All Heavens: Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts Starting from the Republic of China

Chapter 68 I didn't expect Wenlong's waters to be so murky.

Tang Ziming did not take Liao Xibai and Fu Ze with him on the main street.

The assassination attempt at the city gate had just occurred, causing panic among the people and chaos among the soldiers. If Liao Xibai remained exposed to the crowd, no one knew if a second wave of assassins might follow!

He said in a low voice.

"Sir, please come with me to a courtyard in the Third Battalion. It's where I usually rest and handle military affairs. It's not in the barracks or the commander's residence, and not many people know about it."

Fu Ze was about to remind him whether Tang Ziming was trustworthy. If they rashly went with him, they might be surrounded by guns and cannons, and then there would be no way to escape.

But Liao Xibai glanced at Tang Ziming and nodded in response.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Ziming."

Fu Ze could not say anything more.

Tang Ziming immediately led the way himself.

A squad of heavily armed soldiers surrounded them, forcibly parting the crowd to make way for them.

Fu Ze walked to Liao Xibai's left, while Zhao Rui lagged half a step behind, their twin pistols never sheathed. Li Junfeng, pale-faced, remained standing to Liao Xibai's right.

Feng Xuan put the aura-concealing talisman into his sleeve and remained silent the whole way.

Upon entering Wenlong City, Fu Ze truly realized that this city was completely different from the county towns along the way.

Although not as prosperous as Shanghai or Tianjin, it was still one of the most bustling metropolises during the Republic of China era!

The streets are wide and flat, with vehicles allowed in the middle, pedestrians on both sides, and sidewalks along the edges. There are traffic lights and traffic police; in some sections, you can even see trams clanging by.

The streets were lined with shops, including teahouses, cloth shops, foreign goods stores, and photography studios with Western-style signs. You could see scholars in long gowns and soldiers in short jackets with guns at their waists.

Yet beneath the lively atmosphere, there was a sense of tension.

Patrolmen occasionally walk by the street corner.

Some alley entrances were piled with sandbags and wooden fences, as if they could be blocked off at any time.

When the roadside vendors saw the soldiers protecting the people as they passed by, they all instinctively lowered their heads and dared not look any longer.

Zhao Rui lowered his voice.

"It seems things aren't so peaceful in Wenlong either."

Tang Ziming heard this and gave a wry smile.

"Zhao the Gun King is right. Since Mr. Liao left the country and President Sun passed away, although the country is still nominally under the Republic of China, it has actually become independent. Wenlong is a key location, and many people are watching it closely."

As he spoke, he looked at Liao Xibai again.

"But please rest assured, sir, once we reach Wenlong, it will be entirely Commander Chen's territory. I will absolutely not allow anyone to harm you in the slightest. Otherwise, Commander Chen will certainly hold me accountable!"

That was said very sincerely.

But Fu Ze glanced at him slightly.

Commander Chen's Territory

There's actually nothing wrong with these words.

Tang Ziming was both demonstrating his loyalty to his boss and showcasing his own abilities.

But it still leaves one with a slightly unsettling feeling.

Li Junfeng also glanced at Tang Ziming but didn't say anything.

Tang Ziming seemed oblivious and continued to lead the way quickly.

Before long, the group entered a secluded alley.

At the end of the alley stood a small courtyard with two sections. The exterior looked ordinary, but inside stood two armed soldiers. Upon seeing Tang Ziming return, they immediately stood at attention.

"battalion commander!"

Tang Ziming said in a deep voice.

"From now on, no one is allowed to approach without my order. Add two shifts of guards outside the compound wall, and deploy hidden sentries as well. If anyone is suspicious, arrest them first."

"yes!"

Once inside, Liao Xibai finally sat down.

His face was somewhat pale. Although the assassination attempt at the city gate had not injured him, it had still shaken his already weakened body.

Li Junfeng stood to the side, stubbornly refusing to sit down.

Liao Xibai glanced at him.

"Junfeng, sit down."

Li Junfeng then sat down.

Tang Ziming personally poured tea and handed it to Liao Xibai. His movements were very respectful, but his eyes still held a hint of excitement.

"Sir, I really didn't expect you to come back so suddenly."

Liao Xibai took the tea, took a sip, and smiled.

