Starting from Tianlong, Wudu Tianxia

It was almost midnight.

The branches rustled, and as the night deepened, the moon cast shadows on the flowers. The midnight wind blew through the cracks, causing the night watchman standing before the black iron gate to shiver involuntarily.

Gao Yuan put on the clothes of Lu Shou's confidant and arrived at the gate of the Tianyi Gang's headquarters in less than half an incense stick's time.

When dawn breaks, news will spread that the deputy leader of the Tianyi Gang has died in the street and that the Nine-Winged Taoist of the Fire Worship Sect has killed the Ma family. With these two events corroborating each other, I will surely be exposed!

If the Tianyi Gang is given a chance to react and make arrangements in Jingzhao Prefecture, and if they are also involved with Penglai, reinforcements will surely come in droves.

If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring!

If we just leave them leaderless and chaotic like headless flies, we'll have time to leave this place safely.

"Hey! Brother, which gang are you from? Why are you back alone?"

"Could it be another one of those drunken idiots who got kicked out by a tigress? Haha!"

The two disciples on night duty crouched down, cupped their palms and breathed out warm air. When they saw Gao Yuan walking slowly toward them, they laughed and teased him.

Although the night was dark, several candles and lanterns hung on either side of the lacquered eaves.

Under the eaves candlelight by the door, the two men saw that the newcomers were wearing gang uniforms and did not suspect anything, but...

Gao Yuan, looking like a wilted eggplant, drooped his head and replied in a muffled voice, "Never mind, Chief Lu ran into some trouble at the Ma residence and asked me to come back to get some important things."

As he spoke, he quickly moved toward the two of them.

"Gang Leader Lu? No, stop right now, or else... uh... uh...!"

One of the disciples noticed that the newcomer's voice sounded somewhat immature and was about to ask him a question.

Gao Yuan suddenly exerted his strength, leaping to the doorway in one step. His palms moved like lightning, striking the temples of the two men respectively, and a burst of palm force shot out from between his palms.

With two muffled thuds, the two night-duty disciples fell silent before they could even let out a scream. Then he pushed open the door and stepped inside in the blink of an eye.

Gao Yuan moved silently between the buildings, probing as he went, taking out his tinderbox and setting fire to every house he saw. In no time, the fire spread rapidly, and in an instant, the Tianyi Gang's headquarters was engulfed in flames and billowing smoke.

......

He was wearing the uniform of the Tianyi Gang at the moment. If he encountered a lone person, he would kill him with one palm. If he encountered a large group of people, he would jump over the wall to hide.

Before many people could understand what was happening, they were startled by the shouts, screams, and cries of alarm, and their eyes widened in disbelief.

"Fire! Fire! Everyone, get to the fire!"

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Some disciples even grabbed buckets and basins of water and ran around wildly, spilling water everywhere, but they were unable to stop the fire from spreading.

Firelight!

The flames grew increasingly bright.

The sounds of fighting and screaming filled the air!

"A fight has broken out! Help! Help!"

"Damn it! Are you all blind? Go wake everyone up and get them to put out the fire."

"How many people are coming? You bastards, immediately seal off the front and back gates, in groups of three. Report anything suspicious immediately!"

"Brother, the fire is too big! Thieves have broken in!"

The crowd instantly became restless!

Gao Yuan took the opportunity to blend into the crowd and happened to see a group of Tianyi Gang disciples gathered in front of the hall. A key member was standing on top of them, making arrangements for sending messages and fighting the fire.

He Yong, the on-duty leader, was involved in the nighttime arson attack and was unaware of the serious consequences he would face.

Just as he was feeling inexplicably upset and hadn't recovered, a young man dressed in gang uniform suddenly rushed towards him, his face covered in tears and snot, yelling in panic, "Something terrible has happened!"

He grabbed the boy by the collar and cursed, "You little bastard, what's the rush? What's wrong? Speak properly, or I'll skin you alive."

The boy kept his head down, his legs wobbling so much he could barely stand, and his voice was trembling with sobs.

"No...it's terrible! Chief Lu's body has been found on Qianmen Street...Quickly...quickly report to the chief!"

These words struck He Yong like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, making him even more flustered.

How could this be? How is this possible? Master Lu... Master Lu's martial arts skills are so strong, could it be that the Tianhong Gang has suddenly launched an attack?

