Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 582 It's not silver, it's a curse?
Cen Ruifeng hovered in mid-air.

His violent internal energy surged and rolled like boiling lava, scorching and distorting the surrounding air.

His hair and beard stood on end, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was fixed on the several dark figures below that exuded an ominous aura.

As a third-rank expert, how sharp are his senses?
He had long noticed the abnormality of these black-robed "people"—they were cold and stiff, without any body temperature, and their chests were completely silent, without the heartbeat and breathing that a living person should have!

This is no ordinary martial artist, but an evil object created by some kind of unorthodox sect!
"Bastard!"

The anger in Cen Ruifeng's chest erupted like a volcano, almost bursting through the top of his head:

"What kind of demonic cultists dare to command such filthy and evil creatures to act so presumptuously before me, 'Thunderbolt Hand' Cen Ruifeng?!"

"court death!!!"

He hated these evil sects more than anything in his life. At this moment, he felt his dignity had been trampled on, and his killing intent boiled to the extreme!
As if sensing his overwhelming rage and pure masculine energy, the several Yin Bone Puppet below slowly raised their heads.

Beneath the shadow of the hood, several pairs of empty, murky, lifeless, pale eyes were visible, like the eyes of dead fish, coldly reflecting the furious figure in the air.

There was no fear, no anger in that gaze, only a chilling, pure indifference toward the living.

next moment!
The five men in black robes were suddenly pulled up from the ground as if by invisible threads!

An intense, chilling aura of death instantly spread, causing the air temperature to plummet and a chilling sensation to rise from the soles of every living person's feet and spread throughout their entire body.

With an unyielding spirit, they swept up a biting wind and, like five arrows from the underworld, fiercely attacked Cen Ruifeng in mid-air!

A stench of decay filled the air!

"Like an ant trying to shake a tree! He's courting death!"

Cen Ruifeng laughed in extreme anger, his voice booming like thunder!
Faced with the attack of these evil creatures, he not only did not retreat, but his momentum became even stronger!
Suddenly, he raised his right arm high, fingers spread wide, palm facing down!
A terrifyingly powerful internal force gathered and compressed wildly in his palm!
The surrounding air seemed to be gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, emitting a groan of unbearable pressure!
The sound of wind and thunder could be faintly heard rolling through the veins in his arm!
"Get out of here!"

Accompanied by a thunderous roar that shook the heavens.

Cen Ruifeng's palm, brimming with destructive energy, was like a divine punishment seal descending from the heavens, carrying immense force as it slammed down on the horde of Yin Bone Puppet swarms rushing towards them!
"BOOM!!!!!!!!!"

An indescribable, terrifying roar erupted, as if a giant cannonball had exploded right next to everyone's ears!
A blazing fire, accompanied by a deafening explosion, erupted at the critical point between Cen Ruifeng's palm and the air!

A blinding white light flashed and disappeared in an instant, illuminating half of the night sky!
The violent and unparalleled shockwave of internal energy, like a materialized raging sea, poured down downwards with overwhelming force!

The air was compressed and torn apart, producing a sharp popping sound!
This is his legendary skill that made him famous throughout the martial arts world – "Thunderbolt Hand"!
His palm strikes were like thunderbolts, fierce and unparalleled, utterly devastating!
Faced with this earth-shattering attack, the Yin Bone Puppet did not even try to dodge!
They all raised their withered, bony claws, carrying a dense aura of deathly darkness, and fearlessly met the destructive shockwave head-on!
In an instant.

Countless pale, twisted phantom claws, carrying a strong stench of decay, like tentacles reaching out from hell, densely grabbed at the thunderous power that represented the ultimate yang and strength!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Deafening collisions rang out one after another!
Under Cen Ruifeng's furious attack, the four Yin Bone Puppets, who were only at the fourth rank, were like rotten wood struck by a giant hammer, utterly powerless to resist!
They were slammed by the overwhelming explosive force, their bodies shooting back at an even faster speed like meteorites.

"Bang!!!"

They crashed violently into the ruins of the county government office, creating four shocking craters in the hard ground, sending dust and debris flying into the sky!

however.

