74: The great success of overlapping waves

Chen Linsheng's heart surged with Killing Intent; cold thoughts churned relentlessly in his mind, nearly breaching the dam of his reason.

The idea of charging straight into the Black Mountain Gang to completely eliminate the hidden threat, Zhang Yuchen, was filled with temptation.

However, at the very instant his impulses were about to take the upper hand, he took a deep breath. The "Python Dragon Strength" within him began to circulate spontaneously, and the fused icy Evil Qi flowed through his Meridians, bringing a hint of coolness that slightly chilled his boiling blood.

'No!' he barked at himself in his heart.

The Black Mountain Gang's headquarters was a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. The gang leader, Zhang Zhifeng, was himself a Master of the Jiaojin Realm, and now he was likely in league with the Envoy of the White Lotus Sect.

Although I have broken through Flesh Refining and achieved Major Achievement in Python Dragon Strength, and possess many trump cards, charging into the enemy's nest would be no different from striking a stone with an egg.

Strength! My strength is still insufficient!

If I possessed the martial power to crush everything, I wouldn't care about any gang leader, envoy, or the laws of the imperial court—I would beat them all to death. Why would I need to be so hesitant!

A thirst for even greater strength burned in his heart like a wildfire, but it was followed by a deep sense of regret and powerlessness. Not now.

Forcing down the impulse to act immediately, Chen Linsheng's thoughts turned rapidly, returning to more realistic matters.

If he couldn't force his way in, he had to find solid evidence, or... some other way to restrain the opponent.

He suddenly remembered that while investigating Zhang Yang's training room, besides that strange fragrance and the footprints, the ultimate insight of Tracking Perfection seemed to have captured an extremely subtle, almost overlooked clue.

"Master, Senior Martial Uncle," Chen Linsheng spoke again, pulling everyone back from their heavy thoughts. "While discovering that strange fragrance and the footprints in Senior Brother Zhang Yang's room, I actually noticed an extremely fine purple silk thread stuck to a splinter on the inside of the window frame. Because it was so tiny and mixed with dust, I didn't mention it just now."

As he spoke, he took out a small piece carefully wrapped in oil paper from his robe. After unfolding it, inside was indeed a purple silk thread, barely thicker than a strand of hair, glowing with a soft luster.

"A purple silk thread?" Chen Linsheng's words caught Martial Uncle Chen Chuan's attention.

He signaled Chen Linsheng to hand the thread over, carefully rubbing it between his fingertips to observe it, then bringing it close to his nose to sniff it. "The texture of this silk thread is extraordinary; it's not ordinary cotton or linen. It looks more like the 'Cloud Brocade' scraps from the Jiangnan region, or the warp and weft of some precious silk. The color is pure and the dyeing is exquisite; it's not something an ordinary family could use."

A sharp light flashed in his eyes as he looked at Chen Linsheng, praising him, "Linsheng, your observation is meticulous and your mind is as sharp as a needle. This object might be an important clue. Someone who can use this kind of clothing material is definitely no ordinary person in Qinghe County."

Zhao Zheng also leaned in to take a look and said in a heavy voice, "Indeed, this is a direction. Following the source of this silk thread might lead us to the intruder's tail, or even find traces of their connection with the Black Mountain Gang and the White Lotus Sect."

Chen Chuan pondered for a moment, his gaze falling on Chen Linsheng and Liu Ruyan. "Linsheng, you are meticulous and your Tracking Skills are miraculous. Ruyan, you are more familiar than we are with the various people, shops, and goods in the county. The investigation into the source of this silk thread will be handled by the two of you in secret. Remember, you must only investigate covertly; do not alert the enemy."

"Yes, Senior Martial Uncle (Master)!" Chen Linsheng and Liu Ruyan replied in unison.

Afterward, the group discussed for a few more moments before dispersing to prepare. Chen Linsheng and Liu Ruyan agreed to meet later at the side gate of the martial arts hall... Half an hour later, in a small alley near the side gate of the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.

Liu Ruyan had already changed out of her tight-fitting martial attire and was wearing an ordinary coarse cloth dress, yet it still failed to hide her slender figure and the heroic spirit between her brows. Seeing Chen Linsheng arrive on time, her eyes sparkled with eager excitement. "Junior Brother, shall we set off now? How should we investigate? I'll follow your lead!"

Chen Linsheng nodded and whispered, "Third Martial Sister, just in case, we need to use Disguises."

"Disguise? You know that too?" Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes widened, full of curiosity.

Chen Linsheng didn't say much. He found a more secluded corner and took out Disguise materials from his robe.

His hands skillfully kneaded and applied substances to his face, his Disguise (Perfection) Skill flowing as smoothly as water.

Within moments, a slightly weathered, ordinary face of a middle-aged man with a hint of sorrow replaced his original handsome features.

