Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys

"Iron Armor?"

"Hehe, if you're not a Body Refiner, even we'd find it extremely restrictive to wear. Let alone Wang Sheng, who's only at the early Bright Force stage—wouldn't he just become a living target?"

Luo Zhengwen was the first to object. His face was stern as he fiercely glared at the fellow disciple trying to sell the Iron Armor.

"Hehe, my Iron Armor is mixed with darksteel. Ordinary Bright Force martial artists can't even put a dent in it. If I sell it to Junior Brother Wang, he'll be getting a huge bargain!"

The fellow disciple selling the Iron Armor was named Lin Shan. He spoke without the slightest concern.

"That doesn't sound right. If it really has darksteel mixed into it, it should fetch a good price even on the Black Market."

Wei Yu sensed the problem and spoke up.

"Senior Sister really is sharp. Actually, that Iron Armor has a minor flaw. Its back was slashed several times and never repaired. I put it up on the Black Market before, but I wasn't satisfied with any of the offers."

"But don't worry, the front of the Iron Armor can still be used."

"So, if Junior Brother Wang wants it, I'll take one thousand taels of silver, plus a promise. Not Wang Sheng's promise—a promise from Senior Brother Luo!"

At this point, Lin Shan's fox tail had finally been exposed.

No wonder he treasured the Iron Armor yet brought it out to trade. He had his eye on Luo Zhengwen's character and family background, wanting Luo Zhengwen to vouch for Wang Sheng.

"You're sure you don't want my promise?"

Wang Sheng frowned slightly.

He truly wanted the Iron Armor. High-grade inner armor was something with a price but no market, and it was extremely expensive.

Though the Iron Armor was somewhat heavy, it was mixed with darksteel and was no worse than some high-grade inner armor.

Besides, Wang Sheng was a Body Refiner. He did not care about the Iron Armor's weight.

"Tch. If I wait until you can help me someday, I'll have to wait until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse!"

Lin Shan said disdainfully.

Wang Sheng fell silent.

Do I have to play the gentleman on the beam and steal it?

"I'll guarantee it!"

Luo Zhengwen suddenly spoke.

"Junior Brother, with Wei Yu and me protecting you, you'll basically be fine as long as we don't run into Dark Force experts. If we do encounter one, none of us will be able to escape. But if we meet Bright Force enemies, there may be times when we can't protect you. The Iron Armor can still block a few strikes for you and hold out until we come to your aid."

Luo Zhengwen had thought it through. He felt that the Iron Armor might truly be useful to Wang Sheng.

"Hahaha, Senior Brother, how generous. I'll go back and get it right away."

Lin Shan laughed in satisfaction and swiftly dashed away.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Wang Sheng inwardly sighed at how righteous Senior Brother Luo truly was. Once Luo Zhengwen recognized someone as a friend, he would help them to the bitter end without any ambiguity. No wonder Lin Shan, Wei Yu, and the others trusted him so deeply.

"Junior Brother Luo, could Wang Sheng be your father's illegitimate son—your real younger brother? Otherwise, why are you protecting him so much?"

Wei Lingqin was unhappy that Wang Sheng had obtained the Iron Armor and mocked him.

However,

to everyone's surprise,

Luo Zhengwen did not argue with her this time. Instead, his expression turned solemn as he said seriously, "Actually, Wang Sheng does somewhat resemble my younger brother who has already passed away."

At that,

not only were Wei Lingqin and the others rendered speechless, even Wang Sheng was at a loss for words.

"Wang Sheng, do you take after your father or your mother?"

Wei Yu suddenly asked.

"My father. Why?"

"Oh, nothing! Nothing!"

Wei Yu waved her hand, barely holding back her laughter.

Luo Zhengwen was somewhat baffled. He always felt that Wei Yu had not been thinking anything good.

But after answering, Wang Sheng immediately understood what Wei Yu was implying.

Wang Sheng glared at Wei Yu, who was trying hard to hold back her laughter.

He had not expected this long-legged senior sister, who usually seemed aloof and cool, to be so secretly suggestive inside. Her thoughts were so wild—such a contrast!

She really needed to be investigated!

"Hahaha, Wang Sheng, did your father work as a servant for the Luo Family when he was young? Did he perhaps serve at Madam Luo's side too—"

Wei Lingqin was speaking without restraint.

Luo Zhengwen was already blazing with fury. He strode toward Wei Lingqin. "Wei Lingqin, you dare disrespect my Luo Family? You're courting death!"

