"Master Lin!"
"Master Lin!"
As that slender figure stepped into Green Willow Alley, many unfamiliar faces emerged from the houses on either side.
The brothel madams and prostitutes, along with the men behind them who kept watch over the place, stopped whatever they were doing and respectfully nodded to the young man.
Dark red stains still lingered on the alley floor.
Qin Yunhai and his eight junior brothers had used their bloody corpses to show everyone—
Just how cruel and terrifying the methods of Blackwater Gang's newly arrived Lord Fox were!
They watched Lin Shu enter the Magpie Nest, then shook their heads with a sigh.
Since the assassination had failed, Good Fortune Martial Hall was probably finished.
That Master Zhang, who had some standing in West City, might have the strength of a Great Martial Master, but after this, hardly anyone would be willing to study under him.
His reputation was ruined.
After all, Cunning Fox Hall had never been known for its martial prowess. Who would spend silver to learn kung fu that could not even subdue a fox?
What's more, they would risk offending the Blackwater Gang. There was even less reason to do that.
If Master Zhang wanted to make a comeback, Lord Lin was the hurdle he had to clear!
"That'll be tough."
Someone clicked their tongue.
Setting aside which of them was stronger, Lord Lin's reputation was now soaring, adding yet more menace to the Blackwater Gang's name.
Whether it was Cunning Fox Hall or the Fierce Wolf guarding this street in Green Willow Alley, both would be paying attention sooner or later.
For Good Fortune Martial Hall to clear the street and launch another ambush like before was pure fantasy.
"Get back to work."
Lin Shu entered the Magpie Nest. Amid the eager, sweet voices of the women, he went straight up to the second floor.
It was still the same clean room set aside just for him.
Lin Shu dragged a chair over to the window and sat down, leisurely circulating the Blue Bird Qi-Guiding Art.
Though it was an eighth-grade Inner Method, it still felt utterly novel to him.
A warm current washed through his body, gradually soothing the killing intent in his mind, as if invisible, gentle hands were massaging his nerves.
It was a shame that once he left Broken Firewood Courtyard, the efficiency of his Qi Absorption dropped considerably.
That left Lin Shu somewhat displeased.
Actually, given the situation now,
Lin Shu no longer needed to come to Green Willow Alley every day to keep watch. He only needed to have Old Yang keep an eye on things.
Anyone foolish enough to cause trouble would have to consider whether they could take on the band of brawlers from Good Fortune Martial Hall.
There were still a few lingering problems, though.
Lin Shu lounged in his chair, his gaze passing through the half-open window and settling on the alley.
Good Fortune Martial Hall still had that old bastard.
And that fat man surnamed Tian seemed to be plotting trouble from behind the scenes, too.
Those were the reasons he was still stuck in Green Willow Alley.
"I need to find an opportunity."
Lin Shu stretched out his arms. If he had already done something, he might as well see it through to the bitter end.
After all, even Chang Yi and those foxes had managed to find Broken Firewood Courtyard easily. What more a Great Martial Master with a grudge against him, or the newly promoted Fierce Wolf?
You couldn't stand guard against thieves every day of the year.
Just then,
A series of piercing suona notes interrupted Lin Shu's thoughts.
He glanced toward the entrance of the alley.
A procession dressed in plain white came into view, holding white paper spirit banners as they advanced toward Green Willow Alley with music and chanting.
Such a grand procession immediately drew every passerby's attention.
At the rear of the crowd, an old man led a short-legged horse. A black coffin rested neatly on the flatbed cart behind it.
Rustle.
The old man's loose white garments snapped in the wind, making his gaunt frame seem even more skeletal.
The suona fell silent, and the people in white stopped.
The old man lifted his head, revealing a withered face. His cloudy eyes were bloodshot.
Leading the horse, he slowly stepped into Green Willow Alley.
"Tsk."
Lin Shu watched quietly, a hint of amusement gradually rising in his eyes.
Good Fortune Martial Hall had deep roots. It was no wonder they had managed to clear this street at night before.
After all, back then he had been a nobody who had only just joined the hall.
