Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Qasim, who was sitting some distance away, moved a chair over and, for the first time in a long time, felt a surge of curiosity.

He no longer possessed a living physical body; his meridians and blood vessels had long since withered and died, naturally rendering him incapable of learning any martial arts. At this moment, he was simply curious about how the second "transmission of skills" between the two would end.

……

Finally, after about five minutes, the wolf opened its tightly closed eyes, looking confused and bewildered.

"Senior brother, aren't you going to start? I'm ready."

"Huh? I..." Zhang Renfeng's eyes widened in astonishment. "I've been circulating my internal energy the whole time, didn't you feel it?"

The girl shook her head. "In the past few minutes, my senior brother's twelve meridians and eight extraordinary meridians were all very stable, without the slightest sign of internal energy fluctuations, just like a still stone. Logically, this shouldn't be the case; I thought..."

Upon careful consideration, Lang realized that Zhang Renfeng would never joke about such a matter, so he took back the rest of his sentence.

But now, things are becoming increasingly complicated.

Zhang Renfeng was utterly perplexed. He channeled his inner energy again and indeed felt it circulating and flowing within his body. Something that the body could directly perceive could not possibly be fake.

but……

“Master once told me that the [Minor Formless Skill] is inherently formless and invisible, without any trace. Even those who haven’t practiced it can’t easily discern it on their own.” Wolf recalled the past and made a bolder guess, “Perhaps… Senior Brother did indeed circulate his internal energy, but due to the characteristics of the Minor Formless Skill, this internal energy left no trace and could not be observed by others.”

"So, this martial art can only be mastered by oneself... Perhaps... after teaching Lu Aniu, Master changed his mind and did it intentionally."

After thinking it over again, Zhang Renfeng also felt it made sense. After all, the Lesser Formless Skill was one of the most top-level martial arts in his school, so how could it be so easy to learn?

The example of Lu Aniu in particular made the master wary, and he dared not impart multiple peerless martial arts techniques to a single disciple.

However, seeing them confined to the present and unable to reach higher levels of martial arts, he felt sorry for them.

The master chose a more moderate approach—he wouldn't give them the cultivation method, but instead taught them the technique of "energy dissipation." Anyone with the will could climb this ladder on their own. Along the way, comprehension, effort, practical experience, and opportunity were all indispensable.

And finally, at the top of the ladder lies our sect's ultimate technique, the [Lesser Formless Skill]!

This is a reward for climbers; those who have been tested all the way are less likely to go astray in the end.

----

"It's alright, little wolf. Your talent is so outstanding; you're just temporarily stuck. One day, you'll break through this barrier. With the Lesser Formless Skill, combined with your Rama Skill, I alone am enough to handle this battle."

Zhang Renfeng flexed his wrists, his eyes gleaming with eagerness, and said, "I've only just entered this realm, and my development of this martial art..."

"It's probably not even one percent!"

Chapter 850: The Raiders

"Ah!"

After sneezing, Lu Aniu was surprised and wiped his nose.

"You can catch a cold?" Kusaya Kari teased. "I thought viruses couldn't even get into your body."

"A sound, someone must be thinking of me." Lu Aniu took out the key, turned it once at the dungeon door to unlock the large lock, and with a gentle push, opened the dungeon door directly.

Smoke and dust billowed, creating an eerie atmosphere that no amount of torches could illuminate. But the two seemed oblivious, stepping inside. The thatched hut's owner, Karimasa, even looked around as if he were a tourist.

Because he was close to Lu Aniu, he had long heard of Oak City's existence, but upon entering the city, he was still shocked by its sheer size and luxurious architecture. He was even more astonished to learn that such an extravagant city was built solely to satisfy one person's lust for power.

Money can move mountains; this has been true throughout history and across the world.

"They even recreated the dungeon?" he couldn't help but exclaim. "That's quite a feat."

“He pays great attention to details,” Lu Aniu said casually. “Especially those details that ordinary people might not even notice, things hidden beneath the surface, he strives for perfection in them. He’s the kind of person who, when rehearsing a play, will act opposite you even if you’re just an extra who only appears once and doesn’t even have any lines.”

"Without extraordinary abilities, how could a shoemaker's son have risen to this point, holding power over most of the country in his hands?"

"You must have helped a lot behind this, right?" Kusaya Kari said with a smile.

"..." Lu Aniu did not answer him.

“I can actually understand you, Riku, really,” Kusaya Kari said. “I think… we’re essentially the same. We’re both pursuing pretty much the same things. And those things can only be given to us by those who are close to the center of power.”

