Chapter 680: The Heavenly Gate Gang

Chapter 680: The Heavenly Gate Black Gang

Do you need to bring the body back? Very well, I understand.

The man nodded, though he asked whether to take the corpse with him, yet he had already reached the courtyard gate.

Suddenly, the man's step halted.

But now that the man is dead, shall we continue this business?

The man waited a moment until a confirming voice reached his ears, then lifted his foot and stepped out the door.

I understand, I know these are all excuses, boss—don't scold me. I just find it pointless, a bunch of reckless thugs; even if they're connected to him, they don't deserve the East Emperor's intervention.

The man's words had just faded when a faint rustle of tiny sounds emerged from the shadows, barely noticeable in the rain‑soaked alley, yet piercing to him.

He instantly froze, hands pressed to his lower back, spine slightly arched, heels poised as if ready to unleash murder at any moment.

Crack!

A few crisp clatters echoed from the side wall.

A mass of darkness leapt from the wall, turned its back to the man, and sauntered forward with deliberate calm.

So it was...

The man could not help but let a nervous laugh die on his lips.

But before he could release the breath he had been holding, the shadow adhering to the wall abruptly halted.

It lowered its shoulder and tilted its head, a cat's face smeared with fresh blood crashing into the man's sight, a sizable mouse, already dead, clenched in its jaws.

A pair of emerald eyes casually flicked over him, sweeping across the man.

He could not fathom why those green orbs seemed to flicker with human‑like mockery and contempt.

An inexplicable fury surged, and the man drew a glint of cold steel from his waist, only to see the scarred stray cat flick its head.

Snap!

The mouse carcass fell into the puddle at his feet, splashing filthy water onto his shoe.

A pink tongue licked its paws, wiping the still‑uncoagulated blood from the cat's face, emitting a barely audible hiss before it rose on tiptoe and vanished into the thick night.

He could not explain why, after drawing a inch of blade, he froze, his gaze inexorably drawn to the water‑logged mouse corpse before him.

The torn body had its organs exposed, yet its limbs still twitched faintly.

Even accustomed to bloodshed, this bizarre sight still made his skin prickle and his heart skip.

It seems Grand Zhou's words were true—the Wang family really brought in a horde of rats. Yet you must gauge your own weight; the nine rivers of the capital never had a dragon crossing the river.

Rain‑soaked alley at night.

Shen Ka, clad in battle gear, stood in the alley, a faint smile on his face as he lightly tapped his thigh with a swift blade.

Behind him, figures shifted, the exact number obscured.

You are the man of the Eastern Emperor Society, Lu Huan—what was his style name again?

The final syllable rose, dripping with undisguised mockery.

Lu Huan's face was dark; inside he raged at the 'Mourning Official' Zhui Chong in charge of intelligence, his eyes fixed murderously on the arrogant man before him.

You are Shen Ka of the Heavenly Gate?

Very well, it is indeed you, Shen Ye!

Shen Ka lifted his chin and said bluntly, "Two paths: kneel or die?"

Clang!

From his waist, Lu Huan drew two short blades no longer than his forearm, their ringing tone answering Shen Ka's question.

"'Still a hard bone? Then today I'll flay you, strip your flesh, and see if you truly bear iron bones!'"

As Shen Ka's words fell, the narrow alley's ends surged with armed men, silent as they charged at the trapped Lu Huan.

Whoosh!

A bone‑chilling flash cleaved the rain, droplets striking a stoic face.

This Heavenly Gate swordsman swung at the approaching figure, yet only a slicing whoosh emerged.

His body, driven by inertia, lunged forward uncontrollably; after two strides he barely steadied himself, only to realize his strength had vanished, even turning seemed impossible.

Clang!

The machete struck the ground; the thug futilely choked the man, crimson oozing from his fingertips.

In the instant he barely missed, Lu Huan's short blade had already slit his throat, swift as lightning.

Lu Huan moved with uncanny agility, even amid chaotic alley combat; his twin blades danced like specters, their edges gliding without a drop of blood, as if some strange force sealed the wounds.

Yet when you thought you had survived, it erupted violently, utterly stealing your life.

In a brief span, the alley floor was littered with bodies sprawled in all directions; though no cries rose, a heavy breathing rose and fell.

So this is the 'Forbidden Blood Cage' technique? Intriguing.

