All the patrolling officers froze at once, rigid where they stood.
The only Patrol Warden who had narrowly dodged aside at the critical moment, a Third Grade Master, was now clutching his right cheek desperately.
He had avoided his forehead, but not his cheek.
An intense numbness spread from his face, swiftly engulfing his entire body.
Thud.
The Patrol Warden dropped to his knees, opening his mouth to make a sound.
His vision began to blur. He had worked so hard to climb to where he was today.
But now... He thought of his wife at home, keeping dinner warm as she waited for him. He thought of his son, with whom he had arranged that very morning to practice writing.
Deep reluctance filled his eyes. "Can't bear to leave?"
A pair of silver-white women's boots suddenly stopped before him.
"An unexpected gain." The woman's voice drifted over through the haze.
The Patrol Warden suddenly felt something cool flow into his mouth.
As it entered, the numbness in his cheek began to recede rapidly.
Through his blurred vision, he saw the woman's dull, masklike face.
The one who had saved him was none other than Heavenly Maiden Tong Zhang, a Black List Expert from the Sensing Gate whose vicious reputation was immense.
Late at night, inside his room.
Zhang Rongfang returned to his room and finally let out a slow breath.
He touched his right arm. For that final slash, he had relied on the power of the Breaking Limit Skill, Shrinking Step Heavy Mountain.
He had indeed severed Mountain Opening Daoist's blocking fingers and head in a single stroke.
But the other man had once been Sixth Grade, after all.
Even though he had lain in wait for a long time, struck when the man was down, and