20: Annihilation of the entire family! Enjoying resources comes with consequences.

Chen Linsheng returned to the room and closed the door.

He walked to the corner, moved a few loose bricks, and took out a small packet carefully wrapped in oil paper from the hidden compartment.

Unwrapping the oil paper revealed almost transparent, odorless powder.

This was the anesthetic, “Crisp Wind Powder,” which he had carefully prepared using the knowledge gained from [Herb Gathering (Major Achievement)].

The medicine did not need to be ingested; it dispersed on the wind, and inhaling even a small amount would cause limbs to go weak, slow the circulation of Qi and blood, and be irresistible to those with weaker Internal Energy.

He carefully tucked the packet into his bosom and checked himself, ensuring he carried nothing that could reveal his identity.

Walking to the door, Su Wan was tidying up by the stove. Seeing that he seemed ready to leave, she cast him an inquiring look.

“I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back soon,” Chen Linsheng said calmly.

Su Wan now regarded him as her sole reliance and support. Although she didn't know what he was going to do, she trusted his judgment, only softly reminding him, “Mhm, come back early. It's cold at night, don't get caught in the rain.”

Chen Linsheng nodded, pushed open the door, and merged into the night.

In the woods outside the village, there was that familiar tree hollow.

Chen Linsheng took out the two-stone strong bow gifted by Hunter Zhang, along with the five cold, gleaming armor-piercing heavy arrows.

Next, he took out a set of black night clothes—washed stiff and featureless—and quickly put them on.

Finally, he retrieved the Ten-Forged Refined Steel Waist Saber obtained from the Medicine Gang subordinate.

The blade was cold and smoothly contoured, far sharper and tougher than his old wood-chopping knife.

He secured the steel saber firmly on his back and slung the bow and arrows.

The next moment, his figure shot out like a ghost. The miraculous effects of “Stepping on Air and Treading the Void” and “Flying Across a Single Line,” derived from [Climbing (Major Achievement)], were utilized to their maximum. He stepped on branches and grass tips, leaving virtually no trace, moving so fast that only a few blurry afterimages remained in the forest as he sped toward the Medicine Gang market.

At the Medicine Gang market, the clamor of the day had been replaced by the extravagance of the night.

In the center of the market, the only manor built rather grandly was now brightly lit and bustling with noise.

Four or five tables of banquet food were set up in the courtyard, where more than thirty Medicine Gang members were shouting, playing finger-guessing games, and drinking, making a huge racket.

Seated at the head table, a stout, ruddy-faced middle-aged man in a silk jacket stroked the short beard on his chin, complacently accepting toasts from the crowd.

He was the steward of this place, Master Liu.

“Master Liu's fortune is as vast as the Eastern Sea, and his longevity rivals the Southern Mountains!”

“May Master Liu enjoy this day every year, and this moment every age!”

Amidst the noise, a trusted subordinate leaned close to Master Liu's ear and whispered flatteringly, “Master Liu, as you instructed, the family in the east district who owed gambling debts has been completely dealt with. As for his wife, hehe, we've already sent people to fetch her. I guarantee she'll be delivered to your room tonight to liven things up for you!”

Hearing this, a flash of lewdness crossed Master Liu's eyes. He laughed heartily in satisfaction and raised his wine cup: “Good! Good! Brothers, drink your fill! We won't leave until we're drunk tonight!”

Just as the atmosphere was at its most fervent and everyone's guard was down—

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”

Five extremely sharp sounds of air being torn, seemingly ringing out at once, overwhelmed all the noise!

Five black arrows, like death warrants from the Netherworld, shot forth like lightning from a dark eave outside the manor!

Never missing their mark!

Three Stars Chasing the Moon!

With extraordinary skill, Chen Linsheng fired five arrows almost simultaneously. Four of them accurately pierced the throats of four gang members who were drinking merrily, the tips exiting their back necks and spraying a shower of blood!

“Thud!”

“Thud!”

...The smiles on the four men's faces hadn't even faded before they froze, and they pitched backward, stiff and straight.

The arrow aimed at Master Liu flew straight for his heart!

In the nick of time, Master Liu's instinct as a Skin Tempering Realm Martial Artist saved his life. Sensing the deadly danger, he violently leaned back and to the side!

“Pfft!”

The arrow missed his heart but fiercely pierced his left cheek. The arrowhead emerged from the other side, taking several teeth with it, and blood immediately stained half his face red!

“Aargh—!”

Master Liu let out a half-strangled, twisted shriek of agony; the intense pain nearly made him faint.

“Assassin!”

“Enemy attack!”

The gang members in the courtyard finally reacted, and chaos erupted.

Some frantically tried to run outside, while others instinctively reached for the weapons beside them.

However, those who tried to rush toward the door or use their Qi to leap onto the wall felt their bodies go weak after only a few steps. Their Qi and blood seemed blocked, their legs felt heavy as if filled with lead, and they stumbled and fell to the ground.

“Crap! The wine is poisoned... no, it's an anesthetic!”

Someone cried out in horror, only to find they were powerless, unable even to hold a saber steady.

Just as the confusion and panic reached their peak, a black shadow descended like a night owl.

Utilizing “Stepping on Air and Treading the Void,” his figure traced a strange arc in the air. “Flying Across a Single Line” allowed him to instantly traverse a distance of over ten zhang, landing steadily in the center of the courtyard.

“Bang!”

Chen Linsheng swung his hand back, and a gust of strong wind slammed the courtyard gate shut, securing the bolt.

Turning slowly, his back to the panicked crowd, his cold gaze swept across the scene, finally settling on Master Liu, who was clutching his bloody cheek, his eyes filled with shock and fury.

Rain began to patter down sometime unnoticed, drumming on the tiles, wetting the ground, and washing away the freshly spilled blood.

Chen Linsheng slowly drew the Ten-Forged Steel Saber from his back.

Under the light of the lanterns, the blade reflected a chilling sheen, illuminating his expressionless face.

“The night is still long,” his voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every gang member who was still conscious, sounding like the whisper of the God of Death. “Master Liu, it's time to settle our score.”

The slaughter quietly commenced in the rainy night.

Screams, the clash of weapons, pleas for mercy... all were eventually drowned out by the growing sound of the rain... Deep into the night, the rain showed no sign of stopping.

Outside Master Liu's manor in the Medicine Gang market, the light of torches flickered unsteadily in the rain curtain.

More than a dozen constables, led by Li Xunya, stood at the entrance, rainwater continuously dripping from the edges of their bamboo hats.

The air was thick with an inescapable smell of blood, which even the heavy rain could not completely wash away.

“Ugh—!”

A young constable who had recently joined finally couldn't hold it in, turning his head and running to the wall to vomit violently.

The manor gate stood wide open, and the scene inside resembled a Shura Hell.

In the courtyard, under the eaves, in the main hall... lay a total of forty corpses, sprawled haphazardly!

Blood mixed with rainwater, converging into dark red rivulets on the ground.

Everyone had died in a different manner, but most wore expressions of terror, and many hadn't even had time to draw their weapons.

And on the main seat in the central hall, Master Liu's corpulent body slumped in a grand armchair, his eyes wide open, his face frozen in extreme terror and disbelief.

His neck had been almost completely severed by a sharp blade, with only a little skin and flesh connecting it.

Even more shocking was that beside his chair lay his parents, his legitimate wife, two concubines, and three young children!

Without exception, all had been killed with a single strike!

Miemen!

Li Xunya stood at the entrance, the rain soaking his official boots and trousers, yet he seemed oblivious.

He expressionlessly surveyed the horrific scene in the courtyard, but deep within his eyes was a surge of rage.