Jiang Che's internal breath had originally been equivalent to a single breath, but now, that red light was replenishing it, causing that current of breath to swell rapidly.
This was forcibly raising his cultivation.
His arms, chest, abdomen, cheeks—every part of Jiang Che's body turned incomparably red. The qi and blood within him were forcefully drawn along, circulating endlessly through his body.
Streams of white steam rose from the top of his head, suppressing some of the surrounding cold Killing Intent.
His internal breath was surging wildly, and his qi and blood were going mad.
Veins continuously bulged across his body.
Hah!
Hah!
Hah!
Jiang Che kept drawing in huge breaths. Sweat poured down like rain, soaking his robes, only to be steamed dry again within a few breaths. This continued for more than ten breaths before finally stopping.
It was over.
The sacrifice was over.
Feeling the streams of internal breath flowing smoothly within him, Jiang Che clenched his fists tightly. Now, he no longer needed to gather his meager internal breath at a single point as he had before.
Giving him only the strength for a few punches.
Now, he could unleash it as he pleased. Fists, palms, legs—wherever his thoughts reached, he could erupt with tremendous power. And if he added the madness of the Three Absolute Shocking Fiends—
His strength had surged severalfold in an instant.
He had now reached the peak of Internal Breath. The internal breath accumulated within him had nowhere to vent; as long as he could find a Body Refining Method, he could step into the Bone Forging Realm at any time.
And the Azure Fiend Body Refining Scripture Qi Huan had mentioned was his next target!
Outside the valley, over a hundred fully armed soldiers stood silently behind Qi Huan. There were even several dozen cavalrymen among them. They truly were the elite carefully selected from the entire Wind Camp.
Song Ji had been shackled in chains and kept his head lowered, having completely lost all hope.
Jiang Che, dressed in a black martial robe with his long hair tied up, slowly emerged from the valley. Qi Huan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, seemed to sense something. He frowned and stared at Jiang Che.
In the brief time it took for an incense stick to burn, Jiang Che seemed to have undergone some change he did not know about.
A trace of Killing Intent lingered around him.
As though he had just killed someone.
"Captain Qi, sorry to have kept you waiting."
Jiang Che cupped his fists in salute.
"It seems your cultivation has improved?"
Qi Huan asked.
"After that battle just now, I gained some insight."
Jiang Che smiled, looking modest and gentle.
"Insight..." Qi Huan scrutinized him for several moments. He clearly did not quite believe it, but he did not investigate further. Pointing his riding whip at a soldier beside him, he ordered:
"Give your warhorse to Commander Jiang."
"Yes."
"Rest assured, Commander Gou. Jiang Che will certainly die today. Even if he sprouts wings, he won't be able to fly out of Black Mountain Valley." Within the Cao Gang's main hall, Kou Yuansheng and Gou Buren finally met under Madam Yu's arrangements.
Kou Yuansheng personally made a promise to Gou Buren as well.
"I naturally trust Gang Leader Kou's plans. It is only that Jiang Che is unlike ordinary people. He always leaves himself a way out when doing things, and that worries me."
Gou Buren sipped his tea and smiled.
"No matter how different he is, it will be of no use." Kou Yuansheng waved a hand. The Cao Gang could not involve itself directly, so even when he met Jiang Che, it had been at an inn where no one would notice.
The ones taking action were the bandits of Crouching Tiger Mountain, and afterward, Crouching Tiger Mountain would bear the responsibility.
As long as no evidence could be found, even if Zhu Sheng wanted to vent his anger on the Cao Gang, he would have no justification.
After all, Zhao Mingcheng was no idler. He controlled nearly all the official forces in Yanggu County and even had considerable connections in the prefectural city. That was why he could sit firmly in the magistrate's seat.
"As long as this matter succeeds, Gou will certainly recommend Gang Leader Kou to Captain Zhu afterward. But not recently. Jiang Che will have just died, and if I recommend you then, it would be far too obvious."
"Of course."
Kou Yuansheng laughed heartily. Ever since he had learned from Gou Buren that Jiang Che had been the one secretly urging Zhu Sheng to target the Cao Gang, apart from his hatred for Jiang Che, his heart had also settled.
In his eyes, a mere Jiang Che was not worth fearing at all.
He was merely a deputy commander. If not for Zhu Sheng's favor, such a tiny official would not even be worthy of entering his sight in normal times.
"Also, I have something I would like to ask Brother Kou for help with."
Setting down his teacup, Gou Buren spoke with a solemn expression.
"Commander Gou, please speak. So long as it is within my power, I will never refuse."
"I would also like to ask Gang Leader Kou to introduce me to Magistrate Zhao."
The moment Gou Buren finished speaking, the atmosphere in the inner hall became so silent that one could hear a needle drop. Kou Yuansheng's gaze toward Gou Buren changed again and again as he frowned and asked:
"Commander Gou wishes to see Magistrate Zhao?"
"Correct. Gang Leader Kou heard right."
"It seems Commander Gou has no shortage of ambitions." Kou Yuansheng narrowed his eyes. By rights, Gou Buren was Zhu Sheng's trusted confidant, yet this truly made it difficult for him not to think too much.
"Isn't Gang Leader Kou the same?"
Gou Buren smiled faintly.
"Fine. Once Jiang Che's matter has been settled, I will personally introduce Commander Gou to Magistrate Zhao."
Gou Buren thanked him, then rose to his feet.
"It is getting late. I shall take my leave first."
"Take care, Commander Gou." Kou Yuansheng personally saw Gou Buren to the rear entrance before returning to the inner hall. At some point, Madam Yu had taken their seats.
"Madam, I think it would be best to have less contact with this old acquaintance of yours in the future." Kou Yuansheng shook his head. People like Gou Buren, who played both ends against the middle and swayed from side to side, generally met miserable ends.
"I was only making use of him. But now it seems using him to seek an introduction to Zhu Sheng was a wrong move. If he harbors divided loyalties, he may inevitably drag the Cao Gang down with him in the future."
Madam Yu had been behind the screen all along and had heard their entire conversation.
"When one's power falls short of others, one can only survive in the cracks." Kou Yuansheng rubbed his forehead, feeling that Yanggu County's situation was becoming ever more tangled and complicated. One careless step, and disaster would come crashing down upon them.
Zhao Mingcheng, Zhu Sheng, Crouching Tiger Mountain—he could not afford to offend any of them. All he wanted was to preserve the Cao Gang's business.
Madam Yu rose gracefully and gently massaged Kou Yuansheng's temples with her jade-like fingers, comforting him:
"That is simply how the world is."
"Ah..."
Kou Yuansheng let out a long sigh of Turbid Air. As the Cao Gang's business grew ever larger, the forces entangled with it grew increasingly numerous. The Cao Gang appeared to bear the fine reputation of being Yanggu County's foremost force.
But was that truly the case?
If the Cao Gang truly was the foremost force, why had it still not stepped beyond the western district?
Because the other forces within Yanggu County were not easy to provoke either.
The Cao Gang merely had a greater reputation and stronger financial resources.
"Fortunately, I have you by my side." Kou Yuansheng held Madam Yu's slender jade hand, his expression relieved.
"Gang Leader."
"Gang Leader, something has happened!"
Just as the two were sharing a tender moment, an old man suddenly burst into the hall with an anxious expression.
"Elder Yang, what happened?"
A faint sense of foreboding rose in Kou Yuansheng's heart.