"Stronghold Chief!!?"
Mountain Splitting Tiger Zhou Kuang crashed through the door. At the sight of the limp corpse, his eyes nearly split with rage.
More than ten years ago, he and his brother had nearly starved to death alongside their mother. Lu Jingtian, then still unknown, had happened to pass by and saved them both. He taught them martial arts, gave them silver to support their old mother, and let her live out her remaining years in peace.
After their mother died, Lu Jingtian had become like a father to them.
Yet today, they suddenly saw his cold corpse.
Above the great hole in the roof, countless tiles flew through the air as a blue figure flashed past and vanished.
"Shoot him!"
Zhou Kuang roared.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The explosive twangs of military-grade heavy crossbows rose and fell one after another. The thin roof was shot straight through, riddled with chopstick-sized holes, while many tiles burst apart.
Yet not a single drop of blood could be seen.
Ignoring his brother's attempts to stop him, Zhou Kuang smashed through the roof tiles in one step and stood atop the roof. He only caught sight of a blue figure flashing past the distant barracks before disappearing completely.
"After him!"
Zhou Kuang's face twisted as he led a group of stronghold guards in furious pursuit toward the barracks.
The other four Tigers, who had gathered at the sound of drums and gongs, arrived a step later. Their hair stood on end with rage as each led their men toward the four corners of the barracks.
"Stronghold Chief!"
"That heaven-damned bastard!"
Many stronghold guards saw Lu Jingtian's stiff corpse and could not help reddening their eyes, gritting their teeth.
Lu Jingtian had not been a good man.
He killed at the slightest provocation and robbed passing goods. Batch after batch of children had been abducted to the mountain, and none had ever left again. Their parents and relatives had shed who knew how many tears. A man like him would not deserve pity even if he were cut into a thousand pieces.
But he had treated those beneath him extremely well. He gave them clothes and food, bestowed generous rewards, and those with outstanding aptitude could even learn martial arts.
Jiang Ding moved with his hand on his sword, weaving through the barracks, his target pointed directly at the storeroom.
"Who goes there?!"
More than ten men were still patrolling and guarding the storeroom. Seeing him appear so abruptly, they shouted in alarm and gathered together, forming a spear formation that was ready for both attack and defense.
"Those who block me, die."
Jiang Ding spoke calmly. A faint white gleam spread over his blade as he strode straight ahead.
"Seeking death! Kill him!"
The squad leader guarding the storeroom shouted.
The twelve stronghold guards sneered without the slightest fear. Twelve two-and-a-half-meter spears thrust out at once, sealing every direction and every possible route of evasion, their spearheads flashing silver.
It bore the same wonderful principle as an immortal sect concentrating its firepower scientifically.
Against such an attack, even an Inner Qi Realm martial artist would not dare meet it head-on. To resist it by force was death; they could only make a Temporary Avoidance and seek another opportunity.
Slash!
A ghastly white sword light swept through the air. The iron-bound hardwood spear shafts snapped, their broken ends smooth as mirrors.
I can't see it!
That was the only thought the squad leader had time to form before his throat turned cold. A great torrent of blood sprayed out, and his body collapsed weakly.
From the corner of his eye, he saw that all twelve of his men had suffered the same fate, without distinction of first or last.
Jiang Ding shook the blood from his sword and returned it to its sheath.
He slowly walked into Fierce Tiger Stronghold's storeroom.
There were no mechanisms or traps as imagined. This was a place frequently visited by stronghold guards and leaders great and small; setting traps here would only be making trouble for themselves.
The first things to enter his sight were piled sacks of rice, mostly white rice with some millet mixed in. Further back hung strips of air-dried cured meat and the like.
With such vast stores, the stronghold would have nothing to fear even if it were besieged for over a year.
Jiang Ding glanced around, then came to a solid door on the left. A sword light flashed, and he gently pushed the door open.
"Found it."
The warehouse was stacked layer upon layer with every kind of saber, spear, and weapon. There were even several dozen sets of heavy iron armor, similar in style to the soldiers of East Spirit Prefecture.
There were also supplies such as soybean oil, rolling logs, and cloth.
Jiang Ding's gaze settled on the powerful crossbows neatly arranged on wooden racks. He passed them over, taking instead two four-stone heavy bows placed nearby, six or seven spare bowstrings, and several dozen arrows bundled onto his back.
Holding a barrel of soybean oil and tearing off a large bundle of cloth, he pushed off with his feet and shot straight upward through the roof.
"The assassin is by the warehouse!"
"Kill him!"
Countless stronghold guards flooded into the barracks. At the sight of that figure, they wished they could devour his flesh alive!
Several leaders who had steeped themselves in archery for many years drew their powerful bows as well.
Clang, clang!
Jiang Ding drew his sword and knocked aside the arrows fired from afar.
He tore apart a roll of cloth, wrapped it around roof tiles, and soaked them in soybean oil. He scraped his blade against the tiles to scatter sparks and ignite them, then used a touch of the Point Sword Style to toss them gently against the wall of a barracks building.
Crash! The tiles and torn cloth shattered together. Oil clung to the wall and ignited it.
"This is bad. Stop him!"
Zhou Kuang's expression changed sharply as he realized something.
Yet with such distance between them, even if he possessed means that reached the heavens, he could only watch helplessly.
Bang, bang, bang!
Black lumps soaked in oil flew out one after another, smashing onto the walls and roofs of the various barracks. Many buildings were struck by four or five in succession.
Very quickly, clusters of flames sprang up throughout the barracks and spread at high speed.
The people who had built the barracks were experienced, leaving several meters between each building. But with flames everywhere, that no longer mattered. The blaze spread swiftly.
"Put out the fire!"
"Withdraw!"
Gold Pointing Tiger Zhou Sheng's face went pale as he issued hurried orders.
But it was already somewhat too late. In their grief and fury, many stronghold guards had moved with astonishing speed, disregarding danger as they rushed into the barracks to search for the assassin who had killed their stronghold chief.
Within a short time, dozens wailed as they were swallowed by the inferno. Those lucky enough to escape had suffered severe burns, while black smoke filled every corner and blocked their vision.
"Beast! I'll carve you into a thousand pieces!"
Zhou Kuang split a flaming roof beam apart with one axe, then led his men backward, avoiding the areas engulfed in fire.
Within the thick smoke and flames, a figure stepped lightly. Even when tongues of fire occasionally swept over him, he remained wholly unharmed. Before long, he left the fire-wreathed area.
The smoke and fire dispersed, and the scene before them gradually became clear.
The ranks stood neat and orderly, blades and spears bristling everywhere. Bows and crossbows were drawn and aimed, and an aura of chilling military formation filled the air, one that even the raging flames behind them could not conceal.
"Run. Go on, run. Why don't you run again?"
A burly dark-skinned man built like a bear stood bare-chested, squeezing each word through his teeth.
Sky Bearing Tiger Zhou Kun!
It was said that he was Lu Jingtian's cousin-nephew. He excelled in the hard attack technique Thirteen Hardened Bodyguards, possessing a body of bronze skin and iron bones, impervious to blades and spears. He had also cultivated Inner Qi to Inner Qi Great Accomplishment. He often charged alone into entire merchant caravans, leaving corpses strewn everywhere while remaining completely unscathed.
Beside him stood Descending Tiger Lang Yi and Scorpion Tail Tiger Xu Sanniang, both at Minor Accomplishment of Inner Qi.
To either side, more than sixty stronghold guards held spears and crossbows, all of them rigorously trained.
"Why should I run?"
Jiang Ding smiled faintly and asked in return.
The hearts of the many stronghold guards skipped a beat.
Only then did they remember that the person before them was a fiend who had killed two renowned masters—the stronghold chief and Righteousness Reaching the Heavens Yang Dongsheng—in only a few moves, not a lamb for them to hunt at will.
"Shoot him!"
Sky Bearing Tiger Zhou Kun barked coldly.
More than twenty powerful bows and heavy crossbows fired in unison. Arrows flew like a swarm of locusts, drowning the ground ahead.
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