Chapter 37 - 36: Encircling and Killing Zhang Qingyu

Chapter 37: Chapter 36: Encircling and Killing Zhang Qingyu

Zheng Jun’s appearance—like a demon fresh out of Hell—was intensely intimidating. The ordinary gang members dared not move an inch, kneeling on the ground and trembling in fear.

To Zheng Jun’s surprise, however, some of the younger Qingshui Gang members were deeply loyal. Though absent when the raid began, the moment they heard their hall was surrounded by the authorities, they immediately rallied their brothers. Armed with various clubs, they charged aggressively from afar. Not daring to enter through the front doors, they tried to climb in from the sides or sneak through the back.

And then... Three quick saber strikes were all it took to shatter their so-called brotherhood, leaving them begging, "Lord Official, I’m just an ordinary person!"

The clashing of metal inside the hall gradually subsided, and the screams died away.

Right at that moment, Zheng Jun suddenly noticed a surge of True Qi erupting from the East Street. In the next instant, a figure glided rapidly toward the hall. Specks of Golden Light swirled around the figure, resembling shattered jade.

The figure swept in, unstoppable, moving through the battlefield as if there were no one there! His momentum was massive, his Qi and Blood as robust as a bull’s.

"Running dogs of the Court, cease harming Zhang Qingyu’s brothers! If you have any tricks, direct them at I! What do I have to fear?!"

Zhang Qingyu’s voice was crisp and resonant, like the sound of precious jade shattering on the ground. The surrounding County Soldiers were directly repelled by his True Qi, allowing him to forcibly carve a path inside.

"It’s the Gang Leader’s Broken Jade Pile Skill! The Gang Leader is here," a kneeling gang member shouted subconsciously, his voice filled with thrill as he grew visibly excited.

Hearing this, Zheng Jun frowned. He shot a cold, harsh glare at the speaker, and the gang member instantly clamped his mouth shut in terror, not daring to utter another word. Seeing the surrounding gang members fall silent, Zheng Jun finally shifted his gaze toward the newcomer.

"Zhang Qingyu actually came, and from the looks of it, he doesn’t seem like an ordinary Qi Storage Martial Artist," Zheng Jun thought to himself. Zhang Qingyu’s massive momentum meant he was only a hair’s breadth away from the Outer Gang realm. Given a bit more time, he would inevitably advance to Outer Gang. No wonder the Qingshui Gang dared to meddle in treason. However, although Zhang Qingyu was brave, it was merely the bravery of a reckless brute. A Qi Storage Martial Artist had not yet reached the level of being a one-man army.

"Form up! Squads, coordinate and form the Turtle Snake Array! Surround and kill him!" Captain Wang bellowed, dripping in cold sweat.

Seeing Zhang Qingyu break in, the surrounding County Soldiers instantly followed the Array Banner’s commands. Moving like a turtle and a snake, they circled Zhang Qingyu, laying down their Military Array.

"Get lost!" Zhang Qingyu let out a furious roar that echoed like muffled thunder. His powerful True Qi surged like crashing waves, repeatedly battering the advancing County Soldiers.

Zhang Qingyu’s thick arm, knotted like a coiled dragon, had veins bulging like purplish-black wyrms. He launched a strike filled with boundless strength, smashing into the nearby County Soldiers.

"BANG!"

Zhang Qingyu punched a set of Leather Armor, causing a sudden Blood Mist to explode into the air. The struck County Soldier’s throat rolled before he instantly spewed a mouthful of blood and collapsed, unable to rise.

"Kill!"

The surrounding spearheads thrust toward Zhang Qingyu. Meeting the attack head-on, he clamped them under his armpit, forcibly snapping the spearheads off! Even with their weapons broken, the County Soldiers wielding Long Spears and halberds in the rear didn’t remain idle. Like farmers hoeing weeds, they chopped down at Zhang Qingyu, carving several wounds directly into his body.

Furthermore, Zheng Jun saw that under Captain Wang’s command, five or six Archers had arrived at the rear. Instead of drawing ordinary bows, they pulled a black cloth off a contraption, revealing a massive crossbow.

"A Divine Arm Bow?" Zheng Jun muttered in astonishment. Leaning against the alley wall, he immediately felt that Zhang Qingyu’s momentum was over.

The Divine Arm Bow was a powerful military crossbow. Even an Outer Gang Martial Artist would be unable to withstand a direct hit from its arrows. At this moment, a Refined Iron arrow was already being loaded onto the Divine Arm Bow. Captain Wang personally operated it, choosing a high vantage point to aim directly at Zhang Qingyu.

Zhang Qingyu furrowed his brows and instantly spread his arms. Moving like an agile, fierce ape, he retreated rapidly, planning to charge into a weak point of the formation to break it. But right then, a sudden sense of impending doom washed over him. His spine chilled, and as he glanced around, he abruptly heard a fierce tearing sound piercing the air!

"Damn it!" Zhang Qingyu cursed inwardly, realizing the danger. However, with pursuing troops blocking his every path, he had nowhere left to retreat. He immediately hollowed his chest and straightened his back, sinking his waist and hips. He rapidly unleashed his True Qi, causing Broken Jade True Qi to swirl around him. Locking his eyes on the source of the piercing sound, he actually intended to take the arrow head-on!

"SQUELCH!"

The arrow struck, instantly sending shattered bone and blood flying! The sheer force of the shot launched Zhang Qingyu high into the air, pinning him back against the courtyard wall and collapsing it under his weight.

Yet, he wasn’t dead.

Unbelievably, Zhang Qingyu had actually managed to withstand the arrow! Not only that, but the immense knockback from the shot coincidentally threw him completely out of the County Soldiers’ Turtle Snake Array.

