Scheming to Kill Zhao Kuangfeng

Two days later.

South of Qingshi County, a cloud of dust rose.

A swordsman wearing a bamboo hat rode in, clad in a Black Outfit, with an Ancient Greatsword at his waist. He attracted the attention of many passersby, and even the beggars at the entrance widened their curious eyes.

Zhao Kuangfeng (he) had ridden for 10 days from Jade Dragon County to Qingshi County, and his face was weathered and slightly tired.

He had reached the location to complete his mission. Next, he would kill some people, obtain the recipe, and capture some craftsmen before returning to his patron to report.

"This time, I can exchange for another month's supply of Spirit Food from the Ge family. Nourishing my body with spiritual energy, I might even attempt to break through to the Innate Grandmaster realm."

All Martial Artists had only one ultimate goal: Innate Grandmaster.

Reaching this Realm was the peak for a Martial Artist, a legend in the martial world!

Even a Spiritual Plant Immortal Clan like the Ge family would treat him with courtesy. Although an Innate Grandmaster might not be able to contend with a Qi Condensation mighty figure, slaughtering juniors in the Fetal Breath stage was as easy as flipping a hand.

Therefore, unless they had no attachments at home, even Qi Refinement stage Immortals would not easily make an enemy of an Innate Grandmaster.

He had been a retainer in the Ge family for many years, all for the purpose of using the Ge family's resources to break through to this supreme Martial Artist Realm.

"This should be the last mission I do for the Ge family."

As Zhao Kuangfeng (he) stopped, a beggar knelt on the ground and cried out, "Hero, please give me two copper coins! I haven't eaten in three days, I'm starving to death, please, hero!"

A thin, small beggar knelt before Zhao Kuangfeng's (he) horse, begging for alms.

Zhao Kuangfeng (he) glanced at him, took out an ounce of silver, and asked with a smile:

"Do you know where Pinnacle Pavilion is?"

Seeing the gleaming silver, the little beggar's eyes went wide. He nodded vigorously, "I know, I know! Please follow me, hero!"

The little beggar led Zhao Kuangfeng (he) to Pinnacle Pavilion.

Upon arrival, he looked expectantly at Zhao Kuangfeng (he), rubbing his hands.

"Hero, this is the place you were looking for. The silver..."

He had a fawning smile on his face.

"You actually dare to ask for it?"

Slap!

Zhao Kuangfeng (he) kicked the little beggar away and flicked his sleeves before walking into Pinnacle Pavilion.

Outside, a group of beggars emerged from a street corner and surrounded the little beggar, who was spitting blood from his nose and mouth, glaring furiously at the swordsman inside.

The little beggar spat out several mouthfuls of blood, and with his last breath, trembled as he said:

"Little Six... repay... repay Benevolent Yang for the meal."

A smile of relief appeared at the corner of his mouth, and his head tilted, completely losing his breath.

"Where is Shopkeeper Liao of Pinnacle Pavilion?"

Liao Cao walked out from inside and asked with feigned confusion, "Who are you? What business do you have with me?"

"I am a retainer of the Ge family from the Jade Dragon Immortal Clan, holding a token from your Pinnacle Pavilion headquarters, here to claim a person."

He tossed out a green token. After comparing it a few times, Liao Cao nodded.

"This is indeed a Pinnacle Pavilion headquarters token. Who do you wish to claim? I, Liao, will do my utmost to assist."

Slap!

Zhao Kuangfeng threw down a bag of un-opened Compressed Biscuits.

"Take me to the person who makes these Grain-abstinence Biscuits."

Liao Cao looked astonished. "Ah, this... Pinnacle Pavilion has always accepted treasures regardless of their origin. This might be against the rules."

"Your Pinnacle Pavilion headquarters doesn't dare to speak of 'rules' to my Ge family, and you, a mere shopkeeper, are worthy?"

Zhao Kuangfeng's expression was arrogant. He lightly stomped his foot on the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Bluestone Slabs shattered, and stones shot out, directly damaging several displayed goods in Pinnacle Pavilion.

"A Half-step Innate Master!" Liao Cao was greatly shocked.

"Now, do you still have rules?"

Liao Cao was silent for a moment, then nodded in resignation.

"Since you have the headquarters token, please follow me. This person's surname is Yang, given name Hu. He moved to Qingshi County from out of town two years ago. He indeed possesses extraordinary skills. They have a workshop that can produce these Grain-abstinence Biscuits."

Liao Cao led Zhao Kuangfeng towards the edge of the county town. Along the way, he cautiously advised, "My Pinnacle Pavilion has some reputation in the martial world. If you make a move later, please be discreet. Don't make things too difficult for me."

Zhao Kuangfeng waved his hand. "It's fine. We are all people of the martial world. I will give your Pinnacle Pavilion some face."

He had also made and purchased many things at Pinnacle Pavilion before, knowing that Pinnacle Pavilion had some backing. There was no need to completely antagonize them.

"Thank you. May I ask your name?"

"Zhao Kuangfeng."

"Hiss~ But that move, Great Eight-Level Gale, forced back the Innate Grandmaster Zhao Kuangfeng?"

"Hmph~ You have some discernment." Zhao Kuangfeng's lips curved slightly.

