A terrifying laughing sound was heard. The living corpse that turned out to be Xun Qianniu. She moved like a ghost, dashing away after completing her task. Jinshui quickly chased after her, but the lunatic woman again scattered some white powder into the air, not at Jinshui but at Xu Qiao, forcing Jinshui to protect his girl.
Xu Qiao herself was already prepared, her shawl stretched out, aimed at Xun Qianniu and wrapped around her neck, and in one instant threw her at a nearby artificial stone. The lunatic woman was still able to get back up, but Xu Qiao had already knocked her back using wuqing xue's energy. The sound of bones cracking was heard, and a moment later Xun Qianniu was already lying on the ground motionless.
"Qiao-er, unexpectedly you can act so cruel," Jinshui said, praising her proudly.
"I learned it from you," replied Xu Qiao. "She and her old man killed my family, I've been waiting for revenge. Huang Erge didn't kill her because he doesn't kill woman, but I don't really have to care about gender."
A gust of wind came, making the cold dawn even more piercing. On the roof of the main building, there were already two shadowy figures of humans standing there, one tall and the other skinny.
The tall man moved his hands, and that hand was gripping the neck of a young girl who was still struggling weakly, trying to free herself. The tall man and his skinny friend were none other than Xie Tianhu and Xun Tianyi, and the young girl was Lin Xiaoyan.
Jinshui and the others had not yet done anything when a Lin Tongtian, the Midnight Killer who seemed increasingly insane, appeared on the roof of another building, soon after flew towards Jinshui and his friends, carrying a human figure in his hand, and thoughtlessly throwing the figure to Zhang Zheliang's side.
The figure that was thrown was still breathing, but weak. Two pieces of broken sword blades were stuck in his chest and waist. It was the pieces of the sword usually hidden in the bamboo stick that belonged to the Zhulin Shen Jian Zhong Shaoyan. Zhang Zheliang instantly recognized the figure as his fourth disciple.
"Shi… Shifu," Zhong Shaoyan tried to call his master, blood was flowing from her mouth, his condition was heartbreaking. "Ershixiong…."
Zhang Zheliang was still trying to resist the poison in his body. Realizing the presence of the traitorous disciples on the roof over there and witnessing the condition of his loyal disciple at the same time brought him a certain reaction. The poison Xun Qianniu had given him instantly spread, attacking the effect of the huanming yao that was controlling his nerve system, causing him to feel pain in his chest and in every cell of his body. Instantly he vomited fresh blood, startling Jinshui as well as Xu Qiao.
"Lin Tongtian, why did you kill the people of Jianyin Bang?" Jinshui asked Lin Tongtian, not wanting to start an immediate attack and intending to buy some time waiting for his friends to arrive.
"Save my… Xiaoyan," Lin Tongtian still managed to speak, his tone was between pleading and enduring pain. His hands were clenched into fists, and a cold air of energy was felt around him, and he then shouted loudly.
Jinshui pulled out the sword again, Xu Qiao also had her weapon ready. The two of them then faced Lin Tongtian, fighting among the corpses of the Jianyin Bang people in the courtyard. Zhang Zheliang didn't rush to interfere because he was still struggling to suppress the poison in his body.
Han Budian and Huang Yu arrived at that place, apparently unable to hunt down Huang Zhe and lost track of him. Han Budian quickly rushed toward his master, trying to save his life. However, Zhong Shaoyan had been injured since he left Yiling District, and in addition to two stabs of his own sword, he could no longer endure the pain and had his last breath in his disciple's arms.
Huang Yu saw Xie Tianhu and Xun Tianyi on the roof carrying Lin Xiaoyan in their arms. He didn't care anymore that he was no match for his parents' killer, and rushed over there, a number of chess pieces spread out first towards Xun Tianyi.
Xun Tianyi moved his hand in a strange motion, hailing Huang Yu's attack on the roof. Huang Yu put forth Chailang's inner energy, but he had been injured in the fight with Lin Tongtian just a while ago, he couldn't even touch the opponent, and the secret weapon he cast was also the least bit useless.
Lin Xiaoyan saw that her father had been forced to slaughter people, also saw Huang Yu trying to save her and now in a danger, tears welled up in her eyes. She stopped struggling from her capturer, hoping that Xie Tianhu would take her life in a second and she did not have to witness further horror.
