Ambushing the Clerk

Clerk Wang was imagining the gruesome sight of Qin An's death when a cold gleam flashed, and every hair on his body stood on end.

Standing on the wooden bridge, Clerk Wang looked down and saw water dripping from Chen Chun's face as he swung a long blade at his legs.

He was fat as a pig, but he had not risen to the rank of clerk through flattery alone.

In an instant, Clerk Wang circulated the Qi within him, and his palms turned as red as flames.

The aura of the Peak Qi Concealment Realm surged from him. He pressed both bare palms against Chen Chun's blade, producing a clear ring.

Under the blows of those reddened palms, the long blade actually bent slightly.

Clerk Wang leaped off the bridge and landed steadily on the ground. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Chen Chun, where's Qin An?"

He had never expected to be ambushed here. Fortunately, he had reacted fast enough to evade a fatal blow.

Hiding in the water was truly insidious.

But Clerk Wang swept his gaze around and saw no sign of Qin An. Doubt stirred in his heart.

Chen Chun stood in the water with a cold smile. "Why would I need Qin An to kill you?"

Clerk Wang frowned and continued surveying his surroundings.

He did not know how Chen Chun had learned he would be here, but the area was wide open, and Qin An was nowhere to be seen.

"You came alone. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Killing intent surged in Clerk Wang's heart.

Chen Chun was an Undercover Agent of the Evil Extermination Division, an even greater threat than Qin An.

But Chen Chun had always lived in Qin An's house. Clerk Wang had found no chance to strike, nor had he dared get too close to Qin An.

For some reason, only Chen Chun had come today, and Clerk Wang began to consider his options.

He was a cautious man. He had already confirmed that Chen Chun was alone.

If his enemy had come to throw his life away, why not seize the chance to kill him first?

After that, he would only need to wait for Sect Leader Liu to kill Qin An, and Ding County would go back to the way it had been.

Clerk Wang's palms glowed an even deeper red. Before Chen Chun could speak, he lunged at him.

He had made his decision: Chen Chun would die first.

Chen Chun was still standing in the water. When he saw Clerk Wang charge, panic flashed in his eyes.

Clerk Wang caught that flicker of panic. Certain his guess was right, he grew more openly smug.

Clear Spring River was not large, and the water where Chen Chun stood reached only his waist.

As soon as Clerk Wang stepped into the river, he struck with one palm, throwing up a wave to block Chen Chun's sight.

As the wave rose, Clerk Wang drove both hands through it, straight for Chen Chun's chest.

Just then, Chen Chun's frightened expression changed, and a faint smile curved his lips.

Clerk Wang caught the look on his face. His heart gave a slight jolt, and unease crept over him.

Water suddenly splashed behind him, followed by the sharp rush of air. I've fallen into a trap, Clerk Wang thought.

Before he could turn, pain struck his back. He looked down and saw a gleaming blade tip protruding from his chest, streaked with blood.

"Qin An!"

Clerk Wang spat blood and turned his head.

Behind him, water streamed from Qin An's clothes in a chain of drops, sending ripples across the river.

Qin An gripped Clerk Wang's neck with one hand and drove the Sharp Knife deeper with the other.

Bloody foam seeped from Clerk Wang's mouth. "I'm only at the Qi Concealment Realm. Did you really need to ambush me?"

The moment the Sharp Knife entered his back, he knew he would die today.

But he could not understand it.

Why was Qin An, a Body Infusion Realm cultivator, so devious?

First, he had used Chen Chun as bait, making Clerk Wang believe Chen Chun was alone and tempting him to kill him.

In truth, Qin An had been hiding in the water all along, waiting until Clerk Wang entered the river to strike.

Why?

Why go to such lengths to be cautious?

Qin An answered Clerk Wang with the Sharp Knife.

He pulled it free, then swept it from left to right across Clerk Wang's neck.

Qin An held the severed head in his hand. Blood dripped from the wound into the river, staining the water red.

At the sight, especially with Qin An dressed in black, a head in his left hand and the Sharp Knife in his right, Chen Chun felt a chill run through him.

He's grown stronger again.

The thought surfaced in Chen Chun's mind.

Chen Chun could clearly sense the Ice and Fire Qi on the Sharp Knife. It was more than enough to kill Clerk Wang in an instant.

Chen Chun gave a wry smile. "Why were you so cautious?"

Like Clerk Wang, Chen Chun was puzzled.

With Qin An's strength, he could have killed Clerk Wang in an instant. Today's plan had been far too cautious.

Qin An tossed the head aside. "I was afraid I couldn't catch him."

Couldn't catch him?

Chen Chun was even more confused.

Qin An did not explain. He bent down and searched Clerk Wang's body.

Apart from a few taels of loose silver, Qin An found a Cultivation Method manual. Three characters were written on its cover: "Blazing Palm."

Recalling Clerk Wang's bright-red palms, Qin An guessed the effect came from this Cultivation Method and tucked the manual into his robe.

Then Qin An saw that Chen Chun was still standing there in a daze and shook his head.

He really had been afraid he could not catch Clerk Wang.

Even Captain Zheng knew the Azure Bird Leap Movement Technique. If Clerk Wang also knew a Movement Technique, Qin An might not have been fast enough to catch him.

He had set out to kill Clerk Wang. He could not let him escape.

His Dancer Talent had yet to reach level three, and he had no Movement Technique, so he had resorted to this plan.

Chen Chun followed him. "Half the danger has been dealt with now."

With Clerk Wang dead, the threat within the Yamen was gone. Only the Demons outside remained.

Qin An had slain Second Master Eagle of Flying Cloud Gorge, leaving that faction a mere shell. Chen Chun felt much more at ease.

Qin An shook his head. "There are more threats now."

Chen Chun paused.

Qin An looked toward Ding County. "There's still the Yamen, and there are still Demons. Besides, the River Blade Sect he visited today isn't the sort to sit quietly."

At those words, every hair on Chen Chun's body stood on end.

He understood.

If the Yamen could collude with Demons, how could a mere clerk have managed it alone?

The county magistrate was the highest official in the Yamen.

Now that Clerk Wang was dead, the magistrate would not be able to sit still once he heard the news.

When that happened, the danger they faced would be greater still.

And Clerk Wang had only just visited the River Blade Sect today. Before he could even get home, someone had cut off his head. What would the River Blade Sect make of that?

The other Two Monster Factions would certainly not let them leave alive, either.

"What do we do?" Chen Chun asked.

He had more experience in the Martial World than Qin An, yet he turned to Qin An without thinking.

Without looking back, Qin An said, "Sleep on it."

The corners of Chen Chun's mouth twitched.

He had come to know Qin An's character. Aside from his aloofness, the way he acted could be hard to fathom.

But with Qin An having said that, Chen Chun could only steel himself and follow.

Before long, the two disappeared from Clear Spring River.

At home.

Qin An poured himself a cup of hot tea and fell into thought as he watched the steam rise from it.

What he had told Chen Chun was true. The danger had not diminished; it had grown.

Not only the Yamen but also the River Blade Sect had been drawn in. All he could rely on was his Golden Finger.

Strength rules. Only when my strength surpasses everyone in Ding County can I live in peace.

I need to gain the Dancer Talent as soon as possible and make up for my lack of a Movement Technique. I have to hurry.

Having made his decision, Qin An took out the Cultivation Method manual he had found on Clerk Wang and began reading it by the light of the Oil Lamp.