Years of Killing Fish, Heart as Cold as the Blade

"Finished Spirit Seizing Array Disk" left Chen Dengming frowning, hesitant.

He had heard Lüo Bing mention Spirit Seizing Array Disks before, and they were indeed good items, even capable of slightly improving his predicament with his Gold Wood Spirit Root.

But meddling in other people's business wasn't his style. Yet, an opportunity lay before him, and it concerned his Spirit Root. It felt wrong not to seize it. After all, judging by the other party's Spiritual Might, with his Twin Gu—Golden Silkworm and Blood Centipede—in hand, he was assured of a safe retreat even if he couldn't obtain it.

"Damn it!"

The yellow-robed Cultivator's expression changed. The moment he cursed, he instantly activated the Talisman in his hand.

"Boom!"

Another fireball instantly materialized, the air heating up intensely. Whoosh, it shot towards the Cultivator on the ground.

This was the marvel of Talismans.

Even a Cultivator who hadn't mastered the Great Fireball Technique could instantly cast it by activating a Talisman.

However, as this fireball flew out, another one instantly shot out from Chen Dengming's direction.

The two fireballs collided, exploding with a rumble. Tendrils of flame, accompanied by surging energy, scattered outwards. A scorching aura spread, even curling the leaves of the nearby trees.

"Hmm? Instant Daoist Magic?"

The yellow-robed Cultivator's face grew solemn. His eyes, sharp and gleaming, swept towards Chen Dengming, who was descending on his flying sword. His expression turned grim, and he said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist, this is a private matter of our Hutong Street, unrelated to you. This person is someone Hutong Street has on its wanted list. I hope you won't interfere."

"Hutong Street?..."

Chen Dengming's gaze was cautious. A thought sparked in his mind. After landing, he carefully observed the yellow-robed Cultivator, assessing his strength. Gradually, he finally remembered why the man looked so familiar.

This yellow-robed Cultivator was the unknown Cultivator he had encountered when he first arrived near the Gathering Place.

Back then, the man had also been pursuing another Cultivator, and that Cultivator had also sought his help.

The situation then was identical to today, just in a different location. It was as if time had cycled. However, back then, he was merely an Innate.

But clearly, the other party hadn't recognized him as the former Innate.

"This person has consistently used Talismans for his spells, and his Spiritual Might is only at the Qi Cultivation Second Level..."

Chen Dengming's heart settled slightly. His gaze swept over the so-called wanted Cultivator on the ground, and his expression turned strange.

What a coincidence!

Running into acquaintances again. No wonder this Cultivator said he recognized him.

The Cultivator spitting blood on the ground was disheveled, his face covered in blood, looking utterly pathetic. He hadn't recognized him at first glance, but now, looking closely, wasn't it Jiang Qiang, whom he had encountered before?

"You again? You're still alive?"

Chen Dengming was somewhat speechless.

That day, Jiang Qiang had also been hunted, and he had ended up taking the blame, forced to eliminate two bounty Cultivators.

This time, the man was being chased again. It seemed his days were spent either chasing or being chased. He should just call him Jiang Run-Run (Jiang the Runner). Why wasn't he dead yet?

The yellow-robed Cultivator looked surprised. Hearing Chen Dengming speak, he initially thought they were close to Jiang Qiang and became quite wary and annoyed. But it seemed they weren't close, and there was even some past conflict. He immediately chuckled.

"So, Fellow Daoist, you also have a grievance with this scoundrel? Don't worry, I'll let him die as you wish right away."

"Whoa there!"

Chen Dengming waved his hand, looking at the yellow-robed Cultivator. He suddenly cupped his fists and said politely with a smile, "No need. Brother Daoist, I do know him, but we don't exactly have a grievance. How about you give me some face this time and let it go?

Whatever compensation you want, I can offer Spirit Stones. I only want the Spirit Seizing Array Disk, how about that?"

The yellow-robed Cultivator frowned, his face darkening. He scrutinized Chen Dengming's appearance suspiciously, his gaze falling on the white hairs at his temples. A hint of doubt gradually appeared in his eyes, as if he was starting to recognize Chen Dengming.

Chen Dengming narrowed his eyes, catching the flicker of doubt and sudden realization in the yellow-robed Cultivator's gaze.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"

Jiang Qiang, who was lying on the ground, gasping for breath, looked overjoyed and immediately began to crawl towards Chen Dengming.

"Then how about this."

Chen Dengming suddenly changed his tone, looking humbly and politely at the yellow-robed Cultivator. "Seeing as you don't seem willing to let him go easily, tell me, why are you chasing him? I only need the Spirit Seizing Array Disk in his hand. What do you want?"

The yellow-robed Cultivator suddenly narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "I don't want anything, but my boss, Qian Yuan, also wants the Spirit Seizing Array Disk in his hand! I recognize you now. You're that fishmonger from Old Shed Street, aren't you?

I didn't expect you killed someone from our Hutong Street before, and now you dare to continue messing with my boss's business?"

"Oh? So Boss Qian also wants the Spirit Seizing Array Disk..."

Chen Dengming hissed, his expression suddenly enlightened, his mind racing.

A cold glint flashed in the yellow-robed Cultivator's eyes. He chuckled faintly, "Surname Chen, are you asking for my face, or are you giving my boss, Qian Yuan, face?

This Spirit Seizing Array Disk is very important to my boss. You can't protect this person, and you can't take the Array Disk!"

"Let me think..."

Chen Dengming nodded slightly, his brow furrowed in thought. Suddenly, he let out a light laugh and abruptly formed a hand seal, waving his hand.

"Swoosh!"

The flying sword floating before him instantly shot out with unparalleled speed. With a flash of green light, it arrived before the yellow-robed Cultivator.

