42: Group battle

Inside the Crocodile Mouth Islet bandit lair, the front stockade area near the water was brightly lit and bustling with people, the clamor revealing the restless agitation of those whose attention was drawn by the feigned attack.

However, the rear core area where the Surprise Attack Squad had infiltrated was empty and silent, with only scattered torches flickering in the night wind, illuminating hastily constructed wooden houses and passageways.

The Surprise Attack Squad was like fierce tigers released from a cage, transitioning from extreme stillness to extreme motion.

Chen Linsheng’s mind was like an ice mirror, reflecting everything around him; the Qi and Blood within him surged secretly but remained unreleased. He operated the Breath Concealment Technique of the Major Achievement Hunyuan Pile Posture Technique to its limit, his figure weaving through the shadows, nearly merging with the darkness.

Just then, Shi Poyue took a deep breath, his chest swelling, and suddenly let out a low, long whistle that resembled the hiss of a Python Dragon!

The sound was not deafening, yet it was extremely penetrating, instantly piercing the silent night sky above the bandit lair's back mountain.

As if receiving the predetermined signal, earth-shattering cries of battle immediately erupted from the direction of Black Fish Bay in the distance. Flames shot up into the sky, and dozens of Fire Arrows streaked across the night like a meteor shower, landing in the Black Fish Bay Water Stockade!

The Feinting Force led by Head Constable Wang suddenly increased their pressure at this moment, switching from a feigned attack to a real assault, creating the illusion of a decisive main battle!

The Water Bandits in the front section of the lair instantly fell into panic and chaos. Cries of alarm, curses, shouts of fire fighting, and the clang of Weapons merged into a single sound, and everyone's attention was firmly drawn to the Frontal Battlefield.

“Enemy attack! There are enemies behind us too!”

Finally, an alert Water Bandit in the rear stockade discovered the anomaly and struck the Alarm Gong, but the sound was so weak amid the immense clamor of the front.

Chen Linsheng’s mind was like an ice mirror; following the instruction to “provide support,” he did not rush into close-quarters combat.

His gaze was like lightning as he quickly surveyed the battlefield. His figure moved like a Civet Cat, silently taking up a vantage point on a low shed used for storing sundries.

He reached behind him and took down the Two-Stone Strong Bow he carried, nocked an arrow, and drew the bow—his movements were smooth and fluid!

Perfection Archery!

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

The Arrows left the string, swift as a startled swan!

Three Small Leaders who were desperately trying to organize resistance, and two Bandit Archers hiding in the dark, preparing to shoot, were struck simultaneously in the throat or heart. They collapsed without a sound, instantly shattering the small momentum of resistance the Water Bandits had just attempted to build.

On the other side, a quick-witted Water Bandit saw the situation was bad and scrambled toward the conspicuous Beacon Tower, grabbing a torch to light the pile of firewood soaked in Lamp Oil.

Chen Linsheng let out a cold snort, his left hand reaching into the leather pouch at his waist. A sharp-edged piece of Tile Fragment had already been grasped between his fingers.

“Whoosh! Snap!”

The Tile Fragment tore through the air, striking the torch in the Water Bandit's hand with unparalleled precision. Sparks flew, the torch dropped instantly, fell into a nearby puddle, and hissed as it went out.

The Water Bandit gripped his numb wrist, his face filled with horror.

“Over there! Someone on the shed!”

The Water Bandits below finally spotted Chen Linsheng's location. Instantly, seven or eight bows turned their direction, and Arrows shot toward him like flying locusts!

A cold smile touched the corner of Chen Linsheng's mouth, and the Eight Steps Catching Cicada instantly activated beneath his feet!

Stomping the ground, he exerted force—Eight Steps Shooting Star!

His figure was like a phantom, leaving several blurred Afterimages in place. His real body had slipped down the other side of the low shed like light smoke. All the Arrows missed, futilely shaking their fletchings.

As soon as he landed, he heard the thunderous roar of Eldest Senior Brother Shi Poyue: “Cleanup complete! Charge in and attack Head Constable Wang from both sides!”

“Kill!”

The members of the Surprise Attack Squad had a towering Aura, plunging straight into the heart of the bandit lair like a sharp dagger.

Chen Linsheng followed closely, quickly rushing into the most intense central area of the battlefield.

Here, the Flash of Swords and Blades shimmered, firelight illuminated the fighting figures, and roars and screams were incessant.

Head Constable Wang, accompanied by several Water Patrol Division experts, was locked in fierce combat with seven or eight bandits whose Aura was ferocious and fighting style brutal. Qi Energy collided, and sparks flew!

Those few individuals were clearly experts of the Flesh Refining Realm, and relying on their fierce bravery and familiarity with the terrain, they temporarily held back the offensive of Head Constable Wang and the others.

“To catch the bandits, first catch their leader! Take them down!”

Shi Poyue locked his gaze onto those few Flesh Refining Realm bandits, shouted loudly, and, along with Liu Ruyan and Di Moyu, shot toward the core of the Battle Group like three sharp Arrows.

“Junior Brother, provide support for now!”

Shi Poyue did not forget to instruct Chen Linsheng, clearly believing that he still needed tempering and should not directly clash head-on with multiple Flesh Refining Realm experts.

Chen Linsheng nodded, moving along the periphery, his long spear acting like a viper's tongue, specializing in attacking points the bandits were forced to defend.

