Chapter 21: Enshrouded

Deep in Baihua Alley, outside a dilapidated earthen house.

Chen Qing pressed himself against the cold wall, his breathing suppressed to a minimum.

His gaze pierced through the mouth of the alley ahead, locking onto the two figures who had just emerged from the earthen house: Wang Ying and Duan Ye.

Both were Mingjin-level experts of the Blackwater Gang, possessing burly builds and faces etched with arrogance and impatience.

Wang Ying rubbed the back of his neck, cursing, "Damn it, another empty trip! That little widow is as slippery as a rat!"

Duan Ye spat a thick glob of phlegm and glanced down the deep alleyway. "Don't worry. With that old man around, she won't get far. She'll be in our pockets sooner or later."

At this moment, the two were completely unguarded, utterly unaware of the lurking killing intent.

Just as Wang Ying’s cursing died down and he lifted his foot to walk away—

*Whoosh!*

Chen Qing moved.

He shot out from the shadows of the corner, his footsteps silent, his speed so great that he left only a blurred afterimage.

The ordinary waist saber at his hip had been gripped in his hand at some unknown moment; in the dim light, the blade reflected no light, appearing cold and restrained.

Three steps! In just three steps, he had crossed a distance of several yards!

His target was Wang Ying’s unprotected nape.

The muscles in Chen Qing’s arm tightened instantly like a drawn bowstring. Without any unnecessary flourishes, the tip of the blade precisely pierced the gap between the vertebrae of Wang Ying’s neck. With a twist of his wrist, he sliced.

*Puchi!*

A sickening, muffled sound of a sharp blade cutting through bone and flesh rang out.

Wang Ying didn't even have time to react; he felt only a chill at the back of his neck, followed by a surge of scalding liquid.

A gurgling sound escaped his throat as his body pitched violently forward. The ferocity in his eyes was instantly replaced by horror and deathly stillness as he collapsed heavily onto the water-soaked bluestone slabs.

The blade did not rest!

Almost the moment Wang Ying fell, Chen Qing used his forward momentum to twist his waist and spin his body, his movements fluid and devoid of any clumsiness.

The waist saber traced a lethal arc, moving from bottom to top, slashing straight toward Duan Ye’s jaw.

This was a variation of the "Wind Sweeping the Clouds" technique from the Gale Saber Style—transforming a chop into an upward thrust, making it faster and the angle more unpredictable.

Duan Ye caught a glimpse of a dark shadow out of the corner of his eye. In his terror, he only managed to turn half his body before a bone-chilling cold pressed against his throat!

"Ugh?!"

His pupils constricted. He instinctively tried to draw his saber to parry, but it was too late.

The flash of the blade was as fast as lightning, cutting precisely through the corner of his slightly parted mouth, slicing diagonally along the jawbone and straight into the cranial cavity.

*Chak!*

The tip of the blade emerged near Duan Ye’s temple, coated in blood.

Duan Ye’s body felt as if all its bones had been sucked out; he convulsed violently before collapsing limply, falling atop Wang Ying’s still-warm corpse.

The entire ordeal lasted no more than two breaths.

The alley was extremely quiet, save for the sound of flowing blood.

Chen Qing quickly searched the two corpses, stuffing several pieces of broken silver and copper coins into his bosom.

His gaze, cold as ice, swept over the two bodies that were still twitching slightly. After several more strikes to destroy the evidence, he quietly departed.

***

The night was as black as ink, thick and impenetrable.

The brightly lit courtyard deep in Baihua Alley was exceptionally glaring.

This was the temporary headquarters of the Blackwater Gang.

Inside the main hall, oil lamps cast several shadows against the mottled walls.

The gang leader, Jiang Hui, was a burly man wearing an open silk shirt that revealed a hideous old scar on his chest.

He set his wine bowl down on the table with irritation.

"Damn it, where are those two brats Wang Ying and Duan Ye? What are they dawdling for?"

Jiang Hui’s voice carried the haze of alcohol and a violent impatience. "We agreed to discuss something big tonight. Where the hell did they go?"