"Gale Blade Technique, a superior martial art in the martial world. How many martial cultivators in the jianghu wish to study under the Zhao family, yet I have the fortune to meet Great Hero Zhao in this small county town. It truly fulfills Shopkeeper Liao's wish. After this matter is concluded, would you honor me by having a few drinks at my home?"

"It's all just empty fame. A small matter." Zhao Kuangfeng's lips curved even higher.

In a pleasant atmosphere, Liao Cao led Zhao Kuangfeng to a mansion with an imposing aura.

"This is Yang Hu's home. His workshop is hidden inside. I've seen them transport Grain-abstinence Biscuits out from the basement. Let me open the door and deal with it inside."

"Very good, Shopkeeper Liao. You are very sensible."

Liao Cao knocked on the door, and two house servants emerged.

"Shopkeeper Liao? What brings you here?"

Liao Cao put on an air of authority: "Your master sent me to discuss the sale of Grain-abstinence Biscuits to the neighboring county today. Where is Yang Hu?"

"Oh! Master and the craftsmen are in the workshop processing. Please wait outside the door for a moment. I'll go call him."

"No need."

Zhao Kuangfeng kicked the house servants away with both feet. They fell to the corner of the wall and fainted.

Liao Cao quickly and carefully closed the main door.

"Follow me. The basement is inside."

The two walked into the backyard and lifted a stone slab from a rockery, revealing the passage to the basement.

A strong aroma of biscuits wafted towards them.

Zhao Kuangfeng smiled slightly: "It's this smell."

He no longer had any doubts and went straight down.

Behind him, Shopkeeper Liao called out, "This underground workshop is Yang Hu's lifeline. It's full of traps and extremely secret. I've never been inside either. Great Hero Zhao, be careful."

"Hmph~ Only an Innate Grandmaster deserves my caution, Zhao Kuangfeng."

Gale Blade Technique, its essence lies in the word 'Gale'.

Zhao Kuangfeng went straight down the passage. Upon entering, he found an outer room. Only one lamp was lit inside. Dozens of bags of Grain-abstinence Biscuits were stacked on the shelves, along with some other strange food items.

But besides this, there were no other passages, as if it were a dead end.

"Heh heh~ A small mechanism. Do you think you can deceive me, Zhao Kuangfeng?"

He looked towards a wall on the east, which had a row of small holes. Behind them, he could hear suppressed, rapid heartbeats. To a Half-step Innate Martial Artist, they sounded as clear as insect chirps.

I can hear your heartbeat.

Zhao Kuangfeng peered through the small holes.

He saw a transparent lens, and then snap!

The tactical flashlight turned on.

A beam of light brighter than the sun shot into his eyes!

His mind went blank instantly, his eyeballs burning with pain.

"Ah! My eyes!"

Zhao Kuangfeng stumbled back a step, rubbing his eyes fiercely. But even when he opened them, everything was a blur of white; he couldn't see anything.

Thud!

A stone door behind him slammed shut, sealing off his escape route.

At this moment, his ears picked up the sounds of people moving in all four surrounding rooms.

"You think blinding me will subdue Zhao Kuangfeng? You cowards! I'll kill every last one of you!"

He drew his great saber, his ears perked, listening for their positions!

Even without his eyes, a Half-step Innate could unleash formidable combat power.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle~

The holes in the four walls sprayed out a vibrant red liquid.

Zhao Kuangfeng dodged and weaved in the dark room, but the space was too small. His face and body were covered in the red liquid.

As the red liquid seeped into his eyes, it felt like thousands of needles piercing his eyeballs!

The pain on his face made him incredibly uncomfortable. What was most deadly was the thick odor that entered his breath.

"Cough cough cough! It's poison! Cough cough cough!"

He tried to hold his breath, but the first two inhales of the gas made him cough uncontrollably. He lost control, his vital energy in disarray, unable to gather his internal energy at all.

"Ah!!!"

Zhao Kuangfeng's five senses were directly destroyed by the high-density capsaicin. His mind went blank, unable to sense anything. He only felt like he couldn't breathe.

Boom boom boom!

He wildly swung his great saber, causing the walls to crack.

And at this very moment, a stone door slowly lifted.

Huzi, wearing a gas mask, rolled out from the gap, holding an electric baton and poking Zhao Kuangfeng.

"Ahhhhhhh~"

The high-power electric baton, capable of subduing an adult elephant in one second, instantly caused Zhao Kuangfeng to lose control of his body. He fell to the ground, convulsing, until the parts that were electrocuted turned black, he foamed at the mouth, and rolled his eyes. Only then did Huzi lower the electric baton.

Yang Shi walked out from another stone door, holding a nail gun, and pressed it against Zhao Kuangfeng's chest.

"Your fate is sealed."

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Three shots, three thick, long nails embedded themselves into Zhao Kuangfeng's heart. The renowned Half-step Innate Swordsman of the martial world instantly ceased to breathe.

Yang Shi and Huzi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This entire plan was fraught with danger at every turn. A slight misstep would have made it seem less deliberate.

"Thirty-Six Stratagems: Chain Stratagem."

As they sat on the ground, panting, the stone door leading outside suddenly opened.

Clap clap clap~

An old man walked in, clapping his hands.

"To possess such schemes and methods, I truly did not underestimate you."