Hei Er let out a savage grin, driving his dagger viciously toward Ning Dagou's neck.
At the critical moment, three soft pops sounded, like bubbles bursting.
Then came the clang of a dagger hitting the floor.
Hei Er's right hand exploded into a mist of blood. The dagger fell to the ground, while blood spurted more than a meter from his severed arm.
Behind him, the heads of a hall master and a lieutenant exploded into blood mist, chunks of flesh spraying everywhere as their headless bodies crashed onto the ground.
"Ah!"
Hei Er clutched the stump of his arm with his left hand and let out a heart-rending howl.
"Who goes there?!"
"Bold!"
The Black Tiger Gang's hall masters and lieutenants all sprang to their feet in panic, and the place instantly descended into chaos.
Some roared furiously as they searched everywhere for the enemy.
Others quietly backed away, their eyes darting around as they sought a way to flee.
Hei Er's face twisted as he raised his head, his pupils abruptly shrinking.
An Imperial Guard stood before him, staring at him as though he wanted to devour him alive. It was clearly this man who had struck just now.
His heart gradually sank to the bottom.
This is bad. He attacked me without a sound, so he is most likely stronger than me—and he is an Imperial Guard official! What am I supposed to do?
Enduring the agonizing pain, he cried out in alarm:
"Imperial Guard!"
"Why has my lord attacked this old man without cause? What does this mean?"
Ning Chuan checked Ning Dagou and Xiao Hua. Seeing that they had merely fainted, the stone in his heart finally dropped.
He turned to stare directly at Hei Er, killing intent boiling within him.
"Old bastard, weren't you going to avenge Black Tiger?"
"Come on, then. I am Ning Chuan. I personally twisted your elder brother's head off!"
"What? You were the one who killed the Gang Leader?"
Every gang member was aghast. The few who had been shouting most fiercely just moments ago instantly shrank like quails.
Hei Er's eyes turned bloodshot. His fists clenched with crackling sounds, veins bulging across his forehead.
At that moment, Hei Er felt incomparably stifled and incomparably enraged.
"You, you... the Black Tiger Gang is under Lord Ma's protection. This old man will report you to Lord Ma!"
With his enemy right before him, he wanted to erupt and kill him, yet he did not dare make a move.
The crime of killing an Imperial Guard was far too grave. He absolutely could not do it openly.
Otherwise, vast as the world was, there would no longer be a place for him to hide.
For now, I can only use Lord Ma to suppress him first, then make plans at leisure.
After today, this old man will have a hundred underhanded ways to kill this bastard!
Hei Er's thoughts raced, and he quickly came up with a plan.
Ning Chuan narrowed his eyes and stared at Hei Er.
"Lord Ma? What the hell is he? Does he deserve to meddle in my affairs?"
"You old bastard have mixed in the martial world too, yet you do not even understand that disaster should not befall one's family. Then die!"
Ning Chuan extended his right hand. A faint golden light shone from his palm as he brought it down upon Hei Er's head.
"My lord, wait!"
Hei Er was horrified. Ignoring the pain, he hurriedly raised his left hand to block.
Crack!
His left hand successfully blocked Ning Chuan's palm, but it was utterly useless.
A dense series of popping sounds, like beans being stir-fried, rang out as Hei Er's left hand shattered into who knew how many pieces.
Then came the sound of a watermelon bursting. His head exploded with a bang, and his headless body slowly toppled over.
"Ah! The Deputy Gang Leader is dead! Run!"
With a cry of alarm, the gang members scattered in all directions and rushed for the main gate.
In the blink of an eye, several hall masters and lieutenants with martial skills had reached the gate.
"Trying to leave!"
Ning Chuan grabbed a handful of iron pellets from his pocket and sent the hidden weapon Meteor Chasing Moon whistling forth.
A rapid string of popping sounds rang out, like bubbles bursting one after another.
Blood splashed and flesh flew. Every gang higher-up who had run to the gate had their heads blown apart, becoming headless corpses.
The exploding sprays of blood drenched the gang members' faces. Those trying to flee immediately stopped, each of them staring in terror and trembling like chaff in a sieve.
