Chapter 82 : Chapter 82
Chapter 82. Turning the Tables
South City, the back alley behind the fish market.
In the rear courtyard of that unremarkable general store, the doors and windows were tightly shut, yet several people sat inside.
At the head of the group was a middle-aged man of about fifty. His face was dark red, his eyes sharp and restrained, and just sitting there gave him an imposing aura even without anger.
This man was Qiao Sheng, the Bai Family’s newly advanced Fifth Meridian martial artist.
He swept his gaze across everyone in the room and said in a low voice, “Something feels wrong in the streets lately. I’m afraid this contact point of ours has already been marked.”
The lean man below him changed expression slightly. “Master Qiao, you mean…”
“These past few days, there have been some unfamiliar faces around the shop.” Qiao Sheng tapped his finger lightly on the tabletop and said in a low voice,
“They’re disguised well enough, but their eyes and the way they walk can’t fool mine. I’m afraid our line has already been exposed.”
Hearing this, the others looked at one another, and the atmosphere immediately turned grave.
Just then, a strangely rhythmic knock sounded from outside the courtyard.
The man standing guard by the door took a glance through the crack, then turned back and said in a low voice, “Master Qiao, it’s Street Guard Xu from Fu’an Street.”
“Let him in.” Qiao Sheng frowned slightly. For Xu Tianlong to visit so suddenly at a time like this—could it be that the Ward Master had some important new instruction?
Once the door opened, Xu Tianlong slipped inside. Seeing the solemn mood in the room, he did not waste words and directly cupped his hands toward Qiao Sheng. “Brother Qiao, a word in private.”
The two entered the inner room, and Qiao Sheng got straight to the point. “For Street Guard Xu to come at this hour, could it be that the Ward Master has new orders?”
Xu Tianlong’s expression was grave as he lowered his voice and said,
“Brother Qiao guessed correctly. The Ward Master has already noticed that this stronghold of ours is being watched. After investigating, we discovered that the people keeping watch… are from Changning Street.”
“Changning Street?” A cold light flashed through Qiao Sheng’s eyes. “Its Street Guard is that Xu Yuan?”
“Exactly.” Xu Tianlong nodded, a sinister curl appearing at the corner of his mouth.
“That boy has been in the limelight lately, winning one major merit after another. He has already become a banner for Shangyang Residence in the Level Three zone. The Ward Master’s meaning is that it would be best to erase him.”
Qiao Sheng pondered for a moment, then said, “How does the Ward Master want to do it?”
“Use the bait against him.” Xu Tianlong spoke coldly, each word deliberate.
“Since he has set his eyes on this place, then we’ll lay a trap for him here. The Ward Master ordered me to come assist you, Brother Qiao. When Xu Yuan brings his men to ‘draw in the net,’ we’ll turn the tables and leave him here instead!”
“What a fine ‘drawing in the net’!”
A savage grin appeared on Qiao Sheng’s face.
“The men stationed at the other hideouts are only Fourth Meridian at most. I imagine that Xu Yuan, young and successful, is riding high right now and thinks he’s about to wipe us out.”
“But what he doesn’t know is that I’ve already broken through to the Fifth Meridian, and Street Guard Xu is here to help as well. With the two of us joining forces this time, he definitely won’t be leaving alive!”
Xu Tianlong nodded in satisfaction. “Then let’s just wait for the fish to bite. Over these next two days, we’ll discuss carefully how best to arrange this trap.”
At that thought, his whole body felt refreshed.
No matter how talented Xu Yuan was, the moment the Bai Family truly targeted him, he would no longer have the slightest chance of surviving!
…
Two days later.
The moonlight was dim, and the fish market area in the south of the city had long since closed down, with only a few scattered lights swaying in the night wind.
In the rear courtyard of the general store, Qiao Sheng and Xu Tianlong sat facing one another, drinking tea. They looked relaxed, but in truth both men were listening in all directions, their nerves stretched taut.
There were also ten Bai Family martial artists inside the room, all of them skilled Third Meridian fighters, currently holding their breath and hiding in the shadows.
“It’s about time.” Qiao Sheng set down his teacup, a gleam flashing in his eyes. “If they’re really coming, it should be now.”
Before his words had even faded, an extremely faint sound of clothing cutting through the air came from beyond the courtyard wall.
They were here!
Qiao Sheng and Xu Tianlong exchanged a glance and rose at the same time.
Almost at that exact moment, the courtyard gate exploded apart with a thunderous crash!
Wood chips flew everywhere as several figures shot inside.
At the head of them were Hong Qianshan and Xu Yuan.
Hong Qianshan was dressed in tight black clothing, his Fifth Meridian aura completely undisguised as he stood in the courtyard like a mountain. His eyes swept over Qiao Sheng, and he sneered.
“So it really is you, you old dog Qiao Sheng!”
