Chapter 292: 268 Points Down

At this moment, on a sea island hundreds of miles from Cituogang Port.

At a stronghold belonging to the Linlang Association.

The head of the Linlang Association, Zhou Xue Ming, sat in the main seat with an unpleasant look on his face.

He is now over fifty and had only one publicly acknowledged son, Zhou Dongjun… but now…

He’s dead.

Crack.

Zhou Xue Ming crushed the Jiao Dragon Head on the chair with his palm, scattering wooden splinters all over the floor.

Though he has other illegitimate children, Zhou Dongjun was undoubtedly the most outstanding and promising among all his progeny.

Whether it was his conduct or his innate skills, he ranked above average among the younger generation of the same tier.

Moreover, at such a young age, Zhou Dongjun was already fluent in three languages, skillfully managing trade relations in ports of three small countries.

“Who can tell me what the hell happened!!? How exactly did Dongjun die!?”

The news of his cherished son’s death unexpectedly came from the Citong Yamen.

This is undoubtedly the biggest irony for the entire Linlang Association.

Because essentially, the Linlang Association started off as pirates and have always had conflicts with the government.

In the hall, the chiefs of the Linlang Association remained silent, none willing to step forward and invite trouble at this time.

Within the whole association, apart from the head, these chiefs have the highest authority.

Each chief leads their own fleet and island, forming a special force akin to military warlords.

They then manage the lower-level pirates and populations.

This is the fundamental structure of the Linlang Association.

And Zhou Xue Ming is the strongest, mainly because he holds the most powerful fleet in the entire association and runs a maritime trade market—Linlang Island.

Many things considered contraband in various countries, whether through smuggling or plundering, can be found on Linlang Island.

This is what makes the Linlang Association fundamentally crucial.

Zhou Xue Ming was originally discussing the disposal of contraband with a governor of a distant small country, but unexpectedly, a heavy piece of news immediately brought him back from the faraway Linlang Island.

The hall quieted down.

“Master.” A chief finally spoke up, this man was obese, with a shaved head, a pair of sharp, cunning eyes, giving off an impression of shrewdness and ferocity.

The man’s name is Zhao Sunyi, the most loyal among all the chiefs of the Linlang Association to Zhou Xue Ming.

“At that time, there should have been escort guards by Zhou Dongjun’s side. Such matters should be immediately inquired of that person.” Zhao Sunyi said.

“That person already fled.” Zhou Xue Ming said coldly, it’s completely normal for pirates to abandon ship due to interests.

“In that case, the chief who managed the ships at the time should explain the situation.” Zhao Sunyi’s gaze shifted to another chief sitting silently nearby—Korsa.

Korsa has dark red long hair, a beautiful face, but wears a black eye patch over one eye, and a diagonal scar on her nose which completely ruins her appearance.

She is a West Yi person, once a daughter of a fallen minor noble, secretly studied knight martial arts, and after her family was wrongfully accused and framed, she went to sea and joined the pirates.

Due to her ruthless nature and exceptional skills, she became a chief within just ten years.

Upon being named by Zhao Sunyi, Korsa’s purple eyes swept over, coldly fixated on the fat, smiling face.

“This matter involves the Great Spirit teaching. The cause of the young master’s death, I suggest we investigate thoroughly before making any decisions.”

“Korsa, the incident occurred on your ship, I want an explanation!” Zhou Xue Ming leaned forward, his gaze like a sea eagle, radiating strong oppressive energy.

“I naturally owe an explanation.” Korsa maintained her composure, glancing at the other chiefs.

“The night the incident happened, my deputy reported to me, and I immediately investigated the entire situation.

The specific clues have basically been clarified.”

She cleared her throat.

“According to the investigation, half a month ago, a batch of precious herbs ordered by Agarwood Palace mysteriously vanished en route, with the entire ship, herbs, and crew disappearing. There’s a rumor it was our doing.”

“Afterwards, a master from Agarwood Palace, a man named Chen Han, came to meet the young master.

At the time, the young master obtained a rare secret scroll named the Golden Wave Treasure Scroll, which recorded a unique special martial arts.

“Chen Han used his status from Agarwood Palace Great Dao Teaching to build relations with the young master, boarded the ship, and when the young master’s aide temporarily left to fetch the scroll, allegedly an altercation broke out between them, then Chen Han suddenly attacked and abducted the young master.”

“Later, the young master’s body was found in Agarwood Palace, traces of investigation indicated Chen Han killed him with his own hands.

While Chen Han claims he was unaware of the previous occurrences, stating he only kills any enemy daring to attack Agarwood Palace.”

All things discussed thus far have formed a simple chain of events.

After hearing, Zhou Xue Ming formed a general idea internally.

“So, you imply that the batch of Agarwood Palace’s herbs was plundered, which angered Chen Han, compelling him to investigate under another guise, leading to a conflict with Dongjun, where he forcibly took him away.

Later, Dongjun found a way to temporarily escape control, but was eventually hunted down and killed near Agarwood Palace.”

“That seems to be the case.” Korsa nodded. “But this matter is quite suspicious, it’d be best if we personally visit Agarwood Palace to confront them, exchange information, and ascertain the truth.”

“Sounds logical. Given this,” Zhou Xue Ming pondered for a moment, “Ironsand.”

“Present!”

A man standing beside him, wearing a deep blue tight-fit outfit and carrying a blade, stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

“Take some people and visit Agarwood Palace, see what explanation they have.” Zhou Xue Ming said solemnly.

