Chapter 74: The Master

Within the city, deep in the underground vault of a rice shop’s back courtyard, Zhou Wuzhi was counting the stacks of heavy armor, his face radiant with a brilliant smile.

“Two hundred sets in total.”

Last night, the heavy armor acquired through a deal with the Golden Alliance had arrived outside the city. Today, the Scarlet Sect had managed, through various means, to transport these suits into the city. The other three hundred sets were hidden at several other strongholds.

“Everything is ready. Tonight is the moment!” Zhou Wuzhi’s ambitions soared; if tonight proved successful, he would earn significant merit within the sect and perhaps find the opportunity to climb higher.

Knock, knock, knock…

Suddenly, three deliberate knocks echoed from the door—one slow, two quick, measured and rhythmic. He recognized it as the signal from his allies outside.

He opened the hidden door of the vault and climbed the ladder upward.

“Master Zhou, Wu Yulong from the Golden Alliance is looking for you outside,” Dong Haobo whispered.

“It’s him!” Zhou Wuzhi exclaimed in surprise. Wu Yulong, the man of Zhu Fengyin, held considerable status in the Golden Alliance—rumored to be a personal disciple of a certain elder, gifted and renowned.

“It seems he’s here for news. Let’s go and meet him.”

Soon, Zhou Wuzhi encountered the burly man, who appeared to be in his thirties.

“Zhou Wuzhi, I heard you know the details of my wife’s disappearance?” Wu Yulong’s gaze was sharp and piercing.

“I do. We suspect two individuals are most likely involved in her disappearance. One is Qin Feng, and I believe there’s an eighty percent chance he’s behind it. The other is Huo Bairu, but only a twenty percent likelihood…” Zhou Wuzhi laid out everything he had experienced and deduced.

Wu Yulong’s face darkened with murderous intent.

His wife had been missing for days; her fate was surely grim. Thus, these two men must die!

“Thank you,” Wu Yulong said, turning to leave.

“Brother Wu, who will you go after first?” Zhou Wuzhi couldn’t help but ask.

“The one with the greatest suspicion, of course.”

“He’s no weaker than a ninth rank. Be careful,” Zhou Wuzhi offered kindly.

But Wu Yulong’s figure had already vanished beyond the door.

“Master, do you think that after Wu Yulong kills Qin Feng, he’ll charge straight into the lion’s den to kill the Chief Constable?” Dong Haobo wondered aloud. The county office had several ninth ranks; for him to go alone seemed reckless.

“That’s hard to say. Wu Yulong is famous—he practices a martial art of the ninth rank and is unmatched among his peers. That’s not just my opinion; his reputation was forged in battle! His most dazzling achievement is said to be fighting three ninth ranks at once, killing one and severely wounding the other two!”

“He’s hailed as one of the most talented hall masters in the Golden Alliance, with boundless prospects ahead. So, if he really goes after Huo Bairu, I doubt even the county office’s best could hold him back!” Zhou Wuzhi spoke enviously. He himself hadn’t qualified to learn the ninth rank techniques, only practicing one eighth rank and one seventh rank top-tier martial art, with overall strength at the ninth rank.

“One against three, and killed one…” Dong Haobo gasped.

“Master, what if after killing Qin Feng, he goes after Huo Bairu, the Chief Constable—will that affect our plan tonight?” Dong Haobo asked anxiously.

“The more chaos, the better! There are only three thousand city guards and about a thousand constables. We have five hundred sets of heavy armor, plus more than a thousand sect members lying in wait…”

…

An hour later.

Zhou Wuzhi was in a room, arranging tonight’s assignments. The core members listened intently.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from outside.

“Zhou Wuzhi!”

Everyone was startled, calling him by name—had their secret been exposed?

“Don’t panic, it’s someone from the Golden Alliance.” Zhou Wuzhi gestured for calm and swiftly walked out.

“Brother Wu, why have you returned?” Zhou Wuzhi stepped out to find Wu Yulong glaring at him, murderous intent in his eyes.

“The address you gave me for Qin Feng was useless. He wasn’t at home; the place was a mess. I captured two of his twelfth squad vice captains to interrogate them—they said Qin Feng resigned today and didn’t go to the office.”

“This Qin Feng must have left today. He’s either leaving the city now or has just gone. I want to borrow two teams from you: one to search inside the city, and another to go with me outside!” Wu Yulong insisted.

The Golden Alliance had no personnel in the county city now; ever since the Four Seas Trading Company was wiped out, their only stronghold nearby was in Huangsha Town. That’s why he came to Zhou Wuzhi for manpower!

“What? He resigned?” Zhou Wuzhi was stunned—he hadn’t expected this.

“Yes.”

“Ahem… Brother Wu, I’m afraid it’s impossible right now. Recently, we were subjected to a major sweep by the city guards, and my people dare not show themselves. For now, I simply can’t lend you anyone!” Zhou Wuzhi refused.

Tonight was the major operation—how could he spare anyone? No mistakes could be allowed before tonight, so he couldn’t lend a single person!

The moment he spoke, Wu Yulong’s gaze turned dangerously sharp.

“Zhou Wuzhi, the Scarlet Sect and Golden Alliance are important trading partners. I, a hall master, ask for a few men and you refuse? Are you disregarding me?” His wife’s disappearance had left him agitated, his anger needing an outlet.

Unable to find his enemy, and now this man refused him—his frustration grew.

Zhou Wuzhi, sensing his gaze, felt a chill. “Brother Wu, please be patient. Today, under no circumstances can we lend you people. Any other day, you could have as many as you wish!”

Wu Yulong stared, fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.

Seeing his readiness to strike, Zhou Wuzhi’s heart raced.

“Huo Bairu is the culprit behind your brother-in-law’s death. Why not join us tonight and kill him first to vent your anger? As for Qin Feng, he can’t escape. With the combined intelligence networks of the Golden Alliance and Scarlet Sect, unless he flees beyond Xiang Province and the two neighboring provinces, we’ll find him eventually! What do you say?” Zhou Wuzhi tried to redirect his fury.

“Yes, young man from the Golden Alliance, stay with us tonight and act together. You kill your Chief Constable, we take our target, and we can look out for one another,” a slightly hoarse, elderly voice sounded behind Wu Yulong.

He spun around, startled, and saw a man in his fifties with graying hair and dressed in dark red attire standing just two meters away.

At that distance, every hair on his body stood on end.