Cave Mansion

Chapter 15: Cave Mansion

Captain Liu pulled strings from the shadows.

The Zhang family received news of Zhang Jiao's death in Mount Qi.

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Heng was enraged, smashing everything within reach. Especially upon learning that Lu Zhaojin was the killer, the tables and chairs were shattered by the True Qi he unleashed.

Nothing in the room remained intact.

Zhang Heng's eyes were red, filled with grief, anger, and killing intent. He ordered all members of the Zhang family to march out and search the mountain. Today, he would personally kill Lu Zhaojin, crushing his bones and scattering his ashes.

He even vowed to venture into the deep mountains to find Lu Jinlin, who had hidden there, and make them pay with their lives for Zhang Jiao.

The Dingshan Sect was far away.

However, Qishan County had a Dingshan Sect outpost. Upon receiving the news, they quickly dispatched someone to relay the message back to the sect.

The Dingshan Sect was furious and took this matter very seriously.

As the de facto ruler of the Mount Qi region, they hadn't encountered anyone so audacious in a long time, someone who dared to kill a disciple of the Dingshan Sect.

Therefore, the sect leader of Dingshan Sect dispatched two elders at the Seventh Rank to go and kill the madman. This would also show the martial artists of Mount Qi the strength of the Dingshan Sect and the consequences of angering them.

Those who had not died by Lu Zhaojin's sword had all returned to Qishan County. They embellished the events on the mountain when telling their friends and family.

It wasn't that they spoke ill of Lu Zhaojin, but rather that they emphasized his ruthlessness, portraying him as a god of slaughter who instilled fear in others. Even the young master of the Moon Wolf Gang had died by his hand.

When the members of the Moon Wolf Gang heard this, they were greatly alarmed. They returned to their gang's stronghold and informed Chen Kang.

Chen Kang had actually broken through to the mid-Seventh Rank half a year ago. He hadn't emerged from seclusion, intending to wait until Mu Kui dealt with Zhao Nuanyu. If Zhao Huaishui went mad and attacked the Moon Wolf Gang, he would then make a powerful move to suppress him, giving him leverage even against the imperial court.

Although the martial artists of Mount Qi harbored grievances against the imperial court, they never underestimated its power. Once it set its mind to something, there was nothing in the world it couldn't accomplish.

He hadn't expected his plans to go awry.

Mu Kui was dead.

Mu Zhuo, seeking revenge for Mu Kui, had also died.

The Moon Wolf Gang had instantly lost the combat power of two Eighth-Rank Martial Artists.

Chen Kang could no longer remain hidden. With the Moon Wolf Gang leaderless, he had to step forward to take charge. However, before two days passed, the news of Chen Yuan's death arrived...

The people of Qishan County saw the members of the Moon Wolf Gang, led by Chen Kang, heading towards Mount Qi in a grand procession.

Suddenly, there was a sense of impending storm over Mount Qi.

Lu Zhaojin opened his eyes again.

The sun was setting, and the sky was ablaze with the final rays of light, painting the horizon in a fiery orange.

He opened his character panel.

[Lu Zhaojin]

[Bone Age: Sixteen]

[Root Bone: Medium]

[Realm: Eighth Rank Late Stage]

[Cultivation Method: Flowing Water Art (75/100)]

[Martial Arts: Brute Ox Stance (Mastered), Gale Sword Art (Mastered), Golden Body Technique (25/100)]

[EXP: 1068]

[Inventory: Hundred Refined Sword]

The Flowing Water Art had advanced to Great Accomplishment.

Lu Zhaojin's realm had officially broken through to the Eighth Rank Late Stage. Only two meridians remained unblocked. Once the Flowing Water Art reached Mastery and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians were completely unblocked, he would ascend to the Seventh Rank.

However, advancing the Flowing Water Art to Mastery required 2,500 EXP.

There was still a deficit of about 1,500 points.

He wasn't in a hurry.

He would get it from harvesting the Zhang and Zhao families.

The Root Bone on his panel had changed to Medium, a result of consuming the Blood Ginseng.

