When a break must be made, make it

At dawn, along a stretch of the E River, a figure struggled out of the water and onto the bank. Dragging his mangled right arm, he shivered all over, glanced back at the river he had come from, then staggered onward.

I cannot die. I cannot die.

The man kept telling himself this, but his condition was far from promising. He was the only one who had escaped after exchanging a palm strike with Yi Shuyuan.

His right arm, which had stopped bleeding earlier, was now steadily seeping blood again. The bone jutting through his flesh, still attached to sinew and muscle, showed a ghastly white. Upon finding a dilapidated straw hut that offered some shelter from the wind and rain, he knocked open its rotten door and went inside. He took a small porcelain bottle from his robes, bit out the stopper, and shakily poured medicine into his mouth.

After swallowing several pills, he sat cross-legged and began circulating his energy to treat his injuries. Before long, wisps of white mist rose from the crown of his head.

"Pfft!"

He spat out a mouthful of dark, foul blood. Only then did his internal energy settle somewhat, but the pain in his body became all the more pronounced.

"The Innate Realm, the Innate Realm... I was only one step away, yet the gulf was like a chasm dividing heaven... heh, heh... cough, cough... How truly ironic..."

"Was xiantian true qi really so overbearing, so powerful...?"

He had considered himself beyond ordinary first-rate martial artists. He could even vaguely sense the threshold of the Innate Realm, yet for over a decade, he had failed to advance another inch.

Laughably, he had once thought that even if he truly encountered an expert of the Innate Realm, he could at least hold his own for a while. Reality had proved so cruel.

When he actually met an Innate Expert, he could not withstand even a single palm strike. At last, he understood that before an expert of that caliber, he could not endure a single blow!

That terrifying presence, that horrifying palm force, and that exceptionally profound xiantian true qi-even recalling them now brought pressure crashing over him like mountains toppling and seas overturning!

The more he thought, the more his breath constricted and his heart panicked. His remaining internal power fell into disorder again, and he passed out.

He did not know how long it was before he startled awake from a dream and frantically looked around. That indistinct figure amid the fierce wind, robes and Long-Haired Ghost whipping wildly, had become a nightmare haunting the dark, impossible to dispel.

"Cough, cough, cough... urgh!"

He covered his mouth with his left hand, but blood still leaked from its corners. His internal injuries continued to worsen. The damage inflicted by xiantian true qi was simply more than his own internal power could fully counter.

No, I must leave at once. This matter is far bigger than I imagined. If the gang keeps meddling, it will no longer be a question of profit, but of life and death!

Those captured men might not keep their mouths shut!

He dared not think further. Struggling to his feet, he rushed outside and walked into the cold spring rain. Fortunately, he still had silver on him. He found a country doctor to set and secure his right arm, then bought an old horse and rode along the river.

"The young master's Branch Hall... the Branch Hall is almost there..."

Two days later, having already changed horses once, the gravely wounded man finally could endure no more. He fell straight from his saddle and lay unconscious beside the river.

A hand swept toward him with a gale behind it, striking with its palm. Terror instantly filled everything.

"Ah!"

With a startled cry, he jerked upright. Panting, he stared around in alarm with wide eyes.

He was in a cabin aboard a large ship that rocked gently, lying on a clean bed. Even the wound on his right arm had been dressed anew.

"Cough, cough, cough... urgh..."

He coughed and retched up the half-congealed blood clogging his throat. Panting as he looked at the bloody mess in his palm, he realized someone had already treated his injuries.

Someone outside seemed to notice that he had awakened and immediately cried out in delight.

"Hall Master Yu is awake! Hall Master Yu is awake!"

Soon, more footsteps approached outside the room. A young man dressed like a gentleman hurried in surrounded by a group of people, then sat beside the bed.

"Hall Master Yu, who injured you like this? Weren't you away on important business? Where are the others? What exactly happened?"

The injured man propped himself against the cabin wall behind him and looked at the person before him, breathing lightly.

"Young... young master, how long was I unconscious?"

"It has been two days since we found you beside the river. Hall Master Yu, what exactly happened?"

At the young master's answer, shock immediately appeared on the man surnamed Yu's face.

"What? Two days already? Young master, find the gang leader at once! Any later, and it will be too late! On this mission, we encountered an expert of the Innate Realm. I exchanged just one palm strike with him and nearly died beneath his palm force. Quickly, inform the gang leader... cough, cough, cough..."

