Chapter 24 - 22: A Life for a Life
"Master Lin!"
"Master Lin!"
As the slender figure stepped into Cyan Willow Lane, many unfamiliar faces emerged from the buildings on both sides.
The madams, the working girls, and the enforcers behind them all stopped what they were doing and nodded respectfully at the young man.
Dark red stains still lingered on the alley’s ground.
Qin Yunhai and his eight junior brothers had, with their bloody corpses, shown everyone...
...just how cruel and terrifying the methods of this new Master Fox from the Black Water Gang were!
They watched Lin Shu cross the threshold of the Magpie’s Nest, then shook their heads with a sigh.
Since the ambush had failed, the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall was likely finished.
Although Master Zhang was a respectable figure in West City and possessed the strength of a Grand Martial Artist, after this incident, very few would be willing to pay to learn from him.
His reputation was ruined.
After all, the Cunning Fox Hall wasn’t known for its martial prowess. Who would spend silver to learn Martial Arts that couldn’t even handle a single fox?
Besides, it wasn’t worth the additional risk of offending the Black Water Gang.
If Master Zhang wanted to make a comeback, Master Lin was the obstacle he had to overcome!
’Tough odds.’
Someone clicked their tongue.
Setting aside who was stronger, Master Lin’s fame was now soaring, adding to the Black Water Gang’s fearsome reputation.
Both the Cunning Fox Hall and the Fierce Wolf who garrisoned the street where Cyan Willow Lane was located would be paying attention to some extent.
For the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall to try and pull off another ambush after clearing the area was nothing short of a daydream.
"Go on, get busy."
Lin Shu entered the Magpie’s Nest. Amidst the enthusiastic and solicitous calls of the women, he went straight to the second floor.
It was the same clean room that had been specially cleared out for him.
Lin Shu dragged a chair to the window, sat down, and leisurely began to circulate the Cyan Bird Qi-Introducing Formulas.
Although it was only an Eighth Grade Inner Technique, he still found it novel and fascinating.
A warmth washed over his body, gradually soothing the violent energy in his mind, as if an invisible, gentle hand was massaging his nerves.
It was just a shame that the efficiency of his Qi Absorption dropped significantly whenever he left the Old Woodshed.
This left Lin Shu slightly annoyed.
’Actually, given the current situation...’
Lin Shu no longer needed to come stand guard in Cyan Willow Lane every day. He could just have Old Yang keep an eye on things.
Any fool who wanted to cause trouble would have to weigh whether they could measure up to that group of brutes from the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall.
’But there were still some loose ends to deal with.’
Lin Shu leaned back lazily in his chair, his gaze drifting through the half-open window toward the alley.
’The Hongyun Martial Arts Hall still has that old bastard.’
’And that fatty named Tian seems to be scheming in the background.’
’These were the reasons tying me to Cyan Willow Lane.’
’I’ll have to find an opportunity.’
Lin Shu stretched his arms. ’Since I’ve already started this, I might as well see it through to the bitter end.’
After all, if even Chang Yi and those foxes could find their way to the Old Woodshed, what was to stop a Grand Martial Artist with a grudge, or a newly promoted Fierce Wolf?
’There’s no sense in guarding against a thief for a thousand days.’
Just then, the piercing blare of suona horns shattered Lin Shu’s thoughts.
He lifted his gaze and glanced toward the entrance of the lane.
A procession of people dressed in plain mourning clothes appeared, holding up a white paper Soul-Guiding Banner. They approached Cyan Willow Lane with a grand clamor of horns and music.
Such a huge commotion instantly drew the eyes of all the passersby.
At the very back of the crowd, an old man led a pony by the reins. A flatbed cart it was pulling held a jet-black coffin.
RUSTLE.
The rustling of his wide, pure-white robes only emphasized the old man’s gaunt, skeletal frame.
The sound of the suonas abruptly ceased, and the plainly dressed crowd came to a halt.
The old man looked up, revealing a withered face. His eyes were turbid and shot with blood.
Leading the horse, he slowly stepped into Cyan Willow Lane.
"Tsk."
Lin Shu watched quietly, a hint of amusement gradually appearing in his eyes.
