74: Silent killing (please read more)

North of the city, Baiyun Clinic. Old site.

Qin Jiang looked at the ruins before him, two charred bodies lying on the ground.

They were already carbonized from the fire, incomplete and disfigured.

Blood-red Evil Qi uncontrollably flowed out, spreading over the street and the ruins, causing everyone present to hold their breath slightly.

“Boss, we’ve investigated. The only one who had a conflict with Physician Baiyun was a fox demon that entered the city a few days ago.”

Qin Jiang remained silent upon hearing this, the fiery irritation in his eyes gradually subsiding, replaced by a chilling killing intent that even caused the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees.

North City Cemetery, the sky was dim, a newly erected tombstone, and in front of it, an empty white porcelain plate the size of a washbasin.

Qin Jiang gently bent down and placed a freshly picked blue hyacinth onto the porcelain plate.

Then, without a word, he silently turned around, the Red Tiger Gang members lined up on both sides of the road, awaiting orders.

Thump, thump, thump!

Urgent footsteps approached as Long Yuesheng hurried forward, rushing directly to Qin Jiang with an anxious expression.

“Brother Qin! That fox demon cannot be killed yet!”

Qin Jiang’s expression was calm as he raised a hand and pressed it on Long Yuesheng’s shoulder.

Instantly, Long Yuesheng felt a numbness spread through his body, losing all his strength.

This… How is this possible?!

Qin Jiang did not speak, silently departing.

A moment later, Long Yuesheng’s body gradually regained sensation, and he quickly looked in the direction Qin Jiang had left.

But by then, there was no one on the road; white streamers danced, and paper money lay scattered everywhere, picked up and dropped by the breeze, making the scene appear exceptionally desolate.

Recalling what had just happened, his eyes held disbelief. A Grandmaster… is he really that strong?

Looking at the deserted road, he felt a bad premonition. The fox demon’s charm arts had been very useful these past few days.

Otherwise, Black Mountain City might have already been breached by now!

But he was powerless to stop it now.

A wave of panic and fear surged in his heart. If the city fell and reinforcements hadn’t arrived yet, then...

As night fell, when Qin Jiang arrived at the fox demon’s residence, the place was already engulfed in a large fire.

Walking to the courtyard gate, in the courtyard, Sun Qianzhao and several Hall Masters weresiege a fox demon in the center, and a dozen demon corpses had already fallen around them.

At this moment, the fox demon was also on its last legs.

Just one expert of the Divine Intent Realm was enough to contend with it, let alone five of them attacking together.

In just a moment, Sun Qianzhao seized an opportunity, stepped forward, and slammed down with a punch, directly breaking the fox demon’s neck.

The fox demon fell to the ground, its head dangling limply, but its powerful life force prevented it from dying immediately, leaving it lying on the ground, barely alive.

“You… you can’t kill me… I can help you…”

Swish!

Kong Hai stepped forward and chopped off the fox demon’s head with a single strike, “We don’t need you!”

The fox demon’s head was held in Kong Hai’s hand, its eyes wide with disbelief, “I am from Qingqiu…”

Before it could finish its sentence, it had already lost its breath, its eyes staring blankly in death.

The several people exchanged glances, then quickly walked to the courtyard gate and knelt on one knee.

Kong Hai held up the fox demon’s head, “Greetings, Chief!”

Qin Jiang nodded slightly, took the fox demon’s head, and turned to leave.

Everyone followed behind him, all the way to the cemetery.

Qin Jiang walked to the tombstone and placed the fox demon’s head on the porcelain plate, its blood staining the blue hyacinth red.

After the offering, Qin Jiang waved his hand, and the Red Tiger Gang members quietly departed, leaving only Qin Jiang alone.

After everyone left, he casually leaned against the tombstone, picked up a jar of strong liquor used for the offering, and poured it directly down his throat.

In truth, his mood wasn't very sad; it was more a sense of bewilderment.

It was like after graduating and working for a few years, suddenly remembering that old school friends hadn't been contacted in a long time, and when picking up the phone to try and reach them, realizing there were no contact details anymore.

A strange… melancholy?

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, then stood up with the wine jar and walked away. When he came back to his senses, he couldn't help but be startled.

He didn't know when, but he had arrived at Wang Minglang’s courtyard.

However, he had already arranged for Uncle Wang to be taken away, and the courtyard was now completely dark.

Shaking his head, he turned to leave.

“Creak~”

Suddenly, the sound of a wooden door opening came from behind him. He turned around and saw Wang Minglang in the courtyard.

