Chapter 65: To Eradicate the Roots

When the police encounter desperadoes, things become even more complicated. If pushed too far, a martial artist might unleash a bloody rampage... They could vanish into the deep mountains and forests, or simply move to another city and thrive just as well.

It is almost impossible to apprehend them.

Therefore, a balance must be struck—typically, martial artists are set to police their own kind, with factions pitted against each other.

Any renowned master is always under surveillance; they cannot be allowed to cause a major incident.

Minor skirmishes and bending the rules here and there aren’t much of a concern.

In theory, such a social reality should leave people in constant fear and society in chaos, but that is not the case.

True masters disdain engaging in acts that bring neither fame nor honor... With their strength, they can openly gain wealth and status.

Take graduates of the Martial Arts Academy, for example—they can easily secure important administrative positions, serve as military officers, or join special departments.

At the very least, they can go into business, start companies, and enjoy green lights at every turn.

Even among the common people, there are teams that cooperate with the authorities to maintain urban stability and enjoy government subsidies.

Zhang Yi and his associates are such people...

They form a city hunting squad—if confronted by barbarian slaughter or a martial artist causing chaos, they act immediately and kill on the spot.

On the other hand, someone like Wu Gang, who runs a bar to make a little money, secretly helps settle disputes, collects debts, bullies ordinary people, and occasionally goes out of town to hunt beasts and sell their hides, meat, and herbs—such a martial artist is considered the lowest rung.

This is precisely why Xiao Nan set out.

For those at the very bottom, survival and advancement are difficult.

They possess an even fiercer fighting spirit, daring to fight and kill.

At a crossroads in life, these people are never content with merely getting by; they always aim to make something of themselves, to one day rise above others.

As a result, they become all the more ruthless, capable of anything.

Thus, such individuals are best not provoked; if you do, you must strike hard and never give them a chance for revenge.

Otherwise, you will inevitably regret it.

As the ancients said: when you cut the grass, you must remove the roots.

If the younger brother dies but the elder brother lives, how can that be? Wouldn’t the road to the underworld be much too lonely?

...

Passing by a general store, Xiao Nan stopped.

He spent five yuan on a cheap ghoul mask and slipped it over his face.

A few dozen meters later, he saw the sign for "Night Fragrance."

He walked slowly to the entrance of the bar, where a surge of noise rolled out from the doorway... Looking in, he saw flashing colored lights and blurred silhouettes, as if demons were dancing in the dark.

At the entrance stood two burly men in black, lazily leaning against the wall smoking. Now and then, they would lift their heads to scrutinize those coming and going.

As soon as Xiao Nan approached, they straightened up and moved to block his way.

It was little wonder they were on alert—Xiao Nan’s appearance was simply too bizarre.

Not only was he bundled up in clothes inappropriate for the season, but he was also wearing a ghoul mask...

Did he think he was coming to a masquerade ball?

Everyone who came here was impeccably dressed.

Most importantly, just watching Xiao Nan approach made the two of them uncomfortable, a chill running down their spines.

It was a murderous aura.

“Wu Gang is here, isn’t he? Take me to him.”

The two burly men in black were clearly formidable, their bodies faintly reeking of blood and gunpowder. Their suit jackets bulged at the waist, unable to fully conceal what lay beneath.

Recalling how Black Snake and Wu Tie had boasted of their elder brother’s influence, Xiao Nan instantly understood who these people were.

“Even the doormen are skilled and armed—this Wu Gang must have some real clout.”

Whether a faction is truly powerful and promising depends first on the leader’s strength, and second, on the quality of those at the bottom.

Now, Xiao Nan found the Night Fragrance’s faction quite impressive, which only made him more determined not to let any of them escape.

“What do you want? You think you can just see Brother Gang whenever you please?”

The man on the left eyed him suspiciously, one hand on his waist, cursing as he stepped forward to bark at Xiao Nan. He stared at Xiao Nan’s ghoul mask, trying to discern the face hidden beneath.