Ning Chuan held a handful of iron pellets in each hand, the hidden weapon Meteor Chasing Moon poised but not yet released.
"My lord, spare us! My lord, spare us!"
The quick-witted ones had already dropped to their knees and repeatedly kowtowed to Ning Chuan.
Some stood rooted to the spot, their minds roaring so loudly that they forgot what to do.
One gang member felt something strange atop his head. He reached up and grabbed it, then brought it before his eyes. It was half an eyeball.
"Ah!"
The gang member screamed and fell stiffly backward, scared to death on the spot.
The hall was instantly filled with kneeling people. Everyone was terrified, and several gang members had already frightened themselves into soiling their pants.
Forget it. All the martial artists have already been killed. These remaining ones are ordinary people.
Ning Chuan turned and picked up Ning Dagou and Xiao Hua. Using the Big Dipper Seven Stars Step, he was already atop the roof and drifted away.
In the air, hidden weapons poured down like rain.
Inside the hall, clusters of bloody blossoms burst open.
Slap, slap, slap...
A series of footsteps approached as Xiao Lian led nine Imperial Guards storming inside.
The sight in the hall shocked the Imperial Guards. Every one of them sucked in a cold breath, their faces full of disbelief.
Headless corpses lay everywhere on the ground. Blood spattered the walls, with chunks of flesh hanging from them.
The scene was like walking into hell itself.
"Fuck, what happened here?!"
"Brutal. This new colleague is simply too brutal—he actually slaughtered the Black Tiger Gang!"
"This kid cannot be provoked. Cannot be provoked!"
Someone swallowed hard, already placing Ning Chuan in the highest danger category in his heart.
Xiao Lian's pretty face turned slightly cold. One delicate hand pressed against her saber hilt, her knuckles turning white as a chill rose in her heart.
This kid killed so many people in broad daylight. He is simply a born killing fiend—
Working for the Imperial Guard is truly right in his line of work!
"What are you standing around for? Get to work!"
Carrying his younger brother and sister, Ning Chuan went directly to the house assigned to him by the Imperial Guard.
Though the house was not large, it was a private courtyard residence with a beautiful environment and refined furnishings.
Moreover, Imperial Guards stood watch every day, so there was no concern for safety.
Even more thoughtfully, the furniture and all daily necessities had been prepared. They could move in directly with nothing but their belongings.
He laid his younger brother and sister on the bed and washed their faces with cold water. The two slowly woke up, having no idea what had happened.
The two climbed off the bed and threw themselves into Ning Chuan's arms.
They had been knocked unconscious and taken away. Before they could wake up, Ning Chuan had carried them back again.
Killing so many people was simply heaven—"Big Dog, Xiao Hua, how are you feeling? Is anything hurting?"
He sat Xiao Hua on his lap and asked patiently again. Both said their heads felt a little dizzy, but they felt nothing else.
Only then did Ning Chuan relax, thinking that he should find a physician to examine them.
"Brother, where is this?"
Big Dog and Xiao Hua looked at the soft, beautiful blankets on the bed, then looked around from east to west, their eyes full of curiosity.
"This is our new home in the county town. You will live here from now on!"
"Really?!"
"That is great!"
Big Dog and Xiao Hua were overjoyed, running around and playing throughout the house.
Watching his happy younger brother and sister, Ning Chuan felt warmth fill his heart, and a sense of happiness rose within him.
Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock!
Just then, urgent knocking came from the main gate.
Ning Chuan was puzzled.
We just moved in, and I do not know anyone. Who would come knocking?
He opened the gate and saw Zhang Chao standing outside, with a blood-covered man behind him.
"Brother Zhang Chao, what is this?"
Ning Chuan looked at Zhang Chao, then at the blood-covered man, astonishment filling his heart.
"Ah, Brother Ning, we finally found you! He says he is from your hometown and has urgent business with you!"
The blood-covered man behind him suddenly stepped forward, dropped to his knees with a thud, and repeatedly kowtowed.
"Lord Ning, please hurry and save Shopkeeper Li and Captain Zhang!"
His voice was urgent and filled with terror.
Ning Chuan's brows drew together.
"You are from the Qingshi Town Joint Defense Camp!"
"What happened? Speak quickly!"
Before you continue