Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

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Dragon Three drank a dose of Qi-boosting and blood-replenishing herbal concoction, and tiredly lay on his bed.

Despite his desire to sleep, the throbbing pain in his left arm, as sharp as needles, prevented him from closing his eyes.

"Ding Feng, Ding Feng! A mere mire-dweller of Jianghu, if it weren't for..." he clenched his teeth in the dark, his eyes flickering with a cold glint.

Thud thud!

"Who is it!"

Dragon Three's expression changed, and he gripped the hilt of a knife beside the bed.

He had already informed everyone that his subordinates could handle any matters, and if there was a significant issue, they were to consult with Elder Long Tianwu, who was in charge. They were not to disturb him as he recuperated!

"Shopkeeper Long, it's been a while. I've come to pay a visit."

A cool and detached voice spoke up.

"Young Master Jiang?"

Dragon Three was startled. To bypass all of the Sihai Business Association's defenses without a sound and make it here was a feat of lightness skill that was astonishing.

Dragon Three said in a deep voice, "Young master, please come in to talk."

Creak~

The door opened and then closed. A youth in blue clothes walked in slowly. He did not hide his face or disguise himself like other intruders, but rather walked in openly.

"Earlier, Jinlong Business Association's Ding Feng, accompanied by 'Ground-stamping Tiger' Lu Hou, one of the seven tigers from Fierce Tiger Village, paid me a visit," Jiang Ding said.

"It was him indeed."

Dragon Three sneered, "Jinlong Business Association has always had murky dealings with bandits like Fierce Tiger Village. Calling it a trading company is a joke; it's nothing but a den of thieves. If it hadn't forged connections with the higher-ups in Dongling City, it would have been wiped out to the last bone long ago."

"Such an outfit dares to call itself a business?"

Jiang Ding remained neutral on the business philosophies of the two parties, saying, "I've come to inquire about some matters regarding Fierce Tiger Village from Shopkeeper Long. There will be a reward for this information in the future."

"No problem, it's just a small matter."

Dragon Three subconsciously touched the place where his left arm used to be.

"Fierce Tiger Village rose to power ten years ago. Its chief, 'Dongshan Flying Tiger' Lu Jingtian, has achieved Internal Qi Perfection. Wielding a Crescent Moon Sabre with supernatural skills, he forcibly occupied a strategic commercial pass between Dongling City and Chizhou, forcing all passing trading companies to pay him a protection fee."

"There are also times when they don't follow the rules and take both the people and the goods."

"The merchant caravans of Dongling City suffer greatly because of this."

Jiang Ding asked, "Does the lord of the city, Zhendong Marquis Tang, not care?"

The failing trade route was detrimental to the Tang's interests, which were substantially more significant than the mere protection money.

"They care. They've sent armies to encircle and suppress them, but the bandits of Fierce Tiger Village vanish at the first sign of trouble. Besides, Donglingshan Mountain is high and densely forested; it's impossible to know where exactly Fierce Tiger Village hides."

Dragon Three said mockingly, "The only way is to mobilize all capable inner energy warriors at an opportune moment, break into the village, and once the heads of the seven tigers are on the ground, how could those bandits dare to continue to resist?"

"But the Zhendonghou Mansion has enjoyed wealth for over three hundred years. The Marquis himself has only achieved Internal Qi Perfection, and many of his powerful inner energy followers are kinsmen and old associates. Who would be willing to lead a few into the mountains to eliminate the bandits?"

"Then Lu Jingtian is clever enough to offer tributes from time to time, and so the matter remains."

"Is the Blue Luminous Butterfly at Fierce Tiger Village?"

"Without a doubt, it must be there."

"Do you have a rough idea of the whereabouts of Fierce Tiger Village?"

Dragon Three, taken aback, scrutinized the youth in blue for a while before saying, "The general location of Fierce Tiger Village is not a secret after so many years; I can give it to the young master."

"I have a piece of advice: young master has a promising future and profound backing; you should not lightly venture into dangerous places."

That was all he could say.

Just as Jiang Ding regarded the casualties of Sihai Business Association with indifference, so too did Dragon Three wish for Jiang Ding to cause some trouble for Fierce Tiger Village, uncaring of the outcome.

