Four Great Protectors

Liu Family.

Inside the main hall, Liu Dafu, who should have been seated in the place of honor, was now sitting respectfully in a lower seat, his posture rigid.

He occasionally lifted his eyes to cautiously glance at the middle-aged man sitting in the seat of honor, who was currently closing his eyes and resting.

The man exuded a deep aura, and his wide-sleeved robes couldn't conceal the heroic spirit emanating from him, making others instinctively fearful.

Beside him, a saber was placed.

It was a heavy saber with a thick spine, extremely weighty. Golden patterns adorned its spine, and the blade emitted a chilling cold light. A dragon's head formed the hilt, and the grip was over a foot long.

When Liu Dafu saw the saber, he subconsciously swallowed, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard from outside the hall.

The man sitting at the head of the hall slightly opened his eyes, his gaze directed towards the main entrance.

A lean man strode in quickly, bowed, and said:

"Greetings, Gang Leader."

This middle-aged man was none other than the Shashen Gang Leader, Cheng Sihai.

He waved his hand gently:

"Any findings?"

The lean man shook his head:

"Nothing. I went to their courtyard, but there were no traces inside.

"For now, we can't determine if they met with an accident... or left on their own."

"Hmph."

Cheng Sihai spoke coldly:

"Chu Yunfei was assassinated, and Wu Ganqi is isolated and helpless. In his rage, he has sealed off Heavenly Dance City, allowing entry but no exit.

"He's busy searching for the assassins who attacked Chu Yunfei, so he likely has no time for anything else."

Just as the lean man was about to nod, a voice came from the side of the hall:

"When things are out of the ordinary, there's usually a reason. Heavenly Dance City is like an iron bucket right now, and we have important matters to attend to...

"Gang Leader, the Second and Third Leaders would never abandon their posts at this time."

The lean man looked up and saw a young man had arrived.

He was dressed in white martial attire, exuding an air of casual elegance.

However, he wasn't good-looking; his long face and small eyes made even his otherwise not-unpleasant mouth appear somewhat unsightly on his face.

"Insolent!"

The lean man was furious.

"Bai Yuntian, how dare you speak so presumptuously in front of the Gang Leader?"

"Wu Sun, be quiet."

Cheng Sihai waved his hand gently and looked at the man named Bai Yuntian:

"You mean to say that our hidden activities in Heavenly Dance City have been discovered by Wu Ganqi?"

Bai Yuntian nodded:

"Gang Leader, this is Heavenly Dance City, after all.

"We are using Steward Liu's mansion as our base, and with his cover, it's still difficult to be exposed.

"But the Second and Third Leaders were operating outside.

"They know exactly what we're after, and they would never give up so easily at this juncture.

"Moreover, Wu Sun just said there were no traces in that small courtyard...

"But that's where they've been living. How could there be no traces at all?

"I suspect someone cleaned it up and covered up all the evidence."

Hearing this, Liu Dafu's face turned bitter:

"Please, sirs, don't say such things...

"If it weren't for Master Cheng saving my life before, and if I didn't know your backgrounds, "Even with all the courage in the world, I, Liu Dafu, wouldn't dare to harbor you."

Cheng Sihai smiled slightly at Liu Dafu, then suddenly reached out. Liu Dafu felt a powerful force pulling him, and he involuntarily moved towards Cheng Sihai.

Cheng Sihai grabbed the front of his clothes:

"Is Steward Liu unhappy with our visit?"

"No, no, never."

Steward Liu's forehead was covered in beads of sweat, and he shook his head repeatedly.

"Master Cheng, esteemed sirs, it is an honor to have you grace my humble abode. How could I possibly be displeased?"

"Hmph."

Cheng Sihai flung Liu Dafu down, then glanced at Wu Sun and Bai Yuntian.

"Where are Zhang Hua and Qi Niang?"

Among the Shashen Gang's Four Great Protectors, Zhang Hua was the leader, followed by Qi Niang, then Third Brother Bai Yuntian, with Wu Sun respectfully bringing up the rear.

With two of the Four Great Protectors absent, Cheng Sihai's expression soured.

"Qi Niang went to gather information and has still not returned," Wu Sun said, glancing at Bai Yuntian.

Bai Yuntian gave a helpless smile. "Big Brother Zhang... is currently in Steward Liu's bed with his two wives, engaging in the Way of Human Relations."

Liu Dafu's face turned ashen upon hearing this...

He was in his forties. His original wife had died early, and he had remarried twice.

Both were in their twenties, young and beautiful.

That Zhang Hua was a lecherous fiend. Not only was he hiding in Liu Dafu's home, but he had also taken possession of the man's two wives, reveling in nightly pleasures...

Liu Dafu knew this clearly, yet he dared not speak out of anger.

"Preposterous!"

Cheng Sihai slammed the table. "Tell him to get over here."

"Boss, boss, no need to call. I'm already rolling over," a voice called out. A man in his thirties with a pale complexion walked toward them, tidying his clothes as he went.

He only finished adjusting his belt after entering the hall, then bowed to Cheng Sihai with a smile.

"Have the Second and Third Bosses been found?"

Seeing Liu Dafu glaring at him, he smiled. "What's wrong, Steward Liu? Who has angered you? Tell me, and for the sake of your two wives, I'll deal with them for you."

Liu Dafu trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Zhang Hua, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Cheng Sihai shot him a glance. "You speak less. Qi Niang hasn't returned yet. Go find her, all of you. The situation in Heavenly Dance City is not right, and Ten Thousand Night Valley has been silent for too long... We may need to make plans soon."

Hearing Cheng Sihai's words, the others dared not delay. They immediately cupped their fists in salute.

As they turned to leave, Cheng Sihai suddenly looked up. He saw something whistling through the night sky and hurtling toward the hall.

A voice followed. "We offer our apologies for not welcoming the Shashen Gang's esteemed leader, Cheng, to Heavenly Dance City. Please do not refuse this humble gift."

Cheng Sihai's expression changed. Zhang Hua turned and stepped forward, striking the object with his palm.

The object felt soft, clearly a person!

Zhang Hua's palm strike slowed, but he was pulled by the force of the impact, retreating three or five steps before stopping himself.

He looked closely and was instantly shocked. "Qi Niang!?"

In his arms was a woman. She looked to be in her twenties, her throat pierced by a sword, and she had been dead for a long time.

Zhang Hua was overcome with grief and rage. "Qi Niang... why are you dead? I haven't even tasted you yet!!!"

Without regard for anyone else's reaction, he looked up sharply. "Who is it?"

As soon as he spoke, a thunderous roar echoed. A figure burst through the side of the hall and suddenly appeared before him. A powerful, unrefined punch, carrying a biting wind, was already aimed at his face.

Zhang Hua, who had been weeping over Qi Niang moments before, flung her corpse in front of the punch.

Unexpectedly, the person's fist pressed down on the corpse and smashed forward. Zhang Hua countered with a palm strike, but it felt as if he were being hit by a mountain.

He was sent flying backward by the immense force.

He spun in mid-air, using the momentum to steady himself with a 'thousand jin drop' technique, and looked up in fury. "And who are you?"

A tall, imposing man appeared, his gaze condescending. He spoke coldly, "Chu Fan of the Taiyi Sect."