The instant the sound rang out.
Two of the commoners right beside her, their faces contorted with rage, had already lunged forward and shoved the maidservant hard to the ground.
Then they clamped their filth-caked palms over her mouth, looking as if they wanted to shove her face straight into the mud!
The girl was already terrified. Now, assailed by the foul stench, she felt bile rise in her throat and began to struggle desperately, her legs kicking wildly.
Chang Yi had been standing nearby, escorting the group forward.
The scream pierced his mind like a clap of thunder, leaving a dazed look on his dark face.
He stared at the maidservant on the ground not far away.
’Suddenly, I don’t know whether to blame her or myself for not being thorough enough in my planning.’
’If only I’d considered this beforehand. I could have warned everyone about the body at the entrance, or prepared cloth gags to cover their mouths, or...’
Chang Yi pressed his fingers hard against his brow. His frayed nerves felt ready to snap. He had run through this scenario in his mind countless times, yet something had still gone wrong.
"Move!"
He took a deep breath, his hand flying to the hilt of his saber as he roared.
The instant the maidservant had screamed, the sound of urgent footsteps had already erupted from all over the earthen mound.
’It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. I’m the only one left who can handle this situation!’
The surrounding commoners scattered in a panic. Even the two who had been holding down the maidservant hastily let go and fled, scrambling away with all their might.
But their desperate flight was quickly halted.
The Foxes weren’t known for their martial prowess, but that was only in comparison to the Fierce Wolves. Even the ones who had never learned any kung fu would have at least two guards by their side.
Now, more than thirty figures leaped down from the earthen mound—nearly all the elites of the Cunning Fox Hall had gathered.
Just four or five guards were enough to easily block the path of the dozens of commoners and herd them back.
"Well, if it isn’t Master Chang?"
The Foxes ambled closer, the lanterns in their hands floating like will-o’-the-wisps.
More terrifying still, four figures emerged slowly from behind them. They were all familiar faces—Fierce Wolves, men qualified to rule over an entire street!
"I told you we should have cleaned this up sooner. You just had to drag it out until the moon was at its peak. We almost had a problem," Yin Ling said, raising an eyebrow impatiently. He glanced down at the maidservant, who was frozen in fear at his feet.
The girl finally realized what a terrifying situation her scream had caused.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she trembled, about to beg for mercy.
Before a word could leave her lips, a boot came down hard, crushing her skull with a sickening CRUNCH. Red and white matter splattered onto the corpse beside her.
"Why make something as simple as killing someone so complicated," Yin Ling muttered, grinding the sole of his boot into the muddy ground.
"Master Yin, you..."
The Foxes rolled their eyes in exasperation and had no choice but to explain, "The hundred hearts Senior Xia needs for his alchemy must be harvested when the moon is at its peak. You have to cut open their chests and pour the blood of a close relative into their body. It takes two people to get one heart."
Fortunately, they had prepared a few extra.
Otherwise, that one stomp from Yin would have wasted two lives.
The Foxes and Fierce Wolves chatted leisurely, completely ignoring the young Chief Constable in the distance.
Even though Chang Yi’s eyes had turned bloodshot the moment the maidservant died, he was only one man with one saber. Surrounded as he was, his rage seemed almost laughable.
"Should we do him in?" one of the Foxes finally asked, turning his gaze toward him.
Daring to kill a Chief Constable in West City was something only that Greedy Wolf would do, but out here in the desolate suburbs, things were different.
Yin Ling was about to nod.
But the Fierce Wolf next to him suddenly bumped him with his shoulder.
"I heard Bai Feng mention him. This kid..."
The man didn’t finish his sentence. Instead, he looked directly at Blackhead in the distance, frowned, and barked, "Scram!"
They weren’t afraid of being exposed. To put it bluntly, the only reason the Government Office was still the Government Office was thanks to that woman who inexplicably became the County Captain.
Her presence had created a fragile balance.
Otherwise, the Black Water Gang would have taken the County Magistrate’s head long ago.
SHING!
Chang Yi yanked his saber halfway from its sheath. His breathing was heavy, but he didn’t take a single step forward.
’With my level of Cultivation, if I charge in, the commoners behind me will instantly become lambs to the slaughter.’
He racked his brain, mulling over the advice he’d been given.