That Yin Bone Puppet, which was at the third-grade level, displayed astonishing strength!

It forcefully tore apart the core of the explosion's shockwave, and its surroundings surged with yin energy, briefly repelling the extremely yang and powerful force, creating a gap!
Like a demon breaking free from the shackles of hell, it carried a nauseating, putrid stench and pierced through the energy turbulence at an astonishing speed, instantly closing in on Cen Ruifeng!

The man and the puppet collided violently in mid-air, several feet above the ground!

A true close-quarters battle, erupting in an instant!
The two were moving at extreme speeds, their figures turning into two blurry afterimages!
Fists, palms, claws, elbows, knees... every part of the body has been transformed into the most deadly weapon!
Each collision was accompanied by a dull, drum-like thud and a piercing metallic scraping sound.

Cen Ruifeng's arms swung like the wind, each move accompanied by a muffled explosive shockwave!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

It was like a continuous rumble of thunder exploding between the two of them!

The intense and powerful internal energy, like a tangible flame, continuously burned and dispelled the dense death aura emanating from the Yin Bone Puppet.

His moves are wide and powerful, fierce and domineering, striving to crush evil spirits with absolute power.

The third-grade Yin Bone Puppet is like the most insidious venomous snake!
Its moves are not as imposing as Cen Ruifeng's, but they are more cunning, unpredictable, and deadly!
Each claw strike carried a chilling cold and corrosive corpse poison, silently targeting Cen Ruifeng's internal energy circulation points and vital joints!
Although its movements were somewhat stiff and inhuman, its strength was astonishing, and it was fearless and disregarded its own injuries, only seeking to exchange injuries for injuries!

That chilling, deathly aura clung to him like a maggot, constantly trying to burrow into Cen Ruifeng's meridians and erode his life force!

The terrifying aftershocks of the energy surged outwards like a runaway hurricane, sweeping wildly in all directions from the center of their battle!

The already dilapidated roof of the county government office below was repeatedly pounded as if by countless invisible giant hammers, and large sections of glazed tiles were shattered into dust!

The supporting beams groaned in pain, cracks spread rapidly, and finally, unable to hold on any longer, the entire roof collapsed with a loud crash!

Bricks, stones, and timber rained down like a storm!
"Run!"

"It's collapsing! Help!"

Those soldiers and yamen runners who had miraculously survived in the compound were now terrified, running away in panic, crying and screaming for their parents, wishing they had two more legs.

Faced with the aftershocks of such a powerful battle, they were as fragile as ants!

This earth-shattering battle even forcibly interrupted the life-or-death struggle between Fei Biao, Han Tong, and Zhong Lihan not far away!

The three of them stopped what they were doing at the same time, their faces filled with astonishment and disbelief, and looked up at the figures fighting like demons in the sky above the county government office.

The earth-shattering momentum and the suffocating energy fluctuations all indicated that the level of the battle far exceeded their imagination!

Zhongli Han carried the giant bell, his bare upper body covered in small wounds. His eyes, wide like copper bells, glared as he murmured:

"Damn it... that old bastard... and that ghostly thing... just who are they?"

I originally thought tonight would be a showdown between the three of them.

Unexpectedly, their neighbor stole the spotlight, leaving the three of them as insignificant supporting characters.

Fei Biao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at the violent energy turbulence above the county government office, a hint of fear and lingering apprehension flashing in his eyes:
"Goodness... a full-force battle at the third-grade level... thankfully we were far away..."

Despite his thick skin and tough flesh, he still suffered some internal injuries from withstanding the giant bell that Zhongli shook.

Han Tong's face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with not only horror but also a barely perceptible glint of greed as he stared intently at the third-grade Yin Bone Puppet:

"Immortality...immense strength...what a treasure!"

As a master of mechanisms and hidden weapons, he immediately recognized that the Yin Bone Puppet was activated by some kind of mechanism.

Han Tong developed a strong interest in this inhuman creation.

……

Mu Shanqing stood on the rooftop beside Liang Jin, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her cool voice carrying a hint of solemnity:
"Sir, your... special 'partner' probably won't last much longer."

