7: Deterrence

The man let out a miserable scream as his sternum collapsed, and he was sent flying backward, knocking down two people behind him.

Si moved like an agile cheetah, dodging the incoming blade. With elbow strikes and knee thrusts, his movements were simple yet ruthless, taking down two more people in an instant.

Fast! Ruthless! Accurate!

It was a complete slaughter. Before them, the fierce bandits of the White Sand Gang were as vulnerable as children.

Wind Over Mountains' pupils contracted. The skill of these two attendants far exceeded his expectations!

However, he was a ruthless character himself. Knowing that to capture the bandits one must first capture their leader, he let out a low growl, drew his Water-Sunderer Spikes, and lunged toward Lin Mo like the wind!

He knew Lin Mo was the real master; as long as he could restrain or wound Lin Mo, the situation could be reversed.

His movement was indeed fast, carrying a foul wind. The Water-Sunderer Spikes glinted with cold light, aiming straight for Lin Mo's throat and heart from a tricky angle—clearly a killing move.

A chorus of gasps rang out in the hall.

Lin Mo watched the rapidly approaching Wind Over Mountains, his eyes showing not a hint of emotion. Only when the Water-Sunderer Spikes were less than three feet from his body did he slightly turn his side.

It was just a simple turn.

Wind Over Mountains' certain-kill strike missed completely!

He didn't even see how Lin Mo moved; he only felt a blur before his eyes, and his target had deviated from its original position.

Before he could change his move, a slender yet powerful hand had already gripped his right wrist like an iron hoop.

Wind Over Mountains was shocked. He tried to struggle but felt an irresistible force coming from his wrist, as if his bones were about to shatter!

He hurriedly swung his left-hand spike back to save himself, stabbing toward Lin Mo's ribs.

Lin Mo casually swatted with his other hand.

Slap!

The left-hand spike was actually slapped right out of Wind Over Mountains' hand, pinning itself into a distant pillar several inches deep, its end still trembling incessantly.

Immediately after, Lin Mo's hand holding his right wrist gave a gentle shake.

Wind Over Mountains felt a strange vibrating force travel up his arm. Half of his body instantly went numb and weak, and the other Water-Sunderer Spike fell to the ground with a clang.

The entire process took no longer than a single breath.

To outsiders, it looked as if Wind Over Mountains had lunged fiercely only to practically hand his weapons over to Lin Mo, who then easily disarmed him and seized his vital point.

The entire hall fell into a dead silence.

The White Sand Gang members watched in horror as their supposedly peerless Second-in-Command was held by that young man like a child, completely unable to resist.

The Black Fish Gang members, on the other hand, widened their eyes and breathed heavily, their gazes toward Lin Mo filled with awe and fervor. Was this the power of a Martial Artist?

Lin Mo released his grip. Wind Over Mountains stumbled back several steps, clutching his wrist. His face was pale, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his eyes were filled with terror as he looked at Lin Mo.

In that moment just now, he had truly felt the scent of death, as well as the other's unfathomable power and speed. This was definitely no ordinary practitioner!

“Now, can we talk properly?” Lin Mo brushed non-existent dust from his sleeve, his gaze sweeping over the trembling members of the White Sand Gang. “Or do you wish to continue?”

The White Sand Gang members looked at each other, none daring to move. Even Wind Over Mountains had been brought to his knees in a single exchange; wouldn't they just be throwing their lives away?

Wind Over Mountains gritted his teeth, his expression shifting, before finally lowering his head in defeat.

“I... we admit defeat. The East Wharf... we will no longer touch it. Regarding today's matter, it was I, Wind Over Mountains, who was blind and offended the Young Master.”

“Not enough,” Lin Mo said indifferently.

“Go back and tell White Sand Child that Qingyuan Town is too small to hold two big fish. Tell him to come to the Hall of Joy within three days and give me an explanation.

Otherwise, I wouldn't mind if the White Sand Gang changed its name.”