Only a fool would fail to realize that someone skulking about like this meant trouble.

“Then I’ve come to the right place. I’m here to send your Brother Gang on his way.”

Xiao Nan smiled, the soft rubber of his mask twisting with the motion, pulling into a fearsome grin.

He never intended to sneak in for an assassination—he wanted to walk in brazenly...

Only then would the enemy take him seriously and send all their men forward.

Otherwise, what if these men sensed danger and fled?

He had no time to pursue them.

Besides, he’d heard Wu Gang was a first-rank martial artist, which made Xiao Nan itch with anticipation.

He had analyzed the structure of a bear barbarian’s body and bloodline, absorbing its strengths to evolve his own physique—his blood energy was lacking, but his strength and constitution were formidable... Yet he still couldn’t quite gauge his own level.

He urgently needed a worthy opponent to test his current abilities.

Compared to an entry-level martial artist in this world, how far did he still have to go?

“Looking for death.”

The man in black flew into a rage and threw a punch straight at Xiao Nan’s face.

In a blur, his fist suddenly halted—he found it caught in a slender, long hand, unable to budge, as if trapped in a steel vise.

“He’s a master,” he thought with alarm, and his other hand darted for his waist, trying to draw his gun.

But before he could move, a sharp pain shot through his throat, his vision went black, and he toppled over without a sound.

Xiao Nan had simply pressed one hand to his chest, still gripping the sheathed sword.

He hadn’t even bothered to draw it against the doormen—just seized the man’s fist, then, with a palm like a blade, struck the man’s throat.

With a crisp crack, the man’s head lolled, his neck grotesquely twisted, and he fell without a word.

The other man’s eyes went wide in terror; he stumbled back, shouting, half-raising a black pistol to fire.

Suddenly, a fierce wind swept past him, a shadow flickered at the edge of his vision, his head spun—and he knew nothing more.

Xiao Nan made no move to stop the man’s cry; he simply stepped forward, twisted his waist, and launched a spinning kick...

His right leg whipped out like a lash, catching the man squarely on the head... The man flew backward, skull crushed.

Landing lightly, Xiao Nan paid no heed to whether anyone inside had heard the alarm; he walked straight into the bar.

Inside, the atmosphere was electric—men and women shouting and laughing.

Some danced, others lounged with drinks and music, flirting or lost in pleasure.

The wide dance floor was bathed in swirling colored lights, casting a mesmerizing, dreamlike beauty over the scene.

In a shadowy corner, several couples tangled on sofas... In the dim light, Xiao Nan’s keen vision made out one pair already locked in frantic lovemaking.

“There’s an intruder! Stop him!”

A voice shrieked by the bar...

Suddenly, the bar fell silent, all eyes turning his way.

Five or six burly men charged over, surrounding Xiao Nan.

...

Under the shifting lights, Xiao Nan’s attire was utterly out of place, especially the black-and-white ghoul mask—a jarring eyesore.

He stood out starkly.

He paid no mind to the men closing in, striding straight toward the wide spiral staircase in the corner, which led to the second floor.

“With this layout, the boss will never be on the first floor watching over things. He’s probably on the second, or more likely the third.”

“But it doesn’t matter; I’ll search floor by floor.”

With a ringing metallic note, a rain of light flashed under the lamps...

First a fine mist, then a torrential downpour.

The five or six men rushing forward—regardless of their order—each froze mid-stride, then collapsed in silence.

The scent of blood filled the air.

“Murder! He’s killing people—!”

A shrill scream pierced the chaos, and those sitting or standing, men and women in booths and on the dance floor, shrieked and scattered.

The scene descended into utter chaos.

In the midst of it, Xiao Nan’s mind remained calm, his spirit reflecting every detail, analyzing each scene...

Panic, terror, rage, hatred—all these emotions flared in his mind like candle flames in the night.

He walked step by step toward the stairs, his sword flickering as he moved, and everywhere he passed, bodies fell in his wake.