Chapter 49

The Demon's Blade (49)

The leader of Yi Tang, Xiao Jishan, was taken aback by the report from his subordinate.

“What? Say that again. What did they do?”

“The Black Dragon Gang took Wang’s daughter from the fabric shop.”

“Wasn’t she the one who disappeared without a trace two weeks ago? Why would they take her now?”

“They say she was taken to pay off Wang’s debt.”

“What do you mean? We already forgave Wang’s debt to the Black Dragon Gang!”

“They showed a debt confirmation letter with Wang’s own signature.”

“When was it written?”

“They say it was written four days ago.”

Borrowing money four days ago when she had disappeared two weeks ago?

It smelled fishy from the start.

“These bastards...”

Xiao Jishan gritted his teeth at the Black Dragon Gang’s actions.

It was already an open secret that the women they took to pay off debts were sold to brothels.

Most importantly, Wang’s daughter was just a young girl who knew nothing of the world.

“You just stood there and watched?”

Xiao Jishan’s rebuke made the subordinate bite his lip.

“I tried to stop them, but it was too much. Man Sheng is on the brink of death, and the other five are seriously injured.”

“Damn it!”

Xiao Jishan couldn’t contain his rising anger.

With the former leader, Jia Huishuo, gone and the Yi Tang being squeezed by the rapidly expanding Black Dragon Gang, their position had become precarious.

Feeling the crisis, the gang had contacted Jia Huishuo’s brother, far away, and brought him here.

But this Jia Huijian was no ordinary man.

He was the only disciple of the ancient monk, Gumu Sheng, who ruled with terror in the Heimugai region.

After Jia Huijian was enthroned as the new leader of the Black Dragon Gang, the brothels and gambling dens that Yi Tang had worked hard to eradicate began to reappear.

“Gather the remaining people.”

Xiao Jishan’s face, ready for battle, made his subordinate hastily try to dissuade him.

“We must hold back for now, Great Leader!”

The subordinate had witnessed the situation firsthand.

While Xiao Jishan’s martial arts were superior to theirs, the new Black Dragon Gang leader’s skills were on a different level.

However, Xiao Jishan’s resolve couldn’t be swayed.

“What is the will of Yi Tang?”

Xiao Jishan shouted at the hesitant subordinate.

“What is the banner of our Yi Tang!”

“To uphold righteousness with our brothers and merchants.”

Xiao Jishan nodded.

“Yes. That’s our Yi Tang. Even if the merchants are gone, they still pay us protection fees.”

Even in the back alleys, there are principles to uphold.

Once trust is lost, the Shunyi Fang can no longer hold its ground.

And most importantly...

‘If I let this happen, I won’t have the face to meet him.’

No matter how notorious Gumu Sheng was, Fan Jie was even more terrifying.

‘Whether I die this way or that, it’s the same.’

Just as he was burning with resolve, a voice interrupted.

“How old is Wang’s daughter they took?”

“...!”

Xiao Jishan looked at the entrance in surprise.

A man had walked in naturally, as if he had been there all along.

He was in his mid-forties, with sharp eyes that contrasted with his gentle, almost enlightened smile.

Xiao Jishan, on guard, gripped his weapon, and the man smiled.

“No need to be tense. I was sent by him.”

“Him?”

Xiao Jishan, momentarily puzzled, soon nodded in a flustered manner.

“S-Sorry. I didn’t recognize you.”

“It’s fine. Continue your conversation. How old is the girl?”

Xiao Jishan glanced at the man.

Though his martial arts were average, he prided himself on his ability to read people.

Even he could tell that this man was not ordinary.

“About twelve or thirteen years old.”

The smile on the man’s face vanished at Xiao Jishan’s answer.

At that moment, Xiao Jishan felt a chill run down his spine.

He was facing a powerful killing intent.

“Lead me to them.”

Xiao Jishan immediately led the man to a location.

It was a mansion on the outskirts of the village, once the residence of a retired official, now the den of the gang.

“Here it is.”

Nodding, the man walked towards the main gate and kicked it open.

Bang!

The thick gate was torn off its hinges.

The man walked through the broken gate, as if on a leisurely stroll.

