Crime Buster

"Flying... Flying Dagger Art..."

Zhou Hu likewise recognized that this flying dagger technique of Zhao An's also originated from his own Fierce Tiger Blade Art.

What was more ironic was that Zhou Hu, up until now, had only barely managed to train the Fierce Tiger Blade Art to the Third Realm.

This exquisite Flying Dagger Art, he had never been able to use well, nor could he learn it.

He never imagined that he would one day die beneath this very Flying Dagger Art of another's hand.

"You, how do you know the Fierce Tiger Blade, the Tiger Blade Intent... this is the Fourth Realm..." Zhou Hu lay on the ground, his breath fading, only to see Zhao An approaching.

But Zhao An had no intention of answering the doubts of a dying man. He merely drew his long blade and charged toward Chen Song once more.

As for Zhou Hu, the leader of the Tiger Head Gang, he thus breathed his last in unwillingness.

Chen Song, seeing Zhao An's decisive killing intent, now felt panic in his heart.

"Young, young brother, spare me! I am a constable of the yamen. If you kill me, you'll be walking the same dead-end road. The authorities will not forgive you."

Until this moment, he suddenly understood a little why Zhao Ke had been so slow to take the silver placed in Zhao An's hands.

Was it that he didn't want to take it?

Clearly, no one could take that money away!

Chen Song had thought that after revealing his identity, this official skin would be enough to save his life.

But unfortunately, Zhao An showed no intention of holding back.

He was like a crouching tiger that had long lain in ambush—once it tasted blood, how could it let go of the flesh?

Chen Song's blade skill realm was inferior to his, and now without Zhou Hu's interference, after a few exchanges, this constable of the Outer City District also met his end beneath Zhao An's blade!

And Zhao An's blade still did not stop. He continued to single out those with Red Names for reaping.

He slaughtered the entire Tiger Head Gang until blood flowed like a river and heads rolled! He killed until Shen Pan was dumbstruck!

Though he had just stepped into the world and had blood on his hands, he had never witnessed such a massacre.

He had heard before that Zhao An had the ability to cut through the entire Python Gang, and now witnessing it again with his own eyes, the rumors were no exaggeration!

Tonight, the Tiger Head Gang would also be unable to escape the fate of the Python Gang!

Some Tiger Head Gang members who managed to flee had pale faces and trembling legs, their courage shattered. The image of Zhao An lingered in their minds like a ghost or demon.

In the days to come, just hearing that name would likely give them nightmares for several nights.

Zhao An let out a light breath. His blade and the hand that held it were already covered in blood.

He looked at the blade's edge. Having chopped so many heads, the blade had been blunted.

Though his body was stained with blood, he had no wounds—only a considerable drain on his strength.

Fortunately, he had his Internal Breath circulation to support him, so he wouldn't truly hack himself to exhaustion.

After the bloody battle, his gains were also considerable.

Aside from Zhou Hu and Chen Song, two Martial Master Soul Slaves, the Red-Name Tiger Head Gang leaders and core members had contributed over thirty Soul Slaves to him.

This was a good replenishment for the recent consumption of Soul Slaves. The Python Gang-affiliated Soul Slaves he had before were down to only twelve or thirteen.

After today, when he invested Soul Slaves into martial arts training, he could afford to be a bit more extravagant.

"It seems that in actual combat, the realm of martial arts is quite important..." Zhao An summarized today's battle, gaining some insight.

With the same Fierce Tiger Blade Art, having trained it to the Fourth Realm, he could easily cut down Zhou Hu, who had only mastered the Third Realm.

Moreover, in his eyes, the other's blade technique was full of flaws.

This was also the key reason he dared to fight two opponents alone.

After observing from the sidelines for a while, he felt that both men's blade skills were mediocre.

Even Chen Song, who had the backing of the government yamen, he was confident he could finish off in a few exchanges. There was no possibility of a prolonged battle.

Not to mention that he still had his Soul Slaves as a hidden card.

In his Soul Pool, every Soul Slave had a passive trigger skill for substituting death.

Even if he grew momentarily overconfident, he had so many Soul Slaves to take the blows for him—this was another major source of his confidence.

It could only be said that these two died without injustice. His martial arts attainment far surpassed theirs!

Seeing Zhao An's gaze finally land on him, Shen Pan felt his entire body bristle, as if stared down by a blood-soaked tiger.

Fortunately, Zhao An only glanced at the color of the name above his head before walking past him.

Perhaps because all those he killed were evil men, Shen Pan's name was not Red.

On the other side, following orders, Li Gou'er and Zhao Chunzi, who had already been looting, carried a chest of spoils and cheerfully caught up with Zhao An.

Leaving only Shen Pan standing there in a daze.

A cold wind blew past, carrying a thick smell of blood.

Shen Pan immediately left the place as well.

He knew that by tomorrow, once news of the Tiger Head Gang's destruction spread, it would inevitably stir up no small commotion in the Outer City District.

But regardless, this was absolutely a good thing for the common folk of the outer city.

Whether it was the Python Gang or the Tiger Head Gang, their destruction only made people clap in approval, without a shred of sympathy.

As for Zhao An, he only made Shen Pan more and more confused.

He had clearly been a villain before, but lately it was as if he had become a different person—no longer thinking of oppressing the common people, instead helping the lower-class folk and cutting down those who did the oppressing.

As for what Zhao An's purpose was in doing this, no one could say.

The next day.

In Two Wells Alley.

"Mother, I'm off to the Martial Academy to practice boxing." Shen Pan finished a bowl of rice porridge and a wheat cake before speaking.

"Alright, it's safer at Master Zheng's academy too." Mother Shen nodded.

"Mother, it's all over now." Shen Pan paused mid-step, turned back, and said seriously.

Mother Shen was about to ask when laughter suddenly rang out from the alley.

"The Tiger Head Gang will never bully us again!"

"Heaven has eyes—the Tiger Head Gang has been wiped out!"

"Heaven has eyes indeed!"

A lame old man staggered along, tears streaming as he laughed—he couldn't remember the last time he had been this happy.

"Old Lin, is it true?" An old woman heard him and immediately asked.

"Absolutely true—that courtyard is full of the corpses of those Tiger Head Gang beasts, and the yamen runners are hauling them out cart by cart!" The old man's voice was excited, as if he had been waiting for this moment like one waits for the stars and moon.

At that, household after household in the alley began asking about the matter.

Upon hearing such tremendous good news, some clapped in praise, some covered their faces and wept, some laughed heartily, and others danced with joy.

It was as if the dark clouds hanging overhead had scattered, and the oppressive, bitter days were finally coming to an end.

"Then... who did this?" someone asked.

"Who cares who did it—whoever it was, from today on, they are my great benefactor! If I ever see them one day, I'll kowtow to them!" the old man said.

Not far away, Shen Pan, who had just stepped out of his home, saw this scene. He didn't know what to say, so he silently headed to the Martial Academy.

After last night, he had realized only one thing.

That his strength was still far, far from enough!

"The Martial Examination is coming soon. This year, he would strive for a title no matter what, to make his mother hold her head high!"

But the news of the Tiger Head Gang's annihilation was still not the biggest event of the day.

There was another jaw-dropping piece of news that spread from the inner city in the afternoon, shocking everyone!

Last night, the County Magistrate of Lianjiang County had died!

And he had died a violent death!