novelGlobal Chapter 208: The Murderer Executed, Seventh Master Returns
Chapter 208: The Murderer Executed, Seventh Master Returns
The moment Yang Feiyue and Su Wangchuan completed their attack on the burly, mysterious Fifth-Rank martial artist, a violent sense of dread surged through them. Their hearts pounded, goosebumps erupted across their skin, and their scalps tingled. It felt as though a tiger in the jungle had locked its gaze on them, suffocating and inescapable.
Without hesitation, the two of them leapt in opposite directions into the river.
Like two large fish plunging into the current, they instinctively activated 《Water-Submerged Breath Regulation Art》, breaking the Fifth-Rank martial artist’s line of sight.
Between them were several fast boats and quite a few people…
The suffocating pressure and that razor-sharp gaze, keen as a blade, suddenly lessened.
Underwater, Su Wangchuan swam frantically. His 40+ Strength and Agility felt priceless at this moment, propelling him over a dozen meters in an instant.
But the chainmail on his body was too heavy, slowing him down considerably.
Yang Feiyue, however, was even faster. There was not the slightest sign of age in the man over fifty. He surged forward like a sturgeon, gradually widening the gap between them.
As expected of an old fox.
Fortunately, the dangerous presence behind them did not pursue.It seemed the enemy had encountered other trouble.
“He is here!”
“Found him!”
Bang!
Bang!!
Stronger martial artists launched attacks from the boats against the burly, mysterious Fifth-Rank martial artist.
Arrows fell like rain.
The man had not even finished taking a full breath before the arrow storm forced him back into the water.
The burly, mysterious Fifth-Rank martial artist no longer had the leisure to hunt down the big and little foxes who had poisoned him. After diving, he cut down two inner disciples of the Yulong Gang and killed several Caobang elites. The river’s surface was instantly stained red with blood.
Splash!
Su Wangchuan neared a large Caobang vessel and burst from the water, surveying the situation not far away. His expression grew increasingly grave.
A Fifth-Rank martial artist truly was difficult to kill.
Injured and poisoned, stacked with all kinds of negative debuffs, and yet he could still effortlessly churn the battlefield and turn it upside down.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Arrows blanketed the area.
Over a hundred people in the river were flanking, surrounding, and pursuing.
On the surface, more than a dozen Third-Rank and Fourth-Rank martial artists flickered between fast boats, searching for their target.
At that moment, Su Wangchuan saw a familiar figure appear on his original fast boat…
His pupils shrank.
He could hardly believe his eyes.
Was it him?
That figure merely surfaced briefly, swept a glance across the river, then inhaled and dove back under, vanishing once more.
Su Wangchuan could not help glancing toward a nearby Caobang warship…
Hall Master Yin stood directly above him, staring ahead intently, a small and exquisitely crafted single-shot crossbow clasped in his hand.
He did not know how much time had passed when a thunderous cry of exhilaration erupted from ahead.
“We got him!”
“Old Seven caught him!”
“The intruder is dead!”
“The head is in Old Seven’s hands!”
“Old Seven is mighty!”
“He avenged our brothers!”
Cheers rolled in waves from the front.
The next moment, a man leapt onto a fast boat ahead, holding aloft a massive head.
It was the head of the burly, mysterious Fifth-Rank martial artist—the same man who had brought overwhelming pressure upon everyone and slaughtered without restraint.
His eyes were wide as bronze bells, filled with disbelief and bloodshot agony. Even in death, he wore an expression of unwillingness, unable to close his eyes.
Seventh Master raised the head high above him, facing it toward Hall Master Yin.
Su Wangchuan’s heart trembled.
It really was Seventh Master.
That fleeting figure earlier had indeed been Seventh Master, who had gone ashore in advance to intercept the Caobang fleet.
He had been astonished to see Seventh Master appear at the front lines of the battlefield. He had never expected the man to catch up to the enemy so quickly and take down a Fifth-Rank martial artist.
Impressive.
Who would have thought that a Third-Rank martial artist under Hall Master Yin could possess such capability?
