Chương 157: Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea

A deserted forest outside the East Gate of Qinghe City. Without expending much effort, Grandee Song managed to extract all the hidden information from the six men who had come to assassinate him. He had originally thought he would have to perform the 'Ten Great Tortures' he had learned from TV, but unfortunately... Song Que sighed. These guys were destined not to be revolutionaries! It seemed the word 'unyielding' had no direct correlation with whether one's martial arts were high or low.

Boss Song officially concluded this. Among these men, apart from Old Lu, the other five were all from the Lingjiang Gang. That Fifth-Grade martial artist was even the Vice Hall Master of the Discipline Hall! The other three were middle-ranking members of the gang, with the lowest position being a headman. If Song Que's trio hadn't recently experienced breakthroughs, it truly wouldn't have been impossible for this group to swallow them whole today. It seemed Old Du's determination was not small!

He didn't know where Du Ruhui heard the news about Master Zhi Kong's rosary bracelet. Their plan was to capture Grandee Song, interrogate him for the bracelet, and after that... Naturally, Boss Song would 'unfortunately' suffer retaliation from the Blood Demon Cult. As for the bracelet, it would be 'given as a gift to repay Gang Leader Du's kindness'. What kindness? Who would care to clarify that at a time like that?

In the end, the people of the Lingjiang Gang would make a huge fanfare, shouting slogans about eliminating demonic practitioners to avenge him, and the matter would be settled. This plan was full of holes, but it was incredibly f*cking practical! In this realistic society, who would go out of their way to seek justice for an unfamiliar 'Song Nobody'? Unfortunately, the interrogation didn't reveal who had tipped Song Que off. This left him unable to find the person he wholeheartedly wanted to repay.

Pondering for a moment, a few preliminary plans formed in his mind. Song Que picked up Lu Tianxiong and went to find a private place for a 'heart-to-heart'....

"Brother... Brother Song! I was wrong! I was blinded by greed and listened to the instigation of the Lingjiang Gang! Please spare me this once! I, Lu Tianxiong, swear that from now on, I will follow your every command like thunder! I will absolutely harbor no disloyalty!" Looking at the deserted, gloomy mountain forest around him, Lu Tianxiong was scared half to death and hurriedly begged for mercy.

"Spare you?... Then we have to see what price you are willing to pay." Boss Song stroked his chin, considering it. Seeing a chance to survive, Old Lu grew excited and offered whatever he could:"Brother Song! No, Boss Song! As long as you spare me, the entire Fierce Tiger Gang will obey your every command from now on! I am your dog; whoever you want me to bite, I will bite! I will absolutely never betray you!" Secretly despising this guy in his heart, Song Que feigned interest on the surface:"This...

tell me, what valuable things does the Fierce Tiger Gang have?"

"Boss Song, it's absolutely valuable! My Fierce Tiger Gang has hundreds of members and countless properties and shops under its banner, including money-making machines like the Golden Deer Casino! Moreover, my personal treasury holds no less than a hundred thousand taels! Boss Song, as long as you spare me, I can immediately take you back to the gang to collect the silver!"

With thousands of treacherous schemes swirling in his mind, Lu Tianxiong began to paint a big picture, throwing out piles and piles of gold and silver treasures, wanting to use wealth to sway his heart. But was Boss Song someone easily seduced by wealth? Of course... he was! Grandee Song was moved. He enthusiastically sat down with Old Lu, asking about the details of each property one by one. Only after gaining a thorough understanding did he stand up in satisfaction.

"Alright, Gang Leader Lu, seeing as you are so sensible, I will let you live a little longer." Hearing this, Lu Tianxiong was ecstatic. He didn't care about his image, excitedly shedding tears and kowtowing to express his gratitude:"Thank you, Boss Song! Thank you, Boss Song! From now on, this lowly one will obey your every command and will absolutely not dare to harbor any disloyalty!" Idiot!

Wait until I survive this calamity, and I'll see how you get your tendons pulled and skin peeled by the people of the Lingjiang Gang! You still want to take the silver? Once you're down there, I, Lu, will burn some for you! Lu Tianxiong roared inwardly. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Hehehe, very good. I am very satisfied!" Declaring your assets so honestly is very good! Boss Song will let you 'LIVE' for a few more days and absolutely won't go back on his word! Grandee Song laughed gleefully.... Not long after, Song Que and Lu Tianxiong walked out leisurely from deep within the forest, side by side.

"Young Master!" Seeing Old Lu in this state, Nie Feng and Xiong Ba were incredibly confused. But Song Que didn't explain much, just waving his hand:"You two go outside and clean up the battlefield first. Let us chat a bit more with these gentlemen from the Lingjiang Gang."

"Understood, Young Master!" Although full of doubts, the two men didn't hesitate to follow orders and leave. They left Boss Song alone with the four unlucky guys lying on the ground like dead dogs.

"Lu Tianxiong! You dare betray us?!" Lin Ping, who had already woken up, shouted furiously upon seeing this. Everyone was captured together, yet you can act so freely! If it's not surrender, what is it?! But seeing that Old Lu's life seemed secure, Lin Ping thought that since this kid's experience in the martial world was likely still green, wouldn't he also have a chance? Lin Ping's mind raced rapidly as he found words to persuade him:"Little Brother Song, we were truly wrong in today's matter!

