Double penetration: This Three Kingdoms has dragon energy

Chapter 134 Gan Ning
The Pu family's strength is undoubtedly very strong.

They have already reached the peak of the initial aristocratic families outside the city.

It belongs to the top forces outside Chengdu City in Shu Commandery.

Currently, there are no aristocratic families of intermediate or higher rank outside the city in Shu County.

Because Shu Commandery was the core of Yizhou and the stronghold of the Yizhou government.

Currently, the power of the Yizhou government is in the hands of Liu Yan, the governor of Yizhou.

This is one of the most powerful feudal lords in the world today.

At the heart of his rule, naturally, no one else was allowed to sleep soundly beside his bed.

Therefore, among the junior aristocratic families outside the city, they are the most powerful.

However, Ji Qiu did not take these minor aristocratic families outside the city seriously at all.

After all, he has now eliminated two mid-level aristocratic families outside the city.

They are all ancient families with hundreds of years of heritage.

Why would they care about the minor aristocratic families outside the city?
As for your question about Chengdu being too far from Ji Qiu's main camp and lacking sufficient strength, does that even matter to Ji Qiu?
With his possession of the Time-Space Gate and the Qiankun Bag, Ji Qiu could mobilize a large number of troops at any time, crushing the Pu family as easily as crushing an ant!
So since the Pu family won't accept the toast, then let them drink the penalty wine!

Ji Qiu casually decided the fate of the Pu family.

Then they prepared to return to Taishan County to mobilize troops.

But just then, a commotion was heard downstairs.

Amid the commotion, there were also sounds of tables and chairs being smashed.

Then a steward rushed over and reported to Shimizu, "Something's wrong, Miss, there's trouble downstairs!"

Shimizu's expression changed slightly. She had just reported to Ji Qiu that Jin Yulou held an extraordinary position in Chengdu and wielded enormous influence.

He was praised by Ji Qiu for this, but unexpectedly, someone came to cause trouble in the blink of an eye.

This is really quite a slap in the face.

Ji Qiu, however, remained calm.

Entertainment venues are bound to have fights and brawls, aren't they?
Such things are common even in modern entertainment venues, let alone in the late Han Dynasty when powerful and wealthy people were everywhere.

Even though Jin Yu Lou held an extraordinary position in Chengdu, it was ultimately just a brothel.

Perhaps those powerful and wealthy people flock here, but to say they truly value it is nonsense.

For Chengdu's elites, this place was simply a place to have fun.

So, with great interest, he asked, "Who's causing trouble?"

The steward was slightly taken aback. He didn't know Ji Qiu and naturally didn't know whether he should answer his question.

Shimizu quickly said, "This is the owner of our Jinyulou. The owner is asking you a question, so hurry up and answer!"

The steward's expression immediately turned serious, and he hurriedly said, "It is Dong Yuan, son of Dong He, the magistrate of Chengdu, and Gan Ning, the leader of the Jin Fan bandits!"

"Gan Ning, the bandit leader of the Brocade Sail?!"

Ji Qiu's gaze sharpened, and then an expression of interest appeared in his eyes.

His main purpose in coming to Chengdu this time was to obtain the secret techniques of the Earth Spirit.

However, there is also a secondary purpose: to recruit talent.

The original plan was to deal with the Pu family's affairs first, and then start looking for talented people.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, he heard Gan Ning's name in this way.

In this climate of high morale, Gan Ning was naturally considered the foremost talented individual in Sichuan.

This was something he was determined to achieve.

Now that we've happened to run into each other, we might as well take the opportunity to get to know each other.

He immediately said, "Then let's go down and take a look together!"

Both Qingshui and the steward were taken aback, wondering why this unknown Gan Ning had piqued Ji Qiu's interest.

But that doesn't matter. Ji Qiu is the master, and they are the servants. All they need to know is that Ji Qiu is interested in Gan Ning, and that's enough!
So the two of them escorted Ji Qiu from one side to the other and walked towards the lobby on the first floor.

Lobby.

The scene that greeted the eye was one of utter chaos.

The magnificent crystal chandelier that once hung high on the ceiling is now teetering on the verge of collapse, with half of its bulbs broken and glass shards scattered all over the floor, gleaming coldly in the dim light.

The exquisitely carved mahogany table in the center of the hall was overturned on the ground, its broken legs lying haphazardly, like a broken piece of dead wood.