The Hongyun Martial Arts Hall had deep roots, so it wasn’t surprising that they had been able to clear out this entire street at night before.
After all, he had just been a nobody who had recently joined the hall.
But this was broad daylight.
For this old man to brazenly drag a coffin into Cyan Willow Lane under everyone’s watchful eyes, completely unafraid of the Black Water Gang’s power...
’Now that was interesting.’
...
A back alley of the flesh trade was suddenly invaded by someone from the business of funerals.
It was rather inauspicious.
Forget the madams and prostitutes; even the men behind them were now staring with strange expressions on their faces.
Not one of them dared to make a sound.
Even though they had been mocking him in their hearts just moments ago, now that the old master was actually standing before them, they were all as meek as quails.
Master Zhang, a Grand Martial Artist who could fight a Cultivator with his bare hands!
Many people had already turned to look toward the alley’s entrance, their faces filled with confusion.
’Where is the street’s Master Fox? And what about the Fierce Wolf in charge of this street?’
The old master had arrived with a coffin; his intention for revenge couldn’t be more obvious.
Logically, someone should have come to stop him, if only to save face for the gang.
It was broad daylight. They couldn’t all be asleep.
To say the Black Water Gang hadn’t noticed the blaring suonas that had traveled an entire street would be a joke.
The crowd remained silent, but a strange glint of anticipation—the look of people eager for a good show—appeared in their eyes.
’When things are this strange, something wicked is afoot.’
Master Zhang was a veteran of the streets. He had already suffered a huge loss, so for him to dare to return, he must be confident.
’If that’s the case, then this Master Lin... tsk tsk, is probably in for it.’
As if to confirm their suspicions...
BANG!
Zhang Zhongping walked up to the Magpie’s Nest and stopped. Then, with a surge of strength in his arms, he heaved the heavy coffin up and slammed it down right in front of the two-story building’s main entrance!
Paper money scattered in the air.
The old man reached out and caressed the smooth coffin, his eyes glinting.
The good news Tian Jingyuan had brought about that fox was actually very simple.
It could be summarized in four words: "His power is spent."
Zhang Zhongping hadn’t initially believed that damn fatty who had tricked him once before.
But the man had spoken a name he couldn’t possibly question.
The Silk Wolf, Yan Jin.
Fatty Tian said he had heard that the woman’s evaluation of the fox at the time was...
"He has never practiced an Inner Technique. He is merely tinged with an Immortal Aura. Once his Spiritual Power is depleted, he will die."
He repeated it verbatim.
The Silk Wolf had a violent temperament and terrifying strength. She would never allow anyone to use her name to swindle others.
Not even if that person was another Fierce Wolf.
Tian Jingyuan had only recently been promoted. No matter how greedy he was, he wouldn’t have the guts for that.
But even so, Zhang Zhongping still hesitated.
After all, the fox had already gained momentum and would be difficult to shake in a short amount of time.
Not until the fatty said he had a way to deal with the Cunning Fox Hall, and that the Fierce Wolf on the street just needed a bit of silver to be "managed."
"Huuu..."
Just thinking about that number...
...made a vein throb on Zhang Zhongping’s temple.
He let out a soft breath.
He had spent half his life’s savings just to buy a chance for revenge, to be able to walk smoothly into this filthy alley.
What truly made the old man decide was Tian Jingyuan’s mocking voice echoing in his mind.
"A dignified Grand Martial Artist, who painstakingly built a legacy in West City, only to be chased back to the mud piles of the South Suburbs to live out your days by a fox whose power is spent?"
"Your son is dead, your disciples scattered—you don’t even have anyone left to care for you in your old age. Are you going to take that lying down?"
"..."
Zhang Zhongping closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his turbid gaze was boiling with killing intent.
Of course he wasn’t going to take it lying down.
On what grounds could a lowly fox, who had gotten lucky and been tinged with some Immortal Aura, slaughter his son and disciples with impunity?
And on what grounds could he use his Martial Arts Hall as a stepping stone to build his fame? He clearly had no foundation left, yet he could still run rampant in West City!
The old man raised his head, staring intently at the small building before him.
The next moment, his hoarse, mournful voice, accompanied by an invisible wave of qi, swept through the entire alley.
"A life... for a life!!"