“Uncle Wang, you didn’t leave?”

He hadn't controlled his inner Qi to dissipate the alcohol, and coupled with the potent jar of strong liquor, his speech was a bit slurred.

Wang Minglang smiled, “The Inner City is good, but after so many years, I’ve gotten used to it here, so I just came back. Alright, don’t stand outside, come in and sit.”

The two entered the house. Wang Minglang lit an oil lamp, took out his pipe, lit it, and took a deep drag, filling the room with smoke.

“Your heart is troubled,” he said softly.

Qin Jiang smiled at this, placing the wine jar on the table, “Is it that obvious?”

Wang Minglang shook his head, “I don’t know what you’re worried about, or rather, what you’re afraid of. You clearly aren’t afraid of this strange siege.”

Qin Jiang tilted his head back, resting it on the top edge of the chair, with a hint of drunkenness, “Yes, I am afraid. I’m afraid of losing. I don’t want to be left with nothing again.”

After speaking, he suddenly sat up straight and looked at Wang Minglang, “Uncle Wang, tell me, with a fearless heart, will one still feel fear?”

Wang Minglang was startled by this, slowly took a puff from his pipe, and nodded slightly, “Fear is a human instinct. No one can control the thought of fear; it’s very normal.

Your sister once told me that fearlessness isn't about not feeling fear, but about being able to face the fear in your heart directly.

Face it, defeat it, and believe that you can overcome everything by yourself.”

‘Believe that I can overcome everything by myself?’

Qin Jiang remained silent, then quietly stood up and left.

South of the city, outer city wall.

Qin Jiang sat on the edge of the wall, recalling what Uncle Wang had said, ‘believe that you can overcome everything by yourself.’

He looked at the surging strange mist ahead, which glowed a faint yellow under the light of the fires, appearing somewhat serene.

A strange feeling arose in his heart; he had some enlightenment.

‘That’s right, I’ve been too focused on the potential panel.’

‘I’ve placed too much hope on the potential panel, and in doing so, I’ve forgotten that I should be strong on my own.’

‘The potential panel only speeds up my progress, but whether I can reach the other side still depends on me.’

Thump, thump, thump.

Long Yuesheng walked over, looking at Qin Jiang, who remained silent.

Qin Jiang didn’t turn to look at him, “The Old Doctor is dead. Right or wrong, I have no desire to say more.”

Long Yuesheng nodded, “I didn’t mean anything else. It’s just that I investigated, and that fox demon didn’t go out tonight.”

Qin Jiang nodded, not speaking.

Long Yuesheng took a deep breath, “This fox demon has an extraordinary background; she’s from the Qingqiu Fox Clan. Although Qingqiu is not within Great Xia, and she’s just an ordinary clan member, there might still be trouble. You need to be careful.

I can help investigate the Jin Yu Pavilion, but for Qingqiu, I don’t have that capability.”

Qin Jiang smiled at this, “I understand, Brother Long.”

Long Yuesheng involuntarily raised his hand upon hearing this, paused halfway, then slowly lowered it, “Join the Bronze Bell Sect. No one helping you is as good as having your own strength.”

“In that case, I’ll ask Brother Long to introduce me then. The Red Tiger Gang’s slots are already used up,” Qin Jiang said.

“Naturally. With your Aptitude, joining the Bronze Bell Sect is more than enough. You might even be promoted to a True Disciple in no time.

By then, with the emperor far away, it won’t be so easy for Qingqiu to deal with a Secret Martial Artist within Great Xia,” Long Yuesheng said.

He had no doubt about Qin Jiang’s Aptitude. With the Prodigy-level talent the other party was currently displaying, he would probably become a true Secret Martial Artist within a year.

In the future, he might even have the chance to compete for the position of Bronze Bell Sect Leader!

By then, ruling a prefecture, calling him a local emperor would not be an exaggeration!

Qin Jiang smiled upon hearing this, “Then thank you for your auspicious words, Brother Long.”

After Long Yuesheng left, Qin Jiang summoned Zhang Lin. After Qin Jiang was promoted to Chief, the position of Fourth Hall Master was given to him.

“Boss, you called me?” Zhang Lin asked.

“Go get the Martial arts from the gang, and also look for various Families in the city to copy their high-level True Martial arts,” Qin Jiang said.

Since no more potential points could be found, he would see where the limit of a True Martial Artist lay.

He refused to believe that dozens of True Martial arts combined truly couldn't compare to a single Secret Martial art.