Chapter 84: Chapter 80: Falling into the Net (Part 1)

Shi Dahai and Jin Liqun wasted no time. Each leading a few of their men, they rushed into the main hall, only to find Zhao Lin lying at the turn of the stairs with his ear pressed to the floor.

The two of them were baffled. They exchanged a glance and walked over slowly.

"Acting Chief Zhao..." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Just as Shi Dahai was about to speak, Zhao Lin raised a hand to silence him. After listening intently for a moment, he pointed toward the guest room corridor. "Over there."

With that, he got up and walked to the door of Room 10. He pulled out a key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

Everyone was surprised he had a key to the room and followed him inside, curious.

Shi Dahai gently tugged on Jin Liqun’s sleeve and nudged his chin toward Zhao Lin, who was listening by the heated brick bed.

Jin Liqun spread his hands, showing that he didn’t understand either.

’Why has he stopped moving?’

Zhao Lin heard the footsteps in the tunnel stop. There was only the sound of faint breathing; it seemed Wen Gensheng wasn’t in a hurry to escape.

’He’s gathering his energy, restoring his cultivation!’

Recalling something his master had said, an idea flashed through Zhao Lin’s mind. He immediately tore the bedding off the brick bed, drew the iron axe from his waist, and smashed down with the back of the axe head.

BOOM! Stone chips flew everywhere, revealing a hole leading underground.

"Throw in the poisonous herbs," Zhao Lin commanded.

A constable immediately stepped forward, lit the poisonous herbs, and tossed them in. The others covered their mouths and noses and retreated toward the door.

Zhao Lin believed that a tunnel under a mere inn couldn’t be that extensive. With poisonous smoke flooding it from two locations, Wen Gensheng wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.

Sure enough, a fit of violent coughing erupted from the hole, followed by the sound of footsteps.

Wen Gensheng’s coughing was so loud that Zhao Lin no longer needed to press his ear to the ground to pinpoint his general location.

He left a few constables to guard the room and led the rest back to the main hall, through the corridor, and into the inn’s backyard.

A moment later, a rustling sound came from beneath the large tree in the yard.

Zhao Lin understood immediately. Wen Gensheng had a hidden exit here; the tunnel was so close to the surface that he could dig his way out with his bare hands.

"Attention, everyone. The culprit is about to break through the ground by the big tree."

Although the constables couldn’t hear a thing, given Zhao Lin’s track record so far, they were mostly convinced he was right.

A dozen or so constables formed a semicircle, aiming their heavy crossbows at the large tree.

Zhao Lin thought, ’With this many men, Wen Gensheng will be shot into a pincushion the moment he appears.’

’That won’t do. Thirty years have passed. If I just bring a dead body to the Xingyun Sect and claim it’s Wen Gensheng, what if they refuse to acknowledge it? My Moisturizing Pill would be gone for good.’

’Besides, Master Zhu Huaishan is definitely nearby. Wen Gensheng can’t escape. Capturing him alive is the safest bet.’

With this in mind, Zhao Lin waved his hand. "All of you, fall back. Leave the six best crossbowmen."

The constables didn’t understand his reasoning, but they fell back as ordered, leaving only six men at the front.

"Wait for my command before you fire. Aim for his limbs and avoid any vital areas," Zhao Lin added, stepping forward to brief them.

Jin Liqun couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. "Chief Zhao, our target is a Qi Realm master. What if he gets away?"

Zhao Lin waved him off. "Don’t worry, Chief Jin. If he escapes, I’ll take full responsibility. I need him alive."

Hearing this, Jin Liqun and Shi Dahai simply crossed their arms and stood aside to watch coldly.

Before long, the ground beneath the large tree began to shift, and then a hand shot out.

Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

WHOOSH!

A dark shadow shot out of the hole.

One of the constables instinctively started to pull his crossbow’s trigger, but Zhao Lin, with lightning reflexes, grabbed his arm and stopped him.

