Chapter 396 306: Viper (2)

He decided that after he returned, he would have Tan Yong slowly purge Li Chen's men.

After chatting with Li Chen for a while longer, Wang Dahai bid his farewell and left.

Just as Wang Dahai closed the study door and turned to leave...

...a figure shot out from the corner, a hand blade chopping violently at his neck.

THUD!

Wang Dahai had no time to react before he was knocked unconscious.

"Who's there?"

Li Chen, who was inside the study, heard the noise and called out in alarm.

BOOM!!!

In the next moment,

the study's wooden door exploded violently, shattering into countless splinters.

A burly figure charged into the study. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed a palm strike that roared like a tempest, slapping viciously at Li Chen.

Li Chen never expected someone would be so audacious as to attack him in his own home.

Still, his reflexes were sharp. With a low shout, he raised his right hand and launched a palm strike of his own!

BANG!!!

The difference in power was overwhelming.

With a bloodcurdling scream, Li Chen's entire arm was pulverized into a fleshy pulp by the single palm strike.

The attacker then lunged forward, unleashing a heavy punch!

CRACK!!!

The punch slammed into Li Chen's chest.

A tremendous force instantly shattered his internal organs. The arm punched straight through his chest.

"You..."

Li Chen stared at the man in black before him, his eyes filled with venomous resentment and indignation.

But the man in black said nothing, simply pulling his arm free.

SQUELCH!

Li Chen collapsed onto the wooden floor, blood pouring from the wound as his body twitched uncontrollably.

Han Yuan's expression was calm after the kill.

'This bastard wanted to poison me. I couldn't possibly let him live.'

Just as he turned to leave the study, a furious roar echoed from the distance.

"To barge into my Li Mansion in the middle of the night and commit murder... you clearly have no respect for me!"

The furious shout erupted from the depths of the Li Mansion.

Hearing this, Han Yuan felt no sense of urgency. He had no intention of fleeing the Li Mansion and simply strolled out of the study.

At this moment,

a large number of Li Mansion Guards were frantically rushing toward the study.

But a single, aged figure was faster than them all!

It was an old man with his hair tied back. His face was weathered, and his skin was as wrinkled as tree bark.

As he landed in the courtyard, he saw a masked man in black ambling out of the study.

"Who are you?"

"Why have you come to my Li Mansion to commit murder in the middle of the night?"

Li Yongwang demanded coldly.

Han Yuan, of course, had no intention of answering. He pushed off with his feet and instantly charged his opponent.

"You're courting death!"

Li Yongwang was stunned by the man's audacity. He had revealed himself, yet the intruder still dared to attack!

With a furious roar, a powerful aura erupted from his body as he threw a punch!

BOOM!!!

The terrifying force of the punch erupted like a tidal wave, ripping up the grass and trees throughout the courtyard!

Even though Li Yongwang's vitality was in decline due to old age, the power of this punch was still astonishing.

Han Yuan met it with a punch of his own!

His fist was incomparably fierce, as if it could shatter the very heavens!

Celestial Spirit Tyrant Splitting Fist!

BOOM!!!

The instant Han Yuan threw his punch, the color drained from Li Yongwang's face.

But it was too late to pull back; to do so would be to welcome death.

All he could do was put everything he had into it, unleashing his Innate True Qi completely!

The moment their fists collided,

Li Yongwang let out a wretched scream. The terrifying Fist Aura erupted, completely crushing his aged body into a bloody mist.

The great patriarch of the Li Family was dead, just like that.

Just then, the Li Family Guards stormed into the courtyard, just in time to witness this very scene.

The bloody mist that was once Li Yongwang rained down upon their faces.

Han Yuan seized the opportunity to leap into the air and swiftly vanish into the night.

The Li Family Guards stood frozen in place, utterly stunned.

Their patriarch had been obliterated by this mysterious man in black with a single punch. None of them dared to chase after him and risk the same fate.

...

After the killings, Han Yuan burned his Night Clothes and cleaned the blood from his body before returning to the Great Demon's Headquarters.

「The next day.」

News that Li Chen and the Li Family patriarch, Li Yongwang, had been killed by a mysterious assailant spread through Changming Province City.

The citizens of Changming Province City were still unaware of Li Chen's dismissal and believed he was still the Deputy Supervisor of the Great Demon's Headquarters.

For such a prominent figure to be killed in his own home, and even for the Li Family's patriarch to be slain—who could have possibly done it?

