Cao Gang's main hall entrance.
Dozens of elite soldiers had sealed off the entrance so tightly that not even water could pass through. Nor did it stop there—another group of soldiers had surrounded the rear entrance of the main hall.
Moreover, after Jiang Che arrived in Yanggu County, the West City Martial Camp soldiers he had arranged in advance also mobilized. Nearly two hundred men gathered in one place, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure at first glance.
At the entrance, nearly a hundred Cao Gang members had also assembled, gripping their weapons as they confronted the government troops.
Qi Huan stood at the front, with Jiang Che beside him. Jiang Che glanced at him and gave a slight nod.
Qi Huan understood. He raised his hand and slashed it down sharply.
"Any who dare obstruct us will be killed without mercy!"
"Stop!!!"
At the very moment of imminent crisis, Captain Chen appeared again. Bringing more than a dozen constables, he parted the crowd and hurried anxiously toward Jiang Che and the other man, his brows tightly furrowed.
He simply could not understand it. Had Jiang Che gone mad?
He had just caused havoc at the docks a few days ago, and now he actually dared lead troops to besiege the Cao Gang. Did he truly fear no consequences whatsoever?
Even with Zhu Sheng backing him, he should not—could not—be this arrogant.
Therefore, he was already prepared to turn hostile. Once Jiang Che made a move, he had to stop him. The Cao Gang was a minor matter; if Magistrate Zhao learned that he had stood by and done nothing, that would be the true disaster.
"Commander Jiang, what are you doing, bringing troops here?"
"Of course, I'm eradicating the Cao Gang, this cancer of Yanggu County, and returning a bright and clear sky to its people." Jiang Che smiled at him.
"Do you know the consequences of this?"
Captain Chen asked in a deep voice.
"I'll bear the consequences. Do you have an objection?"
Seated atop his warhorse, Qi Huan looked down at Captain Chen from above, his gaze filled with disdain.
"You are...?"
Seeing the man's forceful presence and black armor, Captain Chen hesitated.
"I forgot to introduce him. This is Captain Qi, commanding captain of the Martial Guard Army's Wind Camp in Tai'an Prefecture. Captain Zhu specially invited him here to lend us aid in wiping out the Cao Gang.
Captain Chen, are you here to lend us a hand as well?"
Jiang Che introduced him before either side could say more.
Sure enough, the instant he heard Qi Huan's identity, Captain Chen was dumbfounded.
The commanding captain of Wind Camp?
Invited by Zhu Sheng?
What was going on?
"You intend to obstruct this captain in carrying out his duties?"
Qi Huan flicked his silver spear, scattering cold gleams in every direction.
"Captain Chen came specifically to assist us, didn't he?"
Jiang Che looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile.
"Yes, yes." Captain Chen's heart tightened, and he hurriedly lowered his head and stepped aside.
Two seventh-rank officials with real authority had joined hands. He was not qualified to stop them. If they decided to execute first and report later, Magistrate Zhao probably would not even seek justice for him. He immediately bowed to the situation and yielded.
The way he looked at Jiang Che now even carried a trace of gratitude.
"With neither proof nor evidence, you dare mobilize weapons privately. Does the Great Zhou still have laws?" Within the Cao Gang, Kou Yuansheng slowly walked out with a grim expression, staring at Jiang Che and Qi Huan on horseback.
"This is the Cao Gang Leader?"
Qi Huan ignored Kou Yuansheng and turned to Jiang Che instead.
"That's right. This is him."
"Oh."
Qi Huan answered casually.
Jiang Che then urged his horse forward. With one wave of his hand, several soldiers dragged Protector Ren and Song Ji forward.
"The Cao Gang colluded with the bandits of Crouching Tiger Mountain and ambushed this commander. The witnesses and evidence are all here. Kou Yuansheng, what do you have to say for yourself?!" Jiang Che snorted coldly and immediately questioned him.
"This man severed ties with my Cao Gang long ago. Even if he colluded with bandits, it has nothing to do with my Cao Gang. Besides... even if guilt is to be judged, there should be a joint trial of the three halls, with Magistrate Zhao rendering the verdict.
