zuo's life-saving grace, Zheng Hui will never forget! As long as the protector can rescue me, all the wealth, manuals, and precious medicines in my Zheng family's secret vault will belong to the protector! Zheng Hui is willing to serve the Demon Sect like a dog or horse, only asking to be able to kill every member of the Liu family with my own hands!"
"Hehehe..."
Zuo Feng let out a low laugh, extending his hand to symbolically support Zheng Hui, "Young Master Zheng speaks too seriously. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Your Zheng family and our Demon Sect should share a common hatred."
"The Liu family? They're nothing but jumping clowns."
"This place isn't suitable for staying long. We should leave quickly."
Zheng Hui nodded heavily.
Zuo Feng grabbed the severely injured Zheng Hui. His figure flashed and instantly vanished from the spot.
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