Chapter 108: Chapter 108
He rose to his feet at that, the mountain of flesh casting a vast shadow.
“Great Chief, just say the word. Tonight I’ll take my men to Yunyi Island and butcher the brat!”
“This monk guarantees — kill that slave-dog, and neither the Luo nor the Wang will bat an eye!”
“Now, now, Second Brother — that’s not quite right.”
Across the hall, Jia Pingxiu took a delicate sip of wine and smiled, eyes narrowing to slits.
“A warrior’s battle isn’t won on blood and bravery alone.”
“According to the intelligence our spy sent back, this Ji Ning is cautious, decisive, and ruthless — a completely different animal from Ji Guannan.”
“Knowing him as I do, he absolutely will not sit and wait to be killed…”
The Fat Merchant’s tone was assured. The jade walnuts in his palm clinked together.
“If I’m not mistaken, he’ll send word to the Ji clan tonight and call for reinforcements. Most likely Ji Wen himself, accompanied by two of the Ji clan’s Hidden Strength retainers, will come to the island in person.”
“Then they’ll set a killing ground — lay the trap, hold the bag open — and wait for us to walk into it.”
“Hmph! What good is that?”
The Blood Ascetic scoffed, eyes brimming with predatory menace.
“The Ji clan has no Transforming Strength master. Bring all the Hidden Strength fighters they want — they’re nothing but clay chickens and paper dogs! As long as the Great Chief is willing to act, I’ll take the vanguard and slaughter the Ji clan until—”
His words cut off mid-sentence.
Because the brocade-clad man on the high seat had raised his hand — an idle, offhand gesture.
That alone was enough to shut the Blood Ascetic’s mouth.
“What matters most right now… is finishing the collection of ‘ingredients.'”
Duan Xiao lowered his hand, lifted the jade cup, and took a light sip. His tone was casual, yet brooked no argument.
“Once my Uncle Bai’s divine art is perfected, crushing the Ji clan will be no harder than stepping on an ant.”
“For now… let’s not provoke the County Magistrate or the Wang family head.”
That settled the matter. The verdict on this incident was final.
It meant Chenjian Wu would not be launching a major assault on Yunyi Island in the near future.
Duan Xiao’s words clearly carried weight.
Even the Blood Ascetic could only sit back down with a sullen grunt, turning his frustrations on the captive woman. He didn’t dare say another word.
At that moment, Lu Juncheng — who had been silent throughout — rose and clasped his fists.
“Great Chief… we’ve now lost four chief’s chairs in short order — Qu Bushi, Tu Xiaotian, Chen Xin, and Pang Yi. The empty seats themselves are a minor matter, but the operations under them can’t go unmanaged. Should we promote a few trusted men to fill the gaps?”
“Mm…”
Duan Xiao considered for a moment, then glanced at the kneeling Tang Jin.
“What’s become of Pang Yi?”
Tang Jin’s body gave a visible tremor. His voice came out raw and hoarse.
“…Captured by the Ji men. I’m afraid… he’s done for.”
“…Then let Old Seven take Pang Yi’s seat. For the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth chairs, Third Brother — pick a few obedient, loyal men from the ranks to fill them, same as always.”
“As for the fifth chair…”
Duan Xiao’s gaze cooled as it fell on Tang Jin. He paused.
“You’ve lost your right arm. More than half your strength is gone. Step down from the chair… and take charge of the rear — farming and supply.”
The words were measured, but Tang Jin was no fool. He heard exactly what Duan Xiao meant: this was his punishment for losing three chiefs in a single outing.
The color visibly drained from Tang Jin’s face. A bitter, hollow laugh escaped him.
“Understood…”
He dragged himself upright and shuffled toward the door.
Behind him, Duan Xiao’s detached voice followed. “Don’t forget to hand over the Ink-Scale Armor.”
Tang Jin’s steps faltered. His fist clenched slowly, then loosened. In the end, he said nothing. Head bowed, he left.
