CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 30 LI PINGSHENG CAPTURED

"Sir, everything is ready," Li Xin reported to Qing Yu.

Qing Yu looked toward the secluded courtyard in the distance.

Unexpectedly, Li Pingsheng did not follow the usual conventions for seclusion. Typically, people seclude themselves in soundproof chambers to minimize external disturbances.

Yet, Li Pingsheng chose a quiet courtyard in Li Mansion for his seclusion.

Although this made him highly susceptible to external disturbances, as the courtyard’s windows and doors were merely paper on wood; a little bit of wind and grass movements outside could be detected by Li Pingsheng, who was at the Postnatal Ninth Layer.

Fortunately, when Iron Sabre Association entered, the house servants of Li Mansion did not put up much resistance, and minor noises were quickly suppressed. The courtyard, being in a secluded location, kept Li Pingsheng unaware that the enemies had reached his doorstep.

"He’s not afraid of deviation..."

"Forget it, let’s go."

Hearing this, Li Xin waved his hand toward the distance.

Following the order, Iron Sabre Association members began deploying seductive smoke around the courtyard. This seductive smoke was a sedative version that had proven effective multiple times before; it had incapacitated three elders of the Iron Sabre Association, Li Dian, the Great Elder, the Second Elder, and also Zhang Mingyuan.

Although its effect was reduced outdoors, its quantity could prevail; it was colorless and tasteless, filling the entire courtyard and would seep into the house eventually.

Then, one hour passed...

"Sir, should we send someone to check?"

"Wait a bit longer, just to be safe."

Two hours passed...

"Sir, Li Pingsheng should have been sedated by now. Should we send someone?"

"Just to be safe, wait a bit longer, put more seductive smoke."

Three hours passed... it was almost dark.

"Let’s not wait anymore, send someone to scout." Qing Yu was becoming impatient.

Two gang members, acting as cannon fodder, were instructed to scout ahead. However, the seductive smoke inside was too dense, causing them to collapse directly in the courtyard.

"Idiots!"

"Cover up with wet cloths and go..."

Three hours had passed; if Li Pingsheng was going to fall, he would have fallen by now. Otherwise, the noise of those two idiots collapsing would have alerted him.

A group of gang members, with wet cloths covering their noses and mouths, rushed into the house.

Shortly, someone came running to report, "Report to the Gang Leader, we have searched the entire house from top to bottom and have not found any trace of Li Pingsheng."

"Damn, did Li Pingsheng just evaporate into thin air?"

Despite all calculations, it never occurred that Li Pingsheng wouldn’t be in the courtyard. Thinking about how he just ordered waiting outside for three hours, even Qing Yu, with his thick skin, felt his face redden slightly.

Suddenly, a part of the ground at a corner of the courtyard was lifted, and a figure rushed out, his blade flashing. Several gang members who were close by fell dead immediately.

It was indeed Li Pingsheng; after chopping down the men, he swiftly took the wet cloth from one of the dead members and tied it around his face.

Seeing this, Qing Yu shouted, "Old fox! I knew it; breaking through to the Innate requires opening the bridge between heaven and earth that involves the brain. How could he choose a place so easily disturbed for seclusion? Turns out, he was hiding underground."

No need to say, there definitely was a secret chamber underneath the courtyard; the rooms above were just for misleading people.

Annoyed, Qing Yu punched the wall. The underground chamber surely had excellent sound insulation. If Qing Yu had not foolishly waited there and instead sent people inside earlier, perhaps they could have found ventilation holes and subdued Li Pingsheng early with the seductive smoke.

"Go..." Qing Yu told Li Xin to send more people into the courtyard to cling onto Li Pingsheng, not letting him leave the courtyard.

Though, at this time, "Follow me" would have been more effective; but that would have lead to quicker deaths. No, rather, the quickest. Seeing the ferocity of Li Pingsheng, Qing Yu had no desire to test the sharpness of his blade.

Watching as Li Pingsheng strikingly moved, those who entered the courtyard were either killed or severely injured, incapacitated for further fighting, and he was about to break out of the courtyard. Qing Yu was getting anxious.

The wet cloth over the face was just a temporary measure and couldn’t prevent seductive smoke from entering the nose and mouth for long.

Li Pingsheng knew this too and, struggling fiercely, broke through and escaped the range of the seductive smoke.

"Bring the zombies out..."

Several strong men, arms and legs entangled, collectively carried the fierce-faced, constantly struggling Li Qiusheng toward Li Pingsheng, shouting as they threw him.

Qing Yu had given Li Xin the same Three Corpses Brain God Pill that was administered to Qiu Yan, with only a thin layer of pill coating. Li Qiusheng had reacted just one hour earlier.

"Qiusheng, you..."

Li Qiusheng, completely like a zombie from a movie, drooling, pounced toward the nearest living body.

"Ah... no matter who you are, I, Li Pingsheng, will cut you into a thousand pieces, making your life worse than death," Li Pingsheng howled to the heavens.

A familiar scene unfolded before him, his young son had just died a few days ago, how could Li Pingsheng forget this familiar situation?

"Again with the cutting into a thousand pieces, can’t you come up with something new," Qing Yu picked at his ear, "Should I say like father, like son? Your threats are exactly the same, always about cutting into a thousand pieces."

After criticizing the lack of originality in the threats, Qing Yu marveled at the effect of the Three Corpses Brain God Pill, "Tsk tsk, this is just like the T-virus. I wonder if Master Jin was even born before Resident Evil came out. Such a rich imagination, truly a grandmaster."

Li Pingsheng, unable to bring himself to strike, struggled with the zombie, Li Qiusheng, and knowing that a prolonged fight would lead to failure, was bitten several times. However, Li Qiusheng was a weakling of the Postnatal Fourth Realm, so even as a zombie, he wasn’t very harmful.

