354 Blaming the Third Master
His blood surged powerfully, like a pillar of force.
Yin Rongen, never having practiced the blood heart technique, was unlike those Sacred Heart disciples who could potentially recover even from a mortal head wound. The moment his throat was pierced, his eyes glazed over, devoid of focus.
Behind him, Song Aâsan stood panting heavily, his eyes brimming with gratitude. âThank you. Thank you, Fifth Master,â he managed between labored breaths. His face bore a bittersweet smile as he accepted his impending death, never succumbing to a beastly frenzy.
He turned his gaze to the ruins. His malicious wife, the woman heâd loved for twenty years, had perished in the toxic maelstrom conjured by their battle. His face reflected a complicated blend of emotions, which finally gave way to a resigned smile.
He addressed Qin Huai, âFifth Master, in this life, Song Aâsan will never be able to repay your kindness. In my next life, I will be a cow or horse and serve you tirelessly, fulfilling my debt.â
Qin Huai regarded this pitiful man before him. âYou have such an opportunity now.â
âFifth Master, please instruct me,â Song Aâsan requested, his pallor deepening, his voice faltering.
âJust express your gratitude to Third Master,â Qin Huai instructed calmly.
Song Aâsan was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly understood Qin Huaiâs intentions. He raised his head and bellowed, âSong Aâsan thanks Third Master for aiding in my revenge!â His shout echoed across several kilometers, fuelled by the last of his vital energy.
Bang!
Spent of his life force, Song Aâsan collapsed alongside Yin Rongenâs lifeless body.
Qin Huai scrutinized Yin Rongenâs corpse, then brought his fingers together.
âEarth dragon finger!â He imitated Huang Qiguangâs trademark technique, focusing his qi and blood. He struck with precision at Yin Rongenâs heart and other critical areas.
âItâs almost done,â he muttered, examining Yin Rongenâs body marked with the distinct purple imprint of the earth dragon finger. Though his rendition was a far cry from Huang Qiguangâs mastery, with Song Aâsanâs assistance, it sufficed.
In the ensuing search of the courtyard, Qin Huai found a spy lurking behind a broken wall, already unconscious from the poison Qin Huai had scattered earlier. After ensuring no more surprises, Qin Huai made his escape.
â¦
The explosive spectacle was bound to draw attention. In no time, Wen Zonghao, Huang Qiguang, Qin Huai, and a host of core members from the Blood Poison Gang converged in the courtyard. Their faces were clouded with gloom.
âWho dares to murder a disciple of the Blood Poison Gang in broad daylight?â Wen Zonghao growled, his gaze fixed on the corpses on the ground.
Yin Rongen was stark naked with Song Aâsanâs arms wrapped around him. Yin Rongenâs face was frozen in a mask of rage, while Song Aâsanâs wore a peaceful expression. The bizarre sight twisted the expressions of the onlookers.
Wen Zonghao stooped to examine the wounds on the corpse. The fatal injury on the throat, a wound two fingers wide and distinctly finger-shaped, caught his eye. He removed Yin Rongenâs clothes to reveal a series of contusions littering his body.
âHuang Qiguang has slain our boss!â The cry rang out among Yin Rongenâs subordinates, triggering an eruption of outrage. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âNonsense!â Huang Qiguang was seething. While he wished for Yin Rongenâs demise, he couldnât afford to have Yin Rongenâs death attributed to him. It had to be an incident devoid of evidence linking back to him.
He felt a chill crawl up his spine under Wen Zonghaoâs icy stare. Without another thought, Huang Qiguang dropped to his knees. âFoster Father, I assure you, I didnât do it! You mustnât heed the slanderous words of these villains.â
âWho else could it be, if not you? Everyone in the Blood Poison Gang knows about your feud with our boss.â
âThatâs right! The number of people whoâve died at your hands could easily surpass the Thunderbolt Gangâs casualties.â
The crowd buzzed with accusations. Huang Qiguang, pointing at Yin Rongenâs body, defended himself loudly. âFoster Father, while itâs true that some of the marks on Yin Rongenâs body resemble the earth dragon finger, I, Huang Qiguang, swear to the heavens that I didnât kill him.
âTake a closer look at Yin Rongenâs injuries. These traces of the earth dragon finger⦠At most, they reveal the power of someone who has just entered the bone pattern realm. You know the potency of my earth dragon finger.â
Huang Qiguang pleaded, feeling deeply wronged. The fact that he was being blamed for a crime he hadnât committed irritated him even more. He was completely unaware of Yin Rongenâs residence on Willow Street.
Wen Zonghao studied the injuries on Yin Rongenâs body. The earth dragon finger markings indeed seemed significantly weaker than Huang Qiguangâs. âFind the residents of nearby houses and question them about what they might have heard,â he ordered, unwilling to jump to conclusions hastily.
Although the longstanding enmity between Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang made the latter a prime suspect, there was also Mou Jinfu to consider. But Mou Jinfu had already perished at Qin Huaiâs hands.
âLeader, we also found a female corpse,â announced one of the sect members, dragging out a nude womanâs body from the debris. Her face was discolored and her body rigid from death, yet her features were still recognizable.
âSpeaking of which, who owns this house?â Wen Zonghao inquired, awaiting the investigation results.
âThis house belongs to our Brother Aâsan. He bought it for Third Sister-in-law,â someone answered.