He even slightly adjusted his posture, hunching his shoulders, and his temperament instantly underwent a massive change.

Next, he signaled Liu Ruyan to sit down and began to apply a Disguise to her.

Feeling Chen Linsheng's fingertips moving gently and precisely across her face, Liu Ruyan was initially a bit uncomfortable. However, as her appearance changed, she was soon captivated by this marvelous Skill.

When Chen Linsheng handed her a small bronze mirror, Liu Ruyan looked at the stranger in the mirror—a woman with a slightly yellowish complexion, fine lines at the corners of her eyes, and features that could only be called average. She couldn't help but let out a low cry, "Heavens! Junior Brother, your Disguise technique is too incredible! It's like a completely different person! I almost can't recognize myself!"

She stood up and walked a few steps like a woman of the marketplace. Finding it fun, she looked at the disguised Chen Linsheng. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly approached him with a giggling smile, grabbing his arm and leaning half her body against him. In a deliberately pinched, somewhat syrupy voice, she called out, "Husband~ let's go to the cloth shop to look at some materials, shall we?"

The sudden closeness of a warm and soft body, the soft sensation on his arm, and that sweet cry of "Husband" made Chen Linsheng's whole body stiffen. His hair almost stood on end, his Disguise nearly cracked, and he instantly broke out in goosebumps.

He instinctively wanted to pull back his arm, but Liu Ruyan held him even tighter.

"Third Martial Sister!"

He lowered his voice, sounding a bit helpless and embarrassed.

"Shh! Call me 'Wife'! We are currently an ordinary couple out shopping." A mischievous smile flashed in Liu Ruyan's eyes. She seemed very satisfied with Chen Linsheng's awkward state; instead of letting go, she leaned even closer, her breath like orchids in his ear. "What? Junior Brother, do you think I'm not playing the part well?"

Feeling the warm breath by his ear and the surprising elasticity from his arm, an unusual ripple inevitably rose in Chen Linsheng's heart, but he quickly suppressed it.

He steadied himself, trying his best to ignore the sensation on his arm, and said with a stern face, "...Wife, stop playing around. Business is more important."

"I know, Husband~" Only then did Liu Ruyan relax slightly, satisfied. However, she still held his arm as they walked out of the alley like a real marketplace couple and merged into the crowd on the street.

Relying on Liu Ruyan's familiarity with the county's shops, the two quickly arrived at a relatively prosperous market in the west of the city, where several cloth and silk shops were located.

They first entered a medium-sized cloth shop. Liu Ruyan played the part of a calculating housewife, picking through ordinary cotton fabrics while casually asking the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, I heard there's a type of purple material that's quite popular lately? Do you have any here? What's the price?"

The shopkeeper looked at their simple clothing and shook his head. "This lady must be joking. Purple dye is hard to come by, especially pure colors; it's expensive. My shop mainly serves the neighborhood and doesn't carry such high-priced goods. If you really want to find it, you should go to 'Ruifuxiang' or ' Jinxiu Pavilion' in the east of the city. Those are large shops that cater specifically to high-ranking officials and noble people."

They asked at two more cloth shops and received similar answers, all pointing to the high-end silk manors in the east of the city. They also confirmed that purple silk thread of such quality was indeed not for ordinary wealthy families; it was likely top-tier goods from Jiangnan and quite expensive.

The clues gradually became clear.

The two looked at each other and decided not to delay any further, preparing to return to the martial arts hall first to inform their Master and Senior Martial Uncle of the preliminary investigation results.

However, as they crossed a relatively quiet alleyway connecting the west and east of the city, the Preempting the Enemy warning from Chen Linsheng's Tracking Perfection suddenly went off!

"Watch out!"

He barked, pulling Liu Ruyan back sharply toward the side and rear.

Almost at the same time, several black-clad figures leaped down from the corner ahead and the wall behind. Holding sharp blades and without saying a word, they surrounded the two in the middle of the alley with murderous intent. There were as many as seven or eight of them, each with fierce eyes and agile movements, clearly trained martial artists and not ordinary thugs!

"Who are you people?" Liu Ruyan's face was cold as frost as she shouted sharply, instinctively shielding Chen Linsheng slightly behind her.

The black-clad men didn't answer at all. With a shout, they pounced from all sides. Blades flashed and winds howled; they were clearly going for the kill!

In the blink of an eye, Chen Linsheng's gaze was like lightning, instantly scanning the entire scene.

The alleyway was narrow, with walls on both sides. Enemies were closing in from the front and back. Although Liu Ruyan was not weak, being surrounded and attacked at close range by so many people was extremely dangerous.

He couldn't let them complete their encirclement!

