In fact, all of Zhang San's guesses had been correct. The new magistrate of Xiaoyun County, or the former leader of the Lesha Gang "Lin Nu" from 20 years ago, was actually gambling!
Deep down, he also knew that even if he escaped for the time being, he would still be hunted down for life by the top expert Xiu Wangchou.
Lin Nu understood even more clearly that a man in his early thirties who already had mid-stage Earth Realm martial arts would most likely become someone even the Dark Building did not dare provoke once he cultivated to the Heaven Realm in the future.
So he gambled!
He gambled that during the time Xiu Wangchou was severely injured, in order to be absolutely certain he could kill him, Xiu Wangchou would not act rashly for the time being and would only keep him under surveillance, because Lin Nu's martial arts were still a bit stronger than Wang Hu's.
As long as he could wait, or drag things out until the people from the Dark Building in the north arrived.
Everything would be over then.
...
In a bamboo forest south of Xiaoyun County, there was a very small temple, enshrining the immortal from the story.
The door of the small temple was open, and the immortal statue inside looked out of the temple, as if watching the avenger in white taking revenge 20 years later.
The black bamboo forest swayed in the wind, and a bloodstained bamboo leaf fell to the ground.
In front of the temple...
A man dressed as a government runner lay bloody on the ground, looking extremely pathetic as he crawled forward while shouting, "Leader...Leader, I listened to you and kept waiting here to meet you, save me...Save me..."
After shouting a few times, the man gradually stopped moving.
The swordsman in white, Xiu Wangchou, was standing behind this dead man, while the black-clothed Lin Nu was not far in front of the man.
There was blood all over Xiu Wangchou's sword. It was evident that the pitiful man who had just died tragically was killed by him.
Raising his sword and pointing it at Lin Nu, Xiu Wangchou forcefully held back his hideous expression and said, "Leader Lin, we haven't seen each other for 20 years. I didn't expect you to join the government. How delightful..."
Lin Nu looked indifferently at the corpse in front of him. He suddenly smiled and said, "I should thank you for killing these 'good brothers' of mine, including Wang Hu. Now there is no one else who knows my identity."
Xiu Wangchou said indifferently, "I said this was a game. You...are the last one. I will slit your throat and chop off your limbs, then slowly play with you."
His words were as terrifying as a devil!
Perhaps when facing the greatest vengeance in one's heart, even the most righteous swordsman no longer retained any sense of "righteousness."
At this moment, the swordsman in white in the bamboo forest was simply a pure avenger.
Yet facing Xiu Wangchou's threat, Lin Nu smiled instead.
Lin Nu grinned widely at Xiu Wangchou.
It was mockery, it was ridicule.
Xiu Wangchou frowned, vaguely sensing danger.
At that instant...
Whoosh! A cold arrow shot out from behind!
Sensing it immediately, Xiu Wangchou raised his sword to parry. The fierce Star Sea Swordplay he executed as quick as lightning split the arrow before it came close.
But in the instant that Xiu Wangchou turned around, eight black-clothed masked men suddenly appeared around him from the depths of the bamboo forest. They fired eight more black iron arrows at him!
It was obvious these men were experienced masters. The first arrow was only meant to induce Xiu Wangchou to reveal a move, and these eight dark arrows were several times faster than the first, flying in from all directions in the blink of an eye.
"Star Sea Style - Chaotic!" Xiu Wangchou shouted loudly!
His sword lifted up, sword qi danced!
It all happened in an instant. The powerful sword winds that erupted from his move were forceful enough to deflect even the speeding black iron arrows. However...
Seven black iron arrows were deflected, but one remained to pierce through his calf.
Blood flowed out at once.
Even an expert like Xiu Wangchou could not deflect all arrowheads in the face of black iron arrows while being ambushed, and in that instant of pain he knelt down on one knee, supporting himself on the ground with one hand.
Lin Nu laughed loudly beside him, arrogance overflowing as he said, “Truly, you are worthy of being called the Dark Building! Knowing he was a mid-stage Earth Realm expert, you still dared to attempt assassination! The Black Cloud Dojo and Poison Valley would have considered it carefully even if the reward was higher!”
Xiu Wangchou looked up coldly at the scarred, emaciated man. From hearing the "Dark Building" and seeing the black heavy blade at the man's waist, he had roughly guessed his opponent's identity.
Yet the black-clothed men had already approached, raising their bows and taking out black iron arrows from the quivers on their backs.
"Wait." Hei Shanke raised his hand to stop his subordinates from nocking their arrows.
Walking closer, a cruel smile appeared on his scarred face. Hei Shanke said, "Ever since the death of the Formidable Hero Xiu Hai, I thought the Star Sea Sect no longer had any masters left, but that previous sword move, the Star Sea Style, definitely inherited the essence of Star Sea swordsmanship! It would be too much of a waste for me not to kill a master like this personally!"
Xiu Wangchou glanced coldly at him. He stood up, sword raised, slashing twice to sever both ends of the arrow piercing his right calf.
Raising his sword to point at Hei Shanke.
Xiu Wangchou actually did not want to speak originally.
Because his master had told him that speaking with despicable petty men would dirty one's mouth. But hearing his master Xiu Hai's name, Xiu Wangchou decided to make an exception this time.
The wind swayed his white clothes in the bamboo forest.
Xiu Wangchou smiled and mocked, "Master Xiu Hai? Is a filthy mouth like yours even worthy of addressing my master's name directly?"
"Bold! Still daring to disparage our Dark Building master even in death!" one of the eight masked men shouted angrily.
But Xiu Wangchou only laughed loudly and said, "Even if your Dark Building master came himself, I would not fear! Much less you bugs? One on one? Are you even worthy? If not, you might as well all come at me together!"
Hei Shanke's identity as a mid-stage Earth Realm expert did not overawe Xiu Wangchou at all. On the contrary, it provoked his fighting spirit to the maximum!
Removing the black blade at his waist, Hei Shanke grinned widely with a smile that seemed innocent yet cruel.
"I haven't seen such an arrogant junior in a long time. Since this is the case, don't blame me for taking advantage of your plight. My subordinates will not make a move, but I will still make you understand that even at the same mid-stage Earth Realm, there are differences between martial artists!"
Hei Shanke raised his blade, his inner strength shaking his black clothes.
Though his blade had not moved yet, it already exuded an overwhelming pressure.
Xiu Wangchou lifted his sword, a faint sword aura fluctuating from the blade, seeming to resound with the melody of steel.
Though his sword had yet to leave its sheath, it already made hearts tremble with fear.
Below the Heaven Realm was the Earth Realm. At this moment, two top mid-stage Earth Realm masters were about to begin their mortal combat amidst the bamboo grove.