After saying that, he quickly scanned the surroundings, relaxing slightly inside. “Looks like the Bai Family was prepared in advance.”
Xu Yuan stood at Hong Qianshan’s side, his expression calm, with only his eyes shining startlingly bright in the night.
His gaze landed on Xu Tianlong, and he looked mildly surprised. “Well now, Street Guard Xu, we meet again.”
Xu Tianlong’s heart skipped.
Hong Qianshan had actually come!
He had originally thought that with Xu Yuan being in the spotlight lately, and with his pride running high, he would swallow this credit alone.
He had not expected him to act so cautiously, even going out of his way to bring in this newly advanced Fifth Meridian martial artist.
If so, then the plan was likely about to run into complications.
He forced himself to remain calm and secretly shot Qiao Sheng a look.
Qiao Sheng, however, was utterly unconcerned. Laughing loudly, he said, “Hong Qianshan, your timing is quite something. What, you think that just because you broke through to the Fifth Meridian, you can strut around in front of me?”
“Stop acting like some oversized wolfhound. Weren’t you only barely able to break through yourself these past days?”
Hong Qianshan stepped forward, Qi and blood surging around him. “Qiao Sheng, your Bai Family dared plant spies in Shangyang Residence territory. Today is the day you die!”
“Just you?”
Qiao Sheng’s smile vanished, and murderous intent surged across his face. “Hong Qianshan, when I stepped into the Fourth Meridian, you were still playing in the mud as a Third Meridian brat. Since you’ve come today, then none of you are leaving. Move!”
The moment those last two words left his mouth, the ten Bai Family martial artists hidden in the shadows all burst into motion at once. Swords and blades came out of their sheaths, flashes of cold steel appearing as they charged straight toward the men Xu Yuan had brought with him.
At the same time, Qiao Sheng’s body shot forward like lightning. His five fingers curled into claws, tearing through the air with a shrill sound as he struck directly for Hong Qianshan’s throat!
What he cultivated was not the Bai Family’s Seven Wounds Fist at all, but a rare claw art called Wind-Rending Claw, which had once earned Qiao Sheng enormous fame and ultimately won him entry into the Bai Family.
This claw strike was swift as thunder. Before the claw wind even arrived, the force of its momentum was already enough to make breathing stifle.
Hong Qianshan gave a cold snort and advanced instead of retreating, smashing out with a punch!
Fist and claw collided with a deafening metallic boom. Airwaves rolled outward, shaking loose dust across the courtyard.
The two Fifth Meridian martial artists clashed in full force in an instant!
Seeing Qiao Sheng already entangle Hong Qianshan, Xu Tianlong’s eyes flashed viciously as he fixed his gaze on Xu Yuan. “Xu Yuan, let me see just how much progress you’ve made!”
He knew very well that he was already no match for Xu Yuan. His only option was to try for a quick battle and see whether he could find even the slightest chance.
If I can’t kill him, I’ll withdraw at once!
Xu Tianlong shot a glance at Qiao Sheng, then stopped disguising his murderous intent. His peak Fourth Meridian cultivation fully erupted as he lunged like a leopard, driving a punch straight at Xu Yuan’s face!
This punch carried all his fury, the howling force of it even sharper than during their previous fight. Clearly, he had not been idle these past few days. Not only had his injuries fully healed, his cultivation had improved as well.
Xu Yuan’s expression did not change. Under his feet, the Wandering Dragon Step unfolded, and his figure slid sideways three feet like a ghost, easily evading the fatal blow.
At the same time, his right fist flashed out like lightning in a counterattack toward Xu Tianlong’s ribs!
Xu Tianlong had long been prepared. His left palm pressed downward to block, while his right fist changed moves midway and swept in a hook toward Xu Yuan’s temple.
In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged dozens of moves. Fist shadows flew, force blasted in all directions, and gaps continuously appeared in the surrounding walls.
The courtyard instantly descended into total chaos.
The six martial artists Hong Qianshan had brought, together with Xu Yuan’s four subordinates, clashed with the Bai Family’s ten skilled fighters, and for the moment the battle was evenly matched.
But the most terrifying battlefield was the one between Hong Qianshan and Qiao Sheng.
With both Fifth Meridian martial artists fighting at full power, wherever fist winds and claw shadows passed, bricks split apart and wooden pillars snapped.
Qiao Sheng’s claw art was sinister and vicious, striking only at vital points, while Hong Qianshan’s style was wide and forceful, his fists fierce beyond compare.
Both were seasoned veterans, and for a time neither could gain the upper hand.
Meanwhile, over here, Xu Tianlong grew more and more alarmed as the fight went on. His offensive kept collapsing, and the situation was even worse than it had been a few days ago!
“You… you’ve improved again?”
Xu Tianlong could not help but let out a low roar.