Her gaze was as sharp as an eagle's; she had already seen through the battle situation.

Although the third-grade Yin Bone Puppet was of high level and strong, its movements were marked by an inhuman sluggishness and stiffness.

In the face of a seasoned and skilled third-rank master like Cen Ruifeng, this would be a fatal flaw!
Like a grain of sand mixed into a precise gear set, it will eventually lead to collapse.

She could clearly feel that the Yin energy of the Yin Bone Puppet was being rapidly worn down and suppressed under the relentless and powerful "Thunderbolt Palm" attacks of Cen Ruifeng, and its movements were becoming increasingly sluggish.

“Cen Ruifeng’s martial arts are extremely powerful and yang, which has a certain restraining effect on your companions.”

"I'm afraid your companion will be defeated within ten moves, and may even be completely destroyed."

Kiyama Sei made an accurate judgment.

She then turned to look at Liang Jin, her eyes clear and firm, her tone carrying an undeniable confidence, even a hint of arrogance:
"But sir, there is no need to worry."

"Now that I am here, I will not allow such petty people to harm you in the slightest."

"Then I, Mu, will deal with Cen Ruifeng!"

She longed to befriend Liang Jin, a man of extraordinary talent, but was struggling to find a suitable opportunity to demonstrate her sincerity and ability.

With formidable enemies all around, this is the perfect opportunity to offer timely assistance and demonstrate our capabilities.

It's absolutely worth it to go to such lengths for someone of such extraordinary talent!

Before he finished speaking, Mushan Qing had already moved.

She didn't use any fancy footwork; she simply touched the tile with her toes, and her whole body seemed to lose its weight.

As if lifted by a gentle breeze, her clothes fluttered, her posture elegant and composed to the extreme, yet she moved as swiftly as a pale blue streak of light, drifting towards the chaotic center of the battlefield above the county government office!

It wasn't the ferocious charge of a martial artist, but more like an immortal riding the wind, carrying an air of transcendence.

A hint of surprise flashed in Liang Jin's eyes, which quickly turned into a smile of great interest.

This Mushanqing is decisive and surprisingly righteous.

She's really capable when there's trouble!
"Interesting, let's see what you're made of."

He didn't stop him; instead, he crossed his arms and focused even more intently on the battlefield.

In the blink of an eye, Mu Shanqing stood in mid-air at the edge of the battlefield, only a few feet away from Cen Ruifeng and the Yin Bone Puppet who were engaged in fierce combat.

She didn't make a move immediately, nor did she issue any reprimands. She simply hovered there quietly, her hands hanging naturally at her sides, her gaze calmly fixed on Cen Ruifeng.

However, this calmness, this silent gaze, seemed to contain an immense pressure!

Cen Ruifeng, who was fiercely fighting the Yin Bone Puppet and had the upper hand, suddenly felt a jolt in his heart!
An indescribable, chilling sense of crisis instantly gripped him!
It felt as if he were being watched by a primordial python lurking in the shadows, making the hairs on the back of his head stand on end!

The expert's keen sense of energy immediately made him realize that this suddenly appearing woman posed a far greater threat than the black-robed "monster" before him!
"drink!"

Cen Ruifeng dared not be negligent in the slightest. He suddenly struck out with his palm, and with a violent explosion, he forcefully pushed back several feet of the Yin Bone Puppet that was rushing forward again.

Using the force of the recoil, he retreated rapidly like lightning, instantly creating a relatively safe distance.

Finally, he stared intently at Mushan Qing with a look of surprise and uncertainty, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible seriousness:

"There's actually someone like you hiding in Yanshan Village?!"

"Who exactly are you? State your name!"

Cen Ruifeng had naturally gathered a lot of intelligence about Yanshan Village recently.

Among the most skilled martial artists in Yanshan Village, the leader, "Proud Blade Hero" Yin Leiling, is followed by "Dwarf Yama" Meng Guang and "White-Clad Scholar" Bai Yi.

In addition, there's the newly added "Timely Rain" Song Jiang.

