Chapter 145: Chapter 106: Water Technique

He heard Wang Hai’s dying scream and knew that he was Chen Qing’s next target.

The will to survive overwhelmed everything else. He grit his teeth against the excruciating pain in his arms and the churning in his guts, forcing himself up from the muddy water. He desperately poured his remaining Geng Metal True Qi into his legs.

He knew he was a sitting duck for Chen Qing in the water. He had to get to shore. He had to create distance!

Zhao Kang let out a low roar and kicked off forcefully with both feet!

Mud splattered everywhere! His burly frame, propelled by this explosive force, shot out of the water and into the air like a cannonball!

He intended to use a combination of the Dry Land Pulling Leeks and Eight-Step Chasing Toad Body Techniques to leap directly onto the high ground several yards away on the shore, then use the momentum to escape.

However, both of his arms were useless. With his right arm hanging limply, he couldn’t swing them for balance and propulsion as he normally would. His body inevitably wobbled.

In a life-or-death chase, this was a fatal opening!

How could Chen Qing give him such a chance? The instant Zhao Kang launched himself into the air!

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Several piercing whooshes tore through the night sky, one right after the other.

Chen Qing’s left hand swept across his waist. Five Money Darts, propelled by the exquisite Power of the Floating Light and Shadow Hand, shot out as five streaks of black light, nearly invisible to the naked eye.

The target wasn’t Zhao Kang’s vitals, but his ankles—he was airborne, unable to change direction.

Floating Light and Shadow Hand! Soul Chaser!

A technique designed to strike joints and cripple Lightweight Body Techniques!

Zhao Kang was mid-air with no way to dodge! He looked down in horror, only to see five points of cold light closing in instantly!

“Not good!”

he roared inwardly, desperately trying to pull his legs in!

THWAP! THWAP! THWAP!

Two Money Darts tore through the air with a shrill whistle, striking the ligaments on the sides of Zhao Kang’s left and right ankles with pinpoint accuracy!

A third Money Dart, silent but swift as lightning, precisely buried itself in the vital spot of his back, right over his heart!

Zhao Kang let out a strange cry. The searing pain and the feeling of his ligaments tearing instantly destroyed the foundation of his Body Technique.

The Geng Metal True Qi gathered in his legs dissipated in an instant!

Like a bird with broken wings, his body lurched to one side. His ascent came to an abrupt halt, and he crashed heavily back into the cold, muddy water!

SPLASH—!

Water and mud flew high into the air!

Zhao Kang was completely dazed from the fall. Icy mud and water choked his nose and mouth, and the piercing pain in his ankles nearly made him pass out.

He struggled to get up, but after barely propping himself up, he collapsed again.

Chen Qing approached slowly, Wang Hai’s blood dripping from the tip of his Cold Chiyi Spear, which glinted coldly in the moonlight.

His gaze fell upon Zhao Kang, devoid of any emotion.

Zhao Kang lifted his head. His face was caked with mud, his expression a mixture of terror and despair.

“Speak.”

Chen Qing asked coldly, “Where did the Fishery’s losses go? Who is behind you? Who had the former Steward Mao transferred? And why was I chosen to be the Fishery Steward?”

Zhao Kang gasped for breath, staring intently at Chen Qing. His eyes flashed with madness and resentment, but that madness eventually gave way to a bitter, resigned smile.

“You… COUGH COUGH COUGH… You’re just a scapegoat.”

Chen Qing’s brow furrowed slightly. He pressed the tip of his spear down a little, and the invisible pressure made Zhao Kang cough even more violently.

“A scapegoat?” Chen Qing’s voice was tinged with coldness.

Zhao Kang’s body twitched violently as blood poured from his mouth. “The… the books were cooked long ago. The deficit can’t be filled. At the end of the year, Elder Zhao will come to inspect all the losses, and all the blame will fall on you! A disciple from the Cyan Wood Institute with no background or connections…”

His words came to an abrupt halt. His last bit of strength was gone, the light in his eyes extinguished completely. His head lolled powerlessly to the side as he collapsed into the icy mud.

Only the murky surface of the water continued to ripple faintly.

The night wind swept through the reed marsh, carrying the pungent smells of blood and mud, and with them, a deeper chill.

“A scapegoat…”

Chen Qing mulled over the word, his thoughts racing.

Zhao Kang’s dying words confirmed a suspicion he had held for some time.

’Wang Hai and Zhao Kang were just pawns. There has to be a bigger player pulling the strings.’

’The transfer of the former Steward Mao, and my own appointment as a newcomer with no connections—it was all to set me up to take the fall for this huge deficit when Elder Zhao comes to investigate at the end of the year.’

’By then, they’ll have witnesses and evidence. I won’t be able to defend myself.’

’Sect law is strict. Embezzlement and lining one’s own pockets are serious crimes. The lightest punishment is having your Martial Arts crippled and being expelled from the Sect. The heaviest… could cost me my life!’

’I can’t just sit here and wait for my doom.’

’With Wang Hai and Zhao Kang dead, the person behind them is bound to notice soon.’

’The crisis is imminent!’

Chen Qing suppressed his turbulent emotions, his expression turning icy once more.

’First things first, I need to erase all traces!’

He dragged the bodies of Wang Hai and Zhao Kang to a more hidden spot deep within the reeds, burying them separately from Zhang Wei’s body. He then did his best to clean up any obvious signs of a fight.

Only after finishing all this did he begin to search for spoils.

There wasn’t much of value on Zhao Kang’s body, only a few Hundred taels in silver notes and some broken silver.

Wang Hai’s body, however, was much more fruitful. In addition to over two thousand taels in silver notes, Chen Qing also found two thin, silk-bound booklets in his inner pocket.

In the faint moonlight, he could clearly read the characters on the cover of the first: *The Profound Nether True Water Technique*, the Heart Method for the first three levels.

’A Superior Heart Method from the Gui Water Institute…’

Chen Qing thought to himself. It wasn’t surprising for Wang Hai to have this Heart Method, given he was from the Gui Water Institute.

When his gaze fell upon the second booklet, his eyes narrowed.

The characters on the cover seemed to flow like water—*Wave-Treading Technique*.

Wasn’t this the same slippery and swift Body Technique that was so incongruous with Wang Hai’s obese figure?

When Wang Hai had used this Body Technique earlier, it was as if he were treading on waves, leaving only shallow footprints on the muddy flats. His movements were tricky and fast, leaving a deep impression on Chen Qing.

’A unique Body Technique of the Gui Water Institute…’

Chen Qing thought. ’No wonder he was so hard to deal with.’

Then, a golden light flashed in Chen Qing’s mind.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence; success is certain]

[Profound Nether True Water Technique (1/1000)]

’There might be more things at their Fishery residences.’

Chen Qing’s gaze shifted toward the direction of No. 6 and No. 8 Fishery.

’Those two came out tonight to receive goods; they definitely wouldn’t have brought all their possessions with them.’

’Their real wealth should still be in their residences.’

’With them dead and no one aware of it yet, this is the golden opportunity to search.’

Chen Qing took a deep breath and silently snuck into Wang Hai’s residence at No. 6 Fishery. Afterward, he paid a visit to Zhao Kang’s house at No. 8 Fishery.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep