The forces of the martial world and the authorities had already spread an interwoven net, locking down an area spanning several counties.
Not long after Wang Chong and the others set out, reports came in one after another from local gangs. Several people had already fought White Chrysanthemum; one had even fallen at the villain's hands, and two more had been injured. None of them belonged to the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance, however. They were constables.
When the gang member delivering the news identified himself as a member of the Qinghe Gang, Wang Chong remembered the two escorts from the Flying Tiger Escort Agency and could not help asking a few more questions. The Qinghe Gang member made no attempt to conceal anything. When Wang Chong asked about the robbery of the escorted goods, he spoke of it brazenly, his words full of contempt for the Flying Tiger Escort Agency.
After listening for a while, Qin Han could not help laughing. "Brother Wang Chong, do you have old ties with the Flying Tiger Escort Agency? If so, I'll have the Qinghe Gang return the goods."
The Qinghe Gang messenger's expression immediately changed, but he dared not defy a personage like Qin Han. After all, Qin Han was a Principal Fifth Rank Left Martial Guard Zhechong Commandant. Bringing a small local gang to heel was as easy for him as crushing a toad.
Remembering how those two escorts had tried to lure him into a deathtrap, Wang Chong hurriedly laughed. "Not at all, not at all. It was just that Zhang Xingzhou of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency took advantage of my inexperience in the martial world and tried to trick me into being a meat dumpling for their blades. He also tried to trick the fairies of Qingcheng into plucking chestnuts from the fire for them. But his words were riddled with falsehoods, and the heroines of Qingcheng couldn't be bothered to argue. They were also busy rescuing Lotus Immortal Nan Xinlan and Tie Mingzhu and truly had no time to spare, so they politely declined."
Qin Han gave an "Oh" and asked no more about it, but the Qinghe Gang member took it to heart and hurried away.
Half an hour later, an old man caught up with Wang Chong's party and presented everyone with a gift. The gifts had been thoughtfully prepared, with something different for each person. Wang Chong received flying cash worth five hundred strings of coins; Sun Mingke received a longsword, clearly the work of a renowned craftsman and worth a considerable sum; Qin Han received a piece of jewelry, and everyone else's gift was different as well.
After receiving his gift, Qin Han immediately passed it to Wang Chong with a smile. "Our Qin Lineage has no use for jewelry of this quality. Brother Wang Chong, you're bound to be short of money when you go to Chang'an. Sell this and buy some household things."
Wang Chong stood on no ceremony with him. He accepted the gift, thoroughly pleased.
Two days after setting out, the party learned that White Chrysanthemum had been trapped on a small hill, surrounded by several dozen constables, with seven or eight brothers from the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance also present. Their spirits immediately rose, and they quickened their pace.
By the following afternoon, they had reached the hill where White Chrysanthemum was surrounded. More than a hundred people had already gathered at its foot, most dressed as constables, carrying steel forks and iron-toothed weapons, sabers and chains. Some even carried iron shields, but none dared go up the hill.
Seeing several wounded among them, Wang Chong asked a few questions and roughly gauged White Chrysanthemum's martial prowess. This White Chrysanthemum specializes in the Vajra Prajna Palm. His martial arts should be at the second or third rank, about on par with Qin Han. He's doomed this time.
Lu Zongfeng was the most anxious. After all, he had put up both money and a house, and he feared the credit would ultimately slip from his hands. Several times, he urged everyone to climb the hill.
Seeing Sun Mingke itching to try, Wang Chong did not stop him. He left only Qin Han behind to avoid drawing attention and took a dozen or so brothers from the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance stealthily up the hill. As they neared the summit, he saw a huge boulder jutting out. Then a vaguely familiar voice shouted, "Little dogs of the Central Plains! Relying on your numbers, eh? If you have the guts, fight your lord Tie Mole one on one!"
Sun Mingke could not help saying, "Sister Li is amazing. This man really is from the Western Regions, not our Central Plains."
