Chương 156: Ambush

Night. On the rugged official road outside the East Gate of Qinghe County, by a small forest, Song Que's group of three waited in silence. Having received a tip that someone wanted to harm him, Boss Song—whether he fully believed it or not—decided it was better to be safe than sorry. He didn't mind leading his men out here in the middle of the night, setting up a 'House of Flying Daggers' style ambush on this sole path.

"Xiong Ba, kid, do you remember what I told you?"

"I remember, Young Master! Try to capture them alive, don't smash them to a pulp!" The foolish Bear answered in his booming voice. Hearing this, Grandee Song felt slightly relieved. He was afraid this guy would get hot-headed and squash everyone flat; that would be a complete waste! He was just worrying about running out of medicinal materials for cultivation, and now some kind-hearted people wanted to deliver supplies! How could he bear to refuse? Boss Song decided to let them die a worthwhile death.

Waiting patiently, he used Lightning's vision to circle and scout the sky. Suddenly, Song Que's eyes lit up brightly. They really came! At this moment, the city gate cracked open in the night, and several figures on horseback galloped out. Fortunately, Lightning's eyesight was exceptionally sharp. Even in the dead of night, he recognized that among these men in black, Lu Tianxiong and Lin Ping were indeed present!

These men, dressed in night-traveling clothes and carrying weapons, were heading toward Plum Manor in the middle of the night. Even a knee could guess their objective! He just didn't know who had sent the letter; if he found out later, he would definitely have to thank them properly. Although their surprise attack wouldn't necessarily slip past Lightning's eyes, causing too much of a commotion at Plum Manor with so many people around wouldn't be easy to cover up.

If that happened, he would be officially tearing faces with the Lingjiang Gang. But right now... Hehehe... Boss One punch man - Song has gone bald, and he has also grown stronger! Old Lin, did you know that?... A crescent moon hung high in the sky. Six figures unhurriedly spurred their horses forward, feeling refreshed as they breathed in the cool early-summer night breeze. Leading the group were Old Lin, Old Lu, and a middle-aged man.

Choosing such a clear, moonlit night to carry out an assassination, one had to say these people were incredibly confident in their target this time.

"Brother Wang, Little Brother Lu, everyone, remember this well: our target this time is Master Zhi Kong's rosary bracelet. Be careful not to break it."

"Understood, Hall Master!" The three men behind answered in unison. Wang and Lu also nodded to signal they understood.

"Little Brother Lu, there is no need to rush to kill that kid first. Once we interrogate him and find out where the item is, you can kill or slice him however you please."

"Hehehe, thank you, Brother Lin." Hearing this, Lu Tianxiong let out a sinister laugh. The group swaggered along the road, talking and laughing arrogantly, heading toward Plum Manor. Suddenly— Swoosh... Swoosh...

"Clang!"

"Ahhhh..." Two sounds of tearing wind echoed. The man surnamed Wang, walking next to Lin Ping, swung his sword to knock away the hidden arrow aimed at him. A man behind him wasn't as lucky; hit in the shoulder by an arrow, he let out a tragic scream and fell off his horse.

"Who goes there?!"

"Enemy attack!!"...

"Over there!" With shouts ringing out, the men hurriedly charged toward the small forest by the roadside in the direction the man surnamed Wang pointed.... Boss Song was very dissatisfied with the result of his sneak attack only injuring one person. Watching those people charge over, he unhurriedly raised his Silver Wing Bow and nocked two arrows. Swoosh... Swoosh... This time he learned his lesson. He didn't aim at the three men in front, but focused his target on the two remaining lackeys in the back.

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"Careful!" Lin Ping shouted loudly.

"Clang!"...

"Ahhhh..." It was the same as before: one lucky guy managed to block the arrow, while the unlucky one took an arrow to the stomach, falling to the ground and losing his combat capability. Motherf cker, what garbage! * Boss Song was very displeased with his own archery skills. With a 50% hit rate, it seemed the Silver Wing Bow's threat to Second-Tier martial artists wasn't that great. If the opponent was carefully on guard, it would be difficult to deal a decisive blow.

Putting down the bow, he, Old Nie, and Xiong Ba stood up, grabbed their massive weapons, and stepped forward to welcome their uninvited guests.... Only when Boss Song's trio—with their passive stealth effect—charged out from under the tree canopy did the opposing group spot them.

"Who are you?!" Lin Ping glared with fiery eyes and shouted furiously. In the entire territory of Lingjiang Commandery, someone actually dares to ambush people from the Lingjiang Gang?! Lin Ping had truly never encountered something so absurd! Caught off guard, they instantly lost two men; how could he not be furious?

"You... it's you! Song Que!" But Old Lu, who had 'deep affection and righteous ties' with him, immediately recognized Boss Song.

"Hehehe, Gang Leader Lu! How have you been lately?" Boss Song beamed, flashing a set of bright white teeth in greeting. Hearing his personal admission, Lin Ping finally believed the person opposite him was Song Que. Gritting his teeth, he said:"You sure have a lot of nerve, kid! Knowing we were coming for you, not only did you not hide, but you dared to ambush us halfway! I don't know whether to praise your bravery or your ignorance of life and death!"

Knowing the identity of the newcomer, Old Lin immediately figured out the crucial point. People don't just launch an unprovoked ambush for no reason; it seems the assassination plot has been exposed! Being caught red-handed by the main target here, Lin Ping immediately realized someone had betrayed them. As for who it was, there were only a few candidates, so it wasn't hard to guess. But now wasn't the time to investigate that. He immediately signaled his comrades to surround the three men opposite them.

Secretly evaluating the strength of both sides: the opponent had four men capable of fighting. The strongest among them were undoubtedly Lin Ping and the man surnamed Wang who was attacked initially; both their auras were roughly that of Fifth-Grade martial artists. As for Old Lu and that nameless nobody, they weren't worth mentioning. Weighing the odds, Song Que immediately made a decision:"I'll handle the ones surnamed Lin and Lu! Old Nie, tie down the other Fifth-Grade martial artist!

Xiong Ba, quickly deal with the last one, then go help Old Nie!"

"Don't kill them!" Grandee Song couldn't help but add anxiously.

"Understood! Young Master!" Ignoring the furious glares of the enemies, the three men attacked without hesitation.

"You court death, brat!" Being so thoroughly looked down upon by this kid, how could the arrogant and aloof Lin Ping endure it? Enraged, he drew his sword and charged forward first. He had initially thought Song Que's strength was roughly the same as his own. Even if I can't win alone, fighting him to a draw shouldn't be a problem. He intended to strike first to suppress his arrogance, then join forces with the others to take him down later. That way, even if word got out, he wouldn't lose face.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated this time. Seeing this guy actually dare to charge forward alone, Boss Song was overjoyed. Without any politeness, he raised MJOLNIR, leaped high into the air like a heavenly deity descending to the mortal realm, and smashed down fiercely! Song Que's brute strength, combined with MJOLNIR's momentum of ten thousand jun, descended from the heavens! Before it even got close, Lin Ping felt as if Mount Tai were pressing down on his head, making it difficult to breathe!

Terrified out of his wits, he hurriedly stopped and thrust his sword several times toward Song Que's vital spots, intending to force him to pull back his move. One had to admit, this old man's Shadow Sword was not an empty name; the sword was both fast and vicious, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. If it were the previous Song Que, he would have decisively been forced to retreat and dodge. But now, with his powerful spirit, Boss Song remained calm in the face of danger.

Unhurriedly and fearlessly, he slightly twirled the hammer in his hand. Clang clang... clang... clang... The sword tip struck the hammer's body, erupting in a shower of sparks. Having blocked Lin Ping's sword moves, MJOLNIR's momentum didn't decrease as it swept horizontally. Under Old Lin's terrified gaze, it smashed heavily against the sword blade he had hastily raised to block. Lin Ping was like he had been hit by a truck.

He and his sword were simultaneously sent flying like a torn sack for over a dozen meters, wildly spurting several mouthfuls of fresh blood mid-air! Crack... crack... Pfft!... Thud! Seeing Lin Ping measure the ground so easily, the remaining men felt a chill run down their spines. Watching Lu Tianxiong, whose gall bladder was already shattered from fear, show signs of turning and running, Boss Song sneered coldly and stomped his feet hard on the ground.

Like a giant elephant, he charged forward with a ferocious aura. The speed was too fast! Knowing he couldn't escape, Lu Tianxiong hurriedly turned and ran toward the only remaining Fifth-Grade expert on his side, hoping to find safety. At this time, the situation on the battlefield had already become clear. That amateur Second-Tier lackey facing Xiong Ba's pair of Heavenly King Hammers initially thought they were hollow, just looking intimidating.

Little did he know, Master Xiong's pair of hammers were solid steel, even mixed with quite a bit of Profound Iron! Unluckily for him, he crumbled upon contact. Xiong Ba effortlessly beat him until he was barely breathing, lying there like a dead dog. With their hands free, the two men unhurriedly arrived by Old Nie's side. The three of them stood in a triangle, surrounding Lu Tianxiong and that Brother Wang in the center. That Brother Wang had already found it too much to handle facing Nie Feng alone.

Now, seeing two more men carrying incredibly intimidating hammers glaring at him, he instantly panicked, fearfully moving closer to Old Lu, staying highly vigilant.

"Hehehe, Gang Leader Lu, I don't know whether to praise your bravery or your ignorance of life and death?" Boss Song mockingly threw the exact same sentence Old Lin had used earlier right back at Lu Tianxiong.

"Song Que! Do you dare launch an unprovoked attack on people from the Lingjiang Gang?! Are you not afraid?!" Facing the three menacing grey wolves, Old Lu trembled like a little lamb, bristling to threaten them.

"Hehehe, you're right about one thing. Boss Song is exactly not afraid! Attack!!!" Without wasting breath on them, the three men lunged forward in unison upon command. Without much effort, they perfectly captured the two men alive. At this point, the entire group of six enemies had been dealt with; not a single one escaped. Boss Song nodded in satisfaction and instructed Xiong Ba and Nie Feng to tie the enemies up and drag them deep into the forest.

Seeing Song Que's eyes shining as he sized up his group, Old Lu's inner unease grew even more intense. He couldn't help but struggle and twist his body, but unfortunately, apart from earning another slap from Master Xiong, it achieved nothing.