Chapter 72: Then I'll Cut You Down

Chu Jun’s weapons were not top-tier third-grade.

Now, giving him top-tier third-grade weapons clearly required great effort.

“I’ll go thank the teacher.”

Jiang Changkong stood up and left, heading toward the stone house nearby.

Pushing open the stone door, Chu Jun’s burly figure occupied half the table.

“Teacher, thank you for preparing the weapons for me,” Jiang Changkong expressed his gratitude.

“Between teacher and student, there’s no need for such formalities.”

Chu Jun waved him over. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Sit down and join us.”

Ying Yanxue’s face lit up with joy. “It’s great that you’re fine. I’ll have another bowl.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Now I’m even more convinced that you had a poor appetite before.

It’s hard to imagine how you would have survived this long if the Martial Arts School didn’t provide food and accommodation.

Chu Jun cooked a large pot of noodles. Jiang Changkong ate one bowl and was full.

Chu Jun ate three bowls, and Ying Yanxue finished the rest.

“This is the Martial Arts School’s special token. Things have been unsettled lately, so keep it with you. Show it when you leave the Martial City, and they won’t give you trouble.”

Chu Jun took out a pitch-black token engraved with the words “Martial Arts School” and handed it to Jiang Changkong.

“Thank you, teacher.”

Jiang Changkong accepted the token and left.

With the token in hand, he waved it when leaving the Martial City, and no one followed him.

Jiang Changkong headed to the location for the night’s operation and set up the Starlight Monitoring Instrument.

After completing these preparations, he sat cross-legged and waited for nightfall.

Night fell, the stars dimmed, and the sky was exceptionally dark tonight.

Around eight o’clock, four figures arrived. They didn’t wander around but hid in the overgrown weeds.

Jiang Changkong watched the monitor. No one else had followed, which made him suspicious.

Wasn’t He Long trying to set him up?

Or was there something wrong with the mission target?

He didn’t rush to reveal himself. He waited until 9:50, and when nothing unusual happened, he approached.

“Is this guy even coming?” one of the black-clad figures couldn’t help but mutter.

“Whether he comes or not, we’re taking this batch of goods,” the leader of the black-clad figures whispered.

“Who said I wasn’t coming? Isn’t it still before the agreed time?”

Jiang Changkong walked over, glancing at the four of them. They were all at the Mid Star Sea Stage.

“It’s good that you’re here. This time, no one is allowed to report names—anyone’s,” the leader of the black-clad figures said coldly.

Jiang Changkong sneered but said nothing. Judging by the voice, this person was Lu Wuhai.

“They’re here,” one of the black-clad figures said.

Jiang Changkong looked over. Seven people, carrying backpacks, were running swiftly.

The leader was at the Early Star Sea Stage, while the others were at the Star Cloud Stage. Jiang Changkong didn’t recognize any of them.

The seven moved quickly, arriving in front of them within a few breaths.

“Attack.”

At Lu Wuhai’s command, he and the three black-clad figures charged forward instantly.

However, Jiang Changkong was faster. A flash of blade light, and the seven instantly collapsed.

“Impressive skill.”

Lu Wuhai praised, his sword light about to fall and end the lives of the seven.

With a clang, Lu Wuhai was forced back. A surge of Star Power swept through, and the three black-clad figures also stumbled back several steps.

“My rule is to take the goods, not the lives.”

Jiang Changkong said calmly.

“Then we won’t kill them.”

Lu Wuhai snorted coldly and led the others to take the backpacks from the seven.

Once the Star Stones were secured, Jiang Changkong didn’t linger. He left with them.

After distancing themselves from the others, they opened the backpacks to inspect the contents.

The third-grade Star Stones were only of low quality, and there were only twenty of them.

The rest were at the Star Cloud and Star Qi Levels, which Jiang Changkong didn’t even glance at.

“Too few,” Jiang Changkong said somewhat unsatisfied.

“Great risk brings great reward. Taking these Star Stones shouldn’t cause any trouble.”

Lu Wuhai gave him half, saying, “This is your share.”

Jiang Changkong took the goods and said calmly, “Then I’ll wait and see if there really is no trouble.”

Lu Wuhai put away the Star Stones. “Since you think it’s too little, leave your contact information. I’ll reach out when there’s a bigger haul.”

Jiang Changkong lowered his voice. “You leave your contact info. Once I confirm there’s no trouble and I trust you, I’ll naturally find you.”

Lu Wuhai was very dissatisfied but didn’t say anything. He left his contact information and left with his men.

Watching the four leave, Jiang Changkong returned to the monitor and checked the footage.

The seven men had already woken up, gotten to their feet, and left.