However, Xie Tianhu was still in line with his disciple Huang Zhe's plan not to kill Lin Xiaoyan. He did not snap the girl's neck to end her suffering, but viciously tore off a part of Lin Xiaoyan's clothes, making Huang Yu's heart skip a beat.
"Only dare to girls," Huang Yu whispered in anger. "You really don't deserve to become number one in the martial world."
Xie Tianhu paid no heed to his words, once again tearing Lin Xiaoyan's clothes. The young girl's outer had already been taken by Huang Zhe to be used to lure Jinshui and the others to the ashes shrine, she was in a weak state having been arrested a few days ago and had been mistreated. An experience that would carry a lifelong effect on her, an insult that couldn't be washed away forever.
"Kill her," Xun Tianyi said to Huang Yu, "use your secret weapon, kill Lin Tongtian's daughter in one shot."
Xun Tianyi stopped his attack to give Huang Yu a chance to take out his secret weapon. One chess piece was already in Huang Yu's hands, once it was flicked it could finish Lin Xiaoyan's life. However, seeing the girl who had once saved him when he needed it most, the sadistic Chailang descendant also didn't have the heart to take her soul.
"Lin Dabo, please help your daughter," Huang Yu yelled as loudly as he could, the pleading tone of voice was clear, the look of despair showing on every inch of his face. "If you don't help her, then I will have to kill her."
Lin Tongtian was still fighting Jinshui and Xu Qiao. Although his martial ability was more than enough to suppress the two young opponents at that time, he still had a bit of awareness, still quite knowing what had happened to his beloved daughter. His attacks were chaotic, he was also about to jump on the roof several times and snatch Lin Xiaoyan from her capturers. However, Xie Tianhu and Xun Tianyi's threats also had another effect, making him almost explode.
"Kill," Lin Tongtian only said a single word, aimed at Huang Yu.
A single chess piece shot out, ready to pierce Lin Xiaoyan's head and take her life in an instant. Xie Tianhu stood still, it looked like he was going to let the chess piece kill his hostage, but in the next second had already moved his other hand, holding the chess piece with his saber, returning it to Huang Yu, smacking him in the chest. Huang Yu's fell from the roof as the result.
Xie Tianhu and Xun Tianyi took Lin Xiaoyan with them, leaving that place without saying another word. In no time they had disappeared into the darkness, and no one could catch them up.
One shadow that had just arrived jumped quickly, caught Huang Yu before he fell to the ground, then placed him in a safe place. Three other men and a woman had also arrived and directly help Jinshui and Xu Qiao deal with Lin Tongtian.
The descendants of Yumen had already arrived. It was Li Qian who had just saved Huang Yu, while Liao Xian, Qin Liangjie, and Zhu Baique helped Jinshui and Xu Qiao. The four of them followed Xianjing Wang's entourage leaving Yiling District and headed straight for Wuzhang City. It seemed that they had arrived and immediately preceded here when they saw a puff of smoke coming from Jianyin Bang's headquarters.
The Midnight Killer shouted loudly once again, and in the next second already exerted his beifeng qi energy, went berserk, and wanted to kill anyone around him to vent his anger and pain.
The fierce battle continued under the atmosphere of the headquarters of Jianyin Bang which began to be shrouded in darkness. It was an extremely terrifying place while the scattered corpses of Zhong Shaoyan's subordinates had not been taken care of. So far, Lin Tongtian had not shown any effort of using his ability to suck up someone else's energy which was more powerful than wuqing xue, but even so, he was still a formidable opponent that was difficult to beat.
Li Qian had already taken part in the fight, letting Huang Yu take care of himself while Han Budian had also left his master. He pulled Xu Qiao, asked her to take care of Zhang Zheliang, and replaced her to fight against Lin Tongtian.
The five descendants of Yumen joined their power to fight a single person. An ordinary Lin Tongtian could only last less than a hundred moves at most and he would have been injured and would not be able to stand up right away. But the energy of the living corpse seemed to never decrease. If the fight didn't end soon, it would be certain for both sides to be equally destroyed.
Liao Xian yelled several times, asking for his friends to take part in the mojie chen formation, tightly confining Lin Tongtian and trying to incapacitate him. However, this formation was not well formed. And it was not only because they weren't facing an ordinary opponent, but someone who had been losing his mind, second was because Han Budian, who wasn't one of them, often messed up the formation.
