Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 400 One Man, One Gun (10,000 words)
Rumble, rumble!

A thunderous sound echoed throughout the Duke's mansion.

In an instant, a fiery red flash disappeared at the muzzle of the gun, followed by a hail of tiny steel balls shooting forward like hailstones.

Shotgun.

A decisive goal at close range.

Perhaps grandmasters like Hua Lianyue and Luo Tianxuan could dodge by the slightest margin, and perhaps ninth-rank martial artists like Luo Tianyi and Ziyu could barely manage it, but for martial artists with slightly weaker strength, there was truly no chance at all. The first three martial artists to rush up were the first to be hit, and some steel balls hit the blade directly. With a cracking sound, the blade was broken.

The warrior in the middle was the most unlucky.

Although a troll can spray a large area at once, it is a completely indiscriminate form of damage.

But just as the bullets were expelled from the muzzle, before the steel balls had even fully dispersed, the martial artist in the middle absorbed more than 60% of the firepower. The impact was unimaginable; his body was thrown out and fell to the ground, where he remained motionless, clearly beyond saving.

Looking closer, his face, neck, chest, and stomach were covered with countless holes.

A steel ball pierced his left eye, causing it to burst. His head was probably turned into a mess. Another steel ball pierced his throat, shattering his larynx and revealing a hole the size of a thumb. His heart was deeply collapsed. Under the intense impact, countless ribs were broken.

His stomach wasn't much better; some steel balls had torn his belly skin, and his internal organs were probably tattered as well.

The warriors on the left and right sides were also in a very bad situation. Dozens of steel balls of various sizes were smashed into their bodies. Under the violent impact, they staggered backward and sat down on the ground. Although they had fewer steel balls on them, several of them were fatal.

Blood gushed out, and its body writhed on the ground like a maggot. It was clear that it wouldn't live much longer, and the painful groans it made as it faced death were chilling.

Even more steel balls pierced through the gap between the three, and the warriors behind them also suffered. The unlucky ones had steel balls shoved directly into their faces, turning their faces crimson in an instant.

"Aaaaaah, my eyes..."

"Damn it, my hand..."

"Wound medicine, does anyone have wound medicine?"

"Damn it, what kind of hidden weapon is that?"

Screams, curses, and cries for help filled the air.

hiss!
This scene clearly startled the survivors. Those who were initially ready to rush forward quickly retreated, immediately creating distance between themselves and Song Yan, fearing that the strange, dark metal tube might unleash another deadly projectile. Looking at the people lying on the ground, their blood-soaked remains a chilling sight, they couldn't help but gasp and feel a cold shiver run down their spines.

Ji Peng and three others were ganging up on Zi Yu.

Although Ziyu was invincible below the Grandmaster level, and four eighth-rank martial artists were no match for her, it was unlikely they could defeat her instantly. The enormous roar left their heads buzzing, as if struck by lightning, and the sight of the people lying on the ground sent chills down their spines.

Song Yan is only a sixth-rank martial artist, so what kind of power is this?
In that brief moment of distraction, Ziyu seized the opportunity. With a flick of her finger, another string of zither, like a delicate, invisible venomous snake, snaked over and instantly wrapped around Lin Xiao's neck. Lin Xiao noticed the abnormality and his expression changed drastically. He waved his hand, intending to cut the string.

But, it was too late.

Ziyu's wrist spun lightly.

The strings tightened instantly.

Faintly, one could hear a hissing sound.

Lin Xiao's body instantly froze on the spot, motionless.

Three breaths later, a row of fine beads of blood appeared on Lin Xiao's neck.

A cool breeze blew in from the doorway, and Lin Xiao swayed.

boom.

His body crashed heavily to the ground.

A round head rolled far away, its neck and cervical vertebrae severed, the cut unusually clean, like a scarlet blood mirror, its wide eyes still holding disbelief and fear.

