Chapter 289: Trapped (2) (Thanks to the book's first patron, Moon and Sea!)

Chapter 289: Trapped (Part Two)

(The author thanks the book's first patron, Moon and Sea!)

The malevolent red-eyed owl folded its wings, like a black arrow shot from the sky, hurtling straight toward the crowd gathered before the shanties, their shouts and cries like crashing waves.

The chilling, flickering claws nearly brushed their faces, sparking a panic-stricken clamor before it flapped its wings and retreated.

Fan Wujiu, one arm raised horizontally, grasped the falling owl.

"Armed assault on the Imperial Guards—do you rebels seek to overthrow the state? Ah!"

His voice thundered like a cannon, his fury blazing like a tidal wave.

Facing him alone, yet as if confronted by a thousand armies, the hundreds of criminals exchanged glances, none daring to speak.

Seeing no response, Fan Wujiu smiled coldly, pointing to the scattered firearms and shell casings on the ground.

"Who among you touched these wretched guns? Surrender now, and I may spare your lives!"

"Those who report accomplices will be spared punishment!"

"Those who expose the mastermind behind this will be credited with great merit! Under the Great Ming Code, you may shed your criminal status and live as imperial subjects, sustained by enterprises under direct imperial control!"

"But whoever hides the truth shall be deemed a traitor, sentenced to a century of labor in the imperial dungeons!"

A piercing, icy glint rolled in Fan Wujiu’s eyes as he swept his gaze over each criminal’s face.

"Not one shall survive—your entire families will perish!"

The clamor of the night wind pierced through the cracks of the shanties, carrying a bone-chilling, sharp wail that wrapped around Fan Wujiu’s words, seeping into every ear.

The cold rain intensified, mercilessly lashing these frail figures.

Yet no one spoke, no one answered.

The criminals knelt upright in the mud, like mute tombstones.

More like crude puppets with strings pulled by unseen hands.

Clang.

Yecha emerged from the shadows with his squad, brandishing a Spring-Chrysanthemum blade at Fan Wujiu’s side.

"Boss, I’ve caused you trouble." Yecha’s voice was hoarse.

Fan Wujiu didn’t turn his head. "Stop the chatter—any brothers wounded?"

"One was injured by the fire dragon’s water bomb. The others are fine."

"Good. Tell the brothers to stay sharp—if anything goes wrong, we’ll cut our way out."

Yecha froze, staring at Fan Wujiu’s face, flushed with killing intent. "Isn’t the situation already under control? Why cut our way out?"

"Others finally dug us such a pit—if we don’t stain our hands with these criminals’ blood, how can we justify ending this cleanly?"

Fan Wujiu’s voice was icy: "They’re waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"Waiting for their backers to give the order. Then they’ll slit their own throats and splash their blood on us!"

Though Fan Wujiu wasn’t one to overthink, often boasting of illiteracy, one who rose to lead the Imperial Guards in the barbarian lands couldn’t be a fool.

Since his days under Li Jun to Chonngok Castle, he’d lowered his guard completely, even willingly relinquishing a post to eliminate the Ghost King’s concern about "two tigers on one mountain." It was clear he was a man of coarse appearance but keen mind.

Today’s trap mattered not if Imperial Guards died—it was these criminals who had to perish. And perish in great numbers, in gruesome fashion!

Only then could this basin of filth be poured upon them, letting the bloodshed in Chonngok Castle reach the thousand households of Jōdo Castle!

Even the distant imperial heartland!

"Boss, if we slaughter them outright, our office will face trouble."

Yecha, eyeing their wax-yellow, withered faces and hollow, numb eyes, shivered, sweat beading on his palms gripping the hilt.

He grasped the crux—otherwise, he wouldn’t have stopped his men from firing back during the initial ambush.

Though the criminals gathered in great numbers, for those already in the sequence, breaking out wasn’t hard.

But the true dilemma: "We can’t kill them, Boss."

Yecha whispered urgently: "If we fight, aren’t we playing into their hands?"

"Should we just wait to die? Never mind—bring the brothers back first. If the Northern Camp’s Wangba seeks accountability later, I’ll take the blame!"

Around the shanties, tombstone-like figures rose, hundreds of turbid eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

Fan Wujiu’s stance was resolute, his voice ironclad: "Tell the brothers—when we strike, show no mercy. Whoever falters in this gutter will have their records erased. We can’t let our office lose face!"

Yecha clenched his blade, roaring: "Yes!"

At the same time, at the edge of the shanty district.

A vehicle without any markings parked silently beneath a streetlamp.

A hand with coiled veins extended from the car, palm up, fingers slightly curled.

As if trying to grasp the insubstantial yellow glow.

