Chapter 92 - 93: Hidden Murderous Intent at the Celebration Banquet

Chapter 92: Chapter 93: Hidden Murderous Intent at the Celebration Banquet

"My power has actually penetrated my internal organs!"

The recent attempt made Su Chen lose his composure a bit, but he couldn’t suppress his joy. Sure enough, it was almost exactly as he had guessed. The power of the fifth layer of the Iron Cloth Shirt could temper his internal organs.

Although it was only a tiny trace, it was a giant leap for Su Chen toward the next realm. As long as his power could permeate his internal organs, he would be able to find a way to improve.

However, when he saw the changes on his status panel, the smile on his face gradually froze. Because it had integrated numerous Cultivation Techniques, the panel now looked much cleaner.

It displayed:

[Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt - Fragment (Fifth Layer 1%), Frenzy Wave Saber Technique (Limit), Bone Shrinking Skill (Limit)]

[Simple Mode: Iron Cloth Shirt - Fragment 0 times (None), Frenzy Wave Saber Technique 0 times (Any complete saber technique/manual), Bone Shrinking Skill 0 times (None)]

"The Iron Cloth Shirt can’t be upgraded anymore?" Su Chen muttered to himself, frozen for a long time as he stared at the information displayed on the panel.

"That’s not right. The level shows it’s only at the fifth layer, and there’s a progress bar, but Simple Mode can’t be activated. Could it be that a new Cultivation Technique is required to unlock it?"

After observing for a while, Su Chen quickly pinpointed the problem. There was progress, but no Simple Mode. This was entirely different from the Bone Shrinking Skill. The Bone Shrinking Skill displayed ’Limit’ and ’None,’ but the Iron Cloth Shirt did not.

"It seems I’ll have to find a new Cultivation Technique and give it a try!" Su Chen thought. He now had plenty of money and medicine on him; all he lacked was a Cultivation Technique. But there was nothing he could do about it—after all, Cultivation Techniques were not easy to come by.

"In addition to a new Cultivation Technique, I also need to find a new saber technique."

A moment later, Su Chen put on his clothes, quickly tidied up the room, and packed all his money and some herbs into his bundle. He had stayed in Medicine Town for quite some time. It was time to head back.

White Stone City, County Magistrate’s Office.

"The eradication of the Medicine Gang yielded a bountiful harvest this time. Aside from one hundred thousand taels of Silver, there is also a vast amount of medicinal herbs," Tao Wenxuan said, a hint of joy on his brow as he reviewed the ledger compiled by Tao Dingfang.

If the various herbs and treasures were added up, the total value of these items would exceed two hundred thousand taels of Silver.

At this thought, he set down the ledger, his expression turning somewhat ambiguous as he let out a soft sigh. Hearing this, Tao Dingfang asked in confusion, "What’s wrong, Uncle?"

"Although we confiscated a lot of money and supplies, we promised too much away," Tao Wenxuan said meaningfully.

"Haha, so that’s what you’re worried about, Uncle. There’s no need to fret. Within three days at most, these things will be returned to their rightful owner. However, I actually wanted to ask you..."

"Ask what?"

"How are the preparations on your end?" Tao Dingfang asked with a smile.

Tao Wenxuan paused for a moment before chuckling lightly. "Haha, your uncle has had everything ready for a long time. I’m just waiting for you to make your move."

"In that case, let’s invite them over tomorrow night. We’ll turn their victory banquet into a feast of death!"

"Excellent!"

Hong Family Martial Arts Hall.

The martial arts hall had returned to a brief period of tranquility. Four consecutive days had passed without any news from Su Chen, which inevitably made Hong Ming a bit anxious. Even though he knew Su Chen was already a Power Training Martial Artist, there were still fleeing remnants of the Rebirth Sect outside White Stone City. If Su Chen were to run into them, two fists would be no match for four hands.

"Master, there is news," Li Mo said as he hurried inside.

"How is Su Chen?" Hong Ming put down his palm-leaf fan and quickly stood up to ask.