Startled, the Black Dragon Gang members rushed out, and a young man with a unique presence slowly followed.

His eyes were devoid of emotion, and his face was unnaturally pale and gaunt.

Seeing Xiao Jishan, Jia Huijian smirked.

“I was just looking for you. Thanks for saving me the trouble.”

Then he turned his gaze to the man.

“How did you manage to hire such a high-level expert?”

Though he was speaking to Xiao Jishan, his sharp eyes were fixed on the man.

The man, in turn, was inwardly surprised by Jia Huijian’s aura.

His martial arts skills were far beyond what one would expect from a mere gang leader in the back alleys.

The old ghost of Heimugai had clearly trained his disciple well.

The man smiled quietly.

But while his face smiled, his eyes did not.

“Do you know what I hate the most?”

“...?”

“Messing with children.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the man launched himself forward.

Startled by the speed and momentum, Jia Huijian quickly released his hands, which had been clasped behind his back.

From his extended hands, a pair of blue-tinged claws appeared.

Clang!

Blue sparks flew as both men retreated three steps.

The man frowned, having gauged his opponent’s strength.

Jia Huijian’s achievements were remarkable for his age.

He was good enough to be included among the top hundred experts.

Before meeting Duan Aoxian, victory would have been uncertain.

Jia Huijian, on the other hand, was equally surprised.

He had just recognized the weapon in the man’s hand.

A two-foot-long black iron ruler, a rare sight in the martial world.

“You’re Shuizhengui! You’re that money ghost!”

Jia Huijian was flustered.

The man’s martial arts were far beyond what he had expected.

The man, however, did not miss the opportunity.

With his opponent’s breathing slightly off, he closed the distance and his iron ruler slipped through the gap.

Swish.

With a chilling sound, Jia Huijian’s claws were severed like fingers.

“...!”

Shocked, Jia Huijian was grabbed by the neck.

“Is Wang alive?”

Jia Huijian was momentarily speechless.

Caught off guard, he couldn’t recall who the man was referring to.

At that moment, a chill ran through his armpit.

Just as he noticed the iron ruler piercing his shoulder, it was too late.

Swish.

A thick spray of blood accompanied the severing of Jia Huijian’s arm.

Staring blankly at his severed arm, Jia Huijian finally screamed.

“Aaaah! You! How dare you...!”

“That’s not the answer I wanted.”

Feeling the cold iron ruler pierce his other armpit, Jia Huijian hastily shouted.

“The girl! Wang’s daughter is still alive!”

The meaning was clear.

Wang was already dead.

The man smiled quietly.

“Wait!”

Swish!

“Aaaah!”

Losing his other arm, Jia Huijian thrashed, spraying blood.

But the man’s eyes were cold and indifferent.

As his grip tightened, Jia Huijian’s already pale face turned white as paper.

“Gah! Money! I’ll give you money!”

According to rumors, the man would never refuse such an offer.

But Jia Huijian was wrong.

The killing intent was unwavering.

This was not the Shuizhengui he knew.

“Dare... to do this and think you’ll survive?”

The man’s smile deepened at Jia Huijian’s threat.

No matter how terrifying the old monster of Heimugai was, he was no match for Chao Aoliang, Fan Jie, and Han Xuehua.

The man tightened his grip.

“Gah...”

Jia Huijian’s eyes lost their life as he was strangled to death.

It was a futile death, considering his background and status.

Surveying the terrified Black Dragon Gang members, the man spoke.

“Is there anyone here designated as the next Black Dragon Gang leader? If so, step forward. I don’t want to visit again, so let’s settle this here.”

With the formidable Jia Huijian dead, the gang members were terrified and panicked.

They couldn’t recover from the sudden disaster.

The man declared to them.

“The next Black Dragon Gang leader will die by my hand. And the one after that, too.”

The remaining gang members, sensing the man’s intent, slowly backed away.

Then, without looking back, they scattered and fled.

“I have a proposal.”

Alone with Xiao Jishan, the man smiled softly.

But Xiao Jishan couldn’t relax.

The man had smiled the same way when he brutally killed Jia Huijian.

Whether it was a tiger in the mountains or a