You are merely a deputy commander of a martial camp. What right do you have to act directly?"
He gritted his teeth and glared at Protector Ren, continuing to argue as he hoped to stall for time until Magistrate Zhao's men arrived.
He believed that, based on the silver the Cao Gang had given Zhao Mingcheng over the years, Zhao would spare no effort to protect the gang.
Jiang Che and Qi Huan exchanged a smile.
This Kou Yuansheng was rather naive.
He was actually lecturing them about the law. It was simply laughable.
"Enough noise."
"May I ask who this lord is? Has my Cao Gang offended you in some way?" Kou Yuansheng raised his head and looked toward Qi Huan.
Qi Huan ignored him completely, merely raising his arm slowly.
"The Cao Gang has colluded with the bandits of Crouching Tiger Mountain, intending rebellion. Their crime deserves execution. Yet Heaven cherishes life, and the ignorant are not guilty. Those who lay down their weapons and kneel on both knees will not be killed.
All who resist the authorities will be killed, and their families implicated!"
Jiang Che shouted loudly.
"Kill!"
Qi Huan followed with a low shout.
The next moment, a barrage of arrows descended upon the Cao Gang without distinction.
The gang members hesitated. Some directly threw down their weapons and lay prone on the ground, but quite a few stubbornly roared and fought back. Kou Yuansheng shook one hand, blocking several arrows, his face iron-gray.
"Do not listen to the nonsense of these dog officials! Everyone, fight your way out with me today and join Crouching Tiger Mountain. In the future, glory, wealth, and honor will be ours in abundance."
As his words fell, several figures leaped out from within the Cao Gang. They were none other than several hall masters and the deputy gang leader, including Jiang Che's old acquaintance, Yu Zongping.
The slaughter began. With an excited expression, Qi Huan gathered his strength in his spear and hurled it directly, piercing several Cao Gang members at once. He leaped down from his warhorse, reclaimed the silver spear, and pointed it at Kou Yuansheng.
Jiang Che did not remain idle either. With a thought, scarlet light welled up in his eyes.
The first Absolute of the Three Absolute Shocking Fiends—Killing Life!
At that moment, Jiang Che felt the blood and qi within him instantly boil. Surging strength roiled through him, inner breath coursing wildly in all directions, nearly breaking out of control.
Release!
Slaughter!
"Jiang Che, die!"
Yu Zongping struck first, straightforwardly targeting Jiang Che. Borrowing force to launch himself upward, he gripped a mountain-cleaving saber and descended through the air, falling with the force of splitting Mount Hua, incomparably fierce.
The next moment, Jiang Che stomped hard on the horse's back, making the warhorse beneath him stagger and collapse to the ground on unsteady hooves.
He, meanwhile, met the attack head-on. Holding his blade in both hands, he erupted with inner breath and slashed diagonally forward.
Rip!
Yu Zongping, who had fought Jiang Che only days ago and had then been evenly matched with him, was instantly split in two. His belly was cut open, shattered limbs and chunks of flesh raining down amid spurting blood.
Bang!
Jiang Che's right leg kicked heavily into Yu Zongping's lower half, sending it accurately crashing into an old man.
Yu Zongping's other half fell to the ground, blood gushing forth. He lay with his head tilted upward, his vision growing increasingly hazy, leaving only one final thought in his heart.
Jiang Che's blade was so fast, so vicious!
"Hiss!"
Watching the two sides already locked in combat in the blink of an eye, Captain Chen sucked in a cold breath, finding the situation unbearably thorny. A constable beside him shot him a questioning look.
"Chief, who do we help?"
Captain Chen glared at him. Couldn't he see who held the advantage now?
Of course they would help whoever won!
He immediately gritted his teeth, drew his long saber, and pointed it forward.
"The Cao Gang has plotted rebellion. Today, follow me and slaughter our way through this place!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
Cries of battle rose on all sides, arrows flying without cease. In an instant, the place became a slaughterhouse.