The seven searched the area for a while but found no clues. Instead of returning to the city, they headed to the Martial Artist Market.

The Martial Artist Market?

Jiang Changkong’s heart stirred. Was this deliberately set up by He Long to gain his trust first?

He put away the monitoring equipment, hid the Star Stones, and entered the Martial Artist Market, secretly following them.

The seven went to a stone house next to the Victory Arena, which was Liang Zhe’s residence.

The Life-and-death Arena belonged to He Long, while the Victory Arena belonged to Liang Zhe.

According to Cao Ye, Liang Zhe and Shen Jiangxing had not been recruited by Lu Wuhai.

Lost in thought, his phone rang—a message from Zhou Wen. Zhang Hua had made a move.

He had transported a batch of explosives out of the city and handed them over to He Long’s men.

“Explosives again? Using explosives at a time like this—is He Long insane?”

Jiang Changkong was puzzled but couldn’t be bothered to think too much about it. Three days was a short time, and He Long had to give the military an explanation.

Why transport explosives now? What was He Long planning? Could it be he wanted to blow himself up?

With the military and law enforcement here, he probably wouldn’t dare to be so reckless.

Unable to figure it out, Jiang Changkong decided not to dwell on it. He took out the phone he had snatched and messaged Lu Wuhai, saying he trusted him and asking if there was a bigger haul.

Lu Wuhai waited half an hour before replying: there would be a big haul tomorrow night.

After some discussion, the two agreed to act tomorrow night.

Once the discussion was over, Jiang Changkong wondered if he should pull the same trick again.

Have Liang Zhe’s men come looking?

But if he tried again, he probably wouldn’t be able to trick He Long.

Shaking his head, Jiang Changkong went to keep an eye on He Long.

The day passed quickly. No one came looking for He Long today, and He Long only came out briefly before returning to his room and staying inside.

The next day, Jiang Changkong first went to the area around the agreed-upon location, set up surveillance, and then returned to the Martial Artist Market to continue his stakeout.

That night, several figures in black emerged from the stone house and quickly left.

Chu Jun also sent a message: He Long had gathered them to deal with that Martial Artist and told him to be careful.

“Teacher, you’re going too?” Jiang Changkong asked, puzzled.

“Not just me—the military, law enforcement, and the other five bosses are all going.”

Chu Jun said, “This is He Long’s explanation to the military. You stay safe in the Martial Artist Market and don’t expose yourself.”

“I understand, Teacher.”

Jiang Changkong replied, his expression serious.

After waiting another two hours, a group of masked figures in black appeared on the surveillance screen nearby.

He hadn’t expected to be such a big draw, attracting almost all the bosses in Jiangcheng.

This was actually good—the stone house was now unguarded.

He Long couldn’t have taken the Star Stones with him. Now was the time to sneak into the stone house and see if he could pick up a few Star Stones.

If there were none here, it didn’t matter—he could also check the residences of the other bosses connected to He Long.

As for the agreed meeting place, they could go play by themselves—Jiang Changkong certainly wouldn’t be going.

Thinking it, he acted. Jiang Changkong quietly arrived outside the stone hut.

Looking at the already repaired stone door, Jiang Changkong circulated his Star Power, spreading it across the door.

Without a sound, the stone door turned to dust.

“Heh…”

Jiang Changkong stepped inside, his body instantly stiffening.

Inside the stone hut, two people stared at him in astonishment.

Jiang Changkong looked back at them—one was He Long, the other a masked figure in black.

He Long hadn’t gone?

Stealing someone’s belongings, and here they were sitting inside talking.

Damn, this was awkward.

“Seize him!” the black-clad figure growled in a low voice, unleashing a surge of golden Star Power—Star Sea Peak!

It was a trap.

Jiang Changkong’s expression changed as his blade flashed.

With a loud bang, both were forced back. Just as Jiang Changkong was about to flee, He Long had already charged out.

“I never expected you to pull this trick on me,”

He Long said with a cold sneer, his sword glowing crimson as waves of scorching heat swept through the air.

“You talk too much. Whoever he is, he must die.”

The black-clad figure spoke in a low tone, his golden sword light like dawn breaking through the night.

Jiang Changkong narrowed his eyes, his blade turning: “Then, I’ll just cut you both down.”

Originally, he had planned to find some Star Stones, then wait for a chance when He Long was alone to finish him off.

But now, two Star Sea Peak opponents were beyond his expectations.

It seemed this wasn’t a deliberate setup by He Long—so he’d just cut them down.

Having made up his mind, though reluctantly, he still allocated his “Essence, Qi, and Spirit” to the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique and the Three Blades Without Trace.