At the head of the table, Song Hongtao trembled, his face pale, large beads of sweat constantly seeping from his forehead and rolling into his eyes, causing a burning pain.

It's over, it's all over now.

Damn it, who said that the women of the Joyous Union Sect, besides being excellent in bed, weren't very strong? This woman is even more terrifying than Luo Tianyi, okay?

And what exactly is Song Yan holding in his hand?

It was only at this moment that Song Hongtao suddenly realized that he actually knew nothing about his son.

……

The piercing screams naturally alerted everyone in the Duke's mansion.

Many maids were trembling uncontrollably; this evil spirit had struck again… Earlier, seeing the Ninth Young Master smiling, they thought he was in a good mood and that his return to the Duke's mansion wouldn't cost anyone their lives. Now, judging from this sound, they wondered how many people were about to suffer.

I hope that the Duke's mansion will not be stained with blood today.

The guards' expressions changed drastically, and they all rushed towards the direction from which the sound came.

Even the three guards responsible for watching over the courtyard exchanged glances and quickly left their posts. They were supposed to keep an eye on Song Lu, but the master's safety was naturally more important. Whether they had a chance to help was one thing, but if the master encountered danger and they, as his guards, were not by his side, they might face repercussions in the future.

Not long after the three guards left, they heard a creak and the tightly closed door behind them was pulled open.

The lock on the door had been broken by Song Yan, and the new lock hadn't been replaced yet, which saved Song Lu a lot of trouble. Stepping out of the small courtyard that felt like a cage, feeling the same night breeze, Song Lu comfortably closed his eyes, spread his arms, and let out a comfortable sigh.

Finally, I broke free from this cage.

After a long while, Song Lu lowered his head, opened his eyes, and listened to the still shrill screams. Song Lu frowned.

Old Ninth was absolutely right; things were indeed not peaceful at the Duke's mansion tonight.

Looking at the fork in the road ahead, one of which led to the gate of the Duke's mansion, it wouldn't be long before they could escape this den of iniquity.

The other path leads to the place where the screams were heard.

He looked at the crippled leg, then at the dagger in his hand.

Song Lu suddenly grinned and laughed self-deprecatingly.

Song Hongtao will not let himself off the hook.

Song Yan probably wouldn't either. Song Yan only said that he would give him a chance to escape from the Duke's mansion, but he didn't agree on whether he would harm him again after escaping. His mother killed Song Yan's mother, and this alone made it an irreconcilable blood feud. He understood this principle.

He took a step and found a path.

……

The screams continued in the living room.

The intense conflict seemed to be paused in an instant.

Ji Peng, Zhang Ji, and Huo Donglin quickly retreated, even leaving the guest hall, completely widening the distance between themselves and Ziyu.

All three of them looked rather pale.

Lin Xiao's death had a tremendous impact on them.

This is an eighth-grade martial artist! In a world where grandmasters are extremely rare and ninth-grade martial artists are even rarer, an eighth-grade expert is basically someone who can roam freely in the Central Plains. As long as you are careful, you will generally not encounter any problems.

Now that his head had been so easily severed, he felt a chill run down his spine.

As for the martial artists who were besieging Song Yan, they dared not make any rash moves. Although they usually engaged in dangerous business, the fact that their three companions were dealt with so easily still sent chills down their spines, especially since they did not know what exactly was in Song Yan's hand... People always have a fear of the unknown.

Song Yan, on the other hand, leisurely and unhurriedly took out a bullet from his sleeve and inserted it into the magazine.

This shotgun, although it has undergone many revisions, is still far from modern shotguns. It cannot fire in bursts and has no magazine, which are its drawbacks. However, it retains one advantage: its destructive power is terrifying enough.

He added an excessive amount of gunpowder.

My back hurts a bit.

The recoil from firing the gun slammed Song Yan's back against the dining table. Fortunately, he was physically strong enough that he wasn't seriously injured. Only after reloading did Song Yan stand up from his chair, glancing at Song Hongtao out of the corner of his eye. That one look immediately made Song Hongtao stiffen.

