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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 4: Concealed Identity
The three of them avoided the large hole in the floor and made their way to the corridor. At the end of the corridor, Killer and Mad Bull stood facing each other. Killer smirked slyly at Mad Bull and said, "Step aside. Can't you see your time is up?"
At the end of the corridor, there was a staircase leading to the upper level. Ji Zichen knew this well; he had just been up there not long ago. Mad Bull coldly replied, "Killer, do you remember your first visit to the Killer Gang?"
Killer was taken aback; he hadn't expected Mad Bull to bring that up. His thoughts drifted back to that day, and his gaze softened as he looked at Mad Bull. "I’m grateful to you for that. I was starving for days on Yellow Sand Plain, and if you hadn’t given me food and water, I wouldn’t be alive today."
Mad Bull nodded. "Just remember that. You will repay me for this kindness. I haven’t asked anything of you all these years; don’t interfere in this matter."
Killer's expression darkened as he firmly refused, "I can't agree to that." He then urged, "Even if I leave, you’re no match for the leader. You should..."
Mad Bull interrupted him, "No matter how strong he is, he’s just one person. As long as you and the others don’t interfere, I’m confident I can deal with Xinfeng and the leader. I won’t return to Yellow Sand Gang. If something happens to the leader here, then the position of leader..."
Killer's eyes sparkled with intrigue, but he sighed with a bitter smile. "Even if I wanted to take over, the other elders wouldn’t agree."
Mad Bull replied, "I’m just offering you an opportunity. Whether or not you seize it is up to you."
Killer hesitated, remaining silent.
Mad Bull continued, "Then how about this? Give me one incense stick's time and keep others from coming up."
Killer looked at Mad Bull in disbelief. "One incense stick? Are you really confident?"
Mad Bull spoke solemnly, "I only need one incense stick's time. Once it's over, you can bring people to take my head."
"Killer" weighed his options for a moment and said, "I will have the other brothers surround this place, but you only have the time it takes to burn an incense stick. If by then, anyone who shouldn't be standing is still on their feet, don't blame me for being rude."
As soon as "Killer" finished speaking and turned his body, he spotted " Ji Zichen " and the others. He shot them a sideways glare before striding away. It was such a confidential matter that he didn't mind " Ji Zichen " and the others overhearing it. After all, they were not members of the "Yellow Sand Gang," and he believed that " Ji Zichen " wouldn't spill the beans. He figured that anyone who had no stake in the matter wouldn't involve themselves in unnecessary trouble.
The three of them watched "Killer" leave, and just as they turned back, "Mad Bull" was already gone from his original spot.
" Ji Zichen " said, "Let's head to the top floor," and the three of them ascended the stairs.
Upon reaching the top floor, they found potted plants shattered all over the ground. The carefully trimmed plants that "Fire Lion" had tended to were no exception. Just as " Ji Zichen " and his companions arrived on the top floor, they saw "Xinfeng" wielding a "Nine-section Staff," shouting, "Wolf Beast Soul!"
With a sweep of the "Nine-section Staff," seven hungry wolf spirits appeared, all lunging simultaneously at "Fire Lion." With a cold snort, "Fire Lion" quickly maneuvered behind the hungry wolves in an instant. Holding a "Cold Crow Sword," he swung it, causing over ten black "Cold Crows" to emerge from the blade, diving to peck at the wolves.
In no time at all, the seven wolves were pecked away by the "Cold Crows."
" Ji Zichen " observed how "Fire Lion" evaded the wolves' attacks; it was thanks to the "Red Boots" on his feet. He certainly wouldn't forget those boots—they were faster than a horse.
What puzzled " Ji Zichen " was when exactly "Fire Lion" had acquired the "Cold Crow Sword."
Just after dispatching the wolf spirits with his crows, "Fire Lion" flicked his wrist with the "Cold Crow Sword," directing the crows straight toward "Cheng Gangzhu." He shouted, “Cheng Gangzhu, take this!”
