Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Chapter 214 Unexpected Changes (4k4)

Beyond the west of the city, at the edge of a dense forest.

The constable and Li Fu led their men to a halt, gazing into the dark depths where the members of the Dragon Shock Society had disappeared, and ceased their pursuit.

Although many of the Embroidered-Clad Constables were injured and panting, there was little sense of defeat in their eyes. Instead, there was a hint of relief that the mission had been accomplished.

A glint of light flashed in Li Fu's eyes.

The act of feigning defeat is finally complete.

Winning may not be easy, but thinking of a way to make it convincing and without revealing any flaws requires some thought.

Fortunately, the first step has been taken.

Now, the real highlight begins.

He turned to look at the constable.

The constable standing to the side had a slightly pale face and a furrowed brow. What was even more noticeable was that his right hand, hanging by his side, had an unnatural bluish-purple color from his wrist to his fingertips, covered in frost, as if it had been frostbitten.

"Is the constable injured?" Li Fu asked.

He was unsure whether the other party was putting on an act to make their defeat more convincing, or whether they had genuinely suffered a loss at Guo Zhugui's hands.

The constable raised his bruised and stiff hand, examined it carefully, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"To feign defeat, one must act convincingly, and taking a few hits is inevitable."

in addition----"

A hint of seriousness and apprehension appeared in his eyes.

"The Xuanming Ice Soul True Qi of the three leaders of the Jinglong Society is indeed powerful and domineering, and it is extremely effective against my martial arts style."

"My Ruyi Orchid Hand technique leans towards grappling, locking, and striking pressure points to cut off meridians. It emphasizes close-quarters combat and using skill to overcome force."

However, his Xuanming Ice Soul True Qi is extremely Yin and cold, domineering and unparalleled. It freezes upon contact, even freezing some of the true qi.

My grappling techniques often fail to reach his vital points before I can even feel the cold energy corroding his meridians, making his movements sluggish and preventing him from using even 70% of his full strength.

A head-on confrontation would only lead to losses.

Li Fu also felt this way.

Although he had feigned defeat and not used his full strength, he had truly felt the terror of Guo Zhugui's icy true energy during the fight.

That cold air not only freezes flesh and blood, but also erodes meridians and freezes the circulation of true qi.

Even though his Yi Jin Jing had reached a high level of mastery and had a strong ability to contain and neutralize foreign true qi, he still couldn't withstand it.

If it weren't for the characteristics of Tai Chi Chuan—its ability to move freely and neutralize force—which allows it to deflect most of the icy true energy upon contact, it would probably have suffered a considerable loss like the constable.

Even so, the bone-chilling cold he felt when he took the blow from the opponent's palm left a deep impression on him.

The constable said no more, enduring the discomfort in his right arm, and made a gesture behind him.

A trusted constable immediately led forward a lithe greyhound that was entirely black except for its four paws, which were as white as jade.

This greyhound is not large, but it has a well-proportioned frame, smooth muscle lines, and bright, alert eyes. It is clear at a glance that it is a rare breed that has undergone rigorous training.

"This greyhound has a sense of smell that is ten times more sensitive than that of an ordinary dog, making it a powerful tracking tool for the Six Doors' secret training."

The constable explained, "The sandalwood incense I had someone light in Zuo Yuncheng's cell was called Soul-Binding Incense. It is colorless and odorless, and no one can smell it."

But for the dog, it was like a beacon in the darkness, crystal clear. I had already ordered someone to secretly bring it here, just in case.

Li Fu said, "The constable's actions are indeed meticulous. It seems that everything was planned by you all along."

The constable showed little joy on his face and said in a deep voice.

"There is no time to lose."

After the Jinglong Society succeeds, to prevent any unforeseen complications, they will surely find a safe and secluded place as soon as possible to copy down the secret of the flower embroidery on Zuo Yuncheng's back exactly as it is, compare it with the incantation, and piece together the real map.