He crossed his arms and said self-deprecatingly, "However, compared to you, my skills are really nothing to brag about. But, on the little island nation I serve, it's enough."

"None of us are cut out to be officials, so once we spot someone suitable, we must hold on tight. We must become his advisors, clear all obstacles for him, and assist him in ascending to the throne of power."

“In this process, we will always encounter some fools who cannot be suppressed, bribed, or bribed… That’s when it’s our turn to step in.”

The cold firelight shone on the hilts of the two samurai swords hanging at his waist, reflecting a chilling light.

Lu Aniu remained silent throughout.

"It was you who chose him, who chose that shoemaker's child. Rather than saying you're a henchman of the Illuminati, it's more accurate to say..."

"It is because of you that the Illuminati was able to fight its way out of the early struggles. Sowing seeds and spreading influence in the northern border of this country is all thanks to you."

At this point, Kusaya Kari shook his head. "You are clearly the one who made all of this possible, but because of your skin color, you have never been able to step into the limelight. What a pity."

“It doesn’t matter.” Lu Aniu stared into his eyes, his gaze sharp as a sword, as if trying to pierce through his eyes through the bamboo hat. “I don’t want much.”

"I've always been someone despised by everyone... I'm used to it."

"As long as the people I know respect me, that's enough."

“Now, you have cleared your obstacles. And I am about to clear mine,” Kusaya Kari said with a smile. “Isn’t this the perfect ending?”

……

Lu Aniu did not answer.

Deep down, he knew very well that Zhang Renfeng was not dead, but had only fallen off a cliff, and that they would have a battle sooner or later.

But he doesn't intend to tell anyone.

Just like in the old martial arts novels, he went to the appointment alone, and only he and his opponent knew about it. It was a sign of mutual respect between masters.

Lu Aniu had longed for the elegance of martial arts masters, but when he actually became one, he discovered that this so-called "jianghu" (martial arts world) was completely different from what he had imagined. It was just as full of deceit, treachery, and open and covert attacks.

Nowadays, it's rare to find an opponent like Zhang Renfeng, who is so pure in his approach to martial arts and life.

He eagerly anticipated the duel as he used the key to unlock the heavy padlock.

"As agreed, the man is yours. Take him back. I'll arrange a ship at the nearest port to take you directly back to Japan." Lu Aniu's tone carried a hint of warning. "But, what you promised us..."

"Don't worry." Before he could finish speaking, Kasaya Karimasa nodded and said, "I will tell my superiors everything I saw and heard on this trip to the West."

"He's a smart man; he knows how to maximize our interests."

----

Under the cool moonlight.

Ren's hands were bound behind his back as he sat in a very luxurious carriage, which was moving smoothly along the main road.

Peering outwards, one could vaguely see traces of war—Colonel Monroe had led his troops in a fierce firefight with the locals. The prisoners were being held separately, and Ren had no idea what became of his other comrades.

After regaining consciousness, all his weapons were removed, and he was kept in a solitary confinement cell. Apart from receiving food periodically, he had no communication with the outside world. He tried to contact the outside world, but all his attempts failed.

Until tonight, this figure that often appears in my nightmares came to the cell.

……

His two samurai swords were also stuffed into a package like miscellaneous items and placed on the seat opposite him.

"...What will happen to my knife?"

"What do you think?" Kusaya Karimasa's voice was icy cold. "The sword of a traitor is just like the fate of a traitor."

"The Kenkawa family crest will be erased, the sword will be broken and reforged. Your family, your surname, the fact that you ever existed—all the evidence will be wiped from history. As if you never existed, completely clean, leaving no trace!"

“Some people will remember.” Ren raised his head and looked at him calmly. “Some people will remember that there was once a ‘war ghost’ who raised his sword and rebelled against the brutal new government built on assassination.”

"How many times do I have to tell you before you understand?" Kusaya Kari sneered. "Only the victors can write history."

"What you've done is, in essence, against human nature... Human nature is about plunder and seizure. It's about taking away the resources that others possess by any means necessary to prolong one's own life! Simply put, the plunderer is the victor!"

"The two people you followed were not raiders. They are both dead now, and you will be just like them. That's what victory is..."

……

Halfway through his sentence, Ren's expression suddenly changed, and he immediately lowered his body and moved to the right side of the carriage.

Grass-dwelling Kari Masaru reacted a moment later than him, but quickly made the same judgment.

"boom-----!!!"

A violent explosion suddenly rang out, and the impact threw a horse off its feet. The remaining horses were immediately startled and went berserk, galloping wildly.

First came a few sporadic gunshots.