It was Han Budian's attack that injured Lin Tongtian the most. The anger and pain caused by the death of his master made him not even care about his own safety. The descendants were reluctant to injure the father of one of them, but Han Budian did not hesitate to slash his sword, breaking through the beifeng qi defense. Either Lin Tongtian intentionally allowed himself to be punished or he was already so messed up that he didn't care about the pain of the wound.
Lin Jixuan had already arrived at the place followed by Yanzi and Yue Songdai. They were still injured, but had enough rest and rushed to the headquarters of Jianyin Bang when they saw smoke rising from a distance. Yue Songdai himself was already on his way back to this place, yet he walked still like a dazed person, just following when he saw Lin Jixuan and Yanzi heading in the same direction.
The sword strike in Han Budian's hand hit Lin Tongtian for the third time, this time leaving a wide wound on his back. Lin Jixuan was very surprised to see the blood flowing from his father's wounds, by this point of course he could clearly see the hatred behind the eyes of the young bangzhu of Jianyin Bang, and immediately realized what had happened.
"My father is mad," Lin Jixuan knew his father had committed a massacre, all because of the interrupted training and someone abducted Lin Xiaoyan.
"Mad," Yue Songdai repeated half-consciously, "Lao Zhu Wang has a chain to catch a mad person, he used to use it on me."
"Take it here now, hurry," Yanzi said.
The mojie chen formation had not yet fully formed. Another dozen moves passed, Lin Tongtian's one long-range punch was aimed at Qin Liangjie who was starting to weaken. He had not enough time to step aside. If he parried, he would at least get an internal injury. That one second was really very dangerous.
Li Qian stepped forward before he could catch his breath, about to block the attack before it hit his best friend. But this time, Han Budian was already ahead, responding to the attack with a blow of energy. Instantly he was thrown until he hit the rubble of the building, it was difficult to get up again. In the next second Jinshui managed to hit Lin Tongtian's chest and made him take a half step back. However, their formation was already messed up and each one was attacking his own.
Qin Liangjie again thrust his spear weapon. But Lin Tongtian managed to block the spear and pushed Qin Liangjie and hit his chest with the tail of the weapon. Lin Tongtian himself also staggered for a while but quickly got back on his feet before someone else attacked him.
A few more moves passed. Zhu Baique also managed to get knocked down by Lin Tongtian's punch, receiving a quite severe internal injury. Liao Xian's was no better, he was hit by the Lin Tongtian's claws and got a wound along his left arm. Yue Songdai only arrived half a minute later, carrying a long chain, directly extended one end to Lin Jixuan.
"Father," Lin Jixuan said, "I'm sorry!"
Another long chain was received by Jinshui, with Li Qian attacking Lin Tongtian from a different direction. These four men attacked with full force, while Zhu Baique still managed to play her bayinxiao flute to distract Lin Tongtian. Of course, it wasn't easy to entwine the living corpse with two long iron chains. Each of them was tired and hurt.
Another figure appeared out of nowhere in that dangerous moment, flew towards Lin Tongtian, and directly knocked the acupuncture point on the old man's neck, giving Jinshui, Li Qian, Lin Jixuan, and Yue Songdai the opportunity to pull the chains in their hands, twisting them once to entangle the old man, while the other used force to force him to fall to the ground. Lin Tongtian's legs were already entangled in chains, his entire body was tied. The iron chain was thick and strong as hell, Lin Tongtian can finally be defeated.
The new coming figure was a woman, her movements were agile and very flexible, her energy was strong and precise, and her one-finger attack managed to paralyze Lin Tongtian without killing him. She was the only surviving guardian of Yumen, Shuiyao.
Yanzi came closer to Lin Tongtian and directly pierced two silver needles into his chest. When she saw that the needles could not penetrate the old man's skin, she thrust two more needles into the wound, making Lin Tongtian scream and almost pulling all the chains that bound him. However Qin Liangjie, Zhu Baique, and Liao Xian and Xu Qiao had already helped restrain the chains, Lin Tongtian could not break free.
"Yanzi, he's my father," Lin Jixuan reminded Yanzi to spare Lin Tongtian's life.
"Qianbei, this is not a deadly poison, only a kind of medicine to weaken you. You can rest for a while," Yanzi said calmly, "we don't like to kill, you don't have to worry."
"Lin Tongtian, they don't like killing, but I need to avenge my master," Han Budian exclaimed, already pointing a sword at Lin Tongtian.
"Han Shaobangzhu please refrain," Shuiyao caught the shaft of his sword with her bare finger, holding the weapon. Han Budian felt the flow of strong internal energy, he couldn't act any further.