We should chase after them, hoping to get the complete map, but if that's not possible, we can't let them take the person away.

At that moment, Li Fu and the constable leader, along with more than two thousand embroidered-clothes constables who were less seriously injured, and their greyhounds, quietly followed the invisible traces left by the Soul-Binding Incense and sped off into the vast darkness of the northwest.

The Jinglong Society members, holding the imposter Zuo Yuncheng hostage, sped through the night, leaving the shouts and firelight of their pursuers far behind.

After venturing deeper into a dense forest, the group continued their journey.

The members of the Dragon Shock Society successfully rescued the person.

A skilled chain gun user approached Guo Zhugui, his voice low and filled with suspicion.

"Three Dragon Heads, did we retreat too easily?"

-

The Chief Constable is one of the Four Great Constables of the Six Doors. He has been famous for many years and is cunning and shrewd.

And then there's Li Fu, who has risen to fame in recent years. Not only is his martial arts skill terrifying, but he's also said to be meticulous and has solved a series of major cases.

How come they disappeared after chasing them for a while?

My subordinate is worried—is there a trap involved?

Upon hearing this, several people nearby echoed his sentiments.

"Yes, the three dragon heads, the constable's Ruyi Orchid Hand is not just for show, and Li Fu's Tai Chi seems to be extraordinary as well. He killed Chen and the other two with just a few punches and kicks."

If they really tried to stop them, it wouldn't be that easy.

But some people disagreed, saying, "I think you're just boosting the enemy's morale. The Three Dragons have made unparalleled contributions, while that so-called constable's hands are frozen solid!"

Even if Li Fu was incredibly skilled, he still got covered in ice shards.

I think they were terrified by the Three Dragon Heads' unparalleled martial arts skills.

Besides, risk your life?

Who are we risking our lives for, the Song Dynasty court?

How many officials are truly fearless of death?

While on the road, Guo Zhugui listened to his subordinates' argument with a blank expression, and snorted coldly.

The cold snort wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry a chill, instantly silencing everyone. Moonlight filtered through the trees, dancing on his icy face, making his eyes appear even more unfathomable.

"Stop praising them."

He looked back and frowned slightly.

"The constable and Li Fu are indeed not easy to deal with."

Their defeat tonight may have been motivated by ulterior motives, or perhaps they were simply outmatched—it's all possible, but—"

Guo Zhugui abruptly changed the subject, revealing a strong sense of confidence mixed with a hint of cold sarcasm.

"There's no need to change your route or hide your tracks; just proceed in a straight line along the original path."

Strong reinforcements are on the way.

Once we get there, no matter how many schemes the constable has or how many abilities Li Fu possesses, they won't be able to make any waves.

No matter what their intentions are, in the face of absolute power, any conspiracy or trickery is utterly futile and easily defeated.

The crowd responded in unison, "Yes, we will obey the orders of the Three Dragon Heads!"

Zuo Yuncheng, who was being held hostage by two experts on either side of him as they traveled together, was shocked and bewildered.

He knew it was part of a plan to be deliberately kidnapped.

But the Dragon Shock Society is so fearless and makes no attempt to conceal its movements, as if it has strong reinforcements in front of it. I wonder if the imperial court anticipated this.

Initially, everything went smoothly for Li Fu and his group.

The greyhound twitched its nose, leading the way in the darkness, and the group used their light-footed skills to follow closely.

The mountain forest terrain is complex under the cover of night, but the clever dog can always find the clearest route.

However, after chasing for about half an hour, Li Fu was the first to realize that something was wrong.

He slowed his pace, glancing around at the startled night birds and the trail of pursuers behind him.

"Captain, we've been following them, but this route—seems too straight?"

The constable frowned, and while pursuing the enemy, he looked around. After a moment of deep thought, his expression gradually became serious.

"That's right. Leaving Yanzhou City, passing through the woods west of the city, and heading northwest—this route has hardly changed. Even if it occasionally detours around mountain valleys and streams, the general direction remains the same."

