Chapter 305: Assault, Night Battle

In the blink of an eye, night arrived.

Late at night, a carrier pigeon quietly slipped into the Caobang hall and landed in Cui Mingjue’s hands.

He placed the pigeon back into its cage, removed the slip of paper tied to its leg, and quickly presented it to Old Seven.

After reading the message, Old Seven drew a deep breath, his expression turning grave.

“Tonight’s battle will be a difficult one.”

“What happened, Old Seven?”

The two Deputy Hall Masters present, along with Wangchuan, all turned to look at him.

Old Seven frowned deeply.

“The Beggar Sect sub-branch recruited additional reinforcements this evening—four Second-Rank Martial Artists and seven First-Rank Martial Artists. Their strength has increased significantly. It seems they intend to take this opportunity to crush us completely.”

At that moment, he turned decisively to Wangchuan.

“The plan remains unchanged. I will place Cui Mingjue and several men from the Main Helm under your command. Do you have the confidence to destroy the Beggar Sect sub-branch within fifteen breaths?”

Killing within the city had to be done quickly.

If the fight dragged on, the Six Gates would intervene and begin an investigation.

Although the Caobang had good relations with the Six Gates, it was not powerful enough to act with complete impunity.

All the pressure now fell on Wangchuan.

Wangchuan glanced at Cui Mingjue and nodded firmly.

“If we do not succeed, we die trying.”

“Good!”

Old Seven was very satisfied with his answer.

“At the first quarter of the Zi hour, we strike simultaneously!”

“Deputy Hall Masters, come with me!”

The three of them would deal with the Third-Rank Martial Artists.

However, those targets were not inside the Beggar Sect sub-branch. They were located in a secret stronghold—a hidden place used specifically to plan operations against the Caobang.

Wangchuan’s destination was different.

The Beggar Sect sub-branch.

Cui Mingjue stood ready with two Second-Rank Martial Artists and four First-Rank Martial Artists.

“Brother Wangchuan, you will command the operation tonight.”

Cui Mingjue knew Wangchuan’s capabilities well. Blackwind Stronghold, the Earthfiend Sect, the Five Poison Sect, the Beggar Sect, and even the Crimson Pavilion—all had suffered losses at Wangchuan’s hands.

He felt completely at ease entrusting the mission to him.

Wangchuan checked the time and said to Cui Mingjue:

“Brother Cui, please help obtain some poison and instruct the brothers to coat their weapons with it.”

Since this would be a hard battle, they needed to go all out.

Cui Mingjue nodded and immediately arranged for the task.

Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, Hong Kaibao, and the others had already infiltrated the vicinity of the Beggar Sect sub-branch during the day, gradually and inconspicuously mixing into several nearby restaurants.

All of them were Caobang-owned establishments, leaving no trace.

Midnight soon arrived.

The night watchman’s wooden clapper echoed through the city.

Only the final quarter hour remained before the attack.

Cui Mingjue silently counted the time, his expression solemn.

Wangchuan handed the Yellow Dragon Bow in his hand to Zhao Heiniu.

The latter froze.

“Helm Leader?”

“Tonight you lead the ranged suppression. Brother Cui and I will lead the assault team. Once the operation ends, head straight to the main dock and escape by water according to the plan.”

Wangchuan instructed.

Zhao Heiniu gripped the Yellow Dragon Bow tightly and nodded.

“Kaibao, you stay with Captain Zhao.”

“Ergou, come with me.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Cui Mingjue and the others followed Wangchuan as they prepared to storm the Beggar Sect sub-branch.

At that moment, many beggars inside the sub-branch temple had already fallen asleep.

Only a few guards remained awake.

Several were posted at the entrance.

A few more stood near the inner gate.

Zhang Ye and the others were inside the temple.

Wangchuan and Cui Mingjue each led a team to the alleys near the front and back gates, waiting for the signal to strike.

Standing in the shadows of the alley, Wangchuan watched the two Beggar Sect disciples warming themselves by a fire at the entrance.

Quasi-Martial Artist cultivation.

Wangchuan quietly drew two Hundredfold Steel Throwing Knives.

With a flick of his wrist—

He and Chen Ergou attacked simultaneously.

《Heart-Piercing Dart》!

At a moment like this, the Beggar Sect’s Quasi-Martial Artists were completely unprepared.

One dart struck the forehead.

Another pierced the throat.

Their bodies trembled before collapsing silently.