The chairs around were overturned, some missing backs, some with broken legs, scattered haphazardly everywhere.

The ground was littered with broken porcelain bowls and wine glasses, with wine mixed with food scraps forming puddles of foul-smelling filth that slowly seeped into the cracks in the floor.

Amidst the chaos, the two groups stood facing each other, swords drawn.

The group on the left consists of three burly young men.

The leader was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His muscles were faintly visible under his tight clothes, making him look like a majestic mountain, exuding a chilling sense of oppression.

He was handsome but had a somewhat unruly air about him. His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, were fixed on the person opposite him, his gaze filled with anger and resentment.

His short, jet-black hair was wildly styled, as if to show his unruly nature.

He was dressed in a black outfit that accentuated his agile figure, and a belt inlaid with jewels around his waist added to his heroic air.

The two young men beside him were equally burly, with menacing faces. They were rubbing their fists together, holding thick sticks, ready to obey their boss's orders at any time.

The group on the right was led by a slick-haired, pampered young master.

He was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe embroidered with exquisite patterns, but it was stained with many dirt due to the chaos, making him look somewhat disheveled.

On his fair face, his features were quite delicate, but his frivolous eyes and slightly upturned, mocking lips instantly aroused disgust.

He was wearing a pearl-encrusted hat, but it was tilted to one side, with a few strands of hair falling across his forehead, which only accentuated his panic and exasperation.

Behind him stood dozens of indifferent-looking men, each holding a long stick, their expressions tense yet carrying a hint of arrogance.

Behind the valiant young man on the left, there was a pretty but pale-faced girl who was trembling as she watched the two groups of people facing off.

“Master, the valiant young man on the left is Gan Ning, the leader of the Jin Fan bandits.”

The two burly young men standing beside him were his subordinates, the Jinfan bandits.

The slick-haired young master on the right is Dong Yuan, the son of Dong He, the magistrate of Chengdu.

The dozens of men following behind him were all private soldiers of the Dong family.

The two of them had a conflict because of Xiuer.

Xiuer was the girl standing behind Gan Ning.

She was a girl from Jin Yu Lou, who was sold into the brothel by her father.

I heard that before she entered Jin Yu Lou, she had a long-standing relationship with Gan Ning, who had been raising money to redeem her.

We had almost gathered enough.

Unexpectedly, Dong Yuan took a liking to Xiu'er and wanted to buy her directly.

The two clashed, eventually escalating into a physical fight, which led to the current situation.

Shimizu whispered to Ji Qiu about the current situation.

Clearly, in that short time, she had already grasped the whole story.

After hearing about these causes and effects, Ji Qiu nodded slightly and then said, "What I want to know now is, in the process of Gan Ning preparing funds to redeem Xiu'er, did Jin Yulou make things difficult for him?"

During Xiuer's time at Jin Yulou, did Jin Yulou mistreat her?

"No! Absolutely not! Although our Jin Yu Lou is a brothel, we never force anyone when following our master's instructions."

The girls at Jin Yu Lou mainly made a living by performing arts.

It's not to say that there were no prostitutes, but those were all their own choices, and Jin Yulou never forced them.

"And for anyone who redeems them from their bonds and they themselves are willing, the establishment will offer them a discount," Shimizu quickly said.

Ji Qiu nodded slightly and said, "That's good!"

Judging from the current situation, this is clearly a very clichéd plot.

But storylines are timeless; as long as they're effective, they're good!

Therefore, how to use this plot to his advantage is the question he should be considering most at this moment.

But just as Ji Qiu was pondering this in secret, the situation on the field changed again.

"Humph!"

Dong Yuan snorted coldly, his sharp voice particularly jarring in the chaotic first-floor lobby.
"You reckless fool, how dare you compete with me for Xiu'er? You're simply overestimating yourself!"

As he spoke, he pointed an exaggerated finger at the burly young man opposite him, his mockery growing ever more pronounced.
"Now, kneel down and kowtow to me to apologize, and at the same time, call Xiu'er out immediately."

Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I might spare your life.

Otherwise, today will be your death day!

Upon hearing this, the two Jinfan bandits beside Gan Ning immediately became agitated. They glared at Dong Yuan and angrily cursed, "You son of a bitch, how dare you speak to our leader like that!"

