Killing Second Refining Like Slaughtering Dogs

The night was as dark as ink.

Although it was late into the night in the Outer City, nearly every household remained brightly lit. Following the recent nocturnal Demon attack, the common folk were gripped by anxiety; even now, they kept candles burning and took turns standing guard.

Qin Jiu wore a dust-gray martial outfit.

He circulated his blood-energy and martial strength, sprinting forward at an incredible speed.

Along the way.

He occasionally caught sight of collapsed houses, his heart growing heavy and wary. The malice he had sensed from those few individuals at the Demon Suppression Bureau earlier might not have been directed at him or the Qin Family specifically, but rather stemmed from the matter of the Demons.

After all, the Demon unrest was widespread.

He, and indeed the entire Qin Family, were situated within the county town.

If no one was deliberately targeting him and the Qin Family, then the only remaining danger must inevitably come from the Demons. Yet, since these Demons were suspected to be under the control of someone behind the scenes, and combined with the intense malice from those men earlier...

"They have all left the city now."

"I shall see for myself exactly what is going on with the Fisher Gang and the Chai Gang."

About an hour later.

He approached a forest near a small river and gradually slowed his pace. On the opposite bank, fishing boats and sampans were moored, and the Fisher Gang headquarters was brightly lit, with loud, boisterous noises rising and falling in a lively display.

Qin Jiu halted his movements and simultaneously activated Ghost Illumination.

In an instant.

The pitch-black night turned into broad daylight.

Streaks of gray-black mist rose eerily from the Fisher Gang headquarters, as glaring as candles in the night.

"..."

"Roll, roll, roll! How is it small again? My luck is truly rotten."

"Our old manager of the fish pens..."

The chaotic, disorganized voices.

Made Qin Jiu feel incredibly restless.

Yet, he held his patience, controlling his consciousness to sweep toward the main hall. Inside that hall, more than a dozen streaks of black mist were gathered together.

"Why has the Gang Leader been running over to the Chai Gang so often lately..."

"You don't know about that, do you?"

"The County Magistrate took men out tonight; it will take at least three to five days, or perhaps ten to fifteen, before they can return. This evening, people from the Li Family approached our Gang Leader. Guess what? They want to join forces with our Fisher Gang and the Chai Gang to take advantage of this window of time and completely swallow the Qin and Han families in the Inner City. That is why the Gang Leader went to the Chai Gang to discuss it with them."

"Are the Li Family insane?"

"Their family doesn't even have a single Internal Strengthening martial artist, yet they dare to harbor such thoughts against the Han and Qin families? Are they not afraid that Han Zheng and that Sick Tiger Wang Yue will return and wipe them all out?"

"Heh, you kid just don't have access to the real secrets. I can't tell you too much, but let's just say that of the experts who left tonight, it is uncertain how many will return alive. If the Li Family waits until then to act, they won't even get a sip of the soup. I am certain there will be a major move within the gang in these next two days. You brothers better keep your wits about you; don't waste all your energy on women these days."

"That formula of the Qin Family is something our Gang Leader is determined to obtain."

"Once that thing is retrieved, the day that person enters the city will be the day the Fisher Gang establishes itself in the Inner City. By then, we brothers..."

In the forest on the riverbank.

Qin Jiu opened his eyes and slowly exhaled.

He then tossed a medicinal pill into his mouth.

Simultaneously, he channeled Withered Wood Meets Spring.

"The Li Family..."

"And that 'great person' the Fisher Gang mentioned? Could it be the mastermind manipulating the Demons? Judging by their tone, the County Magistrate leading his men away tonight seems to be a trap?"

Qin Jiu frowned slightly.

Immediately after his mental energy recovered.

He did not dwell on it further, stepped forward, and crossed the stone bridge leading to the opposite bank.

Fisher Gang headquarters.

Inside the Incense Hall.

More than a dozen figures with fierce auras were currently seated around two eight-immortal tables, drinking and shouting loudly about something.

Their attire was varied.

Some even had their chests and bellies exposed, their hair disheveled over their shoulders.

They looked quite unbridled.

"Hall Master, you said the Gang Leader told us to wait in the Incense Hall. Does the old man intend to make a move tonight?"

"That is hard to say."

A man with a physique as sturdy as an ox and a rugged appearance shook his head. "The Han Family has three Three Refinements martial artists, while the Qin Family has only one. However, that Qin Xuanzhou is exceptionally gifted; even our Gang Leader suspects he is close to clearing all his meridians and stepping into the Internal Strengthening realm."

"We want to deal with him."

"It would take at least two martial artists of the same realm acting together."

"But as for Three Refinements martial artists, our gang only has the Gang Leader at that level. I estimate that when the time comes, the Chai Gang leader and perhaps other members will join us in this operation, and as for the Li Family..."

"BOOM."

Suddenly.

A corpse flew backward into the room from outside.

It slammed heavily onto the table.

This left the figures in the hall instantly stunned.

"How bold!"

"To dare cause trouble in our Fisher Gang Incense Hall!"

The Hall Master was the first to react, snarling, "Brothers, grab your weapons and hack him into mincemeat!"

Outside the door at this moment.

A figure was walking over, holding a blade.

Hearing their Hall Master's command, the men nearby immediately grabbed the long blades at their sides and charged forward.

Meanwhile, the Hall Master shouted loudly.

While moving his feet toward the window.

The Fisher Gang was usually guarded by a Three Refinements martial artist, yet someone still dared to break in at night. It was clear that the intruder's strength was, at the very least, not something a Second Refining martial artist like himself could withstand; fleeing immediately was the only wise course of action.

However, the very next moment.

His body involuntarily froze.

He saw the person at the door swing their long blade down.

The man in the lead, a fierce-looking martial artist also at the Second Refining realm, was split vertically in two, blade and all, in an instant.

His corpse fell forward with a thud.

"Drip..."

Scarlet blood dripped from the azure blade tip.

The blade itself was not stained with a single drop of blood.

Upon seeing this scene, the Hall Master couldn't help but recall a certain figure in his mind, and then, looking at the tall, upright figure whose face was covered by a grey cloth, he trembled as he asked, "Are you... Qin Guihong, the Head of the Qin Family?"

"No, that's impossible..."

Yet, no one answered him at all.

The long blade in that figure's hand spun, and a terrifying killing intent instantly enveloped the hall.

The others were instantly terrified out of their wits.

Even the motion of retreating was halted, leaving them no choice but to raise their blades in resistance.

However, when blades clashed, there was only one outcome.

That was for the blade to shatter and the person to die.

Turning into a puddle of mangled flesh splattered across the floor.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

Seeing that the intruder's killing intent had not diminished in the slightest, the Fisher Gang Hall Master knew that only by risking his life could he have a glimmer of hope.

As he roared, his internal energy surged throughout his body.

He looked as if he were prepared to fight to the death.

Yet, as he opened his mouth, three iron-ball-like objects suddenly shot out from his hand.

"Hmph!"

Qin Jiu's gaze was like lightning.

His spirit was already taut, and seeing the movement, he instantly dodged the hidden weapons, choosing not to take them head-on.

Immediately, he shook his long blade and fiercely hacked toward the man.

"Clang."

Unexpectedly.

The weapon in the Hall Master's hand did not break upon contact.

But his body was still struck by a massive force.

He was sent sliding backward by the impact.

"Qin Guihong clearly died suddenly that day; how is his weapon in your hands? Qin Xuanzhou of the Qin Mansion is not skilled in blade techniques and never uses a blade. Just who from the Qin Family are you?"