Chapter 88: Nine Ghosts Gang
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The mountain road was difficult to walk on, but the most difficult part was not the mountain road.
Instead, it was bandits along the way.
In just a short journey, they actually encountered three robberies, but they were all lulled on the spot by Lin Yan.
At the last section, the road was completely bumpy. The horses could get on, but the cars could not. They could only stop at the foot of the mountain.
“It’s getting dark. This place is very close to the Ji Village. I’ll call the villagers out to help!”
Ji Quan volunteered. He patted his chest and disappeared into the forest like an agile ape.
“Let’s take a break and eat something.”
…..
Everyone found a flat ground, took water, and ate some dry pancakes.
Lin Yan tore the pancake and fed it to Xiaozhi bite by bite.
After Xiaozhi was full, he let her rest beside Xie Lingyan while he walked to Zang Wei’s side and sat down.
“Eldest Senior Brother.” “What is it?”
Lin Yan nodded. “I want to ask, Senior Brother, do you know about Spirit Marrow?” “Spirit marrow? Why are you suddenly asking about this?” A faint reminiscence appeared on Zang Wei’s face. “I know that this is a precious miraculous item. It has the miraculous effect of increasing one’s aptitude.” “Eldest Senior Brother, do you know what the Spirit Marrow is?” “I’ve only heard that the Spirit Marrow is an ancient relic. It’s said to be an ancient object excavated from ancient ruins. There’s also a saying that it was obtained by killing some ancient demons and beasts.” “Demon beasts?” “It’s just a rumor. I’ve never seen whether there are demons or mutated beasts with my own eyes.”
Demons and mutated beasts…
Speaking of which, the Spirit Marrow was indeed like the bone of a certain creature.
Lin Yan hesitated for a moment. There was nothing to hide. He told his Eldest Senior Brother about the phenomenon of the heart after he saw Li Qu die.
“In the underground Ghost Market, I once saw the Hong family take out the Spirit
Marrow. Then, I saw the same thing at the commander’s heart.” “So, that masked man was really you…”
Zang Wei didn’t probe further into Lin Yan’s secret and only explained, “I’ve never seen the Spirit Marrow. I only heard that when the Spirit Marrow is used, you have to cut open the flesh and embedded the Spirit Marrow under the flesh to connect with the bones.
“When the wound recovers, the Spirit Marrow can be linked to the human body and improve one’s aptitude.
“If you bury it in your arm, the power of your fist techniques and palm techniques will increase greatly.
“If you bury it in your leg bones, your leg strength and speed will increase greatly.
“And so on.” “That Li Qu probably used the same method to bury the Spirit Marrow in his heart.
“I was originally wondering why he could suppress Xie Lingyan and me at the same level.
It turns out that it’s the effect of the Spirit Marrow.”
When Lin Yan heard this, his heart trembled. He thought that the man had eaten the Spirit Marrow.
However, he did not expect it to be used in such a primitive, rough, and even somewhat bloody way!
It was almost evil.
However, if that was the case, how did that commander store the Spirit Marrow in his heart?
Cut open the heart and stuff it in?
If it was in his previous life, he could naturally do it with advanced surgery. However, in this poor ancient world, how did he do it?
Suppressing his doubts, he continued to ask, “Eldest Senior Brother, I heard that you can obtain Spirit Marrow in the Dingdeng Genius Battle?”
There seemed to be sadness in Zang Wei’s eyes. “I participated in the Dingdeng Genius Battle once. At that time, other than the opportunity to advance to the Qianyuan Prefecture, the reward for the top few winners was this Spirit Marrow.
“It’s said that the Spirit Marrow varies in size. When digesting it, you will bear immense pain and a certain backlash.
“If you want to use the Spirit Marrow, you’d better adjust your condition. After stabilizing it, you can slowly devour it.”
Lin Yan shook his head. “It’s shocking to bury a foreign object in my flesh. I don’t want to do it.”
Besides, only the remains of his Spirit Marrow were left. He didn’t know if he could use it at all.
Zang Wei nodded. “I think so too. It feels strange when foreign objects enter the body.”
