150: Sweep, Part III

"You?!"

Jiang Cheng was both shocked and enraged. He recalled Hong Xiu's inexplicable dizziness at the beginning and instantly realized that at that time, Han Yi's attack was too fast, and he didn't have time to think. He only thought Hong Xiu's body was fragile due to his playfulness.

"Despicable!!"

He roared and charged towards Han Yi by the window, swinging his iron claws repeatedly, creating sharp whistling sounds, wanting to tear Han Yi into eight pieces.

When Jiang Cheng was young and went out to find resources, he once encountered a Vicious Beast in the mountains comparable to a Tongmai Stage Martial Master—a black-furred bear. He fell to the ground and feigned death, enduring severe pain as it licked half his face, only to narrowly survive.

However, he also benefited from the misfortune. By a pile of withered bones in the black-furred bear's cave, he found a martial arts Secret Manual called "Bear Claw Skill," which led to his rise.

This "Bear Claw Skill" imitated the black bear's hunting attack style, fierce yet also fast. What was even more terrifying was that, combined with the refined iron Bear Claws Jiang Cheng specifically matched with it, once it made contact, it would cause tearing wounds that were difficult to heal. It could be said to be like a maggot in the bone, either causing injury or death.

Coupled with Jiang Cheng's concurrent Cultivation of "Jade Bone Skill," his body was like copper skin and iron bones, impervious to swords and spears. With his bear-shaped dual claws, he could truly be called a dominating black bear.

If the opponent was weaker than him, one encounter would be enough to severely injure them. If the opponent was stronger than him, his concurrently Cultivated "Jade Bone Skill" would also allow him to survive and retreat completely in adverse situations.

"It seems that simple mind confusion smoke that can be bought isn't very useful for Lianxue Stage Martial Artists after all..." Han Yi sighed. He had just used "mind confusion smoke" to pass through several checkpoints in a row, but he stumbled at Jiang Cheng's place.

Using petty tricks to ambush back and forth was tiring and laborious; it was better to directly deal with the opponent for a more straightforward outcome.

"Die!" Jiang Cheng roared, his fiery Qi surging, and his entire body's Qi and blood gushed out.

Bang!

Like a black bear in the forest, he lunged out, shattering the window. His dual claws emitted bursts of silver light, with every move aimed at Han Yi's vital points.

Han Yi circulated Flying Swallow Kick, his feet moving continuously, dodging repeatedly.

The characteristic of "Golden Muscle Jade Bone Skill" - Iron Wall, and the characteristic of "Yang Yuan Skill" - Rejuvenation, were superimposed.

Even those he couldn't dodge were easily blocked by Han Yi's arms, leaving him unharmed.

Jiang Cheng was clearly much stronger than Zhu Tong, whom he had encountered before. This person's strength, reaction, and agility were all significantly superior to Zhu Tong. Moreover, in terms of Realm, Jiang Cheng's Late Blood Refinement Stage strength was a major Realm higher than Zhu Tong's Middle Lianxue Stage.

If it were before the deduction of the "Golden Muscle Jade Bone Skill" was completed, Han Yi might have been suppressed and fallen into a bitter struggle.

But now...

Han Yi exchanged a few blows and had generally probed the upper and lower limits of Jiang Cheng's strength, speed, and defense. He subtly suppressed Jiang Cheng, gaining the upper hand. He even had the leisure to speak, shaking Jiang Cheng's mental state.

"Altar Lord Jiang, why be so angry? I came here with good intentions, only seeking your sect's help. Since you can cure diseases, why not tell us the method of spreading it? I will spread this disease for you, and then you can clean up the aftermath. Wouldn't that be wonderful!" Han Yi teased.

"Your grandma, you came with good intentions and inexplicably poisoned me? You dealt with all the patrol Disciples I arranged? Do you take me for a fool?!" Jiang Cheng was so angry he laughed instead, speaking exasperatedly.

"Today, either you die, or I perish! Go to hell!!!" The more he spoke, the angrier he became, and an unknown evil fire rose in his heart.

Crack!

Jiang Cheng struck with a Earth Splitting Claw, and the fine mahogany bed was split into two, with wood chips flying everywhere.

Then, he slammed his dual claws to the ground again, aiming at Han Yi's crotch, tearing upwards fiercely.

The massive refined iron Bear Claws, gleaming with cold light, brought a knife-like cold wind as they tore towards Han Yi's lower body.

Han Yi felt a chill in his crotch. If he didn't resolve it quickly, he would suffer the tragic fate of losing his manhood. At this point, he couldn't hold back anymore.

'I originally wanted to extract more information, but it seems this is all there is...' Han Yi's thoughts raced.

Click!

Jiang Cheng's dual claws had only swung halfway when they suddenly paused, stuck.

At this moment, his refined iron Bear Claws were only an inch away from Han Yi's crotch, but this inch was an insurmountable chasm.

It wasn't that he didn't want to continue, but his dual claws were casually held by one of Han Yi's hands, while Han Yi's other hand was pressed against his forehead between his eyebrows.

"Altar Lord Jiang, think carefully, are you truly unaware of the root cause of this rampant disease?" Han Yi said with a cold expression, sighing, "And the source of the 'talisman water' production..."

"You!?"

Large beads of cold sweat streamed down Jiang Cheng's temples. Han Yi's palm strike just now had dispersed his protective Qi and blood. Now, his Qi and blood were stagnant, his muscles sore, and his entire body was weak.

