Chapter 8: Dark Night

"So that brat finally decided to show his face?!"

In a dark, gloomy house, Guo Oldhei, who had been in hiding for over a month, had long since grown manic and irritable.

Now, upon hearing news of Han Yuan, his eyes bulged.

"That’s right."

"That kid finally left the County Yamen tonight and headed home."

Wang Cheng said in a low voice.

"After hiding for so long, that spineless coward finally dares to come out."

Guo Oldhei let out a cruel smile.

For a man of his temper, the only reason he had managed to hide in this dilapidated house for so long was his singular focus on killing Han Yuan before he left.

He just never expected Han Yuan to hole up in the County Yamen for over a month.

"It’s been over a month... Unless he planned to hide in the County Yamen for the rest of his life, he was bound to come out eventually."

"Besides, you haven’t shown yourself at all recently. Han Yuan must think you’ve already left Qingshui County by now."

Wang Cheng sneered as well.

"No!"

"I can’t take it anymore!"

"I’m going to kill him tonight!!!"

"I’m going to skin him alive!!!"

Guo Oldhei roared, his temper flaring.

Hiding in this house all this time was driving him crazy.

Before this, he was the Gang Leader of the Black Stone Gang.

He’d feast on meat, guzzle wine, and take any woman he pleased.

But now, he’d been stuck in this dilapidated, damp house for so long.

The flame of rage in his heart had been thoroughly ignited.

"No problem."

"I’m on duty tonight. I’ll lead my men away from the streets around Han Yuan’s place."

"Once you’ve killed him, get out of Qingshui County immediately."

Wang Cheng said coldly.

"Not until I’ve skinned that brat alive!"

Guo Oldhei was like a rabid beast.

Seeing Guo Oldhei in this state actually pleased Wang Cheng.

He also wanted Han Yuan to suffer a more miserable death.

.....

「Late at night.」

Wang Cheng was casually patrolling the streets with a few Government Officials.

Of course, they only patrolled the streets and alleys where public order was relatively stable.

They never ventured into the more chaotic districts.

When they reached a crossroads, Wang Cheng said casually, "Let’s go check out Ming Pearl Street."

In Qingshui County, there was a district that served as the residential area for many powerful families and wealthy merchants.

It was the safest and most luxurious part of Qingshui County.

Ming Pearl Street was one of the streets in that district.

His few subordinates said nothing, simply following behind him.

Even though this wasn’t part of their planned patrol route.

But who would argue over such things?

After Wang Cheng and his men were a good distance away, a figure in a Conical Hat emerged silently from the shadows and headed in a completely different direction.

Suddenly.

RUMBLE!!!

In the sweltering summer, a downpour could start without warning.

In an instant, the pitch-black streets were shrouded in a torrential downpour.

’Haha, the heavens themselves are helping me!’

The figure in the Conical Hat was being drenched by the storm, but he was laughing heartily to himself.

Soon.

The figure arrived in front of Han Yuan’s house.

Guo Oldhei watched for a moment. Seeing not a flicker of candlelight from within Han Yuan’s house, he guessed the man was already asleep.

He immediately slipped into the courtyard, removed his Conical Hat, and took out a length of wire.

He’d knocked around the Martial World for over a decade, so he’d picked up a thing or two, like lockpicking.

CLICK~

With a faint, crisp sound, Guo Oldhei gently pushed the door open.

He slipped silently into Han Yuan’s room, approaching the wooden bed like a phantom.

Han Yuan was lying on the bed, his eyes tightly closed, deep in sleep.

’Good, you little brat!’

’Sleeping so soundly!’

’I’ll smash your guts first, then take my time torturing you.’

Seeing Han Yuan asleep, the rage in Guo Oldhei’s heart exploded. He shot out a large hand, punching toward Han Yuan’s abdomen.

Fearing he might kill Han Yuan in one blow, he deliberately held back some of his strength.

Just as he threw the punch, Han Yuan, who had seemingly been sound asleep, suddenly snapped his eyes open. His left hand, already clutching a handful of powder, flung it straight at Guo Oldhei.

"You brat, you were faking it!"

Guo Oldhei’s reactions were astonishing. His experience in the Martial World was vast, and he instantly shielded his eyes with his left hand.

Han Yuan’s eyes were calm as he thrust out viciously with the blade in his right hand.

Flying Falcon Strike!

SHINK!

After reaching the Mastery realm, his strike was even faster, quick as a flash.