An ominous premonition rose in his heart.

Li Fu frowned and said.

"This is very unusual."

Although the Dragon Shock Society managed to shake us off once, are they so confident that they're not afraid of us catching up again?

Moreover, when they abducted the wanted criminal, they didn't suspect anything was amiss, and they didn't change their route or hide their tracks along the way.

unless----"

The constable took over the conversation, his voice low and deep.

"Unless there is something special about the place they are traveling through, or they have strong reinforcements to help them."

This ensures their complete safety once they arrive, eliminating any worry about our pursuit—making them fearless and unafraid of us chasing them!

It's not surprising that the other side had reinforcements, but it's a bit too reckless.

As they were talking, the constable's expression suddenly changed, as if he had realized something, and he exclaimed, "How could this be? Bring me the map!"

Immediately, a constable under his command presented him with a detailed map of the Yanzhou region that he was carrying with him.

The commander, who had planned this in advance, was already very familiar with the map of Yanzhou. He was comparing it again now only because he couldn't believe it and wanted to confirm it again and again.

By the moonlight, he quickly traced his finger across the map, comparing it with the approximate location and terrain of the pursuit he had just encountered.

"How could that be?"

The constable's finger suddenly stopped on a spot on the map, his face filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Li Fu didn't need to look at the map to guess the general direction of their advance. He said in a deep voice, "Ahead—is the Yan River? Are they heading towards the Yan River?"

Yanzhou is mountainous and forested, but its water system is not well developed. The only river that can accommodate larger ships is the Yanjiang River, which runs through the northwest of the prefecture and connects the north and south canals.

As someone who lives in Yanzhou, it's impossible not to know about the Yanjiang River.

Why did they choose to travel by water?!

The commander was both surprised and suspicious, as this was completely beyond his expectations.

On the ground, there are countless roads and dense forests, which provide hiding places and escape routes for martial arts masters.

Once you venture deep into the mountains and forests, trying to track them down becomes like finding a needle in a haystack.

But the situation on the water is completely different, especially in the north, where there are only a few main waterways!

Once on board, the route is basically fixed, the target is obvious, and it is very easy to be locked on and pursued along the way. If they do this, aren't they just courting death?

Li Fu's mind raced as he guessed.

Water can mask and confuse odors.

Could it be that Guo Zhugui had already anticipated your next move?

Even if he didn't know about the Soul-Binding Incense, this hound tracking method shouldn't be the first time the Six Doors have used it, right?

Given the Dragon Shock Society's intelligence capabilities, they certainly wouldn't be unaware of this.

"That's not right either. Even if they knew there were pursuers behind them, there was no need for them to walk into a dead end."

"Never mind, hurry and chase them!" The constable had no time to think and shouted sharply, "We must stop them before they enter the water!"

Logically speaking, those pursuing them should have clapped their hands and laughed three times at this seemingly suicidal escape route.

This unusual situation is unsettling. If the Dragon Shock Society isn't stupid, then the other side must have some incredible backing!

"I never expected them to travel by water, so I didn't set up boats to intercept them on the riverbank in advance."

At this moment, the only hope is that the other party has not yet boarded the ship, or that their boarding is not yet secure.

Everyone held nothing back, pushing their lightness skills to the limit, and chased after the straight route!

Thanks to the fact that the other side did not change its route, they were able to pursue at an extremely fast speed.

After chasing for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sound of rushing water came from ahead, and the air was filled with moist moisture.

The group rushed out of the last grove of trees, and a bright and open space opened up before them. But they were all shocked and could not believe what they were seeing!

Under the moonlight, a wide river stretched out before me, its waters rushing and shimmering.

Not far from the riverbank, dozens of ships of varying sizes were moored. The largest of them was a three-story building, brightly lit and with a sturdy hull, clearly not used by ordinary merchants. Each ship resembled a warship.

At the bow of the largest multi-storied ship, Guo Zhugui stood with his hands behind his back, his dark blue brocade robe fluttering slightly in the river breeze.

