Out in the wilderness, more than a dozen people were fleeing for their lives, as if some monster were chasing them from behind.
Yet on closer inspection, it was only a half-grown boy with a spear pursuing them, while behind him, a fierce-faced man wielding a saber gave chase.
Lin Le did not stop hunting the gang members until the city gates were nearly in sight. Only then did he turn his attention to dealing with Zhao Lang.
His body suddenly twisted, and Lin Le thrust his spear backward. The spearhead tore through the air with a shriek, carrying a flash of cold light as it stabbed straight for Zhao Lang's throat.
Faced with this sudden return-thrust, the muscles across Zhao Lang's shoulders and back abruptly bulged. He brought his saber down from above, forcefully knocking the spear shaft three inches aside in an attempt to evade the strike.
But Lin Le reacted with incredible speed. Before the momentum of his spear faded, he turned the thrust into a sweep, the blood-red tassel becoming a streak of crimson.
Though Zhao Lang dodged with all his strength, his clothes were still slashed open. Yet no wound appeared—instead, a brown-black inner armor was revealed beneath.
As someone who lived in the underworld, how could he possibly neglect his own safety? He had spent a hefty sum on this Mighty Bull Inner Armor. An ordinary person could hack at it with a blade and still fail to split it.
"You really are a martial artist!" Zhao Lang glanced at the obvious cut on the inner armor. As he looked at Lin Le, gravity filled his eyes, along with a deeper greed.
Naturally, he had investigated everything he could about Lin Le. He even knew who Lin Le's parents were.
He was merely the child of a teacher from Bailian County. Although his father had possessed some reputation, he was dead and gone, and that little bit of fame was of no use now.
With such a family background and middling Bone Structure, how could he have cultivated Blood Essence in less than a month?
So he must have some secret or treasure on him—an opportunity great enough to give him hope of becoming a cultivator.
Lin Le did not answer. He could feel the greed in Zhao Lang's eyes, which was why he had been unwilling to reveal too high a level of martial cultivation.
A small number of people might think him extraordinarily gifted, but most would probably assume he had encountered some fortuitous opportunity, then begin watching and probing him.
"Die!"
Driven by greed, Zhao Lang attacked first this time. He raised his saber fiercely, its edge slicing through the sky as it came crashing straight down at Lin Le with a howling wind.
Lin Le's gaze remained indifferent. His body moved like a nimble ape as he dodged to the side, then swept his spear upward with the motion. The spearhead was like a venomous snake flicking out its tongue, stabbing directly at Zhao Lang's throat.
Zhao Lang hurriedly withdrew his saber. With a twist of the blade, he swept it horizontally, trying to force Lin Le back.
However, Lin Le had already anticipated this move. With a light tap of his feet, his body moved like an ape. His spear drew an arc through the air, then its tip abruptly pressed downward, pointing directly at Zhao Lang's groin.
Zhao Lang was greatly alarmed. At his fastest speed, he slashed downward and knocked the spear aside.
But Lin Le's assault did not stop. With a shake of his spear, its tip came down like rain, stabbing at Zhao Lang from all directions.
Having lost the initiative, Zhao Lang was naturally forced back again and again.
Knowing that he would inevitably lose if this continued, Zhao Lang let out a roar and brought his saber down violently. A layer of blood-red light covered the blade.
He had to reclaim the advantage!
Blood Essence circulated within Lin Le's body. Then he held his spear horizontally, its shaft like a dragon as he thrust it upward. The spearhead pointed directly at Zhao Lang's chest.
Zhao Lang hurriedly twisted aside and turned his blade, attempting to counterattack. But Lin Le had already predicted it. His spear suddenly spun, and the shaft swept across, striking Zhao Lang's wrist heavily.
The saber flew from his hand. Zhao Lang staggered backward, and before he could steady himself, Lin Le was already right before him like a shadow following its form.
I'm dead!
Looking at Lin Le so close before him, Zhao Lang could not help but feel overwhelming regret. He had never imagined Lin Le's skill to be so exceptional.
He was clearly just a brat who had started practicing martial arts half a month ago, yet his spear technique had already reached great mastery, utterly no weaker than those martial artists who had trained bitterly for over a decade.
Pfft!
