Chapter 46: The Great Battle Erupts
The thick black curtain shrouded South City, and in the streets and alleys outside the Hundred Households Office, dense crowds appeared, steel sabers dragging along the ground with a screeching sound, as over a thousand martial world men surged forth from all directions.
"Kill!"
Accompanied by a loud roar,
torches soared through the night like flickering stars, and countless martial world men brandished gleaming steel sabers, charging toward the Hundred Households Office.
This may be the only time in nearly a century that the Embroidered Uniform Guard faced such turmoil—a martial world gang dared to launch an assault against them.
Inside the grand manor of the Embroidered Uniform Guard,
countless signal flares illuminated the night, brighter than daylight.
Yet, despite such a commotion,
there was no response whatsoever,
as if the entire Linjiang City had sunk into a deathly silence that night,
the patrol battalion showed no activity, the Prefecture Government Inspection Bureau made no move,
all governmental bodies seemed tightly sealed off.
In the night, the flickering signal flares looked so ghastly pale, so pale as to be mocking.
In less than moments,
those martial world men from the Celestial Water Gang had already reached the manor of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the courtyard walls collapsed, the main gate smashed open, shouts and cries of killing shook the sky.
Yet, just as they stormed into the manor,
the powerful sound of spring mechanisms erupted, and sharp crossbow arrows flew out in dense volleys like torrential rain, the sound of arrows tearing through the air high-pitched and ear-splitting, encircling from every direction.
"Kill!"
Facing the crossbow array that locked down heaven and earth in a rain of arrows,
those martial world men did not falter.
As the saying goes, one general’s success comes at the cost of ten thousand bones; anyone who makes a living in the martial world lives with their head tied to their belt, especially a grand gang like the Celestial Water Gang—they are bound to have many desperate men.
Confronted with the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s ambush,
the Celestial Water Gang’s leaders were prepared, so beforehand, they placed true desperados at the front to charge, every one of them taking their death money to lay down their lives,
thus they fell,
but managed to withstand the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s crossbow array.
After all, it was only one Hundred Households Office, with maybe just a few dozen crossbows—at most, effective in the first wave of confrontation.
Wails echoed throughout the night,
the shouts of killing grew ever fiercer!
"Kill!"
At that moment,
further away from the Hundred Households Office, in some distant streets and alleys, yet another wave of martial world men surged forth like tidal waves, all with red cloth tied around their arms.
This was the elite from some twenty South City gangs,
all of whom had joined forces with Gu Zhan for a desperate fight,
In the martial world, it’s all about fame and fortune,
Who isn’t greedy for the power that Celestial Water Gang has held for years?
Who doesn’t dream of someday commanding the Celestial Water Gang’s territory with unrestrained authority?
The great battle was on the verge of erupting!
At that moment, in a grand courtyard of the Embroidered Uniform Guard,
Gu Zhan held a Horizontal Saber in his hand, and two more strapped to his back, striding out of the room.
Ma Lang approached with several men, speaking in a deep voice, "Lord Gu, as expected, neither the patrol battalion nor the Prefecture Government has any reaction."
Gu Zhan looked calm and said, "If no foolproof plan was in place, how would the Celestial Water Gang, a martial world gang, dare assault the Embroidered Uniform Guard? It’s a crime of wiping out nine generations."
Ma Lang said coldly, "They’re truly daring beyond measure."
"It’s the government offices rotting away," Gu Zhan replied. "Tonight, no matter how loud the disturbance, if we lose, every trace will be erased."
After speaking, Gu Zhan swept his gaze over the gathered Embroidered Uniform Guards and spoke loudly:
"Kill!"
The moment his voice fell,
Gu Zhan dashed out of the courtyard first, plunging straight into the crowd, his Horizontal Saber swirling, heads flying wherever he passed.
The sound of slaughter and flames soared into the sky,
the carnage was brutal beyond words.
This was a battle fought in open daylight with blades and firearms, no scheming or plans, only one method for both sides—bloodshed through saber clashes, the winners stand, the losers fall.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard’s numbers were few,
barely two hundred men, but with the help of South City’s major gangs, their numbers weren’t at a disadvantage, though admittedly only barely so.
South City’s major gangs—over twenty have joined, sounds like many, but in truth, the actual combatants add up to fewer than a thousand, that’s the absolute limit.
In such a real death match, only the Hall Masters’ swordsmen show up; those who brawl in huge noisy crowds daily only seem intimidating, but few actually dare kill and fight.
Just as when Gu Zhan visited Ping Bai Rat Bang earlier—Wang Bai summoned five or six hundred people, but only a few dozen to a hundred actually fought, and that’s because the White Rat Gang was influential; regular gangs are lucky to muster thirty to fifty swordsmen!
Gu Zhan could be certain,
The Linjiang City Embroidered Uniform Guard was founded over a hundred years ago, and in all that time, never has there been such an upheaval as today,
This really is the first time for such trouble!
In the darkness,
Gu Zhan’s saber was already ruined,
He swiftly drew another from his back; in that instant,
The body sense from his Second Grade Cultivation made him alert to a trace of murderous intent, and he swung his saber in a reverse grip.
"Clang!"
A resounding clash of metal,
Gu Zhan quickly retreated two steps,
A masked figure was launching a sneak attack.
"Hundred Households Gao, at a time like this, there’s no need to cover your ears while stealing a bell; what’s the point in masking your face, it only makes things more obvious!" Gu Zhan said coldly.
The masked assailant’s technique was clear; Gu Zhan had studied Gao Jun’s saber technique before, and this person’s moves were exactly the same.
Linjiang City isn’t too big nor too small, but there’s only so many masters. Gao Jun is one of the prominent experts; years ago, he already had Third Grade Cultivation, and just from this exchange, Gu Zhan was sure Gao Jun had broken through to Second Grade.
"Hmph,"
Gao Jun still had his face masked and didn’t waste words, only giving a cold snort before closing in and slashing at Gu Zhan.
Though he’s older and not as fierce as in youth, Gao Jun has Second Grade Cultivation; his blade is swift and ruthless, genuinely exquisite.
In that moment,
Two more masked men appeared from the shadows, along with the two renowned Hall Masters of the Celestial Water Gang.
Five Upper Three Grades masters!
Gu Zhan sneered, "You truly regard me highly!"
He roared, his saber refusing to pause or retreat, unwavering as he faced five alone.
This was already the best scenario.
Gu Zhan knew well,
This charge against the South City Hundred Households Office—Luo Bingsheng and the Celestial Water Gang must have prepared absolutely thoroughly.
Fortunately, he brought in the other South City gangs, and among them were many veterans, blocking scores of enemies.
Now, with only five Upper Three Grades masters attacking him,
it was the least pressure he could expect!
The great battle was about to erupt; even the snowflakes in the sky seemed to have vanished under its influence.
Meanwhile,
Not far from the Hundred Households Office, atop a cold, deserted high tower,
A feathered arrow was trained on Gu Zhan,
The icy arrowhead gleamed with a lethal chill!