Just then, a tall, thin Water Bandit, who had been flustered by Liu Ruyan's fierce Palm Wind, had a vicious look flash in his eyes. He suddenly pulled out a packet of powder from his bosom and scattered it directly toward Liu Ruyan!

“Third Martial Sister, be careful!” someone nearby exclaimed.

The powder carried a pungent, fishy-sweet smell; it was clearly a Highly Poisonous Substance!

Liu Ruyan's expression changed slightly, and she hastily retreated and held her breath.

However, one figure was faster than her!

A cold light flashed in Chen Linsheng's eyes. The Divine Effect of being Immune to All Poisons meant he had no fear of the Poisonous Mist. He exerted force beneath his feet, moving like a Cheetah, bypassing the core area shrouded in toxic fog.

“A Sheng!” Liu Ruyan cried out in alarm, her heart leaping to her throat.

The Poisonous Mist spread, but Chen Linsheng's figure did not pause. Like a phantom, he appeared behind and to the side of the Water Bandit.

The sneer on the Water Bandit's face instantly froze, turning into extreme horror, as if he had seen a ghost.

“You...”

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Linsheng had pressed his fingers together like a knife, imbued with Hunyuan Palm strength, and precisely and ruthlessly chopped the side of his neck.

“Crack!”

With a faint sound of bone cracking, the Water Bandit's eyes bulged, and he collapsed limply to the ground.

Chen Linsheng turned, meeting Liu Ruyan's shocked and worried gaze. He simply shook his head slightly, offering a reassuring look to signal that he was fine.

Just as this incident occurred, the Bandit Leader, “River-Flipping Shark,” saw that his Flesh Refining Realm experts were desperately entangled by Shi Poyue and the other two, signaling that defeat was imminent. Seeing his retreat route cut off, he knew the tide had turned.

Cruelty and determination flashed in his eyes.

He violently forced back Head Constable Wang, who was fighting him, then charged over recklessly, capitalizing on the momentary dispersal of the Formation.

He calculated that this spot, slightly chaotic due to people avoiding the Poisonous Mist, was the best route for a breakthrough.

“Get the hell out of my way!”

River-Flipping Shark roared. The Ghost Head Broadsword in his hand produced a chilling sound as it cut through the air, slashing straight toward Chen Linsheng like a bolt of white silk.

His primary target was Chen Linsheng, who had just killed the Poison Bandit and had yet to stabilize his footing.

“A Sheng, be careful!” Seeing this, Shi Poyue's eyes flared with sharp light.

He already had the upper hand, and now he held nothing back. The Python Dragon Strength exploded with full force, his punch shaking off the entangled bandit, and his figure lunged toward River-Flipping Shark like a giant python leaving its lair.

But River-Flipping Shark was fighting like a trapped beast, moving extremely fast. The blade edge was already upon Chen Linsheng!

Chen Linsheng's pupils contracted slightly; he knew he could not meet the attack head-on.

In the nick of time, the Solid Iron Long Spear in his hand suddenly sprang up.

Startled Swan Glimpse!

The spear tip did not parry; instead, it precisely aimed at River-Flipping Shark's wrist holding the saber, forcing him to change his move.

At the same time, the Eight Steps Catching Cicada stepped out beneath his feet, his body moving with the spear. [Iron Bones Rooted] firmly guarded his lower body, and his figure retreated erratically like willow catkins.

“Eh?”

River-Flipping Shark's saber slashed empty air, his wrist feeling numb, astonished by the opponent's slippery Movement Technique.

In his rage, his Saber Momentum poured out like a violent storm.

Chen Linsheng's expression was calm, pushing the Startled Swan Spear Technique's principle of “Floating Light, Passing Shadow, Intertwining Reality and Illusion” to the extreme.

Relying on the multitude of Skills he possessed, he was like a bedrock in a torrent. Although suppressed, he firmly contained his opponent, maneuvering for about three to five exchanges.

Just as River-Flipping Shark grew impatient from failing to land a hit for so long, and his Saber Momentum showed a hint of stagnation—

A sharp light flashed in Chen Linsheng's eyes.

He stomped his foot hard, no longer retreating, but instead risking a sudden advance.

His long spear was like a venomous Dragon emerging from its lair, stabbing directly at the exposed weak spot beneath the ribs, revealed when the bandit swung his saber.

This spear strike contained all his comprehension, secretly aligning with the ultimate principle of [Throwing Perfection]. It was named “Piercing Rainbow”!

River-Flipping Shark was greatly startled; it was too late to retrieve his saber, so he desperately twisted his body.

“Pfft!”

A splash of blood appeared!

Although the long spear did not land a solid stab, it still sliced a bloody gouge beneath his ribs. The intense pain caused his movements to stiffen.

And at this very instant—

“Roar!”

Shi Poyue had arrived!

While still in the air, his right fist was fully charged with power. The Python Dragon Strength was urged to the Peak, and the wind from his punch, accompanied by the low hiss of a Python Dragon, solidly slammed into River-Flipping Shark's undefended back.

“Bang!”

A muffled thud!

River-Flipping Shark's body flew out like a kite with a broken string, spitting out blood mixed with internal organs, and crashed heavily into the river water beneath the Trestle Bridge. After struggling twice, he was lifeless.

The murky river water was instantly stained red.