Otherwise, who could kill him!

He felt a chill run down his spine, and his palms, gripping the messenger's clothes, were drenched in cold sweat.

At this moment, how could anyone bother to examine the "disciple" in front of them? In the firelight, they could only see that he was wearing his own gang's uniform, looking dejected and trembling all over, crying and wailing. They just assumed he was some kid from a gang who had been scared out of his wits.

"You bastard, what are you standing there for? Come with me to see the gang leader! If we mess things up, we'll all be in deep trouble!"

He Yong shoved the "disciple" away, his words trembling.

After saying that, he took off running towards the backyard of the central courtyard, stumbling and almost knocking over the water buckets under the eaves.

"yes!"

Gao Yuan followed him forward.

Gao Yuan was crying and sobbing, and one of his disciples couldn't help but curse him as a coward.

He didn't reply, just kept his head down and followed.

Shen Xuanmo had just emerged from his secluded meditation chamber when he was startled by the commotion. He heard the disciples shouting and the crackling of flames scorching the wood outside the courtyard.

He pushed open the door and saw flames shooting into the sky and a scene of utter chaos. He was both shocked and furious. Just as he was about to go out and inquire about the situation, he saw He Yong and a disciple blocking the entrance to the hall.

"Where are the others? What happened?"

He Yong grabbed Gao Yuan and rushed forward, his voice trembling as he respectfully said, "Chief! Something terrible has happened! Someone has broken into our camp and set it on fire! I've already sent men to seal the gates and put out the fire, and...and..."

Shen Xuanmo was extremely anxious, his expression changed drastically, and he shouted, "What do you mean, 'still'? Speak!"

He Yong hung his head: "Also, a disciple reported that... Vice Chief Lu... died on Qianmen Street."

Even as the leader of a gang, Shen Xuanmo was shocked to hear this terrible news, his face filled with disbelief.

"Tell me what happened!"

Upon hearing the order, He Yong suddenly pulled Gao Yuan up and shoved him forward. Due to the considerable force, Gao Yuan naturally fell to the ground, rolled over, and knelt down in front of Shen Xuanmo.

"Speak immediately! How did Brother Lu die? If you utter even a single word of embellishment, you'll be executed on the spot!"

Shen Xuanmo was furious. He stared at the trembling disciple on the ground and gritted out the words through his teeth.

Gao Yuan sobbed, "Disciple...disciple encountered you in the front hall..."

"You bastard, you can't even speak properly! If you don't explain yourself, I'll cripple you..."

Seeing Gao Yuan's evasive and unclear speech, Shen Xuanmo was furious. He grabbed Gao Yuan's shoulder with one hand and was about to pull him up to answer when he was about to unleash his full strength.

He had just uttered the word "you" when Gao Yuan, who had been holding him halfway up to his waist, suddenly attacked, striking his lower abdomen with both palms with a "bang".

Shen Xuanmo's eyes widened, and in an instant he felt a tremendous force surge from his abdomen, the energy rushing into his body like a turbulent sea.

A sweet taste rose in his throat, and a mouthful of blood spurted onto the ground with a "plop." Shen Xuanmo was so shaken by the internal energy that he staggered back seven or eight steps before the force of the attack subsided.

He pressed his lower abdomen, staring incredulously at the face of the "disciple" before him.

He Yong was also stunned by the scene before him. Just as he was about to run to call for help, he saw Gao Yuan rushing up and attacking him with a palm strike.

He Yong, unaware of Gao Yuan's prowess, reached out to receive the attack.

"Snap!"

A bone fracture accompanied by a scream; as he took the hit head-on, his elbow joint pierced through his body, causing him to howl in agony.

Then Gao Yuan struck his xiphoid process with a "smack." The seemingly soft, cotton-like palm strike instantly caused him to collapse like wet mud, dying without uttering a sound.

In the firelight, Gao Yuan slowly raised his head, his brows and eyes showing no trace of cowardice, only a cold, mocking smile.

"It's...it's you!"

Gao Yuan wiped the bloodstains from his shoulder, his movements slow and deliberate: "That's right, it's the person you've been so eager to find for Penglai."

At this moment, Shen Xuanmo's internal organs were ruptured, his internal energy was blocked, and he was at the mercy of others.

Gao Yuan walked towards him along the pillar and said calmly, "Now, tell me, who are you going to cripple?"

......