Then, the gunfire intensified, echoing through the quiet night sky!

Chapter 851: The Train Problem

"This lock is specially made, a two-way... no, a three-way pin tumbler lock. The structure is quite complex, and it may take some time..."

"Click!"

Before the worried expressions on everyone's faces could even fade a few more seconds, a crisp sound rang out. Alana breathed a sigh of relief, rose from her half-kneeling position, and casually removed the padlock as if picking a flower. "OK, all done."

"...Seriously?" Silverfrost was stunned when she first witnessed Alana's lock-picking ability. She was amazed once again, and once again marveled that none of those who could enter the Red Center were ordinary people. "She's almost as good as Arahoku."

"It's alright, this is my specialty, I have to be fast."

“Normally, a lock of this strength could be fixed even faster…”

Alana skillfully pried open the keyhole, supported the lock with a towel without making a sound, and signaled to the people behind her to get ready.

The chief and the peregrine falcon exchanged a glance, took their wooden bows from their backs, and each nocked an arrow. Calaway, however, didn't immediately reach for his gun. Instead, he took a short dagger from his belt, instinctively twirled it to get a feel for its weight, and gripped the blade with two fingers, ready to throw it at any moment.

……

After discussion, they confirmed the first group of scouts to infiltrate Oak City: Karlovy, Silverfrost, Peregrine Falcon, Chieftain, and Angel Eyes.

Given their mission—to scout out the city and rescue as many trapped people as possible—"infiltration" constitutes a large portion of their task. The trio belonging to Takagi are all masters in this area, while Caloway and Angel Eyes act as the team's safety net.

Even if they are exposed, with their marksmanship and firepower, they can still fight their way out and find a way to retreat.

Once he successfully rescues his trapped companions, Caloway will send a signal to create a huge commotion with explosives, causing chaos in the city.

Meanwhile, the soldiers stationed outside the city, led by Meteora, launched an attack and recaptured Oak City, turning it into their territory.

At the agreed time and place, they successfully met Evelyn, who had been disguised as Henderson's sommelier all this time without ever being exposed. Under her guidance, everything went remarkably smoothly; they bypassed the patrolling sentries and headed straight for the dungeon where the members were being held.

Faced with the large padlock hanging on the door, Evelyn was powerless. After all, she was just an actress, and it was impossible for her to steal the key from the guard.

Fortunately, their team also had a lock-picking master whose skill was comparable to that of the Arahu Cave Opening Spell.

----

"Well done, young lady, I'm impressed with you." Calaway first acknowledged Evelyn's contribution, then changed the subject, saying, "However, you're not a combatant, so you shouldn't participate in the next operation."

"But...I..."

"No buts."

Calaway became serious, his tone revealing an undeniable authority, "You've given everything you could. You performed exceptionally well on your battlefield, but the next battlefield is one where you have to actually shoot and kill, which isn't suitable for you."

"Believe me, based on my understanding of Lao Zhang, even if he were here now, he would do the same."

"..." Evelyn hesitated, glanced at the well-equipped group, then looked down at her own small frame. She stopped arguing, nodded, and said softly, "I will pray to the gods for your victory."

“This city is about to descend into chaos. Bullets, explosives, grenades… they’ll be thrown from all directions. She’s all alone; nowhere is safe for her.” Angel Eyes, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up, volunteering, “I’ll take her to safety and then come back to support you.”

"Huh?" Evelyn was a little surprised, because she had never had any contact with Angel Eyes before.

It wasn't that she didn't want to, but Angel Eyes was an extremely mysterious person who rarely appeared in public. Even when he did appear, he exuded an aura of "keep away," usually hiding in a corner far from the crowd, either drinking or observing others from a distance, enjoying himself. Most people, upon seeing this aura, would naturally keep their distance from him.

Of course, besides these reasons...

Evelyn felt somewhat afraid of those strange pupils, especially the sun ring embedded in them.

Looking into his eyes, it felt as if any wavering in her resolve would allow him to see right through her. When he wasn't speaking, he would silently gaze at her, and through those eyes, Evelyn seemed to see others—things she couldn't understand or deal with.

Perhaps... only someone as brave and valiant as Zhang Renfeng could make Angel Eyes willingly work under his command.

……

“Indeed, the little girl isn’t very capable in combat. It would be better to have an experienced person by her side.” After a moment’s thought, Carlo quickly agreed to his request. “Then it’s settled. Let’s get started.”

He winked at the chief.

The latter understood, gently pushed open the wooden door of the bunker with his shoulder, and after opening a crack, immediately drew his bow and released the arrow that had been nocked earlier.