"That Gong Qinghong fellow is quite the hawk—managed to fool Xie Bi’an and set such a trap. I underestimated him."

Huang Shiqiu half-closed his eyes, reclining with relish on the back seat.

Since taking charge of the branch, he’d often suffered at the hands of the Western Suburb Office.

Most failures stemmed from intelligence intercepted by Xie Bi’an’s Second Office, constraining their operations.

This time, Gong Qinghong had lured Xie Bi’an into the trap—Huang Shiqiu had to admit he’d misjudged him.

"Fan Wujiu, Fan Wujiu—will you kill or not this time?"

Tread.

Footsteps suddenly echoed through the narrow, filthy alley of the shanty district.

A tall silhouette gradually emerged from the darkness, stepping into the lamplight, a sharply defined face becoming clear.

Huang Shiqiu opened his eyes, fixing on Li Jun approaching.

"What’s your name?"

No rage as expected—his tone was unnervingly calm.

"No need for courtesy, Huang Shiqiu." The robust barbarian man laughed, his words remarkably clear.

"Then do you know who I am?"

"Of course. Wu Liuzhi Ge, the minor banner of the Imperial Guards—there’s only one in the entire Great Ming Empire."

As he spoke, Huang Shiqiu’s voice trembled slightly.

Not fear, but excitement!

Li Jun said indifferently: "We’re all reasonable people—no need for roundabout talk. You’ve won this round. Let the people inside disperse."

"Li Xiaoqi, what do you mean? Who’s inside?"

Huang Shiqiu feigned surprise: "Are the Imperial Guards of the Western Suburb surrounded in the shanties? When did these wretches grow so bold? Were they bewitched by the rebel hawks?"

"If that’s the case, your office must slaughter these rebels without mercy! Chonngok City has long suffered under the hawks—we beg you to grant us peaceful folk some peace!"

"Common people?"

Li Jun narrowed his eyes, letting out a cold laugh, "So you mean to continue this game?"

"This has nothing to do with me."

"Even cranes and phoenixes dare to meddle, and you still wish to keep your head?"

A slow smile faded from Huang Shiqiu's face, his cold eyes arching in mockery, "Li Jun, I suggest you mind your tone."

"You and the crane wish to play? We of the Xijiao Office will accompany you to the end!"

Li Jun loomed above, his gaze unhidden with lethal intent.

"But if they don't come out now, you'll die immediately."

"Hahahahaha."

Huang Shiqiu erupted into a harsh laugh, sneering, "What grand authority you wield, Li Daren! One might think this age of prosperity is not Jiaqi, but Longwu! Serving as a dog on imperial soil, prowling as a tiger in the crime district—flexible as the Imperial Guards, indeed!"

"We petty folk cannot afford to provoke them, so we must simply avoid their paths."

Huang Shiqiu called out to his subordinate at the driver's seat, "Do you not see the master is displeased? Hurry and drive!"

The dark window slowly rose, blocking Li Jun's sight.

At the moment the glass was about to close, a hand suddenly thrust in, pressing downward!

Bang!

The window exploded into shards, glass spraying wildly under Huang Shiqiu's furious glare.

Before he could curse, the metal door groaned under strain, and the entire car lurched downward, all four tires bursting.

Huang Shiqiu's figure shot out like a cannonball from the opposite side, his ornate feathered robe tearing apart to reveal a muscular, rigid frame.

"You Imperial Guards are mad dogs, slaughtering innocent citizens without distinction!"

Splash!

A kick struck the car's rear, sending the crippled vehicle spinning its tail in the mud.

Li Jun, holding the deceased driver, hurled the corpse at Huang Shiqiu's feet.

The body lay face-up, chest caved in, pale ribs piercing through flesh, protruding from both sides.

"Let the poor inside disperse immediately, and you may yet live."

"I once heard a rumor that your wild martial lineage differs from our inherited sects. Your genes are more active, more ferocious, and more belligerent."

Huang Shiqiu tore off his tattered clothes, his rugged features twisting into a feral grin.

"Lone wanderers are either beasts or deities. Tell me, have you ever seen a mad dog ascend to divinity?"

Clang!

A gunshot tore through the night.

"Damn it, did this brat sense the master's killing intent?"

The red eyes in the visor flickered with confusion, through the 'Zhao Dan' sniper scope, he clearly saw his bullet had missed.

Before the shot echoed, Huang Shiqiu had already leaped backward.

Yet before he landed, Li Jun's fist had already struck his eyes.

Bang!

Huang Shiqiu crossed his left arm to block the incoming blow, his calloused right fist surged forward, aiming for Li Jun's skull!