Xianjing Wang and his bodyguards had also arrived at the ruins of Jianyin Bang base, taking Huang Lian, Shangguan Ruyin, Yin Xiuchen, and Liuxin with them. The guards immediately helped put out the fire, took care of the dead bodies, and cleaned up the remnants of the massacre.
Xiaoshan and Xiaohu were back, successfully dispelling the effect of the poison spread by Xun Qianniu in front of the ash shrine. They found the lunatic woman among the corpses of the Jianyin Bang members, her hipbone had been fractured by Xu Qiao's punch and she was dying. After asking for Huang Yu's permission, they tied the lunatic woman up and hung her at the gate of the Jianyin Bang headquarters, hoping that Xun Tianyi would come to help his daughter.
"Wangfei, from the capital to this place, there have been eight nights laofu didn't sleep," Zhang Zheliang told Shuiyao, he had already managed to control the poison, but he had used up quite a bit of energy fighting Lin Tongtian and hunting down his traitorous disciples, his body was weak and he needed some rest now. "Laofu later still has many things to discuss with Wu Jiaozhu's son. Just give me two hours, and two hours later give me a huanming yao."
"Laoqianbei, no," replied Shuiyao, "huanming yao is a potent drug, you should at least wait for twelve days before you can take another one."
Zhang Zheliang took out a pill from his pocket and was about to swallow it. Jinshui quickly held him.
"Laoqianbei, you helped us deal with Lin Tongtian and also saved our life," he said. "For the next twelve days, I Hua Jinshui promise to keep you alive."
"Two hours," Zhang Zheliang again said to Shuiyao without minding Jinshui, then went inside the remaining building and jumped onto the ledge, lying there.
The bodies of the Jianyin Bang members had been neatly placed in the main hall which was also still intact, Han Budian paid his last respects to his master Zhong Shaoyan, then returned to Lin Tongtian.
Lin Tongtian's entire body was already bound with iron chains, his face was now without any expression. The medicine given by Yanzi slowly restored his memory, he already knew his identity as a fugitive catcher, not as a murder tool. He was the Midnight Killer, his job was to hunt down many criminals in order to save more lives. That reputation was unexpectedly destroyed overnight by killing so many innocent souls himself.
His son Lin Jixuan continued to take care of him, even asking Liao Xian to help with his inner energy so that the pain caused by the failed training would lessen. Some of Lin Tongtian's martial ability was gone, and his pure energy had been damaged.
"It wasn't my father who killed your master," Lin Jixuan said to Han Budian, standing in front of his father, "my father mastered the highest level beifeng qi, killing a Zhong Shaoyan wouldn't be so much trouble for him. He didn't need to snatch the weapon first, breaking it before using it to stab the wielder."
"I know," Han Budian replied coldly, "my master died at the hands of Xie Tianhu. Only that person had enough hatred to break a bamboo sword and use it to stab its own wielder. I just want to hear myself from the esteemed Lin Daren, how come it is possible to kill innocent lives in our Jianyin Bang headquarters."
"Father," Lin Jixuan turned to Lin Tongtian, "You practice beifeng qi, every year during the eighth month and must be in a secluded place. You should not be disturbed during the training, otherwise, the consequences will be perilous. However, just beifeng qi wouldn't have made you this far. What happened?"
"My Beifeng qi had actually reached its highest level and in the last few years there's actually no need to practice it in seclusion anymore," Lin Tongtian replied in a muffled voice, it wasn't easy for him to admit everything. "However, I heard about the Yumen descendants three years ago, I knew sooner or later that I would have to face them. I won't be able to defeat them only rely on my ability. Then I tried to find a way to train beifeng qi beyond the limit. In the past two years, I have managed to increase my inner energy and can still improve even more."
"What?" asked Lin Jixuan. "That's insane."
"So what?" asked Lin Tongtian in a high tone. "Xiezhang already dared to take the only son of the Lin Family, isn't it insane? A few years ago since returning home, you kept avoiding me and causing more and more trouble, don't you think I can't figure out why?"
"I…." Lin Jixuan also had no explanation for this matter. Indeed he was basically just a troublemaker, and never really thought about the consequences.
"Xiaoyan was abducted and that stupid A Shi told me, disrupting my practice when it was just about to achieve its best," Lin Tongtian said again, "I beat A Shi to death, and I then chased those abductors all the way to Wuzhang City, bringing all my bodyguards there. Unexpectedly, along the way I heard the news that the descendants of Yumen had revealed their identities, your name was among them."
Lin Tongtian was determined to train his beifeng qi beyond what it should be, he managed to break through the limit of the highest level, but that dangerous practice was disrupted at the last moment, although it made his abilities double also made his whole body ache and his head almost burst. He was actually still quite conscious and able to think, knowing what was going on. Only that pain made him go crazy, making him want to vent it by killing anyone he saw.
"And then you found me on that riverside, and then fought Jinshui," said Lin Jixuan. "After that Zhang Laoqianbei also came."
"I was still quite aware, remember the Midnight Killer's habit, then left you there," continued Lin Tongtian, "but those two traitors came to me, brought Xiaoyan, and asked me to kill everyone here. I didn't care so much, my head hurt, I just want them to let Xiaoyan go, unharmed. How is she now?"
The last question was asked painfully, tears even in his eyes, remembering the situation Lin Xiaoyan was in the last time he saw her in Xie Tianhu's grip and how that young girl was totally miserable.
"Lin Dabo, I promised I will save Lin Guniang," Huang Yu said.
"Don't let her remember today's humiliation," said Lin Tongtian, his voice breaking, "let her rest in peace, I also don't want her grandmother to hear what happened."
Huang Yu nodded once. "I will avenge her," he said.
Lin Tongtian turned to Han Budian. "Han Shaobangzhu, if you want to avenge your brothers, you do it now. Lin-mo killed forty of your Jianyin Bang members, then Lin-mo will also give in forty moves, will not fight back or elude. After those forty moves, if Lin-mo is still alive, then let's just say you're not good at taking revenge."
Giving a way to forty moves didn't sound like suicidal intent, but was more of an act of arrogancy. Han Budian was furious, but he also knew that Lin Jixuan's father had been known all his life as a merciless assassin, tough and arrogant. That old man cried when he talked about his beloved daughter a minute ago, but his haughty attitude returned when he was about to face his opponent, unwilling to admit any guilt.
"Lin Qianbei, it would not be necessary to give a way to forty moves," Han Budian said back. "I know your ability is only three parts left now, wanbei also hasn't recovered since fighting Xie Tianhu in Yiling District. This revenge should be postponed until you managed to find your daughter. I guess, a Lin Tongtian will not shirk responsibility and in time will face everything valiantly, am I right?"
"You don't talk my daughter's business." Lin Tongtian also didn't want to accept the help of other people. "You are the last of Jianyin Bang, are now injured and can't fight, and you want to delay revenge. I Lin Tongtian will wait until you recover and are able to engage in a real fight, and will not run away. Just say the place and time, Lin-mo will come personally to meet you."
"I will come to see you at Wuling City a year from now," said Han Budian. "Taishifu has returned. During this one year, I will ask him to teach me all the martial arts of our sect, so that in time I will be worthy enough to fight you. Lin Tongtian, I hope that until then you take good care of your life, must not precede death."
Lin Tongtian looked at him. "Fine, I agree," he said. "You also train well, in time you will have to fight me."
"Jinshui," Lin Jixuan said to Jinshui. "I know that our task must be completed quickly, but right now I have to take my father back to Wuling City and look after him until his recovery is completed."
"We'll be waiting for you at Yongjiu Tavern and Inn, Chen-an City, at our previously stated time," Jinshui replied.
The Yongjiu Tavern and Inn in Chen-an City was the initially designated place for the descendants to gather as the descendant of Chailang had said when he first met Jinshui three years ago. After the meeting in Yiling District, Jinshui and the others actually planned to head there, guided by the last surviving guardian to start the new Yumen. But Jianyin Bang was in trouble, and Shuiyao had also met them and told them about Zhang Zheliang. They had to take a turn back towards Wuzhang City first.
"Lin Jixuan, I come with you," Yanzi said to Lin Jixuan.
"No no," Lin Jixuan replied quickly, "I have to take my father to Wuling City and take care of him there, if you come along it will only be a hassle. You'd better go with Jinshui and the others. They frequently fought the enemy, and frequently got injured, they need the little Wansui Gu healer more than I do so that everyone could come to the next meeting in Chen-an later, safely."
Xianjing Wang asked his man to prepare a horse carriage. Lin Jixuan said goodbye to everyone, that day and took his father back to their family residence in Wuling City.