Smiling Tiger County Magistrate

Meanwhile,

The battle on the other side had already reached a fever pitch.

One side had lost a son and wanted revenge at all costs; the other refused to be wiped out and fought desperately in resistance. Both sides threw everything they had into the slaughter.

Facing the Ten Thousand Blades Sect's all-out assault, the Black Tiger Gang temporarily set aside its internal conflicts and fought side by side.

Bai Ze had already led men into the fray. The longsword in his hand swept through the battlefield like wind passing over the land. Against members who were merely in the Skin Refining and Bone Refining Realms, no one could stop him.

Though life after life fell beneath his blade, not the slightest change appeared in his eyes.

He kept a constant watch on his surroundings, avoiding battles with Viscera Refining Realm martial artists whenever possible, while observing the clash between the two Blood Changing Realm experts at the front.

In terms of speed and strength, the two of them were far beyond anything Bai Ze could match at present.

As he watched their fight, an overwhelming aura crashed toward him.

Every punch and kick carried the feeling of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, as if their tremendous strength could destroy everything around them.

But Bai Ze knew it was merely an illusion caused by their blood and qi reaching a certain level of power.

Even so, they were still nearly unmatched, and no one around them dared approach.

Black Tiger gripped a steel saber and brought it down fiercely, like Mount Tai bearing down from above. After Song Kai dodged aside, a crack was left in the ground.

One fought with broad, sweeping movements, as though he could split Heaven and Earth; the other used a tricky sword technique, with several sword shadows stabbing in from multiple angles.

Numerous wounds had appeared across both men's bodies, yet the battle still had not stopped.

But Old Gang Leader Black Tiger was ultimately too old, and his blood and qi had declined considerably. Though they appeared evenly matched, he had actually begun to fall into a disadvantage.

After forcibly exchanging a move, he swiftly retreated and said in a deep voice, "Song Kai, must you really fight this old man to the death?"

"Though this old man is advanced in years, I am still in the same realm as you."

"If you push me too far, I am still confident I can drag you down with me."

"Heh heh."

Song Kai sneered repeatedly at those words, his eyes fixed firmly on his opponent.

The moment Black Tiger took the initiative to speak, his momentum had clearly weakened by several degrees.

Yet Old Gang Leader Black Tiger also understood his own condition. If they continued fighting, he would absolutely be no match for Song Kai, though he still possessed the ability to risk his life and severely wound him.

But now was not the time. His son still wanted to take over the Black Tiger Gang, and he needed Black Tiger to hold the fort.

That was precisely why he had entertained the thought of making peace.

Song Kai understood this as well, but for the sake of avenging his second son, he was still unwilling to yield easily.

Just as the two prepared to resume their slaughter, Bai Ze saw in the distance that the County Magistrate had actually arrived with his men.

Just as he had expected, once the fighting reached a certain point, the County Magistrate would never stand by and do nothing. He simply did not know why.

After all, the fiercer the Black Tiger Gang and Ten Thousand Blades Sect fought, the greater the benefit should have been for the County Magistrate!

When the surrounding men saw the County Magistrate arrive with his people, they all stopped fighting and quickly separated, wary of being ambushed.

The County Magistrate acted as though he had not seen any of it, walking straight toward the two men in the center.

Seeing Black Tiger and Song Kai covered in wounds, he stepped forward and said with a beaming smile, "Why must you two go this far? Look at all this blood."

"How about this? Go back and bandage your wounds first. Tomorrow, I will personally invite you both over. Whatever issues you have can be resolved then. There is no need to fight to the death here."

"Enough. Take your men and disperse. If anyone dares make another move, do not blame me for helping the other side."

As he spoke, he looked at Song Kai with smiling eyes, as though waiting for his response.

Song Kai dearly wanted to refuse, but in the end, he said nothing.

A County Magistrate or a Black Tiger alone was not much to him, but together, they gave him cause for concern.

