Chapter 39: 38

“No, if we startle the snake prematurely, and they discover us, it’ll be troublesome if Zhang Xuan and the others escape. The sleeping gas is not entirely colorless and odorless; Zhang Xuan is an experienced veteran and could easily notice it.”

Chen Zihan dismissed the idea.

“Then let Li Heng cooperate with the Mist Smoke. He is the master of Qinghe Temple. Administering it at midnight, no matter how strong Zhang Xuan’s martial arts are, he will fall for it.” Shao Quanhua suggested again.

Li Heng, being greedy and lustful, had long been in their grip and could now serve as a backup plan.

“Forget it. If discovered, all efforts would be for naught. It’s better to attack straightforwardly during the engagement banquet. Zhang Xuan, the old man, is not easy to handle,” Chen Zihan shook his head again.

“Fine, as you say.” Shao Quanhua nodded slightly. “I’ve also acquired a crossbow. It must not fail when the time comes!”

“Don’t use it unless absolutely necessary,” Chen Zihan cautioned.

The crossbow, a strictly prohibited civilian weapon with astonishing power, could even kill the top masters at close range.

But hiding such a weapon, if traces are found, would truly be dangerous.

“I understand.”

*

*

*

Time passed in an instant, and suddenly it was January 24.

Qinghe Temple.

Zhang Rongfang stood at the entrance of the main hall, gazing at the drizzle gently falling from mid-air, his heart tranquil.

After the incident with Mi Gang’s Chen He, he hadn’t found any follow-up information.

Elder brother Zhang Xintai hadn’t discovered anything either, and the matter had thus passed.

Though elder brother relaxed his vigilance, Zhang Rongfang remained puzzled.

That Mi Gang’s Chen He didn’t seem to have genuinely mistaken his target. It seemed more like a deliberate watch near his sister-in-law’s house.

Mi Gang’s people seemed more like they were monitoring his sister-in-law’s house.

Recalling the previous events carefully, Zhang Rongfang couldn’t figure it all out.

Additionally, there was another point.

’Chen Wuyou was killed by me, yet his father Chen Zihan remains untraceable, which is quite strange… Could there be some connection between these two matters?’

He hadn’t told anyone about Chen Wuyou’s death. First, he didn’t know how to speak of it, and second, if he did speak of it, he wouldn’t know how to explain. The loopholes were too numerous.

’Is it because of Chen Wuyou that Mi Gang’s behavior was so peculiar? Mi Gang allegedly has close ties with the Chen family…’

’But they shouldn’t know who killed Chen Wuyou, should they? Why would they focus on my sister-in-law?’

’Or perhaps, it’s trouble caused by my sister-in-law’s own family?’

Zhang Rongfang pondered endlessly without finding an answer.

Unable to figure it out, he decided to stop thinking about it.

He gathered his thoughts and began recalling the Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada, which he had practiced and explored over the past few days.

The Talismanic Skill was unsuitable to ask the master for now, so the quickest way to improve strength was through Lightweight Skill.

Therefore, the first thing he did was to put Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada on his training schedule.

Meanwhile, in recent days, he had continuously taken medicine, finally achieving two more points of attributes.

These two points made him hesitate, wondering how best to use them.

The Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill worked well, but once it reached Limit-Breaking Grade One, it had no further advancement.

But Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada was different; this Lightweight Skill was quite comprehensive, allowing training up to Grade Three, hence breaking through the limit three times.

Grade Three was the peak of this Lightweight Skill. After all, it was merely a common cultivation technique passed down by many sects.

“Better focus on getting Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill to the limit first.”

After pondering, Zhang Rongfang decided to specialize in one skill first, and then proceed with others.

He assigned two general Daoists to manage the incense offerings and guest receptions and arranged for Xiao Jiu and the others to handle drawing lots and collecting money.

He then retreated to his room, feigning rest, but actually preparing to use the two attribute points he had just acquired that day.

Inside the room.

Zhang Rongfang lay on the ground, sighing deeply.

Raising his hand, his gaze focused on the back of his hand, and the attribute panel automatically emerged.

’Zhang Rongfang—Life 24-25.

Skills: Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual—Mountain-shaped Talisman (Limit-Breaking) (Limit-Breaking Skill: Heavy Mountain, five times),

Void Observation Skill (First Layer).

Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill (Mastery)

Morning Energy Talisman (Limit-Breaking)

Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada (Entry-Level)

Available Attributes: 2.’

Soon, Zhang Rongfang’s gaze fell on the plus sign next to the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill, and he imagined lightly clicking it.

The Mastery descriptor within the bracket promptly blurred, only to swiftly reveal the word Perfect.

Simultaneously, a large amount of practice memories associated with the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill surged into his mind.

Zhang Rongfang’s legs swelled up robustly again, and his torso followed suit.

Strangely, he simultaneously felt all his muscles and bones slowly becoming denser.

A continuous stream of cracking sounds echoed.

This peculiar transformation persisted for over ten minutes before gradually subsiding.

A boundless sense of lightness filled his heart.

“Let’s go out and test it.”

With his heart brimmed with excitement, Zhang Rongfang was eager to test the speed and power of the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill, which had just reached perfection.

After contemplating briefly, he suddenly recalled his previous encounter with Mi Gang’s Chen He and promptly formulated a plan.

Not long thereafter, night descended.