"My dear father, you want to kill me?" Song Yan blinked, her tone not filled with sadness, but rather with regret: "Why do you have to do this?"

"I was originally planning to deal with Yang Miaoqing's remaining bastards before dealing with you. Wouldn't it be better to live a little longer?"

Song Hongtao stood stiffly, his face grim, and remained silent. But the way he glanced to the side revealed his guilt and fear.

Song Yan's words revealed a very clear signal: he intended to attack him. Therefore, his plan to strike first was not wrong; his only mistake was underestimating Song Yan's strength, which led to his utter defeat.

Shaking his head, Song Yan didn't say anything more. He simply walked forward step by step. With each step he took, the remaining martial artists opposite him couldn't help but retreat.

step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

The crowd stirred.

But the last person had already reached the door.

Outside the guest room, the bright moonlight shone down.

A layer of silver frost covered Song Yan's face, surrounded by pairs of terrified eyes.

One man, one gun.

The twenty or so sixth-rank, seventh-rank, and even eighth-rank martial artists dared not make the slightest move.

Such a deterrent is unprecedented in history.

The experts from the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect did not leave, probably still holding out for a while. After all, they had taken money from Song Hongtao, and it would be quite shameful to just slink away like that, even though the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect didn't have much face to lose either. They also did not attack. Originally, four people couldn't handle Ziyu, and now that there were only three left, they were even less of a match for her. As for the other martial artists, they didn't dare to make any rash moves until they figured out what kind of weapon Song Yan was holding.

For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the scene, everyone tense, except for Song Yan, who seemed completely unaware of the strange atmosphere around him.

More and more guards arrived from all directions, more than a hundred people in total, a dark mass as far as the eye could see. These people had just arrived and were not quite sure what was going on, causing a slight commotion. Song Yan clearly disliked this atmosphere, his brows furrowed, and he pointed his gun at the night sky.

Rumble!
There was another loud noise.

In an instant, the rustling sounds disappeared.

The thunderous sound seemed to explode right next to my ears, making my head buzz.

This is the second time.

Can anyone tell them what kind of power this is?

Could it be the legendary lightning-summoning technique?

Palm thunder?
Thunder?

Damn it, they're just martial arts practitioners, how are they supposed to fight against cultivators who can use magic?

"Quiet down, everyone." Song Yan calmly put away his gun and loaded it with bullets. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an imposing aura, and the surroundings quickly quieted down. "Hmm, this is good enough."

As he spoke, he glanced at the people in front of him: "You are from the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect, right? Who is the leader?"

Swish.

No one said a word.

But all eyes were on Ji Peng, whose face turned pale. He cursed inwardly at these people for being so disloyal, making him take the fall when things went wrong. However, given the current situation, Ji Peng didn't have many options. He gritted his teeth and stepped forward, bowing slightly to Song Yan: "Ninth Young Master... I am Ji Peng, the Vice Sect Leader of the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect. May I ask what brings you here?"

He knew a little about Song Yan's identity.

However, it was rather frustrating that an eighth-rank martial artist like myself had to be respectful and use honorifics when facing a sixth-rank martial artist.

But there was nothing we could do.

Let alone that terrifying woman, he wasn't even confident he could catch the strange hidden weapon in Song Yan's hand. If he were to be hit at close range, Ji Peng had no doubt that he might have a sudden burst of inspiration, or perhaps a broad-minded perspective.

"How many people are in the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect, and how strong are they?" Song Yan asked casually.

Ji Peng's face twitched. The number of disciples and their strength levels in any sect are secrets. However, after glancing at the dark muzzle of Song Yan's gun, he ultimately dared not conceal anything: "To be honest, Ninth Young Master, the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect has a total of 332 disciples, elders, and sect leader."

