「The Wang Residence.」
Wang Shouzhen slept until the sun was high in the sky. He yawned endlessly as he made his way downstairs, looking for sothing to eat.
Just then, Wang Shouben calmly put down a book and said, "Second Brother, do you know where Lin Tang lives? I plan to go have a talk with him."
Wang Shouzhen was surprised. "What is there to talk about with a good-for-nothing like him? Can't we just squash him?"
"The drug he possesses, one that can rapidly sap a martial artist's combat ability, is quite valuable," Wang Shouben said coolly. "I need to bring it back for research."
"Huh? You're right! That drug is so powerful it should sell for a fortune. He also controls two other drugs that have made the Shen Family a lot of money. Why don't we just grab them all?" Wang Shouzhen's eyes lit up.
He imdiately called for more bodyguards and contacted Han Jinlong. He certainly didn't want to negotiate with Lin Tang alone. What if the expert who taught Hua Fengchen a lesson is still with Lin Tang?
"What? Old Han is in the ICU? Who hurt him? Was it that bastard Lin Tang again?" Wang Shouzhen was furious. He hadn't even gone to seek revenge, and Lin Tang was already provoking them again. Strike the dog and you answer to its master! He knew full well that Han Jinlong was a retainer of the Wang Family. How dare he strike so gravely? Lin Tang deserves to die!
"Don't waste any more ti. Lead the way," Wang Shouben urged impatiently.
"But without a martial artist to protect us, if we just go like this..." Wang Shouzhen was getting scared again.
Wang Shouben shot him a glance and walked straight out the door. He snapped his fingers.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Over a dozen fully-ard, burly n appeared instantly, standing in neat rows.
"Attention! At ease! Attention! Parade rest!" their captain shouted, stepping before Wang Shouben to salute. "Squad 147, reporting for duty!"
"Did you bring the anti-poison equipnt?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Move out!"
At Wang Shouben's command, the n ford a protective circle, weapons facing outward. Wang Shouzhen stared, dumbfounded. He then recalled his elder brother making a phone call last night. No wonder they hadn't gone after Lin Tang directly yesterday. What was this called again? Foresight!
***
「The Outskirts of the City.」
The Crescent River snaked along its winding path. Jiao Zhengjin, another director from the Star Evil Group, had brought a large contingent of n. They were escorting prisoners from the True Martial Association, including Huangfu Zhan, and had stopped by the Fude Bridge.
Huangfu Zhan's face was pale, his lips cracked and dry. Blood seeped from his countless wounds. Since being captured, he had lost track of how many tis he had been tortured. His martial arts were crippled. It was a life worse than death.
The scorching sun beat down, making him feel faint. In a daze, he saw Wei Shanhe approaching with a small group of his own n, along with Zhao Cangfeng and other prisoners being brought for the exchange.
"Old Wei..." A look of profound emotion crossed Huangfu Zhan's face.
Seeing his wretched state, Wei Shanhe was overco with grief and fury. He glared at Jiao Zhengjin's n and barked, "Where is that despicable Zhao Xinghe? Why isn't he here?"
Jiao Zhengjin chuckled. "Why would we need the old man himself to deal with your ragtag remnants? Enough talk. Let's exchange hostages!"
Zhao Cangfeng sneered, already prepared to unleash a massacre the mont he was free. The atmosphere grew heavy and murderous.
Then, they saw a figure walking across the bridge. It was Lin Tang, completely disguised in different clothes. He was clearly taken aback by the large crowd, appearing genuinely surprised.
"What do you want?" one of the Star Evil Group n demanded.
Lin Tang lifted the bucket in his hand and waved his fishing rod. "Just passing by to do so fishing," he said with a smile. "Are you guys shooting a movie?"
"To hell with your movie! Scram!"
"Ah, how did you know I just caught a twenty-pound culter?"
"..."
Infuriated, the Star Evil Group n were about to draw their blades and kill him.
"Don't create unnecessary complications," Jiao Zhengjin said with a frown. He felt sothing was off about this man. He restrained his n, and they chose to ignore him.
Lin Tang shrugged, then settled down on the bridge, baited his hook, and started fishing.
Since his appearance, height, and voice were completely different from the real Lin Tang, Wei Shanhe and his group didn't recognize him. Naturally, they had no ti to spare him any attention. They tightened their grip on their weapons and closed the distance with Jiao Zhengjin's n.
The hostages from both sides were untied and hurried toward their respective allies. The mont the exchange was complete, the air erupted.
"Kill!"
"Crush them!"
"Let's get them!"
"Old Man Wei, still got what it takes?"
In the blink of an eye, the clash of blades and swords filled the air. CLANG! CLASH! BANG! Within just a few breaths, the True Martial Association was completely overwheld and forced into a steady retreat.
Wei Shanhe grasped Huangfu Zhan's hands, realizing with a sorrowful sigh that his martial arts had been destroyed. He was about to muster his remaining energy to drag Jiao Zhengjin down with him in a final, desperate attack.
"You bastards! Why are you making so much noise and scaring away my fish?!" a voice suddenly roared.
Lin Tang angrily whipped his fishing rod.
SWOOSH!
The hook snagged a man, yanking him screaming into the air.
"Damn it, he's here to cause trouble after all!"
"Kill him, too!"
Seeing that the fisherman had attacked one of their own, the Star Evil Group imdiately sent a detachnt charging onto the bridge.
That's when their tragedy began. With a casual flick of his wrist, Lin Tang sent a volley of fishing lines and hooks flying. They snagged the charging n, who were promptly flung into the air and dropped into the river below.
