Chapter 249 - 145 Ge Qing Takes Action_2

Liu Yuanhu charged forward again, his long blade dancing with ferocity, creating streaks of residual shadows.

The wild wind from the blade made Zhao Honglie’s hair whip wildly, even making it difficult for him to keep his eyes open.

He knew Liu Yuanhu was ready to risk everything for his life!

"Die!"

Liu Yuanhu’s attack surged forward, countless blade shadows suddenly converging like water waves into a murderous energy aimed straight at Zhao Honglie’s face. Behind the deadly energy, a flash of cold light—a sharp blade—was already closing in, inches away.

Zhao Honglie was so terrified his soul seemed to leave his body. He hastily raised his long blade to block above his head, gripping the hilt tightly with one hand while supporting the blade with the other.

"Clang!"

With a crisp sound, Zhao Honglie’s blade was immediately cleaved in two, yet Liu Yuanhu’s long blade continued its relentless force.

In a desperate move, Zhao Honglie tried to retreat, but it was too late. Blood splattered as the descending blade sliced off half of his left palm, leaving only the thumb and forefinger intact. His middle finger was severed at two joints, while his ring finger and pinky fell to the ground, soon crushed under Liu Yuanhu’s stomping foot.

Liu Yuanhu had descended into full madness, and upon seeing Zhao Honglie’s pitiful state, he could not help but let out sinister laughter.

"Hiss!"

The excruciating pain forced Zhao Honglie to suck in a sharp breath. He was a ruthless man—seeing his wound bleeding profusely, he directly shoved his hand into a nearby shop already engulfed in flames.

Under the searing heat of the fire, though his flesh was burned to a crisp, the bleeding miraculously stopped.

After such high-intensity combat, Liu Yuanhu could feel his strength waning. Time was running out for him; he knew he had to finish this quickly. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even have the chance to take anyone down with him.

Liu Yuanhu raised his blade and charged again, but this time Zhao Honglie’s face was devoid of the earlier panic.

Zhao Honglie glanced past Liu Yuanhu and spoke faintly, "Lord Qian, if you don’t act now, then when?"

Ripples appeared in the space behind Liu Yuanhu, and Qian Jin emerged, holding two brand-new steel tridents that gleamed brightly in the night.

Qian Jin sneered slyly, "Heh, heh, my action is all about maximizing impact! I’ve been waiting this long just for this moment."

Liu Yuanhu’s attention was fully focused on Zhao Honglie, unaware that Qian Jin had already been lurking behind him.

By the time he noticed, it was too late.

With deadly precision, Qian Jin drove his steel trident into Liu Yuanhu’s backside, the sixty-centimeter-long weapon piercing clean through.

The strike to a fatal area sent a piercing pain surging straight to his skull.

The overwhelming agony left him momentarily paralyzed.

"Ahhhh!"

"I’ll kill you!"

Liu Yuanhu spoke, his entire body trembling, while his blade swung ferociously toward Qian Jin.

"I’m outta here, I’m outta here!"

Qian Jin’s fighting style revolved entirely around stealth attacks. He had been closely observing Liu Yuanhu’s movements all along.

When Liu Yuanhu launched his counterattack, Qian Jin had already yanked out the trident and bolted away.

Putting distance between them, he flashed Liu Yuanhu a mocking grin before disappearing into the night using his Shadow Concealment Skill.

Severely wounded, Liu Yuanhu still retained combat capability but had lost the ability to move.

Now, he resembled nothing more than a tiger with its limbs severed—deadly fangs but no means to use them.

At this moment, Zhao Honglie’s face was already lit with the smile of a victor. Turning to Mo Chen, who was locked in heated combat with Bai Yuqi, he laughed, "Lord Mo, as the Centurion of the Red Cloud Guard, your position is prestigious. Why fight so desperately for a man who’s as good as dead? Cease this now, and who knows—we may collaborate in the future."

Mo Chen glanced at Liu Yuanhu, his eyes flaring with anger.

He had a long-standing, sincere friendship with Liu Yuanhu; seeing his close ally in such a wretched state ignited his fury. His attacks immediately grew far more ruthless, putting Bai Yuqi, who had been holding his own, on the defensive.

"Brother Qian, help me subdue him!"

Bai Yuqi, overwhelmed by Mo Chen’s sudden ferocity, realized that Mo Chen had been holding back earlier. Unable to retaliate effectively, he could only call for backup.

However, he didn’t dare suggest killing Mo Chen.

After all, Mo Chen wasn’t the same as Liu Yuanhu.