Shen Ka finally stepped forward, his foot splashing a foot‑high spray in the gathered filth; his airborne form dove at Lu Huan, the swift blade sweeping a heavy arc that descended like a hammer!

Alas, with such skill it is still insufficient!

Clang!

A thunderous crash erupted as intersecting blades sparked.

Lu Huan held his blades aloft, bearing the heavy, crushing strike of Shen Ka; yet the recoil was too great, and his form was hurled backward.

Stabs rang across his back; without turning, Lu Huan knew blades awaited to pierce him.

Lu Huan's footwork twisted, he spun, flicked his blade, striking the blood‑thirsty swords behind; before he could settle, a cold surge rose to his crown, and, unable to devise another move, he dropped to the ground, barely evading the incoming strike.

Bang!

A swift leg arc struck the shoulder he had just raised, swinging again and smashing half a wall, crashing into a courtyard.

One last chance: kneel or die?

Shen Ka lifted his foot over broken walls and debris, the gathering figures behind sealing the gap completely.

Lu Huan, cloaked in mud and filth, stood mute, raised his blade, its edge pocked with tiny holes, aimed at Shen Ka.

The two moved like arrows released from a bow, charging forward together.

Single blades swung wide, twin blades savage and treacherous.

In the capital they say a blade is an extension of the arm, a technique a mirror of the heart; to wield a blade, one must not let it hold one.

When death truly meets death, no matter the blade or move, the purpose is one.

That is to kill!

The clashing blade-light drew the moonlight into this modest courtyard, its sharp ringing as loud as the rumbling rain.

Pshhh!

Another heart‑stopping exchange of blades found Lu Huan's tiger's mouth raw and numb, unable to halt the advancing longsword, and he could only watch a gleaming tip pierce his own heart.

Agony and icy cold could not draw Lu Arclength's final attention.

He, collapsed in despair on the ground, mustered his last ounce of strength to gaze at the wall not far off.

A skeletal black cat, its frame marked with countless battle scars, crouched there.

In a daze, Lu Arclength always sensed an uncanny significance in those sullen green eyes, as if...

As if gazing upon a dying mouse.

Huangliang Road, the Peace Hotel.

Wang Jinghai, a master of a third-tier door faction and a figure of some renown in the Jinmen area, now knelt naked on the icy tiles, trembling all over, like a dog stripped of its skin.

"Your Lordship, I have always held you in the highest respect; during every festival and holiday, my greetings and offerings have never ceased, and even the concubine you recently brought into your household was specially commissioned by me at great expense."

"I have given you enough face; why must you press so hard?"

Wang Jinghai's face was a mix of snot and tears, his head repeatedly smashing against the ground with such force that muffled thuds echoed.

"Master Zou, I was bewitched, my heart not content, swallowing an elephant like a snake; all this is my fault, I beg you to spare me."

Zou Sijiu, in a neat Western suit, sat cross-legged in a grand master's chair. Warm yellow light from above cast shadows across his sharp features.

"So you're admitting these things were all done by you?"

"I admit it, I admit it!"

Wang Jinghai's expression was somewhat deranged, speaking rapidly: "It was my envy of your business that led me to secretly instruct that brat to provoke your gang, intending to cause trouble under the guise."

"Heh heh."

Zou Sijiu let out a light laugh, "Actually, if you had said this earlier, there wouldn't have been so many misunderstandings. It's just a Peace Hotel; if you truly want it, I can hand it over anytime. Who in the Jinmen area doesn't know that I, Zou Sijiu, love to reward heroes with gold and fine horses?"

"I was blind, I didn't see your heroic spirit, Master Zou."

Seeing the man before him slightly soften, Wang Jinghai hurriedly twitched his facial features, managing to squeeze out an extremely ugly smile.

"Actually, this wasn't a big deal; everyone could argue and make noise, and resolve the misunderstanding. But you shouldn't have, why did you bring outsiders to deal with me? Wang Lord, you've broken our Jinmen rules."

Wang Jinghai's smile froze, stammering in defense: "I I didn't."

"I didn't get the name wrong, did I? The Donghuang Society?"

Zou Sijiu whispered with a smile, "A group of killers active in the sinful districts, you managed to bring them back; that's quite a favor."

"Master Zou, this was all my momentary confusion. If you spare me, I'll immediately drive them all out of Jinmen, out of the empire!" Wang Jinghai said trembling.