Lin Tang used no other techniques, relying solely on his masterfully wielded fishing line. He was like a spider demon, and wherever his line went, n beca his prey. In an instant, most of the Star Evil Group were soaked to the bone like drowned rats.
Jiao Zhengjin was incensed. He hefted his saber and swung it at Lin Tang's head.
"Be careful!" Huangfu Zhan and Wei Shanhe cried out in unison.
The next mont, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. They watched as Lin Tang turned and, with just two fingers, caught the blade of Jiao Zhengjin's saber! This was a full-strength strike from an early-stage Innate expert. The force was enough to cleave an elephant's head in two, yet the clamping power of those two fingers stopped it cold.
Could he be a Grandmaster?
"Hiss—" Jiao Zhengjin and Zhao Cangfeng were also stunned.
"Haha, Senior, this is all a misunderstanding..." Jiao Zhengjin wisely conceded, voluntarily letting go of his weapon's hilt.
Lin Tang twisted the blade into scrap tal with one hand. His face was expressionless as he said, "Will you jump into the river yourself, or shall I help you?"
***
「Villa Number One.」
A solitary boat sailed downstream before pulling up to the shore. Zhao Xinghe stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the surroundings. "An elegant and tranquil place, quite suitable for a vacation retreat."
Pity that life is so short. Even if I conquer more places like this, I'll have no ti to enjoy them... But once I capture Lin Tang, get the Five Spirits Elixir, and break through to the Master realm, my lifespan will extend considerably.
As he pondered this, he put on a gas mask and strode directly into the villa, only to find it empty. Shen Youling had gone out looking for a job. Shen Qiushi was out for a walk. Huang Jifen usually wouldn't return until the afternoon, after picking up her granddaughter from school.
"Not ho?" Zhao Xinghe frowned slightly.
He searched the rooms and found the fragnts of the divine sword. He picked one up and, with a slight squeeze, easily bent it out of shape. How could such a fragile material be a divine weapon sharp enough to split a hair? he thought, astonished.
Next, he discovered several Centennial Elixirs. So many... where did they co from? Even the Star Evil Group's entire stock consisted of only a few plants. Zhao Xinghe's instincts scread that sothing was terribly wrong.
And then… Not good, I've been poisoned!
He never would have imagined it. He was wearing a mask and had no cuts on his hands, yet a re touch had brought calamity. It couldn't be helped. The Seven-Star Begonia's toxin was terrifyingly potent, and Lin Tang had happened to slice off a small piece yesterday, leaving juices seeping from the cut surface.
This must be a trap! I have to retreat imdiately! Panic seized Zhao Xinghe's heart. He dropped the dicinal herbs and bolted outside.
The mont he was out, he saw a team of heavily ard n. It was Wang Shouben's squad. He didn't recognize them and simply assud they were the second part of the trap he'd fallen into. Without a second thought, he charged forward, trying to break through.
Wang Shouben's team had been about to storm the villa when soone suddenly rushed out from inside. They imdiately went on alert. Is this the martial artist who injured Han Jinlong and humiliated Hua Fengchen? Wang Shouben's eyes flashed as he gave a direct order.
"Take him down! If he resists, shoot to kill!"
"Yes, sir!"
The n expertly flicked off their safeties and aid at Zhao Xinghe. Seeing him charge, they decisively pulled their triggers.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"ROAR!" Zhao Xinghe's eyes looked ready to split with rage as several blossoms of blood erupted on his body. Moving with incredible speed, he crashed into their midst. Small blades danced between his fingers.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
He slit several throats. The remaining n, though shocked, continued their assault, fierce and unafraid of death.
Wang Shouzhen's face turned green, and he scrambled to hide in the back. Wang Shouben, however, was more experienced and maintained his composure.
"Don't hold back! Kill him!"
"I'll kill you first!" Zhao Xinghe roared, surging toward him with a devastating aura.
***
When Lin Tang returned with Lee Encai, they saw pools of blood splattered across the ground. They looked at each other, perplexed. "What happened here?"
Shen Youling and the others were also shocked when they arrived ho. After confirming that everyone was unhard, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"It feels like this place isn't safe anymore," Shen Youling said with concern.
"Did you find a job?" Lin Tang asked.
"Uh, no..." Shen Youling replied, a bit embarrassed.
"It's okay. There's no rush. Just take your ti," Lin Tang said, pulling her into a comforting hug.
Shen Youling instinctively tried to pull away, but then she noticed Shen Qiushi watching her. She relented, allowing Lin Tang his little indulgence, but shot him a glare. "What about you? How are things on your end?"
"Couldn't be better," Lin Tang said, proceeding to describe the clinic's booming success. Lee Encai chid in, adding more details.
"Is that so..." Shen Youling felt a pang of bitterness. It wasn't that she resented his success, but compared to her own failure, everything seed to co so easily for him.
As dusk settled, after they had finished dinner and were taking a stroll in the yard, another group of people stord in aggressively. Among them, to their surprise, was the traitor Lu Liangfei, who was supposed to have been captured.
"Lin Tang, you damn good-for-nothing! What right do you have to live in a villa belonging to our True Martial Association? I'm giving you ten minutes, max! Pack your things and get out!"
"Huh?" Lee Encai was taken aback at first, then filled with righteous indignation. Brother Lin just helped the True Martial Association this afternoon! How can you repay his kindness with such ingratitude only a few hours later?
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