Fierce Unwelcome Guests, A Shadow Comes Calling

It was the third quarter of the Xu hour, deep in the night.

At the Golden Buddha Temple in the west of the city, Han Zhengming and his three companions had arrived.

The four of them stood ten zhang away from the temple gate.

Raucous, unbridled voices drifted continuously from within the temple.

"Wait for me outside."

Han Zhengming's brows were tightly locked; he took a deep breath, preparing to head in alone.

"No, we go together."

Qian Cheng and the two guards spoke in unison.

"Very well, then."

With that, the four of them huddled close together and stepped side-by-side into the dilapidated Golden Buddha Temple.

The interior of the temple remained in a state of disarray.

In front of the reclining Sleeping Buddha, a fire was burning, and three martial artists—one old and two young—were gathered around it, drinking wine and eating meat.

The eldest among them appeared to be around sixty years old.

The other two were a man and a woman in their early twenties.

"Master!"

A cry of alarm came from a corner beside the Sleeping Buddha.

A thin, elderly man was bound and curled up there, covered in wounds; it was none other than Huang Tie.

"Elder Huang, are you alright?"

Han Zhengming took two steps forward, asking with urgent concern.

Huang Tie trembled violently all over: "Master, why did you come here to risk your life..."

"Hahaha!"

The old man eating the meat suddenly burst into laughter. "Master Han, I didn't lie to you, did I?"

As he spoke, with a "whoosh," he drew a blade from behind his back.

"You... you are from the Long Blade Sect!"

In an instant, one of the guards exclaimed in shock.

The old man's blade was the signature weapon of the Long Blade Sect.

In Three Rivers County, besides the one hall and two gangs that held top power, there were four mid-tier factions, and the Long Blade Sect was one of them, possessing no small amount of fame.

"Pah!"

The young woman, Zhao Shuang, scoffed. "Bullshit! My master long ago cut all ties with the Long Blade Sect!"

"That's right, Junior Sister is correct."

The young man, Yan Feiyun, immediately chimed in. "Once our master and we two disciples achieve mastery of our divine arts, we will surely storm back to the Long Blade Sect, slaughter that old dog Qu Dai, and help Master ascend to the position of Sect Leader!"

"Alright, alright."

The old man waved his hand to stop their flattery. "Master Han, I didn't expect your men to have such a sharp eye. However, as my two beloved disciples said, the Long Blade Sect stripped me of my position as Hall Master, and I, Wen He, have been at odds with them for two years now."

Han Zhengming frowned: "If that is the case, why did you kidnap someone from my Hanging Pot Medical Hall, Mr. Wen?"

Wen He let out a sinister, mocking laugh: "One word: money."

As he spoke, he grabbed a wine gourd.

After a few gulps, half the wine was gone.

"Mr. Wen, tell me, how much money do you want?"

Han Zhengming knew clearly that a former Hall Master of the Long Blade Sect was not someone to be trifled with; never mind the four of them, even if all hundred people in the medical hall were added together, they wouldn't be enough for him to slaughter.

Therefore, he had no choice but to accept his losses.

Fortunately, before leaving, he had instructed Supervisor Qian to bring five hundred taels in silver notes.

"Easy, three thousand taels."

Wen He held up three fingers directly.

What!

Han Zhengming was instantly shocked.

The entire medical hall only made a profit of six thousand taels a year. For this Wen He to demand three thousand taels right off the bat, plus the extortion from the Black Dragon Gang—did he want the medical hall to shut down?

"Not willing?"

Wen He took another swig of wine. "Oh, right, you can choose to resist, but those three are your fate if you do. Feiyun, go, show Master Han."

"Yes, Master!"

Yan Feiyun walked toward a pile of straw on the other side of the Sleeping Buddha.

On the straw pile lay a tattered straw mat.

Yan Feiyun flicked it up with his blade, tearing the mat to shreds and revealing three corpses beneath, now soaked in blood. Two were beggars, while the third wore the uniform of a medical hall hand; his head was missing, clearly identifying him as Li Xunshan.

The gruesome scene made the scalps of Han Zhengming and his companions tingle.