"An Innate Expert?"

The young master stood up in shock, then immediately grasped the implications.

"The business you went to handle involved an Innate Expert? Why would you offend someone like that? Who was he?"

The wounded man seized the young master's arm with his left hand.

"Send someone to inform the gang leader at once. We... we were deceived! This was not merely a matter of dealing with a human trafficker. An Innate Expert was acting behind the scenes. We... cough, cough, cough... I fear we have become embroiled in a conflict that threatens the gang's very survival. Tell the gang leader to make plans immediately... cough, cough..."

The more Hall Master Yu spoke, the more agitated he became, and the harder he coughed. Blood kept spilling from his mouth, and the young master hurried to soothe him.

"All right, all right, Hall Master Yu, don't get agitated. I will inform my father as soon as possible! Uncle Yan, quickly circulate your energy to treat Hall Master Yu!"

The brief chaos in the cabin subsided. The young master walked out, weighed down with worry, and ordered someone to fetch a carrier pigeon and send the message immediately. Standing on deck, he looked at the surging river, then back at the cabin, his mind anxious and confused.

What exactly has the gang become involved in? Where had Hall Master Yu gone?

At that moment, a middle-aged man also came onto the deck, a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead.

"Young master, Hall Master Yu's injuries have been stabilized for now, but that xiantian true qi is far too overbearing. I fear his martial power will henceforth..."

"From the look of things, he'll be fortunate just to keep his life. Those who haven't returned probably never will. Uncle Yan, what exactly are my father and the others doing?"

The middle-aged man frowned and shook his head slightly.

"I only know it concerns the salt licenses issued by the imperial court. These past years, our fortunes have flourished, and we have rarely become entangled in Rivers and Lakes affairs. How could we suddenly encounter such a formidable enemy? An expert of the Innate Realm... how many years has it been since one appeared in Rivers and Lakes? This time, I fear a bloody wind and rain await us."

The young master looked slightly startled, then his gaze sharpened.

"Salt licenses? Is this truly a Rivers and Lakes affair? In this day and age, the Rivers and Lakes aren't the only place with Innate Experts."

The man surnamed Yan's heart gave a violent jolt, and horror instantly filled his face.

"Young master, are you saying the imperial court might be making a move against us?"

The young master looked at the man beside him and made his decision on the spot.

"We haven't established that yet, but we cannot delay. Uncle Yan, carry Hall Master Yu on your back. We're going to see my father immediately!"

The Skywhale Gang's people were hardly the only ones weighed down by worry. In Wu Prefecture City, six hundred li from Yuanjiang County, someone had been unable to sleep at night lately: Teng Jingcai, the assistant prefect of Wu Prefecture.

Teng Jingcai had not originally been assistant prefect, but chief secretary of Wu Prefecture.

As an aide appointed by the prefect himself and then approved by the imperial court, the chief secretary naturally enjoyed a close relationship with the prefect. After the former prefect of Wu Prefecture was promoted to vice minister of personnel, Teng Jingcai had swiftly become assistant prefect. In another two years, he would likely have been transferred elsewhere to serve as a prefect.

Unfortunately, an urgent letter shattered the comfortable course of Teng Jingcai's official career and financial fortunes. It came from his former superior, Sheng Shuying, now vice minister of personnel.

One look at the letter's forceful language and contents told Teng Jingcai that something disastrous had happened. Jia Yuntong had actually been arrested in Moon Province. Worse, he had confessed to his crimes and named Teng Jingcai. The charges had now been sent to Heaven-Bearing Prefecture, the capital.

Teng Jingcai had thoroughly lost his composure. While sending people to alert his contacts everywhere, he had also paid a hefty sum to enlist the "Calamity-Resolving Immortal" and promised long-term salt licenses to secure the Skywhale Gang's assistance.

The Calamity-Resolving Immortal enjoyed considerable renown in Wu Prefecture and was skilled in all manner of rituals. He had once displayed his abilities before the prefect, astonishing every official present.

Privately, Teng Jingcai had a good relationship with the Calamity-Resolving Immortal and knew that he possessed even more formidable abilities. This time, he had offered money and called upon their personal ties, coaxing and pestering him until he agreed to act.

That way, no evidence would remain. Instead, Teng Jingcai could turn the accusation back on the magistrate of Yuanjiang County, charging him with slandering an imperial official, perhaps even a minister at court.

