42: Could it be that Deacon Chen?

That person's fists were covered in blood, but his steps were very steady.

Aside from his breathing being somewhat ragged, he didn't seem to be in any serious trouble.

"Who is that?" a Prostitute poked her maid.

"I don't know. Could what he's holding be…"

"That's impossible, right? The big shots from White Tiger Hall have come so many times and so many people have died; how could that Anomaly be eliminated by just one person?"

The Prostitute shook her head, finding it hard to believe that the thing in that person's hand was actually the Anomaly.

Everyone's gaze was focused on Chen Heng.

But Chen Heng's mind was not here; his head was currently filled with the notification the System had just issued.

[Killed Yellow-rank Anomaly, obtained five optimization opportunities]

Only then did Chen Heng realize that the optimization opportunities were not limited to the one that refreshed daily.

Killing an Anomaly could actually increase the number of optimization opportunities!

Walking to the entrance of Goulan Street, Chen Heng stopped and turned to look at the women who were full of curiosity.

"My name is Chen Heng!"

"The new Outer Deacon of White Tiger Hall."

"Today, the Anomaly has been eliminated; Goulan Street is open for business again!"

After saying this, Chen Heng carried the corpse of the Anomaly and turned to leave.

This thing was useless to him, unless he wanted to use it to make a wig.

It would be better to take it to White Tiger Hall to increase his prestige.

And incidentally, deter those who had twisted thoughts about him or his family.

After Chen Heng's figure disappeared, that group of Prostitutes, the Madam, and the brothel workers were all in an uproar.

"Is it real!?"

"That Anomaly was actually beaten to death?"

"That Steward Chen is quite delicate-looking; he doesn't look like a martial artist."

"If he comes to play at Goulan Street, I would definitely offer myself to him."

"You little slut, you get horny the moment you see a man, don't you."

"As if you don't want a man; you've been itching for one for a long time, right?"

We won't go into too much detail about the brazen words of these Prostitutes; if we say any more, we'll summon the 404 God.

(I also don't want to end up getting banned while writing.)

He threw the Anomaly's corpse at the entrance of White Tiger Hall and took the opportunity to report his name to the gatekeeper.

Chen Heng casually hailed a carriage and returned home.

He was truly too tired now.

His entire body's blood and Qi were depleted, his internal Qi was exhausted, and he was no better off than a dried corpse.

Even the ink-black flame inside his body had turned into a tiny spark, huddled in a corner.

Chen Heng had pounded that Anomaly for over four hours before beating it to death.

Now, his two hands were still shaking like a vibrator.

"No, I need to get some good sleep…"

For the first time in a long while, Chen Heng felt sleepy, his eyelids uncontrollably beginning to fight each other.

As for the new optimization opportunities, he would wait until he woke up to deal with them.

Returning home, Chen Heng didn't say a word and lay directly on his big bed.

Before his head even touched the pillow, the sound of snoring began.

Sleeping soundly, Chen Heng did not yet know what a huge commotion the Anomaly's corpse he had thrown in front of White Tiger Hall had caused.

White Tiger Hall, in front of the main gate.

A dozen or so gang members surrounded the Anomaly's corpse, occasionally poking it with their weapons.

"Could this be that Anomaly from Goulan Street?"

One gang member swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Throughout Qiyang City and its surroundings, only that thing matched the characteristics of the corpse before them.

"Which tough guy in our branch could have wiped out an Anomaly?"

"Even the Hall Master couldn't do it, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, our branch has lost over a dozen brothers to this thing."

"Who else could be a match for it?"

"Could it be that new Steward Chen?" a gang member suddenly thought of Chen Heng.

Everyone fell silent instantly.

Not because of anything else, but simply because what that person said made too much sense.

Basically, they were all aware of the strength of the internal and external Deacons and the few Vice Envoys of the branch.

Including the Hall Master, it was impossible for anyone to kill this Anomaly.

It was difficult even to find its true form, let alone injure it.

Now there was only one possibility left: that new Steward Chen had killed this Anomaly!

"Quick, quick, make way, the Hall Master is here!"

A shout came from not far away, and the gang members immediately opened up a path so that Qi Longhu could pass through.

Qi Longhu said nothing, his face serious as he crouched down to examine the corpse before him.

"That's right, this is that Anomaly from Goulan Street."

After a careful inspection, Qi Longhu confirmed the true identity of the corpse before him.

"Did anyone see who threw this corpse here?"

Qi Longhu stood up and looked at the surrounding gang members.

The gang members said nothing, looking at each other and shaking their heads.

"Gatekeeper Old Li should know, right?"

A gang member turned to look at the gatekeeper, Old Li, who was dozing off.

"Old man Li! The Hall Master is calling for you!"

A relatively quick-witted gang member immediately ran to the gatehouse to wake the dazed Old Li.

"Hall Master, is there something you need from this old man?"

Old Li wobbled over to Qi Longhu, cupped his hands in a salute, and asked with a puzzled face.

"Did you see who threw this thing at the hall?"

Qi Longhu frowned slightly; could it be that people from those noble clans had come to Qiyang City?

Generally speaking, apart from Cultivators, the only ones capable of dealing with Anomalies were those noble clans possessing Bloodline Power.

It was basically impossible for anyone else to do so.

"Ah, early this morning, that new Steward Chen threw this thing at the entrance."

"After throwing it, he hailed a carriage and went home to rest. Seeing him like that, I reckon he was exhausted."

After Old Li finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

Just a moment ago, when everyone said Chen Heng had killed this Anomaly, no one took it seriously; they were all just treating it as a joke.

They didn't expect it to actually be true...

"Prepare the horses immediately; I'm going to go see how Steward Chen is doing."

Unlike the other excited gang members, Qi Longhu's face was as dark as water.

Chen Heng was just a Transformation-stage martial artist; what a great price he must have paid to defeat this Anomaly.

He had previously asked Chen Heng to handle the Anomaly as nothing more than a joke.

Who could have thought this kid would actually take it seriously!

"It's my fault for harming him..." Qi Longhu gritted his teeth, his heart filled with self-reproach.

But when he arrived at Chen Heng's home, he didn't find anything unusual.

"Where is Chen Heng?" Qi Longhu grabbed a Household Servant and asked.

"Who are you?"

"Do you know this is the Chen Family Courtyard? Our young master is a Steward of White Tiger Hall. If you don't want to die, get lost!"

The Household Servant pushed Qi Longhu with an impatient face.

"I am Qi Longhu, the White Tiger Hall Master."

Qi Longhu didn't argue with the Household Servant; he only wanted to know Chen Heng's condition now.

"Hall… Hall Master?" The Household Servant's legs went weak and he fell to the ground, unable to even speak clearly.

"May I ask if this is Hall Master Qi himself?" Chen Fugui, who was just about to go out, saw Qi Longhu at the entrance and hurried over in two or three steps.

"It is I. Who are you?" Qi Longhu sized up Chen Fugui; this fatty looked quite like Chen Heng.

Hmm, just Chen Heng after gaining weight.

"My son's name is Chen Heng; he should be the one Hall Master Qi is looking for." Chen Fugui cupped his hands and quickly ordered a maid to go make tea.

"There's no need for tea; tell me quickly, how is Chen Heng now?"

Qi Longhu politely declined Chen Fugui's invitation and asked with some anxiety.

"My son is currently sleeping. Should I go wake him up?"

"He isn't injured?" Qi Longhu was stunned and continued to ask.