Chapter 67: Chapter 65: Intense Battle, Big Fish

Let me analyze this Chinese web novel text and begin the translation process:

[Step 1: Contextual Analysis]

Literary genre: This appears to be a Chinese cultivation/martial arts (xianxia/wuxia) web novel with elements of crime/mystery.

Language style: Formal narrative with colloquial dialogue, typical of web novels. The text has both descriptive passages and action sequences.

Tone: Serious with elements of tension and conflict. There are moments of dramatic confrontation.

Plot keywords: martial artists, secret organization, drug antidote, confrontation, investigation, ambush

Characters:

- Wu Liangchen (武良辰): male, seems to be a perspective character/observer in this scene

- Zhan Feng (詹封): male, Left Protector of the Heartless Dao organization, antagonist

- Xiao Rong (萧荣): male, investigator from Six Gates (government organization), protagonist of the scene

- Yu Changfeng (于长风): male, master of Long Wind Martial Arts Hall

- Lu Fuping (鹿浮萍): gender not specified, appears to be an ally

- Yan Guanhua (严冠华): male, elderly, Patriarch of the Yan family

- Various family clans: the Yan, Wei, Hong, and Feng families

Setting: Dinghai City, in a street during what appears to be a confrontation between government forces and a criminal organization called Heartless Dao.

Key plot elements:

- Xiao Rong has arrived to confront Zhan Feng

- There’s a drug called "Heartless Powder" that seems to control people

- Xiao Rong has obtained an antidote for this drug

- There appears to be a traitor in the Heartless Dao organization

- Various martial arts schools and families are involved in this conflict

Now I’ll proceed with the translation while applying all the specified rules.

[Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing]

Let me translate the text line by line, being careful to use the glossary terms correctly and maintain the narrative flow:

As the words echoed, a figure darted through the snowy street, appearing before everyone.

He was a man in his thirties with fair features, dressed in a moon-white robe that gave him the scholarly appearance of a well-mannered intellectual.

Upon seeing him, Left Protector Zhan Feng’s expression instantly darkened. He gritted his teeth and said, "Xiao Rong, so it’s you again!"

Anyone familiar with Great Yan’s officialdom would be surprised to hear this name.

Because Xiao Rong was a legend within the Six Gates of Great Yan.

His great-grandfather had been a constable, and his father was known as the King of Constables. As for him, he had joined the Six Gates at sixteen, subsequently solving numerous major cases and quickly becoming the leading figure among the younger generation of constables in the Six Gates.

But Xiao Rong’s most notable achievement was solving the major case involving the Heartless Dao in the Capital ten years ago.

It was during that case that Xiao Rong first encountered Left Protector Zhan Feng, beginning their cat-and-mouse game that would last for several years.

Despite Xiao Rong’s extraordinary abilities, Zhan Feng was equally formidable, leaving them evenly matched, with neither able to overcome the other.

Who would have thought they would meet again here in Dinghai City.

"Hehe, when I heard news of you, I didn’t dare delay even for a moment and rushed here from the Capital without stopping," Xiao Rong said with a smile.

By now, Zhan Feng had gradually calmed down. He sneered, "So what if you rushed here? Do you really think you alone can change the current situation?"

"I certainly don’t have such great ability, but as long as I can capture you, the rest doesn’t matter much to me," Xiao Rong replied indifferently.

"Capture me?" Zhan Feng grinned maliciously. "You should consider whether you have the life to do so!"

As he spoke, Zhan Feng retreated instead of advancing.

At the same time, the silent men who had been standing behind him quickly moved forward to shield him.

Then, with a tremendous roar like mountains crumbling and seas raging, countless refugees and ordinary citizens caught among them surged forward like a tidal wave.

This formation was even more formidable than the previous night’s.

The sight made everyone pale, including Yu Changfeng, master of the Long Wind Martial Arts Hall, as well as Lu Fuping and the others.

After all, following the fierce battle the previous night, the various martial arts halls and prominent families had all suffered significant losses.

Now, facing this army of fearless refugees who resembled demons from hell, they couldn’t help feeling anxious.

Xiao Rong, however, merely sighed slightly at the sight.

"Heartless Powder! You’ve really spared no expense for Dinghai City."

"Unfortunately, it’s still a futile effort!"

"Now!"

With Xiao Rong’s command, many figures appeared in buildings on both sides of the street. They held peculiar devices resembling fire department hoses, which they aimed at the refugee army below and began spraying.

Instantly, a pungent odor spread through the air.

Even from a distance, the smell made Wu Liangchen wrinkle his brow.

What was this substance? It seemed to contain mint and borneol, but there had to be more to it.

While Wu Liangchen was puzzling over this, a shocking scene unfolded.

The refugees, who had just been fierce as wolves and fearless as tigers, began to lose their ferocity after being sprayed with the solution. Their eyes gradually regained clarity.

Then, when they realized they were in the middle of a battlefield and at the very front line, they all showed expressions of panic and turned to flee.

Seeing this, Wu Liangchen was greatly shocked.

This Xiao Rong was truly no ordinary person. No wonder the powerful families and martial arts halls of North City had remained motionless earlier, passively enduring attacks—they had been preparing the antidote.

The Heartless Dao had been unstoppable precisely because of these fearless refugees charging at the forefront. Although individually they weren’t particularly strong, their ant-like numbers could bring down an elephant, and their relentless, fight-to-the-death behavior had left the Martial Artists helpless.

But now that their condition had been reversed, even with their large numbers, the refugees were nothing but scattered sand, easily divided and conquered.

But the question was: where had Xiao Rong obtained the antidote?

Anyone with half a brain would know that the Heartless Powder was absolutely a top secret of the Heartless Dao, so developing an antidote in such a short time should have been impossible.

Not only was Wu Liangchen confused about this, but Zhan Feng also looked utterly incredulous.

"This... how is this possible? Xiao Rong, where did you get the antidote formula?" Zhan Feng roared.

Standing atop a half-burned building, Xiao Rong wore a faint smile.

"Take a guess?"

"I’ll guess your mother’s XXX!"

Zhan Feng could no longer control himself and burst into furious curses.

Xiao Rong only smiled more brightly. "Go ahead, curse all you want. In a little while, you won’t have the chance anymore."

"Ladies and gentlemen, at this point, aren’t you ready to make your move?"

With these words from Xiao Rong, the family guards of the four major families—the Yan family, the Wei family, the Hong family, and the Feng family—appeared fully armed on the streets.

Not only that, but members from various martial arts halls also emerged. All forces united to surround the refugees and the Heartless Dao members.

With this, the already panicked refugee army completely collapsed. Despite the efforts of the Heartless Dao members hidden among them to maintain order, people scattered in all directions. Countless individuals were trampled to death in the chaos.

Zhan Feng, who had been full of confidence and believed Dinghai City was already in his grasp, felt as if he’d been doused with cold water upon seeing this. Suddenly realizing something, he hysterically shouted at Xiao Rong in the distance.

"Tell me, who’s the traitor?"

The formula for the Heartless Powder antidote was the Heartless Dao’s absolute secret. Only the organization’s highest echelons had access to it.

Only if someone among these people had betrayed them and defected to the Great Yan government could Xiao Rong’s sudden possession of the antidote be explained.

Xiao Rong laughed heartily. "So you’re not too stupid after all! If you want to know who betrayed you, then surrender obediently, and I’ll tell you personally."

"Xiao Rong, I’ll XXX your XXX!" Zhan Feng roared, his once delicate face now completely twisted in rage.

"Tsk, tsk, look at you, still so hot-tempered!" Xiao Rong paid him no mind, then turned to address a white-haired but still spirited elderly man.

"Patriarch Yan, Zhan Feng is mine. You may deal with the rest as you see fit."

This elderly man was the Patriarch of the Yan family, Yan Guanhua, father of Yan Zongtai.

Upon hearing Xiao Rong’s words, Yan Guanhua smiled. "Master Xiao, you’re too polite. This operation was orchestrated by you, so the credit should primarily be yours."

"That won’t be necessary. Those Hall Masters and Incense Masters aren’t worth my attention. Because right here in Dinghai City, besides Zhan Feng, there’s an even bigger fish!"