He didn’t ask in detail how Lin Yan was going to deal with the Spirit Marrow.
“Eldest Senior Brother, there are still many things I don’t understand about the
Dragon-Shaped Fist. After we enter the village, 1 hope you can guide me.”
These words were originally ordinary, but when Zang Wei heard them, he looked deeply at Lin Yan. “Of course.” “Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother.”
Seeing Lin Yan retreat to Lin Xiaozhi’s side, Zang Wei’s eyes gradually darkened.
Back then, he recognized Lin Yan because of his actions. Most of them were from the Five Animal Hands Technique.
At that time, he was still puzzled. The Dragon-Shaped Fist was more lethal, so why didn’t Lin Yan use it?
But now that he heard what he meant, he realized that Lin Yan had not been in contact with the Dragon-Shaped Fist for long. He had not come into contact with the profound content of the Dragon-Shaped Fist at all.
“In other words, it’s impossible for Lin Yan to master the Tough Force, but he still displayed the combat strength of the Tough Realm…”
Zang Wei subconsciously thought of some rumors that only existed in legends.
They were about those geniuses of the aristocratic families. Not local rich people like Ding’an City, but true magnates of the aristocratic families—
From the moment they were born, they bathed in precious medicine and nourished their blood energy, causing their blood energy to be strong and their muscles and bones to far exceed ordinary people.
After such a person broke through to the Strength Realm, his blood energy was vigorous, and his muscles and bones far exceeded ordinary Strength Realm cultivators. He could even fight against Tough Realm cultivators.
Was Lin Yan such a person?
“The enhanced version of the Roaming Dragon Crossing that I improved alone was said by Master to be a forbidden move that hurt the enemy and myself at the same time. Every time I use it, my foundation will be damaged.
“However, in fact, this is because the strength of my muscles and bones is insufficient. Even if I’m at the Tough Realm, I can’t withstand the burden.
“As for Lin Yan, he can actually resist the Tough Realm at the Strength Realm. With such muscles and bones, if he breaks through to the Tough Realm, he might be able to withstand the burden of this move and unleash its full power!”
A hint of fervor flashed across Zang Wei’s eyes. In this life, he had lost his arm and did not have high hopes about the path of martial arts!
However, he was unwilling to bury the lost ultimate killing move of Roaming Dragon Crossing with him!
“Lin Yan, oh Lin Yan, if you break through to the Tough Realm and use my ultimate killing move, how powerful can you be?”
The sun was setting in the west, and the light and shadow were dim. The mountains and ravines gradually fell silent. Occasionally, roars sounded in the quiet and desolate ancient forest, causing the leaves to rustle.
Everyone had already eaten their fill and rested enough, but Ji Quan had never returned. There was no news of him.
Everyone gradually realized that something was wrong.
Xie Lingyan’s junior brother, Pei Qing, said anxiously, “Eldest Senior Sister, could something have happened to Junior Brother Ji? I’ll go look for him!” “Wait!”
Xie Lingyan stopped him. “If something really happened, it’s useless for you to go. I’ll go-”
Then, she looked at Lin Yan. “Take good care of them.”
Lin Yan reached out and took out a poisonous smoke bomb he had found from Gan Yang. He handed it to Xie Lingyan. “Miss Xie, you must be careful. If you can’t do anything, prioritize protecting yourself!” “I know.”
Xie Lingyan’s beautiful figure was like the wind as she swept past the wood and disappeared.
The wait was rather torturous. Fortunately, Xie Lingyan returned not long after.
Ji Quan came back with her.
However… he was wrapped in a thick black cloth and carried back horizontally on Xie Lingyan’s shoulder.
“Junior Brother Ji!” “No! Junior Brother Ji!”
Pei Qing and Fan Yunyun cried out in pain and immediately rushed forward to take Ji Quan, who was wrapped in cloth.
In the sackcloth, Ji Quan’s entire body was naked. He was covered in injuries, especially his neck, which was covered in purplish-red rope marks.
