Killing Is Also Physical Labor

The gleaming gold shone with a dazzling radiance. Including Long Tonghai, all the bandit leaders' eyes were shining.

Then, one by one, the captains quickly stepped forward, reaching into the chests and picking up the gold and jewels to examine them.

Some even put them in their mouths and bit them, afraid the gold might be fake.

"Hahaha, Boss, it's real, it's real!"

"Hahahaha, Brother Sanhuo, you're truly righteous. You brought so many gifts for our first meeting!"

"We're rich, we're truly rich now!"

The group of minor leaders were exceptionally excited. One of them even ran to Long Tonghai with a small handful of gold ingots and stuffed them into his hands. "Hahahaha, Boss, I've never seen so much gold. Slap me, I think I'm dreaming!"

"Get lost, you scoundrel!"

Long Tonghai cursed with a laugh and kicked the guy away.

The people around laughed heartily, and Li Yan laughed heartily too.

Laugh all you want. The happier you are now, the faster you'll die later.

"Hahahaha, Brother Sanhuo, you've given old brother a great gift. But with such a heavy gift, I wonder what you need."

"Don't worry, brother. I'm not an unreasonable person. If you need anything from Black Cloud Stronghold, just ask. Everyone in Black Cloud Stronghold will support you to the end."

In his good mood, Long Tonghai patted his chest and loudly guaranteed.

The surrounding captains were the same. They all grinned from ear to ear, their gazes towards Li Yan filled with affection, as if they were long-lost brothers.

Hearing this, Li Yan also burst into laughter. "Great Chieftain, you're truly straightforward. Actually, I did come here with something I need your help with."

"Hahahaha, no problem, no problem. Brother is generous with his gifts, and we are reasonable people. Speak your mind."

"This matter is simple. I need to borrow something from the stronghold."

"Oh? What do you want to borrow?"

Li Yan pushed aside the chests full of treasure and reached to the very bottom.

The next moment, a dazzling streak of light erupted. The whistling blade accurately sliced through the necks of two captains.

Until the moment they died, they still held treasures in their hands, completely unaware of what had happened.

"I am Li Yan. I wish to borrow the lives of everyone in Black Cloud Stronghold. I ask for your permission, Chieftain Brother."

For a moment, the hall, which had been filled with laughter, fell into a dead silence. Everyone stared fixedly at the two corpses on the ground, watching the solid wood floor slowly being stained red with blood.

"Damn it!"

"Wan Sanhuo, what are you doing?!"

"Bastard, you're seeking death!"

Roars echoed through the entire hall. All the captains immediately drew their weapons, their eyes blazing with anger.

However, Li Yan's gaze remained fixed on Long Tonghai, making him feel a chill run through his entire body.

Just as Long Tonghai was about to speak, the expression on his face suddenly changed.

The True Qi within his body, at this moment, actually felt a slight resistance in its circulation.

It wasn't just Long Tonghai; the minor leaders below were the same. In fact, they could barely stand, their legs buckling and collapsing to the ground.

"You, you poisoned us!"

One captain tried to shout but found he didn't even have the strength to roar.

This poison was, naturally, a good item Li Yan had acquired from Li Fucai.

The Fragrant Wood Tendon Softening Powder was an invisible poison gas with a faint fruity aroma. A whiff would cause weakness in the bones and tendons for two days, rendering one immobile.

The Ice Heart Qi Condensing Powder was a white powdery substance. Once touched, it would cause the True Qi circulation within the body to stagnate. Before reaching the Energy Gathering Realm, one could only wait for the effects to wear off without an antidote.

When the chests were first opened, the Tendon Softening Powder had already spread throughout the hall.

Afterward, these fellows touched and bit the gold and jewels, greatly enhancing the effect of the Qi Condensing Powder.

At this moment, with both potent poisons acting simultaneously, a group of Qi Condensation Realm experts had no chance to even make a move, becoming meat on a chopping block.

"Hahaha, it seems you have no objections to my proposal. Then I won't be polite."

Saying this, Li Yan twirled his blade and immediately moved towards the nearest minor leader.

Just as he was about to swing his blade down, a powerful whistling sound filled the air. Turning around, he saw Long Tonghai wielding his nine-ring broadsword and slashing towards him.

Taking a step forward, he casually swung his blade. The two blades clashed, and instantly, Long Tonghai's nine-ring broadsword snapped with a clang.

The blade's momentum undiminished, it severed half of Long Tonghai's arm holding the sword!

Blood splattered, and a wail erupted.

He crashed heavily to the ground, Long Tonghai staring at his severed arm and the long saber in disbelief, clearly unable to comprehend what had happened.

That saber was a weapon specifically crafted by skilled artisans at the behest of the Grand Commandant Wu Zongren to commend his loyalty.

It wasn't a divine weapon, but it was certainly not comparable to ordinary iron. How did it break?

Li Yan twirled his blade, very satisfied with the weapon in his hand.

This was another good item obtained from Li Fucai – a slightly curved saber.

According to Li Fucai, it was the final creation of the Great Wu's foremost master blacksmith in his twilight years. The blade was named Waning Moon, and any weapon that dared to cross its edge would be left shattered.

Though perhaps an exaggeration, this saber was indeed extraordinary.

Turning back to Long Tonghai, his last desperate counterattack had been launched. Now, both poisons had fully taken effect, leaving him unable to even stand up again.

"Wh... why?"

Long Tonghai couldn't understand. Black Cloud Stronghold had never troubled Wan Sanhuo before; why would he go to such lengths to kill them?

"Heh, don't blame me. I'm just doing this for the money."

Li Yan sneered, walking step by step towards Long Tonghai.

"No... you can't kill me. I'm one of the Grand Commandant's men. If you kill me, the Grand Commandant will surely..."

Pfft!

A flash of saber light, and the blade pierced his throat. Long Tonghai hadn't expected the young man before him to be so decisive in his killing, completely disregarding his threat.

"Don't look at me like that. Don't worry, I'll send Wu Zongren down to join you sooner or later."

He drew the blade out again, looking at the scattered Attribute Points on the ground. Li Yan wasn't in a hurry. He turned his saber towards the other minor commanders around him.

He would deal with these bigger fish first before moving on to the small fry outside.

Just then, some of the lower-ranking bandits rushed in from the main gate. Upon seeing the scene in the hall, they immediately shouted loudly, alarming the hundreds of people in the stronghold.

"Wan Sanhuo, you're finished! There are over a thousand people in the stronghold. Can you kill them all?" one of the minor commanders declared forcefully.

Li Yan chuckled. Under the man's terrified gaze, he easily plunged the Waning Moon into his chest and then pulled it out.

"No need for you to worry. In any case, you won't be around to see it."

He stood up and looked at the remaining commanders. Li Yan shrugged. "Esteemed commanders, we've only just met today... actually, no, that's not right. I don't even know any of your names."

"I still have to deal with the rabble outside. I'll send you all on your way first."

As soon as he finished speaking, he flickered and his cold blade easily slit each commander's throat.

Then, looking at the mountain bandits rushing into the great hall with roars, Li Yan unfurled his saber and charged back into the fray.

A splash of crimson appeared out of nowhere, dyeing the surrounding Black Cloud Peak red.

By the time the sun set, the mountain stronghold was still surrounded by layers upon layers of bandits. Inside the stronghold, hundreds of corpses lay piled up haphazardly, a terrifying sight.

In the great hall, Li Yan sat on Long Tonghai's throne, stuffing cold, stale fruit and food into his mouth.

Damn it, killing is hard work... I'm really tired...