Gan Ning's face instantly flushed crimson, like a powder keg that had been ignited. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force. He took a step forward, glaring at Dong Yuan, his deep voice squeezed out through clenched teeth: "Dong Yuan, don't be so arrogant!"

Xiuer and I are deeply in love; how could you possibly take her by force!
"You want me to kneel? Absolutely not!"

"Hmph, you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! Men, give them a good beating!"

"Let these fools know how powerful I am!"

Dong Yuan yelled, his shrill voice particularly jarring in the chaotic first-floor lobby.

As he spoke, he suddenly waved his hand, his face contorted with anger.

Upon receiving the order, the dozens of private soldiers pounced on the enemy like wolves.

They shouted as they raised their sticks high, whistling through the air, and hurled them at Gan Ning and his two companions.

Gan Ning and his two companions showed no fear, roaring in unison as they met the charging private soldiers.

In an instant, the sticks clashed, producing dull thuds, while shouts and curses mingled together.

Gan Ning moved nimbly, dodging left and right, and seized the opportunity to deliver a heavy punch to a private soldier's face. The man's nose bled profusely, and he staggered backward.

His two brothers were not to be outdone, and they joined him in fighting the private soldiers.

The entire first floor of Jinyulou was thrown into chaos once again, with a strong smell of gunpowder filling the air.

However, as the battle continued, Gan Ning and the other two gradually became exhausted.

After all, the enemy had a large number of soldiers, and the private soldiers kept surging in like a tide, forming an encirclement.

Although Gan Ning was brave, he could not keep an eye on all sides at the same time. He had several wounds on his body, and blood had soaked through his black outfit.

His two brothers were also in a bad situation. One of them had been hit in the arm with a stick, and his movements were obviously slow. He seemed to have some difficulty swinging his weapon each time.

The other was tripped and fell to the ground. Although he struggled to get up, he was also attacked by the private soldiers and could only barely defend himself.

The three defenders' defense gradually showed weaknesses, and their steps began to falter, making the situation increasingly critical.

At this critical moment, Gan Ning suddenly raised his head and let out a deafening roar: "Shadow Devour!"

In an instant, his figure seemed to be swallowed by darkness, turning into a thick black mist that quickly dissipated on the spot.

The entire hall was instantly enveloped in an eerie atmosphere, and the originally bright light seemed to have been absorbed by the black mist, becoming even dimmer.

Dong Yuan and his private soldiers were stunned by this sudden turn of events, their eyes filled with fear and confusion. They subconsciously looked around, trying to find Gan Ning's whereabouts.

However, before they could recover, the shadow beneath Dong Yuan's feet suddenly twisted and deformed, and a cold light wrapped in purplish-black runes shot out from the shadow like lightning.

The sharp blade pierced Dong Yuan's heart with unerring accuracy. Dong Yuan didn't even have time to let out a scream before his eyes widened and his body froze on the spot.

As the blade was withdrawn, Dong Yuan's body slowly collapsed, blood spreading beneath him and mixing with the existing stains on the ground.

Upon seeing this, the once-aggressive private soldiers were thrown into disarray, watching the scene in horror, their weapons falling from their hands involuntarily.

Gan Ning reappeared, holding a blood-stained blade, his eyes cold and resolute as he surveyed the surrounding enemies.

"The young master is dead?!"

"It's done, we're done!"

"The patriarch will definitely make us pay with our lives!"

"Run!"

Dong Yuan's death was like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of all the private soldiers.

The private soldiers, who had initially been arrogant and domineering due to their superior numbers, were instantly terrified and turned ashen-faced.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, they scattered and fled in all directions, screaming, like ants whose nest had been disturbed.

Some panicked and stumbled over the wreckage of tables and chairs on the ground, falling flat on their faces.

Some threw down their weapons and desperately pushed and shoved their way towards the door, creating chaos.

Gan Ning breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the Dong family's private soldiers scatter and flee.

Although he killed Dong Yuan in one move, this was not the Jin Fan bandit's main camp.

He only had two Jinfan bandits with him.

Therefore, although he appeared calm when he used that Dragon Qi Secret Technique, he had actually exhausted his Dragon Qi.

At that moment, I felt extremely empty inside, my legs went weak, and I almost collapsed to the ground.

But thinking of Xiuer beside him, he gritted his teeth, forced himself to stand up, and grabbed Xiuer's arm with his blood-stained hands.