Li Jun bent his arm, using his elbow to deflect the counterattack, while his left arm wrapped around Huang Shiqiu's neck, driving a knee into his waist.

Huang Shiqiu's grin remained unchanged, his towering frame displaying uncanny agility, mirroring Li Jun's knee strike with his own left leg.

Bang!

Both stepped back, the ground at their feet cracking and splintering, muddy sludge spraying from the fissures.

The leg clash paused, but the fists clashed with increasing fury.

The conflict between martial lineages raged with savage intensity.

Huang Shiqiu seemed determined to test this wild martial artist, standing toe-to-toe in a flurry of blows!

Crimson blood dripped from their trembling bodies, scattered by the whirlwind of fists into the pouring rain, staining the filthy earth.

Furious eyes met cold ones, fists clashed with elbows!

Only attacks, no defenses!

Only the dull thuds of fists striking muscle, no screams of unbearable pain.

Huang Shiqiu's forehead split open, Li Jun's lips too were smeared with blood.

Two distinct inner forces collided within flesh and blood, their screeching genes drowning out all other sounds.

Though both were martial lineages, Li Jun sensed a fiercer killing intent in the genes, and an unmistakable disdain etched into his bones!

It was scorn for the one who had fled, fury that such a lineage could endure!

As these thoughts crystallized, Li Jun's assault grew colder, the Jumang technique nourishing his flesh, healing wounds rapidly while unleashing endless vigor.

This was the peculiar evolution of the seventh-grade inner force into a technique.

Simple, yet brutally effective!

The power of Bajiquan and the severing force converged in their fists, detonating against Huang Shiqiu's frame.

Blood thickened, breaths grew heavier.

When the King Ma's figure appeared behind Li Jun, Huang Shiqiu abruptly retreated, flipping backward to a distance.

"The methods of the new martial branch, Six Stops to War, are nothing special."

He wiped the blood from his face, trembling left hand behind his back, twisting a sinister smile onto his iron-gray visage.

"The mouths of your old martial sects are harder than your fists!"

Li Jun shook his arms, flicking away blood dripping from his fists, the Xiuqun Blade landing in his palm, advancing step by step.

The King Ma followed, tearing off his gray robes, heavy armor plates slowly unfolding on his chest, revealing a hollow cavity large enough for a person.

Huang Shiqiu's eyes narrowed, but his sneer remained, "The show is about to begin. I've no mood to play further. If you survive this, I'll crush you myself and offer your corpse to my elders!"

"Brat, if you can't win, just say so. Don't spout useless trash! Kneel now, and I'll let you keep your corpse intact!"

The King Ma's brute voice echoed from Li Jun's brow.

A snarling black armor enveloped his body, even the Xiuqun Blade's spine wrapped in black veins, crimson light pulsing like breath.

Sizzle!

Raindrops collided and instantly evaporated into white mist!

"Seventh grade?"

"Just a minor step forward. No need for awe. After all, I can't always lag behind you, can I?"

Li Jun smiled slightly, feeling the Mo Armor's full enhancement of his physical skills.

The five fingers clutching the embroidered spring blade gradually lifted, then clenched again with fierce determination.

Autumn Crane of the Desolate World gazed upon the figure emerging faintly through the mist, the pressure rushing toward him causing his skin to tighten inch by inch.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that moment, continuous explosions erupted within the tent district, accompanied by eerie, piercing screams!

Li Jun spun around abruptly, his eyes glowing crimson with firelight!

In that instant, like a bird startled by a bowstring, Autumn Crane of the Desolate World turned and fled without a moment's hesitation.

Within the tent district.

Fan Wujiu stood in the mire, saturated with fresh blood, his black armor gleaming with an oily, dark red sheen, while the long saber in his hand remained pristine as new.

Behind him, a sea of flames raged—the very house piled high with corpses.

The air was thick with a nauseating scent of charred flesh, mingling with the crackling of burning debris.

The sinners who had gathered there had long since vanished into the shadows, leaving only blooming flowers of flesh and blood upon the ground.

Yaksha cradled a Jin Yi Wei corpse in his arms, his body riddled with metallic shrapnel from the exploded yellow millet.

Fan Wujiu inhaled deeply the cold, bloody air, then unleashed a furious roar.

"Honghu!"

The roar pierced the rain curtain, soaring into the clouds.

A goose suddenly flapped its wings, bursting forth from the rainclouds, its mocking cry directed at the wrathful eyes below.

Bang!

A bullet erupted from the muzzle of "Zhao Dan," tearing through the goose's body, detonating it in midair!

Li Jun slowly lowered his gun, staring at Fan Wujiu, whose entire form writhed with malevolent flames.

"Take the people, return to the station first!"