Chapter 5: Counterkill

After being entangled several times, Song Changming lost patience and unleashed his brute force, directly shaking off the opponent along with his sword.

The opponent seemed like a willow leaf, drifting lightly away, only to be replaced by three masked individuals attempting to surround Song Changming.

Song Changming was well aware that these four were not ordinary. Once surrounded, despite his strength, with only one saber in hand, he might not handle it.

He immediately employed the Light Body Skill, propelled himself a zhang high, and flipped to evade the encirclement of the three.

As his body twisted in the air without landing, his long saber executed the Flying Swallow Technique, unexpectedly stabbing at one of them.

That person seemingly didn’t expect Song Changming, under simultaneous attack from three, to counterattack while dodging, and hurriedly raised his saber to block.

Before landing, Song Changming unleashed three saber strikes, swift as lightning.

The opponent could barely fend off the first two Flying Swallow strikes; the third route changed abruptly, executing the Soul-breaking Saber, slicing through their neck, sending their head flying and blood splattering.

This seamless kill almost exhausted all his learned skills.

He knew that if he didn’t kill one at the start, the battle would turn even less favorable.

Meanwhile, the remaining three were shocked, realizing the intelligence was wrong!

The report stated he only mastered one set of Great Success Realm sword skill, but now it’s evident his skills have reached a perfect and flawless level, and not just one, but also Light Body Skill...

Song Changming’s strength far exceeded what the intelligence portrayed.

They initially believed this assassination task would be a sure thing with their four.

Looking now, neither the assassination nor surrounding kill seems viable!

Seeing the three hesitate, Song Changming took the initiative and charged at one of them.

He somewhat remembered the wide-bladed saber in that person’s hand, which bore a resemblance to the weapon of the slain Cao Fushan.

Even in combat, the opponent’s expansive saber skill was very similar, making it hard not to connect them with Cao Fushan and the Tengya Mountain Bandit Army.

This thought flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t afford further reflection amid the fight.

These four also had Great Success Realm sword skills, coordinated seamlessly, and possessed rich combat experience.

Song Changming was essentially confronting four veteran Patrol Captain-level enemies simultaneously, leaving no room for error.

Luckily, having already slain one, he had less pressure dealing with the remaining three.

In an instant, after dozens of saber clashes, Song Changming’s Yin Ghost Blade Technique peaked, and the undercurrent of gloom fully suppressed the three’s momentum.

After a hundred strikes, the Yin Ghost again tore into one, annihilating them.

"Retreat!" the remaining two, seeing the turn of events, knew the assassination was impossible, immediately withdrawing.

"Retreat? Did I agree?"

The wind of Song Changming’s saber shifted, transforming into the Flying Swallow Technique.

Although this Flying Swallow Knife Skill wasn’t as accomplished as the Soul-breaking Saber, it fit best with his Light Body Skill.

Surrounding like a flying swallow, agile and swift, this martial art, when executed, allowed both to demonstrate maximum power.

For pursuing and blocking, it was more effective than the Soul-breaking Saber.

"You go first!" one realized they couldn’t both escape, opting to hold Song Changming.

Allowing the companion skilled in Light Body to leave first.

"Alright!" The companion, the initial attacker in pursuit, didn’t hesitate, immediately withdrawing.

"For your companion, you’re willing to forgo your life?" Song Changming coldly remarked, his saber even more fierce.

"Everything is for the grand cause!" The remaining masked man roared, striking fiercely, seemingly wishing to perish together with Song Changming.

However, faced with Song Changming’s Soul-breaking Saber, the flawless blade momentum left no chance for harm.

In less than ten exchanges, the masked man’s fervor was extinguished by Song Changming, limbs broken, passed out.

If not for Song Changming wanting a living witness, this person would’ve died faster.

Then, Song Changming pursued the last masked man’s fleeing direction.

Just as he speculated the escape route, he heard fighting not far, immediately heading over.

Discovering the fleeing masked man caught in a scuffle with Lv Gang’s Patrol Guard in an alley.

It seemed today luck wasn’t on his side, as he ran into the arriving Lv Gang.

Song Changming joined, striking with the saber’s back, knocking the person out, capturing alive.

"What happened?" Lv Gang frowned and asked.

The earlier skirmish revealed the masked man’s strength wasn’t weak.

If not for Song Changming’s timely arrival, Lv Gang feared he might not retain the opponent.

"Follow me." Song Changming led Lv Gang and others to the previous houses.

Jiang Chunzi with Patrol Guard had also arrived, guarding the corpses.

"Wang Xianwen?!" Lv Gang, spotting Wang Xianwen’s body, sharply turned to Song Changming.

"I killed him." Song Changming nodded.

"!" Lv Gang’s heart sank, urgently said, "Regardless of reason, secretly killing a colleague is a serious crime."

"I know, don’t worry." Song Changming recounted the earlier events to Lv Gang.

Lv Gang then calmed, shaking his head: "Wang Xianwen’s truly mad, to suddenly plot against you."

Understanding the situation, he saw Wang Xianwen’s death deserved.

As for Song Changming, this act of killing a colleague was self-defense, special circumstances, with no blame.

"I initially thought these were Anye Pavilion assassins resurging, but later observed they might link to Tengya Mountain bandits.

You’re right, after killing Cao Fushan, claiming the reward, it brought troubles."

Song Changming observed the dead and injured masked men and slowly spoke.

Earlier, Lv Gang warned him of possible vendetta by the bandits, now indeed happening.

"Fortunately, you’re safe this time." Lv Gang sighed.

If not for Song Changming’s prowess, any other Patrol Captain in such ambush would likely perish.

The bandits were truly audacious.

Even amid a city-wide lockdown, they withdrew people while also ordering assassination of government officials.

"Take these two captives and corpses back for examination and interrogation, and for now, this mustn’t spread!" Lv Gang instructed his subordinates.

Wang Xianwen’s death and Song Changming’s assassination were significant in Houli Street Patrol Armor Bureau.