"The strongest among them is the sect leader, a ninth-rank martial artist."

"There are sixty-seven martial artists of the sixth rank or above."

"This includes nine eighth-rank martial artists."

"The other disciples are not skilled enough, and there are some beginners among them."

"I see." Song Yan yawned, feeling a bit sleepy. He had no choice but to endure the long journey. Although there were occasional inns where he could rest, he was unlucky and had to spend the night in the carriage. He was quite tired. "Then you should go back first."

There are still three eighth-rank martial artists and a dozen or so sixth- and seventh-rank martial artists left, plus more than a hundred guards from the Duke's mansion. If the two sides join forces, it will be quite troublesome for him and Ziyu to deal with them.

At this moment, Song Yan made the decision that best served his own interests: to separate the two groups and prevent them from joining forces.

Moreover, it's not easy to cultivate martial arts to this level, so killing them like this would be a real waste... The Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect and the Ghost Cave are not quite the same. The Ghost Cave is simply utterly wicked and its crimes are too numerous to count; the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect is mainly because of their humble attitude, which makes them lose the dignity of martial artists. It's not that they can't be given a chance.

If possible, Song Yan wanted to recruit these people into his own ranks.

"Tomorrow, I will visit the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect. Please have your sect leader make the necessary preparations."

Look at what you're saying, a visit?
Are they coming to confront me?

Why should their own sect leader make proper preparations?

Their words showed no regard for the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect, which was a renowned sect in the martial arts world. Regardless of whether its reputation was good or bad, it was a very famous sect, so how could it suffer such a humiliation?

Many people were filled with anger, but after just glancing at the thing in Song Yan's hand, they were furious.

They were forced to seriously consider the question of whether face or life was more important.

Ji Peng also realized that what Song Yan had in his hand couldn't really be considered a hidden weapon. Of course, what kind of hidden weapon makes such a loud noise, like thunder, as if afraid that others wouldn't hear it?

But its power is truly terrifying.

However, its drawbacks are also very obvious. It requires loading a special item each time it is used, so it should be considered a mechanical device.

If they were to fight recklessly, it would be impossible for the three of them, all eighth-rank martial artists, to kill the woman. However, they could hold her off for a quarter of an hour. With the remaining martial artists and the guards from the Duke's mansion, if they swarmed forward and did not give Song Yan a chance to set up the traps, they would have a very high chance of capturing her.

Thus, the employment task can be considered completed.

However, there is one problem that must be faced: those who rush to the front are bound to die, and who would be willing to be the first to do so?
Moreover, this woman isn't Luo Tianyi. Luo Tianyi seems to be a highly skilled martial artist, having reached the ninth rank. They couldn't kill Ziyu, and could only watch helplessly as she escaped. Now, with two ninth-rank martial artists joining forces to retaliate against the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect, can the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect withstand their attack?

In a short time, many thoughts came to mind. The next second, Ji Peng's face, which was originally a little stiff, was full of smiles: "It is an honor for the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect that the Ninth Young Master is willing to visit us. Rest assured, the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect will welcome you with open arms from the sect leader to the disciples."

It has to be said that this guy's moral bottom line is quite flexible.

Despite being an eighth-rank martial artist, he didn't care about the slightest bit of dignity.

Then he winked at the others next to him, the meaning was clear: Run! What are you still standing here for? Are you looking to die?
Confucius once said: "Those who are not of the same family shall not enter the same sect."

The other martial artists were clearly also very flexible in their moral compass, and they instantly understood the vice sect leader's meaning. Without the slightest hesitation, they all rushed outside.

What task?
Shit.

The Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect's first rule is: when the situation is unfavorable, slip away.

Anyway, they've abandoned more than one or two employers, so there's nothing shameful about it.

The guards from the Duke's mansion looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Inside the guest hall, Song Hongtao's hands and feet were ice-cold. Seeing the martial artists hired by the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Sect at great expense left alive, he trembled with rage.