Once he was gone, Duan Xiao continued.
“I already have someone in mind for Tang Jin’s seat.”
“Oh?”
Jia Pingxiu’s jade walnuts paused. His round face turned curious.
“And who might that be? A Hidden Strength fighter?”
Duan Xiao nodded.
“Hidden Strength indeed. Four apertures opened. His strength sits firmly above Tang Jin’s. That’s precisely why I had Tang Jin vacate the seat — to make room.”
Four apertures!
Mid-Hidden Strength!
That alone would raise Chenjian Wu’s overall power by a considerable margin.
The revelation stirred visible curiosity throughout the hall.
The Blood Ascetic in particular was scratching his ears and fidgeting, barely able to contain himself.
“Great Chief, don’t keep us in suspense! What’s the man’s name?”
Duan Xiao allowed himself a faint smile.
He drained the cup in one swallow, set down the jade, and spoke two words.
“Gao Fu.”
…
Day fifteen since Chenjian Wu’s Ninth Chief Tu Xiaotian lost his eyes.
Half a month slipped by in the blink of an eye.
Contrary to all expectations, Yunshui Lake had been perfectly calm throughout.
Chenjian Wu made not a single move.
Never mind mustering forces for revenge — even their usual raiding and harassment of merchant ships had vanished without a trace.
The lake held nothing but circling waterfowl and fishing boats coming and going. A portrait of peace.
As if the battle that day had never happened.
The guards whispered among themselves.
Chenjian Wu was likely wary of the pact enforced by the County Magistrate and the Wang family head, and dared not act rashly.
Of course, only a handful of people knew that on the night of the battle, Ji Ning had sent an express message back to Changyun.
By that same evening, three more Hidden Strength fighters had arrived on the island — bringing the total, including Ji Ning himself, to four Hidden Strength masters in garrison.
Against that kind of lineup, Chenjian Wu would have to commit their entire force to have any hope of winning.
Meanwhile.
Two li north of Yunyi Island, in a reed marsh.
A campfire blazed.
Flames licked at a roasting rack.
Shen Xiuhan sat cross-legged on the ground, turning a thick branch.
Skewered on it was a plump duck, roasted to golden perfection.
The Purple-Beaked Duck!
This was no ordinary waterfowl — it was a bona fide first-tier treasure beast.
Grey-brown plumage, a deep purple beak, scarlet claws, and a round, portly body. By now it had been roasted to a golden, glistening crisp.
That morning, Shen Xiuhan had watched Ji Wen and the two Hidden Strength retainers board a ship and leave the island. Only then had he felt safe to act, and swept up the Purple-Beaked Duck whose location had appeared in his intelligence alongside the Ink-Bone Green Fish half a month ago.
He hadn’t just bagged the beast — he’d also taken two eggs from the nest.
The shells had a faint blue-green tint, each one a full size larger than a normal duck egg.
He wrapped them carefully, planning to bring them home for his little sister Momo to raise as pets.
SIZZLE…
Fat dripped from the duck-skin onto the charcoal, and a rich, savory aroma filled the reed marsh.
Shen Xiuhan tore off a drumstick. The skin was crackling-crisp, the meat firm and springy — infused with a faint but pure blood-energy that flowed down his throat like a warm current, spreading through every limb.
One whole duck later, Shen Xiuhan willed the pale golden display into view.
【Intelligence +19】
“Only nineteen… the blood-energy of a first-tier treasure beast is limited, after all.”
Shen Xiuhan wiped the grease from his lips and shook his head with a rueful smile.
Still…
Combined with the half-month’s worth of naturally accumulated intelligence, his available points had finally broken the thirty mark.
Thirty points!
Exactly the threshold needed to Deduce the Scripture of the Divine General.
“Hoo…”
Shen Xiuhan drew a deep breath, steadied his mind, and focused.
【Deducible martial art detected: Scripture of the Divine General Who Gazes into the Void and Illuminates the Heavens. Proceed with Deduction?】
“Yes!”