I Can Merge Techniques-Chapter 108 - 97: Fifth Layer Force, a Powerful Foe Perishes; Losing the Initiative, Zhou Ye Burns with Rage
"Keep the silver notes on you," Chu Fan said. "We’ll split the gold and silver into two big chests. We’ll each carry one!"
Zhao Tianxing pointed at the pile of copper coins. "What about these copper coins?"
"One thousand coins weigh about thirteen pounds. There are several hundred thousand coins here, which is four or five thousand pounds!" Chu Fan shook his head. "It’s only worth a few hundred taels of silver. Let’s not get greedy for this little bit—we can’t carry it, and we don’t have time to move it."
Although their Qi and blood were strong, allowing them to carry several hundred pounds and run as if flying, they still couldn’t haul several thousand pounds of copper coins over mountains and across ridges.
The two quickly began packing.
The silver notes were tucked inside their clothes.
The gold bars and silver ingots were split between two chests.
Even the coin purses they had looted from the corpses were stuffed into the chests.
"Let’s go!"
Chu Fan let out a low shout and hoisted a large chest onto his shoulder.
Zhao Tianxing struggled to lift the other one and said with a wry smile, "I’ve carried people, oxen, tigers, and leopards, but this is the first time I’m running with gold and silver."
He glanced at Chu Fan, feeling as if he were in a dream.
"Obviously. Who isn’t?" Chu Fan picked up the pace, his ears listening for any movement around them.
Relying on their formidable physiques, the two men carried the heavy chests of silver and quickly left the blood-soaked village. They ran downstream along the Black Water River for a while before plunging into the dense mountain forest.
After winding through the depths of the mountain forest for a long time, Chu Fan, relying on his memory, found a hidden cave.
"I used to come here to take shelter from the rain when I was fishing," he said, crawling inside first.
The cave was dry and deep, with many branching paths leading in all directions, yet there were no signs of human or animal activity. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
The two of them hid the chests in two separate side tunnels at the very back, carefully concealing them with loose rocks. After making marks and memorizing the route, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Carrying only the lightweight gold bars and silver notes, they moved like two wisps of smoke, exiting the cave and the forest, and quietly headed toward Cyan Yang City.
Outside the cave, the sun was shining brightly, and birds chirped merrily in the forest.
Spring had arrived. The wind was warm, carrying the scent of fresh grass and new buds.
Only at the Fishermen’s Pier did the stench of blood overpower the smell of fish, drifting on the wind...
...
Unbeknownst to Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing, shortly after they entered the city through the North City Gate, another group was leaving through the very same gate.
The ones leading the group were none other than Xia Huanhuan and Zhou Ye.
Behind them followed three experts of the Bone Marrow Forging Realm.
All five were dressed as ordinary martial world travelers, with their weapons hidden and wearing bamboo hats, as they walked toward the Fishermen’s Pier.
"This time, we are only to investigate. Do not cause any trouble."
Xia Huanhuan’s tone was cold as she instructed, "Just figure out the pier’s manpower, their guard rotation schedule, and the whereabouts of that Bone Tempering Realm leader. We must not alert the enemy!"
"I know," Zhou Ye replied, a look of indifference on his face.
Xia Huanhuan’s words seemed to be directed solely at him.
But he could only nod.
In his heart, Zhou Ye still felt, ’With the five of us, storming a pier guarded by a single Bone Tempering Realm expert would be as easy as flipping a hand.’
’After all, Huanhuan also broke through to the Bone Tempering Realm last month.’
The group left the city walls and traveled along the Black Water River. The number of pedestrians on the road gradually dwindled.
Just as the Fishermen’s Pier was getting closer, the urgent sound of horse hooves suddenly thundered from the end of the road behind them, like rolling thunder, kicking up a massive cloud of dust!
Xia Huanhuan’s expression changed slightly. She immediately raised a hand to stop the group. "Hide!"
The five reacted instantly. With a flicker of movement, they darted into the reeds by the roadside like civet cats.
They held their breath and focused, peering out through the gaps in the reeds.
