Demon Mask

Savant City's Number 1 on the Most Wanted!!!

Tian Cai's eyes blinked several times as he took in the news. Not even half a breath later, his eyes were turning devil red and smoke was streaming out of his ears. At least, to those before him, that's what he looked like.

Everyone hissed and trembled because in slow mo, he stretched out his elbows and cracked his neck. In fact, they heard every minute crack.

"Little Brother, Big Sis..."

With an abrupt finger, Tian Cai silenced Bai Guang.

With a grating voice, Tian Cai said, "So you all knowingly brought me over to the prison without informing me? Earlier, is that why you wanted me to wear that pink armor? You all knew, City Lord's people would try to arrest me?"

Everyone looked about.

Pink Armor?

"You people think me a fool! HUH!!!"

"Zhao Tian Cai, two years ago you broke out of this prison. Today, City Lord will see you brought to justice!!!"

"Oh!! Oh!! I broke out as well? So how do you think we get out of this mess NOW!!!?"

On the prison wall, Zhang An's eyes narrowed. "Lieutenant Chen, Warden Su, isn't Zhao Tian Cai just ignoring us? Doesn't he know the situation he's in?"

"This Lieutenant believes he thought we would cower in fear and not have the courage to resist. Little did he know, City Lord has long planned this confrontation. Never will he pay the 10 billion spirit stones required to repair the Emperor's statute."

"10 Billion!"

"No wonder, who'd want to pay that?"

"So if we don't legally capture and execute Zhao Tian Cai, City Lord will be forced to cover the cost of repairing the statue?" asked Warden Su.

"Keep this secret on pain of death," said Zhang An.

Deep within the prison was an ultra secure floor of the prison. On this floor were the most notorious and infamous criminals Savant City had ever known. On this day, these criminals had long prepared as well.

"Big Brother, all is ready. Earlier, our spy alerted that today Zhao Clan would attack. Right now, that same spy is freeing a formations master from Sixth Heaven. For agreeing to free us, we will allow that expert to escape with us."

"Good, everyone needs a formation expert. However, kill the spy and whatever guards we bribed. We must not allow anyone to track us."

"As Big Brother commands."

On level one of the prison was the least secure prison block. Here, Gu Jin was being held in custody and he was in fact trembling in great fright. Recently, he learned that Duan Feng and Cao Fang had both met untimely demises. Deep within his gut, Gu Jin knew he was next. Why, Why did he try to seek revenge upon Zhao Qiang? Who would care for his son? Unbeknownst to him, was the fact he was the main cause of today's events.*1

After spending five minutes cursing the Five Shadows and fully displaying the might of his potty mouth. Tian Cai calmed down somewhat. Before him, everyone looked at the youngster in shock.

A 5 year old had such a foul mouth.

To the side, Bai Guang was paler than pale. Had she ever witnessed such a side from her Little Brother? In her mind, she recalled Young Miss Ling Fan's warning.*2 With her heart wrenching, she said, "Big-Big Sis didn't mean to anger you so. We were under orders to not inform you.."

Tian Cai snorted, "This we'll discuss later."

Closing his eyes he thought about want to do. If the Five Shadows brought him here, then there definitely was a plan. So there was only one way to proceed.

Turning about, Tian Cai roared, "Who's in charge? Bring me Gu Jin, or f*cking die!"

Tian Cai grimaced feeling the chill of danger run down his spine. In his mind, he perceived Granny's hands twitching and itching to spank him one with the Heavenly Punishing Paddle. Oh, someone was surely going to pay for this.

Pointing his finger, he said, "You have ten f*cking minutes!"

Whispering, behind him, he said, "Uncle what's the plan, where are our forces?"

Fat Shadow spoke, "Er, this actually is a city-wide operation and everyone is covering separate areas. Here, er Senior Mu was supposed to be the lead. However she's gone now."

"Oh really?"

Veins were popping all over Tian Cai's face. "How many people do you think they have?"

"This? The fellow that spoke was that Empyrean Zhang An. Up there with him should be Lieutenant Chen and Warden Su. Both are Martial Kings. Lieutenant Chen's 7th Company has 50 men with the majority being Martial Masters. Warden Su has about 100 guards. 40 are Martial Masters."

"So we appeared to be a little under powered. Sister-in-law, was she taking care of some unknown enemy?"

Bai Guang responded, "Her leaving wasn't planned."

"Then it's something else, however she will be here, after all her mission is to protect me."

Fat Shadow commented, "Then we should try to delay?"

Nodding, Tian Cai said, "We will delay and we will play dirty."

Everyone looked up in surprise, "Play dirty?"

"Recently, this Young Master learned two new skills. However, before that everyone should have a perk me up."

Perk me up!

Tian Cai pulled out what every aficionado should never be without, his coffee brewing set. "Mhm will have some Super Yang blend."

Kaboom!

In the distance shrill screams were heard. Fat Shadow looked about. "It's coming from the Mercenary Quarter. Looks like the Five Tiger Mercenaries made a move and Old Master responded."

Starting to brew the coffee, Tian Cai nodded. "Keep me posted. Death Shadow and Small Shadow you two take the rear. Soundless and Gray, you two provide cover. Big Sis, Uncle you're with me.