“Understood!” The man nodded heavily.

“Master, if it was indeed them who killed him, what should we do about it?” Zhao Sunyi suddenly interjected and asked.

“If it is confirmed it was them,” a hint of savage murderous intent flashed in Zhou Xue Ming’s eyes, “Then we will make Agarwood Palace pay the price!”

After all, just a local Daoist Palace, and newly established at that. If it were a powerful sect like Zhenyi Sect’s Western Sect, he might have reconsidered, but dealing with Great Dao Teaching…

A life for a life — don’t blame him for an eye for an eye.

No matter how strong the martial arts on land, could it be stronger than the Sea God? Moreover, since the Western Sect has been trying to recruit him due to their collection of Western beauties, even if he offends the Great Dao Teaching, he has nothing to fear.

*

*

*

Celestial Extreme Cave Cliff.

Zhang Rongfang, Ding Luo, and Mu Chunxiu found a few wind-shielded spots on the cliff to take a temporary rest and wait.

When dawn broke, Ding Luo and Mu Chunxiu went to erect a monument and mark the place for their parents and others.

Zhang Rongfang remained alone, pondering over the methodologies of pressure point martial arts.

At this moment, the sun was shining brightly, and the mountain wind swept by, blowing away most of the clouds and mist.

Suddenly, a clear and distant sound of a flute came from afar.

The flute sound was pure and clear, with a long breath, persisting for more than ten seconds before gradually dying down.

“A signal of some sort?”

Zhang Rongfang gazed into the distance. He vaguely saw a black dot quickly approaching this direction.

From the Ghost-faced man, he learned that this place is a medicine garden cultivated by the Sensing Sect itself, meaning that the Ghost-faced man is definitely not the only one who knows about this place.

So… the newcomer now is likely someone from the Sensing Sect who knows about the Celestial Extreme Cave.

He focused his attention on the person quickly approaching.

Before long, the black dot expanded rapidly, revealing an old white-haired man in black clothes and hat, adorned with a red crystal forehead ornament.

The old man was robust, with bright eyes, carrying a crescent-shaped iron shovel weighing dozens of pounds in one hand and holding a flute he had just put down with the other.

From a distance, Zhang Rongfang saw him, moved his feet, and quickly descended from the cliff, heading towards the old man.

Shortly, he paused his footsteps, stopping in a forested area, lifting his head to look forward.

Likewise, the old man with the crescent shovel halted directly opposite him, raising his head to look in this direction.

“Who are you?” the old man asked in a deep voice.

He didn’t recognize Zhang Rongfang, and the Black Tiger Daoist, who was supposed to meet him, was nowhere to be seen, arousing his suspicion.

“From the Spiritual Veins of the Thousand Stone Sect?” Zhang Rongfang questioned back, expanding his dark vision to scrutinize the opponent closely.

“An ordinary martial artist?” the old man was surprised, his face sinking instantly. It seemed he discerned Zhang Rongfang’s identity through some method.

For the Spiritual Veins, even if an ordinary martial artist is a Grandmaster, defeating Spiritual Veins is easy, but killing them is as hard as ascending to heaven.

So, confirming that the opponent was just an ordinary martial artist, no matter how strong, why bother talking?

Immediately, his gaze turned cold.

“Kid, I ask you, have you seen a Daoist with a ghost mask leading a large black insect?”

“I’ve seen him,” Zhang Rongfang replied. “I know where he is, but I don’t want to say.”

In his eyes, tiny specks of blood shimmered and floated as he scanned the opponent.

“You brat!” The old man’s eyes turned icy. “There are always some kids in this world who think just because they have some talent, they can look down on everything….”

With a thud, he stabbed the crescent shovel into the ground, the heavy weapon sunk into the soil, flipping the turf and spraying dirt outward.

“Then come and teach me a lesson.” Zhang Rongfang spread his hands, smiling. “I’ve grown up without ever being beaten. I don’t know what it feels like to be beaten.”

“By the way, you are from the Thousand Stone Sect, right?” He suddenly added.

“You know my Thousand Stone Sect?” The old man’s eyes grew sharper.

This person in front of him probably knows why the Black Tiger Daoist is still absent now.

He felt his hand start to itch.

Mainly because this kid was a bit too asking for a beating.

“Come beat me then.” Zhang Rongfang spread his hands, “I want to know what getting beaten feels like. Come, beat me till I cry.”

“You brat!” Blood vessels bulged on the old man’s forehead; in all his years, he had never met someone so infuriating.

“Very well, as you wish!” He grasped the crescent shovel, his Qi and blood rapidly circulating throughout his body.

Boom!

The soil beneath splattered open, the old man surged forward, crossing seven or eight meters in a blink.

His crescent shovel transformed into a virtual shadow of a black dragon, fiercely descending onto Zhang Rongfang’s head.

Swish!

By a hair’s breadth, Zhang Rongfang gently sidestepped, evading the strike.

Then he raised his hand and extended a finger.

A point!

Pop.

The old man’s right arm holding the crescent shovel went numb abruptly, nearly making him lose grip on the weapon.

He was astonished, charging forward several meters before turning back to look at Zhang Rongfang.

“What kind of martial arts is this!?”

“Beat me till I cry, and I’ll tell you,” Zhang Rongfang replied with a smile.

“You brat!!” The old man’s Qi and blood spiraled rapidly.

Since achieving the Super Grade worship of Gods, it was the first time he had the urge to beat someone to death.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep