Chen Ping's Sword-Chapter 52: The Higher the Virtue, the Taller the Wall

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Higher the Virtue, the Taller the Wall

During the Lantern Festival, every household lights lamps, and every home is full of joy.

Young men and women all wear new clothes, step onto the streets, as if they have forgotten their past hardships, enjoying this rare festivity.

It’s a festival after all.

The rich celebrate in their way, the poor in theirs.

Around the Yuanfeng Pier area.

They can’t afford to set up colorful lights like at the Flower Market, lighting it up as bright as day, a symbol of luxury.

Small households, small merchants, and vendors have their own amusements.

They always prepare a few fish lanterns, a few red lanterns, to add a festive atmosphere.

Dog Egg and Flower Cat’s families are so poor that they can’t even afford a lantern, but the two of them hop around and aren’t disappointed.

They can enjoy other people’s decorative lights, running and playing towards the brightly lit places.

Of course, they still carry the hard-bought "Heaven-Ascending Thunder" procured with much pleading to their parents, to play with.

"Here, here’s a pile of cow dung."

Flower Cat is the most mischievous; seeing the cow dung is like spotting meat, not that he wants to eat it...

He runs over to the pile of black gooey stuff, taking two steps in three, using the shop’s eaves firelight to examine it, finding it still wet and gooey, he is even more pleased.

He plants the "Heaven-Ascending Thunder", blows to ignite the fire stick, sets it ablaze, and then runs away giggling crazily.

Boom...

A thunderous explosion.

The black goo of cow dung splatters like a torrential rain.

Dumbfounded Dog Egg is too late to dodge, and his newly-donned festival clothes are now specked with foul and stinky black spots.

"Wah..."

Dog Egg looks down, opens his mouth, and begins to wail.

It’s as if he can already see both of his parents preparing to give him a painful thrashing on his butt.

After wailing a couple of times, Dog Egg suddenly covers his mouth, not daring to cry anymore...

Flower Cat is also cowering, quaking with fear, almost collapsing to the ground.

In the not-too-distant front, shadowy figures appear, a group of fierce-looking strongmen.

The leader, with a thick beard and round eyes, turns his head to look.

His gaze is cold and sinister, making one’s skin crawl.

This person is Dong Jinzhong.

At this moment, leading three elite groups from Cyan Hall, ten bows, five crossbows, and thirty sword-wielders, surrounding the entrance of Zhang Mansion tightly.

"Brother Tan, thank you for your help, I will definitely repay you in the future."

Dong Jinzhong squeezes out a smile, staring intently at the tightly closed door, where two Peach Talismans stand out conspicuously.

"Brother Dong, for the Red-Clothed Sister, we’re joining forces, but we shouldn’t make a big fuss; a quick resolution is best."

Tan Sihai laughs heartily, bringing his men along like in the daytime, seemingly coming to give gifts, not seeking murder and trouble, "Regarding the matter of Vice Incense Master Chang from your hall, please accept my condolences. After hearing about the incident on Yulan Street, I, Tan, was also filled with indignation."

"As we all are trying to make a living in Xingqing Prefecture, I’ll help with this."

The men they brought have tightly surrounded both ends of Yuanfeng Avenue, and with scouts everywhere, they have no concern about losing sight of anyone inside.

In fact, with just their skills alone, even without bringing many men, it would already be enough.

Though Tian Qi is incredibly strong, it’s unlikely he can escape unscathed.

Nonetheless, to ensure nothing goes wrong, they still brought plenty of men and even some forbidden weapons.

With plans laid and no room for error, escape is impossible for the other side.

Inside the room, candle shadows flicker red, silhouettes vaguely visible.

In the firelight, a few half-grown figures can be vaguely seen.

"All are inside, not aware of our arrival."

Someone approaches the door, peering through a crack, seeing shadowed figures cast on thin paper windows.

"Then what are we waiting for, kill..."