Seeing this, Captain Wang hastily realigned the crossbow, preparing to fire a finishing shot. By now, Zhang Qingyu was consumed by towering rage. He forcefully ripped the Refined Iron arrow out from his abdomen. Channeling his Broken Jade True Qi, he hurled it straight back in the direction of the Divine Arm Bow!

"AHHH!"

With a tragic scream, Captain Wang—who was also in the Qi Storage realm—slumped over and plummeted from the roof, his fate unknown. Next, Zhang Qingyu didn’t hesitate; he bolted madly toward the side alley.

Zheng Jun, who had been watching the spectacle, saw Zhang Qingyu sprinting straight at him. His hairs stood on end instantly. Gripping his Ceremonial Saber tightly, he roared in a low voice, "Everyone, fall back!"

The Black Officials under his command were not the well-trained County Soldiers of the Military Department. Without the ability to form a Military Array, facing Zhang Qingyu would only lead to a dead end! But just as Zhang Qingyu charged over, Zheng Jun noticed two figures flash out from the courtyard, intent on intercepting him. One was Cai Liu, and the other was another servant of the County Captain, named Cai Jiu.

Both of them, however, were Qi Storage Martial Artists.

"Get the hell out of my way!"

Blood violently spewed from Zhang Qingyu’s mouth as he stomped forward. His Broken Jade True Qi already carried faint traces of the Outer Gang realm. He turned his hands into palms, striking as if wielding a ten-thousand-ton pagoda!

The fierce air currents swept over like raging ocean waves, sending a chill through Zheng Jun, Cai Liu, and Cai Jiu as they faced him head-on.

"SPLAT!"

The massive palm struck. Cai Jiu, who was closest to Zhang Qingyu, was grabbed directly by the head. In an instant, his skull shattered like a fragile egg, sending brain matter flying!

Seeing this, Cai Liu felt terrified, a sudden chill shooting up his spine. Yet, he didn’t hesitate in the slightest, fiercely thrusting his Long Spear at Zhang Qingyu!

An inch longer meant an inch stronger.

The Long Spear pierced Zhang Qingyu’s chest, causing blood to spurt wildly. But Zhang Qingyu grew vicious; he forcefully pushed forward against the blade, allowing the Long Spear to completely skewer his chest. He brought his massive palm down as his True Qi rapidly swept forward!

At this exact moment, Zheng Jun charged in with his blade. Braving Zhang Qingyu’s terrifying palm wind, his speed climbed to its absolute peak! If Cai Liu died, he would be next! He had to take advantage of the opening while Zhang Qingyu was pinned to kill him!

Zhang Qingyu threw his life away for his brothers; he was truly loyal and a good friend. But now that this good friend was here to kill him, Zheng Jun absolutely would not hold back! An incredibly brilliant flash of the blade lit up the scene as Zheng Jun chopped down. With his Qi and Blood surging madly, he aimed his strike squarely at Zhang Qingyu.

"CLANG!"

A piercing sound of clashing metal rang out. This chop landed dead center between Zhang Qingyu’s neck and shoulder, shaving off a chunk of flesh.

Zheng Jun was stunned by the sight! He saw his Ceremonial Saber sink an inch into the flesh and meet the bone, instantly feeling as if he had chopped into Profound Iron. The Ceremonial Saber snapped on impact, leaving the broken fragment lodged in Zhang Qingyu’s shoulder!

"What tough bones!"

The rebound left Zheng Jun’s hands numb. Zhang Qingyu’s eyes were bloodshot and weeping blood. At this very moment, a Qi Arrow suddenly struck like a falling star, slamming explosively into Zhang Qingyu’s back!

"SPURT!"

Zhang Qingyu violently spat another mouthful of blood, spraying it all over Zheng Jun and Cai Liu. Seeing this, Zheng Jun seized the opportunity, discarding his broken Ceremonial Saber and swinging his fists, viciously smashing them into Zhang Qingyu.

One punch, two punches, three punches! Zheng Jun lost count of how many times he struck until his strength completely gave out! By then, Zhang Qingyu had been beaten into a bloody, mangled pulp.

"That’s enough, the man is dead." Suddenly, Cai Xun’s voice reached Zheng Jun’s ears.

Zheng Jun looked up to see Cai Xun standing beside Cai Jiu’s corpse, his expression incredibly grim. It was supposed to be a sure thing, yet he had lost a loyal servant! This put Cai Xun in a terrible mood.

Upon seeing Cai Xun, Zheng Jun let out a heavy breath and cupped his fists. "Greetings, Lord County Captain."

Seeing Zheng Jun drenched in blood, the already foul-mooded Cai Xun remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "Did you come here to take a bath?"

"Uh."

Zheng Jun looked down at himself. First, he had been sprayed with blood by that burly Great Han, and then by Zhang Qingyu. Indeed, he was covered head to toe in blood.

"Go back and wash up. Change into some clean clothes. What kind of decency is this, walking around so bloody?" Though Cai Xun’s face was ashen, he glanced around at the Black Officials of the Strong Shift and said to Zheng Jun, "I’ll give you a good errand. Go raid the home of Zhang Qingyu’s mistress from the Qin Clan. If you find any treasonous letters or the like, bring them all to me. As for the rest of the confiscated goods, handle them as you see fit."

Zheng Jun received the order. Just as he was about to go wash and change, he saw Cai Xun suddenly remember something else and speak up.

"Oh, right. Zhang Qingyu trained under the Shattered Jade Sect. Over two hundred years ago, this Sect aided the tyrannical Chu state and was annihilated by our Great Zhou.

"If you find any of the Shattered Jade Sect’s Martial Arts in Zhang Qingyu’s home, send those along as well."