Caobang disciples immediately stepped forward and dragged the corpses away.

More than twenty figures slipped quietly into the sub-branch compound.

The corridors and side rooms were filthy and foul-smelling.

Beggars lay sprawled everywhere, their snores and teeth-grinding echoing throughout the building.

The Caobang disciples silently spread out.

Then they began to kill.

Hands clamped over mouths and noses.

One strike!

A slit throat.

A stab through the heart.

The Beggar Sect disciples convulsed in pain before dying in their sleep.

At first, everything went smoothly.

Several men were killed in quick succession.

But the smell of blood gradually thickened.

One Beggar Sect disciple kicked awake the man beside him.

“Enemy attack!!”

The scream echoed throughout the compound.

Although the nearby Caobang disciples quickly beheaded him and killed the surrounding Beggar Sect members, the alarm had already awakened the Second-Rank Martial Artists inside.

Zhang Ye rushed out with several Second-Rank experts, brimming with murderous momentum.

TWANG!!!

WHOOSH! WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Zhao Heiniu, Hong Kaibao, and a group of First-Rank Martial Artists from the Sanjiang Branch Helm drew their bows simultaneously and unleashed a storm of arrows.

Several First-Rank Beggar Sect disciples beside Zhang Ye were instantly turned into porcupines.

Even one of the Second-Rank Martial Artists was struck by two arrows.

The moment Zhang Ye stepped outside, he was forced back by the relentless barrage.

“Ahhh!”

“People are dying!”

“They’re all dead!”

“Branch Master, save us!”

More and more beggars woke up, only to see blood flowing everywhere and black-clad killers chasing down their comrades like executioners.

Several disciples tried to resist.

But each one was cut down within two moves.

Their wounds turned black.

“Poison!”

“The blades are poisoned!”

“Branch Master—!”

Zhang Ye felt both furious and anxious.

At that moment, Cui Mingjue and his team burst in from the rear, smashing open windows and storming into the temple.

They immediately clashed with Zhang Ye and the others.

“You bastards from the Caobang!”

“You’ve gone too far!”

Zhang Ye roared as he fought desperately.

By now, most of the Beggar Sect disciples had already been slaughtered.

Only Zhang Ye and several Second-Rank Martial Artists remained, along with a dozen Martial Artists fighting desperately inside the temple.

CRASH!

CRASH!

The temple’s broken doors and windows were smashed open by the Caobang disciples.

Zhao Heiniu and Hong Kaibao immediately gained a clear line of sight.

Arrows shot into the temple.

One Beggar Sect disciple after another fell.

Then Cui Mingjue and the others cut them down.

Until only Zhang Ye and five Second-Rank Martial Artists remained.

At that moment—

A faint mechanical click sounded.

Zhang Ye’s body trembled.

He staggered back two steps.

Then he saw a shadow burst forward from behind the Caobang disciples.

A pair of sharp yellow claws rapidly expanded in his vision.

“Heart-Piercing Crossbow… Brass Claw Gauntlets…”

He recognized the weapons.

And he also recognized the eyes beneath the black mask.

“You are—”

Before Zhang Ye could finish speaking, the iron staff in his hand was struck away in a burst of sparks.

The next instant—

Two claw strikes tore across his chest and throat.

《Shaolin Subduing Tiger Fist》!

The fierce internal force amplified a strike that normally dealt only 80 points of damage, boosting it by fifty percent to 120.

A hit to vital points doubled the damage.

Two strikes.

240 points of damage.

Already wounded and poisoned, Zhang Ye’s health dropped to zero instantly.

His body slammed against the wall like a torn sack.

Blood spilled from his mouth.

His eyes lost their focus.

“Branch Master Zhang!”

“I’ll fight you to the death!!”

Two nearby Second-Rank Martial Artists lunged at Wangchuan simultaneously.

Wangchuan activated 《Green Robe Dance》 to evade the blade.

Behind him, a Second-Rank Martial Artist forced his way through Cui Mingjue’s saber strike and slashed viciously toward Wangchuan’s waist.

A harsh metallic screech rang out.

Fish Scale Inner Armor!

Wangchuan knocked aside the attacker’s sword with a backhand strike.

His foot stamped the ground.

The Brass Claw Gauntlets erupted forward with explosive force.

Bajiquan!

BOOM!!

The Second-Rank Martial Artist’s head exploded like a smashed watermelon.