Moreover, the other party's arrival clearly meant he was helping the Black Tiger Gang. Song Kai could only grit his teeth, leave behind a harsh threat, then turn and lead the Ten Thousand Blades Sect away without looking back.

Seeing this, the Old Gang Leader finally breathed a sigh of relief. He cupped his hands toward the County Magistrate and said gratefully, "I troubled you to come personally this time. Thank you very much."

"Haha, Old Gang Leader, you are too polite."

The smile on the County Magistrate's face did not change as he said indifferently, "It is nothing. You should return and tend to your wounds first. We can discuss anything else tomorrow."

"Besides, I am afraid the Ten Thousand Blades Sect will not let this rest. When we gather tomorrow, we can discuss things properly."

"After all, what I want is a stable Changqing County, not a Changqing County reduced to ruin. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, yes."

Black Tiger nodded at those words. They had known each other for many years, and he understood the other man's character very well.

As Bai Ze followed the Black Tiger Gang away, he casually looked back and caught a flash of cold light in the County Magistrate's eyes in the distance. It seemed as though he had seen it wrong.

But after turning back, Bai Ze was certain he had not been mistaken. What exactly was the other man plotting?

"Deputy Hall Master Bai, Deputy Hall Master Bai, Brother Leopard is here."

"Alright."

Zhao Peng's voice at his side pulled Bai Ze out of his thoughts.

When he saw the Black Panther and Scarred Leopard brothers, both of them bore wounds as well. After respectfully nodding to them, he followed them toward the Leopard Hall headquarters.

After arriving, Black Panther waved a hand and told Bai Ze to go treat his wounds first. As for what came next, they would discuss it after he had recovered.

Bai Ze respectfully acknowledged the order, then turned and left with the others.

But when he reached a corner, he stopped and carefully glanced back.

He discovered that Zhao Peng, who had supposedly already left, had returned to the place from before. After looking left and right, he quickly pushed open the door and entered.

Seeing this, Bai Ze inwardly said, Just as I thought.

After returning to his residence, he sat in his room and thought to himself, It seems Black Panther still does not trust me, and Zhao Peng was sent by him to keep watch over me.

Though he had always disguised himself as being in the middle stage of the Bone Refining Realm, from my observations, he has already reached at least the peak of the Bone Refining Realm. He may even be in the Viscera Refining Realm.

If I had shown any hesitation before, he likely would have acted. I might even have been among his targets.

Thinking of this, Bai Ze became even more wary of Black Panther.

Over the next few days, the Black Tiger Gang and the Ten Thousand Blades Sect calmed down once more.

Though no one knew what Old Gang Leader Black Tiger and Song Kai of the Ten Thousand Blades Sect had discussed under the County Magistrate's mediation that day, no further conflict erupted in the end.

As for Bai Ze, he met Black Tiger the following day. Though Zhao Peng had certainly already reported everything, Bai Ze still pretended ignorance and explained the matter again.

This time, Black Tiger was clearly somewhat more cordial than before. Even Scarred Leopard, who had never once regarded Bai Ze properly, nodded to him as well.

After rewarding him with some Qian Cai and Bone Forging Pills, they let him leave.

From then on, he shut himself away in his residence and cultivated relentlessly. Though he had not broken through to the Viscera Refining Realm, he felt himself take another step closer. He believed he would break through before long.

After cultivating the martial techniques he had learned previously to perfection, he focused mainly on practicing his trump card, the Sword Drawing Technique. Though it had not reached the Profound Realm, it was not far off.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

Bai Ze stood in the courtyard, his longsword leaving streak after streak of afterimages as each draw became faster than the last.

Though it appeared to be nothing more than the simple act of drawing and sheathing a sword, it gave off an unstoppable feeling.

The key to the Sword Drawing Technique lay in explosive power in a single instant, achieving the utmost speed so that before the opponent could react, the sword in one's hand had already taken another life.