"No, it’s not about Junior Brother, but from the Government Office," Li Mo scratched his head and smiled bitterly. "Master, with Junior Brother’s skills, what is there to worry about? Even if he encounters someone formidable, given his personality, he can always just run away if he can’t win."

"Hmm. So what news is there from the Government Office?" Hong Ming nodded, changing the subject.

"This is an invitation from them," Li Mo said, handing a formal invitation card to Hong Ming.

Opening the invitation to take a look, Hong Ming found that it wasn’t bad news at all. The Government Office was preparing to host a victory banquet and was inviting Hong Ming and others who had previously contributed to the effort.

"Master, we got one too," Li Mo added, taking out his own invitation.

Hong Ming nodded and checked the time on the card. "Tomorrow night, is it?"

At the city gates.

Although the foot traffic wasn’t heavy, order had more or less been restored. At the very least, they no longer had to worry about the Rebirth Sect from Lianyun Stronghold attacking the city.

The City Guards’ inspections had also become more relaxed. Aside from questioning people who looked suspicious, they generally let ordinary commoners pass without issue.

At this moment, a man wearing a bamboo hat approached the city gates, immediately catching the attention of the City Guards.

"Halt! Who are you?"

"Assassin, Yang Guo!"

"Yang the Warrior?"

The City Guard had heard of Yang Guo’s reputation, but weren’t there rumors saying that Yang Guo had been killed by the Rebirth Sect? With this in mind, he carefully scrutinized the newcomer. The man’s attire was very similar to the Yang Guo they had seen before, and he was also missing an arm.

"Didn’t they say you were killed by the people from the Rebirth Sect?" one of the City Guards asked in confusion.

"That was just a rumor they spread," the man replied, his voice raspy.

"I see. Forgive our offense." The City Guards exchanged glances and let him through.

Once Yang Guo had walked away, one of the City Guards ordered, "You guys follow him. I’m going to report to Lord Tao that Yang Guo has appeared." ℯℯ𝑙.

"Understood!"

Easily shaking off the City Guards trailing behind him, Sun Yun changed his clothes in an obscure corner and reverted to his original attire. However, his face still didn’t look like his own. After all, his wanted posters were currently plastered all over White Stone City, so it was unwise to expose his true identity.

He navigated his way through the streets and soon slipped into an abandoned old mansion.

"Protector Sun, please come inside." A man came out to greet him and ushered him in.

They walked through the courtyard and entered a room where someone was already waiting.

"You shouldn’t have shown up at a time like this," the person said flatly.

"Why shouldn’t I? Tao Dingfang killed so many of our people; how can we let him off so easily?" Sun Yun sneered. "Or could it be that you’ve forgotten your own identity?"

"If I had forgotten my identity, I wouldn’t have risked coming to see you."

Sun Yun took a seat, and the other person continued, "Tomorrow night, Tao Dingfang is inviting a group of Martial Artists to a banquet. That will be your best opportunity to strike."

"From the sound of it, you don’t plan on making a move with me?" Sun Yun asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It’s not that I don’t want to, but rather that it’s unnecessary. A mere Tao Dingfang isn’t worth exposing myself for. If it were Hong Yue, maybe." The man shook his head.

"Fine, but I’ll need your help."

"No problem."

Having received his answer, Sun Yun prepared to leave. Just as he stood up, the man stopped him with a question. "Do you know where Zhu Bao is?"

Sun Yun turned his head and gave the man a profound look before shaking his head. "I don’t know. What, are you interested in him?"

"Not me, but the Dharma King is interested. Don’t forget, there are only a few of them left in Lianyun Stronghold now. The wealth of both Lianyun Stronghold and half of the Lin Family Castle is tied entirely to him."

Hearing this, Sun Yun fell silent for a moment before finally saying, "I don’t know where he is, but you might as well send someone to Lianyun Stronghold to investigate. You might find some clues there."

The man didn’t reply. Seeing this, Sun Yun turned and left.

The following day, the banquet began.