Far too many people had come to Twin Dragon Gorge to watch the battle.
Ordinary people and common martial artists could only spread the news by word of mouth, but those with considerable influence had already sent it through every channel available: horses spurred to a gallop, messenger pigeons taking wing, lightness-skill experts racing in every direction...
As though overnight, the news swept like a raging wind through the dozen-odd counties of Linjiang Prefecture.
Hong Yuan, "peerless and unrivaled, One Spear Like a Startled Swan," had slain the Spear King, Han Dingtian, and captured the Raging Tide Hand, Lei Meng-two Grandmaster experts-in a single battle at the Canal Gang Headquarters in Twin Dragon Gorge. Then he had forced the Canal Gang to surrender single-handedly.
The news crashed like an exploding thunderclap. Everyone who heard it was left tongue-tied and wide-eyed, their heads reeling.
Many established experts who had not witnessed it themselves found it impossible to believe. But as increasingly detailed accounts emerged, they all fell silent.
Quite a few small and midsized factions that had not joined the effort to corner Hong Yuan felt both relieved and gleeful at the others' misfortune. Their gazes turned toward the prefectural city.
That astronomical bounty of a hundred thousand taels had been issued under the leadership of three major powers: the Guo Family, the Hua Family, and the Canal Gang.
Nearly twenty smaller lineages and gangs had also participated, but they were scattered across the region and made insignificant targets. Now that the Divine Spear had subdued the Canal Gang, could anything good await the Guo and Hua families?
Linjiang Prefectural City.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, and the city's residents enjoyed a rare spell of warmth in winter.
Inside a secluded reception hall, the two men on whom all eyes rested-the