Urban Martial Saint

Shen Anyun sneered, ”Brother Jiu, aren’t you overstating the strengths of others while undermining our own prestige? You know the situation with the people from Killing Gate the best. Back then, you personally led the attack on Killing Gate and those people couldn’t muster the slightest bit of resistance. All this talk about the Killing Gate Seven Hidden and the Left and Right Protectors—they sounded legendary but hardly put up any fight. In my view, Killing Gate’s people are just so-so; they’re not worth our concern. And as for that Cui Yulong, he relies only on his Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade. This time, we’ve brought two weapons of the same caliber from the family to counter him, and we can definitely suppress his lousy blade. We really don’t need to worry about anything!”

Brother Jiu shot Shen Anyun a glance and said solemnly, ”Anyun, Killing Gate has been renowned for a long time, and its reputation isn’t unfounded. Although we are fully prepared this time, we must not be complacent. Being cautious is always the safest approach. Enough talk, let’s all rest tonight, and we’ll go meet with the people from Killing Gate at the teahouse tomorrow!”

As the true leader of the Shen Family, once Brother Jiu spoke, others naturally wouldn’t say anything more and dispersed to rest.

Seeing everyone had gone, Shen Anyun knew she couldn’t change anything and could only sigh helplessly, ”Brother Jiu, you’re being too cautious; that’s really not good. A man should act boldly and decisively; what’s all this worry about? This isn’t what a man should do!”

Brother Jiu, with a face full of black lines, gave her a look and said, ”Enough nonsense, go rest now!”

”Got it!” Shen Anyun waved her hand dismissively, grabbed Lin Huayu by the side, and said, ”Huayu, let’s go, you’re staying with your aunt tonight; your aunt will protect you. Don’t be afraid of anything, whether it’s the Netherworld Scholar or anyone from Killing Gate. If one comes, I’ll make sure they die; if a pair comes, they’ll both be dead for sure.”

”That’s great!” Lin Huayu excitedly hugged Shen Anyun’s arm and went upstairs with her.

Shen Baichuan stood aside and watched as everyone left without paying him any attention, feeling quite awkward. Fortunately, Shen Qianyue was still standing by his side. Shen Qianyue looked at Shen Baichuan with a smile and asked, ”How are your injuries?”

Shen Baichuan had stayed in Shenchuan City under the pretext that he was too injured to leave. Now hearing Shen Qianyue’s words, he felt a bit embarrassed and quickly replied, ”All healed!”

”That’s good to hear!” Shen Qianyue smiled faintly, patted Shen Baichuan on the shoulder, and said, ”Get some rest early!”

After Shen Qianyue went upstairs, Shen Baichuan watched his silhouette for a long time before finally leaving the attic. He was well aware that there was no place for him here; he still had to return to his previous quarters to sleep.

But what he didn’t realize was that as he left, a pair of eyes from the second floor were watching him. In the darkness, Shen Qianyue stood by the window, quietly observing Shen Baichuan’s departing figure, with a peculiar glint flickering in his eyes, leaving one to wonder what exactly he was thinking.

Meanwhile, the members of Killing Gate hadn’t gone to sleep because they had already received the news of the Shen Family’s arrival in Shenchuan City.

”We might as well strike the Lin family now and catch them off guard; that would be the best!” the Ghost King Li Ruoyuan shouted loudly, being one of the advocates for immediate action.

”True, after traveling this long, the Shen Family must be exhausted. If we strike now, we’ll definitely gain a huge advantage!” Demon Queen He Qinghua also yelled.

Cui Yu kept his head down without speaking. The others looked at the Right Protector, though. Although Cui Yu held the Blood Assassination Order, Killing Gate’s Seven Hidden didn’t take it seriously at all. Since the Right Protector’s return, he had essentially taken charge of affairs at Killing Gate, after all, his strength was much greater than Cui Yu’s. In Killing Gate, strength meant everything; with strength came the right to speak!

The Right Protector furrowed his brow, also hesitating whether to attack directly. The Shen Family had come a long way and were undoubtedly worn out; an attack now would be ideal. However, a direct attack would essentially be an ambush, which wouldn’t sound good if word got out.

”I think it’s better not to act this way,” Cui Yu said gravely, ”Striking now might give us an advantage. But if we attack the Lin family, we’d offend them too, which wouldn’t be suitable!”

”Cui Panguan, it’s been ten years; how have you become even more timid?” Black Asura spoke coldly, ”What’s the Lin family worth? It’s just a family that knows how to make money, how could they affect us, the Killing Gate? How many of them have I killed in my lifetime? What’s there to fear?”

The others also looked at Cui Yu. So-called tycoons were not an issue for them since they didn’t care about such matters.

”The Lin family might not be capable of much, but...” Cui Yu paused, then continued with a heavy tone, ”The Lin family is known as the wealthiest family in Shenchuan City, with Lin Corporation being the largest group there. This family has enough sway to influence Shenchuan City’s political circles. What if they press the government to crack down on us—what then?”