However, those with inside knowledge quickly zeroed in on one suspect.

The people at the Great Demon's Headquarters, in particular, didn't even have to guess who was responsible.

They hadn't expected Han Yuan to be so ruthless.

Even after giving up his position as Deputy Supervisor, Li Chen still hadn't escaped his fate.

Even Tan Yong could only give a wry smile when he heard the news.

Han Yuan didn't bother to explain himself, letting his subordinates speculate as they wished.

'I've acquired the Water Evil... Next, I need to go to the lands of the Fire Evil and Wood Evil.'

'In a few days, once I've completely purged Li Chen's men, I'll set out.'

Han Yuan sat cross-legged in the main hall, planning his next move.

His most important task now was to quickly gather the Five Evils so he could begin his Cultivation of the Five Emperors Great Demon Divine Skill.

Just then, Tan Yong walked into the main hall.

"Supervisor Han, Director Tong of the Celestial Net Department is here to see you."

Tan Yong said solemnly, cupping his fist.

He could handle ordinary matters.

But a visitor of this stature was something only Han Yuan could handle.

'Someone from the Celestial Net Department...'

Han Yuan was momentarily surprised, but then he understood. He smiled. "Very well. Please show Director Tong in."

Tan Yong cupped his fist and turned to leave.

Before long, he returned with a burly, powerfully built man with resolute features.

The man walked with a powerful, confident stride, radiating an extraordinary aura. He was clearly an expert.

His palms were especially broad and thick, a sign that he had mastered a formidable Palm Technique.

"Hahaha, I've long heard of the great Supervisor Han."

"Meeting you for the first time today, I see your reputation is well-deserved."

Tong Fengyang boomed with laughter.

"I've also heard of your accomplishments, Director Tong."

"Changming Province City owes its current peace entirely to you!"

Han Yuan replied with a smile of his own.

He knew a thing or two about exchanging pleasantries.

He invited Tong Fengyang to take a seat and had someone bring tea.

After a few more pleasantries, Tong Fengyang got straight to the point. "I came today... because there is a matter I must discuss with you, Supervisor Han."

"Please, Director Tong, speak freely," Han Yuan said openly.

"Last night, Li Chen and Li Yongwang were killed in their mansion."

"Since Li Chen was, after all, a member of your Great Demon's Headquarters, I came to ask if this matter involves the internal affairs of your Great Demon Palace."

Tong Fengyang asked with a smile.

"This case is an internal matter of the Great Demon Palace."

Han Yuan replied with a laugh.

"Is that so? In that case, I'll have the Government Office send the case file over to you. You at the Great Demon Palace can handle it yourselves."

Tong Fengyang nodded.

"Then I must thank you, Director Tong."

Han Yuan said, cupping his fist in gratitude.

"Think nothing of it. We all just want to keep Changming Province from falling into chaos."

Tong Fengyang said, his words holding a deeper meaning.

Han Yuan laughed. "Rest assured, Director Tong. Changming Province will certainly not fall into chaos."

"With your assurance, Supervisor Han, I can rest easy."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I cannot stay long. I'll take my leave now."

Tong Fengyang stood up and took his leave.

Han Yuan showed the Director respect by personally escorting him to the entrance of the Great Demon's Headquarters.

Watching Tong Fengyang's retreating figure,

Han Yuan wasn't a fool. He naturally understood Tong Fengyang's intentions.

The purpose of his visit had indeed been to gather information.

Han Yuan had classified the incident as an internal matter for the Great Demon Palace, and Tong Fengyang had simply gone with the flow, handing the case over. It was a clear gesture of goodwill.

Han Yuan was the type to respond to kindness, not coercion.

The Director had shown him respect, and Han Yuan naturally had to return the favor.

...

Tong Fengyang did not return to the Celestial Net Department. Instead, he went to the Prefecture Government Office to meet with Inspector Zhang Qianhu.

"Director Tong, how did your discussion with Han Yuan go?"

Zhang Qianhu asked quietly.

The Great Demon Palace held a decisive position in Changming Province. Now that it had a new Supervisor, it was only natural to make contact.

"It's hard to say... but based on his actions so far, he's focused on eliminating dissidents. It seems the Great Demon Palace's internal struggles have spilled over into our province."

Tong Fengyang mused.

"I have no idea where Situ Hui found a disciple like him, let alone why he transferred him here."

"He's only been here a day, and he's already thrown the whole city into an uproar."

Zhang Qianhu felt a headache coming on.