The yellow-robed cultivator let out an angry roar, and a lotus-shaped shield suddenly appeared around his body.

The shield spun, like a thousand-armed Buddha, and with a few clangs, it blocked all of Chen Dengming's flying sword attacks.

"Bastard! Did you really think I wasn't prepared for you?" the yellow-robed cultivator roared furiously, retreating rapidly. At the same time, he took out another talisman from his hand. "You're completely offending me and Hutong Street!"

Before he could finish speaking, a golden thread instantly appeared from Chen Dengming's forward lunge and flick of his wrist.

In an instant, it stretched into a golden arc, bypassing the lotus-shaped defensive magic item and reaching the yellow-robed cultivator's side at a tricky angle.

"What!?"

The yellow-robed cultivator was terrified and immediately condensed a Spirit Shield around his body.

However, before the Spirit Shield could fully form, he felt a shock in his chest, followed by a tearing pain that spread from his chest throughout his body. His strength rapidly dissipated, and his vision blurred.

"Thump!--"

The yellow-robed cultivator's body fell powerlessly to the ground. A splash of blood bloomed from his chest, scattering on the ground.

Following that, a golden thread instantly carried the blood away and, with a hum, disappeared into Chen Dengming's sleeve.

"Tap--"

Black boots landed, stirring up a bit of dust. Chen Dengming's robes fluttered as he landed, his figure appearing before the yellow-robed cultivator, his Spiritual Might gradually receding.

"We're already fighting, and you still have time for threats and nonsense. You were quite cautious earlier; I overestimated you."

The wariness in his eyes lessened slightly as he looked down closely at the wound on the yellow-robed cultivator's chest.

With a flick of his finger.

A spiraling Spiritual Energy rapidly condensed and rotated between his fingers.

Suddenly, he flicked it.

Whoosh!--

The spiraling energy blast instantly pierced the yellow-robed cultivator's forehead, ensuring his death and preventing any bizarre, melodramatic plot twists like a misplaced heart or a lingering soul.

Jiang Qiang, who had been stunned into a stupor nearby, shivered and instantly snapped back to reality. His gaze towards Chen Dengming was filled with shock and confusion.

If he had to describe his thoughts at that moment, besides utter disbelief, there was only one clear thought: Fast, too fast. For a cultivator at the same Qi Cultivation Second Level, he shouldn't be this fast!

But Chen Dengming had acted decisively and efficiently, taking down a cultivator of the same realm in less than three breaths.

He hadn't even seen what kind of magic item that golden thread was.

Mysterious, powerful!

He was reminded again of the two bounty cultivators Chen Dengming had killed in the past, and he felt fortunate that he hadn't acted impulsively out of greed but had left a Spirit Stone and departed.

"Really... why would a grown man use a lotus-shaped defensive magic item? What kind of fetish is that?"

At this moment, Chen Dengming walked over, looking somewhat annoyed as he rummaged through the yellow-robed cultivator's belongings.

Jiang Qiang quickly got up, panting, and cupped his fists in thanks.

"Don't thank me just yet. There's a reward! This kind of thing is too dangerous. Including the last time, pay up for both."

Chen Dengming waved his hand, refusing to get too friendly.

Jiang Qiang froze, then immediately nodded, about to take out the formation disk he was carrying.

"Not yet, it's not safe here. Do you still have Spiritual Energy? Can you cast spells?"

Chen Dengming frowned as he looked Jiang Qiang up and down.

Jiang Qiang quickly replied, "Yes, I should be able to."

"Do you know Great Fireball Technique?"

"Yes!"

"Good!"

Chen Dengming pointed at the yellow-robed cultivator's corpse on the ground and paused. "Oh right, what was his name? I don't think he introduced himself just now?"

Jiang Qiang was about to respond.

Chen Dengming waved his hand. "Never mind, he's dead, so it doesn't matter. Let's get to it, destroy the evidence. Do it a few more times until we smell burning."

Jiang Qiang: "??"

He immediately understood, not bothering to ask, and began to form hand seals to cast spells.

He guessed that this mysterious expert either wanted to conserve his own Spiritual Energy and avoid unnecessary effort, or he wanted to deplete Jiang Qiang's Spiritual Energy to prevent him from harboring any ill intentions. Or perhaps, he wanted Jiang Qiang to feel involved, making it seem like more than just him had killed the Hutong Street cultivator.

In any case, someone so strong yet so cautious, who also wanted to smell burning, was ruthless and not to be trifled with.

A moment later.

The two carefully threw the yellow-robed cultivator's corpse next to the unfortunate souls previously killed by Iron Forest Hall, to keep them company.

They hoped that if anyone from Hutong Street recognized their charred brother later, they would misunderstand and blame Iron Forest Hall.

The two then left hand-in-hand, their conversation faintly carried on the wind.

"What did you do before you were wanted and hunted? How did you offend Hutong Street?"

"Oh? You're a formation master trained by Hutong Street? Impressive. That's a noble identity, much better than mine. I used to just sell fish."

Jiang Qiang forced an awkward laugh, not daring to retort, "..."

Sell fish?

More like kill fish, right?

His skill in both robberies was so practiced, I bet years of gutting fish at the stall have left his heart as cold as the knife he uses.

Unconsciously, they had arrived at a secluded grove.

Chen Dengming surveyed his surroundings, rubbed his hands together, and smiled amicably.

"Alright, no one's here. Where are the things? Take them out so I can see."

"Okay, okay."

A chill ran down Jiang Qiang's spine. He found Chen Dengming's friendly smile terrifying.

He had looked just as friendly and smiling when talking to that cultivator in yellow, appearing like a total pushover, but his actions were ruthless and fierce.

He forced himself to calm down and slowly, carefully took out the formation disk from his back satchel, afraid the other party would think he was trying a trick.

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