Guo Oldhei heard the sharp whistle of the blade and hastily tried to dodge, but he wasn’t fast enough.

SQUELCH!

Han Yuan’s blade plunged into Guo Oldhei’s abdomen.

Guo Oldhei’s muscles were so tough they actually clamped down on the blade, preventing it from piercing his vital organs.

"You damn brat!"

Guo Oldhei roared, gathering all his strength as he swung his right fist in a ferocious, explosive arc toward Han Yuan’s head!

SHLICK!

Han Yuan yanked his blade free and dodged to the left.

"You brat... you knew I was coming to kill you?!"

Guo Oldhei clutched the wound on his abdomen, his face twisted with malice.

"What do you think..."

Han Yuan said calmly.

"Even if you got me with a sneak attack."

"You’re still the one who’s going to die."

Guo Oldhei sneered viciously.

Without another word, Han Yuan suddenly turned and fled.

"Trying to run?!"

Guo Oldhei hadn’t expected Han Yuan to bolt without any warning. He gave chase wordlessly.

Han Yuan leaped swiftly through the window.

Without a second thought, Guo Oldhei chased after him.

The instant he landed, Han Yuan instantly reversed his momentum. He spun around, bringing his long blade down in a vertical chop.

Guo Oldhei dodged to the side.

SLASH!

But just then, Han Yuan twisted his wrist, and the long blade came down in a diagonal slash!

Guo Oldhei grunted as a long, bloody gash was carved across his chest.

But the man was a savage. His eyes bloodshot, he ignored the pain and smashed his heavy, powerful right fist toward Han Yuan.

The punch was incredibly fierce, clearly using a technique for Gathering Power.

The air itself seemed to crackle like an exploding firecracker from the force of his punch.

BAM~

Han Yuan threw his left arm up to block.

When Guo Oldhei’s fist connected, he felt an immense pain, as if the bone in his arm was about to shatter.

He was knocked back two or three meters.

Guo Oldhei roared like a wild beast and charged at Han Yuan again.

"Bring it on!"

Fighting through the pain in his arm, Han Yuan’s eyes turned vicious. He gripped his blade with both hands and swung.

In the rainy night, the two clashed relentlessly in the courtyard.

But as the fight wore on, Guo Oldhei began to feel dizzy, his vision blurring.

"You... you used poison?!"

Guo Oldhei realized.

"You’re only just now figuring that out?"

Soaked to the bone by the downpour, Han Yuan gave a cold smirk.

He had coated his blade’s edge with a poison called Drunken Snake Powder long before.

It was a poison that Old Wang had procured for him.

It wasn’t highly toxic, but it caused dizziness, blurred vision, and could even lead to fainting.

The next moment.

Han Yuan pushed off, sending a spray of rainwater into the air as he shot forward with incredible speed.

His body and blade moved as one as he unleashed a horizontal slash.

Flying Falcon Flashing Past!

The flash of his blade cut through the dark, rainy night like a falcon, tearing through the mist.

SCHLICK~

Dizzy and disoriented from the Drunken Snake Powder, Guo Oldhei couldn’t react in time as Han Yuan swiftly lopped off one of his arms.

His footwork shifted, and the blade flashed again.

Guo Oldhei’s other arm was severed as well.

Then, the long blade rested on Guo Oldhei’s neck.

"You still haven’t passed out... Gang Leader Guo, your constitution is truly impressive."

Han Yuan said with a slight smile.

With both arms gone, Guo Oldhei knew he was a dead man. He ignored Han Yuan completely and just spat viciously.

Han Yuan dodged it and said calmly, "Speak. Who told you I was coming home tonight?"

He had only just left the County Yamen tonight. For Guo Oldhei to get the news and show up at his door so quickly, someone at the Yamen must have tipped him off.

Guo Oldhei’s eyes flickered, and then he suddenly laughed. "Wang Cheng."

"I’m not afraid to tell you. It was Wang Cheng who came to me before, too. That’s why I sent men to kill you."

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes.

’He’d guessed what Guo Oldhei was thinking.’

"It seems even in death, you want to drag Wang Cheng down with you."

Guo Oldhei sneered, "What... you’re just going to let that slide?"

"I can’t."

Han Yuan shook his head.

SHLICK!

Guo Oldhei’s head suddenly flew into the air.

In his last fleeting moment of consciousness, Guo Oldhei thought he heard a voice.

"Don’t worry... I’ll be sending Wang Cheng down to see you very soon."