Chapter 80 Iron Shark Gang Bandits, Qi-Enhancing Elixirs

“Heh, if I hadn’t met you, I’d probably still be a constable in Qingqian County. How can you say I’ve done nothing? Besides, the three of us are friends—if you’ve improved your cultivation, you can lend me your strength, can’t you?”

“Very well, let’s say I’m borrowing from you, Brother Han. Someday, I’ll find a way to repay you.”

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside. The boatman, panic-stricken, rowed frantically, but their boat was soon encircled, spinning helplessly as they were hemmed in from all sides.

“Hey, old man! Why aren’t you stopping? Got anyone aboard?” A vicious voice barked out.

“Please, sirs, there are no passengers on board. I beg you, show some mercy and let me go. I truly have no silver to pay you.”

“Nonsense! This little boat is sitting so deep in the water, and you still dare lie to us? Do you have a death wish?”

The three of them stepped out of the cabin to see what was happening. They were in the midst of a reed marsh, and five swift boats full of water bandits had surrounded their pitch-black awning boat. Each craft held five or six bare-chested, blade-wielding thugs.

“Well, well, what a beautiful woman! Ha! Looks like we brothers are in for a treat tonight.”

The water bandits whooped, delighted. They rowed furiously toward the awning boat, leaping aboard with the agility of second- or third-rate martial artists.

The boatman cowered and shivered, cursing his luck and blaming the allure of beauty for their plight.

“Hmph.”

Leng Yue had already drawn her sword. With swift, precise movements, several water bandits fell dead on the spot.

“Oh, so she’s skilled! All right, brothers, grab your weapons—let’s get them!”

Han Chong was disinclined to act. Perhaps it was the excess energy from the demon rice Leng Yue had just consumed, but she was now even swifter and more lethal than before. A shadow flickered, and in an instant, the three nearest swift boats were wiped out.

But Han Chong’s gaze suddenly sharpened. He noticed a violet wooden token hanging from the bald bandit leader’s waist. With a wave of his hand, the token flashed and appeared in Han Chong’s grasp.

On one side of the token was carved a blood-red shark, jaws agape and menacing; on the reverse, the number sixty-eight.

“Return that token at once, or you’ll die with no grave to claim your body!” the bald leader roared in terror and fury, seeing the token snatched away in a flicker of white light.

“You want to die!” Leng Yue dispatched another seven or eight men and sprang toward his boat, sword raised to kill.

“Wait.” Han Chong’s right hand flicked again, and a force tugged at the tip of Leng Yue’s sword, pulling her strike askew.

She steadied herself at the prow and shot Han Chong a puzzled look, but still delivered a kick, sending the bandit leader sprawling into the cabin.

Han Chong landed lightly beside him.

“Who are you people? If you kill me, you won’t live long either!”

The bandit chief realized at once that the man before him was no ordinary martial artist, but a cultivator capable of uncanny feats.

“Oh? I’d like to see how you plan to kill us.” Yet the villain only stammered, unable to make good on his threats. Han Chong grew impatient.

“Where did this token come from? Tell the truth. My patience is short.”

With a snap of his fingers, a blade of sword energy struck the man’s thigh, blood spurting instantly.

“Aaah! I’ll talk! We serve the Iron Shark Gang! Our gang is packed with experts. Anyone who resists is wiped out without mercy. I advise you both to leave now, or you’ll regret it!”

“Still threatening us? You really don’t fear death, do you?”

Seeing Han Chong about to flick another sword energy, the man’s face crumpled. He crawled to Han Chong’s feet, begging for mercy.

“Hero, immortal master, please spare me! Everything I said is true—I never meant to threaten you!”

“You’re a coward, at least. Where is the Iron Shark Gang’s headquarters? What experts do you have?”

“My lord, the Iron Shark Gang is the largest in Qiong Prefecture. Or rather, not always… yes, it is now.”

“Speak clearly—what do you mean ‘is and isn’t’?”

“Yes, yes, I’ll explain. The Iron Shark Gang used to be just a minor group running a little dock by the sea in Hangu County. I myself used to belong to the White Gull Sect.

Three months ago, the Iron Shark Gang’s power exploded—they recruited en masse and swallowed up small gangs everywhere. Even the Di Sha Sect, which had controlled Qiong Prefecture for decades, was wiped out overnight.

In just half a month, all the gangs in Qiong Prefecture fell under their control. Now, the Iron Shark Gang has branches in all ten counties of Qiong Prefecture, each sending out dozens of men to organize water bandits and plunder the land.

I’m just trying to make a living, following orders. That token is my lifeblood.

As for the gang’s experts, I’m not sure how strong they really are. But I know for certain—the branch leaders are all former gang chiefs subdued by the Iron Shark Gang. They’re all innate-level masters!”

“Oh? Then the Iron Shark Gang is not to be underestimated. Take me to your branch—I’d like to have a look for myself.”

“What?!” The man was aghast, thinking this reckless youth must have a death wish, walking right into the lion’s den.

“What’s the matter? Unwilling?”

“No, no! If the immortal master wishes to go, I’ll lead the way. I wouldn’t dare refuse. It’s just—the branch is crawling with experts. I fear you might not get out alive.”

“That’s none of your concern. Lead on.”

The bald bandit called over the four surviving water bandits. Together, they rowed Han Chong and his companions toward the county seat.

…

Nanjiang County, at a harbor outside the county capital. More than a dozen dockside warehouses stood in a row, each resembling a shipyard, and scores of swift boats were moored alongside.

As the sun set, water bandits laden with loot leaped ashore and ran gleefully to the warehouses, where they registered their plunder at a storeroom entrance.

Han Chong’s boat arrived, and he observed carefully. Inside the warehouse, a dozen or more keepers were sorting the bandits’ stolen gold and silver into neat piles.

The bandit chiefs, in turn, presented their tokens and spoils to exchange for a small bottle, leaving in high spirits.

“What’s in those little bottles?” Han Chong asked the bald bandit.

“Those are Qi-Boosting Pills. They increase inner strength. On the market, they go for ten taels of silver apiece, but they’re rare and hard to buy.”

Han Chong’s brows rose slightly. The Iron Shark Gang even offered such benefits—no wonder they could draw so many experts to their cause.

Just then, screams echoed from within the warehouse—someone was clearly being tortured.

“What’s going on? Who’s screaming?” Han Chong pressed.

“I-I don’t know. Last time I was here was five days ago—there was nothing like this then,” the bald bandit stammered, shaking his head.

“Brother Han, these water bandits are villains through and through. They should all be put to death, to uphold the law,” Leng Yue said icily.

“Agreed. You—go tell them I intend to kill everyone in this branch.”

Han Chong grabbed the bald bandit by the collar, tapped his foot, and leapt to the shore, dragging the man with him.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the bald bandit through the air, sending him crashing into the crowd of registrars a dozen yards away.

Nearly three hundred bandits turned in shock, only to see Han Chong, dressed in black, hands clasped behind his back, glaring coldly at them.

“Baldy, what’s going on? Who’s this?” the registrar barked.

“He—he’s a demon! He says he’s going to wipe out our whole branch!” the bald bandit cried, dazed and terrified, scrambling backward on the ground.

For a moment, the crowd of bandits was stunned. Then they burst into laughter.

“Baldy’s a coward. What a useless wretch he is.

Brothers, this brat must be mad—boasting he’ll kill us all!”