Wei Lingqin jumped in fright. Seeing that Luo Zhengwen looked ready to fight her to the death, she hurriedly backed away and hid behind Qi Changsheng, a senior brother at Great Perfection Bright Force.

"Junior Brother Luo, don't be angry. Lingqin simply speaks her mind. It's not as if you don't know that."

Qi Changsheng smiled blandly.

"Qi Changsheng, stop trying to smooth things over here."

Luo Zhengwen was just about to roar.

Suddenly,

the entire courtyard fell silent.

Following everyone's gazes, Luo Zhengwen turned around.

Zhao Jie walked out from the inner courtyard.

"Master!"

One after another, everyone cupped their fists and bowed in greeting.

"Mm."

Zhao Jie's expression was icy as he swept Luo Zhengwen a glance.

"Master!"

As if drenched by a bucket of cold water, Luo Zhengwen immediately regained his senses and hurriedly cupped his fists.

"Now, are you all prepared to follow your master in slaughtering the Demonic Cult and avenging your bitter hatred?"

Zhao Jie asked indifferently.

"Yes, Master!"

Everyone answered in unison.

At that moment,

a figure quietly walked into the martial academy.

It was Lin Shan, who had gone to retrieve the Iron Armor.

At that instant, everyone looked toward Lin Shan.

Lin Shan's scalp immediately went numb. Seeing Zhao Jie's cold expression, he trembled with fear and hurriedly cupped his fists. "Master, this disciple went home to retrieve the Iron Armor for Junior Brother Wang's protection, which delayed me for a moment. I beg Master's forgiveness."

Zhao Jie had already been burning with rage over the destruction of his friend Liu's family and the death of his disciple Jin Cang.

Now, Lin Shan had happened to ram straight into the muzzle of his gun by failing to return within half an hour as ordered.

As for protecting a junior brother, Wang Sheng had angered Zhao Jie yesterday over the cultivation method, greatly lowering Zhao Jie's opinion of him.

With all these matters combined, the coldness in Zhao Jie's eyes grew heavier and heavier.

Zhao Jie raised a hand and grabbed through the air at Lin Shan.

A powerful suction force formed into a vortex. Torrents of tangible transformed force surged and roiled, instantly dragging Lin Shan over and seizing his neck in a huge hand.

Lin Shan's face was filled with terror and pitiful pleading. His entire body was suppressed by dense transformed force. He could not move, nor could he even speak.

"Lin Shan disobeyed his master's orders. I have said before that anyone who dares defy an order will have their martial arts crippled and be expelled from the sect."

Like a vicious tiger looking down upon its prey, Zhao Jie swept his gaze over everyone. Li Hu, Wei Yu, and the others felt a chill in their hearts.

Crack, crack...

Zhao Jie tapped Lin Shan several times, producing the sound of bones shattering.

Lin Shan immediately collapsed to the ground like a puddle of mud, twitching without stop.

The entire martial academy instantly became even quieter, utterly soundless. Even the sound of breathing was nearly imperceptible.

A killing aura blanketed the martial academy. A sense of pressure rose in everyone's hearts, and their expressions tightened.

Zhao Jie nodded faintly.

Now this was more like it.

Otherwise, if they went outside as a loose and undisciplined group, would they not be disgracing him?

"What is given to you, keep it properly."

Zhao Jie kicked the heavy Iron Armor to Wang Sheng's feet.

"Yes, Master!"

Wang Sheng could sense Zhao Jie's impatience toward him.

Presumably, because of Jin Cang's death, Zhao Jie had also suspected Wang Sheng. But the thought had only flashed through his mind. He did not believe Wang Sheng could have killed Jin Cang.

"Now, depart!"

Zhao Jie shouted.

"Yes!"

This time, every disciple in the martial academy looked solemn. None of them dared show even the slightest trace of carelessness again.

Killing the chicken to warn the monkeys—

the trick might be old, but it was effective.

Very soon,

Zhao Jie personally led the group in hunting down Demonic Cult disciples throughout the city.

At the same time,

within Ershui City, other Martial Alliance forces, Qingshui Martial Academy, Nine Blades Martial Hall, and others, along with the authorities, the Divine Incense Cult, and several great lineages, also began sending people to encircle and kill members of the Demonic Cult.

Meanwhile, several thousand li away,

negotiations between the rebel army of Southern Ridge Prefecture and Jiangling Prefecture had completely broken down, and the rebel army began fiercely attacking Jiangling Prefecture.

Jiangling Prefecture, already riddled with chaos, immediately became precarious, swaying amid wind and rain. Countless commoners were displaced, and disaster victims covered the land.

The age of chaos in Jiangling Prefecture had arrived!