Dong Jinzhong waves his hand, steps forward, striking first with his palm.

Bang...

The wooden door shatters.

His figure rushes forward like an arrow.

Half a step faster are the bows and crossbows behind him...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Dodging around his body like flying locusts, they plunge towards those shadows flickering in the lamplight.

Dong Jinzhong shields his chest with one hand, the other extended forward, a molten blaze clinging to his palm.

Ten paces away, one can feel the scorching heat...

He slaps his palm, window bars shatter, earth and stone fly.

Since Tan Sihai agreed to help, of course, he wouldn’t stand idly.

His tall body vaults like a swimming fish.

Two Water-Splitting Needles extend from his sleeves, winding around like a Cyan Dragon Emerging from the Water...

With a slight sway, he slides through the dust, slipping in through the window.

"Huh..."

What meets his eyes, where are there any figures?

Inside, it’s silent; just a few wooden sticks and benches propping up ragged clothes, scantily arranged before the candlelight.

The shadows seen before were just these things.

"No, we’ve been tricked."

Upon charging into the room, the two Water-Splitting Needles barely poke the clothes, feeling the difference in contact, realizing the danger, he immediately retracts, darting out of the room like lightning.

Simultaneously reacting is Dong Jinzhong.

His expression also changes dramatically, leaping backward.

He shouts hoarsely, "Retreat!"

Just as they came in, it seems something was tripped underfoot.

Looking quickly, a candle has fallen, white smoke rising...

The seven or eight black-clad swordsmen who followed in appear there, the shouting voice reaching them, but they crush together like a bundle.

Stuck at the doorframe for a moment, it’s already too late to retreat.

"Boom..."

A cracking explosion sound.

The entire room collapses like a sand pile.

The ground shakes and trembles.

In the peripheral sight, the seven or eight black-clad men are seen opening their mouths in silent screams...

Bodies flying, blood splattering.

The next moment, they are buried in the rubble.

"Damn it."

Dong Jinzhong falls back into the courtyard, punching heavily into a nearby osmanthus tree. The tree, as thick as a bowl, snaps in two, flying three yards. He roars to the sky, feeling immensely stifled.

Bringing summoned men, with full preparedness, even requesting help from the "arch-enemy" Changhe Gang.

Yet, not only have they come up empty, they were also caught in a trap, losing eight esteemed brothers.

It’s truly outrageous.

"This..."

Yuanfeng Squad Leader of the Changhe Gang, Tan Sihai, looks embarrassed, coughs lightly a few times, unsure of what to say.

He escaped with minor harm, only a black scorch mark on his chest garment.

Since it was a supportive nature operation, he didn’t place his men in the front as the main attack force; thus, losses were minimal, but he still couldn’t help losing face.

Facts speak louder than arguments.

No matter how he tries to clarify, it’s unlikely Dong Jinzhong won’t overthink.

The other’s little beggars not only got tipped off but prepared a grand trap just for them.

If the information hadn’t leaked, how could such absurdity happen?

There’s no need to question it.

The information leak must have occurred at Yuanfeng Pier.

It was Tan Sihai where the problem lay.

"I need an explanation."

Dong Jinzhong looks at Tan Sihai, eyes burning with fury.

Seething with unspeakable anger.

...

In the Flower Market, the sound of chatter fills the air, with streams of people coming and going.

Chen Ping and a few young friends, in disguise, wander through, glancing around with interest at the colorful lanterns displayed by various households, their eyes overwhelmed, enjoying the amusement.

In this densely populated area, the group is like a droplet merging into the sea, remarkably inconspicuous.

They’re not worried about someone finding their trail.

Hua Lian’er is the most excited, seemingly forgetting all his apprehensions, running around and pulling Chen Ping’s arm like a child, "Come quickly, Seventh Brother, this lantern riddle is so interesting, I want the fairy lantern."

You yourself are the Little Fairy, what do you need a fairy lantern for.