His eyes widened in anger, as if his eyes were about to split open. Fan Yunyun brushed them a few times before he closed them.
“Miss Xie, how did this happen…”
Xie Lingyan frowned. Her eyes were red. She pursed her red lips and opened her mouth, only to find that her throat was hoarse and she couldn’t speak.
Lin Yan looked at Ji Quan, who had died with remaining grievances, and subconsciously thought that two hours ago, he was still calling him Brother Lin Yan and fawning over him everywhere. He couldn’t help but say in a low voice, “Did something… happen to the Ji Village?”
Xie Lingyan gradually recovered and said in a low voice, “The Ji Village is occupied by a group of strong men. I don’t know if they are bandits or from some power, but all the villagers seem to have become slaves.
“It’s dark, and it’s too far away. I didn’t hear clearly. I only saw…”
She clenched her fists tightly. “Junior Brother Ji was covered in injuries. He was stripped naked by them and hung high by his neck. He died with remaining grievances.” “Damn it, damn it!”
Pei Qing and Fan Yunyun’s eyes were red as they hugged Ji Quan tightly. They were both sad and angry.
…..
Lin Yan sighed slightly in his heart. Ding’an City was in turmoil, and this Guangchuan Mountains was also not peaceful.
“Miss Xie, have you investigated how many people the other party has?” “I just snatched Junior Brother Ji’s corpse and rushed back first. I believe they’ve already discovered it by now.” “In that case, Miss Xie, I’ll accompany you.”
He was worried that Xie Lingyan would be blinded by hatred and could not calm down. Something might happen to her.
It was dark at night, and the mountain path was difficult to walk on. Moreover, there was a dense forest that blocked their vision. Fortunately, the two of them were not weak. They walked as if they were on flat ground and quickly arrived at a col.
From afar, dozens of simple and crude wooden houses were placed high and low in the col. They were dim yellow lamps that squeezed out balls of light in the darkness.
Xie Lingyan pointed at a large wooden house in the middle of the col. “That’s the base camp occupied by the bandits. Junior Brother Ji was hung on the wooden pole in front of that house just now.”
From afar, there was a large muddy area in front of the large wooden house. At this moment, there was a circle of torches around it. In the middle of the empty space, there were many people.
“Let’s go and take a look.”
Relying on their agility, the two of them quickly sneaked near the large house under the cover of the night.
In the middle of the empty space, a group of honest and dusty villagers were surrounded by flames. They were at a loss and tried their best to shrink their bodies, wanting to hide in the darkness. However, a circle of flames surrounded them tightly, leaving no gap.
The people holding the torches were a group of fierce-looking, burly men. Their cold and ferocious faces flickered in the light.
On the high steps in front of the wooden house stood a bald, tall, and thin man. He was as cold as an eagle as he swept his gaze over the villagers gloomily.
Finally, he seemed to be impatient and said sinisterly, “Aren’t you going to say anything? The person who just hung up disappeared in the blink of an eye. If you didn’t snatch it, could it be that a ghost did it?!”
His voice was like two blades rubbing against each other. It was hoarse and ear-piercing, as if a crow had flown across the night sky.
A sinister smile appeared on his face. “Don’t tell me you really think that someone will come to save you?
“A bunch of filthy peasants, why don’t you take a piss and look at yourself! It’s your fortune to be able to work for my Nine Ghosts Gang!
“Don’t be like that idiot just now, thinking that he was a savior from the heavens. In the end, he still fell with a handful of lime…”
As he spoke, he became more and more excited. The bald, tall, and thin man suddenly felt that the gazes of the people below the stage suddenly froze, as if they were focused behind him.
“Third Master, you, behind you…”
A sect member reminded.
The tall and thin man suddenly turned his head, his gaze instantly stunned. What a beautiful woman!
Then, he reached out and splashed a handful of lime. “Go to hell!”
However, the absolute beauty’s body suddenly swayed, as if she had melted into the night and disappeared.
“Miss Xie, leave him alive!
In the dark night, the tall and thin man only heard this shout. Then, his legs hurt and his head felt stuffy. He completely lost consciousness..