Zou Sijiu sighed, "It's easy to invite a god, but hard to send one away; even if you want to drive them now, they might not be willing to leave."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Wang Jinghai slammed his head against the ground, his forehead skin swollen and ruptured, fresh blood streaming and dyeing his entire face red, looking particularly pitiful.

Suddenly, he grasped a lifeline, his eyes sparking with a piercing light.

"Zou Sijiu, you can't kill me; I have an official position in the court. If I die, you won't escape either!"

"You didn't say that; I almost forgot you were an official."

Zou Sijiu's mouth curled with a faint smile, his tone mocking: "Wang Jinghai, it seems you really know nothing. Well, I don't need to probe your words anymore. But your hands have grown in vain; you still don't know you've been a knife for others, yet you use your official position to speak."

Wang Jinghai was stunned: "What do you mean?!"

"Do you really think a blue-robed eighth-rank official could have such face to bring back this group of murderous villains? Or do you think I, Zou Sijiu, could stand in Jinmen with just a pair of fists, without any backing?"

"Let me tell you, the Donghuang Society is a pack of jackals raised by Qintianjian's monitor Zhang Shun, specifically to handle some dirty deeds that can't be brought to light."

Zou Sijiu looked at Wang Jinghai, struck by lightning, and smiled: "And who has Qintianjian been at odds with all these years? Do I need to remind you, Lord Official?"

"Qintianjian Wenyuan Pavilion."

Wang Jinghai muttered to himself, suddenly realizing: "You're under Zhang Shoufu."

"So do you think whether you're an eighth-rank or fourth-rank official matters to me?"

Until now, Wang Jinghai finally realized he was just a pawn in someone else's hands, existing only to give the Donghuang Society an excuse to enter Jinmen and deal with Shen Lixiu's Tianque.

And behind all this was a battle between two unimaginable celestial figures.

"Don't kill me. Give me another chance." Wang Jinghai's eyes were dim, his mouth still unconsciously repeating such words.

Though he knew the possibility of surviving was too small, his instinct still refused to give up.

"Okay." When Zou Sijiu said those two words, Wang Jinghai's mouth was still repeating them, and after a moment, he suddenly reacted, his face lighting up with unbelievable joy.

"Thank you, Master Zou." Before you thank me, Shen Lixiu, do you remember this name? He is my brother; when I first met him, he told me an old story. At that time, he was just a nameless petty thug who accidentally discovered your young master's licentious and tyrannical deeds, leading to a few words. As a result, you sent someone to force him to jump into the sea, where he was stabbed in the chest and nearly drowned. That year, he had a dispute with your young master, a conflict between juniors; they could have resolved it themselves. But as a senior, you had to intervene and even stabbed him. By righteousness and reason, I should help him find justice. We are all people of status; using knives and guns is not good. If you can withstand my punch, I'll give you a chance today. How about that?"

Wang Jinghai's expression was dull, his pupils unconsciously dilated. He understood this was a dead end!

Years of cooperation had made him very clear about what Zou Sijiu was, and how many people had been beaten to death in this place called 'Peace.'

"Master Zou." Wang Jinghai swallowed his saliva, his voice already carrying a sob.

"That's settled." Behind Zou Sijiu stood a woman with a cold, refined demeanor and fiery red hair; she gently waved her hand, and two burly men approached, forcibly lifting the limp Wang Jinghai.

"No, no." The powerless Wang Jinghai could only keep begging, but received no response.

Slap!

A dull explosion suddenly erupted in the air; the grand master's chair exploded into splinters, a figure shot out, lowering his shoulders and raising his elbows, a punch hitting Wang Jinghai's chest.

Wang Jinghai's eyes exploded out of their sockets, his chest caved in, and his whole body flew backward.

Zou Sijiu patted the wrinkles on his sleeve, not looking at the twitching corpse on the ground, turned to a shrine. The portrait on it depicted two fierce warriors.

Following behind, the guard presented three incense sticks; Zou Sijiu pressed his palms together, holding the incense in his hands, and respectfully bowed to the portrait on the shrine.

"Disciple Zou Sijiu, I respectfully ask Suzu and Lizu to protect my Tianque and ensure peace!"

After respectfully offering the incense into the burner, he softly asked, "Has Shen Lixiu not returned yet?"

"Master Zou, I'm back."

The person hadn't entered the door, but the voice came first.

Shen Lixiu walked in, drenched, holding a head that wouldn't close its eyes.

"The person was caught, but unfortunately, no live capture."