Chapter 201: Chapter 123: Thunderous Methods

His words weren’t loud, but they struck like a thunderclap, booming through the area.

The members of the Tiger and Leopard Gang were all aghast!

As for Li Hu and Zhang Bao, they hadn’t expected Chen Cheng to be so blunt and direct. Caught completely off guard, they were stunned.

The annihilation of Gentry Zhang’s family had been an extremely clean job. Not a single trace of evidence had been left at the scene that could point to the Tiger and Leopard Gang. On what grounds could Chen Cheng possibly convict them?

Li Hu’s expression flickered, and he tightened his grip on his Xuanhua Great Axe. He flatly denied the accusation, "Chief Chen, watch your words! Our Tiger and Leopard Gang has always been law-abiding. How could we possibly commit such a heinous crime as wiping out a family?"

Zhang Bao, also gripping his Iron Ring Saber, chimed in, "Everything requires evidence. Chief Chen, you claim we ordered our men to commit this crime, but do you have any proof? If you have no proof, then this is slander. Forgive us, but we cannot obey your command."

Chen Cheng said, "I am handling this case according to the law, and I naturally have evidence. All will be revealed once you are at the City Guard Department!

Let’s go. My patience is limited, and I don’t intend to repeat myself."

Li Hu and Zhang Bao exchanged a look, each seeing the grave expression in the other’s eyes. Following Chen Cheng to the City Guard Department would be like laying their heads on the chopping block.

If Chen Cheng actually produced any evidence, the two of them would be finished, with absolutely no chance of turning things around.

Li Hu hardened his heart, nodded at Zhang Bao, and said in a low voice, "Chief Chen, if you want to condemn someone, you’ll always find a pretext. If you have no real proof, then please leave."

Chen Cheng had expected they wouldn’t submit so easily. He slightly raised his Long Saber, his expression indifferent. "So, you two intend to resist to the end?"

Li Hu snorted, also raising his great axe high, and retorted, "Today, you trespassed into a private residence and injured my brothers. I’d like to ask what you think you’re doing, Chief Chen! Are you throwing the weight of the City Guard Department around to bully honest folk?

Our Tiger and Leopard Gang may not be some major power, but we have a band of brothers who look out for each other. If you insist on being unreasonable, Chief Chen, then we’ll have no choice but to offend you.

Brothers, draw your weapons!"

At his command, the members of the Tiger and Leopard Gang drew their weapons in unison, poised to strike.

"Very good!" Chen Cheng truly disliked wasting time on nonsense. With a slight smile, he swept his gaze over the crowd and declared, "Li Hu, Gang Leader of the Tiger and Leopard Gang, and Zhang Bao, Vice Gang Leader, have assaulted an Official. This crime is tantamount to treason.

If any of you dare to aid these villains, my Long Saber will show no mercy!"

With that, his figure shot forward. His Long Saber swung in a wide arc, slashing toward Li Hu’s neck.

"Get him!" Li Hu roared, thrusting his great axe forward in a move called ’Splitting Mount Hua,’ bringing it down on Chen Cheng’s head.

The axe descended with immense force and weight, whistling through the air with unstoppable, ferocious momentum, as if it could cleave mountains and sunder rivers.

Meanwhile, Zhang Bao swung his Iron Ring Saber, attacking Chen Cheng’s right side to cut off his escape.

Behind the two leaders, a pair of Tiger and Leopard Gang lieutenants hesitated for a moment before brandishing their long sabers and moving to support them from the flanks.

Several other gang members, also holding long sabers, were eager to join the fray.

In their eyes, no matter how formidable Chen Cheng’s Martial Arts Power was, he was still just one man. He couldn’t possibly defeat the entire Tiger and Leopard Gang.

Chen Cheng’s Body Technique was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, his Long Saber reached Li Hu. It seemed he was about to take Li Hu’s head, but Li Hu’s great axe was also descending upon him. Even if Chen Cheng killed Li Hu, he would be injured in the process.

At the same time, Zhang Bao’s Iron Ring Saber was sweeping in to cut him in half at the waist. If Chen Cheng dodged even slightly, he would be bisected by the blade.

These two truly lived up to their reputations as desperate men of the Jianghu. Every move was a killing blow, vicious beyond compare.

In that hair’s breadth of a moment, Chen Cheng’s body suddenly spun. He dodged Li Hu’s great axe, parried Zhang Bao’s Iron Ring Saber with his own Long Saber, and used the force of the impact to launch himself toward the other gang members.

The two Tiger and Leopard Gang lieutenants charged with their sabers. Although they had some skill and possessed Perfect Level Saber Technique, they were merely Great Success Martial Artists in the Skin Grinding Realm. How could their Body Technique speed possibly compare to Chen Cheng’s?

Chen Cheng’s Long Saber danced wildly. Amidst the flashing blade shadows—SHINK! SHINK!—two heads were lopped off by his blade.

Without pausing, Chen Cheng charged into the crowd of Tiger and Leopard Gang members like a tiger among sheep. None could stand in his way. Every swing of his saber took another head.

The men of the Tiger and Leopard Gang were scared out of their wits and scattered in all directions.

"Drop your weapons and you will live!"

Chen Cheng roared, then lopped off several more heads in quick succession.

The remaining gang members, utterly terrified, all dropped their weapons and fled into the distance.

As expected, Chen Cheng did not give chase. Instead, he turned to face the attacking Li Hu and Zhang Bao.

In a single exchange, the Tiger and Leopard Gang had lost two lieutenants and several capable members. Li Hu and Zhang Bao were furious beyond measure. They unleashed their full power, roaring as they charged at Chen Cheng, determined to kill him in one fell swoop.

In truth, the two had held back a little just now. They had planned to let Chen Cheng kill one or two gang members first. That way, after they killed Chen Cheng, they would have an excuse—that Chen Cheng had killed first, and they had only counterattacked in self-defense.

But how could they have ever imagined that Chen Cheng would be so ferocious, so ruthless and decisive?

For a moment, all eyes were on Chen Cheng, who, with a single saber, fought alone against Li Hu’s Heaven-Announcing Giant Axe and Zhang Bao’s Iron Ring Saber. The three were evenly matched, trading blow for blow.

The fleeing members of the Tiger and Leopard Gang, no longer fearing for their lives, watched from a safe distance.

As for Li Sheng and the few others who had come with Chen Cheng, they had been standing in the distance with their sabers drawn the entire time, subtly guarding the passageway to the outer courtyard.

"Mr. Chen will be all right, won’t he?" one of the Preparatory Constables asked worriedly, seeing Chen Cheng and the two gang leaders locked in a deadly, high-stakes battle where every move was lethal.