Lu Zhaojin hadn't thought much of the Blood Ginseng at the time. He casually wiped it clean with his sleeve and swallowed it, dirt and all.

The Blood Ginseng quickly dissolved in his stomach, transforming into a pure essence of medicinal power that integrated into his flesh, bones, and sinews, giving Lu Zhaojin a feeling of ethereal transcendence.

This was likely the reason his Root Bone had improved.

Not only that.

The medicinal power also nourished his physical body, causing a slight increase in his physical strength and subtle, almost imperceptible changes in his internal organs.

Lu Zhaojin felt refreshed, his senses sharpened, and the world around him seemed brand new, though he couldn't quite pinpoint the changes.

The main reason for the extended time was digesting the medicinal properties of the Blood Ginseng.

Lu Zhaojin stood up from the ground, dusting the dirt off his clothes, and thought it was time to settle the grudges of his predecessor.

However, he hadn't walked far before noticing that there seemed to be even more people on Mount Qi.

Could some treasure have appeared on the mountain?

Lu Zhaojin didn't hide his presence. When the group spotted him, they became alarmed, especially seeing him covered in blood. They drew their weapons and blocked his path, preventing him from approaching.

Lu Zhaojin wasn't one to seek out fights. If someone actively sought trouble with him, he would draw his sword without hesitation. "What are you looking for?"

The group clearly followed the lead of the middle-aged man, whose cultivation at the Ninth Rank Late Stage was superior to the others. Upon hearing Lu Zhaojin's question, his face showed surprise. "You don't know?"

Lu Zhaojin shook his head. "No."

The middle-aged man briefly explained to Lu Zhaojin.

Mount Qi had become a gathering point for various factions.

The Dingshan Sect, the Zhang Family, the Zhao Family, the Moon Wolf Gang, and even the county yamen and the pharmacy had dispatched people.

The man also mentioned that people from Luoshui Commandery and Yanling Commandery were on their way.

A cave mansion had been discovered deep in the mountains, estimated to be the remnant of a Fifth Rank expert.

As for who discovered this cave mansion, it didn't surprise Lu Zhaojin – Zhao Jinzhi.

From what the man said, it seemed the Zhang Family, leading a group of guards, had arrived at Mount Qi, searching the mountainside for a young man.

Lu Zhaojin knew the Zhang Family was looking for him.

But they hadn't found him.

Instead, they found Zhao Jinzhi.

Zhang Heng and Zhao Jinzhi had a fierce battle, ending in a draw.

Lu Zhaojin recalled the Blood Ginseng Grass the other party had taken, and then recalled the drastic change in his demeanor at the time. He suspected an elder was helping him, using the Blood Ginseng Grass to break through to the Seventh Rank. Otherwise, how could Zhang Heng not have subdued him?

The two fought, moving deeper into the mountains. Finally, in a certain spot, their clashing True Qi shattered a rock, revealing a cave entrance.

Their intense battle had already attracted the attention of the Moon Wolf Gang, who had followed. Now that a cave entrance was revealed, they immediately sent people to investigate. The tunnels inside were not deep but were like a maze; no matter how they walked, they ended up back where they started.

Even people from the county yamen and the Dingshan Sect were trapped inside.

To this day, they had not found the location of the ruins.

Lu Zhaojin asked, "How did they know that cave was the dwelling of an expert?"

The middle-aged man replied, "Who knows? All the martial artists on Mount Qi have rushed here to see if this expert's cave mansion is real."

He smiled, "If it's real, perhaps we can get some benefits. Even if it's fake, it's just a waste of some effort."

Lu Zhaojin nodded, saying no more.

However, he also planned to follow these people to the cave mansion.

It wasn't that he coveted the cave mansion of uncertain authenticity, but rather that the Zhang and Zhao families were both there, saving him the trouble of crossing the river to Shiqiao Town.

He could also take care of the Moon Wolf Gang while he was at it.

That way, he wouldn't have to make a trip to Qishan County later.

This excursion might cause his EXP to soar, but his reputation as a "God of Slaughter" would likely be cemented in the Qishan region.

Lu Zhaojin followed behind the group, walking slowly.