But now it was broad daylight.
With everyone watching, the old man was still able to drag a coffin into Green Willow Alley in full view, completely unafraid of the Blackwater Gang's influence.
Now that was interesting.
A narrow alley devoted to the flesh trade had suddenly been invaded by a funeral procession.
It was rather inauspicious.
Not only the brothel madams and prostitutes, but even the men behind them stared with strange expressions.
Not one of them dared to speak.
Even though they had been mocking him in their hearts not long ago, now that this old master had actually appeared before them, they were all as meek as quails.
Master Zhang, a Great Martial Master who could fight cultivators with nothing but his own body!
Quite a few people turned to look toward the alley entrance, their faces tinged with confusion.
Where was Lord Fox, the one who watched over this street... and where was the Fierce Wolf responsible for it?
The old master had come bearing a corpse. His intent to seek revenge could not have been clearer.
By rights, even if only to uphold the gang's dignity, someone should have come to stop him.
It was broad daylight. Surely they couldn't all be asleep.
That suona had blared so loudly as the procession made its way down the street. To say the Blackwater Gang hadn't noticed would be a joke.
The crowd still kept quiet, but a strange glint of anticipation crept into their eyes.
When something strange happened, there was always a reason.
Master Zhang was an old hand, too. He had already suffered a major loss, yet he still dared to come. He had to be confident of success.
If so, then Lord Lin... tsk, tsk. He was probably in trouble.
As if to confirm their suspicions,
Bang!
Zhang Zhongping stopped in front of the Magpie Nest. Then, with a forceful lift of both arms, he hoisted the heavy coffin and abruptly set it down at the entrance to the two-story building!
Paper money fluttered through the air.
The old man ran his hand over the smooth coffin, his eyes flickering.
The good news Tian Jingyuan had brought him about that fox had been very simple.
It boiled down to four words.
At the end of his rope.
Zhang Zhongping had not believed Fatty Tian at first, since the man had already fooled him once.
But the other man had then given him a name he could not doubt.
Silk-Pulling Wolf, Yan Jin.
Fatty Tian said he had heard that the woman's assessment of the fox at the time had been...
He had never practiced an Inner Method and had merely been touched by an Immortal Aura; once his Spiritual Power ran dry, he would die.
Not a word had been changed.
Silk-Pulling Wolf was violent by nature and terrifyingly strong. She would never tolerate someone using her name to deceive people and swagger around.
Not even if that person was another Fierce Wolf.
Tian Jingyuan had only recently been promoted. No matter how greedy he was, he would not have the nerve to do such a thing.
Even so, Zhang Zhongping had still hesitated.
After all, that fox had already gained momentum and would be difficult to dislodge in the short term.
Not until Fatty Tian said he had a way to deal with Cunning Fox Hall, while the Fierce Wolf on the street would only require a little silver to appease.
"Haah."
Just thinking of that sum
made Zhang Zhongping's temple twitch faintly.
He let out a soft breath.
He had spent half a lifetime's savings just to buy himself a chance at revenge and ensure he could walk into this filthy alley unhindered.
What had truly made the old man resolve to act was Tian Jingyuan's mocking voice in his mind.
"A dignified Great Martial Master, who finally carved out a living for himself in West City, driven back to the mud pits of South Suburb to waste away in old age by a fox at the end of his rope?"
"Your son is dead, your disciples have scattered, and you don't even have anyone to look after you in your old age. Are you really content with that?"
"..."
Zhang Zhongping closed his eyes. When he opened them again, murderous intent filled his cloudy gaze.
Of course he wasn't content.
Why should a lowly fox who had only been lucky enough to be touched by an Immortal Aura be allowed to butcher his son and disciples with impunity?
And why should that fox be allowed to trample his martial hall, make a name for himself, and throw his weight around in West City, despite having no foundations left to speak of?
The old man raised his head and stared straight at the building before him.
The next moment, his hoarse, anguished voice swept through the entire alley, accompanied by an invisible wave of force.
"Murder... must be paid for with a life!!"
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