Chapter 108: Chapter 90: Major Assassin Organization, Deeper Vortex (2)

"I heard about what happened in the wilderness. It’s good that you made it back safely."

"Also..." He hinted, giving a specific warning, "There’s been a lot of movement in the Inner Ring City lately. You’d best be careful for a while. Don’t always be the one charging headfirst into things... and that includes that... punitive expedition. Don’t get involved."

Lu Chao’s gaze shifted at his words. He was puzzled, feeling as though Brother Hao knew something.

But Chen Junhao didn’t say any more.

Instead, he slowly walked over to a nearby table, picked up a golden-yellow orange from the fruit bowl, and tossed it over.

"Go on," he said with a light chuckle, waving his hand.

Lu Chao caught the orange, hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Finally, just as he turned to walk out the door.

"Brother Hao."

He paused. He didn’t turn back, but his voice was exceptionally clear.

"I always remember who’s been good to me."

CLACK! CLACK!

As his words fell, Lu Chao, as if having made some kind of promise, walked out of the room and left the second floor.

Watching his retreating figure, Chen Junhao was briefly stunned, then broke into a surprised smile.

"This kid."

A warm curve formed on his lips. He shook his head lightly, then stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

A few seconds later.

The smile vanished from his face as he looked up at the night sky outside the window.

Amidst the neon streetlights, a hover car streaked across the higher canopy of the night.

All the warmth in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a sudden glint of cold light.

’Was this your doing... Lord Peng?’

...

「A few days passed.」

WHOO!!

A trolley passed by on the street outside, its horn blaring.

Gusts of wind swept over the low wall, kicking up dust from the concrete training ground and scattering it into a new corner.

The early spring weather was still quite comfortable. The regular students, all dressed in thin long-sleeved shirts, persevered with barbell presses, frog jumps, and running laps.

Lu Chao, too, refocused on his own training, coming to the dojo on his day off.

WHOOSH!!

Exhaling a deep breath, he changed into a white and gray training uniform and stood inside a private training room.

This was the second floor of the training building, home to the quiet rooms reserved for professional-grade practitioners.

On Luo Qianshan’s orders, one had been specially reserved for him. He hadn’t used it much before, only coming here recently to practice the Fierce Roar Skill.

A quick look around revealed the second floor to be quite tranquil.

The room was nearly thirty square meters. The surface of the concrete floor was covered with a layer of tough, soft padding, and the side walls were painted white and fitted with special soundproofing panels.

A red leather punching bag weighing over a hundred kilograms hung in the center, and various pieces of training equipment were placed against one wall.

"Hooo..."

"INHALE!!"

Without any wasted motion, Lu Chao stood in place, continuously adjusting his breathing rhythm.

Wisps of Martial Arts Power surged from his cells. Guided by the contraction and expansion of his muscles and the flow of his breath, it gradually converged at the acupoint in his throat.

This was part of the secret to practicing the Fierce Roar Skill: using a special breathing method to guide Martial Arts Power, temper the throat muscles, and stimulate the key acupoint.

As time ticked by, Lu Chao soon made an attempt.

"Hah!!"

He let out a sudden, explosive shout, trying to pour all his momentum into it.

The roaring soundwave made the air tremble, echoing in the room for several seconds and giving off a brutish feeling.

However.

’That’s not right.’

Inhaling slowly, Lu Chao frowned slightly, feeling that he hadn’t truly mastered the basics yet.

It wasn’t just about simply amplifying his volume or letting out an angry shout. According to the Martial Skill’s manual, this technique also required one to learn how to condense killing intent and infuse it into the sonic force before releasing it.

’According to the instructor, the best way to practice this skill is to personally experience a life-or-death battle. Otherwise, it’s difficult to grasp killing intent...’

’But I’ve had those experiences, and I still can’t grasp that crucial element.’

Lost in thought, Lu Chao tried again, but still couldn’t unlock its secret.

Finally.

’Forget it. I should go find Senior Brother Luo.’

Shaking his head, he made up his mind.

The difficulty of cultivating this Martial Skill, this Secret Technique, was higher than he had imagined. He really did need guidance from a higher-level expert.

That was precisely why he had come to the dojo to continue his training, rather than practicing at the Patrol Department.

CLACK! CLACK!

Lu Chao strode out of the quiet room and down the concrete stairs to the first floor.

The sounds of training washed over him like a tidal wave.

BAM! BAM! BAM!!

In the training area, official disciples were striking punching bags and practicing their stances, their bodies drenched in the sweat of honing their power, bones, and sinews.

Even so, Lu Chao could sense a subtle shift in the atmosphere.

"I heard they got the compensation money for Senior Brother Xu. They say Senior Brother Zheng went to get it for him personally."

"Senior Brother Luo seems to have woken up too. He’s recovering quickly. As expected of a great Elite Level master, even a gunshot wound was no problem."

"Tsk tsk, now that you mention it, I almost feel a little sorry for Senior Brother Shen..."

The discussion drifted from a corner of the rest area. Lu Chao kept his eyes forward, but inwardly, he quietly shook his head.

’In the path of Martial Arts combat, one’s own strength is paramount.’

’Bones, sinews, skin, meridians, and organs are the most fundamental pillars.’

’Once irreversible damage occurs, that path is naturally cut off, making it impossible to climb any higher.’

Thinking of this, he glanced toward the backyard.

It had been half a month since he returned from the wilderness, but if he wasn’t mistaken, Shen Tianchen was likely still lying in bed in that room in the back.

With most of his bones shattered and his internal organs severely damaged, it was already a miracle that he had survived.

As for his future...

"Get out!"

"GET OUT!!"

A furious roar filled with bitterness suddenly erupted from the backyard.

It was followed by the CRASH of a porcelain bowl shattering on the floor.

He could faintly see the back of a junior brother being driven out in a sorry state. The atmosphere in the training hall fell silent for a moment. Lu Chao also paused, recognizing Shen Tianchen’s voice.

Soon.

His gaze shifted to see Luo Qianshan, who had been instructing other disciples in the training area. His brow furrowed slightly, and he turned and walked quickly toward the backyard.

Most of the other disciples wore complicated expressions. As they exchanged glances, a series of sighs could be heard.

What’s more.

"He’s alive and doesn’t even cherish it. Serves him right! He used to bully Junior Brother Xu like that. It’s for the best that he’s crippled."

"Shh, Senior Brother Sun, watch what you say."

"What’s there to be afraid of? Haven’t you noticed Guo Yun and his friends don’t even dare to show up anymore? They’re the ones who got Junior Brother Xu killed!"

Suddenly, an angry voice came from one side of the rest area.

Lu Chao turned his head to look. It was none other than Senior Brother Sun, his face filled with indignation and his eyes bloodshot.

He had been the closest with Senior Brother Xu and had also been part of the hunting party. He was one of the few who had returned safely.

Lu Chao was slightly surprised; he hadn’t expected him to harbor so much resentment.

And soon.

He saw Zheng Wu walk over and dissuade him. The commotion gradually died down, and a moment later, Senior Brother Sun stomped his foot, turned around, and left the dojo.

"Senior Brother Zheng..."

Seeing Zheng Wu standing there, sighing helplessly, Lu Chao walked over.

After a brief inquiry, Zheng Wu shook his head lightly, his tone complicated as he said, "We only confirmed the truth of the matter after Senior Brother Luo woke up."

"When the attack happened, Junior Brother Shen was goaded by Guo Yun and a few others. He insisted on splitting up and left the camp first. Junior Sister Lin was anxious and went to chase after him, which led to a few of them being temporarily separated."

"At that time, Junior Brother Xu put himself on the front line to protect the other junior brothers. That’s how he held on until Senior Brother Luo killed the enemy and rescued Senior Brother Sun and the others."

His tone was heavy, laced with complex emotions.

Zheng Wu couldn’t help but wonder, ’If I had also gone out of the city back then, would I have been able to protect Junior Brother Xu?’

Lu Chao fell silent at his words and patted his shoulder.

After offering a few words of comfort, he finally voiced his biggest question.

"Junior Brother Shen is professional-grade, at least. How could he..."

"He was caught by two warlord experts. Junior Sister Lin was tied up with an opponent at the time and couldn’t do anything," Zheng Wu said with a helpless sigh. "As for Guo Yun and his friends, their family’s security guards fought to the death to save them, so they managed to escape."

’So that’s what happened.’

Hearing this, Lu Chao’s confusion dissipated. He finally understood the whole picture.

However.

Looking around the entire training building, he noted that Guo Yun and his group hadn’t appeared since that day.

’Is it because of me, or because of Shen Tianchen?’

"This matter can’t be fully concluded just yet."

Suddenly, Zheng Wu spoke in a low, serious voice. A hint of coldness appeared on his usually honest and good-natured face.

"The appearance of the warlord’s troops was too sudden, and they were too well-equipped. It doesn’t seem like a chance encounter."

He turned to Lu Chao and reminded him in a low voice, "Your group was also ambushed... Junior Brother Lu, don’t you think it’s too much of a coincidence?"

BZZT!

A jolt went through his mind. Lu Chao had finally realized the crucial point. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Neither the hunting party nor the supply support team had the same departure route, yet both were ambushed, one after the other, as if they had been targeted in advance by Lu Shan’s men.

’In other words, someone is pulling the strings from behind the scenes?’

’But who could it be?’

Lu Chao stood rooted to the spot as thoughts raced through his mind.

’The dojo, the corporations, the Patrol Department... all the major powers were attacked. No one was spared.’

’If that’s the case, who benefits from all this?’