"Cheng Gangzhu" smiled slightly and replied, “Bring it on!”
Over ten "Cold Crows" descended upon "Cheng Gangzhu," enveloping him like a dark net. He stood firm in place, seemingly without any intention of dodging. Beside him, "Xinfeng" exclaimed in surprise, “Leader’s heart!”
Xia Zhou couldn't help but feel worried for Cheng Gangzhu, exclaiming in surprise, "Why isn't he dodging!"
More than a dozen Cold Crows swooped down simultaneously. Just as the Cold Crows were mere inches away from Cheng Gangzhu, he shouted, "Fox Spines!"
The fox fur draped over Cheng Gangzhu suddenly bristled like the quills of a porcupine, piercing through all the Cold Crows that had lunged at him mid-air.
Seeing Cheng Gangzhu neutralize the attack, Xinfeng finally let out a deep sigh of relief.
Cheng Gangzhu's expression remained calm as he smiled slowly, "Master, is that all you can do? It seems the rumors were exaggerated."
With the fox fur spikes raised, Cheng Gangzhu resembled a hedgehog. Fire Lion frowned deeply and remarked, "That magical artifact of his is indeed peculiar."
Cheng Gangzhu chuckled proudly, "Master, I truly apologize for ruining the flowers and plants you've cultivated."
Grinding his teeth, Fire Lion glared fiercely at Cheng Gangzhu and said, "No matter. As long as I can kill you, I wouldn't mind sacrificing the entire Fire Cloud Residence."
Cheng Gangzhu laughed heartily, "Even if you have the ability to kill me, what will you do about those brothers downstairs? Master, heed my advice; you still have a chance to cooperate."
Upon hearing this, Fire Lion's face turned icy. Indeed, even if he could kill Cheng Gangzhu, dealing with those pesky Yellow Sand Gang members would be challenging. It wasn't that the Sand Bandits were particularly strong; it was just that killing Cheng Gangzhu would require at least seventy to eighty percent of his strength. Where would he find the energy to deal with others afterward?
However, no matter what, this was not the time to show weakness. Fire Lion declared, "As long as I can kill you, your minions are nothing to worry about."
Cheng Gangzhu lightly laughed and replied, "You may talk tough, but boasting won't kill me!"
Cheng Gangzhu's face twisted as he shouted, "Spirit Fox Needle!"
Seeing Cheng Gangzhu make his move, Fire Lion couldn't help but gasp in surprise, his face turning pale as he raised the Cold Crow Sword to strike.
Ji Zichen also gasped, urging, "Get to the rooftop!"
In an instant, everyone was filled with dread as they witnessed the sharp Fox Spines piercing up from beneath the top platform. The entire surface was covered with these spines, standing upright like long spears.
Only Cheng Gangzhu and Fire Lion remained on the platform, while Yu Ren had already leaped onto the roof before the Fox Spines fully emerged.
Cheng Gangzhu laughed menacingly, "You can't kill me, you stinking lion! Since you're so stubborn, you might as well die. My Fox Spines are harder than rock; do you really think your broken sword can cut through them?"
Fire Lion's Cold Crow Sword had already snapped in two, and he found himself surrounded by the spines, trapped like a bird in a cage.
The Fox Spines formed a cage around Fire Lion in the right corner of the platform. Each spine was thick and sturdy, leaving Fire Lion no way to escape. Cheng Gangzhu shouted again, "Fire Lion! I'll ask you one last time! Where is the location of the ruins? If you defy me, I will kill you!"
Fire Lion's face turned as white as paper. He discarded the remaining half of his short sword and glanced at Mad Bull on the opposite rooftop, saying bitterly, "Cheng Gangzhu, I've lost. We can go to the ruins together."
Mad Bull was taken aback and shouted, "Fire Lion! What are you doing? Do you think surrendering will save you? No one knows him better than I do. When you take him to the ruins, that will be your death sentence!"
