Chapter 232 - 37: Courting Death

Chapter 232: Chapter 37: Courting Death

She didn’t scream again, nor did she try to run. Instead, she reached for the blade at Peng Gui’s waist.

The blade was heavy. She couldn’t draw it on the first try.

On the second try, she used both hands and forcefully pulled the long blade from its sheath.

Without any hesitation, the woman gripped the hilt with both hands, aimed the tip downward, and plunged it into Peng Gui’s corpse.

The first stab struck a rib and slid off. For the second, she changed her aim. This time, it pierced the soft flesh of his chest but got stuck after only an inch.

Peng Gui was a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist. His skin, flesh, muscles, and bones were much tougher than those of an ordinary person.

As a woman who had never practiced martial arts, her strength was limited. The tip of the blade was stuck in his flesh, unable to move forward or back.

But even so, the woman didn’t let go. Since she couldn’t stab deeper, she used the tip to gouge, to churn it within the flesh and blood.

Only when her arms ached so much she could no longer lift them, when the web of her thumb was raw and torn, and the hilt was slick with blood, did the woman finally stop. The crazed look on her face gradually calmed.

A few breaths later, the woman stood up straight. She slowly and carefully tucked her stray hair behind her ear, then looked down to straighten her clothes, pulling the torn lapels together and tying the sash.

After doing all this, she turned and gave Lin Yan a deep bow.

Then, she walked out of the cabin.

Lin Yan didn’t stop her. He just watched in silence as the woman left. Not long after, the sound of a splash reached his ears.

Slightly shaking his head, Lin Yan reined in his emotions. ’A woman who has already resolved to die... trying to persuade her would be useless.’

Half an hour later, after cleaning up the scene, Lin Yan left the area and headed for the next Water Stockade.

「Before dawn.」

Lin Yan returned to his courtyard and immediately consumed ten Blood Continuation Pills.

Blood Continuation Pills were specifically designed for Martial Artists to replenish their consumed Qi Blood. Skin Smoothing Martial Artists could take them, as could Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artists.

The difference lay in the dosage. A Skin Smoothing Martial Artist only needed to take one or two pills to recover their Qi Blood within half an hour, whereas he needed to take ten.

Ten Blood Continuation Pills were worth three thousand silver coins.

But compared to his gains this time, Lin Yan felt he had come out ahead.

From the four Water Stockades, he had collected over thirty thousand silver coins. As for the Martial Arts Fruits...

Lin Yan glanced at the Martial Arts Fruits on his Martial Arts Tree. His total cultivation time had reached three hundred and sixty-four years.

’With three hundred and sixty-four years, I can at least bring two more types of Swordsmanship to Sword Intent Perfection and condense five strands of Sword Gang.’

However, Lin Yan wasn’t in a hurry to infuse the Martial Arts Fruits. Instead, he prepared to write a letter to Brother Hai.

Huo Shen was the most beloved grandson of the Water Bandit Alliance’s Alliance Leader. His Water Stockade was located deep within Broken Dragon Beach; rushing in recklessly was no guarantee of getting out.

Therefore, he had no intention of killing Huo Shen tonight.

He had only taken out a few of the Water Bandit Alliance’s outer Water Stockades, so no one would suspect him.

’After all, every debt has a debtor. If I were really to strike back, I should be going after Huo Shen.’

However, some of the things he had witnessed tonight in the four Water Stockades he’d destroyed only made the killing intent in his heart grow stronger.

’Some things... if you don’t see them, you can pretend you don’t know.’

’But having truly witnessed the inhumanity of these Water Bandits, I can’t just stand by and do nothing.’

He wouldn’t let a hot-blooded rush to be a hero lead him to charge in alone. That would be foolish.

’In a way, Huo Shen’s provocation is an opportunity for me to fully integrate into the Third Branch.’

’As a junior, it’s not shameful to report a humiliation to one’s elders. In fact, to the elders of the Third Branch, it would be a sign that I already consider myself one of their own.’

