Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 135: Chapter 102: Rich Harvest! Each With Their Own Schemes! _2

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The desolate mountain where the auction was held.

By now, the sounds of battle and slaughter had long since subsided. Only the crackling of raging flames echoed continuously. The luxurious pavilions were engulfed in a fiery blaze, illuminating half the night sky in crimson, making the night seem as if it were not night at all.

Someone brought over a grand armchair. Liu Yuanhu sat upright in it, his fingers rhythmically tapping on the armrest as he sank into contemplation.

In front of him lay the earlier man in the ghost mask, motionless. The Evil Ghost Mask had long since shattered, revealing a slightly pale face. Evidently, he had been dead for some time.

”Reporting to the Magistrate, the Black Sand Gang members have mostly been eradicated. Only a few stragglers remain. Please give your orders!”

A brawny soldier with a menacing aura knelt before Liu Yuanhu, speaking in a deep tone.

Liu Yuanhu waved his hand dismissively.

”The small fry don’t matter. As long as the big fish is dealt with.”

He gazed at the ghost-masked person’s corpse, a trace of pleasure flickering in his eyes.

”It’s said that Yan Hua, the Deputy Gang Leader of the Black Sand Gang, was exceptional in his movement techniques. Truly, he lived up to his reputation.”

Flattering voices arose immediately from those nearby:

”No matter how exceptional, he still couldn’t escape the Magistrate’s grasp. With your prowess, even Zhao Honglie is merely a locust after autumn. He won’t jump around for long!”

Liu Yuanhu burst into hearty laughter.

”And the rest of the attendees at the black market auction?”

”Reporting to the Magistrate, most of the well-targeted fat sheep didn’t get away. We confiscated tens of thousands of taels of silver and various auction items. Nearly all of it is here.”

If Gu Sheng were present, he could have recognized that the speaker was one of the individuals he had specifically observed earlier, someone who had even bid on the Demon Fox’s Heart during the auction. Unexpectedly, he turned out to be under Liu Yuanhu’s command.

The man gestured toward a pile of corpses in the distance.

The burly man with the Ox-Face Mask was among them, as were several of Lu Yue’s attendants.

Liu Yuanhu nodded slowly.

”Whether they escaped or not doesn’t matter. This ambush on the auction wasn’t just about eliminating evildoers—it’s about carrying out justice on behalf of the heavens. No one dares to utter a word of dissent. The very act of auctioning off human lives alone places me on the moral high ground.”

This sweep yielded considerable rewards.

The treasures from the auction were already highly valuable. Coupled with the silver brought by the attendees, this fortune was enough to make Liu Yuanhu’s heart race. It would allow him to purchase even rarer treasures in the Red Cloud Prefecture, treasures that might even help him ascend further.

He accepted the Demon Fox’s Heart handed to him by a subordinate and chuckled sinisterly.

”A treasure that can offer a chance to achieve a Perfect state in the Blood Refining Realm was enough to lure out such plump prey. If it were capable of helping someone advance to the Bone Refining Realm, I can’t imagine the storm it would create.”

”Keep it safe. Whoever among you achieves the next great accomplishment will get to use it first.”

At these words, the Blood Refining Realm experts under his command immediately lit up, their breathing becoming visibly heavier.

”Everyone has worked hard today. Rewards all around!”

”We thank the Magistrate for his generous rewards!”

It was common knowledge: you can’t expect a horse to run and not feed it. Despite Liu Yuanhu’s position as a county magistrate, the cost of maintaining so many subordinates wasn’t trivial. If he failed to provide adequate compensation, why would anyone continue to follow him? Divisions and dissatisfaction could easily emerge.

This was essentially a windfall from looting.

However, he knew opportunities like this wouldn’t come often. After tonight, the black market auctions would likely go dormant for quite some time. Even if they resumed, they wouldn’t operate so openly and boldly but would become far more covert.

”Now then, let’s see how Zhao Honglie reacts.”

Staring out at the night sky, Liu Yuanhu grinned widely. Tonight’s operation served as a warning to the Black Sand Gang. Recently, as he shifted his focus back from the Red Cloud Prefecture, he had discovered that the Black Sand Gang had quietly grown to an alarming extent.

Its influence had extended throughout Canghe County, to a point where even he felt uneasy. How could he allow others to sleep peacefully beside his proverbial bed?

The Black Sand Gang had to be eliminated.

If he were to wage an all-out war, the losses would be enormous, something he couldn’t afford.

But Liu Yuanhu wasn’t in a hurry. He held his trump cards. All he needed was a little more time, and victory would be assured. This sudden raid tonight was executed because he understood Zhao Honglie’s nature well.

Zhao Honglie was a naturally suspicious person. The more aggressive Liu Yuanhu acted, the more Zhao Honglie would be hesitant to make a move, choosing instead to retreat into obscurity. This played perfectly into Liu Yuanhu’s hands.

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At the Black Sand Gang’s headquarters.

A thunderous, incredulous roar erupted, reverberating through the hall:

”What did you say?? The auction was completely destroyed by Liu Yuanhu, and even Yan Hua was killed by him?”

Zhao Honglie’s bloodshot eyes glared at the gang member in front of him, who was covered in blood and wounds, as though he was ready to kill. He had been preoccupied handling internal gang matters when this shocking news reached him.

The wounded gang member, his body riddled with injuries, felt a surge of overwhelming grief as he faced Zhao Honglie. Tears welled up in his voice as he choked out:

”Every word I speak is true! That Liu Yuanhu has truly gone mad! He stormed in with his forces, sparing no one. The Deputy Gang Leader fought with everything he had alongside the brothers, but in the end, he was cut down by Liu Yuanhu’s blade. All the wealth was looted clean as well.”

”Gang Leader!! Liu Yuanhu is leaving us no room to live! Let’s fight him to the death!”

The man gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with unrelenting hatred.

Having witnessed so many of his brothers from the gang perish, he wished Zhao Honglie would lead them immediately to storm Liu Yuanhu’s forces and engage in a fight to the finish.

Zhao Honglie’s expression wavered, caught between fury and calculation.

One by one, the Black Sand Gang’s upper echelons began to arrive, and after hearing that the auction had been entirely wiped out, they were furious, cursing loudly.

”That Liu Yuanhu is worse than a beast! If he wants war, then war he shall have!”

Wind Hall Master Leng Yun spoke coldly, immediately rallying the others, who all turned their gazes toward Zhao Honglie.