"Huh?"
In the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, Lin Ce, whose attention had already been focused on Steward Wang, frowned and suddenly turned around.
Behind them, Liu Tianwang, who should have lost all life, suddenly got up from the ground and fled at top speed.
"After cultivating internal energy, a martial artist's vitality becomes so strong?"
Lin Ce was surprised, but his reaction was quick.
With tendons like a large bow, it suddenly burst forth with a swift and immense force.
With a resounding hum, the massive iron club in his hand was hurled out like a thunderclap, its target the fleeing Heavenly King Liu.
Lin Ce himself followed closely behind, leaping to catch up.
Ah~
Liu Tianwang, who was fleeing ahead, let out a scream and fell again.
This time, however, he clearly couldn't get back up.
The massive iron club, weighing several hundred kilograms, slammed into his back, nearly shattering all the bones in his body. He looked as wretched as a broken sack.
Lin Ce leaped over and arrived beside Liu Tianwang.
It was only at this moment that he noticed the other person's unusual behavior.
For an ordinary person, Liu Tianwang's current injuries are clearly so severe that he could not possibly survive.
But the other party was still alive at this moment and had not completely died.
Moreover, a careful observation would reveal that the severe injury, which should have been fatal, was healing at an extremely rapid pace.
The other person's body was brimming with vital energy and blood, possessing an unusually robust life force.
"What kind of martial arts is this?"
Picking up his massive iron rod, Lin Ce asked curiously.
As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Tianwang, who was lying on the ground, looked resolute and suddenly struck his own chest with a palm.
He seemed to realize that escape was hopeless, and unwilling to pay any more attention to Lin Ce, so he decided to end his own life.
Lin Ce reacted quickly, striking out with his stick and breaking the opponent's arm.
Liu Tianwang's attempt to commit suicide was thus interrupted.
But the next moment, he went berserk, mustered his remaining strength, and used his other hand to strike the same spot on his chest.
Unfortunately, this idea was clearly impossible to realize in the face of Lin Ce, who was fully prepared.
With another arm broken, he completely lost the possibility of committing suicide.
"No, someone who has mastered internal energy wouldn't need to go through such trouble to sever their own heart meridian."
Lin Ce finally noticed something was wrong, squatted down, and reached into the other person's arms.
The next moment, he pulled out a stack of silver notes and a booklet.
He casually put the banknotes away and looked at the booklet in his hand.
"Da Shen Gong?"
The booklet cover bears these three large characters.
Lying on the ground, Liu Tianwang was so angry that he coughed up blood.
Then, his eyes rolled back, he tilted his head to one side, and stopped moving.
It seems that this time he is truly dead.
But Lin Ce, who had been fooled once by the other party faking his death, was not so sure.
Looking at the motionless Liu Tianwang on the ground, he gently exhaled and then raised the giant iron cudgel in his hand.
"You really think I can't finish off enemies?"
The giant club fell, a sudden gust of wind arose, and Liu Tianwang opened his eyes in horror, trying to struggle.
But it was all too late; the giant iron rod was already an inch away from him.
"Pfft~"
Shaking his head, Lin Ce turned and returned to the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.
“You were wise not to take the opportunity to escape.”
At this moment, Steward Wang, who was still sitting in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, looked ashen-faced.
He witnessed Lin Ce defeating Liu Tianwang.
Even someone as powerful as Liu Tianwang met such an end; how could my own thin and frail body withstand a blow from that giant iron club?
"Manager Wang, it comes down to the same question. We're complete strangers. Why are you willing to pay to take the lives of everyone in our caravan?"
Manager Wang looked terrified, remained silent for a moment, and finally spoke with difficulty.
"If I tell you something, can you guarantee you'll let me go?"
"You seem to have misunderstood something."
Lin Ce's face darkened. "Now I'm asking you a question. All you have to do is answer obediently. As for whether or not I'll let you go, that's a decision I'll make later."
"I will never tell you unless you give me a promise... Ah—"
Manager Wang squatted on the ground, his face pale, with large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.
Just moments ago, before he could even finish his sentence, Lin Ce had already kicked out, striking him squarely in the knee.
Although he didn't use the giant iron club, Lin Ce's strength was immense. With just one kick, his kneecap was shattered, and his leg was essentially ruined.
"Are you more sober now? I certainly want an answer, but that's not something you can use to bargain with me."
"I am the steward of the Su family, you can't kill me..."
Manager Wang was completely gripped by fear and started shouting.
"The Su family, is it the Su family I know?"
Lin Ce frowned slightly. "Who in the Su family wants to deal with us?"
Manager Wang's answer was somewhat unexpected, but not entirely unexpected.
The current owner of the Sihai Escort Agency is Su Caiying, who comes from the Su family.
Could it be that there are some details about this matter that I am unaware of?
"Who exactly is it?"
"...It was...it was Fifth Young Master who ordered me to do it..."
Pressed by Lin Ce again, Manager Wang, in fear, finally dared not continue to conceal the truth.
As he recounted everything, Lin Ce finally understood the cause and effect of the incident.
The reason for all of this was the Su family's "three-year business assessment".
It is said that the current head of the Su family gave his children a challenge in order to redistribute the family's resources.
This question is titled "Three-Year Business Examination".
Over three years, whoever's business performs the best will be the winner.
It is said that this even relates to the selection of the next head of the family.
"So, Miss Su Qi chose to invest in 'Sihai Escort Agency,' and your Fifth Young Master sent you to cause trouble?"
Lin Ce's expression was a mixture of joy and sorrow. "By the way, is this method also permitted?"
“That’s right. The patriarch once said that the marketplace is like a battlefield.”
A strange light flashed in Steward Wang's eyes. "Fifth Young Master's actions are perfectly acceptable. As long as it doesn't harm any members of the Su family, the head of the family will never blame him."
"I see. So it doesn't matter how many of us, the镖师 (bodyguards/couriers), die?"
Lin Ce's face turned cold as he looked at Steward Wang. "Then, Steward Wang, if you were to die, would it matter?"
"You can't kill me. I'm different from you. I'm a member of the Su family. I'm a member of the Su family..."
Manager Wang screamed as if he were insane.
"Of course I won't kill you, at least not now."
Lin Ce ignored Steward Wang and turned his gaze to the maids beside him.
The maids were already trembling with fear.
"Do you want to live or die?"
"Hero, spare our lives! We are not a gang of thieves; we were kidnapped and have never done anything immoral."
"Really? Then take me to find all the valuables in the stronghold. Let's hurry."
Not long after, Lin Ce emerged from the mountain stronghold, having made another gain.
He carried Steward Wang in his hand and leaped past Li Wenzheng.
"I'll leave the rest to you. I'll release your two sworn brothers and sisters myself, so don't worry."
His voice came, but he had already disappeared into the distance.
Li Wenzheng looked into the mountain stronghold and slowly tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.
In his view, villages like Tianwangzhai no longer need to exist.
Now that the Four Heavenly Kings are gone, it's time for the sword in his hand to come in handy.
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