Below him, a lean man nicknamed 'Skinny Monkey' hurriedly bowed. "Brother Hui, calm your anger. Brother Li and Brother Bao... they ran into a pretty widow at the alley entrance. I reckon, hehe, they wanted to 'get a taste' before coming over. That's why they're delayed."

He winked, his meaning unmistakable.

"Get a taste?!"

Jiang Hui slammed the table. "Son of a bitch! Playing with women is more important than the business I assigned? Don't you know how precious this batch of goods for the Jade Warm Workshop in the prefectural city is!?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The lackeys below were as silent as cicadas in winter, nodding repeatedly.

Jiang Hui took a deep breath, thinking of something. "That girl from the Yang family is top-tier stock. I heard her mother is the daughter of the Chen family from the Fishery Workshop?"

Skinny Monkey sneered, "Rest assured, Boss! I looked into it. That old man of the Chen family is just an old fisherman. His second son, Chen Wen, is a useless parasite. As for his grandson, Chen Heng, he's just idling around the Guangchang Martial Arts Hall. Heh, that kid is all show; he spends all day drinking and boasting with his fellow disciples. I heard he hasn't even mastered basic Mingjin. As for the eldest son's child, the one named Chen Qing..."

Someone nearby spoke with disdain, "He's just a name on a registry at the River Bureau, a mere errand boy. How much capability could he have? Boss, you're about to touch the threshold of Anjin; why fear him? Besides, behind us..."

Jiang Hui interrupted Skinny Monkey. "A River Bureau grunt, a martial arts hall failure, plus a few peasant relatives—do they think they can block my path to wealth? If the Chen family is smart, they'll obediently take the silver and send the girl! If they aren't? Hmph!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes as he drained the dregs of his wine. "I'll just use them to set an example, so everyone in the Fishery Workshop sees what happens when they offend my Blackwater Gang!"

Before his voice had even faded, the hall doors were kicked open with a loud *clatter*.

A man, covered in mud and wearing tattered clothes, stumbled in. His face was smeared with blood and dirt, making him unrecognizable. Clutching his abdomen as if heavily wounded, he gasped breathlessly

"Brother Hui! It's bad! Something... something happened!"

The hall fell silent instantly.

Jiang Hui’s brow furrowed into a knot as he barked, "What are you panicking for!"

The 'injured' man panted heavily. "Brother Hui, Brother Bao and the others were ambushed at the 'Old Locust Tree'! The opponents are tough! The brothers can't hold on much longer! Brother Duan Ye told me to come for help! He said to bring you to save them immediately! If we're late, then... then..."

His body swayed, nearly collapsing; he only managed to stay upright by leaning against the doorframe.

"The Old Locust Tree? Ambushed Duan Ye?"

Jiang Hui stood up abruptly, his face erupting with violence. "Who the hell has the guts to touch my Blackwater Gang? Grab your weapons! Follow me..."

Something was wrong!

Jiang Hui’s footsteps came to a dead halt! He was a man who had survived by licking blood from a blade; his alertness was extremely high.

How could a wounded, panicked lackey fleeing for his life maintain such... almost professional-level stability in his stance amidst such chaos?

Furthermore, this man's voice was raspy, as if he were deliberately suppressing it...

The hair on Jiang Hui's body stood on end. He whipped his head around, his eyes pinning the 'messenger' to the spot.

"Wait! Who the hell are you?! I've never seen your face! And your blade... where did that blood come from?!"

This roar was like a clap of thunder! The lackeys in the hall were startled by the shout and instinctively followed Jiang Hui's gaze toward the man and his blade.

The man was none other than Chen Qing.

The moment Jiang Hui shouted the last word, the final trace of disguise in Chen Qing's eyes vanished, replaced by an icy, frozen killing intent!

"You'll know once you're dead!"

Chen Qing's voice was bone-chilling!

Before the words had even settled, his left hand, which had been clutching his abdomen, suddenly released.

What was revealed from the 'wound' was not flesh and blood, but a long saber.

Simultaneously, his entire body released like a powerful bow being unstrung!