In today’s chaotic climate, the death of a small-town magistrate like in Canghe County wouldn’t matter; the imperial court didn’t have the resources to intervene. But Mo Chen was different. As a Centurion of the Red Cloud Guard, he held some power in Red Cloud Prefecture. More importantly, he represented the face of the Red Cloud Guard!

Killing him would undoubtedly provoke retaliation from the Red Cloud Guard, and the consequences would be disastrous.

Mo Chen proved worthy of his title as Centurion of the Red Cloud Guard. Even with Qian Jin joining, the two couldn’t gain the upper hand against him for the time being.

As blood loss continued, Liu Yuanhu’s vitality gradually faded, and the once-violent aura emanating from him ebbed like a receding tide.

Noticing this, Zhao Honglie picked up a blade from a nearby corpse, gripping it tightly with a sinister grin. "Don’t worry. I’ll cut off your head and hang it on the city wall so you can always watch over Canghe County!"

Just as Zhao Honglie was about to strike and finish Liu Yuanhu off, a soft, ethereal voice rang out from behind him.

"Enough. Everyone stop now!"

The voice had an otherworldly quality, exuding an air of mysticism.

Zhao Honglie turned to look, his brows furrowing instantly. "Master Ge? Are you planning to wade into this muddy water too?"

Ge Qing had lived in Canghe County for many years, always shrouded in mystery.

In the past, both Zhao Honglie and Liu Yuanhu held Ge Qing in awe, not daring to provoke him.

However, that respect stemmed more from Ge Qing’s status as an Alchemist than from his prowess!

Under normal circumstances, Zhao Honglie would not wish to fall out with Ge Qing. He knew well the value of an Alchemist, and befriending one could bring countless benefits in the future. But Liu Yuanhu was his mortal enemy; if Ge Qing truly intended to intervene, he would have no choice but to strike ruthlessly!

Ge Qing did not respond to Zhao Honglie’s words, instead walking straight to Liu Yuanhu and retrieving a pill, which he then fed to him.

Once the pill entered his stomach, its pure medicinal power dispersed, easing Liu Yuanhu’s injuries and stabilizing his fading aura.

Ge Qing stood up with a faint smile and said, "Liu Yuanhu’s official appointment has been issued. He is already recognized by the court as the county magistrate. Your actions here make you insurgents, fit for execution by anyone! This old man has no interest in stirring up a large-scale conflict, so I’ll give you a chance—withdraw!"

Ge Qing’s origins were mysterious, and his strength remained an enigma. Zhao Honglie gripped his blade tightly without speaking.

Bai Yuqi and Qian Jin ceased their fight with Mo Chen and turned their gazes toward this side. Upon seeing that the person making such bold declarations was nothing more than a gaunt old man, Bai Yuqi burst into laughter.

"Damn it, where did this decrepit old man come from? Do you truly think wearing a white robe makes you a master? Talking about mercy and giving us a chance? Your words are poetic, but you’re blocking my path to wealth, and I won’t stand for it! A person like you must die!"

Bai Yuqi moved like the wind, his feathered fan sweeping toward Ge Qing’s neck like a blade.

Zhao Honglie did not intervene; instead, he saw this as an opportunity to test Ge Qing’s true strength.

Faced with Bai Yuqi’s assault, Ge Qing remained calm, showing no signs of alarm or releasing even an ounce of energy.

When Bai Yuqi’s fan’s steel needles came within a foot of him, Ge Qing suddenly moved. In a flash-like motion, he extended his index and middle fingers, effortlessly pinching a steel needle on the fan.

With the needle grasped firmly, Bai Yuqi felt as though an invisible barrier had materialized before him, blocking him completely. No matter how much force he applied, he couldn’t advance even an inch.

"You!"

Bai Yuqi’s expression twisted, turning vicious. He hadn’t expected the old man to possess such capabilities.

Ge Qing smiled faintly and said, "Heed advice and prosper. Ignore wisdom, and you’ll face regret. Young people need to learn patience."

The remark deeply insulted Bai Yuqi. He exerted his strength, trying to wrestle his fan free, but the gaunt old man’s fingers felt like iron clamps. Despite his full exertion, he couldn’t budge the fan even slightly.

"Enough with this trickery! I refuse to believe this nonsense today!"

Bai Yuqi abandoned his fan and reached for his waist, drawing a gleaming soft sword.

"Wretched old man, taste my blade!"

Bai Yuqi’s soft sword emitted a sharp, piercing sound as it writhed like a wave, its deadly tip targeting Ge Qing’s face.