Success
"Bang!"
The man punched Dong Wenhan squarely in the back, but did not stop there. His fists rained down on vital points all over Dong Wenhan's body.
[Twelve-Form Iron Mountain Fist Middle Section: (600/600)] Realm: Dark Force (beginner)
Having successfully cultivated Dark Force, the power of blood and Qi within his body seemed to have shed another shackle. His strength was like a wild horse breaking free of its reins, lending Zhang Lingfeng's punches the resonance of sinews and bones ringing in unison.
Every punch that landed on Dong Wenhan carried the full strength of his body, beating Dong Wenhan from his initial rigidity into a limp heap like tofu.
Wei He clamped both hands tightly around Dong Wenhan's hands.
The man's fingers were about to dig into his wrists. Just as Dong Wenhan was about to break free, he suddenly seemed to lose his strength. Beaten until his face flushed crimson and blood spilled from his mouth and nose, he slowly crumpled to the ground, dying with his eyes still open.
As he fell, Dong Wenhan saw Chen Sanshi with an arm around Li Si beside him. He seemed to understand something.
"Squelch!"
Liu Feng, who had run outside, dispatched the two underlings guarding the door with a single slash.
"Master Zhang, Gang Leader Chen, the deed is done. Could you return my wife and child to me?"
Li Si knelt as he spoke.
"Your wife and child are safe and sound. You'll see them shortly. I'll still need your help managing Warm Breeze Hall's gambling houses from now on."
Zhang Lingfeng addressed Li Si.
Dong Wenhan's Flowing Cloud Saber Technique was exceptionally dangerous. Even a Dark Force martial artist like Wu Yun dared not provoke him.
If a bloody fight broke out, even with his Dark Force cultivation, he might still be wounded. To be safe, the brother and sister had planned this together.
Hei Hu and Sun Yan had found Li Si's family and imprisoned them. Zhang Lingfeng had shown Li Si his Dark Force cultivation and successfully turned him with threats and inducements.
They had lured Dong Wenhan all the way to Wei He's home, joining forces with Wei He to kill him.
Otherwise, how could Li Si have so easily learned that he was the master behind Chen Sanshi, or discovered what had happened between Warm Breeze Hall and Wei He?
Zhang Pingping had revealed all of this to Li Si so that he could persuade Dong Wenhan to seek out Wei He tonight.
That was how the scene just now had come about.
"Thank you, Master Zhang. Thank you, Gang Leader Chen."
Li Si shed tears of gratitude.
Zhang Lingfeng arranged for Hei Hu and Sun Yan to take Li Si away.
There were still all the Baile Gang members to deal with afterward. Li Si could not be killed. His presence could persuade a large number of gang members to serve Warm Breeze Hall, allowing it to take over all of the Baile Gang's businesses.
"This fellow had thick skin and tough flesh. I struck his vital points five times in succession with all my strength before he lost the ability to resist."
Zhang Lingfeng marveled as he looked at Dong Wenhan's corpse.
He was a Dark Force martial artist. Even if he had only reached the beginner stage a few days ago, someone at peak Ming Jin could not contend with him. Wei He had only willingly cooperated after seeing his strength.
As agreed beforehand, he had seized the right moment to grab Dong Wenhan's hands, denying him the chance to use the Flowing Cloud Saber Technique and allowing Zhang Lingfeng to beat him to death.
Otherwise, if Dong Wenhan had broken free with his saber in hand, Zhang Lingfeng would inevitably have shed some blood.
"A pity he didn't know what was good for him."
Chen Sanshi kicked Dong Wenhan's corpse.
He, too, found it unbelievable that Zhang Lingfeng had cultivated Dark Force in just one year and two months.
Inwardly, he rejoiced that he had pledged allegiance to Zhang Lingfeng in time and latched onto this powerful backer. Otherwise, his prospects would have been grim.
"I'll have to trouble you to make a trip, Brother Wei."
Zhang Lingfeng addressed Wei He.
He had promised Wei He that if he was willing to follow him, he would put him in charge of the gambling houses, which would also help him repay his debts.
Wei He had no choice.
"No problem."
Wei He nodded.
He was to return with Li Si and deal with the troublemakers in Baile Ward, ensuring that Warm Breeze Hall could smoothly bring the Baile Gang under its control and take over all its businesses.
"Junior brother, you've astonished everyone with a single feat today. From now on, you'll be someone of standing in Baiyang County."
Liu Feng sighed with feeling.
He had not expected Zhang Lingfeng to be able to eliminate Dong Wenhan, much less to do so without shedding blood, beating him to death without even giving him the chance to touch his saber.
Most frightening of all, Zhang Lingfeng had broken through to Ming Jin and then Dark Force within one year and two months.
Their strength was no longer on the same level.
"Everything I have now, you can have in the future too, Senior Brother Liu."
Zhang Lingfeng could tell that Liu Feng felt deeply unsettled.
It was not only because Zhang Lingfeng's strength and status had surpassed his, but also because Warm Breeze Hall had slipped beyond his control.
"I've already failed to break through three times. I can't become a Dark Force expert like you, junior brother."
Liu Feng looked despondent.
"If Warm Breeze Hall searches far and wide for precious medicines for you in the future, would you still be unable to break through to Dark Force, Senior Brother Liu?"
Zhang Pingping entered through the doorway, followed by Chen Sanmei carrying a lantern.
The night was dark and the wind was high.
Zhang Pingping wore a cloak.
Liu Feng froze.
"Senior Brother Liu, you deserve the greatest credit for what Warm Breeze Hall has achieved today. Searching for precious medicines for you and helping you break through to Dark Force is a duty I cannot shirk."
Zhang Pingping spoke earnestly, bowing to Liu Feng as she did.
"Getting those Baile Gang bastards to submit won't be easy. I'll go lend a hand."
Liu Feng spoke with a smile.
Taking Dong Wenhan's personal saber, he rushed toward the Baile Gang.
"Stay safe, Senior Brother Liu."
Zhang Pingping reminded him.
Liu Feng vaulted over the courtyard wall and left, soon disappearing from sight.
"Don't reveal that you've cultivated Dark Force for now. Once the Baile Gang has been completely dismantled, we'll see which way the wind is blowing and whether any petty villains show themselves before deciding what to do next."
Zhang Pingping said.
She knew that Warm Breeze Hall was certainly not the only one eyeing the juicy prize that was Baile Ward. Someone might take advantage of the chaos.
First, they could lure the snakes out of their holes; second, they could uproot them completely, avoiding further trouble afterward and ensuring that Warm Breeze Hall maintained a firm grip on Baile Ward.
"All right."
Zhang Lingfeng nodded.
He stayed at Wei He's home.
Dong Wenhan's corpse was soon hauled away by Tang Baihu and taken to the Baile Gang.
A little later, the aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen.
Chen Sanmei stewed the meat Wei He used to replenish his blood and Qi into a pot of soup and brought it over for Zhang Lingfeng to eat.
Zhang Pingping sat in a side room. Hei Hu, Sun Yan, and the other underlings kept running back to report the latest developments with the Baile Gang.
These included which blind fool of a troublemaker had been eliminated by Wei He or Liu Feng, any movements from the authorities, what had been found in their searches, how many Baile Gang members had submitted, and so on.
The spoils obtained in the process and inventories of the Baile Gang's existing businesses were also brought here.
By the time Chen Sanshi and Wei He returned from outside covered in blood, fish-belly white had already appeared in the sky.
Zhang Lingfeng rose and headed toward the martial arts school, while Zhang Pingping assigned work to Chen Sanshi, Wei He, and Liu Feng. Hei Hu, Sun Yan, Tang Baihu, and the other underlings waited by the door for orders.
Though the threshold was thin and easy to step over, everyone felt that Zhang Pingping was growing more and more distant from them, yet her voice carried ever greater weight, making them instinctively prick up their ears to listen.
(Please support me with recommendation votes and monthly votes! If you can afford it, a one-yuan tip would help push me up the new book rankings.)