Even though the Fifth-Rank martial artist had been injured and poisoned, he still retained the might of a tiger and remained extremely dangerous. Yet Seventh Master had pressed forward in one decisive push and killed him…
Had the snake venom taken effect?
Or did Seventh Master possess some hidden technique unknown to others?
Su Wangchuan could not help but let his thoughts wander.
Splash!
At that moment, Yang Feiyue suddenly burst from the water and flipped onto Seventh Master’s fast boat.
When had that old fox gone back?
Su Wangchuan’s expression shifted.
Impressive, truly impressive.
He had deliberately created the impression that he had been fighting desperately underwater.
In the end, Su Wangchuan was still a little too green…
Or perhaps he simply did not have such a thick skin.
“Seventh Master is mighty!”
“Congratulations, Hall Master!”
“The assassin has been captured!”
Caobang elites surfaced one after another, raising their arms in celebration, their cheers shaking the skies.
Hall Master Yin wore a look of immense relief. Yet when he glanced back at the dragon boat, a trace of worry still flickered in his eyes.
“Bring the assassin’s body up. I want to know who dared to plot against the imperial envoy.”
“The rest of you, clear the waters and bring all the dead and wounded brothers ashore.”
With a single order from Hall Master Yin, everyone sprang into action.
Yang Feiyue addressed the center of attention, Seventh Master.
“Seventh Master!”
“Our Yulong Gang has also suffered many casualties. We will take our brothers back now. Please put in a good word for us before the Hall Master.”
The usually cold-eyed Seventh Master found Yang Feiyue’s bedraggled appearance rather amusing, but he suppressed the smile and nodded.
“I will. The Yulong Gang responded in time and joined the battle, assisting in killing the enemy. I will report truthfully to the Hall Master. Rest assured.”
“Many thanks, Seventh Master!”
Yang Feiyue was overjoyed. With those words, the Yulong Gang’s share of merit was secure.
Seventh Master then glanced at the returning Su Wangchuan, gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, and stepped lightly across the water in a few swift strides, carrying the assassin’s head back to the Caobang warship.
“Go, go, go!”
Yang Feiyue turned and ordered his disciples,
“Everyone, aboard! Return!”
Su Wangchuan noticed that the smile that had hung on the Gang Leader’s face moments earlier had now frozen stiff. He looked as though if he delayed even a second longer, he would not be able to leave at all.
Though he found it strange, given what he knew of Yang Feiyue, he dared not ask questions. He pulled Captain Zhao Heiniu aboard, salvaged the bodies of several inner disciples, and soon all the fast boats turned around and headed back.
As the two fleets gradually widened the distance between them—
Yang Feiyue finally calmed slightly. Wearing a troubled expression, he said to Su Wangchuan,
“The imperial envoy’s dragon boat was attacked, and the Caobang failed in their protection. Your matter of going to the Prefectural Government may run into complications…”
“But the assassin has already been captured and executed, has he not?”
Su Wangchuan stared at the Gang Leader, baffled.
“Sigh, you do not understand.”
Yang Feiyue spoke in the tone of someone seasoned by experience.
“The assassin may be dead, but the imperial envoy’s fleet was rammed. Four escort ships were lost. So many people died. Imagine the shock the imperial envoy must have suffered. I fear Hall Master Yin will not escape the charge of failing to protect.”
“Will Hall Master Yin be removed from office?”
Su Wangchuan inhaled sharply.
Yang Feiyue nodded, his voice heavy.
“If the assassin had not been executed, removal would be the least of it. He would likely face charges of dereliction of duty and incompetence. It could even cost him his head. After all, the imperial envoy represents the dignity of the Emperor. The Caobang cannot withstand the Emperor’s wrath.”
“…”
“With the assassin executed, at least there is something to report upward. It may calm part of the anger. But the imperial envoy was still struck. That is a fact… Sigh. Let us return and await news. I only hope Hall Master Yin can escape this calamity.”
Su Wangchuan’s mood grew heavy, caught between relief and worry.