Old Zhang

Zhao Han estimated that if he practiced two more unclassified martial arts, he would likely hit his limit, with nowhere further to advance.

"If Mad Saber Three Stacks Wave could improve that easily, that would be wonderful."

Zhao Han shook his head and performed the Yu Family Saber Technique once. Saber light immediately flashed across the sky as he pushed the technique to its utmost limit.

The Yu Family Saber Technique was scarcely any weaker than the Mad Saber Nine Forms.

Sheathing his saber, Zhao Han glanced at the corpses strewn across the ground. "The Yu family must have classified martial arts as well. Otherwise, they couldn't keep their footing in Blackwater County. I need to get my hands on them."

"These corpses are all marked with the character Yu. If the Yin Tong Cult's branch discovers them, the Yu family will probably be hard-pressed to avoid destruction."

"I, Zhao Han, am a good man. Today, out of boundless mercy, I'll help your Yu family clear yourselves of suspicion!"

"Of course, labor fees aren't cheap. The price your Yu family will have to pay won't be small..."

Zhao Han immediately began cleaning up the scene. He scraped away a layer from the Yu characters carved into the wooden pillars with his saber, then stored the wood in his spatial storage.

He put the stones carved all over with Yu characters into his spatial storage, climbed over the wall, and threw them into a pond a hundred meters away, where they sank straight to the bottom.

He piled all five corpses together, covered them with lime, then sprinkled them with water, thoroughly corroding away the Yu characters.

Then Zhao Han picked up a shovel and continued digging.

With the strength of the Muscle Refining Realm, Zhao Han soon dug up what the Yin Tong Cult members had been trying to excavate.

It was a palm-sized sandalwood box. Upon opening it, he found a black ring inside, thick with yin energy. Zhao Han took it out and played with it for a moment, though he had no idea what it was for.

He tossed it into his spatial storage, then lit a fire and burned all the corpses.

As for Dong Qiang's body, Zhao Han carried it to the alley behind the martial arts school and tossed it there.

Then... he ran!

Dong Qiang could not be left dead together with the Yin Tong Cult members, nor could he be linked to them. Otherwise, the Yin Tong Cult's branch would come knocking.

Zhao Han still wanted to live comfortably for a few more days. Besides, it was only a matter of lifting a hand.

Thick smoke spread through the abandoned residence, igniting the weeds and timber. The blaze rapidly grew, drawing countless gazes.

Quite a few people nearby immediately came to investigate.

It would have been better if they had not looked. One glance, and they were frightened out of their wits.

What had happened here? Why was there blood everywhere, and why had so many people died?

Unfortunately, the corpses had already been burned beyond recognition. They seemed to have suffered inhuman torture before their deaths, their features no longer discernible.

After wandering around outside for a while, Zhao Han returned to the martial arts school. The news had already spread everywhere.

Zhao Han also put on a look of surprise and questioned everyone. Naturally, plenty of show-offs eagerly told him what had happened.

By then, the abandoned residence had been sealed off by the County Yamen's runners, while constables investigated the case and tried to determine the identities of the dead.

During the investigation, with so many people gathered around, someone found Dong Qiang's body in the alley behind the martial arts school. He had already been dead for two days.

The time of Dong Qiang's death was far removed from the deaths of the five Yin Tong Cult members, so the two cases could not be connected.

Only several Mad Saber Martial Arts School disciples who came to deal with the matter frowned deeply, somewhat moved by Dong Qiang's death.

Liang Feng sighed. "The world is in chaos these days. He just wouldn't listen—insisted on walking at night and taking dark alleys. Sigh..."

The death of an ordinary formal disciple had little impact on the Mad Saber Martial Arts School, so long as it was not one of the first three disciples who had died.

Moreover, Dong Qiang came from an unremarkable family in a remote rural area. After Master Yang Wuji saw the corpse, he simply waved his hand, making it clear that he had no desire to investigate further.

If anyone was to blame, it was Dong Qiang himself for being too weak and getting killed in a dark alley.

