Chapter 187 - 186: Death
"Trying to run?"
Chen Li sneered. He wasn’t about to let him get away so easily.
His figure flickered, moving like a ghost. Though he moved second, he arrived first, instantly cutting off Zhang Heming’s escape route.
Zhang Heming was shocked and horrified. Knowing this was a matter of life and death, he unleashed his Spirit Realm Cultivation without reservation.
He crossed his palms, which suddenly turned as crimson as fire. Wreathed in a scorching gale, they shot straight for the vital points on Chen Li’s chest.
The Palm Wind was ferocious and the heat wave suffocating; this was clearly a desperate, all-or-nothing attack.
Chen Li neither dodged nor retreated. He casually unleashed the Five Directions Twenty-Four Solar Terms Wuxiang Fist.
The fist’s momentum seemed slow and fluid, but it was in fact incomparably swift. As the Fist Intent pulsed, it seemed to contain the infinite mysteries of the universe’s cardinal directions and the turning of the four seasons—a cycle of endless creation.
THUD!
The streams of Qi Strength collided with a dull thud.
Zhang Heming felt an irresistible, immense Inner Strength surge up his arms and through his meridians. The impact threw his qi and blood into turmoil, and the scorching Power in his palms was forcefully shattered.
He staggered back several steps, his eyes filled with utter terror.
Pressing his advantage, Chen Li changed his Fist Technique. His attacks flowed like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, like winter snow blanketing the vast plains. The relentless barrage sealed off all of Zhang Heming’s escape routes.
Fist, palm, finger, claw... Chen Li effortlessly cycled through the many variations of the Wuxiang Fist. Each strike landed with pinpoint accuracy on Zhang Heming’s vital joints.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Four consecutive cracks of breaking bone rang out.
In just a few moves, Chen Li had used a Heavy Hand Technique to brutally break and dislocate all of Zhang Heming’s limbs.
He let out a bloodcurdling scream and collapsed to the ground like a boneless heap. Cold sweat instantly soaked his official robes. His face was drained of all color, leaving only pain, fear, and a hint of incredulous despair.
The agony almost made him faint, but a powerful will to survive kept him conscious.
Forcing himself to endure the pain, he lifted his head. He tried to maintain a shred of the dignity befitting a Court-appointed official. His voice trembled with agony, but he attempted to keep it steady. "Chen... Chen Li! Today... I admit my defeat. I am utterly convinced!"
He started with a tough-sounding statement, then immediately changed his tune to start negotiating. "But if you spare my life, it will be of great benefit to you... and to the Chen Family. I secured my position as the Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County with more than just my Cultivation. I have connections in the Court."
"The many intricacies and networks of officialdom are beyond what you Gentry could possibly imagine. Spare me today, and in the future, all the official channels in Mirror Mountain will be at the Chen Family’s disposal."
Chen Li looked at him, his expression unchanging. He spoke flatly, "The County Magistrate’s schemes are too much for me. I can’t afford to get involved."
Seeing his attempt at bribery fail, a deeper chill settled in Zhang Heming’s heart. In his desperation, his facade of composure finally shattered, and his tone turned into an icy threat. "Chen Li! You... don’t bring disaster upon yourself. Killing a Seventh Grade Official of the Court is tantamount to treason! It’s a capital crime that will see three generations of your family executed. The Court has countless experts and extraordinary individuals."
"Do you really think that just because this is Lishui, you can pull this off without a trace? Someone will eventually find clues. When that happens, not only will you be unable to escape death, but your descendants’ futures will be ruined as well. Your entire Chen Family... will be buried with me! Think it over carefully!"
Hearing this, the corner of Chen Li’s mouth curved into a meaningful smile. "Who said... I was going to kill the County Magistrate?"
He paused, watching the faint glimmer of hope that suddenly lit up in Zhang Heming’s eyes, and said slowly, "Assassinating a Court-appointed official? For a crime so treasonous, a humble commoner like me doesn’t have the nerve."
Zhang Heming froze, completely baffled as to what the other man intended.
Just then, the cabin door was pushed open again.
Shu Qi and Bai San entered, dragging a man who looked disheveled and whose aura was violent and unstable.
It was none other than Zhang Chengzong, who had been missing for days!
His eyes were bloodshot and his gaze was wild. A suppressed growl rumbled in his throat, making him seem like a caged beast.
It turned out that after Zhang Heming had summoned Zhang Chengzong to the county seat, he had immediately noticed something was wrong with his aura and had interrogated him about the cause.
How could Zhang Chengzong dare to mention his Cultivation of the Swallowing Essence Technique? He lied, claiming he had suffered a deviation during his training.
The naturally suspicious Zhang Heming had immediately subdued him and secretly imprisoned him in the cargo hold of this ship, planning to deal with him after the matter of the tax silver was settled.
Chen Li looked at the crazed Zhang Chengzong and said flatly, "If you want to live, drain all his Power."
Hearing this, Zhang Heming was scared out of his wits. He used the last of his strength to roar, "You ungrateful whelp! You dare?!"
At this moment, Zhang Chengzong’s mind had long been corroded by the malevolent aura of the Swallowing Essence Technique, and his emotions were prone to violent outbursts.
His resentment from being imprisoned for days, combined with Zhang Heming’s furious threat, was like pouring oil on a fire.
The memory of having to bow his head and call a man only a few years his senior "Father" for all these years... The humiliation and rage instantly consumed his last shred of reason.
A savage sneer spread across his face. "Old man! Let’s see if I dare!"
Before his words had even faded, he pounced, his hands like talons, clamping down hard on Zhang Heming’s head.
The Swallowing Essence Technique activated with frenzied power!
"Traitorous son! Stop! I should have killed you from the start!!"
Zhang Heming let out a shrill, desperate wail. His body convulsed violently as the Spirit Realm Power he had painstakingly cultivated for years surged out of him like a bursting dam, flowing uncontrollably into Zhang Chengzong.
A few dozen breaths later, Zhang Heming’s entire Cultivation had been devoured.
His body withered in an instant, as if his qi and blood had been completely drained. The light in his eyes scattered, leaving behind only the dull gray of death.
After draining Zhang Heming’s Power, the aura around Zhang Chengzong became utterly chaotic and violent. His eyes were frighteningly blood-red, his sanity completely consumed by the Evil Skill and the immense influx of foreign Inner Strength.
He let out a manic growl and viciously smashed his fist into Zhang Heming’s head.
SPLAT!
With a sickening thud, Zhang Heming was killed on the spot.
"It’s all mine! It’s all mine! HAHAHA!"
Looking completely deranged, Zhang Chengzong whipped his head around. His crazed, blood-red eyes locked onto Chen Li as he lunged forward with a savage grin. "You’re next!"
A cold glint flashed in Chen Li’s eyes, but he didn’t move.
However, halfway through his lunge, Zhang Chengzong’s body suddenly stiffened. His frenzied roar died in his throat.
His eyes instantly lost all light and his pupils dilated. Black blood trickled slowly from his seven orifices as he collapsed to the ground with a thud, all signs of life gone.
Under the effect of the Ape Strike Skill, his Divine Soul had been utterly annihilated.
The cabin fell into a dead silence.
Bai San crept forward and whispered, "Master, I’ve checked the cargo hold below. It’s packed with chests. I pried a few open, and they’re all full of pure official silver!"
Unable to hide the greed in his eyes, he volunteered, "Master, this is a heaven-sent fortune... Should I go find some reliable men to haul it back home tonight...?"
Chen Li shot him a cool glance.
A chill shot through Bai San instantly. The rest of his words died in his throat, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
"Go find Shouye."
Chen Li’s tone left no room for argument. "Tell him what happened here, and have him continue escorting the silver to the Commandery City."
"Yes... Yes! I understand!"
As if granted amnesty, Bai San quickly bowed and retreated.
As he turned to leave, he subconsciously touched the heavy ingots of official silver in his sash—the ones he had deftly pocketed while inspecting the cargo. His eyes were filled with reluctance and regret.
’If only I could find a chance to haul away just one chest...’
But in the end, he didn’t dare to defy Chen Li and quickly departed.