Chapter 8 Calling for Reinforcements

Witch Mountain City, Canal Gang Headquarters.

"Young Master, something terrible has happened!"

Cao Xun had just lain down and hadn't yet fallen asleep when he heard the urgent voice of a trusted subordinate outside his courtyard.

"What's going on?"

Suppressing his irritation, Cao Xun got up and lit the oil lamp.

The subordinate outside the room sensed the young master's displeasure and quickly responded:

"Young Master, Ding Hu has been crippled at the Spring Fragrance Tower!"

What?

Cao Xun frowned, opened the door, and stepped out.

"What happened? Is there really someone in Witch Mountain City who dares to oppose our Canal Gang? Did Ding Hu clash with the Song family?" Cao Xun asked coldly as he looked at his subordinate.

The subordinate bowed slightly. "Young Master, Ding Hu has been brought back by the people from the Spring Fragrance Tower. He's in the main hall now. According to the brothel's people, it was the fisherman who crippled Ding Hu."

"Let's go take a look."

With a wave of his sleeve, Cao Xun headed toward the main hall.

The subordinate hurriedly followed.

True to its reputation as Witch Mountain City's most powerful force, even in the middle of the night, the Canal Gang's headquarters was brightly lit, with guards stationed every few steps.

As Cao Xun passed by, the patrolling gang members all stepped aside and saluted.

Cao Xun and his subordinate quickly reached the main hall.

There, they saw Ding Hu and his men, who had already been treated by physicians. Among them, only Ding Hu was still barely conscious; the others had passed out from the pain.

"Young Master!"

Seeing Cao Xun arrive, the people in the hall stood up and saluted.

"How are they?"

Seeing his subordinates in such a state, Cao Xun's expression darkened as he turned to the busy physician.

The physician shook his head slightly and said:

"The person who attacked them shattered their limbs completely. There's no way to heal them."

The faces of everyone in the hall turned grim. Like Ding Hu, they were all Houtian-level martial artists of the Canal Gang, holding high status in Witch Mountain City. If someone dared to do this to Ding Hu today, they could be next tomorrow.

"Young Master, all the brothers are here. We can't let this criminal go unpunished!"

"That's right! Let's go after him now, or it'll be too late if he escapes!"

"If we don't kill him, where will the Canal Gang's reputation stand?"

The crowd was furious.

"Enough!"

Cao Xun waved his hand and said calmly:

"You'll all come with me. I want to see for myself who dares to treat our people this way!"

The Houtian-level martial artists in the hall smiled and prepared to follow Cao Xun to the Spring Fragrance Tower.

"Wait!"

The physician quickly interjected. "Young Master, it's best to inform the gang leader about this. The person who did this isn't ordinary!"

"Brother Ding is a Houtian-level martial artist, yet he couldn't even withstand a single move from this man. Moreover, the injuries of the others are identical—their bones were crushed to powder in a single strike, and the location of the injuries is exactly the same. This person's control over his strength is flawless. I fear he's no ordinary adversary."

Hearing this, one of the gang members frowned and retorted coldly:

"That man is young at best, probably just a Houtian-level martial artist. With the gang leader here, what can he possibly do?"

The others also glared at the physician with hostility.

The physician smiled bitterly and said no more. He had said what he needed to say. Whether they listened or not was no longer his concern.

As Cao Xun prepared to lead his men to the Spring Fragrance Tower, a middle-aged figure landed in the courtyard outside the main hall. It was Cao Zheng, the leader of the Canal Gang.

Seeing Cao Zheng, everyone's hearts tightened, and they stood respectfully at attention.

Cao Xun stepped forward and said:

"Father, such a trivial matter doesn't require your attention. I'll take Elder Lin with me and handle it."

An elderly man standing beside Cao Xun also smiled and said, "Gang leader, there's no need for the young master to go. I'll handle it myself. A petty thief like this can't cause any trouble."

The old man had been a peak Houtian-level martial artist for the past ten years and was the Canal Gang's second strongest fighter after Cao Zheng.

"Hmph!"

Cao Zheng snorted and strode into the main hall. He crouched beside the injured gang members, examining their wounds. His expression gradually grew more serious.

"This is no ordinary matter."

Cao Zheng stood up and sighed. "It seems a powerful outsider has arrived in Witch Mountain City."

"Go and gather all the gang's experts. I want to see if he dares to come to our headquarters in three days!"

With that, he waved his hand.

The gang members in the hall immediately rushed out of the headquarters to summon all the nearby experts of the Canal Gang.

Now that the hall was empty.

Cao Xun said reluctantly, "Father, it's just some kid who appeared out of nowhere. Isn't this overkill?"

"If a mere kid makes us act like we're under siege, how will the outside world view our gang?"

Cao Zheng's expression darkened, and he said coldly, "If it weren't for you, would we have provoked such a strong opponent? This man's strength is even beyond my understanding. I'll have Elder Lin go and invite Zhou Yunqing to assist us."

"You're going to ask Uncle Zhou for help?" Cao Xun's face showed shock.

While most in the Canal Gang didn't know that his father was friends with Zhou Yunqing, the Wind-Chasing Sword, an innate-level master, Cao Xun was aware. What surprised him was that they would call for reinforcements to deal with some random kid.

Couldn't the entire Canal Gang handle one kid?

"I suspect this person has innate-level cultivation. Even if he's an ordinary innate-level master, we're not afraid, but it's better to be safe than sorry. I'll have Zhou Yunqing come just in case." Cao Zheng glanced at Cao Xun and said coldly:

"Stay in the headquarters for the next few days and don't go anywhere. I'll have Elder Lin go and invite Zhou Yunqing."

...

The next day.

The news of a mysterious young master crippling experts from the Canal Gang over a dispute at the Spring Fragrance Tower spread rapidly throughout Witch Mountain City.

This was the Canal Gang, a force even the Song family, with their innate-level masters, struggled to contend with in Witch Mountain City.

Yet, after a whole night, the Canal Gang remained silent. Even the mysterious expert who had crippled their members continued to stay peacefully at the Spring Fragrance Tower.

"I bet that young expert at the Spring Fragrance Tower is from a major sect. Otherwise, why would the Canal Gang remain silent?"

"Heh, you're mistaken. I heard the Canal Gang has already gathered their nearby experts and is waiting for this guy to walk into their trap."

"Ha! I think the Canal Gang is just scared. If they had the guts, they'd have gone to arrest him already!"

Speculations ran wild.

Meanwhile, in the most luxurious room at the top of the Spring Fragrance Tower, Li Changsheng was meeting with representatives from the Song family of Witch Mountain City.

Li Changsheng sat facing a middle-aged man, with Bai Qing'er standing nearby, serving tea.

The middle-aged man was Song Rulong, the head of the Song family and the second strongest in the family apart from Song Zhengyu. His martial arts cultivation had reached the peak of the Houtian level.

"Patriarch Song, what brings you here?"

Li Changsheng set down his teacup and looked at Song Rulong, asking calmly.

Song Rulong's expression was serious as he looked at Li Changsheng and asked in a low voice:

"May I boldly ask, are you an innate-level master?"