Xiuer's eyes were full of worry and concern. She wanted to help Gan Ning, but she was afraid of touching his wound.

"Let's go!" Gan Ning's voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of weariness but also determination.

He took a deep breath, dragged his heavy steps, and led Xiu'er and two subordinates toward the exit of Jin Yu Lou.

Along the way, they avoided fleeing private soldiers and stepped over debris on the ground.

With each step, Gan Ning felt the scenery before him become somewhat blurry, and a sense of weakness followed him everywhere, but he never stopped.

As Shimizu watched them about to leave Jin Yu Lou, he frowned slightly and prepared to send his men to arrest them.

The death of Dong He's son at Jin Yulou will inevitably bring considerable trouble to Jin Yulou.

If the murderer can be caught, at least it will be some kind of justice.

But before she could give the order, Ji Qiu raised her hand to stop her.

"Let them go!" Ji Qiu said calmly.

Shimizu paused for a moment, but immediately bowed and said, "Yes, sir."

"Dong Yuan died at Jin Yu Lou, and Jin Yu Lou couldn't keep Gan Ning either. Can you explain this?" Ji Qiu said calmly.

Shimizu gritted her teeth and said, "It is indeed a bit troublesome, but I can handle it."

“Very well, then go and handle it,” Ji Qiu said calmly.

Shimizu bowed again and said, "Yes, sir!"

Then Qingshui hurriedly left, while Ji Qiu watched Gan Ning's departing figure, a smile playing on his lips.

In fact, he had a chance to stop Gan Ning when Gan Ning used the Dragon Qi Secret Technique to kill Dong Yuan.

But he didn't do that.

Why bother?
For a spoiled brat like Dong Yuan, whether he lives or dies is completely irrelevant.

If his death can bring Ji Qiu a great general, then he can be said to have died a worthy death!
Then Ji Qiu turned around and disappeared into the Golden Jade Pavilion.

……

Meanwhile, Gan Ning and his three companions hurriedly fled Jin Yu Lou, their steps quick and their expressions filled with anxiety.

They knew that time was of the essence, and that news of Dong Yuan's death would soon reach Dong He's ears.

Dong He was the magistrate of Chengdu, the most powerful person in the city besides Liu Zhang.

Once he learned of Dong Yuan's death, his next step was to close the city gates and conduct a city-wide search.

Therefore, they had to escape the city before Dong He gave the order!

So he hurried along, not daring to stop for a moment, and ran wildly toward the city gate.

It was already late at night, and the shops on both sides of the street had long since closed.

The only sounds on the quiet street were their hurried footsteps and heavy breathing.

The moonlight spilled onto the ground, illuminating their hurried figures, like a group of trapped beasts desperately searching for a way out in the darkness.

Finally, the outline of the city gate came into view.

However, the tightly closed city gates were like an insurmountable wall, ruthlessly blocking their way.

On the city wall, the guards' figures appeared particularly stern in the moonlight, their weapons gleaming coldly.

Gan Ning frowned, his eyes filled with resentment, and punched the wall next to him hard, making a dull thud.

But in the end, he had no choice but to turn around and return to the city.

With the roads out of the city blocked, the only option left is to find a hiding place within the city as quickly as possible.

Gan Ning decided to search for the house where he was hiding.

So they scouted ahead and soon found a dilapidated house with its doors and windows tightly shut and no lights on.

The four approached stealthily. Gan Ning pushed open the door, which creaked open with a particularly jarring sound in the quiet night.

Everyone immediately became alert, and only after confirming that there was nothing unusual did they enter the house.

The room had a worn-out feel to it; the furnishings were simple, the tables and chairs were messy, and the floor was covered in dust, clearly indicating that it had been abandoned for a long time.

Gan Ning breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Let's stay here tonight. Hopefully, the city gates will open tomorrow so we can escape!"

The two Jinfan thieves were fine with it; they immediately took up positions by the window, keeping an eye out for any activity outside.

Xiuer was also fine. She looked at Gan Ning with tenderness and concern in her eyes and said, "Young Master, you don't need to worry about me. Wherever you go, I will go!"

Just as the four of them relaxed and were about to rest for a while, a clear voice came from outside: "It's really too unfair to Miss Xiuer to stay overnight in a place like this."

Even if Miss Xiu'er didn't mind, how could a man allow his woman to rest in such a place?

(End of this chapter)