"I never expected that someone would give me such a big welcome gift so soon after I arrived in Wenlong."

Tang Ziming's face darkened, and he immediately lowered his head.

"It's the students' incompetence. This area of ​​the city gate is my assigned defense zone, yet an assassin managed to sneak in and almost injured you, sir."

""

Liao Xibai shook his head.

"This isn't your fault. Wenlong is a big city with all sorts of people coming and going. Who can guarantee there won't be any oversights? Let's find out the truth first."

Tang Ziming immediately replied.

"The students have already sent men to seal the city gates, count the soldiers on duty, and also sent someone to inform Commander Chen. If he learns that you have arrived, he will surely put down all his military affairs and come immediately."

Zhao Rui asked.

"Brother Tang, what do you think of those three assassins?"

Tang Ziming looked solemn.

"Swordsmen, gunmen, and soldiers on the city walls. The simultaneous attack from three locations doesn't seem like a spur-of-the-moment decision."

Fu Ze nodded.

"There is also a concealment talisman, which can shield the fluctuations of killing intent, making it difficult for others to detect."

As he spoke, Feng Xuan unfolded the talisman and placed it on the table.

The talisman paper had turned somewhat black, and the cinnabar lines on it were fine and twisted, unlike orthodox Taoist talismans, instead carrying a slightly sinister feel.

Feng Xuandao.

"This talisman isn't particularly sophisticated, but it's very practical. It can temporarily conceal killing intent, malevolent energy, and fluctuations in aura. If it weren't for Young Friend Fu's attainment of the Transformation Realm and his keen perception of aura, they probably would have gained the upper hand."

Tang Ziming looked at Fu Ze with a surprised expression.

He had only seen Fu Ze cripple the swordsman, and knew that this young man's martial arts skills must be extremely high, but he never expected that he had already reached the Transformation Realm. He could be called a martial arts grandmaster!

Zhao Rui immediately laughed.

"Stop looking. Young Master Fu just reached the Transformation Realm last night, it's still warm."

Tang Ziming was even more surprised.

"You just reached the Transformation Realm last night? You're already this powerful so soon after reaching the Transformation Realm. No wonder you're worthy of following in your footsteps, Master!"

He also thought that Fu Ze was a follower of Liao Xibai.

Li Junfeng said coldly.

That's not the point.

Tang Ziming immediately composed himself.

Liao Xibai looked at Fu Ze.

"Brother Fu, what do you think these three people are?"

Fu Ze thought for a moment.

"The swordsman is almost at the peak of Ming Jin, just one step away from An Jin. The gunman's reaction is also not slow; he has at least received specialized training. The one on the city wall is the most troublesome; his marksmanship is accurate, his movements are fast, and he can even seize an opportunity to fire a second shot in the chaos."

"There is at least one person with magical abilities working behind these three."

Feng Xuan nodded.

"That's right. A breath-concealing talisman isn't something that ordinary martial arts practitioners or common assassins can obtain."

Zhao Rui frowned.

"The question is, how did they know Mr. Liao would be in Wenlong today?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

This is the key.

They didn't inform Chen Ji'an in advance, and even the specific time of their entry into the city was only decided on the spot. It simply doesn't make sense to say that the assassins were only deployed today.

Fu Ze analyzed.

"They may not know that Mr. Liao is arriving today. They only need to know that Mr. Liao will most likely come to Wenlong."

Zhao Rui narrowed his eyes.

"So, you've been waiting here all along?"

Fu Ze nodded.

"Especially that soldier on the city wall. If he wasn't replaced at the last minute, it means he's probably been in the city defenses for a long time."

Tang Ziming's face immediately turned extremely ugly.

"I'll send someone to check the roster right away!"

Liao Xibai waved his hand.

"Ziming, don't rush. Let's interrogate the survivors first."

The survivor was that woodcutter with a sickle.

Fu Ze crippled his arms, shattered his knees, and dislocated his jaw. He was left in a side room like a lump of mud.

But the man's eyes remained cold and indifferent. There was no pleading, no fear.

Feng Xuan checked it over first, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"Besides the poison pill in his teeth, he also has a layer of magical restriction on his body."

Zhao Rui frowned.

"What restriction?"

Feng Xuandao.