Wind Over Mountains trembled all over and lowered his head. “Yes... I will certainly deliver the message.”

“Take your people and get out.”

The White Sand Gang members felt as if they had been granted a great amnesty. Supporting their injured comrades and the knocked-out archers, they hurriedly left in disgrace.

Only the Black Fish Gang members remained in the hall, along with Lin Mo, who stood with his hands behind his back.

Liu Kui trembled with excitement and knelt down once more with a thud. “The Young Master's Divine Might! From now on, who in Qingyuan Town would dare look down on my Black Fish Gang!”

The gang members also knelt one after another, shouting, “Thank you, Young Master!”

Lin Mo raised his hand to signal them to rise. “Get up. Today's success is due to the united efforts of the Black Fish Gang. Liu Kui, merits should be rewarded, and faults should be punished.

Every brother present today shall be rewarded with one tael of silver. Those injured shall receive double. For those who died... provide generous compensation.”

“Thank you for the reward, Young Master!” The gang members were overjoyed, their gazes toward Lin Mo becoming even more fervent.

This mysterious Young Master not only possessed heavenly martial power but also rewarded and punished fairly. Following him seemed far more promising than following Liu Kui, who only knew how to rake in money.

Lin Mo knew that after this event, his prestige within the Black Fish Gang would be thoroughly established, perhaps even surpassing Liu Kui's.

But he still needed Liu Kui as a Puppet on the surface.

He had Liu Kui handle the aftermath and heighten security to guard against the White Sand Gang doing something desperate. He then quietly returned to the River God Temple with his Death Warriors.

Back at the temple, Lin Mo carefully questioned San and Jiu about the process of dealing with the archers.

San used his stealth skill to approach, and combined with the simple knockout smoke Jiu had prepared, they silently took down the three men.

The efficiency was high, and no obvious external injuries were left.

“Well done,” Lin Mo praised. The Death Warriors' skills were starting to be used in combination, and the effects were multiplying.

He told everyone to rest while he sat quietly in thought.

Forcing White Sand Child to come was a risky move, but a necessary one.

Only by completely subduing or absorbing the White Sand Gang could he truly control the underworld of Qingyuan Town, gaining more stable resources and a broader information network.

But for White Sand Child to hold the position of gang leader, he must have some ability and wouldn't easily submit. Three days was enough for the opponent to prepare, and it might also bring other variables.

“I must increase my strength as quickly as possible.” Lin Mo clenched his fist, feeling the seemingly endless growth of power within his body.

But this wasn't enough. He needed true 'techniques' and needed to understand the 'Dao' of this world.

He summoned the confidant sent by Liu Kui to ask about the progress of finding basic martial arts methods.

The confidant reported that through the Black Fish Gang's channels, they heard that the head of the 'Weiyuan Escort Agency' in the west of town was said to have traveled far and wide in his early years. He might know some basic fist-and-foot techniques and internal training methods, but he never shared them with outsiders.

Additionally, in Qing Lan City, a hundred miles away from Qingyuan Town, there were formal martial arts halls. It was said that as long as one paid enough money and passed a test, one could learn basic martial arts.

However, the fees were extremely high, and the journey was not short.

“Qing Lan City...” Lin Mo noted the name. That might be his next target.

For now, he would deal with the White Sand Gang.

Three days passed in a flash.

During these three days, Lin Mo summoned two more new Death Warriors.

They were Shi, with the ability of Basic Trap Setting, and Shi Yi, with the ability of Basic Ventriloquism and Dialect Mimicry.

The atmosphere in Qingyuan Town became noticeably tense. The White Sand Gang withdrew their manpower, but small movements continued in the shadows.

Under Lin Mo's direction, the Black Fish Gang took a hardline stance, firmly controlling the piers and their own properties. At the same time, they strengthened ties with some small and medium-sized merchants, showing a faint trend of forming an alliance to resist the White Sand Gang.