Chapter 46: Chapter 46

“Liu He!”

Wen Bubao recognized the severed head. Shadowless Sword Liu He — also a seventh-rank fighter.

He’d crossed paths with Liu He back in Mingzhou. He hadn’t expected to be staring at the man’s detached head.

“Like you, he wasn’t exactly a saint. Unlike you, he wasn’t smart enough to avoid trying to ambush me. So this happened.”

THUD.

The head was dropped on the floor. Li Suifeng regarded Wen Bubao with a flat gaze.

“Now it’s your turn to choose.”

“Submit, or die.”

Liu He and Wen Bubao were different from Zhu Dachang. According to Crow’s intelligence, Zhu Dachang had a reputation for righteousness — well-regarded in Mingzhou.

Liu He and Wen Bubao, on the other hand, lived for themselves. Both had plenty of blood on their hands.

Not that Li Suifeng was some paragon of virtue. Men like these might actually be easier to use.

He’d originally planned to plant the Life-Death Talisman in Liu He as well. But the man had tried a sneak attack, Li Suifeng’s hand had been a touch heavy, and he couldn’t be bothered treating the wounds. So the head came off instead — a useful prop for persuading Wen Bubao.

The system task only required two seventh-rank recruits anyway.

“I… submit.”

A thousand thoughts raced through Wen Bubao’s mind. In the end, survival won.

Liu He’s head was right there on the floor. If he refused, his would be next.

“Words are cheap.”

Li Suifeng looked at him.

Wen Bubao’s heart clenched. He blurted:

“Boss Li — I swear to the heavens. If I ever betray you, may I die a wretched death!”

Li Suifeng shook his head.

“I’ve never put stock in oaths.”

One step forward. His right hand turned with a subtle rotation, and a Life-Death Talisman condensed in an instant.

FWIP!

The talisman shot toward Wen Bubao’s chest.

“Boss Li, you—”

Wen Bubao thrust his spear at the incoming projectile.

PFFT!

He missed. The talisman was too fast — it pierced through his clothing and sank into his chest.

“What…?”

Wen Bubao stared at his chest. No wound. No mark.

Had he actually blocked it?

The next instant, a maddening itch erupted from deep inside his body.

“AAAGH—”

Half an hour later, Wen Bubao stood behind Li Suifeng, drenched in sweat from head to toe, terror burning in his eyes.

【Ding!】

【Task complete. Two seventh-rank fighters successfully recruited. Reward: Great Vajra Palm (maxed). Extract now?】

“Report to the branch tomorrow.”

Hearing the system’s chime, Li Suifeng tossed the command over his shoulder and walked out of the estate Wen Bubao had purchased.

Once he was outside the dock perimeter, he spoke:

“Extract.”

BOOM!

A lifetime of Great Vajra Palm mastery flooded into his mind.

The Great Vajra Palm — one of the Shaolin Seventy-Two Supreme Arts. Renowned for its overwhelming, thunderous power, it struck with the force of a divine guardian’s descending palm. After several breaths, Li Suifeng opened his eyes.

“The Great Vajra Palm and the Great Tombstone-Crushing Palm are both Shaolin Seventy-Two Supreme Arts, but at peak mastery, the Vajra Palm is several tiers above.”

“Worth it.”

…

He returned to the dock courtyard.

Willow was carrying her bedding toward the side room. Spotting Li Suifeng, her face turned scarlet and she scurried inside at a half-run.

“What’s gotten into her?”

Li Suifeng muttered.

He had zero interest in a girl like Willow. She was pretty enough, but her figure was still too girlish. Forget comparing her to Lin Zhixu — even Ye Qingmei had her outclassed by two full sizes.

In his previous life, he’d been something of a connoisseur of the finer establishments. Willow simply didn’t register.

Youth didn’t know what grown women had to offer. Boys chased after girls when they should have been chasing women.

Only a man who’d experienced the company of a real woman understood just how intoxicating that could be.

This applied strictly, of course, to women who were beautiful, knew exactly what they were doing, and could read a room. Not the kind who were past their prime, looked nothing special, and still acted like they were God’s gift.

“Boss Li — you’re back.”

He pushed open the bedroom door. Lin Zhixu came to meet him, eyes heavy-lidded with invitation.

A woman of her age, once awakened, had opened Pandora’s box. Every technique she’d studied through the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers’ seductive arts curriculum was now being field-tested with enthusiasm.

And Li Suifeng — a man who believed in giving as good as he got — had no choice but to rise to the occasion.

…

The next morning.

Li Suifeng arrived at the branch feeling thoroughly refreshed.

Wen Bubao and Zhu Dachang were already waiting.

Both had risen early. It wouldn’t do to make Li Suifeng wait.

“Didn’t expect Second Master Zhu to be working for Boss Li too.”

Wen Bubao eyed Zhu Dachang with an expression that suggested shared suffering.

“If you can do it, so can I.” Zhu Dachang gave him a blank look. He and Wen Bubao had no history. Why was this man smiling at him like they were old friends?

“You’re here.”

Li Suifeng pushed open the reception hall doors and walked in.

He tossed each man a token.

“From today, you’re both retainers of the Canal Gang’s Nanyang Branch.”

He currently held the Helmsman’s authority in all but name. But technically, he was still just an Elder — he couldn’t hand out Elder appointments. Retainer was as high as he could go.

“Yes, Boss Li!”

“Yes, sir.”

Both men bowed. They served Li Suifeng. Whatever he ordered, they did.

Just as Li Suifeng was briefing the two, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

“Boss Li!”

It was Liu Yuan.

Since Li Suifeng had assumed acting leadership of the branch, Liu Yuan had been brought into the compound to handle administrative work.

Liu Yuan lacked martial talent, but for logistical drudgery, he was perfectly adequate.

“What is it?”

Li Suifeng looked at him. Liu Yuan was a tactful man — he wouldn’t interrupt without good reason.

“Boss Li — last night, two girls in Nanyang were… violated.” Liu Yuan kept his voice low.

“The culprit left his name at the scene.”

“Golden Spear Song Ling.”

Hm?

Li Suifeng’s brow creased.

Crow had been right on the mark. The flower thief Song Ling had come to Nanyang.

【Ding!】

【Task: Kill the flower thief, Golden Spear Song Ling.】

【Reward: Lion’s Roar Art (maxed).】

“Put the word out — full sweep of the city. Report any leads directly to me. Nobody acts on their own.”

Li Suifeng’s voice was ice.

He might not be a saint, but flower thieves were a breed he despised.

And with a system task plus the Green Robe Tower bounty both in play, killing Song Ling was profit from every angle.

“Yes, sir!” Liu Yuan acknowledged and left to issue orders.

Zhu Dachang spoke quietly:

“This matches Song Ling’s pattern. Back in Mingzhou, he hit over a dozen times the same way — always leaving his name at the scene. His qinggong is exceptional. Four seventh-rank fighters tried to corner him once and he still slipped away.”

“Though he should be carrying injuries. A Red Lotus Sect master reportedly wounded him.”

Li Suifeng nodded.

“Plenty of Mingzhou refugees have arrived in the city. Some of them must be people you know. Ask around — if anyone has leads, come find me.”