Murder, Fortune

The night was deep and the dew heavy. The lights of the Martial Guard Division gradually went out, leaving only a few eternal lamps in the side courtyard, swaying faintly in the night wind.

Gu Chang'an had just finished submitting his report and was preparing to return to his room to rest when he heard a burst of light footsteps.

He looked up and saw Li Hongye dressed in black. Her slender figure stood tall and straight, and her eyes held a glimmer of concern.

"Junior Brother," she said as she approached, her tone gentle and tinged with a smile. "How was your first day of patrol?"

Gu Chang'an nodded lightly. "Big Brother Liu and Uncle Song took good care of me. Everything went smoothly."

A trace of amusement passed through Li Hongye's eyes. She raised a hand to smooth her hair and said:

"I heard from Zhou Yue that you were quite impressive today. You actually started fighting in the street and broke the shoulder of someone from the Firewood Gang's Qingzi Hall with one palm?"

Gu Chang'an pondered briefly before answering indifferently:

"The Firewood Gang was bullying people with its influence and started a fight in broad daylight. He deserved what he got."

"They use their gang's power to oppress the common people. I can't stand people like that."

At his words, Li Hongye's expression tightened slightly, then she broke into a smile, though a trace of worry showed in her eyes.

"I know your temper." Her voice lowered. "You have a clear sense of right and wrong and your own bottom line. That's a good thing. You did nothing wrong regarding the Firewood Gang."

"It's just..." Her tone shifted, and her eyes darkened slightly. "The Firewood Gang has put down roots too deeply in Nanning County over the years. They aren't people who reason things out. You offended an Incense Master yesterday, and today you injured one of their men. They won't let you off easily."

Her voice was gentle, but the concern in it was genuine.

Gu Chang'an's heart stirred, and warmth welled up within him.

"Senior Sister, don't worry. I'll be careful." He spoke softly. "I don't regret what happened today. But I understand that showing too much of my edge will easily invite trouble. I'll be cautious."

Li Hongye gazed at his steady expression and nodded slightly. She said no more, seemingly somewhat reassured.

"Good. Then go get some rest early. Remember to come find me if anything happens."

She lightly patted him on the shoulder, then turned and left. Her figure gradually receded into the lamplight.

Gu Chang'an watched her leave and stood in the courtyard for a long while before departing.

The night was as dark as ink, the moon veiled by black clouds. A chilly dampness seeped through the streets and alleys of Nanning County.

Gu Chang'an walked along an alley he often used. The houses on either side were low, and mottled green moss covered the walls. When the night wind brushed past, it stirred up a damp, rotten smell.

Suddenly, a trace of blood filled his nostrils.

Gu Chang'an's heart jolted, and his footsteps paused. He instinctively gripped the long saber at his waist, a flash of cold light crossing his eyes.

"Not good. There's killing intent."

"Whoosh!"

At that moment, a streak of cold light tore through the air!

"Swish!"

Wrapped in intense killing intent, the saber edge slashed diagonally from behind on the right, aimed straight at his shoulder and neck.

Almost in the blink of an eye, Gu Chang'an shifted his footing, twisted his body, and swept out his Blade Light!

"Clang!"

The long saber collided with the cold blade, sparks flying in all directions. Yet the force of the attack was forcibly suppressed, and the attacker let out a muffled groan before staggering back three steps!

Gu Chang'an's gaze flashed like lightning as he focused on the attacker—

The newcomer had disheveled hair and was covered in blood. His left eye was a hollow cavity, his flesh was torn and rolled back, and one hand was still trembling faintly.

It was actually Lu Tong, the Black Sand Gang's Incense Master!

This man had once been one of the Black Sand Gang's Incense Masters. He was famous for his poison saber, cruel and bloodthirsty—and a Ninth Rank Martial Artist.

Yet at this moment, he looked like a stray dog, covered in wounds. Clearly, he had fled here after suffering a devastating injury.

"M-misunderstanding... I wasn't coming for you..."

Lu Tong clutched his chest. His voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with interwoven terror and shock as he stared at Gu Chang'an in disbelief, as if he had seen some kind of monster.

Just now, he had noticed someone approaching and assumed it was someone helping the Flowing Gold Gang hunt him down.

Even if it wasn't, being discovered now might expose his whereabouts.

Thus, he had acted on the principle of killing the wrong person rather than letting anyone go.

Lu Tong had immediately decided to strike first.

He had been certain that this was merely a young constable and that one blow would be enough. He had not expected his opponent's reaction to be faster than that of a veteran soldier, his saber work clean and decisive, like lightning and thunder!

Gu Chang'an did not speak. He only stared at him with icy eyes.

If he had been half a beat slower just now, the one lying on the ground would have been him.

What kind of misunderstanding was this?

This was an attempt to kill him and silence him!

A killer would always be killed in turn.

This man could not be spared.

"Brat, go to hell..."

Lu Tong seemed to sense his killing intent. He suddenly gritted his teeth and stomped down, exploding forward once more like a crazed tiger pouncing on its prey, lunging straight for Gu Chang'an's throat!

"You're courting death."

Gu Chang'an snorted coldly. He had already gathered his strength. Stepping forward with his left foot, he swung the saber, suddenly lifting it diagonally upward—

"Chhk—!"

The Blade Light was like a crescent moon tearing through the night, a frigid silver streak cleaving the darkness!