Son of a bitch.

You received money.

What happened to the code of honor among heroes?

What happened to the promise of never retreating, even at the cost of death?
So, you really have no other merits besides having good service?
Their biggest trump card is gone. The guards of the Duke's mansion are no match for Song Yan... Once Song Yan takes care of these guards, he will be the next one to suffer.

That does not work.

Must escape.

Swallowing hard, Song Hongtao glanced at Song Yan at the door. It was clearly impossible to leave through the living room door, so he took a breath and looked towards the side window. Song Yan had his back to him and shouldn't have noticed him.

This is an opportunity.

He didn't want to stay here and wait to die.

Having made his decision, Song Hongtao no longer hesitated. He tried to keep a low profile and tiptoed toward the window. The window was a little high, but not high enough to be impossible to climb over. He used both hands to pull on the windowsill and after a struggle, he finally sat on the windowsill, accidentally bumping into the window.

crunch.

The wooden window immediately emitted an unpleasant sound.

Song Hongtao's slightly overweight body couldn't help but tremble, and his gaze subconsciously turned towards Song Yan. Fortunately, Song Yan did not notice the commotion, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Damn it... Song Hongtao couldn't help but curse in his heart.

He was a dignified Duke, how did he end up in such a state?
If I had known that Song Yan was so difficult to deal with, I shouldn't have acted rashly. Now I've lost everything.

Song Hongtao hadn't figured out what to do yet. First, he wanted to escape from under Song Yan's nose. As for what to do next, he could only take it one step at a time... After all, Song Yan was going to Pingyang to serve as the governor, so he probably wouldn't stay in Ningping forever. As long as he hid for a while and came back after Song Yan left, he should be able to avoid this disaster.

Thinking this, Song Hongtao swayed and jumped off the windowsill.

The ground was a bit slippery.

He accidentally fell to the ground.

The dull pain made Song Hongtao grimace, but he dared not make a sound. He struggled to get up from the ground and, seeing that no one had noticed his movements, Song Hongtao felt a little smug.

However, Song Hongtao didn't notice that behind a large tree, a pair of cold, gloomy eyes were staring at him like a venomous snake. Glancing towards Song Yan, Song Hongtao lowered his head and crouched, walking in the opposite direction. Just then, the figure hiding behind the tree emerged, approaching Song Hongtao step by step. His leg seemed unresponsive, he had a limp, and his right leg appeared to drag on the ground as he walked.

scoff.

scoff.

Such noises naturally reached Song Hongtao's ears.

Song Hongtao, who was fleeing, tensed up instantly, a strong sense of fear welling up inside him, and the hairs on his body stood on end. He didn't know who was behind him, but continuing to run away headlong was clearly not the right decision. Gritting his teeth, Song Hongtao turned around abruptly. He couldn't possibly outrun a martial artist like Song Yan.

Under the moonlight, a face covered in mud and grime suddenly appeared before him, accompanied by a nauseating stench. Song Hongtao was startled, even thinking it was a vengeful ghost. It wasn't until he saw the broken leg that Song Hongtao realized it was Song Lu, Yang Miaoqing's bastard.

How did this little bastard end up here?

A moment of doubt flashed through Song Lu's mind, and he suddenly sped up.

With both legs exerting force simultaneously, his body pounced on Song Hongtao like a hunting jackal. The intense pain stimulated Song Lu's nerves, and even though his face was already somewhat distorted, Song Lu's speed did not decrease in the slightest.

The two were already very close, and in the blink of an eye, they had rushed to Song Hongtao's side, gripping the dagger tightly in their right hands, and stabbed it towards Song Hongtao's waist.

puff.

The dagger plunged directly into Song Hongtao's waist.

With that cut, that kidney would probably be ruined, and warm blood gushed out from the wound.

"Ah ah ah..."

A piercing scream tore through the night sky.

(End of this chapter)