Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Calculations, Flip the Table Directly_1
More trouble than he’s worth, utterly useless, Wang Linchi’s expression was grim.
Yesterday, Murong Xuan had told him he was going to poison the new City Lord, Murong Su. But this morning, Murong Xuan was killed in a counter-attack.
Moreover, his death was swift and decisive; his head was hung on the city gate for public display, the reason cited being the attempted assassination of the new City Lord.
Normally, after Murong Su assumed office, Murong Xuan was supposed to leave for another post elsewhere.
The best outcome would have been to ambush and kill him en route. Unexpectedly, Murong Xuan decided to strike first. Not only did he fail, but his head and body also parted ways.
So, is he planning a showdown with me now?
Murong Xuan’s death didn’t affect Wang Linchi. He controlled one thousand Mud Gang Warriors who, after a period of training, had begun to show promising results.
Aside from their lack of actual combat experience, they were shaping up well.
Therefore, Wang Linchi felt he could now leave Black Rain City to carry out his own plans.
Murong Su had sent an invitation, inviting him to a banquet.
This invitation wasn’t just for him; it was also for Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall, Zhenyuan Escort Agency, the city’s Great Families, and other wealthy households.
Clearly, he had invited all the various factions.
However, the Mud Gang didn’t receive an invitation, obviously because they weren’t considered respectable enough.
A bunch of lowlife ruffians, worthy of entering the City Lord’s Mansion? At most, they could serve the City Lord as disposable tools for handling dirty work.
That was how the Mud Gang had always been treated anyway; they were used to it.Could this be some kind of trap...? Wang Linchi mused, looking at the invitation. If I go, the moment someone smashes a cup—a common signal—perhaps ten Heavy Armored Knights will rush in and hack me to pieces.
That was a very real possibility. Considering Murong Xuan had dropped all pretenses last night, and Murong Su sent these invitations today, Murong Su might also be planning to do the same.
"Master, terrible news! That old scoundrel Murong Su is heading to Rooster Crow Temple with his men!"
"They look aggressive, as if they intend to demolish Rooster Crow Temple!"
Just as Wang Linchi was contemplating an excuse to decline the potentially dangerous banquet, Yan Chuan rushed in to report.
To outsiders, Rooster Crow Temple was very important to Wang Linchi.
That was true initially, but now it held no importance for him at all.
"Oh, I see," Wang Linchi said nonchalantly.
"Master?" Yan Chuan was puzzled. You previously turned Black Rain City’s upper echelons upside down for Rooster Crow Temple, so why this reaction now? Do you have some ace up your sleeve?
"I said I understand. How many men did he bring?" Wang Linchi asked. He had initially planned to ignore it, but a sudden thought struck him: This might be a good opportunity to get rid of him.
His Fanciful and Fickle Soul Seed Page’s attack was invisible and intangible, making it extremely convenient for sneak attacks. Its only downside was that its range and strength depended on his spiritual power; he couldn’t kill an enemy from hundreds of miles away.
If it had that kind of range, I wouldn’t call this Soul Seed Page ’Fanciful and Fickle’; I’d call it ’East Wind.’
"Ten Heavy Armored Knights went with him. His advisor, Chen Yan, remained at the City Lord’s Mansion to handle official business."
"Additionally, he has bought off some people—all from the city’s wealthy households and Great Families—who are trying to conceal their involvement, as if we don’t know," Yan Chuan said gravely.
"First, arrange for ten men to go and kill that advisor, Chen Yan. Then, bring some men and accompany me to Rooster Crow Temple," Wang Linchi ordered, playing his cards unconventionally.
If the enemy had left even a single Heavy Armored Knight at the City Lord’s Mansion, Wang Linchi wouldn’t have ordered Chen Yan’s assassination. After all, with such protection, the Mud Gang Warriors, while effective against demons and ghosts, would be steamrolled by human Heavy Armored Knights.
Yan Chuan never expected Wang Linchi to act so decisively, offending so ruthlessly.
Especially killing Chen Yan. If they failed to eliminate Murong Su this time, Black Rain City would inevitably erupt into open conflict between both sides.
"No problem! We’ll gather our forces immediately and set off right away!" Yan Chuan replied, not daring to delay.
This matter concerned a major power shift in Black Rain City; it couldn’t be treated lightly.
Pledge allegiance to Murong Su? Even if I wanted to, could he even defuse the bomb in my head? Besides, after everything I’ve done, I’m already branded as one of Wang Linchi’s ’die-hard loyalists.’ Even if none of it was voluntary, they wouldn’t care about that when it’s time to settle accounts.