"Something like a [silencing spell]. If you forcefully extract crucial information, the magic left behind by the caster will immediately backfire. At best, it will cause a mental breakdown; at worst, it will kill them on the spot!"

Zhao Rui was shocked.

"Holy crap, is this for real? This is so weird!"

Fu Ze stepped forward.

Last night, he completed more than half of the "Shangqing Lingbao Dongshen Zhengfa" and his understanding of many talismanic spells and techniques is now much better than before.

At this moment, with his spiritual vision activated, he indeed saw several extremely fine wisps of gray-black energy intertwined around the assassin's throat, chest, and brow.

It was like three eerie nails! They had pinned his soul down.

That's really weird!

Fu Ze said in a low voice.

"It's not just a simple gag; it seals off their soul as well."

Feng Xuan glanced at him with some surprise.

"Young friend Fu, you could tell?"

Fu Ze nodded.

"I can see a little bit."

Feng Xuan sighed.

"Your magical skills have indeed improved again."

Now is not the time to ask questions in detail.

Feng Xuan took out a talisman and affixed it to the assassin's forehead. Fu Ze, on the other hand, used the Soul-Suppressing Technique from the "Shangqing Lingbao Dongshen Zhengfa" to subtly apply spiritual energy from his fingertips to the assassin's throat.

The two forces of magic, one positive and one negative, pressed down simultaneously.

The assassin shuddered violently.

A hint of pain finally appeared in his eyes.

Fu Ze reached out and put his chin back down, saying coldly.

"Speak. Who sent you?"

The assassin remained silent.

Fu Ze increased his magical power slightly.

The assassin's forehead veins bulged, blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and his throat made a rumbling sound like a broken bellows.

Liao Xibai looked at him and said calmly.

"You've been able to endure this long, waiting in Wenlong; you must not be ordinary assassins."

"I'll only ask you one question. Who sent you?"

The assassin stared intently at Liao Xibai.

A very complex look suddenly appeared in his eyes.

Hatred, fanaticism, and a touch of unspeakable irony.

His throat moved.

"Wenlong————"

Fu Ze and Feng Xuan simultaneously felt the three gray-black auras tighten suddenly.

Fu Ze immediately gave a low shout.

"Hold him down!"

Zhao Rui and Tang Ziming's soldiers immediately subdued the assassin.

Three sheets of the Wind-Swept Talisman were burned in succession.

"town!"

Black blood gushed from the assassin's mouth, but he still managed to force out a few words.

"It is no longer yours."

He hadn't finished speaking.

boom!

A muffled thud suddenly came from his chest.

It felt like something was exploding inside my body.

The assassin's eyes bulged, black blood flowed from his seven orifices, his body convulsed a few times, and then he completely stopped breathing.

Zhao Rui cursed.

"Damn it!"

Feng Xuan's expression turned ugly, and he withdrew his hand.

"The restriction has backfired; there's no saving it."

Fu Ze frowned.

Tang Ziming stood to the side, his face ashen.

"Sir, I'll go and urge them to check the roster."

Just as he was about to leave, he heard hurried footsteps coming from outside the courtyard.

A soldier came in and reported in a low voice.

"Battalion Commander, we've found the roster for duty at the city gate. The soldier who fired the shot is named Ma Sihai. He enlisted three months ago and was assigned to the city gate garrison."

Tang Ziming turned around abruptly.

"Three months ago?"

"Yes."

Soldiers' Road.

"The place of origin is listed as a rural area in Huangzhou, and there is a guarantor listed as well. However, when we sent someone to inquire just now, the guarantor's residence was already empty."

Neighbors said that the person moved away about two weeks ago.

Zhao Rui sneered.

"Oh, so it really was buried a long time ago."

Fu Zeshidao.

How does this person usually behave?

Soldiers' Road.

"He's honest, doesn't talk much, is strong, and has a good shot. Everyone in the team says he comes from a rural hunter family."

Fu Ze and Li Junfeng exchanged a glance.

At the peak of Ming Jin (a martial arts style), his spear skills were formidable, and his movement was extremely fast.

Such a person could actually disguise himself as an ordinary city guard and endure for three months.

All for the sake of firing that shot when Liao Xibai enters the city.

That patience is frightening.