Other than that, our opponents are not worth mentioning.

But I've never heard of a female expert in Yanshan Village who possesses such extraordinary bearing and poses such a strong threat to him!
Kiyama Ao parted her red lips slightly, uttering only three words, her voice as cold as ice water striking stone:

"The wood and the mountain are green."

She disdains unnecessary explanations?

This name was her declaration.

The moment she finished speaking.

The third-grade Yin Bone Puppet that had been knocked back had regained its footing, and its empty eyes locked onto Cen Ruifeng once again, poised to pounce!
With a mysterious and powerful enemy in front and a bizarre monster behind, Cen Ruifeng suddenly felt the pressure increase, and even a fine layer of cold sweat seeped from his forehead!
He's confident he can win one-on-one, but if he's caught in a pincer attack...

Life or death is uncertain!

Sudden--

A chilling, piercing shout, like the flicking of a venomous snake, suddenly boomed from the depths of the dilapidated county government office below:

"Hmph! A bunch of clowns, daring to run wild in this important official territory?!"

Immediately afterwards, a pale figure soared into the sky!

Its speed was so fast that it overtook Cen Ruifeng and Yin Gu Puppet in the midst of their fierce battle, soaring upwards until it hovered at the highest point above everyone's heads!

The moonlight shone down, illuminating the strange face of the newcomer—a face without eyebrows or beard, smooth as a white porcelain mask.

And those unfathomable, emotionless dark eyes!

It was Yan Zi'an, one of the four chief officers of the Criminal Investigation Bureau!

He was like a high and mighty god, looking down with absolute condescension. His cold gaze swept over Mu Shanqing and the Yin Bone Puppet below, and his voice was like a chilling wind from the depths of hell:

"I am Yan Zi'an, the fourth head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau!"

"You scoundrels and petty villains, do you know that offending the imperial majesty and defying this official is a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire family?!"

"I'm going to capture you without mercy!"

Kiyama Sei looked up at the pale figure suspended at the highest point.

Instead of fear, her eyes flashed with intense disgust and contempt, as if she had seen something extremely filthy.

A cold, mocking smile curved her lips.

"Who do I think it is? It turns out to be a good dog under the command of the castrated dog."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly through the night sky; every word was like a poisoned icy needle, piercing Yan Zi'an's most painful spot.

"Standing that high, be careful not to strain your back in the strong wind, or you'll fall and be smashed to pieces!"

Yan Zi'an's deathly pale face instantly contorted!
"presumptuous!"

Mushan Qing not only insulted him, but also directly insulted the eunuch he relied on!
Especially in front of so many people?

If he doesn't let Mu Shanqing die, how can he regain the trust of the Grand Eunuch if this matter gets out?
This touched a raw nerve that he absolutely could not cross!

"How dare you insult the Grand Eunuch! I will annihilate you, body and soul!"

Enraged, Yan Zi'an suddenly swung his arms!
Two slender, poisoned short swords, gleaming with a cold light and as sharp as venomous fangs, slipped silently from his wide sleeves like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, landing precisely in his pale hands!
"A web of countless poisons!"

Yan Zi'an let out a sharp whistle and his twin swords danced wildly!

In an instant, countless fine, sinister sword energies, shimmering with a ghostly blue light, crisscrossed like spiders spinning silk, instantly weaving a deadly sword net covering an area of ​​several feet in radius, exuding a sweet, pungent stench!
The sword net, accompanied by a piercing shriek, descended upon Mu Shanqing below!

Each sword aura contains a subtle yet vicious force, specifically designed to break through protective qi, causing immediate decay upon contact!
however.

Mushan Qing showed disdain for this dangerous killing move. A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and her right hand reached for the seemingly ordinary plain belt at her waist with lightning speed.

"Zheng!!!"

A clear and melodious sword cry, like a dragon's roar, resounded through the night sky!
With a flick of her wrist, a pool of cold light, like autumn water, suddenly sprang out from her belt, stretched out, and straightened!
It was a soft sword, as thin as a cicada's wing, exceptionally flexible, and gleaming with a cold, sharp light!
"Little tricks!"

