From childhood to adulthood, Pang Feiyan had never shown He Sheng a kind face.
Now that she spoke to He Sheng in such a gentle tone, his bones practically melted on the spot.
He Sheng immediately nodded. "As long as we're not breaking into the prison, Feiyan, I'll do whatever you ask."
Pang Feiyan said bitterly, "Let's capture Han Zheng together. First, force-feed him poison and make him change his testimony to Zhang Tianyang. He'll say that his fight with Brother Hai was only a misunderstanding, that Brother Hai absolutely never colluded with or sheltered the Incense Cult. Once Brother Hai is released, we'll give him the antidote."
Pang Feiyan had never been a clever woman. Usually arrogant and overbearing, she had been spoiled rotten by Pang Heihu.
She had no idea how cruel and bloody the struggles between the various factions truly were. Nor did she know how fiercely the Incense Cult's chaos in Huainan Dao and its slaughter with the imperial court had become, or how serious the Shen Family's collusion with the Incense Cult was.
At this moment, the only thing she could think of was what Pang Heihu had said: Han Zheng was currently a favorite before Zhang Tianyang, so Han Zheng would surely have some influence with him.
Thus, she wanted to capture Han Zheng and use poison and other methods to coerce him into changing his testimony, clearing Shen Conghai of suspicion.
Her plan had so many flaws and holes that it was riddled like a sieve. It was even less reliable than breaking into the prison.
But with Pang Feiyan's brains, being able to come up with such a plan in her panic was already her limit.
Though He Sheng was quite strong, he was somewhat simple-minded and dull-witted, rigid in his actions. Only when fighting was he ferocious enough to risk his life. Coupled with his loyalty, that was why Pang Heihu had valued him and taken him in as an adopted son.
Pang Heihu trusted no one with Black Tiger Hall, but if he handed it to He Sheng, he would not have to worry about He Sheng rebelling.
Hearing Pang Feiyan's plan now, even though He Sheng was not particularly sharp, he still sensed that something was off.
He scratched his head and hesitated. "Can this really work?"
Pang Feiyan shook his arm. "How will we know if we don't try?
Father only told me not to get involved in the Shen Family's affairs. Can't I make a move against Han Zheng, a mere Martial Arts Academy disciple?"
Pang Feiyan's eyes were red as she put on a pitiful, heart-wrenching expression. "Brother Sheng, I know you've loved me most since we were children. You've always agreed to anything I asked.
Even if Brother Hai doesn't die this time, he may not be able to remain in Black Stone County. The fate between him and me is nearly at its end."
The moment he heard that, He Sheng's head boomed. His face flushed bright red, and he was overjoyed.
When had Pang Feiyan ever called him Brother Sheng?
She had only ever called out "Brother Hai, Brother Hai."
If Shen Conghai left Black Stone County in the future, who else would be worthy of Pang Feiyan?
It had to be him!
In an instant, He Sheng threw everything else to the back of his mind and nodded repeatedly. "Feiyan, don't worry. I'll do it right away!"
"Be careful. Don't let Father find out."
He Sheng said, "Don't worry. I'll directly summon several trusted men from Black Tiger Hall to act with me.
Han Zheng is only at the initial stage of the Innate Realm. He hasn't broken through to the Innate Realm for long.
Bringing more people is only for safety's sake. After all, we need to capture him alive."
After a pause, He Sheng added, "Feiyan, why don't you stay behind? Blades have no eyes. I'm afraid you'll get hurt."
"No! I have to go save Brother Hai myself!"
He Sheng felt somewhat miserable inside.
But when he thought that no one would compete with him for Pang Feiyan once Shen Conghai was gone, he said nothing more and merely stuffed an item into Pang Feiyan's hands.
It was a metal cylinder, bright silver all over. One side was covered in dense little holes, while the other had a small button.
"This is a hidden weapon from the Thousand Mechanism Sect, the Rain Curtain Meteor Needles. I extorted it from a passing merchant caravan before.
It's coated in a deadly poison. If you notice anything wrong, activate it. Even a Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm martial artist could be caught off guard by it."
"Got it. Hurry up and make your preparations."
He Sheng's heart burned with excitement. He hurriedly went to gather several trusted confidants and began making arrangements.
After night fell, Zhang Tianyang told all the Martial Arts Academy disciples that they did not need to continue patrolling the streets and could return to rest.
Having finally caught members of the Incense Cult, Zhang Tianyang also let out a sigh of relief.
Though these two were not highly ranked, it was still better than coming up empty-handed as before.
Zhang Tianyang was preparing to pry open their mouths, but the process seemed to be going somewhat poorly.
The Incense Cult members had very tight lips. No matter how many methods Zhang Tianyang used, they refused to speak.
However, Zhang Tianyang still had some more vicious methods he had not yet used. One night was enough time to properly work them over.
Han Zheng had no interest in such things, so he went straight home to rest.
Because Zhang Tianyang had spent the past few days searching the entire county town, the whole place had been thrown into such panic that even the wind rustling through the grass sounded like the cry of a crane.
Thus, just after darkness fell, the streets were already deserted. Few of the houses by the roadside even had their lights on. It was as silent as a ghost city.
Under such circumstances, even the slightest sound stood out sharply.
Han Zheng suddenly stopped and looked at the dark street ahead with a faintly mocking smile.
"You Incense Cult lot are quite bold. You still dare to show yourselves at a time like this.
But what's the use of causing trouble for me? If you have the guts, go break into the County Yamen and raid the prison."
Han Zheng had instinctively assumed that anyone coming to trouble him at such a time had to be from the Incense Cult.