"Is Sihai Business Association really content?" asked Jiang Ding.

Dragon Three was silent.

For a long while.

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"I am willing."

His voice was dry and sorrowful, he shook his head, "Uncle Wu sustained internal injuries, more than half of the team brought along is dead, and those left are wounded. I'm nearly incapacitated myself."

"In the short term, my Sihai Business Association has no choice but to submit."

"The Long's rose through trade, not needing to uphold a front like the typical martial arts powers, to prevent misunderstandings of decline."

Jiang Ding reflected for a moment.

"I need some people, around twenty will do, their strength isn't the issue, as long as they can bring back some goods, would that be possible?"

"Not using the elite of the trading company, naturally it's possible."

Dragon Three's body shuddered, straightening up.

...

After agreeing on a time with Dragon Three, Jiang Ding slowly strolled home, passing many pedestrians along the way who subconsciously ignored his presence.

Thinking back, they would only remember a figure passing by but couldn't recall any details.

"The Art of Small Concealment seems much easier now."

Jiang Ding circulated the complex martial arts inner energy routes, reflections of his experience surfacing in his mind.

Indeed, the realm is the foundation of all magic and techniques; once the realm advances, learning and practicing anything becomes much faster.

By his estimation, the Art of Small Concealment wasn't far from proficiency to minor achievement.

If it reached minor achievement, it would meet the basic requirements of a scout infantryman, and wearing scout camouflage could initially shield against cultivators' Divine Sense.

As he approached the small store, Jiang Ding frowned.

A familiar silhouette stood charmingly about a meter and a half tall, a snow-white longsword at her waist, occasionally looking into the distance, with Han Lin and Huang Deyou both excitedly attending her nearby.

"Is Young Master Jiang well?"

Gong Caiyu's eyes lit up, spotting the figure not far away.

That was one of the drawbacks of the Art of Small Concealment; it only made one less noticeable, like withered wood or a dried rock, but it couldn't render one invisibly camouflaged, still unable to avoid detection by those specifically searching.

"Lady Gong, it's been a while."

Jiang Ding nodded and led her into the backyard.

He had a somewhat good impression of this woman. She knew to provide compensation for being saved, but it was clear she had troubles of her own that could inconvenience him, hence his disapproval.

"Thank you for your help before. I knew you had come to Dongling, but I didn't want to disturb your love of tranquility," Gong Caiyu explained, and then her expression turned serious: "Do you know danger is approaching?"

"The Blue Luminous Butterfly?" Jiang Ding wasn't surprised.

"That's right," Gong Caiyu whispered, "My uncle master told me that great reward moves the heart. This time, many well-known figures in Dongling City have gotten involved. It's best if you move to the inner city to live if it's not necessary to stay here, where the army is stationed, so even master practitioners of inner energy wouldn't dare to act rashly."

"If possible, it would be best to distance yourself from this vortex as soon as you can. My father once told me that these renowned figures, while they appear benevolent and elderly, won't hesitate to devour someone without spitting out the bones, given the chance."

Her expression was very earnest.

"Hmm, thank you for the information, Lady Gong," Jiang Ding nodded.

Had it not been for the Blue-Gold Potion, he would have escaped far away already upon sensing the hostility.

Gong Caiyu left more instructions and hastily departed; she seemed very busy, having to both instruct the new disciples of Qixuan School and maintain her own uninterrupted cultivation.

"Boss, there may be trouble," Huang Deyou hurriedly knocked and entered after she left, "Lady Gong is the fiancée of the young Marquis, and her rash visit to a strange man could lead to disaster if not careful. Boss, you must not take it lightly."

"Take a gift to the steward of Zhendonghou Mansion and mention this incident," Jiang Ding was not oblivious to the risk, "Gong Caiyu is the Young Sect Leader of Qixuan School, a person of the Jianghu, she meets countless men every day; not every meeting leads to trouble."

"Can you even meet with the steward of the mansion?"

"I can, boss. Ever since we began to move mountains in cooperation with Sihai Business Association, many have come to regard me more highly," Huang Deyou said, bowing.

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