Mr. Wang was fantasizing about the tragic death of Qin An when a flash of cold light passed by, causing his hair to stand on end.
Standing on the wooden bridge, looking down, Mr. Wang saw Chen Chun's face wet with moisture, and his long blade slashed towards his legs.
Though as fat as a pig, he hadn't reached the position of clerk just by flattering others.
In an instant, Mr. Wang circulated the qi within his body, his palms turning as red as flames.
The aura of the Perfect Hidden Qi Realm rapidly intensified, as his fleshly palms pressed on Chen Chun's long blade, emitting a clear ringing sound.
The long blade bent slightly under the impact of the flaming red palms.
Mr. Wang took advantage of the momentum, leaped off the wooden bridge, and landed steadily on the ground, squinting his eyes: "Chen Chun, where is Qin An?"
He hadn't expected to encounter an assassination here, but fortunately reacted quickly, avoiding a fatal blow.
The opponent hiding in the water was indeed insidious.
But as Mr. Wang scanned around, he didn't spot Qin An's figure, raising doubts in his mind.
Chen Chun stood in the water, displaying a cold smile: "Why would I need Qin An to kill you?"
Seeing this, Mr. Wang furrowed his brow and continued to survey the surroundings.
He didn't know how Chen Chun got the message, but the area was very open, with no sign of Qin An indeed.
"Coming alone, aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" A murderous intent surged in Mr. Wang's heart.
Chen Chun, an undercover agent of the Evil Extermination Bureau, was a greater threat than Qin An.
But since Chen Chun had been staying at Qin An's house, Mr. Wang never had a chance to act, nor dared to get too close to Qin An.
Today, for some reason, only Chen Chun had come, and Mr. Wang had an idea.
Being a cautious person, he had already confirmed that Chen Chun was alone.
Since the opponent came to die, why not seize the opportunity to eliminate Chen Chun first.
After killing Chen Chun, just wait for Mr. Liou to kill Qin An, and Ding County would be just like before.
Mr. Wang's palms became even more crimson and without waiting for Chen Chun to speak, he lunged towards him.
He made up his mind to kill Chen Chun first.
Chen Chun was still standing in the water, panic evident in his eyes as Mr. Wang charged at him.
This panic did not escape Mr. Wang's observation, who felt more assured in his judgment, wearing an even more smug expression.
The Qingquan River wasn't large, the spot Chen Chun stood at was not deep, with the water only reaching his waist.
After stepping into the water, Mr. Wang first struck, creating waves that obscured Chen Chun's vision.
As the waves rose, Mr. Wang's hands passed through them, reaching directly for Chen Chun's chest.
Just then, Chen Chun's previously panicked face suddenly changed, a smile curled up at the corner of his mouth.
Upon catching this expression, Mr. Wang's heart lightly trembled, a sense of unease creeping in.
Behind him, ripples spread across the river surface, a sharp wind howled, and Mr. Wang realized he had been tricked.
Before he could turn his head, he felt a pain in his back and looking down, saw a dazzling blade tip piercing through his chest, stained with traces of blood.
"Qin An!"
Mr. Wang spat out blood, turning his head.
Behind him, Qin An, with water droplets on his clothes, dripping like beads onto the water surface, creating ripples.
Qin An clutched Mr. Wang's neck with one hand, and with force from the other, drove the dagger deeper.
Blood foamed at Mr. Wang's mouth, incredulously he said, "I'm just in the Hidden Qi Realm, is the ambush necessary?"
With the dagger pierced in his back, he knew he was destined to die today.
Yet he couldn't figure it out.
Why was Qin An, at the Body-Storage Realm, so insidious?
First using Chen Chun as bait, making him think only Chen Chun was present, harboring murderous intent towards Chen Chun.
In fact, Qin An had been hiding in the water, waiting to strike once he fell in the water.
Why!
Why still act so cautiously!
The answer was Qin An's dagger.
The dagger was pulled out by Qin An, sweeping from left to right across Mr. Wang's neck.
Qin An held the severed head in his hand, blood dripping from the head's wound into the river, dyeing the water red.
Chen Chun witnessed this scene, particularly seeing Qin An in black, holding the head in his left hand and the dagger in his right, felt a chill throughout his body.
"He's gotten stronger again."
A thought popped into Chen Chun's mind.
The cold and fiery aura from the dagger, Chen Chun could feel it clearly, enough to instantly kill Mr. Wang.
Chen Chun displayed a bitter smile: "Why so cautious."
Just like Mr. Wang's puzzlement, Chen Chun was also confused inside.
With Qin An's strength, he could easily kill Mr. Wang. The day's event seemed overly cautious.
Qin An tossed the head aside, saying: "Afraid of not catching up."
Not catch up?
Chen Chun was even more puzzled.
Qin An didn't explain, instead bending down to search Mr. Wang's body.
Aside from a few taels of broken silver, Qin An found a cultivation technique on Mr. Wang's person, with the words "Fiery Palm" written on it.
Thinking of Mr. Wang's crimson palms, Qin An guessed it was related to Mr. Wang's cultivation technique, so he put it away in his breast.
At this moment, seeing Chen Chun still dazed, Qin An shook his head.
Indeed, he feared not catching up.
Even Mr. Zheng the arrest officer mastered the Bluebird Leap body technique; if Mr. Wang knew a body technique too, Qin An might not catch up at his current speed.
Being tasked to eliminate Mr. Wang, he couldn't let him escape.
With his martial skills not yet at level three, without a body technique, Qin An resorted to this plan.
Chen Chun followed up: "The crisis is half-solved now."
With Mr. Wang dead, the internal threat in the yamen was gone, leaving only the external demons.
The Feiyun Gorge's Second Master Eagle, slain by Qin An, was now in name only, relieving Chen Chun significantly.
Qin An shook his head: "Even more."
Chen Chun was slightly stunned.
Qin An looked towards Ding County: "The yamen still exists. Monsters too, and today's River Saber Sect he sought isn't docile either."
Upon hearing Qin An, Chen Chun's hair stood on end.
He understood.
The yamen's collusion with demons, how could a mere clerk achieve such?
The County Magistrate was the highest official in the yamen.
Now that Mr. Wang was dead, the County Magistrate would surely be unsettled upon receiving the news.
At that time, the danger they faced would be even greater.
Moreover, Mr. Wang had just visited the River Saber Sect today, and before returning was beheaded, what would the River Saber Sect think?
And the other two demon forces absolutely wouldn't let them leave alive.
"What to do?" Chen Chun asked.
With more experience in the martial world than Qin An, yet instinctively consulting Qin An.
Qin An, without turning back, said: "Sleep on it."
Chen Chun's mouth twitched slightly.
He understood Qin An's character by now, aside from being cold, his actions could be unpredictable.
But with the conversation concluded, Chen Chun reluctantly followed behind.
Before long, the two disappeared from Qingquan River.
...
At home.
Qin An poured himself a cup of hot tea, watching the steam rise and falling into contemplation.
Everything he discussed with Chen Chun was the truth, now the danger had not decreased but increased instead.
Not only the yamen, but the River Saber Sect had also become involved; all he could rely on was the Golden Finger.
"Power is ultimate. Only by wielding strength over all of Ding County can one find peace."
"To quickly gain dancer talents to compensate for the deficiency in body technique, I must hurry."
Qin An made a decision sitting down, then took out the cultivation technique found on Mr. Wang and began reading it by the oil lamp's light.