Gu Chengping, as the mine owner, was considered a prominent figure in the eyes of ordinary people, and naturally, he possessed some level of cultivation.
Although he couldn't compare to Jiang Heng and the other two, his ability to withstand physical blows was much stronger than that of an ordinary person.
After a round of severe beatings, Gu Chengping lay on the ground, covered in bruises and blood, weakly moaning.
"Gu Chengping, do you have anything to say?"
Jiang Heng, not even breaking a sweat, calmly asked while placing one foot on Gu Chengping's chest.
Gu Chengping remained unresponsive.
"Haha! Quite resilient, indeed a person who can become a mine owner!"
Jiang Heng chuckled lightly and suddenly stomped on Gu Chengping's left palm.
"Boom!"
The ground cracked, and spiderweb-like fissures spread in all directions.
"Ah!"
Gu Chengping's miserable scream rang out, and his body, which had already gone completely limp, instinctively exerted some strength. He gripped his own left arm with his right hand, and his entire body writhed frantically.
His left hand had been completely crushed into a bloody mess.
Jiang Heng paid no attention and walked a few steps away.
"Someone!"
A young man walked in, trembling all over when he saw the scene in the courtyard.
"Two... sirs."
"Go and buy me a pair of size eight shoes."
Jiang Heng walked up to the young man and handed him a couple of silver coins.
The young man respectfully declined, "Sir, I dare not accept your money. I'll... I'll go buy it right away!"
Jiang Heng slapped him on the shoulder.
The young man shivered but heard Jiang Heng say firmly, "Take it, go buy it!"
"Yes!"
The young man dared not say more and nodded respectfully before quickly running out with the money.
Jiang Heng chuckled and said to Mi Wenjie:
"It seems that his accomplice has considerable influence in this area. Gu Chengping knows he's doomed and is afraid of implicating his family by speaking."
"Thus, we may have to focus our investigation on the Fire Cloud Iron Mother lead."
Over the past few days, Mi Wenjie had developed a rough understanding of Jiang Heng. He recognized Jiang Heng's immense strength, exceptional talent, quick thinking, and domineering style. All of this made him gradually acknowledge and respect Jiang Heng.
"The Fire Cloud Iron Mother is of great significance. Brother Jiang, should we report it to the sect?"
Jiang Heng shook his head.
"No need. Let's retrieve the Fire Cloud Iron Mother first and then report it to the sect. This way, we can avoid the sect sending someone to take a share of the mission's contribution points."
"As for investigating Gu Chengping's accomplice, do you have any ideas?"
Mi Wenjie furrowed his brow in thought.
After a moment, he shook his head helplessly.
"No way, we'll have to make Gu Chengping speak or search his house for any relevant clues. Given the seriousness of plotting against the stationed guards, Gu Chengping must have had a stable, long-term partnership with his accomplice. There should be some clues at home."
At this moment, Jiang Heng's ears twitched slightly, and he looked at Mi Wenjie, subtly gesturing with his eyes. Then he said:
"Alright, I'll leave it to you. Tear his house apart, and don't miss any clues."
"Conspiring to ambush the stationed guards is a significant matter. Gu Chengping dared to cooperate with the other party, which means they must have had a long-term and stable partnership. There should be some evidence left at home."
Outside the courtyard, a young man with a sharp face and thin lips quietly departed.
...
As the day gradually shifted towards evening, the scorching heat of the day gave way to coolness.
In a luxurious and imposing mansion within Chuanjiang City.
A man sat in his study, his face full of seriousness.
Suddenly, a white pigeon flew in from a distance and perched on the windowsill.
The middle-aged man's expression changed, and he quickly took a piece of paper tied to the pigeon's leg and carefully read it.
After a moment.
"Damn it! Gu Chengping, that useless guy! He's completely exposed!"
The middle-aged man clenched his right hand tightly, and under the surge of his True Qi, the piece of paper in his hand instantly turned into bits.
"Curse it! If the Dalu Sect finds out about this, it'll be bad for me!"
"With Gu Chengping's caution, he must have left evidence that could expose me. I can't let the Dalu Sect find it!"
The middle-aged man began to contemplate his strategy.
"This guy Gu Chengping is still alive. If I kill his family now, he'll definitely reveal my identity."
"So, the most important thing right now is to figure out how to kill Gu Chengping quickly and burn down his house."
"Perfect, the two disciples of the Dalu Sect are acting separately..."
The middle-aged man's expression turned stern, and he shouted outside the door:
"Someone, immediately bring Deputy Leader Ma and Deputy Leader Liu here!"
...
The red sun in the sky descended below the horizon.
The night fell.
In Jiang Heng's small courtyard.
Gu Chengping, covered in wounds, was tied up and casually thrown into a corner of the yard, unmoving.
Jiang Heng continued to practice as if nothing had happened.
Suddenly, three figures dressed in black silently vaulted over the courtyard wall.
One of them, wielding a long knife, immediately rushed towards the corner where Gu Chengping was.
The other two simultaneously charged at Jiang Heng, their longswords cold and filled with a silent murderous intent.
Though their movements were soundless, their longswords carried a chilling killing intent.
Jiang Heng smirked.
His body suddenly moved like a meek little white rabbit transforming into a ferocious dragon, completely ignoring the oncoming longswords as he charged forward.
"Shing!"
The two longswords almost simultaneously passed through Jiang Heng's body, leaving no trace.
Instead, he raised both arms like heavy hammers and smashed towards the two attackers.
These two individuals hadn't expected Jiang Heng's response, coupled with Jiang Heng's flawless mastery of his body-refining techniques, his speed was terrifying.
As a result, in the brief moment of close combat,
"Bang!"
Two muffled sounds almost simultaneously rang out.
The two attackers were simultaneously struck in the chest and sent flying backward.
Jiang Heng's body hardly paused, transforming into a swift wind once more, charging toward the remaining person wielding a long knife.
"So fast?"
The face beneath the masked hood of the black-clad individual showed a drastic change in expression.
He could almost feel the intense air pressure caused by Jiang Heng's movement.
Gu Chengping, lying on the ground, was not far in front of him.
However, the black-clad man knew that if he insisted on killing Gu Chengping, he would also have to endure Jiang Heng's attack.
"Curse it!"
He gritted his teeth secretly, then turned to face Jiang Heng. With his long knife enveloped in dense True Qi, he swung it down forcefully.
Jiang Heng raised his hand and met the blade head-on with a resounding clap.
"Clang!"
The blade trembled violently, emitting a sharp sound.
The black-clad man's expression changed dramatically.
He had never seen a body like this before. To withstand the strike of someone at the Eighth Level of the True Qi Realm with his bare palm.
What astonished him even more was that in this clash, they seemed evenly matched.
Judging from the light crimson True Qi enveloping Jiang Heng's palm, the black-clad man estimated his cultivation to be at most at the Fourth or Fifth Level.
But with this level of cultivation, he could rival him in strength? What kind of freak was this!
Without paying attention to the black-clad man's complex thoughts, Jiang Heng, in the instant their palms clashed, grabbed the long knife with his right hand and delivered a powerful punch with his left.
The air thundered, and the force was astonishing.
The black-clad man reacted swiftly, twisting his body and pulling his long knife.
With a dull sound, like a blunt knife cutting through leather, the sound emanated from Jiang Heng's palm, but it didn't even leave a scratch.