In just fifteen minutes, the Mud Gang Warriors assembled. Chen Yan’s head was chopped off and presented to Wang Linchi.
"Take it," Wang Linchi said. "Use it to provoke Murong Su." Having committed to this, Wang Linchi had no intention of holding back; he was going to screw Murong Su over completely.
In my eyes, Murong Su is going to Rooster Crow Temple to find treasure, and that’s unacceptable. I personally oversaw both the clearing of threats from Rooster Crow Temple and its subsequent repairs. Now Murong Su waltzes in, looking to snatch the fruits of my labor, completely ignoring me.
"Are the lime powder, poison blow darts, Fire Oil, and such all prepared?" Wang Linchi asked.
Heavy armor offered good protection, but sometimes it was just an iron coffin.
Unless the knights were strong enough to instantly wipe out these one thousand Mud Gang Warriors, they’d end up dead or disabled.
Those Heavy Armored Knights weren’t completely encased; their eyes, noses, and ears were vulnerable points. They still needed to breathe and see, after all.
"Everything is ready," Yan Chuan sneered. "If there were a hundred of them, these little tricks wouldn’t amount to much. But with only ten, we guarantee they’ll be incapacitated before they can even react."
Besides targeting the men, they had measures for the horses too—tripping them, slashing their muzzles, things like that.
"Good, prepare to—" Wang Linchi was about to order them to move out when he heard a commotion.
"It’s terrible! Demons and ghosts have entered the city!"
The cry was shrill and high-pitched, the fear within it palpable.
Wang Linchi’s face instantly darkened. This is definitely the work of that hidden mastermind. Otherwise, such a coincidence couldn’t occur. I had just assembled my men to intercept Murong Su, and now demons and ghosts invade. If there’s nothing suspicious about this, I’m a fool.
"Master, what are your orders?" Yan Chuan asked cautiously.
The unrest spread through Black Rain City like wildfire, making even the Mud Gang Warriors anxious.
"Priority one: eliminate the demons and ghosts in the city. Rooster Crow Temple can wait," Wang Linchi stated. He naturally didn’t insist on going to the temple immediately; insisting on it might have sparked a mutiny.
"Understood, I will make arrangements immediately," Yan Chuan said, breathing a sigh of relief that Wang Linchi hadn’t stubbornly insisted. He began to issue orders methodically: "First squad..."
Squad after squad of Mud Gang Warriors moved out, following their orders.
After a month of reform, these former ruffians from the lowest rungs of society had shed many bad habits. Obedience, drilled into them through constant training, was now instinctive. Their capabilities might be a concern, but not their willingness to obey.
Wang Linchi couldn’t grant them abilities, but their weapons and armor helped compensate for their deficiencies.
Beyond these, they also had crossbows, catapults, and other siege equipment, all engraved or inscribed with "Shakyamuni’s Fundamental Mantra for Destroying Evil Destinies," which was extremely effective against demons and ghosts.
The one thousand Mud Gang Warriors were soon dispersed. Only then did Yan Chuan speak: "Master, perhaps you should return to your residence for safety. Swords have no eyes in a battle."
Yan Chuan wasn’t actually concerned for Wang Linchi’s life itself; he was concerned that if Wang Linchi died, the bomb in his own head would detonate, killing him too.
"No need, I have other business," Wang Linchi said. He planned to go to Rooster Crow Temple alone.
As for the demons and ghosts in Black Rain City, I can collect the Soul Kind formed from this event later. I don’t plan on collecting other Soul Kinds, mainly because I can’t kill enough enemies to form them. The matter at Rooster Crow Temple is likely more important. Otherwise, the hidden mastermind wouldn’t be so desperate to stop me, even resorting to driving demons and ghosts into the city to cause delays. The enemy’s fierce resistance means that whatever is in Rooster Crow Temple must be something that can turn the tables for them. I’m fairly certain now that the new City Lord, Murong Su, is a pawn of the hidden mastermind. Perhaps my survival from Murong Xuan’s pursuit all those years ago wasn’t just due to what’s in Rooster Crow Temple, but also because of help from this hidden mastermind.
"You intend to go to Rooster Crow Temple alone? That’s far too dangerous!" Yan Chuan exclaimed, agitated. Your death is your own business, but don’t drag all of us down with you!
"I’m confident," Wang Linchi stated. My plan is simple: observe first and attempt a sneak attack. If successful, I’ll proceed with my plan. If not, I’ll flee, abandoning everything in Black Rain City. I already have an Epic Level Soul Kind; I’ve already made a huge profit. If the benefits weren’t so great, I wouldn’t have put myself in such danger. Wouldn’t it be better to find a safe place for Cultivation, study, and research?