Nervously, Small Shadow said, "Me alone with Death Shadow, how do you expect us to handle 50 Martial Masters."

"You're thinking about it wrong...aren't you the Sun Shadow Eclipse body? Bring on the Darkness."

This?

Light of realization gleamed brightly in Small Shadow's eyes.

Death Shadow turned to Fat Shadow, "What's this bring on the darkness?"

Excitedly, Fat Shadow said, "Son-Son will be bring on a miniature eclipse and blind everyone until he thinks other wise.

Death Shadow jolted. "If I combine this with my Death Shadow, not only will they be blind they will wallow in fear of their own death."

Bai Guang smacked her gloved fists causing an array of sparks to fly. "Little Brother, then are we to kill our way through the gates and take Gu Jin ourselves."

"In the end they may just give us Gu Jin voluntarily."

"Little Brother what do you mean?"

"Because, with me is the King of Iron Plates himself."

Eh!

Five minutes prior, Zhao Chen used his halberd to blast open the gates to the Five Tiger Mercenary headquarters.

"Who are you, why do you attack our Five Tiger Mercenaries?"

"Humph! You are about to die and you want to know my name? You think I want ghosts cursing my name?"

The Five Tigers burst forth from the compound, their Martial King auras erupting out in all directions. They landed in low crouching stances. For weapons, each had a pair of black steal claws.

"Mister, you came to the wrong place. Today is your death anniversary," said Tiger Two.

Chief Hu ordered, "Everyone surround him! Humph! One Martial King against five, stupid."

"This King is here to relieve some stress and grew impatient with you all not coming out. Therefore, why not bring the fight to you?"

"You-You are Zhao Clan?"

With a roar, Zhao Chen started twirling the halberd and started chanting Zhao Clan's Death Chant.

Chief Hu said, "Wait...We can discuss.."

"DIEEEEEEEEE!"

Halberd bursting into fire, Zhao Chen jumped. With a chop, a burning head was sent flying.

The Four Tigers who were still alive, collectively hissed.

Peak Martial King!

Although they were Martial Kings, Chief Hu was Medium Rank while the others were Early rank. The disparity of power between Martial King levels was in fact great.

"Retreat to the Main Hall! Activate the formations!" frantically ordered Chief Hu.

Before them, Zhao Chen was like a Masked Demon with blazing red eyes. Unbeknownst to them, these were his inebriated drunk eyes. Shaking in fear, the Four Tigers frantically retreated.

Not even ten minutes prior, from their monitoring point, Zhao Qiang had left to block Lieutenant Cao's 6th company.*3 Left to his own demise, Zhao Chen actually brought out two more jugs of wine and drowned himself silly. Of course feeling impatient, he decided to make a move early. Using his drunken instinct, he found his way to the Five Tiger Mercenary headquarters. Behind him was a trail of dead City Guards who dared to arrest Old Disaster King for Intoxication.

As soon as the Four Tiger's entered the main hall, the formations activated.

Boom!

The walls of the hall shook under Zhao Chen's furious attack.

"By the Divinities, who is that Demon Mask? Did you see the evil in his eyes. My soul froze."

"Humph! I saw his eyes and my spine ran out on its own."

"You all calm down, he wasn't that scary...Are we not all Martial Kings?" said Chief Hu with disdain.

Boom!

The main doors blasted open and Zhao Chen stomped in.

Red Eyes blazing, he raised his Fiery Halberd and yelled, "DIEEEEEEEEEE!"

Back on the prison wall, everyone was scratching their heads.

"Are they enjoying a beverage?" asked Lieutenant Chen.

Indeed, far off in the distance, Tian Cai was serving Joe all around.

Hissing, Warden Su said, "It must be the famed mind tactics, like those taught in the Imperial Military Academy. Zhao Tian Cai must want us to believe, they have nothing to fear, when in fact they are wallowing deep in their deepest nightmare."

Mulling over Warden Su's words a bit, Zhang An nodded his head. "It must be so. With our numbers as well with the strength of our cultivation, we have the advantage."

Two guards came up, pulling along a chained Gu Jin.

"Lord, as commanded we have brought Gu Jin," said the lead guard.

"Quickly, tell us why Zhao Tian Cai would ask for you," said Lieutenant Chen.

"If you don't answer the Lieutenant, we can only have you die by the death of a thousand cuts, " said Warden Su.

"Lord, save me!" begged Gu Jin, falling to his knees.

Warden Su, said, "You mean spare, not save, correct."

"Save me! Zhao Tian Cai must be here to kill me."

"Kill you? Just what did you do to him?" asked Zhang An.

"I cursed Zhao Qiang and unknowingly Matriarch Zhao."

"Humph! To want to kill you over this, Zhao Tian Cai really is a ruthless criminal deserving to be Number 1 on the most wanted list," said Warden Su.

"Truly vile and ruthless," added Lieutenant Chen.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Junior, you relax. You being brought here is for show...at the right moment we shall strike and properly arrest the criminal," said Zhang An

Upon hearing these words, Gu Jin sighed with extreme relief.

However, at that moment, Tian Cai called out.

"B*tches! Your ten minutes is up. This Young Master will now kill his way and take Gu Jin for himself.