He seemed to sense something, turned to look at Li Fu and the others who had chased him to the riverbank, a cold smile on his face, and said loudly.

"Officer Li, there's no need to see me off any further."

I can leave with my men myself.

"As the old saying goes, 'Don't pursue a defeated general when he's cornered,' but how come there are still defeated soldiers who are oblivious to their own mortality and are chasing after the victorious army?" The experts of the Jinglong Society stood on the giant ship and deliberately made a ruckus, their laughter echoing across the river.

Li Fu's gaze swept across the river, and his heart skipped a beat.

Besides that conspicuous warship, dozens of other large and small warships followed behind!

The boats were arranged in an orderly fashion, and the men who steered them were all strong and capable. Their movements were uniform and synchronized. Under the moonlight, they formed a dark mass, and at a glance, there were probably several thousand people!

This is by no means a hastily assembled rabble, but a well-trained online army!

"Is this... the imperial navy?"

Li Fu asked in a deep voice.

He had heard that the Jinglong Society had a very wide reach. Could it be that even a certain naval commander was working for them and was secretly deploying troops?

Aside from the imperial court, he couldn't think of anyone else who could possess such a large fleet.

The constable's face was ashen, his sharp gaze sweeping over the shapes of the ships, their sails, and the dark-skinned, muscular, and fierce-looking sailors on board. He squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth.

"No—there is another force in the world besides the imperial court that can mobilize such a large fleet of ships and men."

He suddenly looked up, staring intently at Guo Zhugui at the bow of the ship, and said, word by word.

"The Cao Gang!"

Unexpectedly, even Han Yueze, the leader of the Canal Gang, has colluded with your Jinglong Society!

"Han Yueze, the leader of the Cao Gang?"

Li Fu also raised an eyebrow.

There was originally no canal gang in this world.

Since the current emperor launched the "Flower and Stone Tribute" campaign, the transport of precious stones, flowers, and trees across the land has relied heavily on waterways. This has led to numerous conflicts of interest, and countless canal workers, sailors, and boatmen who depend on the water for their livelihood have gradually formed large and small guilds and gangs in order to survive, protect themselves, and compete for profits.

After years of evolution and integration, it finally formed a behemoth, the largest gang in the world!

Han Yueze was a powerful figure who rose from among the millions of canal workers and eventually unified the canal transport system between the north and south. It is said that he directly controlled hundreds of thousands of core members of the canal gang, all of whom were strong and capable men, and the number of laborers and their families who depended on him was in the millions.

The imperial court was initially pleased with this, utilizing various charitable societies and canal transport gangs to efficiently transport the tribute of precious stones and flowers.

Unexpectedly, the canal gang gradually formed and became too powerful to control. With just a word from Han Yueze, the canal transport between the north and south of the country could be paralyzed!

The Wang family of Suzhou in the southeast controls the Bureau of Imperial Sacrifices and oversees the transfer of the nation's precious stones and flowers. They are incredibly wealthy, arrogant, and disregard the law, earning them the nickname "the mini-court of the southeast," which speaks volumes about their arrogance and domineering nature.

Rumors circulated that, besides the emperor, there were two other people in the world whom the Wang family of Suzhou needed to befriend and even curry favor with.

Besides the powerful and treacherous prime minister of the current dynasty, the other was Han Yueze, the leader of the Canal Gang who controlled the lifeline of the world's water transport!

"It seems we'll have to deal with more than just the Dragon Shock Society tonight; there might also be experts from the Canal Gang."

Li Fu's mind raced through various rumors about Han Yueze, then he looked at the brightly colored, well-organized fleet of canal boats on the river.

"The imperial court has never paid much attention to the navy."

Even if the imperial navy were to mobilize an equal number of ships to fight such an elite fleet of canal boats, they might not be able to gain the upper hand, let alone capture Guo Zhugui.

No wonder he was so confident and charged straight at Yanjiang!