Xinfeng sneered at Mad Bull from the side, saying, "Mad Bull, can't you see the situation clearly? He's already lost his will to fight; he looks just like a dejected lion now."
Mad Bull certainly understood what was happening; if he hadn't realized it, he wouldn't have tried to warn Fire Lion.
Xinfeng's eyes, resembling those of a hawk, fixed on Mad Bull as he declared, "Mad Bull! It's time to deal with you, the traitor of our gang."
Mad Bull met his gaze with unwavering intensity, showing no signs of panic. "What does it matter to you whether I betray the gang? You're not even one of us!"
Xinfeng raised his voice passionately, "Mad Bull, you're not that old. Can’t you hear properly? I’ve told you before—I am the Vice Leader of the Yellow Sand Gang!"
Mad Bull burst into laughter. "Vice Leader? Our gang has been established for decades, and we’ve never had a Vice Leader. Don’t let yourself be used until you don’t even know what’s happening! Do you think I don’t know who you are?"
Xinfeng's expression changed, and he forced a laugh. "Haven't I told you? I am Xinfeng!"
But Mad Bull was adamant, retorting, "You are not Xinfeng! You are Blood Staff Qin Feng!"
Qin Feng's face turned a mix of blue and purple, yet he stubbornly replied, "You're talking nonsense!"
Mad Bull chuckled. "Others may not know who you are, but I do. Don’t think that just because it was late at night, I wouldn’t recognize your Nine-section Staff!"
No matter how much one tried to hide their identity, when it came to a life-and-death situation, they would inevitably resort to their signature skills.
Mad Bull had deduced Qin Feng's true identity through his weapon. Qin Feng's gaze turned cold as stone. "So it was you that night. I didn’t expect you to still be alive."
Xia Zhou listened in confusion from the side and turned to Ji Zichen. "What are they talking about? I don’t understand anything."
Ji Zichen smiled wryly. "How would I know? I don’t understand either."
"Mad Bull," he recalled, "that night Qingyang City was attacked by a Great Green Eagle, and you took advantage of the chaos within Qingyang to sneak into a wealthy merchant's home to kill and steal silver. You certainly have quite the interest in such matters."
Ji Zichen paused in surprise. "That night, this person named Qin Feng was also in Qingyang City?"
However, with Qingyang City being so large, the presence of one more person like Qin Feng was not particularly strange. Moreover, that night Ji Zichen was preoccupied with dealing with Kong Qi and had little attention to spare for the incident involving a wealthy merchant's sudden death; it was likely that Prince Huixin would not have noticed it either.
Qin Feng's face darkened. "Cheng Gangzhu, do you really believe this person's words?"
Cheng Gangzhu smiled mysteriously at Qin Feng. "I believe."
Qin Feng was taken aback. "You knew my identity all along?"
Cheng Gangzhu replied calmly, "Of course I did. If I hadn't thoroughly investigated your background, how could I have allowed you to temporarily take on the role of Vice Leader?"
Qin Feng immediately flew into a rage, shouting abruptly, "Temporarily! What do you mean by that?"
Cheng Gangzhu coldly laughed. "Do you really think I would let you hold the position of Vice Leader for long? There's no need for you to be angry. I understand why you hide your name; your nickname is Blood Staff because of your exceptional staff techniques. Your weapon is quite rare as well. The reason it's called Blood Staff is that the head of the staff is stained with the blood of enemies."
"Six months ago, you recommended yourself to meet me. Although you concealed your identity at that time, I didn't mind. What I needed was someone who could solve problems for me. Over these past six months, you've done a lot for me, and the brothers in the gang respect you greatly. When I say temporarily, it means that once I find the ruins, I will promote you to be the leader of the Yellow Sand Gang!"
Qin Feng was overjoyed at first, but then he thought about it—there was no such thing as being handed a leadership position so easily in this world. His brow furrowed. "Why do you want me to be the leader?"
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