The constable looked closer and saw that it wasn’t a person that had flown out, but a piece of underclothing. He realized he had almost bungled the whole operation.

A few breaths later, a figure leaped out from the ground, a long saber in his hand. His half-bald head gleamed brightly in the sunlight.

It was Wen Gensheng.

"Fire!"

At Zhao Lin’s shout, the six constables pulled their triggers in unison.

At such close range, the Crossbow Arrows were as fast as lightning. Wen Gensheng, still in mid-air, twisted and dodged desperately, hacking away with his saber, but still took an arrow in the leg and another in his arm.

"Stop!"

Zhao Lin charged forward.

The moment Wen Gensheng’s feet touched the ground, he bolted to the wall without a backward glance. Pushing off it with one hand and a single leg, he performed an acrobatic flip and cleared the top.

Zhao Lin kicked off the ground with both legs and launched himself into the air. Before the stunned eyes of the constables, he soared over the wall like a great bird.

"After them! What are you all gawking at?"

Shi Dahai and Jin Liqun, who had been frozen in shock, suddenly snapped out of it and yelled.

Once over the inn’s back wall, Wen Gensheng made a beeline for the docks.

His injured leg hampered him, forcing him to rely on his good one. Before long, Zhao Lin had caught up to him.

Wen Gensheng glanced back and saw that only Zhao Lin had followed. He let out a savage laugh, spun around, and slashed with his saber.

"You’ve got a death wish, kid!"

This was where his armor proved its worth. Zhao Lin ignored the long saber, tilting his head just enough to avoid it as he swung the iron truncheon in his hand at Wen Gensheng’s shoulder.

For close-quarters combat, the iron truncheon was more effective than the iron axe.

An iron truncheon was not, in fact, an iron ruler. It was a type of short, guarded mace. Unsharpened and heavier than a sword, it could be used as a blunt weapon or to jab at opponents with its dull tip.

Moreover, its fork-shaped handguard could block an enemy’s blade and even trap it, earning the weapon the moniker "the Sword-Breaker."

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Wen Gensheng had recovered some of his cultivation, bringing him back to roughly the First Layer of the Qi Realm. He expected to easily overwhelm Zhao Lin, but after just a few exchanges, he found he couldn’t gain any advantage. In fact, the force of the blows left his hand numb, and he almost lost his grip on his saber several times.

What shocked him even more was that although they were using different weapons, their fighting styles were completely identical!

"Who are you? How do you know the Six Harmonies Staff technique?"

Zhao Lin’s hands never stopped moving. He sneered, "Take a guess."

"Could it be..."

Wen Gensheng caught sight of the constables climbing over the wall in pursuit. The urge to flee grew, and he blustered, "Kid, I may be injured, but I’m still leagues above a Power Realm pipsqueak like you! Push me too far, and I’ll take you down with me! You won’t survive it!"

"Then give it a shot. I’d like to see you try," Zhao Lin replied, unfazed.

Wen Gensheng grew more agitated. He suddenly lowered his voice. "I’ve amassed a great fortune over the years. I won’t say how much, but it’s more than you could earn in a lifetime as a constable."

"I can tell you where it’s hidden right now. All you have to do is pretend to be injured and let me go."

As if Zhao Lin would believe a man like that. Besides, no amount of money could compare to a Moisturizing Pill. He increased the force of his attacks, sealing off Wen Gensheng’s escape routes. He couldn’t let his prize slip through his fingers now.

Seeing the constables closing in, Wen Gensheng suddenly reached into his tunic and flung out a handful of something that glinted silver.

Zhao Lin had been expecting a last-ditch effort. He seized the opportunity to circle to the side and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick, striking Wen Gensheng squarely on his uninjured leg.

Wen Gensheng let out a pained scream, clutching his leg as he collapsed to the ground.

"Shatter his Qi Sea!"

The familiar voice of his master echoed in his ear. Zhao Lin reacted instantly, launching a flying kick that slammed into Wen Gensheng’s lower abdomen.