I bow my head to you and admit my fault. Since neither side has suffered any losses, why don't we turn hostility into friendship? I will personally explain this matter clearly to the Gang Leader. In the future, we can also become friends, and the Lingjiang Gang will absolutely not target you again. How about it?" This idiot thinks Boss Song is a three-year-old child! Song Que smiled brightly:"Haha, no need. Hall Master Lin, there is no need to say more.

Every bit of essence and energy in your body is very precious; don't waste your strength." Watching Song Que reach out his hand and approach him, Lin Ping panicked:"Song Que! What are you doing?! If you dare kill us, the Lingjiang Gang will absolutely not let you off!"

"I told you, don't waste your strength." Answering him was only a gloomy voice. Ignoring this guy's struggles, Song Que coldly reached out, grabbed his neck, and immediately executed the Star-Absorbing Great Art.

"You... you... actually..." Being choked, Lin Ping couldn't utter a complete sentence. He was quickly sucked dry of his essence and energy by 'Old Demon Song', collapsing onto the ground like a pile of mushy meat, completely devoid of vitality. Seeing this, the remaining three men instantly turned pale with fear and screamed at the top of their lungs:"Blood..."

Before the word could be fully spoken, Song Que had already reached out with both hands, grabbing the necks of Vice Hall Master Wang and a Fourth-Grade martial artist. Lu Tianxiong also grabbed the last person and began to execute Star-Absorbing.... Sitting by the official road, bored to death, Nie Feng and Xiong Ba finally saw Song Que walk out.

"Young Master!"...

"Young Master!" Nodding with a smile, Boss Song was extremely satisfied with today's harvest.

"The matter is settled. Let's go back. We still have time to catch up on sleep." Lu Tianxiong also walked out from behind him, nodded to the two, and then went to the side to get a horse and leave. Seeing this, Nie Feng frowned and intended to step forward to stop him, but was halted by Song Que.

"Old Nie, no need to stop him. Let him leave."

"Young Master?"

"Alright, let's head back!" Hearing Song Que's stern tone, Nie Feng didn't dare ask more. The three quickly packed up and mounted their horses to return to Plum Manor. They also dragged along five fine horses and a pile of weapons and treasures. This group hadn't considered them a serious threat, so they went on an assassination mission as if going on an outing, not even bothering to carefully store their belongings. In the end, it all benefited Boss Song.

On the way back, looking at Nie Feng whose face was written with worries, Song Que couldn't bear it and spoke up:"Old Nie, there is no need to worry. I have arranged this matter properly. The Lingjiang Gang will not be able to trace it back to us."

"Young Master, those people...?"

"They're dead." Song Que said very calmly, not intending to hide it. This wasn't beyond his expectations, so Nie Feng wasn't surprised. But why the Young Master would leave a witness alive completely baffled him.

"Young Master, what is the situation with Lu Tianxiong?" The truth was naturally impossible to tell. After searching for words for a long time, the 'Great Charlatan Song' began his deception.

"Old Nie, have you ever heard of the martial art called the 'Soul-Extorting Great Art'?"

"Young Master, I have never heard of it. But I've heard that the Heavenly Illusion Sect also has a secret technique to bewilder a person's spirit for them to control. You didn't..." Nie Feng vaguely guessed the plan in his mind and asked excitedly. There's such a thing? How convenient!

'Fortune-teller Song' looked up at the sky profoundly:"In that medical secret text, the Seven-Star Life-Stealing Needles, the author, Senior 'Lazy Old Man of the Sea', mentioned a secret technique at the end of the book called the 'Soul-Extorting Great Art', which can enslave another person's mind. Perhaps my talent is simply too good; it didn't take me long to learn this thing. But Senior Lazy Old Man also stated that this demonic art is too cruel and defies the heavens.

The person struck by the technique will die with their soul shattered within a few days. He advised against practicing it."

"The Lazy Old Man only recorded it because he couldn't bear to let this secret technique be lost to future generations. Following his words, this Young Master has never used it before. But today's matter... sigh..."

"Sinful... sinful... It truly defies the harmony of the heavens." Acting to the very depths of his soul, 'Great Actor Song' couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe the corner of his eye.

"Young Master, what's sinful about it? Dying with their bodies intact is already fortunate for them! If it were up to me, Old Xiong, I would have smashed them to a pulp with a single hammer strike!" Hmph, the Heavenly King Hammers still haven't drawn blood yet! The number one loyal servant, Master Xiong, rarely opened his mouth to comfort his Young Master. Although his words sounded like twisted logic, they were truly extremely persuasive.

Old Nie was also moved by Boss Song's immense compassion, feeling that his previous doubts about the Young Master were truly blameworthy. He guiltily spoke up to comfort him:"Young Master, there is no need to blame yourself. Martial arts itself is neither right nor wrong; one only distinguishes good and evil based on the results. Those people were arrogant and unbridled; their deaths were well deserved. You did this only to protect the people around you. You don't need to blame yourself." No need to comfort me!

For the sake of the grand plan, I had to throw away two 300-year-old ginsengs! You two still don't understand how much my heart aches! Boss Song, grieving for the heavens and pitying the people, tilted his head back and sighed:"It truly defies the harmony of the heavens... sigh..."