A Two-Way Rush

General's Office.

Sun Yan's expression changed drastically as he crushed the teacup in his hand.

"What did you say? Liu Chengle was captured by Shen Qing?"

"How is that possible? Liu Chengle had reached the Houtian Realm Third Layer."

"Are you sure the one captured was Liu Chengle?"

Xiao Bin's face was likewise full of disbelief, but he still answered with certainty.

"That's right. The message from the hidden guard at Shen Qing's Banner Office gate stated it clearly: a man in purple robes, carrying a black iron fan. That was Liu Chengle's weapon, never out of his hand."

Upon hearing this, Sun Yan collapsed into his seat.

"Sure enough, Shen Qing was sent down from above. But where exactly did the news leak?"

He believed that everything he had done over the years had been seamless and watertight. How had a flaw appeared just as he was about to leave?

"Damn it!"

"What do we do now?"

Sun Yan drew a deep breath.

"How many men can we mobilize in Baiyun County right now?"

Xiao Bin calculated it.

"Huang Ke and I have around twenty men under us. Adding the ones under you, General, probably around thirty."

Sun Yan straightened up, a ruthless look appearing on his face.

"Enough."

"More than enough. Move. Liu Chengle cannot die!"

Xiao Bin's expression changed. "General, we're acting now? That silver still hasn't been transported away!"

"If we act now, there'll definitely be a huge commotion. What about the silver?"

Sun Yan shot Xiao Bin a sidelong glance and said irritably.

"If all my enemies were like you, that would be wonderful."

"You're still worrying about silver? If Liu Chengle dies, we're finished."

"He was our introducer into the White Dragon Cult. If he dies, not only will we be unable to enter the White Dragon Cult, even the Imperial Guards will hunt us down."

"What use would silver be to you then?"

Night fell.

The screams within Shen Qing's Banner Office never stopped.

Not a single one of Shen Qing's Imperial Guards or Lin Zikai's men had left. All of them had gone mad with ambition, taking turns interrogating the man in purple.

They used every torture they could think of in their lives.

They wanted merit too badly.

Shen Qing reclined sideways in his chair, reading a booklet by the firelight. It was a movement technique called Carefree Steps, also seized from the Huang Family.

After reading it once, Shen Qing had already grasped its form.

He took five steps in succession, stirring up fallen plane-tree leaves across the ground.

At that moment, Lin Zikai emerged from the prison, blood still staining his body. Seeing Shen Qing's Carefree Steps, he hurriedly called out in praise.

"My lord, excellent skill."

Shen Qing ignored Lin Zikai and merely murmured.

"It seems to be lacking a little intent."

"It should be like this."

Shen Qing stepped out again, and his entire body seemed to gain a layer of afterimages.

Lin Zikai raised a brow. Had the movement technique broken through?

His lord was worthy of being his lord. His talent was truly high.

Yet before he could utter another flattering word, what happened next shattered Lin Zikai's world.

Shen Qing took a second step, and Carefree Steps broke through to Minor Accomplishment. By the third step, Carefree Steps had already reached Major Accomplishment.

With his fourth step, Shen Qing seemed to transform into a gust of wind. He was like an unfettered immortal, impossible to grasp, as Carefree Steps reached Perfection.

Was this right? Was this how one practiced a movement technique?

It was not as though Lin Zikai had never practiced movement techniques. As a Banner Officer who had clawed his own way up, such techniques were essential.

He had practiced for nearly seven or eight years, yet he had only reached Minor Accomplishment.

If you can't find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author. It may simply have been renamed!

Had he practiced it into a dog's body?

Suddenly, Lin Zikai's eyes lit up. Could it be that his lord... had opened up?

Shen Qing stopped walking, because the screams in the courtyard had ceased.

A line of words appeared before Shen Qing's eyes.

[Your subordinates have killed a Houtian Realm Third Layer martial artist, plundering the trait: Fan User (Green)]

He turned to look at the dazed Lin Zikai beside him. "Finished interrogating him?"

Lin Zikai came back to his senses and hurriedly said, "Oh, right, right, right. I guarantee he confessed even what color his undershorts are."

"Tell me."

"Yes, my lord. This man is indeed from the White Dragon Cult. His name is Liu Chengle."

"He robbed you, my lord..."

At this point, Lin Zikai fell silent. Rob Shen Qing?

With the strength Shen Qing had just displayed, even ten more Liu Chengles could not rob him.

Then why had Shen Qing not simply captured Liu Chengle last night? Why go around in such a huge circle today?

Lin Zikai felt as though his brain was about to smoke.

Could it be that Lord Shen had merely been toying with them?

Lin Zikai felt as if he had caught that fleeting flash of insight.

That was it, that was it—it all fit.

Lord Shen must have calculated every step beforehand. He was merely toying with the White Dragon Cult!

As he thought this, the way Lin Zikai looked at Shen Qing became filled with deep admiration.

"Continue."

"Right away, my lord!"

"Last night, it was Liu Chengle who led the men that offended you, my lord. Apart from Huang Zikun, there were four White Dragon Cult members involved. Oh, and Banner Officers Xiao Bin and Huang Ke were among them too."

"The silver is currently hidden at Fuyun Mountain."

"And this information on your movements was leaked by General Sun... Sun Yan."

Lin Zikai had initially intended to say General Sun, but now that Sun Yan was connected to the White Dragon Cult, how could he still be a General? He was merit for Shen Qing and Lin Zikai.

Killing intent flashed through Shen Qing's eyes. "Looks like I'll be busy again tonight?"

"My lord, it's already dark. Are we really going tonight? You wiped out two households in a row today. How about resting for a while?"

Shen Qing gave a cold laugh and picked up the Wild Goose Feather Saber on the table, its edge fully revealed.

"If I don't kill Sun Yan, I won't be able to sleep."

Lin Zikai swallowed.

Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he turned to look outside the courtyard.

"My lord, do you hear something?"

The corners of Shen Qing's mouth lifted slightly.

"Looks like we're rushing toward each other."

With that, he raised his foot and walked toward the courtyard gate beneath the moonlight. A gust of wind blew over, making Shen Qing's black robes rustle.

Lin Zikai froze for a moment, then his expression turned solemn. He slammed his fist against the door and shouted as he turned back.

"Black Dog! Old Li! Bring everyone out—we've got work to do!"

The sound of hoofbeats drew ever closer. More than thirty Imperial Guards on galloping horses had appeared at the street corner, with Sun Yan leading them.

At that moment, Black Dog and the others surged out from behind, drawing their blades and swords as they stood ready in strict formation.

Once everyone had come to a stop, Sun Yan spoke.

"Shen Qing, you hid yourself deeply."

"Let's talk."

Shen Qing could not hold back any longer. "Talk? What qualifications do you have to talk with me? You set a trap for me, and now that you've discovered you can't beat me, you want to talk?"

"Damn it, a toad marrying a fairy."

"You're dreaming pretty beautifully!"

Sun Yan's face grew increasingly grim.

"Shen Qing, we were wrong in this matter, but if we keep fighting like this, neither side will escape unscathed..."

Shen Qing immediately burst out laughing.

"You're talking about neither side escaping unscathed? One cup of tea—that's all the time you get. If even one of you is still standing..."

"Then today, this matter will be settled however you say. How about it?"

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