"Master Wen, it's not that I won't give you the silver, but I didn't bring that much with me."

"No matter. I will give you one hour to go back and fetch the money!"

"This..."

"What? Are you trying to haggle with me?"

Wen He's expression shifted violently.

In the next instant, he spun around, raised his long blade, and slashed at the already damaged Sleeping Buddha.

Clang!

A deafening sound rang out.

The Sleeping Buddha was instantly hacked to pieces, with stone fragments flying everywhere.

Han Zhengming and the others could not help but retreat repeatedly.

Yet, several stones still struck them with such force that they felt sharp, stinging pain.

"Master Han, I have no desire to waste more breath on you. If you wish for everyone at your medical hall to end up like this Sleeping Buddha, feel free to withhold the payment."

Wen He snorted coldly.

Han Zhengming and his three companions dared not speak, despite their anger.

The opponent was powerful and aggressive, and they had no way to counter him; even with Guard Zhan present, they were helpless.

After a long silence, Han Zhengming said, "Fine, I will go back to raise the money, but I would like to take Elder Huang with me. Would Master Wen allow that?"

"Hehehe, do you take me for a fool?"

Wen He wore a mocking smile. "Master Han, I don't want to repeat myself. Get out of here and go get the money! One hour. If you are even a quarter-hour late, I will hack off his hands and feet!"

Yan Feiyun and Zhao Shuang sneered incessantly.

They were long accustomed to such affairs; the number of people they had extorted was beyond counting.

"Master, you don't have to do this for me..."

Huang Tie gritted his teeth and spoke with difficulty.

Han Zhengming said in a deep voice, "Elder Huang, endure this for one more hour. I will return shortly."

With that, he took Qian Cheng and the others and left the Golden Buddha Temple.

"Are we really going back to get the money?"

Qian Cheng asked.

Han Zhengming replied sternly, "Indeed. Money can be earned again, but if a person is gone, everything is lost. Let's go, we must return quickly. Those three are ruthless; they will do exactly as they say. The longer Elder Huang stays in their hands, the greater the danger."

"Hahaha!"

A burst of wild laughter erupted from inside the Golden Buddha Temple.

It was Yan Feiyun: "Master, it is just as you said. The people from Hanging Pot Medical Hall are truly easy to bully. As long as we show them a little force and make an example of someone, they have no choice but to submit."

Wen He held his long blade over the fire, the metal crackling as it heated. "These people, how could they have the guts to resist me?"

"Master."

Zhao Shuang took over the conversation. "But will they really be able to scrape together enough silver for us in one hour?"

Wen He chuckled. "Shuang'er, you worry too much. In Three Rivers County, the business at Hanging Pot Medical Hall is no small matter. As the master, Han Zhengming can certainly come up with a few thousand taels. Once we get the money, I'll buy medicinal meals for you both to improve your strength."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Yan Feiyun and Zhao Shuang were overjoyed and poured wine for Wen He repeatedly.

"Oh, right, Master."

After drinking several cups, Yan Feiyun added, "Are we still keeping that physician?"

He was naturally referring to Huang Tie in the corner.

Wen He's mouth curled into a grin. "He's just a physician. Once we get the money, we'll just slaughter him with one strike. Does Han Zhengming really dare to resist?"

Huang Tie shuddered all over upon hearing this.

Early this morning, he and his apprentice Li Xunshan had been kidnapped, and Li Xunshan had even been beheaded right on the spot. Since these three thugs not only wanted money but also intended to kill their hostages, how could he not be terrified?

Whoosh!

At this moment, a cold gust of wind blew past.

At the entrance of the Golden Buddha Temple, a black shadow appeared silently.

Wen He and the other two immediately looked over.

"Who are you?"

Zhao Shuang frowned slightly.

The black shadow stood with a slouch and possessed an extremely ugly appearance, yet he wore a nonchalant expression on his face; it was none other than Shen Han, who had been tailing them.

Shen Han said indifferently, "The three of you, my apologies. I am just passing through this precious place, and I am cold, hungry, sleepy, and exhausted. Would you mind letting me come in to warm myself by the fire and have a drink?"