Ling Tian Sword God

”Let’s go!”

Ling Chen glanced at Ling Yin and Luo Xian’er beside him, then walked towards the outside of the inn.

Ling Yin and Luo Xian’er didn’t hesitate and immediately followed.

The four Capture Officers watched the three leave, daring not to make any reckless moves.

Only after Ling Chen and his companions had left did they hurriedly help the weakened Bai Shaochuan from the floor.

”You useless fools! Aren’t you going to chase him? Keep tabs on that man!”

Bai Shaochuan was shaking with anger. He hadn’t anticipated that he, a respected Disciple of the Capture God, would be defeated by an insignificant nobody like Ling Chen. It was humiliating, utterly humiliating.

The four Capture Officers exchanged glances. Even if they did manage to catch up, what could they possibly do? They were no match for Ling Chen. Pursuing him further might provoke him and bring disaster upon themselves.

”Move now!”

Bai Shaochuan’s eyes looked as if they would pop out of their sockets.

”Yes!”

With no other choice, the four reluctantly hurried out of the inn, chasing in the direction Ling Chen had gone.

Bai Shaochuan’s eyes were gloomy. He harbored an intense hatred for Ling Chen but felt somewhat relieved that no one else had witnessed his defeat. This incident wouldn’t be known to outsiders; it would be as if it had never happened.

”A Disciple of the Capture God, losing to a fugitive! If word of this got out, Brother Bai, your reputation would be ruined.”

Just then, a sharp, piercing voice suddenly sounded.

Bai Shaochuan’s pupils contracted. Following the sound, he saw a young man dressed in black walking into the inn.

”It’s you, Tang Long!”

Bai Shaochuan recognized him. It was Tang Long who had brought him the wanted poster for Ling Chen’s trio, alerting all the Capture Officers in the Great Governor’s Mansion.

”Don’t you dare make light of this! If it were you, you wouldn’t be a match for that kid either!”

Although Bai Shaochuan was too stubborn to admit defeat to Ling Chen, deep down, he knew clearly that he was indeed no match for Ling Chen.

”I’m merely a foot soldier of Tang Sect. If I lose, it doesn’t matter much. But it’s different for you. You, Bai Shaochuan, are the Capture God’s most favored disciple. Your loss to that kid is a disgrace, bringing shame upon your master, the Capture God!” Tang Long sneered.

”Silence!”

A wave of fury flashed in Bai Shaochuan’s eyes as he glared at Tang Long with extreme gloominess, ”Tang Long! Did you come here just to mock me?”

”Of course not. I simply want to help you get revenge,” Tang Long said with a sly smile.

”Revenge? What’s your brilliant idea?”

The rage vanished from Bai Shaochuan’s face, and his eyes lit up with interest. Today’s events had been a huge blow to him. He had to kill Ling Chen with his own hands to quench the hatred in his heart.

”Indeed, I do have a plan that will ensure that kid dies without a burial place. But it requires a small sacrifice on your part—I need to borrow something from you.”

A mysterious smile touched Tang Long’s lips.

”What is it?”

Bai Shaochuan’s ears perked up. As long as he could avenge this grudge, he wasn’t against making a small sacrifice.

”Your life.”

A fiendish expression finally appeared on Tang Long’s face as killing intent surged in his eyes.

”What?”

Bai Shaochuan’s expression changed dramatically, but before he could even scream, Tang Long’s palm, filled with chilling True Qi, abruptly slammed into his chest, over his heart.

THUD! Accompanied by a sickening crack, Bai Shaochuan’s heart was crushed by the sudden palm strike. His eyes bulged, blood gushed from his mouth, and his gaze was filled with utter disbelief.

He could never have imagined that Tang Long would actually try to kill him.

Bai Shaochuan desperately gripped Tang Long’s robe, mustering all his remaining strength to gasp, ”Wh... why...”

However, Tang Long didn’t answer. Instead, he delivered another palm strike, finishing Bai Shaochuan off.

Watching Bai Shaochuan’s body crash to the ground, a cruel smile finally spread across Tang Long’s lips. ”Why? Because only if you die will your master, the Capture God, avenge you. Of course, he won’t seek revenge against me, but against that kid. With your pathetic strength, who knows how long it would have taken you to kill him.”

”In fact, the Capture God wouldn’t even need to intervene. Your fellow disciples alone could easily kill that kid.”

Tang Long’s face was etched with a sinister expression.

He had followed Bai Shaochuan all this way, having already hatched a plan. If Bai Shaochuan could defeat Ling Chen, he would join forces with him to capture Ling Chen’s trio. If Bai Shaochuan was narrowly defeated but had severely injured Ling Chen, and both suffered heavy losses, then he would make his move to capture Ling Chen.

However, the final result was Bai Shaochuan’s utter defeat and severe injury, without him even managing to harm a single hair on Ling Chen. In that case, Tang Long’s only recourse was this desperate measure: kill Bai Shaochuan and pin the blame on Ling Chen.

After killing Bai Shaochuan, Tang Long moved instantly, silently exiting the inn as if he had never been there.

The people around the inn had already been dispersed, so no one noticed Tang Long’s movements.

「A short while later」

Four figures rushed into the inn, looking travel-worn. They were the four Capture Officers who had previously been ordered by Bai Shaochuan to pursue Ling Chen.

Although forced by Bai Shaochuan’s orders to pursue Ling Chen, they hadn’t dared to actually chase him. They had merely followed for a short distance before quickly retreating. They had already prepared their excuse, even smearing some blood on their bodies and faces. If Bai Shaochuan questioned them, they would claim to have fought a fierce battle with Ling Chen, but due to the significant gap in strength, they were no match for him and had barely escaped with their lives.

They were about to report this, but the moment they stepped into the inn, they were dumbstruck. Bai Shaochuan lay lifelessly on the ground, eyes bulging, completely dead.

”He’s actually dead?”

The four hurried to Bai Shaochuan’s side and inspected him carefully. Their expressions turned grim as they looked at each other in dismay.

”Who did this? He was fine just a moment ago; how could he have died so suddenly?” one of them asked, confused.

Bai Shaochuan had only been severely injured by Ling Chen earlier. Even if he were to die from those injuries, it wouldn’t have been so sudden.

”It must have been that kid. It couldn’t have been anyone else,” the leading Capture Officer declared abruptly.

”Are you saying that when we chased him out, that kid stealthily came back and killed Bai Shaochuan?” the Capture Officer who had spoken earlier asked with a bewildered expression, then frowned. ”But why would he do that? He could have killed him directly with his sword earlier and been done with it. Why go to such lengths?”

”It’s simple.”

The leading officer narrowed his eyes. ”He feared the Capture God’s reputation and dared not kill Bai Shaochuan openly. However, he also feared Bai Shaochuan’s retaliation, so he killed him quietly and stealthily to avoid attracting attention.”

”So that’s how it is.”

The other three nodded upon hearing this, looks of realization dawning on their faces.

Their leader’s analysis was indeed logical and reasonable. Besides, Ling Chen was the prime suspect; they couldn’t think of anyone else.

Bai Shaochuan was dead; they had to provide an explanation to the Capture God. The murderer, whether it was Ling Chen or not, would have to be Ling Chen.

”Send word to the Capture God as soon as possible. With his most favored disciple dead, the Capture God will undoubtedly be furious. That kid is in for it now,” the leading officer sneered coldly.

The other three Capture Officers also showed expressions of pity. They could already envision the scene of Ling Chen’s trio being ruthlessly killed by the enraged Capture God.