Tang Ziming's face was so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

"The chaotic recruitment at the grassroots level is my dereliction of duty."

Liao Xibai said.

"It's not just your problem. The fact that you were able to deploy your forces three months in advance means that they anticipated I would likely come to Wenlong if I returned."

"They're waiting for me here."

The room fell silent again.

This is more terrifying than a last-minute assassination.

The impromptu assassination only indicates a leak of information.

The fact that they could plan three months or even earlier in advance shows that the people behind the scenes had a very deep understanding of Liao Xibai's route, situation, and connections.

Just then, a series of even more hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Tang Ziming frowned.

"What's wrong now?"

A group of personal guards rushed in.

"Battalion Commander, Commander Chen has arrived!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a deep and urgent voice rang out from outside the courtyard gate.

"Where is the gentleman?"

The next moment, a man in his forties strode in.

He wore a crisp military uniform, his shoulders broad, and a pistol at his waist. His face wasn't handsome, but his features were strong, and his eyes carried the authority of someone long accustomed to a high position.

But the moment he saw Liao Xibai, his imposing aura vanished instantly.

Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

"teacher!"

Chen Ji'an strode forward, his voice trembling slightly.

"You're finally back!"

As he spoke, he actually knelt down on one knee.

Liao Xibai immediately reached out to support him.

"Ji An, you and I are truly brothers, there's no need for formalities."

Chen Ji'an was helped up, his eyes still red.

"The students have been waiting for their teacher to return all these years."

This doesn't sound like a lie.

Fu Zene could sense that his excitement and respect were genuine.

But the next moment, when Chen Ji'an turned to look at Tang Ziming and the soldiers inside the room, his face instantly darkened.

The oppressive aura of that powerful warlord immediately made the air in the room feel tense.

"In my Wenlong, at my city gates, you allowed my lord to be assassinated. What are you all good for?!"

Tang Ziming immediately lowered his head.

"Commander, it is my dereliction of duty."

Chen Ji'an said coldly.

"Seal off the entire city. Get the city defenses, patrols, and police stations all mobilized."

"Before tonight, I want to know just how many ghosts are hiding in my Wenlong City!"

He spoke these words with a resolute anger and a strong murderous intent.

Fu Ze looked at him, a slight thought stirring in his heart.

This Chen Ji'an was probably truly loyal to Liao Xibai.

But he has indeed become a powerful figure in the region.

The phrase "my Wenlong" wasn't meant to be a deliberate boast, but rather something that came out unconsciously.

Li Junfeng had obviously heard it too, and his eyes turned slightly cold.

Liao Xibai, however, remained calm.

He gently patted Chen Ji'an's arm.

"Ji An, don't rush to get angry. The most important thing right now is not how many people to kill, but to figure out who can still be trusted."

Chen Ji'an took a deep breath and suppressed his urge to become prime minister.

"Sir, you are right."

He turned to look at Fu Ze, Feng Xuan, Zhao Rui, and Li Junfeng, his expression softening considerably.

"I am deeply grateful to the gentlemen who escorted you all the way."

Zhao Rui is a ping-pong player.

"Put gratitude aside for now. The river in your city isn't exactly clean."

Chen Ji'an's face twitched slightly, but he did not refute.

"I will investigate."

Li Junfeng said coldly.

"I hope you can really find out."

Chen Ji'an glanced at him.

"Don't worry, Mr. Li. This is Wenlong. I will not let you go blind again."

It's that same old thing again.

Fu Ze did not speak.

Just then, Tang Ziming received another urgent report.

He glanced at it, and his expression immediately changed.

Chen Ji'an frowned.

"explain."

Tang Ziming said in a deep voice.

"Commander, when Hai was inspecting the armory of the Third Battalion of the city defense, he found burnt talisman ash in the incense burner in the guardhouse."

Feng Xuan immediately looked up.

"What talisman ash?"

Tang Ziming looked at Feng Xuan.

"The ashes of that protective talisman from Hai Cai are very Sichuanese."

The atmosphere inside the room instantly became tense.

Chen Ji'an's face gradually darkened.

Fu Ze looked out the window.

The sky over Wenlong City was slowly darkening.

If you are poisonous in this city.

He sighed softly.

"I didn't expect the water in Wenlong to be so murky."