"Crack!"

Lu Tong's body abruptly stiffened, and the light vanished from his eyes. His throat had already been sealed by the sharp blade. Blood sprayed out, and before he could even struggle, he fell to the ground and began twitching.

At the moment of death, unwillingness and venom still lingered in his eyes. He died with his eyes open.

"I... I refuse to accept this..."

Gu Chang'an stood where he was, blood dripping from his long saber. For a long while, he did not move.

He slowly exhaled, yet his heart remained utterly calm.

This was an enemy—and also prey.

If he had not killed Lu Tong, he would have been the one to die in this alley tonight.

After a moment, he sheathed his saber, crouched down, and searched Lu Tong's corpse with practiced speed.

He quickly found a heavy money pouch. When he opened it, silver ingots gleamed coldly inside. There was also a large amount of loose silver, a packet of dried provisions, and a small, ornately carved token.

Gu Chang'an counted it briefly and discovered that there were actually two hundred taels of silver in all.

This was a staggering windfall.

He then turned over the bottom of the money pouch, and his fingers touched a layer of supple sheepskin.

His brows rose as he pulled it out—

Two ancient books. One yellowed cover bore the words Mountain Shattering Saber Technique, while the other was titled Green Lotus Poison Scripture.

"Secret manuals?!"

Gu Chang'an rapidly flipped through several pages, and his gaze grew increasingly fervent.

The Mountain Shattering Saber Technique consisted of thirteen forms. It was fierce and overbearing, designed specifically to break shields, armor, and protective techniques. It relied on force to shatter defenses and ferocity to subdue enemies, making it extremely suitable for suppressing opponents in actual combat.

The Green Lotus Poison Scripture was even more peculiar. It was divided into seven levels of poison theory. The first few levels covered the use and refinement of poison, while the later levels explained how to identify and neutralize poison, as well as refine the body with poison. Its methods were vicious—and extraordinarily sinister.

Gu Chang'an put away the ancient books, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he muttered:

"This old bastard must have planned to carry all his accumulated wealth with him before fleeing... Too bad he took the wrong alley and ran straight into my saber."

"These two hundred taels of silver are enough for me to exchange for several medicinal baths. Perhaps my cultivation can advance another level."

"The Mountain Shattering Saber Technique is a Yellow Grade Middle Rank saber technique, stronger than the Iron Cutting Saber Technique. Besides, it perfectly suits the path of my saber. It's rough yet meticulous, an advanced saber technique derived from the Iron Cutting Saber Technique."

"And the Green Lotus Poison Scripture... Even if I don't learn how to use poison, simply knowing how to guard against and neutralize it will save me no end of trouble."

He stored away the silver, token, and manuals, then looked around the mouth of the alley.

The night was heavy and silent. Not even a cat or dog could be seen.

After confirming that no one had witnessed what happened, he finally left the scene with light steps, his back merging into the depths of the night as though he had never appeared.

However, less than a quarter of an hour later,

A burst of hurried footsteps sounded at the mouth of the alley. A group of Flowing Gold Gang members dressed in black appeared, led by a sharp and sturdy man with sinister eyes.

They quickly surrounded the corpse. One of them crouched down to examine it, his expression changing slightly. "It's someone from the Black Sand Gang... Lu Tong."

Another drew a short blade and pried open the wound at Lu Tong's throat. His tone was solemn. "One saber sealed the throat, clean and decisive... With this saber technique and this level of strength, he was no ordinary person."

The leader was Qu Xiangzhu of the Flowing Gold Gang. He was around forty, dressed in a black robe, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

He stared at the corpse for a long while before suddenly letting out a cold laugh.

"This old bastard really had quite the life. We chased him for half a day, only for someone to finish him off in this alley?"

Someone asked in a low voice, "Xiangzhu, should we investigate the killer?"

Qu Xiangzhu narrowed his eyes, his gaze gloomy.

"No need."

Everyone was stunned. Someone immediately asked in confusion, "But he was our target. Someone actually snatched the kill from us. Wouldn't that—"

Qu Xiangzhu waved a hand, cutting him off.

"Look at the wound. One saber sealed the throat, the force penetrating the throat bone. He couldn't even dodge. The person who struck was no ordinary gang member."

"A saber expert of this caliber is either a Rogue Cultivator hiding his identity, an elite disciple of some sect, or a high-ranking figure within the Martial Guard Division..."

"This is a critical moment for consolidating our territory in the western city. We shouldn't create complications."

"Besides—"

He walked over to Lu Tong's corpse and turned it over with one hand before saying softly, "The silver is gone. The dried provisions are gone. Even the books he had hidden away have disappeared."

"He couldn't have escaped the western city. These things must have been taken by whoever killed him along the way... We'll treat this matter as an accident."

"Lu Tong is dead. There is no longer a Black Sand Gang Incense Master in the western city. In a sense, we've achieved our goal."

When he finished speaking, no one said a word. They understood that the Incense Master had ordered them to let the matter rest.

Several subordinates nodded in silent agreement. They casually covered Lu Tong's corpse with a ragged cloth, then roughly dragged it to the street corner, disguising it as an ordinary vagrant who had died in an alley fight.

Afterward, the group left in silence.

The wind swept across the bloodstained flagstones, scattering the dead man's lingering resentment—and dispersing the storm of bloodshed that might otherwise have erupted.