Villain

After Security Hall was burned to the ground, Yongning Street returned to a state of calm.

However, business at Benevolent World Hall did not improve; instead, it became increasingly desolate.

This was because rumors were swirling throughout the streets.

Some said that the young proprietor of Benevolent World Hall, Lin Qing, was deep and calculating, having used underhanded means to force Fan Kui's family to their deaths so he could seize their property.

Others claimed that the great fire had everything to do with him, serving as a tactic to monopolize the pharmacies on Yongning Street.

Even worse, some painted him as a martial artist who appeared honest on the surface but was actually ruthless and vicious, causing people to keep their distance out of fear.

Although Pan Yun did not make any overt moves, his behind-the-scenes instigation clearly played a significant role.

Facing these slanders, Lin Qing offered no defense.

Because any amount of explanation would only make everything appear pale and powerless.

Fortunately, it seemed that Chen Bao also knew he was in the wrong regarding the matter, as it was his men who had killed Old Fan and his son; clearly unwilling to escalate the situation further, he did not seek any more trouble with Lin Qing.

Subsequently, Lin Qing poured all his heart and energy into bitter cultivation, striving to grind experience points with all his might every single day.

Over a dozen days passed, and Lin Qing's fist and blade techniques both saw significant progress.

Yet in the shadows, he had Zhang Shun keep a close watch for any news regarding the White Horse Gang.

In his heart, the resentment remained unsettled.

Today, as Lin Qing was sparring with Zhang Shun, the two exchanged several blows before Zhang Shun stopped, looking somewhat surprised.

"Your practical combat experience seems to have grown quite a bit."

"It is only thanks to Brother Shun's guidance," Lin Qing laughed.

"That is also due to your own comprehension," Zhang Shun shook his head.

Then, as if remembering something, he spoke to Lin Qing: "Haven't you been asking me to keep an eye on news about the White Horse Gang and the Pan Family?"

"Is there news?" Lin Qing's heart stirred.

"Yes. According to the latest information from the association, the Black Mud Gang, a major gang from outside the city, has recently sent men into the city to fight for control of North City Pier and the surrounding streets and alleys."

"In the past few days, the two gangs have clashed fiercely, resulting in many deaths and injuries; a whole batch of corpses was burned right at the pier."

"The key is that I received word they might clash at North City Pier tonight."

"Many thanks for the information, Senior Brother," Lin Qing cupped his hands.

"Why, do you have some ideas?"

Zhang Shun's eyes flickered.

"Nothing special in mind. It's just that the White Horse Gang controls our protection money on Yongning Street, so having more information is always good to be prepared," Lin Qing shook his head, not revealing too much.

"That's true. After all, if gangs clash, those streets are bound to be affected to some degree. Most people just try to hide if they can."

Zhang Shun gave a wry smile, not thinking much of it.

He also felt that Lin Qing was just trying to be cautious.

After all, crossing those big gangs was no different from seeking death.

That night, Lin Qing changed into an inconspicuous night-traveling outfit, his face covered by an iron mask that revealed only his eyes.

He secured the Kirin Spike, strapped his horizontal blade tightly to his back with cloth strips, and silently infiltrated the vicinity of North City Pier.

The area was brightly lit, and a faint scent of blood was already drifting in on the breeze.

Before he even got close, Lin Qing could hear heaven-shaking shouts, the clashing of weapons, and chaotic curses all intertwined.

He moved closer to take a look.

He saw that in the open space of the abandoned warehouse, nearly a hundred people were locked in a chaotic melee; with blades flashing and blood splattering, the scene was pure pandemonium.

Lin Qing was slightly surprised. With such a massive brawl, were the government runners acting as if they were dead, or were they just pretending not to see?

Among the brawling crowd, one side wore multicolored tunics, mostly members of the White Horse Gang.

The other side wore ragged clothing, but each one was fierce; they must have been the men of the Black Mud Gang.

