Lu Changfeng and Zhou Feng didn’t rush to deal with Golden Lion first.
Instead, while the crowd struggled against the poison in their systems, they first reaped the lives of the ordinary gang members.
The Golden Lion Gang had a large number of members. This was a frontal assault, and things would get difficult if they were given time to recover.
With every swing of the sword and saber, heads flew into the air.
Within a few breaths, more than half of the gang members at the banquet had been killed.
Lu Changfeng in particular, with his Swordsmanship at the Perfect Realm combined with the [Antelope Leaping Skill], had practically turned killing into an art form!
As Lu Changfeng danced gracefully, sword light flashed and afterimages multiplied, with flying heads and splattering blood filling every gap.
The scene was both bloody and beautiful.
On the other side, Zhou Feng’s Saber Technique was not as refined as Lu Changfeng’s Swordsmanship, but his Realm was higher!
Empowered by the terrifying explosive power of the Fifth Level of the Blood Forging Realm, his every strike was unstoppable!
After killing several men in a row, Zhou Feng charged straight for the table where Golden Lion and the other key gang members sat, swinging his saber at the Red Stick who hadn’t eaten the fish.
This Red Stick had some nerve. He was the only one at the table who wasn’t poisoned, yet he didn’t take the chance to flee.
Instead, he shielded the others and raised his saber to meet the attack.
As a result, Zhou Feng’s single strike cleaved both him and his saber in two.
Sometimes, failing to recognize the situation is not a good thing.
One was at the Blood Forging Fifth Layer, the other at the Blood Forging Second Layer. The difference in strength was simply too great.
"Who are you? I, Golden Lion, don’t recall ever offending you!" Golden Lion cried out in terror, clutching his chest.
Zhou Feng’s long saber was his only answer!
A flash of light, and Zhou Feng’s saber slashed out!
Golden Lion was, after all, a Martial Artist over forty years old. Though only at the Blood Forging Fourth Layer, he was rich in combat experience!
He flipped the table to block the saber’s light.
He actually managed to dodge Zhou Feng’s strike despite being poisoned.
But that was all he could do.
Zhou Feng shattered the airborne table with a single slash, clearing the path before him.
He swung a second time at Golden Lion. Golden Lion turned to dodge, but the poison suddenly flared up!
The blood near his heart congealed slightly, causing his movements to slow by a fraction of a second.
Zhou Feng’s strike was merciless, directly slicing Golden Lion in two at the waist!
With the leader of the villains executed, Lu Changfeng and Zhou Feng both breathed a sigh of relief. It was for the best that there had been no surprises.
At the same time, Lu Changfeng felt a slight twinge of regret. ’I just detected that this Golden Lion possessed a Middle Grade Talent: [Fist Technique].’
’If I could have copied it, it would have accelerated the Realm of my [Le Mountain Angry Vajra].’
Next, the two began a one-sided slaughter. The heavily poisoned gang members couldn’t run fast. Those who tried to escape were chased down by Lu Changfeng, who unleashed his [Blood Burst Step] and struck them square in the back with his sword.
And so, in a short amount of time, the Golden Lion Gang was successfully wiped out by the two martial brothers!
The entire Golden Lion Gang headquarters was covered in blood, and the biting stench of it filled the cold winter air.
Any bystanders in the headquarters had long since fled.
Lu Changfeng had deliberately spared the strategist’s life.
This strategist was Golden Lion’s Dog Head Military Advisor. He had no Combat Power to speak of and hadn’t even reached the Blood Forging First Layer.
Perhaps it was because his martial prowess was so low and he had to rely on Golden Lion to survive that Golden Lion trusted this Dog Head Military Advisor so completely.
This advisor knew most of Golden Lion’s secrets.
Under the threat of Lu Changfeng’s and Zhou Feng’s blades, the Dog Head Military Advisor led the two to Golden Lion’s bedroom within the headquarters.
"It’s behind that wall. Please, let me go, my two heroes," the Dog Head Military Advisor said.
Zhou Feng stepped forward to inspect it closely, only then discovering something unusual about the wall.
He struck out with his palm, and the wall shattered, revealing a small, meter-high safe behind it.
The two of them took a look inside.
The human trafficker really had quite a lot of savings.
Inside the safe were over six thousand taels of silver, as well as some jade ornaments and jewelry. Among them, a Treasure Longsword that faintly glowed with a cold light caught Lu Changfeng’s eye. He unceremoniously hung it from his waist.
"Hero, I know the origin of this sword!" the Dog Head Military Advisor said, trying to curry favor.