”What government officials? I’m not afraid of them at all!” Black Asura said disdainfully, ”Are you talking about those police officers? Please, if one comes, I’ll kill one. If they come in pairs, I’ll take them down in pairs. Let’s see how many they have to spare!”

”Black Asura, if you’re going to say that, then I have nothing more to say!” said Cui Yu, looking towards the Right Protector, ”I’ve said my piece. How to choose is for everyone to decide.”

The Right Protector slightly frowned and after a long silence, he nodded slowly, ”Cui Panguan is right, we shouldn’t make an additional enemy while contending with the Shen Family. Even if the police aren’t a significant threat, if they really deploy in large numbers, it would be quite troublesome for us!”

Everyone looked at each other, with nothing more to say. Now that the Right Protector had spoken, they could not change anything.

”However...” the Right Protector said with a cold smile, ”even if we don’t go and fight with them tonight, we must ensure that they won’t have a peaceful night’s sleep. Since they’ve already entered Shenchuan City, let’s play with them a bit!”

”Play, how?” Everyone was surprised.

The Right Protector did not say directly but looked at Cui Yu beside him and asked, ”Judge Cui, how many subordinates can you mobilize in Shenchuan City?”

”Roughly one hundred people,” Cui Yu replied, frowning slightly as he looked at the Right Protector, ”Right Protector, are you planning to send these people to clash with the Shen Family? These people are not strong enough; sending them would be a death sentence!”

”I know that, and I have no intentions of making them fight to the death!” The Right Protector waved his hand and said, ”Call them all over, don’t bring any weapons, and dress simply. Also, have them buy some firecrackers!”

”Firecrackers?” Everyone was puzzled, not understanding what kind of trick the Right Protector was planning to play.

The Right Protector smiled and said, ”You’ll know soon enough.”

Since the Right Protector had said not to bring weapons, it was clear that he wasn’t going to make them fight with anyone, so Cui Yu was no longer worried. He made a call and summoned some of his subordinates. To run the teahouse in Shenchuan City, relying solely on the people inside the teahouse was not enough; they also needed people in the shadows to help them collect information, and these were the gatherers of information.

Because these people operated in the shadows, they never entered the teahouse, and so they were all new faces, with nobody knowing their association with the teahouse.

After about an hour, these people had gathered, each bringing some firecrackers as per the Right Protector’s instructions. But the Right Protector shook his head upon seeing the firecrackers they brought and instructed a few people to go out and buy a truckload of large firecrackers, along with some mourning clothes.

”Right Protector, what are you planning to do?” Cui Yu asked in surprise.

”Naturally, I’m planning to play with them,” the Right Protector replied with a cold smile, ”Tonight, the people of the Shen Family won’t be able to sleep peacefully!”

”What?” Cui Yu was astonished, but the Right Protector did not elaborate further, only waiting for the individuals to return with the firecrackers and mourning clothes before explaining his plan.

It turned out that the Right Protector intended for these people to dress as a funeral procession and circle around the Lin Family Courtyard, setting off firecrackers. The Right Protector had specifically bought so many firecrackers so that the entire Lin Family Courtyard would be without a moment of peace. Moreover, dressed as a funeral procession, even if the people of the Shen Family were furious, they could hardly do anything about it—who doesn’t set off firecrackers during a funeral?

”The Right Protector’s idea is truly brilliant!” Black Asura couldn’t help but exclaim, excitedly saying, ”Damn it, tonight, those from the Shen Family won’t be able to sleep!”

Cui Yu furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, ”Aren’t these methods a bit too despicable?”

”Despicable?” The Right Protector looked at Cui Yu with cold eyes and said, ”Ten years ago, they took advantage of us sleeping and suddenly launched a sneak attack. Wasn’t that despicable? We haven’t even launched a sneak attack; we’re just preventing them from sleeping well, what’s so despicable about that? Compared to the Shen Family’s methods, ours are much more aboveboard and open!”

”The Right Protector is right, the Shen Family isn’t exactly filled with righteous and honorable men. What does despicable or not even mean to them!” The Netherworld Scholar spoke coldly, ”If it were up to me, I’d just attack the Lin Family directly, what’s there to fear from the police?”

”Right, we shouldn’t be talking about honor and integrity with them!”

”Play them to death!”

The others unanimously voiced their agreement with the Right Protector’s idea. Being part of a killer organization, they were accustomed to launching sneak attacks; there was no question of honor in their line of work. Being unable to attack the Shen Family directly already dissatisfied them, so how could they pass up the chance to employ some underhanded tactics?

Seeing that he couldn’t persuade the crowd, Cui Yu ultimately agreed as well. The Right Protector gave the order, and those people immediately dressed in mourning clothes, carried an empty coffin, and headed straight for the Lin Family Courtyard. Seeing the truck full of firecrackers, the Killing Gate members all chuckled secretly. It seemed that tonight, the people of the Shen Family wouldn’t be getting any rest!