Lin Qing's gaze swept across the battlefield, quickly locking onto several figures whose auras were clearly stronger than the average thug—likely minor leaders or elites of the White Horse Gang.

He cut into the edge of the battlefield alone, using neither the Iron Wire Fist techniques nor the Wave-Breaking Blade Technique.

Relying solely on the strength brought by the Tendon Opening Realm, he specifically targeted the experts of the White Horse Gang.

"Bang!"

A White Horse Gang leader wielding a ghost-head blade felt his vision blur, his chest struck as if by a giant timber; his ribs shattered instantly, and he flew backward, vomiting blood.

"Snap!"

Another burly man holding a staff had his wrist precisely struck by Lin Qing's hand-blade; the sound of bone cracking was clearly audible, and he fell to the ground screaming.

Lin Qing's movements were swift, his power fierce.

He wove through the chaotic battlefield, and with every strike, another elite from the White Horse Gang was rendered combat-ineffective.

Real combat was the finest whetstone.

He could feel his mastery over the power of the Tendon Opening Realm rapidly maturing.

On the Heavenly Dao Record, the experience points for the Iron Wire Fist were also steadily climbing.

In just a short time, they had already increased by several dozen points.

Nurturing war through war—it truly is an effective method for increasing strength and accumulating experience points.

Lin Qing mused to himself, his strikes becoming even more ruthless.

He kept a deliberate watch over the battlefield.

Yet, failing to spot the figure of Lord Leopard, he felt a slight sense of regret.

Having severely wounded seven or eight White Horse Gang experts in quick succession, Lin Qing saw that the Black Mud Gang had gained the upper hand and prepared to slip away.

However, the very moment he turned to leave.

A cold, shadowy figure silently blocked his path.

The man appeared to be in his thirties, wearing a short jacket with an unremarkable face—the kind that would be impossible to pick out in a crowd—save for a pair of dead-fish eyes that glinted with cunning.

"Friend, you've attacked my White Horse Gang repeatedly; what is the meaning of this?"

The middle-aged man in the short jacket spoke with a gloomy expression.

Lin Qing's eyes flashed with vigilance, but he did not respond.

Instead, his gaze quickly locked onto the man's left arm, where the sleeve was rolled up.

There, unmistakably, was an irregularly shaped, deep purple birthmark.

He had definitely seen this birthmark before.

A name quietly surfaced in his mind.

Thousand-Faced Human Trafficker, Zhou Heng.

A wanted criminal with a fifty-tael silver bounty on his head, a villainous wretch notorious for trafficking children!

Lin Qing's pupils constricted sharply.

He had never expected to encounter this wanted fugitive here.

And by the looks of it, he was actually colluding with the White Horse Gang.

Seeing Lin Qing standing his ground, Zhou Heng continued.

"Your skills are extraordinary, yet you hide your face and skulk in the shadows, wounding so many of my White Horse Gang brothers. Do you really think you can just walk away?"

Zhou Heng's voice was raspy, carrying a chilling sensation.

He narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over Lin Qing's mask.

Lin Qing suppressed his surprise, his tone turning hostile.

"I wondered why the White Horse Gang was so brazen; it turns out that besides oppressing the innocent, you are also in league with a conscience-less human trafficker like you."

"Truly, snakes and rats of the same nest—you deserve to die ten thousand deaths!"

He intentionally exposed Zhou Heng's identity.

It was also to disrupt the man's focus.

Sure enough, upon hearing Lin Qing pierce through his identity and crimes, a murderous glint instantly flared in Zhou Heng's eyes.

His greatest secret had been uncovered by a masked man of unknown origin?

"You are courting death!!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Zhou Heng let out a sharp shout, his body moving with the ghostly, flickering speed of a phantom.

His hands formed claws, his fingers tipped with ten sharp blades, striking directly at Lin Qing's throat and heart!

His moves were vicious and venomous, coming from impossible angles.

They were far superior to those of the ordinary White Horse Gang members.

The battle erupted in an instant.