A dark shadow quietly emerged from Qinghe Temple.

Just stepping out, the figure swiftly moved like a snake, silently and rapidly towards the distance.

The figure was none other than Zhang Rongfang, eager to test his skills once more.

Previously, with just a basic mastery of the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill, he managed to escape injured from Chen He of the Mi Gang.

This time, having reached perfection, his speed was faster and even quieter.

As he began to run swiftly, he vaguely felt a connection between the steps of the Morning Energy Talisman and the Mist Smoke Step.

The Mist Smoke Step’s main purpose is to move to the blind spot of the enemy’s vision to assist in attacks.

The two footwork maneuvers, Lightweight Skills, seemed to have some subtle connection in Zhang Rongfang’s mind at the moment.

Unknowingly, with his rapid movement, his steps became increasingly silent and mysteriously strange.

Suddenly, a squad of patrol soldiers, leisurely carrying lanterns and armed with curved knives, approached from the front.

Zhang Rongfang shifted his steps and silently slipped into the shadow of a wall along the roadside, crouching down motionless.

More than a dozen soldiers walked past a few meters away from him, completely oblivious to his presence.

The Mist Smoke Step and the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill seemed to have some sort of complementary effect at this moment.

Using both footwork techniques together, Zhang Rongfang moved like a fish in water, reaching an even higher level of eerie silence.

Once the patrol soldiers had passed, Zhang Rongfang continued to run quickly.

His speed was now noticeably several levels faster than before, with each burst of his steps propelling him far ahead lightly.

Not long after, a distinct two-story building on the right side of the street appeared before him.

The two-story building was wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, featuring four windows and a large door, with three windows glowing with light.

Under the candlelight, shadows swayed, unclear what they were up to.

Above the door hung a plaque with a large character ’Chen’ written on it.

This was Chen He’s residence.

These days, Zhang Rongfang wasn’t just staying at the temple practicing, he also inquired about Mi Gang’s intel from the constables at the yamen.

Chen He, a prominent Mi Gang figure, could easily be located due to the maids frequently coming and going for shopping and groceries.

Zhang Rongfang carefully hugged against the wall, took out a black cloth from around his waist, and put it on his face.

Then, he moved around to the building’s right side, using both hands for support, he leaped onto the two-meter-high wall.

Easily standing on the wall top, he jumped down.

Familiar with the layout inside the building, Zhang Rongfang swiftly found a room.

This was the study of the Chen family.

Chen He was sitting wrapped in a fur coat in the study, reading a book by candlelight.

He was reading attentively, with the book no more than a palm’s length from his eyes….

“This guy is indeed nearsighted….” Zhang Rongfang sighed inwardly.

No wonder during their last encounter, Chen He didn’t dare to chase him. His nearsightedness was this severe… Even if he caught up, he’d just be eating dust.

Judging by his reading distance, without 600-700 degrees, forget about it.

Seeing Chen He’s focused expression, Zhang Rongfang felt a twinge of reluctance to disturb him.

But remembering how this guy almost crippled his hands last time, he steeled his heart again.

Just as he was about to strike through the window for a sneak attack, a voice suddenly came from the room.

“Husband, it’s late, time to rest.” The voice was soft and clear, somewhat reminiscent of his sister, Zhang Rongyu.

“Hmm, just a moment, I’ll finish this part and come,” Chen He replied gently.

His tone revealed a good relationship with his wife.

“A few days later, on the first day, are you really going?” the woman asked worriedly.

“There’s no choice, it’s already been decided. My elder brother’s issues are my issues. If I back down now, how will others see me?” Chen He sighed.

“But… if anything goes wrong….”

“Nothing will go wrong, every aspect has been taken care of. Besides, my role isn’t to directly participate but to support the formation,” Chen He reassured, “Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

At that moment, a man’s humming came from the corridor outside the building.

Zhang Rongfang didn’t care about their conversation. He initially planned to rush in and confront Chen He, aiming for a surprise attack to gravely injure him, but he was also wary of collateral damage.

Currently, he stood in the corridor outside the study.

The humming man was approaching him.

He hesitated for a moment, then turned silently into the shadow, climbing over the wall and leaving again.

Better to find another opportunity. If a fight broke out in Chen He’s house, who knows how many people would come to attack.

After he left, Chen He put down the book with a sigh.

“Elder brother and sister-in-law lost their child, and now they’re almost driven to madness. On the first day, it’s imperative to take the lives of Zhang Xuan and the others; otherwise, they won’t let it go.”

“But….”

“Rest assured, we have that… Within thirty steps, even if Zhang Xuan has mastered the Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual to the seventh rank, he can’t escape that sneak attack.

So this time, we will definitely win.” Chen He gently held the woman’s hand to comfort her.

He stood up and gently embraced the woman.

“Come on, let’s sleep together.”

“Hmm….”

The two of them slowly left the study room, closing the door, heading towards the bedroom.

After they entered the room.

From a shadowy corner on the other side of the study, a pair of wide-eyed eyes, widened with shock, slowly emerged.

It was Zhang Rongfang who had returned.

Originally, he planned to leave after jumping over the wall but felt unsatisfied, having traveled half the county to get here.

It wasn’t in his nature to waste time and effort to return empty-handed.

So he quietly came back, waiting for an opportunity to ambush Chen He.

Unexpectedly, he overheard such crucial information!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep