A Fight to the Death on a Rainy Night (Part One)

Two days later.

As dusk settled, a light rain began to fall from the sky. The streets and alleys were deserted, with only a few passersby hurrying by.

Inner City, in a tall, grey and white pavilion, the soothing and melodious voice of a woman singing opera echoed.

In the center of the pavilion, on a tall stage, a woman dressed in a moon-white long dress, wearing a jade hairpin and a cloud-shaped hair bun stands alone.

Her voice was clear and melodious, her temperament was ethereal and otherworldly, and her figure was exquisite and outstanding; even a wide robe could not conceal her proud and graceful curves.

"The autumn waters are cold, and the night dew is heavy."

The candlelight on the dressing table reflected her haggard face.

"Throughout my life, I've sung countless songs of parting."

"Tonight's tears, for whom do I recite them?"

"Good!"

"Fairy Yunshang's voice is so beautiful."

"As expected of an opera troupe invited from the Prefectural City, their lyrics are superb."

Around the stands, many high-ranking officials and dignitaries were watching the opera.

As everyone drank wine and tea, they discussed and commented on the beautiful singing, all marveling at its beauty.

This is Spring Song House, the only opera house in Jiangyin County.

Although it was drizzling tonight, the theater was still packed with spectators thanks to the reputation of the Jinyun Troupe from Shu Region. Every chair around the stage and every room was filled with people.

In one of the side rooms, Pang Tong sat in a chair, looking down at the stage below with a completely absorbed expression.

"Having listened to operas for so many years, I thought the operas of Spring Song Society were already quite moving, but after listening to your Jinyun Troupe's performance today, I truly understand that there are always people more skilled than you, and there is always something beyond your understanding." Pang Tong said, downing the hot tea in front of him in one gulp.

Standing beside him was an elderly man in a sky-blue long robe, who smiled and poured Pang Tong another cup of hot tea.

"The Prefectural City is bustling with many opera troupes. The Jinyun Troupe has managed to stand out from the crowd, so they must have real skills. Take Lu Yunshang on this stage, for example. She is only eighteen years old but has already been performing for twelve years. She is beautiful and sings very well," the old man said with a chuckle.

He was one of the managers of the Jinyun Troupe. Hearing that Pang Tong was coming to watch the opera, he came over to entertain him.

"It is indeed a beautiful song, and the person is indeed beautiful. Steward Cao, name your price. Tonight, I would like to have a long talk with Fairy Yunshang." Pang Tong said calmly.

"Oh dear, sir, I can't agree to any price," Steward Cao quickly refused.

"Oh?" Pang Tong frowned. "But is there some explanation?"

"My lord, Fairy Yunxiao is the private possession of a certain important figure in the Prefectural City. Neither of us can afford to offend this person," Steward Cao said in a low voice.

"What a pity." Pang Tong glanced at the platform below again, his heart burning with excitement.

Although he wasn't interested in women, it didn't mean he didn't love them. In particular, he loved listening to opera and had a unique affection for the female actors on stage, always wanting to see their wanton behavior in bed.

He had already slept with all the actresses in the Spring Song Society, but the Jinyun Troupe was too famous, so he really didn't dare to force himself on them.

At this moment, after the song ended, Lu Yunxiao stepped off the stage and left, Pang Tong also stood up and dusted off his clothes.

"It's getting late, I should go."

"Sir, it's raining outside. Why don't you stay here tonight? I've heard things haven't been peaceful in the county town lately," said Steward Cao.

"Not peaceful? I, the sole Soul-Calming Office, have mastered the Hidden Strength Major Mastery. Who dares to touch me, fearless of death? How laughable!" Pang Tong uttered these words, then rose and left.

Only Steward Cao remained in the room. He glanced at the leftover food on the table, his smile vanished, and he spat out a mouthful of bitter spittle.

"A toad lusting after a swan? With your meager abilities, you think you can make the Fairy Yunxiao sell herself? You're overestimating yourself."

A moment later, Pang Tong walked out of Spring Song House and walked alone on a long street.

Behind him, Lin Qing kept a certain distance and followed closely.

He didn't rush to make a move. Firstly, this was a busy area, not suitable for taking action. Secondly, although Pang Tong appeared to be alone, it was hard to guarantee that he wasn't secretly protected, and he needed to be sure of that.

Either don't make a move, or if you do, make sure you can kill Pang Tong. Otherwise, if you fail, you'll alert him and cause endless trouble.

And so, he remained patient and calm, following closely behind Pang Tong.

Finally, Pang Tong walked out of the long street and turned into a less secluded alley.

Lin Qing decided to take action because once he walked out of this alley, Pang Tong would be home in just a hundred steps, and his house was heavily guarded, so Lin Qing had no chance of winning.

With a thought, he instantly equipped himself with three martial arts techniques: Perfect Mastery Hardening Art, Iron Garment Shrouds the Body, Perfect Mastery Lightness Skill, Water Skimming, and Perfect Mastery Hidden Weapon Technique, Locust Stone.

Since Lin Qing had already mastered the Water Skimming and Locust Stone techniques to Minor Mastery, the combination of the two techniques ultimately resulted in Limit-Breaking.

"Success or failure hinges on this moment. Tonight, it's either you or me who dies!"

Lin Qing's gaze was firm, his heart was cold, and there was not a trace of extraneous emotional fluctuation; there was only boiling killing intent.

He suddenly accelerated, and with the enhancement of his Limit-Breaking Level Water Skimming, he moved like a ghost, landing silently. In an instant, he rushed forward a hundred steps, and in a flash, he was close to Pang Tong, raising his hand to strike out with a palm.

Pang Tong was already on guard; he suddenly turned around and threw a punch.

Bang!

As their fists and palms collided, Pang Tong's expression changed drastically. He was blasted away by a tremendous force, staggering back several steps.

"Extreme strength!"

"You're Martial Artist at the Transforming Force?" Pang Tong exclaimed in disbelief.

An ordinary Martial Artist the power of Transforming Force energy can have the strength of ten thousand jin, while most Hidden Strength Martial Artist with the power of Hidden Strength energy have four or five thousand jin. Pang Tong, who boasts that he is a strong Martial Artist with the power of hidden energy, can only have a strength of more than six thousand jin with one arm.

In that clash of brute force, he was no match for her. His entire arm was numb from the shock, and even the base of his thumb was cracked. Only someone with immense Arm Strength could have done that.

Lin Qing, his face covered by a black cloth, his gaze cold and piercing, ignored them completely and dashed out again.

Pang Tong's expression turned grave. He dodged away and shouted, "Stop! I am the Soul-Calming Office. You'd better know what you're doing!"

Lin Qing ignored him, suddenly quickened his pace, and closed in again, directly unleashing the first move of the Tathagata Fist Manual, Lotus Throne Emerges.

He punched forward with both fists at the same time. What seemed like an ordinary thing was actually done with a strange breathing technique. He had to mobilize every muscle in his body, and his whole body was twisted into a rope. He gathered all the power in his body into his fists, like two meteorites, carrying a huge momentum, and smashed them hard towards Pang Tong.

In a moment of panic, Pang Tong hastily raised his arm to block. With a crack, his right arm twisted and deformed, the bone shattered, and bone fragments pierced through the flesh, causing blood to gush out. He was also blasted away by the force, flying more than ten steps backward before crashing heavily to the ground.

Intense pain struck, Pang Tong's face contorted, his eyes filled with horror. The power in his fists had surged once again, far exceeding ten thousand jin, reaching a number he could hardly fathom.

"Who exactly are you? In this county, martial Martial Artist at the Transforming Force Realm are already at their peak, and their numbers are extremely rare. I have never seen anyone like you before."

Pang Tong screamed, suddenly flipped himself up, turned and ran, shouting as he ran.

"Help me!"

"A thief has committed a crime in the street!"

Lin Qing immediately gave chase, and with a sudden flick of his wrist, three Golden Needles shot out.

Despite the rain, Lin Qing's strength was immense, and being Limit-Breaking Locust Stone, he was not greatly affected.