Slay the chicken to warn the monkeys, sever delusions; tread the waves soundlessly into the mountains

Tap~ tap~ tap~

Footsteps echoed through the dark, narrow space.

"Everyone is here."

Four round, fat youths huddled trembling beside Chen Duan.

They looked different from one another, but shared the same traits: bloated bodies and terror they could not hide from their faces.

Liu Pi had become a dead dog, his limbs twisted, unconscious as he was carried over one fat youth's shoulder.

Judging by their eager confessions, things had indeed unfolded as expected.

They were all disciples of the Water Court of the Yuanxiang Sect.

Their strength was pitifully weak. Aside from the leader, who was a Third Level disciple, the other three were merely at the Second Level.

Originally, there had been another Third Level disciple and several Second Level ones, but unfortunately for them, Chen Duan had already beaten their guts out outside.

Otherwise, these people would not have been so obedient now.

One perceptive Water Court disciple raised the Oil Lamp in his hand and lit the way for Chen Duan.

The flame drove back the darkness, revealing a scene like a prison.

Iron bars divided the space into several cages, each crammed with three or four ragged children.

Most of them still had fairly normal builds, clearly having been abducted only recently.

Pairs of terrified, numb eyes stared in unison toward the outside of the cages.

Chen Duan swept his gaze across the cages. "I'm looking for a girl in a red dress. She should have been brought here recently."

As soon as he spoke, a Water Court disciple immediately set off to search through the cages.

Before long, he brought out two little girls wearing red dresses.

Their faces and hands were bruised, clearly showing that they had suffered.

Their bodies trembled as they looked at the towering man before them, who seemed like a monster. They wanted to cry, yet bit down on their lips and did not dare make a sound.

Because they understood that if they cried out, they would be beaten again.

So they could only stand stiffly where they were and await their fate.

Chen Duan crouched down until he was level with the two girls. Smiling gently, he lightly placed both hands on their little heads and rubbed them.

"Don't be afraid. It's all right now."

The two girls froze slightly and instinctively looked up.

Only then did they realize that although the face before them was rugged, even carrying a trace of ferocity, that smile was gentle, making them feel as though spring breeze washed over them.

And besides...

His hands were warm.

After soothing the girls, Chen Duan rose to his feet and turned his gaze back toward the Water Court disciples.

"They aren't the ones I'm looking for."

The Water Court disciples trembled all over, cold sweat soaking their backs.

One of them rolled his eyes frantically and hurriedly said:

"Maybe that aberrant creature stole her away. Yes, that must be it."

After the few of them chattered over one another with their descriptions,

Chen Duan learned that Shuilian Village had been unsettled lately. A Filthy Thing had appeared and stolen away many children.

And today, the Water Court apparently had even sent an expert named Bai Bing specifically to deal with the matter.

This suddenly emerged aberrant creature and Water Court expert caught Chen Duan by surprise.

An aberrant creature...

After clarifying the situation, Chen Duan did not delay any longer and decided to make the trip himself.

He would meet that aberrant creature, as well as the Water Court expert.

His figure shifted slightly, his arm becoming an afterimage as he slapped each Water Court disciple once.

Once the disciples came to their senses, they felt something enter their bodies and coil around vital points.

"I have planted a strand of inner force within each of you, linked to my will. If I activate it, I can take your lives in an instant."

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"If you don't want to die, stay here obediently and keep watch over these children."

Before his words had even ended, that Killing Intent had already made every disciple feel as though they had fallen into an icy abyss.

To make them understand the gravity of the matter, Chen Duan deliberately left them with a deeper impression.

The Gut-Severing Force of the Void Inch Palm immediately twisted at their hearts.

"Urghaaah!"

Miserable screams rose and fell.

One after another, they collapsed, clutching their chests and curling up like silkworms.

Fear filled most of the disciples' eyes. Chen Duan's move had clearly worked wonders on them.

Yet one person was an exception.

Although the sole Third Level disciple also clutched his chest with a pained expression, a trace of relief flashed through his eyes.

Because he had secretly tested it just now and discovered that though the Gut-Severing Force was troublesome, it was not impossible for him to dissolve with his strength. He merely needed some time.

But he did not dare reveal that relief and could only pretend to be like the others.

Once this baleful star left, he would immediately flee and dissolve this Gut-Severing Force along the way...

A shadow fell over him.

Chen Duan had walked over.

Crack.

Chen Duan crushed the man's neck beneath his foot, and the sole of his shoe was instantly smeared with a puddle of mangled flesh.

After all, the Gut-Severing Force was derived from a Void Inch Palm at the Third Level. It was enough against low-level Martial Masters, but against those at the same level or higher, its effect was greatly diminished.

The true qi of his Fuhu Fist could certainly be used this way as well, but once it entered a human body, it was difficult to control it with precision.

The Gut-Severing Force could achieve this mainly because of the mechanism of the Void Inch Palm's inner force, and had little to do with its user.

It was just a pity that its power was somewhat lacking. It would be ideal if he could fuse in the strength of other true martial arts...

Ever since he had first glimpsed the doorway to inner-force fusion, Chen Duan's train of thought regarding martial arts had broadened greatly, and he often pondered such matters.

He withdrew his foot indifferently and swept his gaze over the remaining Water Court disciples.

That kick crushed the last trace of resistance in their hearts.

Chen Duan casually picked a disciple to lead the way, then pointed at the still-unconscious Liu Pi.

"Watch him carefully. I have other uses for this man."

This man possessed a rather decent Breath Concealment Technique, and Chen Duan was quite interested in it.

"Rest assured, Lord! We'll watch him carefully and never make a mistake!"

The disciples hurriedly promised him, their attitudes humble and respectful to the extreme.

Among the disciples of the Four Academies, those of the Water Court were the most smooth and adaptable. On the surface, they were mild-mannered, able to deal with anyone and get along everywhere, but they were also the most pragmatic and worldly group.

The rewards for coming to Shuilian Village to do such immoral work were indeed good, but not enough for them to gamble their lives on it.

When it was time to protect themselves wisely, they absolutely could not hesitate.

Chen Duan returned to the surface.

The moonlight was cold as it sprinkled down over the village.

Unexpectedly, the thick fog from before had mostly dispersed by now.

But the wind had grown fiercer still, carrying the oppressive heaviness of a mountain storm about to descend.

Though the Water Court disciple was broad and fat, Chen Duan tucked him under his arm like a ball.

The disciple also noticed that Chen Duan's steps made no sound at all.

Mother of mine, he's practically a ghost.

The Treading Waves Step, formed through the fusion and refinement of two movement arts, was much more practical than before.

Walking without a sound was naturally no challenge at all.

Yet the sound of footsteps was only the most obvious and superficial kind. In actual combat, what often exposed one's whereabouts were other "sounds," such as breathing, heartbeats, or even the exertion of one's muscles.

The two left Shuilian Village, wound around in circles, and only stopped after walking roughly another li.

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