Finally, with tears in his eyes, Li Pingsheng said, "Qiusheng, father will avenge you."

With a swing of his blade, a head flew into the air.

A hint of relief flashed through Li Qiusheng’s eyes as he died by his own father’s hand.

"Li Xin, let’s go." Li Pingsheng’s ineffective subordinates were too frightened by his ferocity to step forward, so Qing Yu had to call on Li Xin to join him, making sure that he stayed within the range of the seductive smoke.

Qing Yu primarily defended using Quanzhen Swordsmanship while Li Xin, wearing steel gauntlets, provided support from the side, not aiming to kill the enemy but to stall Li Pingsheng.

As of last night, Qing Yu had advanced to the Postnatal Seventh Realm, and Li Xin was not weak either; together, they only aimed to hold off Li Pingsheng. Due to the ordeal with his eldest son, Li Pingsheng’s aura was unstable, inevitably inhaling the seductive smoke, which hampered his movements.

For a time, the three of them fought to a stalemate.

"Taoist Swordsmanship..."

Quanzhen Swordsmanship fully embodied the upright spirit of the Taoist School, so being recognized was unavoidable.

But, what Li Pingsheng said next was beyond Qing Yu’s expectations, "You are a disciple of the True Martial Dao Sect’s Xuanfa, Qing Yu."

’I can’t believe it...’ If they weren’t in the midst of battle, Qing Yu would have checked to see if his makeup had come off. To disguise himself as a servant and cover his slightly young face, Qing Yu had painted his face yellow and added some other touches to alter his appearance completely; yet, he had still been recognized.

"Haha, it really is you. You meddling wretch, already struggling to protect yourself, and yet you meddle in the affairs of the Li family. Today, even if you escape from my grasp, there will be no place for you under heaven," Li Pingsheng, with his vast experience, confirmed his suspicion from the slight change on Qing Yu’s face.

Li Xin also glanced at Qing Yu, who had never disclosed his name; this was the first time he heard it.

’It’s not right, he recognized me as Qing Yu because of Taoist Swordsmanship. There must be some connection here that I am not aware of.’

As thoughts rapidly ran through Qing Yu’s mind, he shouted, "I don’t know about other places, but the Province Qing and Ling are definitely accessible to me. My uncle is the master of the Shadow Market there and even collaborates with Lord Zhen Shan. In the Land of Qing and Ling, I run rampant."

Hearing this, Li Pingsheng’s laugh was even louder. "Haha... who in the world doesn’t know that Xuan Guang of the True Martial Dao Sect once revealed his identity in the Shadow Market and deeply betrayed Xuanfa, resulting in his banishment to Qing Province to reclaim land. You even think he will protect you. Lord Zhen Shan is now in cahoots with the Southern Border, and he is like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river, struggling to protect himself. Even if you hold the whereabouts of the Zhenwu Sword, not even the Emperor himself could protect you."

Li Pingsheng felt his joints stiffen, knowing that the sedative had begun to take effect, and decided to use Qing Yu as a breakthrough, emotionally manipulating him.

’Mr. Mo is really up to no good, glad I was cautious.’

Qing Yu had always been wary of Mr. Mo; after their meeting outside the city and hearing the crane call, Qing Yu had often heard such sounds at the True Martial Dao Sect, where they kept Immortal Cranes. Now, after making a wild guess, it turned out to be his cheap master’s junior brother.

’But who is this master of the Shadow Pavilion, and what relation does he have with the Shadow Market...’

’And what the hell is this Zhenwu Sword, and how is it related to me?’

’Forget it, it doesn’t matter...’

"Li Xin..." Qing Yu called out loudly.

Qing Yu stepped back while Li Xin moved forward, lifting his fists to strike the side of the long sword’s blade.

Divine Transformation.

Qing Yu revealed his ghost-like speed for the first time in front of Li Pingsheng, circling to the other side of him.

"Don’t think you’ll succeed..." Li Pingsheng reacted instantly, his left hand grabbing the sword edge barehanded. Ignoring the blood streaming from his palms, he clung on tightly.

A sly smile appeared on Qing Yu’s lips as he dropped the sword, used Divine Transformation, and circled behind Li Pingsheng, pulling a Mystic Iron dagger from his sleeve and plunging it deeply between the third and fourth vertebrae of the spinal column.

With a twist of the dagger, the sharp blade cruelly severed the spine.

The spine being the central skeletal structure and support of the body, its damage immediately deprived Li Pingsheng of all mobility. Li Xin took the opportunity to strike his chest with two punches, effectively subduing him.

"You..." Li Pingsheng tried to turn to face Qing Yu, but the spinal injury prevented any upper body movement; he lacked the kind of singular talent like Sima Yi.

Li Xin grabbed Li Pingsheng’s throat, keeping him from collapsing.

Qing Yu noticed that Li Xin seemed to enjoy choking people, which might be related to his expertise in choking and grappling techniques. Just as his own practice of Exorcism Swordsmanship and Divine Transformation made him prefer stabbing from behind.

Li Xin brought Li Pingsheng in front of him to face him, "Family Head Li, I have waited for this day for a very long time..."

"You... traitor..." Li Pingsheng’s throat was under control, his mouth moving as he struggled to speak.

Qing Yu pulled out the Mystic Iron dagger, wiping it as he spoke, "Why do all you Li family people like playing the victim? I can’t stand it. Li Xin, take Family Head Li away, treat his wounds first. Also, let him face reality so he doesn’t tough it out like Li Qiusheng did when questioned later. Just don’t kill him."

"Yes, my lord," Li Xin dragged Li Pingsheng away, "Come, Family Head Li, let’s have a proper chat."