*Shriek!*

The waist saber unsheathed like a venomous dragon, trailing a piercing flash of cold light.

He did not strike directly at Jiang Hui, but instead slashed with lightning speed at the nearest, stunned target: Skinny Monkey!

*Puff!*

The blade bit into flesh, and blood sprayed!

Before Skinny Monkey could even let out a scream, his head flew into the air, his face frozen in an expression of utter disbelief!

"Attack! He's an assassin!"

Jiang Hui's eyes nearly burst from their sockets.

"Enemy!"

The remaining men instantly lost their drunken stupor, shouting in alarm.

By now, Chen Qing had already slain Duan Ye and Wang Ying; his battle intent was blazing, his killing intent boiling.

His blood surged through his veins, yet his entire being was terrifyingly cold, like a predator tensing every muscle, ready to strike.

His long saber swung repeatedly in unpredictable, treacherous arcs, leaving nothing but streaks of cold light.

The remaining three members of the Blackwater Gang had no time to react; the blade swept past their throats, and they collapsed one after another, twitching in the throes of death.

"Who... exactly are you?!"

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Jiang Hui's back, his remaining intoxication vanishing completely.

Chen Qing did not answer. His figure lunged forward, the long saber slashing straight toward the man's face! Jiang Hui dodged frantically, the sharp wind of the blade stinging his cheek.

*Boom!*

A wooden table to the side exploded, sending shards of wine jars flying in all directions.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Hui drew his own saber to counterattack. The two blades clashed, sparking brilliantly under the cold moon.

Chen Qing was highly focused—real combat was different from sparring; victory meant life, and defeat meant death.

Although Jiang Hui was slowed by alcohol, he was, after all, a peak Mingjin expert, seasoned and experienced in combat.

*Clang!*

The sound of clashing metal was deafening.

Chen Qing narrowed his eyes. Using the 'Agile Ape Flip' to avoid a direct confrontation, he redirected his saber's momentum, creating a sharp gust of wind that slashed toward Jiang Hui's soft ribs!

A chill gripped Jiang Hui. He instinctively retreated backward, then extended his sleeve, revealing several flying needles in his calloused palm.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

The needles darted through the night, aimed straight at Chen Qing's brow.

Jiang Hui had survived countless perils using these hidden needles; they were his signature skill.

In the darkness of night, it was the perfect time to employ them.

*Ching!*

A flash of light.

Chen Qing exerted his full strength. A crisp sound erupted as the old courtyard wall in front of him shattered under the sharp wind of his blade, turning into rubble that directly buried the flying needles.

*Thud, thud, thud!*

The rubble then cascaded toward Jiang Hui.

"This kid is a tough nut to crack!"

Terrified, Jiang Hui turned to flee.

Seeing this, Chen Qing flicked the tip of his blade, sending the shards of the broken wine jars flying like arrows.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*

The sharp ceramic pieces tore through the air with a piercing whistle.

Jiang Hui dodged frantically, yet he still felt a chill on his back as warm liquid trickled down his spine.

In the next instant, a powerful punch struck.

Tongbi Boxing!?

Jiang Hui's mind sharpened; he recognized the style the moment the palm wind hit him.

He had no time to think; his survival instinct drove him to take the blow head-on, attempting to use the momentum to escape.

However, he had vastly underestimated Chen Qing's killing intent. This strike utilized almost his entire strength, his blood and energy pushed to the absolute limit. A crisp, explosive sound echoed through the courtyard.

*Boom!*

The explosion of the colliding palms caused the snow on the eaves to fall in a flurry.

Jiang Hui's entire right arm instantly went numb. His body was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing through and collapsing the earthen wall.

Chen Qing was also pushed back several yards by the recoil, his boots plowing two deep grooves into the frozen earth.

"Cough, cough..."

Jiang Hui crawled out from the pile of bricks and stones, blood foaming at the corners of his mouth, before stumbling into a dark alley.

Chen Qing steadied himself and immediately gave chase.

He knew Jiang Hui was heavily wounded; this was his best chance to finish him.