"You can't kill me! If you kill me, our Sect Leader will seek revenge for you. He is a Tongmai Martial Master!" Jiang Cheng shrieked, straining his arms, trying to break free, but Han Yi's left hand was like a pair of fire tongs, firmly restraining him.

"If you don't want to die, tell me everything you know! And about your Sect Leader!" Han Yi said sternly.

"But, but I don't know anything..."

"Those matters are sect secrets. I'm just responsible for listening to orders and getting things done... The Sect Leader never meets us either, only giving unilateral orders!!!"

"Danyang Zi, Danyang Zi, he lives in the innermost room. He's the person sent by the Sect Leader, he must know!!!"

Seeing the increasingly fierce glint in Han Yi's eyes, Jiang Cheng's mind raced, and he quickly dragged others into the mess.

Danyang Zi?

Han Yi was slightly startled. He had heard Jiang Xiu mention a Master named Master Danyang before, saying he always wore a black robe, was masked, and had a hunched figure, but Jiang Xiu knew nothing about this person's strength, personality, or hobbies.

Just then, taking advantage of Han Yi's slight relaxation, Jiang Cheng suddenly kicked off the ground and fled backward.

Han Yi's figure shot forward like a phantom, suddenly striking Jiang Cheng's glabella with a palm.

Crack!

"You... I!?"

Jiang Cheng uttered his last words, his eyes wide, and slowly fell to the ground, dying with his eyes open.

Until his death, he didn't understand why he was perfectly fine playing with a beauty at home, and then inexplicably, someone appeared wanting to fight and kill him, then he was inexplicably poisoned, and then he inexplicably died at this person's hands.

He hadn't done anything, just followed orders from above. It was nothing more than distributing talisman water, trading live goods, seizing some territory, and at most, capturing living people, raping civilian women, chopping off a few heads, doing some small tasks. How could he have provoked such a strong person...

"As a lackey, one should expect such a day..." Han Yi sighed, looking at the corpse on the ground. He quickly searched the room and soon found a money pouch in Jiang Cheng's discarded clothes. Although it felt light, it contained ten 100-tael silver notes, which was a thousand taels of silver!

Han Yi looked at Jiang Cheng's corpse, feeling much better. It was perfect; he was short on money after buying "mind confusion smoke" and "clear wind cake."

"But why does this guy have so much money on him...?"

A question arose in his mind. He had inquired about the Gushen Sect's intelligence before. Perhaps among ordinary people, it was a behemoth, but in the eyes of discerning people, the Gushen Sect could only be considered a small force. In the eyes of the Crimson Flame Sect's higher-ups, the Gushen Sect's fights were just child's play.

Moreover, the Gushen Sect's main territory was in Changning Ward, where the market's common folk were extremely poor, and commerce was desolate, with no profit whatsoever. The Gushen Sect also had to pay salaries and benefits to its Disciples. All things considered, the Gushen Sect even had to lose a lot of silver every day. How could they make money?

But now, Jiang Cheng had such a large sum of money on him, which couldn't help but make people secretly suspicious.

"It doesn't matter. Once it's in my bag, it's mine. Oh right, this guy just mentioned a Tongmai Stage Sect Leader, but looking at Jiang Cheng, he doesn't seem to be valued. He's probably just a pawn. Besides, the one who killed him was the Black-Faced Judge. What does that have to do with me, Han Yi? If you're capable, come find me at the Crimson Flame Sect!"

Since Han Yi dared to cause trouble for the Gushen Sect, he had naturally investigated thoroughly beforehand and knew whether he could act.

Although the Gushen Sect was rumored to have a Tongmai Stage Martial Master overseeing it, no one outside their own sect members and Disciples had ever seen them act. Therefore, this person was very likely just a smokescreen recently put out by the Gushen Sect. In other words, even if there was a Tongmai Stage Martial Master as a backer, being so secretive and hidden indicated that this person didn't attach much importance to this force.

This matter was not Han Yi's fabrication. Taking Jiang Cheng as an example, before joining the Gushen Sect, he was merely an escort leader in the White Horse Escort Agency in Changning Ward. Mysteriously, he somehow connected with someone and jumped from the White Horse Escort Agency to become an Altar Lord in the Gushen Sect.

Yet, Jiang Cheng truly believed he had relied on a Tongmai Stage Martial Master.

Then, while it was still early, it was Han Yi's scavenging time. He continued to the surrounding houses and began to search. Of course, he didn't miss the two bald men who had fallen at the entrance.

Han Yi stepped forward, quickly searching each corpse in turn.

Soon, he emerged from the front hall, carrying a large bundle and holding a Secret Manual.

This martial arts Secret Manual was the "Bear Claw Skill" that Jiang Cheng practiced. He found it in a hidden compartment under Jiang Cheng's bed, and along with this Secret Manual, there was a refined iron Bear Claw.

But unfortunately, he did not find the "Jade Bone Skill" that Jiang Cheng had mentioned earlier.

Originally, he was interested in this martial art that Jiang Cheng Cultivated, because Jiang Cheng claimed that this skill was not afraid of mind confusion smoke or poisons. In the "mind confusion smoke" that Han Yi released just now, he could resist for half a day without an antidote and showed no reaction, which showed the domineering nature of this skill.

Other gains included silver from the Gushen Sect Disciples, totaling one hundred eighty taels, and some mind confusion smoke, aphrodisiacs, and similar items, which Han Yi discarded and did not take.