Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 166: Chapter 112 Reactions from All Sides! First-level Serpent’s Breath!_3

”Pass down the order, summon all Hall Masters, Elders, and Venerable Guests for a meeting!”

Zhao Honglie opened his eyes again, and his gaze had turned chillingly cold.

An endless fury arose in his heart.

”The Butcher, Liu Yuanhu... If this is indeed your doing, I, Zhao Honglie, swear I will exact an unbearable price from you!”

...

Canghe County’s county office.

Liu Yuanhu’s expression tensed up upon learning that Han Lu and his group had been slaughtered by the Butcher. He knew full well that he hadn’t ordered the Butcher to act in such a way, which meant the Butcher entirely intended to frame him!

Stirring a dispute between the two factions.

While Han Lu and his men dying brought him joy, being inexplicably framed for it was far from pleasing.

Beneath him, Zhang Guangqun gritted his teeth and said:

”Sir, it was my negligence! That Butcher bastard must still hold a grudge over last time’s Poison Bee Guest mission—this is my failure; I should’ve seen it coming!”

He recalled the Butcher’s expression back then, which clearly betrayed knowledge of the mission’s suspicious nature. He had even been planning to personally recruit the Butcher the next time he appeared, yet unexpectedly, he’d been slapped in the face so swiftly.

Zhang Guangqun felt his face sting painfully.

Liu Yuanhu waved his hand slightly and said:

”It’s not your fault. Blade-wielders are all unruly by nature. That Butcher is merely a Blood Refining Realm cultivator at the Great Success level. If the opportunity arises in the future, just kill him.”

”Sir, Han Lu was Zhao Honglie’s confidant. Now that he has died at the Butcher’s hands, Zhao Honglie will surely not let this slide easily. Should we explain the truth, lest we let this despicable Butcher manipulate us for nothing?” Zhang Guangqun asked, his anger still visible.

Liu Yuanhu responded:

”That would be unwise. Doing so would only make it seem like we fear Zhao Honglie. Besides, even if we claim the Butcher acted on his own accord, Zhao Honglie may not believe us.”

His eyes gleamed sharply.

”The Butcher must die; find an opportune moment to draw him out.”

”But for now, the key priority is to deal with the Black Sand Gang’s retaliation. Once the Red Cloud Guards arrive, Zhao Honglie will be like a post-autumn locust!”

Liu Yuanhu brimmed with confidence.

The Red Cloud Guards are the Red Cloud Prefecture’s elite military unit.

Among them, all eight hundred were exceptional within their respective cultivation levels.

The minimum entry requirement was Blood Refining Realm. Those at Bone Refining Realm could become Centurions, while those at Marrow Refining Realm were recognized as commanders.

”If we could recruit a Red Cloud Guard commander, no Black Sand Gang would dare to challenge us. Unfortunately, a commander is of such high standing that they’re entirely beyond my reach; securing the backing of a single Centurion would already be fortunate.”

”Even so, a Centurion of the Red Cloud Guards—an elite among the Bone Refining Realm—alongside a hundred Red Cloud Guards could tear through the Black Sand Gang easily!”

This was the source of Liu Yuanhu’s confidence.

For now, he was unwilling to engage in a bloody battle with the Black Sand Gang. Even if victorious, it would likely be a Pyrrhic victory.

But with the arrival of the Red Cloud Guards, it would be an unequivocal triumph.

”Let us bide our time and play the long game. The paperwork for my county magistrate appointment has already been submitted. Once the official document arrives, Centurion Mo Chen will legally be able to assist me!”

...

Gu’s Manor.

Gu Sheng was patrolling with two familiar martial artists. Since rejecting the annual tribute demanded by the Black Sand Gang several days ago, the Gu family had anticipated their retaliatory response and made two arrangements.

First, they sent someone to the county office to inform Liu Yuanhu and request support; second, they reinforced patrols and defenses to guard against potential raids.

As a martial artist of Gu’s Manor, Gu Sheng naturally had to contribute.

Everyone in the manor who could fight took part, patrolling in shifts; even Gu Xiaojiang had been assigned tasks.

”Asheng, do you think the Black Sand Gang will strike?”

A martial artist of Gu’s Manor beside him couldn’t help but raise the topic, a trace of worry evident.

Although Gu Sheng was fairly confident the Black Sand Gang wouldn’t act—Han Lu’s death was bound to exacerbate the feud between the two factions, leaving little attention for a small manor like theirs—he chose not to speak outright, instead saying:

”Don’t worry. If the clan elders dared to refuse the Black Sand Gang, they must have their reasons. Even if they do come for us, there’s nothing to fear.”

”That makes sense; the elders have always prioritized stability...”

He was about to continue when Gu Xiaojiang’s voice rang out from a distance:

”All martial artists in the manor, assemble at the main hall!”

The group stiffened, hastily heading toward the hall.

Gu Sheng quietly thought to himself that the news of Han Lu’s death had likely reached them. Keeping a straight face, he blended into the crowd.

Sure enough, as soon as they approached the hall, Gu Dajiang’s joyous exclamation reached their ears:

”Is it true that Han Lu is dead?!”

”Indeed, no doubt about it! The news came straight from the county magistrate; we don’t need to worry. The Black Sand Gang likely won’t have the time to bother with us!”

When the martial artists entered the hall and heard the news, each one revealed expressions of surprise and delight.

The arrogant and oppressive Han Lu, who had been strutting around Gu’s Manor just days ago—dead!

”How did that scoundrel die?”

”Apparently, it was the county magistrate’s blade-wielder, the Butcher, who killed him! He ambushed them on the highway and slaughtered the entire group single-handedly! People went later to check the scene—corpses scattered everywhere. Utter carnage!”

Gu Jingang described the scene as though he had witnessed it himself.

The crowd couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath upon hearing it.

”That Butcher is truly vicious!”

Gu Xiaojiang marveled.

”For him to easily eradicate Han Lu and his group—the Butcher’s strength is extraordinary. I fear even if I teamed up with Jingang, we might not be his match,” Gu Changming admitted.

Gu Jingang nodded gravely.

His strength was roughly on par with Han Lu’s, perhaps slightly stronger. Against the Butcher, even he might meet his end.

The crowd became even more astonished upon hearing the manor’s strongest fighters voice such opinions.

They now had a deeper understanding of the Butcher’s capabilities.

As Gu Sheng listened to their amazement and shock, a strange thought crept into his mind: if they knew the brutal and ferocious Butcher was standing right next to them, how might they react? His lips curled slightly.

The Great Clan Elder interrupted their discussions.

”The purpose of this assembly is twofold: first, to inform you of this news so you needn’t worry excessively; and second, though patrols may now be less rigorous, the ongoing security measure must not be neglected. We must guard against potential surprise attacks by the Black Sand Gang. Updated patrol arrangements will be issued soon, and you must diligently safeguard Gu’s Manor.”

”Understood, Great Clan Elder!”

Gu Sheng nodded to himself; it aligned well with the elders’ usual prudence.

While Han Lu’s death had temporarily diverted the Black Sand Gang’s attention, lifting the immediate threat, vigilance remained essential.