"Brother Wang Chong, let me go up and kill this villain." Before Wang Chong could speak, Lu Zongfeng hurriedly said, "Let me lead the way." Wang Chong smiled. "I'll go first! I ought to test this lecher's mettle for our brothers. Once I've tied him down, the rest of you can rush him together."
Having taken the money, Wang Chong could hardly do no work at all. Besides, despite his words, Lu Zongfeng showed no intention of rushing ahead. Clearly, he judged his martial arts insufficient and cherished his life. He wanted the credit, not a fight to the death.
Wang Chong gave Sun Mingke a meaningful look, then used Wudang's lightness technique, Soaring Clouds, Treading the Wind, to float straight upward. Wind whistled overhead as huge rocks fell one after another. Wang Chong swayed, treading danger as though it were level ground, dodging each in turn and surging up in an instant. A huge palm swept down toward his head with a rush of wind. Wang Chong's Folding Fan flew from his sleeve, meeting the man's blow head-on. Borrowing the force of their clashing strikes, he flipped over and gained the boulder.
Sun Mingke followed him up. Seeing this, Lu Zongfeng and the others also scrambled up one after another, only to find Wang Chong locked in a blazing battle with a giant from the Western Regions.
After exchanging several moves, Wang Chong thought, This man's martial arts are impressive too, but he's far below Qian Luoyi, Monk Xuangang, and little brother Sun Mingke.
This palm technique of his has some ingenuity. Every strike contains five or six layers of hidden force. Block the first, and there's a second; block the second, and there's a third; block the third, and there are still two or three more behind it. No wonder Constable Li said that, at its highest level, the Western Regions Qingshan Sect's Vajra Prajna Palm could contain thirteen layers of force in a single palm strike, supremely fierce and powerful. This man hasn't mastered it yet. If he could produce another two or three layers of palm force, I'm afraid I would be no match for him.
Once atop the boulder, Lu Zongfeng cursed, "You Western Regions scoundrel! How dare you run rampant in the Central Plains!"
The giant from the Western Regions shouted, "We fine men of the Eighteen Tribes of the Grasslands came to the Central Plains to relieve our boredom. What's playing with a few Central Plains wenches? You have no idea how eagerly your Central Plains sluts throw themselves at fine men from our grasslands..."
Lu Zongfeng cursed furiously, and the giant from the Western Regions mocked him in return. His palms still whistled through the air, and despite dividing his attention between two tasks, he showed no sign of strain.
After watching for a while, Sun Mingke thought, Brother Wang Chong isn't using his real abilities. He's only using sixty or seventy percent of his skill, setting the stage for Lu Zongfeng.
After exchanging several dozen moves with the man, Wang Chong had taken his measure. Suddenly, he struck toward the giant's face with Wind and Cloud Startle Morning and Evening. The Hundred Styles of Wind and Cloud had three great killing moves and three great extraordinary moves. Wind and Cloud Startle Morning and Evening was one of the latter, the most unpredictable in its transformations and the fastest move in the Hundred Styles of Wind and Cloud. The giant hastily focused his mind and channeled his palm technique, slowly delivering a strike. The Vajra Prajna Palm force of the Western Regions Qingshan Sect was indeed extraordinary. As the palm force emerged, it carried the sound of wind and thunder.
Sun Mingke had sparred with Wang Chong no fewer than a hundred times. Seeing him use this move, he thought, This Western Regions barbarian is finished.
Sure enough, when fan and palm collided, Wang Chong applied a clinging force. Caught unprepared, the giant was forced into a contest of internal power. He repeatedly drove his palm force forward but failed to shake Wang Chong off, and horror immediately filled his heart. Lu Zongfeng was, after all, from a great lineage. He instantly recognized this as the best opportunity, drew the longsword at his waist, and thrust it into the man's back, piercing straight through his heart on the spot.
Feeling his opponent's palm force ebb, Wang Chong feared he might still counterattack. He activated the Pure Yang Formula and blasted the man's five viscera apart, leaving him no chance for a desperate final strike.
...The giant from the Western Regions: I was the Green Mountain Sect's second senior brother too. How was I worth only five thousand strings of coins...
...Lu Zongfeng: That felt good...
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