The spear flashed like lightning, its tip piercing through Zhao Lang's throat.
Bang! Zhao Lang's corpse fell to the ground. Lin Le looked at the merit and killing karma credited to him, nodded slightly, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face. What a bountiful harvest.
"Still, he was so weak that I wasted the Blood Essence Treasure Liquid I'd stored." Looking at Zhao Lang on the ground, Lin Le shook his head slightly.
He had thought it would be a fierce battle, so he had deliberately eaten a blood ginseng to nurture Blood Essence Treasure Liquid, allowing him to restore his strength and heal his injuries at any time.
Now, this drop of Blood Essence Treasure Liquid could only be saved for improving his Bone Structure.
After searching the corpse and taking the valuable items, Lin Le strolled leisurely toward the city gates.
Under the weight of his killing intent, even the city guards who usually wore arrogant expressions unconsciously reined in their arrogance. Some even sent Lin Le out through the city gates in low, deferential voices.
After finding the Evil Wolf Gang's base—a gambling den—Lin Le swaggered toward the entrance.
Two gang members tried to stop him, but Lin Le kicked each of them inside, even lacing the blows with Blood Essence.
Two bangs rang out, startling everyone inside. All of them looked toward the two men who had flown in and could not help clicking their tongues.
Their breastbones had already shattered, leaving clear depressions. With such injuries, and as ordinary people besides, they were surely doomed.
They then looked at the person who walked in, only to see that he was carrying a bundle in one hand.
Lin Le swept his gaze over the crowd. "Anyone who isn't from the Evil Wolf Gang, get out. I have something to discuss with the Evil Wolf Gang."
The ordinary people naturally did not dare linger. They did not want to be caught in a gang fight and hacked to death by stray blades.
Looking at the gamblers leaving, Lin Le tightened his grip on his spear slightly. Though he truly wanted to kill these gamblers, he had to restrain himself.
Too many deaths and injuries would not be good for his departure.
"Young hero, what can I do for you?" A man in a short jacket walked over and spoke to Lin Le, his tone somewhat impolite.
"See for yourself." Lin Le threw the bundle to the man.
The man caught it and opened it. The instant it was opened, his expression froze, because inside was Zhao Lang's head.
"Your gang leader wanted to kill me, so I killed him." Lin Le pulled over a chair and sat down. "Call two people here for me today, and hand Zhao Lang's inheritance over to me while you're at it. Then I'll spare you today."
The man was also very sensible. "As you command."
Zhao Lang was already dead. Why should he, a mere leader who was not even a martial artist, resist? Was he looking to die?
"Hu Zigui from Wo Hu Martial Arts School, and He Chen from the yamen." Lin Le said. "Use Zhao Lang's name. If necessary, spend some money."
"Yes." The man nodded and immediately turned to give orders to his subordinates.
The first thing delivered was Zhao Lang's inheritance: roughly over a thousand taels in cash, along with several deeds and some booklets.
Lin Le glanced at the man. He knew this fellow was probably ready to seize Zhao Lang's position at any moment, otherwise how could he have found Zhao Lang's inheritance so quickly?
But what did that have to do with him? Lin Le picked through the booklets, took three of them, and took all the rest as well.
The next to arrive was Hu Zigui.
Hu Zigui entered the Evil Wolf Gang's base with some confusion.
Naturally, he had heard of the Evil Wolf Gang. It was merely a small gang, but he was puzzled as to why this gang had sought him out for no reason.
Hu Zigui was soon invited into a room and seated.
But as he sat there, he suddenly fainted.
Creak. The door opened, and Lin Le entered while covering his nose and mouth. Incense that caused unconsciousness had been placed here.
Looking at the unconscious Hu Zigui, Lin Le did not hesitate in the slightest and stabbed him with his spear.
Yet Hu Zigui, who had been unconscious, suddenly sprang up. His hands formed claws as they grabbed at Lin Le.
But how could Hu Zigui, caught unprepared and weakened in sinew and bone after inhaling the incense, possibly be Lin Le's match?
Within two or three moves, Hu Zigui was directly stabbed to death by Lin Le.
The last was the minor clerk from the household office.
There was no need for any trick against this one. Lin Le simply brought a stick down on his head and smashed him to death.
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