Although the Calamity-Resolving Immortal had readily agreed and guaranteed success, Teng Jingcai grew increasingly uneasy as the days passed.

He waited day and night. Some word came back from other quarters, but more than half a month passed without any good news from the most crucial direction, Yuanjiang County.

It was late at night now. Teng Jingcai sat in his study with a book open before him, yet inwardly he was intensely anxious.

"Master, people from the Skywhale Gang seek an audience."

The Skywhale Gang? Could they have succeeded?

"Quickly, invite them in! No, I'll go myself!"

Teng Jingcai hurried to his feet and went outside with the servant, his steps lighter than they had ever been. By the time he reached the front courtyard, the servants had already brought the Skywhale Gang's visitors into the reception hall.

"My righteous friends, I've been eagerly awaiting your good news! Where is Immortal Zhou? Has it been done?"

Four people had come from the Skywhale Gang: a pale, haggard man, a young gentleman, the old gang leader whom Teng Jingcai knew, and another man supporting the injured one. Upon seeing Teng Jingcai approach, all four hurried to bow.

"Our respects, Lord Teng!"

"No need for formalities, no need. Has the matter been settled? Why don't I see the Calamity-Resolving Immortal, Immortal Zhou?"

The gang leader glanced at his son. The latter nodded slightly, stepped forward, and cupped his hands.

"Naturally, it has been done. It's just that the sorc-er, Immortal Zhou said the effort had drained him considerably, and he needed to return and rest first. I'm afraid he won't appear again for ten days or half a month."

Smack!

Teng Jingcai clapped his hands. His previously anxious, haggard face instantly glowed with vitality, and he paced back and forth in excitement.

"Oh, so that's it. Good, good! Another day, I will certainly hold a grand banquet to thank the immortal and all of you!"

As long as Jia Yuntong died, he could maneuver the matter through a detour at the Ministry of Justice. Even if Teng Jingcai's name appeared in the case, at most Wu Prefecture would conduct its own inquiry. At the very least, it could never reach the emperor. They could handle it lightly, then slowly dissolve it into nothing!

Or he could seize the chance to strike at Yuanjiang County. A mere county magistrate-there were plenty of ways to deal with him!

Teng Jingcai's mind was already racing. Over the past few years, he had sent out quite a number of beautiful women, each chosen to suit the recipient's tastes. Beyond opening doors for him, they ought to prove a little more useful.

The young master glanced at Hall Master Yu, then spoke.

"Lord Teng, our Skywhale Gang suffered considerable losses over this matter. Please do not forget the salt licenses."

"Of course. For at least the next five years, I guarantee your fortunes will flow unhindered!"

"Thank you for your patronage, my lord."

All four hurried to thank him together. The young master then continued.

"My lord, that human trafficker seems to have provoked someone extraordinary this time. Our Hall Master Yu returned gravely wounded and said an Innate Expert had intervened there. Had Immortal Zhou not driven him back with wondrous magic, I fear our hall master would never have returned. Do you know the reason behind this, my lord? Since an Innate Expert is involved, our Skywhale Gang ought to take precautions!"

"An Innate Expert?"

Teng Jingcai froze for a moment.

"Someone highly skilled in martial arts, then? Jia Yuntong offended someone from Rivers and Lakes? No wonder. He was cautious in everything he did. I was wondering how he had stumbled this time..."

"Since you do not know, my lord, we shall ask no more. It is getting late, so we will take our leave!"

Teng Jingcai smiled.

"Very well. I will invite you all to a banquet another day!"

"Thank you, my lord!"

After bowing, they withdrew from the reception hall, then turned and left without looking back. Once they were outside the Teng residence, the old gang leader looked at his son.

"Why did you deceive him?"

The young master answered with a question of his own.

"His demeanor changed far too drastically. Before, anxiety had practically twisted him beyond recognition; upon hearing good news, he positively glowed. Whatever trouble he's in must be serious! Father, why did you keep this from me?"

"Er, well, Lord Teng, he..."

The young master shook his head.

"Father, that beautiful concubine you've hidden away was a gift from Lord Teng too, wasn't she? I'm not blaming you, nor would I stop you from enjoying yourself. But you should not have kept this matter from me!"

The old gang leader stopped walking, overcome with embarrassment. Beside him, Hall Master Yu spoke quietly.

"Gang leader, I told him."

"Then this matter..."

"We can only save ourselves now. Someone has laid a trap for Teng Jingcai! Father, when a break must be made, make it!"