’But that’s all based on the premise that the Third Branch has truly acknowledged and accepted me.’

「Broken Dragon Beach, Water Bandit Alliance Headquarters.」

Huo Tong sat at the head of the hall, his expression grim. Seated below him were the Bandit Leaders from the various Water Stockades, all currently engaged in heated discussion.

"Four Water Stockades taken out in one night! Whoever did this has no respect for our Alliance!" The speaker was built like a bear, and he slammed his palm on the armrest, making the teacup rattle with a CLANG. "Who the hell did this?"

"Zhao Kuo, what’s the use in shouting?" A tall, skinny man sitting opposite him spoke slowly. "The perpetrator was clean. Four stockades, and not a single survivor left. Those stockades were on the outskirts and had made plenty of enemies over the years. Who knows which old foe came knocking."

"An old foe?" Zhao Kuo’s eyes widened. "I could accept that for Peng Gui, but what about Zhao Heizi? Zhao Heizi was at the Blood Exchange First Transformation! He’s been operating on the East River for over a decade. How many people could take him out without a sound?"

Sun Qi lifted his teacup and blew on the floating tea leaves. "Then you tell me, who did it?"

Zhao Kuo opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He wanted to name a few names, but after thinking it over, he couldn’t come up with a single suitable one.

"What’s all the arguing for? The old Alliance Leader hasn’t even spoken yet."

Someone spoke up, and instantly, everyone’s gaze turned to Huo Tong at the head of the hall.

"I will send people to investigate this matter. We should have results within a few days. For now, all of you should be on your guard."

Hearing Huo Tong’s words, the Bandit Leaders exchanged glances but asked no further questions. They hadn’t come here expecting the old Alliance Leader to know who the culprit was. It was enough that he was willing to investigate.

To be able to silently wipe out four Water Stockades, the attacker had to be a Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artist, and a top-tier one at that. It couldn’t be a True Gang Realm powerhouse. If it were, they would have just swept through everything. Other than the old Alliance Leader, none of them could have stopped such an expert.

After the Bandit Leaders had dispersed, Huo Tong looked at the middle-aged man behind him. "Daren, what has little Shen been up to these past few days?"

"A few days ago, the Young Master had someone deliver a dead pig and a basket of stinking fish and rotten shrimp to Lin Yan of the Lin Family!"

CRACK!

Huo Tong slammed his right hand on the table beside him, and it instantly shattered into pieces. "That little bastard! How dare he! That’s the Lin Family! If the Lin Family decides to get serious, every single Water Stockade on Broken Dragon Beach will be wiped out."

Zhu Danren remained silent. Half the reason Huo Shen acted so recklessly was because the old Alliance Leader had spoiled him.

"In your opinion, is this matter related to that Lin Yan?"

"It’s probably not him." Zhu Danren shook his head. "If this Lin Yan wanted revenge, he should have retaliated against Young Master Shen. There’s no reason to attack other Water Stockades. Besides, this Lin Yan isn’t capable of destroying four Water Stockades in one night."

"Could it be another powerhouse from the Lin Family?" After asking, Huo Tong immediately shook his head, dismissing the idea himself.

If the powerhouses of the Lin Family had been enraged by little Shen’s actions, it wouldn’t have been just four Water Stockades wiped out last night. Moreover, he hadn’t received any angry inquiries from Lin Shouzhi, which meant Lin Yan hadn’t told anyone about the humiliation he suffered from little Shen.

’He’s from a branch family, with no real backing in the Lin Family. It’s normal for someone in his position to choose to smooth things over and avoid trouble after something like this.’

"Send word to little Shen. Tell him to leave Broken Dragon Beach. Hasn’t he always complained about how boring it is here? Let him go visit some other Prefecture Cities."

In the past, he had strictly forbidden little Shen from leaving Broken Dragon Beach, fearing his grandson would cause trouble outside. But for some reason, he had been feeling uneasy these past few days. Perhaps letting little Shen leave now was a good thing.