Instead, he saw He Sheng, Pang Feiyan, and three Houtian Late Stage martial artists closing in from all sides, surrounding Han Zheng in the center.
Han Zheng frowned slightly. "Pang Feiyan? Don't tell me you came to take revenge on me at a time like this?"
This woman was stupid beyond saving. Yesterday, she had actually dared to involve herself in the Incense Cult affair, only to be injured by him.
She could resent him all she wanted, but coming to retaliate against him at such a critical moment meant she truly had no brain at all.
Pang Feiyan said coldly, "Revenge? I'm not that petty.
Han Zheng, I can put aside the grudge over you injuring me for now, but I want you to tell Zhang Tianyang that he caught the wrong man. Brother Hai never sheltered members of the Incense Cult. This was all a misunderstanding.
I have a poison pill here. Take it first. It won't act up until three days later.
Whenever Brother Hai is released, I'll give you the antidote then.
I advise you to know the times and submit to them. Take the poison pill willingly and save Brother Hai. Don't force us to act and make yourself suffer physical pain!"
Han Zheng said nothing for a long while. He merely looked at Pang Feiyan as though she were an idiot beyond compare.
What exactly was inside this woman's head?
They said big breasts meant no brains. Her breasts were not big, and she had even less brain than that.
Even if she had thought with her ass, she should not have come up with such a shitty plan full of holes.
Han Zheng suddenly felt exhausted. "So you ambushed me here just to force me to tell Zhang Tianyang to release Shen Conghai?
Didn't you grow a brain? I'm not Zhang Tianyang's biological son. Do my words carry that much weight?
Forget me saying it—even if the County Magistrate said it, do you think Zhang Tianyang would release him?
And Shen Conghai's sheltering of those Incense Cult demons is so obvious even a blind man could see it. To take him away, Zhang Tianyang even did not hesitate to tear all pretense with Shen Chengshan and fight him.
Now you want him to release the man. Do you think that's possible? Can shit that's been pulled out be shoved back in?"
Though Han Zheng's words were crude, He Sheng felt that they seemed to make a bit of sense...
But Pang Feiyan was enraged.
"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! He Sheng, move!"
Although He Sheng sensed something was wrong, once Pang Feiyan spoke, he still charged forward with his men without hesitation.
"Courting death!"
A flash of killing intent passed through Han Zheng's eyes.
The Wild Goose Feather Saber at his waist left its sheath. Rather than retreat, Han Zheng advanced, charging straight at He Sheng, the strongest among them.
Han Zheng moved like a white ape darting through the forest, with ape-like arms and a wasp waist, swift and agile.
Yet the Wild Goose Feather Saber in his hand was steeped in dense blood fiend aura. When he slashed down, it carried both the cold, savage ferocity of the Blood Fiend Saber and the smashing force of the White Ape Through-Arm Fist.
All his martial arts had now reached complete mastery, allowing him to blend them into a seamless whole and multiply their power.
He Sheng also used a saber—the Gold Wire Great Ring Saber!
Pang Heihu possessed two secret Innate Realm martial arts: the Black Fiend Palm and the Tiger Roar Saber.
The latter was fierce and majestic, its power violent. He Sheng twisted his waist and swung his saber, his blood and qi surging explosively. The bluestone bricks beneath his feet abruptly shattered with a sharp crack.
The Gold Wire Great Ring Saber, nearly half a man tall, collided with the somewhat slender Wild Goose Feather Saber in Han Zheng's hand.
But as immense force came crashing through, He Sheng's tiger's mouth went numb, and Han Zheng's slash forced him one step back.
Dragon Elephant Prajna, peerless strength!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three consecutive slashes came down, blasting He Sheng back three steps.
He let out a fierce roar, and a muffled sound like an enraged tiger's howl erupted from his body.
The Gold Wire Great Ring Saber in his hand spun madly, stirring up howling winds.
But Han Zheng suddenly withdrew and retreated, slashing toward a Postnatal Martial Artist behind him.
The blood fiend aura erupted abruptly. Though that martial artist was also at the Houtian Late Stage, he could not withstand the ultimate edge of Han Zheng's blade at all.
His saber shattered in an instant, and Han Zheng's slash cleaved his body into two!
A rain of blood fell, and the baleful intent around Han Zheng grew even heavier.
He Sheng roared in fury, his eyes instantly turning red.
That was a brother who had followed him for nearly ten years!
He drove the Tiger Roar Saber to its utmost limit. His inner force poured forth violently, and his saber force crashed down upon Han Zheng like a blow to the face and crown.
The other two Postnatal Martial Artists both wielded long spears, coordinating with He Sheng's saber force as they attacked Han Zheng's lower body.
This was how they had always worked with He Sheng, killing opponent after opponent.
Killing intent gathered. The dense blood fiend aura on Han Zheng's Wild Goose Feather Saber had even dyed its snow-bright edge with a red gleam.
The dragon elephant stomped the earth, and the white ape shook its arms.
One technique was heavy and mighty, generating force from the lower body. The other possessed unparalleled momentum, generating force through the arms.
The two powers stacked together. As the blood fiend saber slashed forth, one slash shook three weapons, and a deafening metallic explosion rang out!
All three men were forced back at once. Han Zheng pressed his advantage without mercy, slashing at He Sheng.
He Sheng raised his saber to block, but immediately felt that something was wrong.
There was no strength at all behind Han Zheng's slash. He easily knocked it aside.
At that moment, Han Zheng abruptly turned and withdrew his saber. Borrowing He Sheng's force, he crashed directly into a Black Tiger Gang member.
White Ape Through-Arm, smashing down!
With a dull thud, Han Zheng's fist smashed that Black Tiger Gang member's head straight into his chest cavity!