’Be flexible, be flexible... I’m here to save people tonight, not to throw a tantrum.’
Chang Yi scanned his surroundings. ’Leaving like this is impossible. But how can I fight in a way that saves the most people?’
’If Brother Lin were here, what would he do?’
The young Chief Constable’s mind was in turmoil. He couldn’t think of any way to break the stalemate, and even the hand gripping his saber began to tremble slightly.
"Heh, look at you, getting all worked up," a Fox sneered when he saw Blackhead drawing his saber.
But just as he was about to add a few more taunts, his voice suddenly faltered.
His eyes were fixed on something in the distance.
A simple, clean black shirt fluttered gently in the mountain breeze. As the newcomer approached, a fair and handsome face gradually emerged from the deep night.
The Fox instinctively touched his own face, a venomous look appearing in his eyes.
He had just been slapped across the face on Sifang Street earlier that day. Seeing this Greedy Wolf again now, he was naturally a little intimidated.
"Master Lin, what are you doing here?" Yin Ling looked surprised. If he remembered correctly, Senior Xia had excused Master Lin from the birthday gift. Why would he come all the way out to the South Suburbs to stand in the cold wind?
Chang Yi instinctively turned his head, but his expression showed no sign of pleasant surprise.
He believed Brother Lin had enough influence to get him out of there alive, but mere survival wasn’t what he wanted.
If it was about saving people, how could the name of Greedy Wolf possibly intimidate a tiger?
Just then, Chang Yi’s expression shifted, his eyes filling with confusion.
He watched, stunned, as Lin Shu calmly approached, reached out, and placed his long, slender fingers over Chang Yi’s own on the saber’s hilt.
A similar action had occurred twice before.
The first time was in Cyan Willow Lane. He had pushed the saber back into its sheath, helping Chang Yi understand his own heart and realize what he truly wanted.
Then, in the Zhao Family Courtyard, Brother Lin had pushed the saber back again, teaching him the importance of being flexible.
’This is the third time. What is it for?’
Chang Yi held his breath, his eyelid suddenly twitching.
Because this time, the hand did not push the long saber back.
SHRRK—
Amidst a grating scrape, the blade’s snowy-bright silver light bathed in the moonlight as it was drawn, inch by inch, from its sheath, illuminating everyone’s eyes.
Lin Shu drew the long saber and strode forward with a leisurely gait.
His already fair face looked almost sickly under the moonlight, and the corners of his lips slowly curled into an unreadable smile.
"Master Lin, what is the meaning of this?"
That Fox furrowed his brow. A chill suddenly shot through his heart as he watched the figure walking toward him.
He subconsciously started to back away, but his vision was abruptly filled with the flash of the blade.
PSHHHT!
Lin Shu swung the saber casually. Without even glancing at his target, a head thudded to the ground.
Before the spray of blood had even fully blossomed, he had already stepped over the corpse.
[He who kills and commits arson wears a belt of gold; he who builds bridges and paves roads leaves no corpse behind. Kill one worthless life, be rewarded with two Sin Coins.]
"Lin, you fucking crazy?!" the Foxes cried out, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Even after seeing Lin Shu draw the saber, they had never imagined he would actually move against them.
’A mere Fierce Wolf dares to try and wipe out the entire Cunning Fox Hall?’
’What’s more, he isn’t the only Fierce Wolf here!’
"Lin Shu!" Three of the four Fierce Wolves took a menacing step forward, their expressions suddenly turning savage.
No matter the reason or what kind of background he had, after that one strike, he would have to face the consequences here today.
Yin Ling hesitated for a moment before also stepping forward. "You’ve broken the rules," he said coldly.
Because of the past incident with Tian Jingyuan, he was indeed somewhat afraid of Lin Shu. But here and now, he had the advantage in both reason and numbers.
Chang Yi’s pupils were stained red by the reflection of the gushing blood.
He felt his own face go numb.
He had once visited Brother Lin, hoping to learn how to be a proper constable, but he had been turned away with a joke.
Now, he had already been taught two lessons.
’So what is this third lesson?’
He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but a chill suddenly began to spread across the mound, seeping deep into his bones.
The wails that slowly began to howl through the air gave the place the horrifying feel of a mass grave!

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