On the main road, they saw group after group of Blood Saber Sect riders galloping wildly. Each was dressed in black with a curved saber at their waist, their faces filled with shock, anger, and killing intent!
A quick glance revealed no fewer than several dozen riders, with many powerful experts among them.
Hooves trampled the earth as the massive procession surged forward, giving off a sense of urgency as if the entire sect had mobilized!
In the reeds, the five of them looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock and suspicion.
After the men from the Blood Saber Sect had passed, Zhou Ye finally whispered in astonishment, "What’s going on? Has the Blood Saber Sect gone mad? Sending so many people to their own pier?"
"Could it be that our plan to move on the Fishery has been leaked?"
Xia Huanhuan’s fine brows knitted together, her mind racing...
’The Blood Saber Sect has suffered a series of blows recently, and their manpower is already stretched thin. Unless something catastrophic has happened, they would never mobilize on such a scale.’
"Something’s not right."
She said in a low voice, "Right now, the pier is surely a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den. If we go over there recklessly and our identities are discovered, I’m afraid we’ll be killed in an instant!"
Their plan was completely disrupted, and the five of them wore uncertain expressions.
Just as they were frowning in thought, they saw several fishermen hurrying from the direction of the pier, their faces etched with fear.
An idea sparked in Xia Huanhuan’s mind, and she gave a meaningful look.
One of her subordinates understood, slipped out quietly, and soon "invited" an honest-looking old fisherman over.
Seeing them hiding and acting suspiciously, their auras fierce, the old fisherman turned pale with fright and trembled all over.
"Don’t be afraid, old sir," Xia Huanhuan said, trying to make her tone as gentle as possible. "We’re traveling merchants, and we just wanted to ask what happened at the Fishermen’s Pier up ahead. Why are there so many people from the Blood Saber Sect?"
The old fisherman, still shaken, swallowed hard before speaking. "You folks don’t know? Something huge happened! The Fishery... the Fishermen’s Pier has been turned into a river of blood!"
"What?!" Zhou Ye cried out, nearly jumping to his feet.
Xia Huanhuan’s pupils contracted as well. She asked urgently, "When did this happen? Who did it?"
"Just this morning!" the old fisherman said. "So many people died... Even Master Liu, who was in charge, is dead—his head was chopped off! All the money was stolen, too. Only some copper coins were left!"
"The Blood Saber Sect must have just gotten the news, that’s why they’re rushing over there like madmen!"
After confirming the news, the five in the reeds fell into a deathly silence.
After letting the old fisherman go, Zhou Ye’s face turned ashen. He slammed a fist into the dirt and roared, "This is outrageous! I’ve been planning this for so long, and someone beat me to it!"
"Who the hell was it? If I find out, I’ll skin them alive!"
He was so angry he nearly vomited blood, his insides burning with rage!
Just yesterday, he had spent ages poring over a map, planning how to split the loot. Who knew it would all be for nothing? He didn’t even get a sip of the soup!
Xia Huanhuan didn’t look pleased either.
She suppressed her frustration and anger, analyzing calmly, "To take down the Fishery so quickly, it couldn’t have been an ordinary power. It was either the Iron Armor Sect or one of the Four Great Clans in the city—only they have that kind of strength and guts."
"None of the other small gangs, even if they have a few Bone Tempering Realm experts, would dare to go against the Blood Saber Sect!"
"What rotten luck!" Zhou Ye cursed. Looking at the dust cloud in the distance, he knew the matter of the Fishery was now out of their hands.
If they stayed here any longer and ran into the Blood Saber Sect’s main force, it would be even more trouble.
"Let’s go. We’re heading back first!"
Xia Huanhuan made a swift decision. "We can’t stay here. This isn’t the only piece of fat meat out there; we’ll just find another target."
"This time, we’ll have to strike faster."
The five of them suppressed their stifled frustration and quietly withdrew.
They had arrived full of ambition.
They returned dejected and disheartened.
They never would have imagined that the ones who struck first weren’t some major power at all, but rather Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing, who were also from the Seven Stars Gang!
And the "harvest" they had so painstakingly plotted for was now already in the hands of Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing!
