Chapter 38: Ambush
Chapter 38: Ambush
Over the next few days, Zuo Zhicheng did not actually go looking for a job. Instead, he investigated the Sea Dragon Gang, especially Liang Wu.
During the day, he wandered around the docks and the slums, gathering information about the Sea Dragon Gang. He focused on their combat abilities and their connections with officials. Because Old Man Song introduced him, no one suspected anything. They just thought Zuo Zhicheng was a young man looking for work on the docks, a bit proud and naive.
Just as Zuo Zhicheng wanted them to think.
At night, after Old Man Song fell asleep, he got up to practice his martial arts. He did not want to reveal his skills, nor did he want to stop training.
From the information he gathered, ordinary people and even many so-called martial artists knew nothing about the Innate Primordial Breath or Authentic Transmission Martial Arts. Dao Arts were like legends to them.
They did not have Zuo Zhicheng’s Infrared Vision or a Taoist Priest’s Spiritual Energy Vision, so they could not see the Innate Primordial Breath. If Zuo Zhicheng wanted to know someone’s strength, he had to see it for himself.
The leader of the Sea Dragon Gang, Long Feiyang, was very cautious. After handing over the business to his Four Heavenly Kings, he stayed out of sight and was rarely seen at the docks.
The four leaders were the second leader Qiao Zhen, the third leader Liang Wu—also known as Black Heart Tiger—the fourth leader Li Si, and the fifth leader Yi Guodong.
Since they rose from a gang like the Sea Dragon Gang, the Four Heavenly Kings were all ruthless and skilled in fighting.
They often appeared at the docks. Today, Zuo Zhicheng waited and saw the second leader, Qiao Zhen.
On the docks, a middle-aged man with graying temples walked in the center, followed by over twenty strong men in tight-fitting clothes. As they passed, people quickly moved out of the way.
Zuo Zhicheng’s pupils kept contracting and expanding. Even though he was over five hundred meters away and wearing an eye patch, his Infrared Vision still clearly captured every move Qiao Zhen made.
The twenty-plus men behind Qiao Zhen seemed numerous, but none possessed the Innate Primordial Breath. To Zuo Zhicheng, they were like scarecrows. However, Qiao Zhen’s Innate Primordial Breath was not just in his soles; the pink energy had passed his ankles and was spreading toward his calves.
Seeing this, Zuo Zhicheng recalled that Black Heart Tiger Liang Wu’s Innate Primordial Breath also seemed to be concentrated in his feet. He wondered if they practiced the same Authentic Transmission Martial Arts.
Whether they did or not, based on what he saw of Qiao Zhen and Liang Wu’s strength, if the other martial artists in the Sea Dragon Gang were at this level, then the gang was strong for ordinary people but not a threat to Zuo Zhicheng.
As for the ordinary gang members, unless they surrounded him on open ground or had many military crossbows or firearms, their numbers meant nothing to him in the city’s narrow alleys.
This made him think about the past and present of this world. Sects with Authentic Transmission Martial Arts or Dao Arts probably had a huge advantage over ordinary martial sects.
‘I wonder how many experts the three Patrol Superintendents of Great Qi have, and if any are Canonized Taoists.’ But Zuo Zhicheng just pondered briefly. His current target was still the Sea Dragon Gang.
‘Then tonight, I’ll pay a visit.’
After giving a cold glance at Qiao Zhen, who was swaggering on the docks, Zuo Zhicheng left with a cold smile.
…
At night, Liang Wu hurried home with four followers.
He had just come from a brothel. Thinking of the young woman he held today, his heart grew warm again.
“Damn, that little enchantress. I’ll go back in a few days to spoil you properly.”
Just then, one of his men pointed to the shadows in a nearby alley and said, “Third Boss, there seems to be someone up ahead.”
Liang Wu looked at the figure in the shadows and asked, “Who’s there?”
From the shadows, Zuo Zhicheng slowly stepped out, coldly staring at the five men.
When Liang Wu saw Zuo Zhicheng, he frowned. He gestured behind him, and two of his men moved to flank Zuo Zhicheng.
He then said, “You, one-eyed guy, you look familiar.”
Zuo Zhicheng slowly approached Liang Wu and said softly, “Third Boss saw me on the fishing boat.”
“Fishing boat?” By then, his two men had surrounded Zuo Zhicheng from behind. Seeing Liang Wu’s look, they shouted, “Third Boss, he’s alone.”
His two men had checked the surroundings for any ambush. Confirming that only this thin young man was present, Liang Wu relaxed.
“Fishing boat… you, weren’t you the one-eyed guy on Old Song’s boat?” Liang Wu remembered and sneered. “What, can’t Old Song pay his tribute this month? Did he send you to beg me?”
“He asked me to pay the tribute early.” Zuo Zhicheng paused and took a few more steps. He was now less than three meters from Liang Wu. He did not speak further; a cold killing intent surged out, as if to freeze Liang Wu’s blood.
The distance was too short for Liang Wu to react.
Even without getting so close, Liang Wu could not have seen Zuo Zhicheng’s movements. But Zuo Zhicheng chose a more cautious approach for the ambush.
Victory, glory, and pride meant nothing. Life and death were what mattered most to Zuo Zhicheng.
A sharp crack sounded as Zuo Zhicheng’s fist, like a heavy hammer, struck Liang Wu’s neck. The motion was too fast to see. Liang Wu had no time to react. With a snap from his neck, he collapsed.
Seeing this, the four followers drew their cleavers and charged.
But against a monster who had mastered the Innate Primordial Breath, their bodies were as fragile as glass.
A fist smashed into one man’s face. With the sound of breaking bones, he was thrown five meters away.
A kick landed on another’s chest. Crackling sounds followed. It was unclear how many ribs broke or how many internal organs were shattered. The man spat a mouthful of blood and fell.
Two more thuds sounded as the other two were struck. Swift as the wind sweeping leaves, in just over a second, four corpses lay on the ground.
By then, Liang Wu had just fallen. He clutched his throat, making gurgling sounds.
Zuo Zhicheng glanced at him, then bent down to search the five bodies. He had no interest in talking to the dead or gloating over them.
On the ground, Liang Wu still struggled. But Zuo Zhicheng’s punch had not only broken his windpipe but also caused blood to flood into it, suffocating him.
Although Zuo Zhicheng had the strength to crush Liang Wu’s head with one punch, using minimal force for maximum damage had been his instinct since his previous life.
Liang Wu was filled with fear and regret. How could a young dockworker strike him down with one punch? He still could not believe it.
“Mer… mercy…” He strained to speak, but his choking made the words unclear.
If he had known Zuo Zhicheng was killing him to prevent him from harassing Xiao Lan for good, he would have said, “Brother, you could’ve just told me! Did you have to kill me? You overreacted!”
But this was Zuo Zhicheng, or Zuo Qingcang. Killing was his instinct. It was his most common, skilled, and preferred method to solve problems.
So after confirming the Sea Dragon Gang’s information, he took direct action.
Thus, he ignored Black Heart Tiger’s pleas for mercy. He let Liang Wu’s face turn purple. After a minute, the struggling slowly stopped, and he lay dead on the ground.
Apart from coins, Zuo Zhicheng took none of the easily recognizable items like jade, gold, or silver. After searching, he left without looking back, disappearing into the night.
Only five corpses remained on the cold ground, their faces twisted as they stared at the sky.
In this era without fingerprints, computers, the internet, or surveillance cameras, Zuo Zhicheng’s skills could be fully unleashed.