Chapter 27: Intimidate the Canal Gang, Retreat Gracefully! (Seeking Follow-up Reading)
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As time passed,
the Canal Gang members aboard the multi-storied ship quickly converged, surrounding the main entrance and the hole that had just appeared in the ceiling.
For a moment, Qin Zheng, wielding a Ghost Head Greatsword, found himself engulfed by the encirclement of the entire Canal Gang.
A heavy atmosphere spread and diffused through the air.
Seeing this scene, Qin Zheng thought to himself that tonight would be a tough battle; and with a fierce look in his eyes, he prepared to forcibly summon the strength of 3000 jin to swiftly end the fight.
Whoosh!
Suddenly!
The blade shone brightly!
A head with a resentful expression rolled onto the ground.
The second-in-command didn't even have a chance to show a panicked response.
Perhaps even he had not anticipated that it wouldn't be Qin Zheng who decapitated him, but his own elder brother!
Even Qin Zheng, at that moment, slightly turned his head, somewhat surprised.
"I am Zhang Wei, may I know how to address you?"
After decapitating the second-in-command, the gang leader spoke calmly with an unchanged expression.
This was a true ruthless person!
Qin Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly and replied, "Qin Zheng!"
The gang leader nodded, then bent down to pick up the second-in-command's head and tossed it, letting it roll to Qin Zheng's feet.
"In my estimation, it was certainly this dog who acted first. I killed him for Brother Qin, which should cancel out our grudges," he said.
"I wonder if Brother Qin would grant me this favor and let the matter rest here?"
As these words were spoken, not only was Qin Zheng slightly shocked inwardly, but the surrounding Canal Gang members also couldn't believe their eyes as they looked at their leader.
To have attained the position of second-in-command, one must have dedicated their all and made many contributions to the Canal Gang.
Yet now, for the sake of an outsider, the leader had turned his long blade and decapitated his second-in-command in a single stroke!
This action instilled fear in the eyes of the Canal Gang disciples.
And among the senior members of the gang present, expressions darkened slightly, exchanging glances that conveyed an unusual subtext.
In that instant, the minds of those present were diverse, with thoughts swirling.
Still, all eyes were riveted on Qin Zheng, the pressure in their gazes unrelenting.
"What if, in the future, I'm harassed by your Canal Gang again?"
After a few moments of silence, Qin Zheng asked.
The Canal Gang leader had already gone to this extent. If Qin Zheng insisted on fighting, he would appear petty.
Moreover, if the other party had taken the initiative to decapitate the second-in-command, it was clear he truly wanted to calm the situation.
Otherwise, if he merely wanted Qin Zheng to hold off temporarily, the price paid would have been far too great.
When Qin Zheng spoke, the gang leader on the other side replied, "If Sir comes under attack from our Canal Gang in the future, Zhang will personally bring his head to you!"
Qin Zheng chuckled lightly at his words, then sheathed his Ghost Head Greatsword, nonchalantly stepped over the second-in-command's head, and walked towards the entrance.
Sensing him drawing closer, the Canal Gang disciples grew increasingly tense.
The room's appearance was truly frightening; not to mention the blood red plasma smeared across the floor, nearly ten headless corpses lay about, creating a scene akin to purgatory.
Moreover, the bodies on the ground were mostly top fighters under the second-in-command, all from the Flesh Refining Realm.
In their eyes, Qin Zheng, clad in coarse linen and wielding the Ghost Head Greatsword, resembled a god of death.
As he neared the entrance, except for the gang leader Zhang Wei and a few other high-ranking members, the rest of the gang members unconsciously stepped back a few paces.
Qin Zheng's gaze met with the gang leader for a few moments.
Then, Qin Zheng reached out, pulled a long blade from the waist of a high-ranking member nearby.
This action immediately made the Canal Gang members' hearts skip a beat.
The face of the high-ranking member whose long blade was taken turned incredibly unsightly.
Zhang Wei's eyes also narrowed slightly.
Subsequently, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Qin Zheng twirled the blade he held, forming a flourish.
Then, with the blade pointing downwards, he violently hurled it.
Bang!
...
Bang!
Bang!
...
Bang!
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The greatsword pierced through the floor, ringing out six times in succession.
Immediately after, cries of horror erupted from the floor below.
"I hope you can do as you said."
Qin Zheng's expression remained calm as he sidestepped the chief, walked out the room's door, and made his way downstairs.
Outside the door, the corridor was blocked by Canal Gang members armed with weapons, but they quickly made way, allowing Qin Zheng to pass through.
And their movements were swift, as if they feared that merely touching Qin Zheng would lead to their heads being chopped off.
Only after Qin Zheng's figure had completely left and even after he had walked out of the "Hall of Heroes" did the atmosphere here relax.
The head of the gang then turned and addressed the remaining members, "Disperse. Check each floor for casualties, appease the guests, and..."
"Bring me that sword from just now."
"Yes!"
The gang members responded and dispersed like a receding tide.
A moment later, only the gang leader and a few high-ranking members remained.
"Do you feel resentful and chilled to the heart because I cut off the Second-in-Command's head?"
Looking at them with a calm demeanor, the gang leader said.
"Not at all."
"You're not making any sense, boss."
"Without you, boss, there would be no Canal Gang today."
"..."
They immediately professed their loyalty, denying the thoughts that had been hinted at about them.
"Hmph!"
The gang leader snorted coldly and continued, "You're all too used to being overbearing. Open your eyes and think with your brains!"
"The people who died in this room were all experts of the Flesh Refining Realm!"
"Moreover, not a single one has a head left, obviously, their heads were exploded with a single palm strike!"
"With such clean efficiency in taking these peoples' heads, do you think this person is just a common Flesh Refining Realm martial artist?!"
As his words fell, the high-ranking members looked at each other with a heavy tone, "Are you saying that person just now is a Sinew Refining Realm martial artist who has broken through the three major barriers?!"
At this, everyone seemed to awaken with a start.
And then, cold sweat emerged.
"I felt from his eyes that he does not fear the Canal Gang, and he was even ready to take action!"
"Hmph! If I hadn't done so at that moment, your heads would probably already be rolling on the ground!"
The gang leader snorted coldly, looking at the others disapprovingly.
They immediately responded, thanking the gang leader repeatedly.
Yet, the gang leader's face was still filled with solemnity.
These people couldn't entirely be blamed.
In the entire Black Goose City, there were very few who could break through the three major barriers and reach the Sinew Refining Realm.
Including himself, each was a person of name and stature within Black Goose City.
Who could have expected such an unknown commoner to be a Sinew Refining Realm martial artist!
"Boss, the sword is here!"
At that moment, a gang member came forward, holding a sword.
"There were no casualties."
He spoke at the same time.
The gang leader took the sword, examining it closely, then asked, "Where was it found?"
Upon hearing the question, a look of terror appeared on the gang member's face as he spoke, "On the first floor, the blade was almost entirely embedded in the floor!"
The person on the sixth floor had tossed the sword casually, yet it had pierced through six floors, embedding itself into the ground of the first floor.
This was practically a sword that could penetrate the entire Hall of Heroes!
Such terrifying strength was almost inhuman!
Hearing this, the high-ranking members present showed horror on their faces.
And the gang leader's expression grew even more grave.
He approached the head of the Second-in-Command and then stomped down.
Bang!
Red and white splattered!