Mushan Qing snorted coldly, and the soft sword in his hand seemed to come alive!
With a light turn of her wrist, the sword vibrated and hummed, instantly conjuring up countless agile sword shadows!
These sword shadows were not straightforward parries, but rather like nimble snakes swimming in water, possessing a strange flexibility and cunning, able to pinpoint the fleeting gaps in the dense sword net with unparalleled precision!

"Chucky!"

Subtle yet sharp sword energies, as if possessing a spirit, flowed upstream along the gaps in the sword net.

The sword energy meandered and flowed, carrying a chilling aura, viciously stabbing towards Yan Zi'an's vital points!
Its swordplay was so unpredictable, its angles so tricky, and its speed so swift that it was even more difficult to defend against than Yan Zi'an's poison net!

One forceful, one gentle; one cunning, one treacherous; the two figures instantly clashed in mid-air!
Sword light flashed and sword energy hissed, the speed was dazzling!

"Lord Yan! I'm here to help you!"

Upon seeing this, Cen Ruifeng below immediately shouted in a deep voice.

Knowing full well that Yan Zi'an was of noble status and could not be harmed, he immediately wanted to get rid of the Yin Bone Puppet and go to his aid.

"Roar!"

However, the third-grade Yin Bone Puppet once again fearlessly blocked his way!
At the same time, the four fourth-rank Yin Bone Puppet in the ruins also struggled to get up.

Dragging their broken bodies and carrying a strong aura of death, they swarmed around from different directions like maggots clinging to bones, trapping Cen Ruifeng firmly in the center!
A cold smile curled at the corner of Liang Jin's lips.

A mere Rank 3 Yin Bone Puppet can't defeat you?

Then let's add four more!
The Yin Bone Puppet is fearless of death and pain, making it a powerful tool for entanglement.

With a slight thought, the five Yin Bone Puppet immediately formed a simple encirclement formation, not seeking merit, but only to entangle Cen Ruifeng!
Cen Ruifeng's face was ashen as he looked at the five indestructible, foul-smelling ghostly things around him, and he felt a surge of annoyance.

"Lord Yan! I'll deal with these troublesome things first!"

He roared, forced to devote all his energy to fighting the undead monsters.

The deafening roar of the "Thunderbolt Hand" explosions rang out again, intertwining with the cracking sound of the Yin Bone Puppet's bones shattering.

……

Liang Jin stood on a distant rooftop, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two battlefields where fierce fighting was taking place in the air.

His gaze lingered more on Kiyama Ao.

"Peak of the third rank...approaching the half-step second rank realm..."

"Such cultivation level indicates he is no ordinary person!"

"I haven't met all the third-rank masters in Changzhou and even the surrounding provinces, but I must have heard of their names."

"This 'Mushanqing'... seems to have appeared out of nowhere, something I've never heard of before."

Liang Jin pondered to himself.

What made him even more suspicious was Mushan Qing's martial arts style.

"She's deliberately hiding it..."

Liang Jin keenly sensed that although the soft sword in her hands was agile and ruthless, and her swordsmanship was exquisite, there was always a sense of disharmony.

Occasionally, during the transitions between sword moves, a sluggishness would be revealed that did not quite match his movement technique and internal energy circulation.

This is by no means her most suitable or proficient weapon!

Her true trump card is probably yet to be revealed!
Liang Jin withdrew his gaze from the sky and turned it down to the county government compound, which had become a ruin and was filled with smoke and dust.

The lingering power of Cen Ruifeng's "Thunderbolt Hand" had already devastated the place, and the sword energy dissipated during Mu Shanqing and Yan Zi'an's fierce battle only made matters worse.

Broken walls and rubble were scattered everywhere, with firelight flickering in the corners and thick smoke billowing upwards.

The surviving officers and soldiers had long since vanished without a trace, and apart from a few people engaged in fierce aerial combat, there was no one else to be seen.

"Plans can't keep up with changes... but these changes are exactly what I wanted."

A glint of light flashed in Liang Jin's eyes, and the smile on his lips widened.