Chen Linsheng kicked off the ground forcefully. His Eight Steps Catching Cicada combined with the light footwork of Spirit Monkey Hundred Changes erupted. His figure was like a wisp of smoke as he passed through a gap between two black-clad men in a split second. His toes tapped twice on the side wall, and using the momentum to leap into the air, he landed as lightly as a large bird on the roof to one side of the alley!

This sudden change and the ghost-like agility of his Movement Technique far exceeded the expectations of the black-clad men.

From his high vantage point, his field of vision was wide, and he instantly saw the situation clearly.

Below, Liu Ruyan had pulled out a pair of short blades, swinging them like wheels to barely block the fierce assault of the three black-clad men in front. However, two other black-clad men from her rear and flank had already swung their blades at the openings she couldn't cover!

And on the roof, there were also two black-clad men, one on the left and one on the right, pouncing toward him with blades to block his path to rescue her.

He had to resolve the threats from all three directions in an instant! Otherwise, Liu Ruyan would be in grave danger!

In his urgency, the Python Dragon Strength within Chen Linsheng's body surged. His blood boiled and his concentration reached its peak. With a flick of his hand, the fierce wind bow behind him fell into his hand as if by magic, and his other hand simultaneously drew three arrows from the quiver!

Nock, draw!

The movements were seamless, faster than the limit of the naked eye's perception!

This was the Major Achievement Realm of Overlapping Waves Archery!

Skill: Overlapping Waves Archery (Major Achievement)

Progress: (0/5000)

Divine Effect: Triple Wave Surge, Arrow Rain Vortex, Mental Guidance. Can charge and fire arrows containing the power of Triple Wave Surge, each wave higher than the last, with power increasing layer by layer. During continuous firing, multiple arrows can form a brief atmospheric vortex, slowing and interfering with enemies within range. Fired arrows can have their trajectories slightly adjusted by one's will within a small range, bypassing obstacles to hit targets precisely.

No longer firing in sequence, but mentally locking onto the three directions. The vibration of the bowstring sounded like a single note!

"Thrum—Swoosh!"

Three arrows almost simultaneously turned into three streaks of deadly black lightning that tore through the air. Carrying the unique "Triple Wave Surge" of the Major Achievement Overlapping Waves Archery and a faint whistling sound, they targeted three different directions!

One arrow shot toward the wrist of the black-clad man behind Liu Ruyan who was about to strike!

One arrow shot toward the arm of the black-clad man on the flank who was attempting a sneak attack!

The third arrow precisely targeted the throat of the enemy pouncing from the right side of the roof!

"Thud!" "Crack!" "Gah!"

Three distinct sounds of impact merged into one!

Below, the two black-clad men at Liu Ruyan's rear and flank simultaneously cried out in pain and dropped their weapons. Their wrists were instantly pierced by the arrows, and the immense force sent them stumbling backward, losing their combat effectiveness.

And the black-clad man pouncing from the right side of the roof was struck in the throat. The arrowhead pierced through the back of his neck, bringing a spray of blood. His forward momentum came to a dead stop, his eyes widened, and he fell straight off the roof, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Three arrows in one release, and every shot hit its mark!

He instantly resolved the fatal threat to Liu Ruyan below and killed one enemy on the roof!

This miraculous archery not only caused Liu Ruyan and the black-clad men fighting below to pause, but it also struck terror into the heart of the black-clad man on the left side of the roof who was pouncing toward Chen Linsheng, causing his movements to slow by half a beat.

How could Chen Linsheng let this opportunity pass?

His eyes were cold, as if looking at a dead man, and his fingers brushed the quiver once more.

"Swoosh! Swoosh!"

Two more arrows flew like shooting stars; one pierced the chest of the hesitant black-clad man, and the other pinned one of the black-clad men below to the ground as he tried to retreat.

In the blink of an eye, three of the eight black-clad men were dead and three were wounded. Only two remained unharmed, but they were so terrified by Chen Linsheng's horrific archery that they were Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering—how could they have any heart left to fight?

"Retreat!" one of them shrieked. He and the other man turned and fled without hesitation, not even caring about their wounded companions.

Chen Linsheng stood on the roof, holding the fierce wind bow, his robes fluttering in the breeze. He did not pursue them.

He looked coldly at their retreating backs and then scanned the dead and wounded black-clad men on the ground, his heart showing no ripples of emotion.

Liu Ruyan had also finished off the enemy in front of her, whose movements had slowed due to shock. She sheathed her short blades and leaped onto the roof, coming to Chen Linsheng's side. Looking at his ordinary disguised face, which now appeared incredibly sharp and fierce, her beautiful eyes sparkled with amazement. She exclaimed, "Junior Brother... your archery is truly... divine!"

Chen Linsheng slowly put away his longbow, his gaze deep as he looked toward the headquarters of the Black Mountain Gang in the east of the city.

The attack had come too quickly and too coincidentally.

Were these people coming for him and his Senior Sister because of their investigation into the purple silk thread?