"Tell me," Lu Changfeng said.
The Dog Head Military Advisor began to explain the sword’s origin. Its name was Autumn Water, and it was indeed a weapon of the Treasure Artifact Level, an heirloom from a Sword Training Family in Cyan Mountain Prefecture.
Later, this Sword Training Family fell into decline. A descendant, who still possessed the Treasure Artifact, was targeted by Golden Lion. He plotted to kill the descendant and seize the treasure, and so it ended up in Golden Lion’s collection.
So, the Autumn Water Sword could be used without any worry about its origins.
Treasure Artifacts were different from Mortal Artifacts. They were forged with the addition of Exotic Stones, making them extremely sharp. Any weapon that could be called a Treasure Artifact was a superior weapon.
The iron long sword Lu Changfeng had been using from the Martial Arts Hall had already developed several nicks after just a few fights.
The appearance of this Treasure Longsword was the perfect opportunity for Lu Changfeng to switch to a new weapon.
Wielding a Treasure Artifact would allow him to better display the power of his Swordsmanship.
The noise they had just made was a bit loud.
It wasn’t wise to linger in the Golden Lion Gang’s headquarters.
Lu Changfeng and Zhou Feng each took a sack and filled it with half of the valuables from the safe.
Before leaving, he killed the Dog Head Military Advisor with a single sword strike.
After shedding their blood-soaked servant clothes, the two of them scaled the wall and left the Golden Lion Gang’s headquarters.
Not long after, a few bold Martial Artists from the Outer City entered the Golden Lion Gang headquarters to investigate, only to be horrified by the sight of bodies strewn everywhere...
...
Zhou Feng and Lu Changfeng emerged from the Golden Lion Gang headquarters.
They found Hua’Er on a street corner.
"My two benefactors, did you succeed?"
Lu Changfeng nodded. "As of today, the Golden Lion Gang is no more."
"Thank you, benefactor, for saving me once again. I am willing to work myself to the bone to serve you."
Hua’Er’s words were clearly directed at Lu Changfeng.
Lu Changfeng rubbed his nose and glanced at Zhou Feng. Zhou Feng pretended not to notice, casually surveying the surroundings as if to say, ’It’s your call.’
Lu Changfeng thought for a moment. ’This girl was a huge help this time, and she’s quite resourceful.’
’She’s all alone in the world with a tragic background. If we let her wander off, she’ll probably run into trouble again.’ He then said, "Our Martial Arts Hall needs a laundry girl. If you don’t mind the low pay, you can come back with us."
"I couldn’t be more grateful, Benefactor," Hua’Er said, tears of joy streaming down her face.
"Alright then. We shouldn’t stay here any longer. Let’s head back to the Martial Arts Hall!"
Faint voices could be heard coming from the direction of the Golden Lion Martial Arts Hall. Fearing trouble, Lu Changfeng didn’t dare to linger, and the three of them headed straight back to their own Martial Arts Hall.
When Lu Changfeng arrived at the Changle Martial Arts Hall, he opened the back door as usual.
But he was startled by a figure standing behind the door who was as big as a small mountain.
"Master? What are you doing up so late...?"
Zhang Desheng looked at the three of them. "Been out killing people?"
Lu Changfeng and Zhou Feng exchanged a glance and nodded in admission.
There was a fleck of minced flesh in Zhou Feng’s hair. Even if they’d claimed they were out enjoying music, no one would have believed them.
"No wonder you broke through recently, Zhou Feng. So you’ve been running amok with this kid, Changfeng."
Zhang Desheng could tell with a single glance that it was the junior martial brother, Lu Changfeng, who had instigated Zhou Feng.
"Who did you kill this time?"
Lu Changfeng gave a dry cough and said, "The Golden Lion Gang from the Outer City. The one involved in human trafficking. They got what they deserved."
Zhang Desheng nodded thoughtfully, clearly aware of the Golden Lion Gang’s notorious reputation.
"Next time you go out to handle business like this, tell me in advance. If something happens, I can respond in time."
Zhang Desheng didn’t blame the two martial brothers.
"Who’s this young lady?"
"Oh, she was abducted by the Golden Lion Gang to be a servant. I felt sorry for her, so I brought her back to do laundry work," Lu Changfeng replied.
Zhang Desheng nodded. "Go wash up and get some sleep." He turned, his Inner Strength erupted from under his feet, and his figure vanished from the two brothers’ sight with incredible speed.
The two of them let out a sigh of relief. It was for the best that their master hadn’t blamed them.