Chaos is the best cover!

His figure vanished from the spot without warning, like a ghost disappearing into the night.

Not a gust of wind was stirred, not a single piece of rubble was blown away.

While everyone's attention was completely drawn to the earth-shattering battle in the air, Liang Jin, like an invisible shadow, silently slipped into the depths of the county government ruins.

Having already pinpointed the location during the day using the [巳面] method, Liang Jin had a clear objective.

He moved quickly through the ruins, and in a few breaths, he arrived at a relatively secluded but equally damaged warehouse.

The warehouse door had already been half-collapsed by the earthquake, revealing a dark, gaping space inside.

Without hesitation, Liang Jin kicked open the half-broken door blocking his way and slipped inside.

Moonlight streamed in through holes in the roof and open doors, illuminating the mountains of goods piled up inside the warehouse.

Heavy wooden crates, nailed with iron bars, were neatly stacked there, taking up almost half of the warehouse!

Liang Jin walked to the nearest box, ran his finger lightly across the lock, and the steel lock snapped as easily as rotten wood.

He lifted the heavy lid of the box—

Swish!
A dazzling white light came into view!

The box was neatly stacked with silver ingots, all cut precisely and still gleaming alluringly in the dim light!

Liang Jin finally revealed a satisfied smile.

At this time.

He felt a gaze upon him.

Liang Jin turned his head and saw a figure slowly emerge from the darkness of the warehouse.

This made his words sound somewhat playful:

"Everyone else would love to sprout wings and fly away, but you're still clinging to this source of trouble?"

"Could it be that you really value money over your life, Shen?"

The firelight and moonlight intertwined, illuminating the familiar face of the figure—it was none other than Shen Wanshi, the richest man in the Great Qian Dynasty!
He was covered in dust and dirt, his magnificent brocade robes stained with dirt, making him look utterly disheveled.

Shen Wanshi ignored Liang Jin's teasing. He let out a long, deep sigh, a sigh filled with endless vicissitudes and a sense of relief and weariness.
"Song Jiang, you actually know me... It seems you came prepared."

He smiled bitterly:
“But that doesn’t matter anymore. This silver…this cold, heavy, gleaming stuff…”

He reached out, as if to touch a nearby silver box, but then abruptly pulled his hand back just before it touched it, as if it were a scorching hot iron:

"They have tormented me for far too long! Like a mountain weighing on my heart, they keep me restless day and night, unable to eat or sleep!"

"I've wanted to get rid of them for a long time!"

He abruptly raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on Liang Jin, his tone carrying a strange sincerity and...pity:

"Really! If you can take them all, I, Shen Wanshi, will not only not stop you, but I will also... be grateful to you! This is from the bottom of my heart!"

Liang Jin didn't speak, but just looked at him with interest, waiting for him to continue.

Shen Wanshi abruptly changed the subject, his weariness instantly replaced by a deep fear and solemnity, his voice lowered as if he were reciting a terrible curse:

"But... Song Jiang, you need to listen carefully!"

"This money, it's not just silver! It's... a curse! A source of misfortune, imbued with the greed, desire, and boundless resentment of countless people!"

He pointed to the night sky outside the county government office, towards the unseen capital city, his voice trembling slightly:
"By touching them, you've touched the very lifeblood of the imperial court! You've touched the private property of those high-ranking officials who treat the world as their own!"

"With the national treasury empty and the conversion of rice paddies to mulberry fields imminent, this sum of money is their lifeline!"

"By taking it away, you have extinguished their hopes with your own hands and completely offended the most powerful group in the entire court! You have undermined national policy! You have destroyed their fundamental interests!"

Shen Wanshi's gaze sharpened, as if he could see right through Liang Jin:
"At that time, you will not be hunted down by a single prefecture or county, but will face the full force of the wrath of the entire Great Qian Dynasty!"

"They will be like the most ferocious hyenas, sparing no effort, even if it means rivers of blood and fields of corpses, to drag you out! To tear you to pieces! To get the money back!"

"It's no use running to the ends of the earth! This curse will follow you like a shadow until you... die without a burial place!"