The martial arts school returned to normal. The next afternoon, Zhao Han went to find the guide for Gutter Cave, who had only just returned.

The guide was an Old Man of around fifty named Old Zhang, who made his living entirely by leading people along the way.

Though he was not a Skin Refining Warrior, his body was nimble and sharp, and his eyes were bright with spirit. Clearly, he was no ordinary man.

"You people... why does every last one of you want to go to Gutter Cave? There are many pythons there, and there may even be demons lurking inside. One day, you might just go in and never come back."

Old Zhang sighed.

Had trips to Gutter Cave not become a little too frequent lately?

Especially since quite a few Hunters were eagerly bent on hunting pythons.

From the side, it also showed that the Poisonous Snake Gang's demand for pythons had grown even greater.

Zhao Han casually laughed it off. "I'm just curious about Gutter Cave."

Old Zhang advised him, "Sigh, young man, you should go there less often."

"Old Zhang, let's be straightforward. How much do you charge for one person?"

"Sigh, the guiding fee is Three Coins of Silver, paid now."

"Let me make this clear first: I'm only responsible for leading the way. Remember to prepare your own food, medicine, tent, and such."

"Also, life and death are decreed by fate, wealth and honor by Heaven. If something happens, you can't blame me."

"Of course."

"Fine. We'll meet at the East Gate at six tomorrow morning!"

"This is Three Coins of Silver. I'll be there on time tomorrow morning."

Zhao Han tossed down the money and left.

Quite a few people were headed to Gutter Cave. Aside from Zhao Han, there were three others.

They all wanted to hunt Pythons and sell them to the Poisonous Snake Gang for money.

The value of a Python varied according to its quality, weight, and rarity, ranging from Five Taels of Silver to fifteen taels.

In truth, Zhao Han had the same idea of making money.

Old Zhang was guaranteed to profit without loss—he could earn one tael and two coins of silver just by leading the way once.

Unfortunately, he had a disappointing, good-for-nothing son. All the money went into that son's hands, only to be squandered at the gambling house.

After returning to the martial arts hall, Zhao Han found Liang Feng and told him that he had business to attend to and would be away for the next few days.

Liang Feng kindly reminded him:

"Remember to stay safe when traveling. When necessary, giving up a little money to save your life is worth it. Don't be like Dong Qiang and lose your life over it."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Liang. I understand."

After eating at the Cafeteria, Zhao Han took out some Dried Meat from his storage space and ate that as well. Only then did he fill his stomach.

The Muscle Refining Realm truly consumed a great deal.

Muscle refining meant tempering the body's vitality and toughness, so the consumption of meat would be enormous.

Once one endured the Muscle Refining Realm and reached the Bone Refining Realm, the consumption of meat would decrease, while reliance on certain martial arts pills would increase.

At six the next morning, Zhao Han arrived at the East Gate ten minutes early with a bundle, only to discover that he was the last to arrive.

Old Zhang had already been waiting for quite some time, standing there as steady as an old god. The other three looked somewhat impatient.

Clearly, people in this world were still very punctual. They even arrived far in advance.

"Young man, you're only bringing this little?" Old Zhang looked at Zhao Han's bundle in confusion.

With a bundle that size, it probably could not even fit a tent.

Look at the other three—they had come fully prepared, each carrying a tent, food, and weapons.

Zhao Han, with just a small bundle and a Steel Saber, looked as though he were going on a trip for pleasure.

"Old Zhang, don't fuss over it. Young people have strong bodies. Let's get moving," one of them urged.

"Alright, then. Everyone's here. Follow me."

Old Zhang counted the group, then immediately took the lead toward the city gate.

The other three had no intention of introducing themselves either. Everyone had different goals, so there was no need to deliberately make acquaintances or reveal too much about themselves.

Zhao Han's gaze was sharp as he sized up the three from head to toe.

Two of them had wolfish eyes, carried weapons, and stood straight-backed. They were clearly Skin Refining Realm Martial Artists.

The remaining one carried a Bow and Arrow and was probably a Hunter.