"It might even... harm everyone you care about!"

His words were like a cold prophecy, filled with a chilling power.

However, Shen Wanshi's expression immediately became extremely complex, a mixture of a cynical understanding of human nature and a deep sense of helplessness:

"But...I know it's no use me saying all this."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, his gaze sweeping over the silver chests that still looked alluring in the dim light:
"Because I know very well that you will still take them away! You definitely will!"

He stared into Liang Jin's eyes and said, word by word:

"Because in this world, no one can truly resist their temptations!"

"That blinding white light can cloud even the clearest mind and ignite the deepest greed!"

"You... are no exception! Song Jiang, you are nothing more than one of the many in this torrent of greed!"

Liang Jin burst into laughter.

He waited for a long time, hoping that Shen Wanshi would say something interesting.

But to my surprise, it turned out to be nothing but a bunch of nonsense.

Liang Jin's laughter echoed loudly in the empty, dilapidated warehouse.

Without saying another word, he suddenly spread his arms wide, making a gesture of embracing the mountain of silver boxes in mid-air!

The next moment, a bizarre scene that Shen Wanshi would never forget unfolded!
There are no signs!

Those incredibly heavy wooden crates, which required several strong men to lift with difficulty, vanished one after another as if wiped away by an invisible hand the instant Liang Jin swung his arms!

One bite, two bites, three bites... The speed was so fast, it was like magic!

In just a few breaths, the mountain of silver chests in the warehouse vanished without a trace!

Only deep indentations on the ground and the smell of dust in the air remain as proof that they once existed!

"This...this is impossible!"

Shen Wanshi's eyes almost popped out of their sockets!
His mouth gaped open, as if someone had grabbed his throat, making a strange, hissing sound. The color drained from his face instantly, leaving only extreme shock and bewilderment!
Even the most magical tricks could never so easily and completely transform such a heavy and enormous object!
Shen Wanshi had secretly wondered how many strong men and how many carriages Liang Jin would arrange to transport the silver.

Or perhaps, he has some ingenious idea to steal the silver from the county government office.

But what no one expected was that Liang Jin would make the silver disappear in an unbelievable way, like a divine magic.

This was completely beyond his comprehension.

The warehouse instantly became empty and silent.

Liang Jin clapped his hands, as if he had only done a trivial little thing.

He turned around, a relaxed smile on his face, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the stunned Shen Wanshi:

"Director Shen, I really didn't expect you to have so many... profound insights about this money."

"I, Song, will gladly accept this 'generous gift.' As for what you call a curse..."

He shrugged:

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it! Since I, Song Jiang, dared to take it, I'm capable of bearing the consequences! Whatever the consequences, I'll bear them all!"

He walked to the warehouse door, paused slightly, turned back to look at Shen Wanshi, who was still frozen in place, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips:

"Shen Xing Shou, I don't know why, but I always feel... that our fate is not over."

"Perhaps we will meet again in the near future."

"I hope that when the time comes, Director Shen will bring me the same generous gift."

"Farewell!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Jin's figure disappeared into the darkness outside the door like a ghost.

Shen Wanshi was left alone, standing blankly in the empty, dusty, and dilapidated warehouse.

After a long while, Shen Wanshi slowly recovered from his extreme shock.

He gazed in the direction where Liang Jin had disappeared, then looked down at the deep indentation on the ground.

Ultimately, it could only turn into a long sigh filled with complex emotions, echoing faintly in the silent ruins.

"The imperial court previously refrained from using the banquet at Yanshan Stronghold because it felt the cost was too high and the gains wouldn't outweigh the losses. But now, you've touched this money that should never have been touched..."

Shen Wanshi muttered to himself, his eyes filled with worry and a hint of barely perceptible sorrow:

"This is tantamount to stirring up a hornet's nest and undermining the foundation of the imperial court."

"A massive army is pressing in, and a thunderous sweep is imminent."

"Song Jiang, oh Song Jiang, I wonder if, by then, you will still be as carefree and jovial as you are tonight?"

"Will I...regret what I did today?"

(End of this chapter)