Forge a path to success

unless……

The shotgunner considered that desperate possibility: "He's a master craftsman—!"

He only had time to utter those words before the second water bullet shattered the glass and struck his heart, knocking the "shotgunner" unconscious. Mid-air, Chu Hengkong spun to dodge the thrust, kicking left and right, striking the Ouyang brothers' wrists. The Ouyang brothers staggered back in pain, barely managing to grip their spears, while Chu Hengkong landed calmly. He leaped up, clearing the mud, and in the blink of an eye, was between the two brothers.

The Ouyang brothers thrust again, but Chu Hengkong turned sideways, pressing down on the left spear shaft with his right hand, while his left arm's tentacles wrapped around the right. The spears shifted their trajectory, and the brothers' thrusts were about to collide with each other. Knowing the power of the relics, the two brothers tried to release their grip, but Chu Hengkong seized the opportunity to disarm them, causing the spears to fall to the ground. He took a step to the right, raising his crossed arms and slashing down left and right. His right fist struck first, sending the elder Ouyang brother flying, while his left arm's tentacles struck the younger Ouyang brother in the face.

Upon taking the tentacle's blow head-on, Ouyang's younger brother immediately foamed at the mouth. Chu Hengkong changed his attack from pulling to entangling, lifting him up and hurling him at the oncoming Bai Zhang. Seeing his companion charging towards him, Bai Zhang had no choice but to swing his arm to deflect it. This deflection caused him to lose sight of his enemy, and Chu Hengkong seized the opportunity to leap into the crowd, his tentacles lashing out at the fleeing Swamp Curse Master!

Chapter 23 The First Appearance of a Special Skill

The moment Chu Hengkong leaped out of the swamp, the Swamp Spellcaster immediately turned and fled. He wasn't an Ascended One, nor was he possessed by a demon; his reputation was built entirely on poison and relic weapons. But his most proficient swamp traps couldn't even stop this ruthless man for a second. What use was he if he stayed here except to wait for death?

So he ran without hesitation, leaving his client and that damned million behind. His boots whistled, making him literally as fast as the wind. These were wind boots that could temporarily increase burst speed; the Swamp Spellcaster had relied on these relics to escape pursuit many times. He used the wind to escape onto the roof, determined to get completely away from this place of trouble.

But after the whistling sound, another sound followed, that of Chu Hengkong, who was close behind. He kept up with the enhanced leg strength of the relic using only his own two legs, and the tentacle whip was about to lash out.

"Go ahead and fight Bai Zhang if you dare!" The Swamp Spellcaster dodged the whip's blow in a sorry state. "I'll take you down first." Chu Hengkong quickened his pace to keep up with him. The two of them leaped from the edge of the rooftop at the same time, throwing punches in mid-air! The Swamp Spellcaster threw a desperate right punch, but his fist was entangled by Chu Hengkong's tentacles. Immediately afterward, Chu Hengkong unleashed a lightning-fast three-hit combo.

"Ugh——!"

The abdomen, chest, and philtrum—three strikes landed almost simultaneously with protruding knuckles. The swamp sorcerer was on the verge of losing consciousness, but he managed to whistle a tune on his flute, turning his footing into a swamp in an attempt to delay Chu Hengkong's advance. But Chu Hengkong's offensive was not over. After the three strikes, he used his tentacles to pull the swamp sorcerer closer, finishing him off with a knee strike in mid-air!

Saliva, stomach acid, and blood gushed from the Swamp Sorcerer's mouth, the excruciating pain nearly rupturing his nerves. He lost consciousness and fell into the swamp he had created, while Chu Hengkong used his tentacles to hook onto the security window outside the building, gracefully swinging back to the market and landing 10 meters behind Bai Zhang. Enemy intelligence flashed through his mind.

【"Hundred Palms"】

Bounty: 17 Flowing Pearls.

-

He has peculiar beliefs, is bloodthirsty by nature, and is physically strong.

-

It lurks in the eastern part of the central courtyard, randomly killing people with cruel methods.

-

A single, skillful touch! Incredible pressure, a single, decisive blow!

He dealt the swamp sorcerer the heaviest blow, because the poisonous swamp posed a greater threat than any weapon. The final enemy was a "skillful hand," who didn't want to fight a point mass on poisonous ground.

"What fucking trash. Two spearmen couldn't even last as long as the one who used poison!"

Bai Zhang cursed as he turned around. His hands were large and rough, his skin equally coarse, and a crescent-shaped scar etched on his solid chest gave him an ominous look. This time, contrary to his usual behavior, Chu Hengkong did not close the distance. Instead, he flung two water bullets at Bai Zhang's eyes. Bai Zhang raised his palms to defend himself, and the water bullets splashed as they hit his palms, but Bai Zhang was unharmed.

"It's alright..." Hundred Palms grinned maliciously, raising his hand. "I'll still kill you!"

He slammed his palm down on the tin shed where a noodle stall was located by the roadside, and the stall collapsed with a teeth-grinding creak. The people inside screamed and fled, watching as the shed, which could have held several people, shrank layer by layer under his palm, and in the blink of an eye, it was compressed into an iron ball the size of a fist. Bai Zhang picked up the iron ball and shouted as he threw it. The iron ball grazed past Chu Hengkong, who was dodging, and smashed into the ground, creating a deep crater.

This is why Chu Hengkong didn't rush in. The intelligence report stated that this person's skillful hands possessed a near-lethal compression ability, enough to compress a person into a sphere of blood and bone. Chu Hengkong didn't intend to use this thing to test his physical strength. While dodging, he threw water bullets in response, but Bai Zhang's large palms acted like shields, blocking the water bullets. That "pressure" could also crush incoming bullets and hidden weapons. His reaction speed was far more agile than it appeared, and his defense was equally impenetrable.

"What's wrong, Chief Inspector! Is that all you've got?" Bai Zhang hurled compressed soil and metal in quick succession, followed by three more incredibly heavy projectiles that hurtled towards them with a powerful gust of wind. Chu Hengkong stopped throwing water bombs, steadied himself in a horse stance, and swung his tentacles. His silver whip struck the projectiles, but instead of splitting them as everyone expected, the tentacles stretched out like rubber bands, using the elasticity to deflect the projectiles back.

Before new stones could form, the old projectiles had already turned and flew towards him. Bai Zhang hurriedly withdrew his palm to defend, crushing three projectiles with a single strike. The exploding dirt and stones, however, obscured his vision. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chu Hengkong sprinted forward, shooting towards Bai Zhang's back like an arrow. He intended to launch an attack from Bai Zhang's blind spot, crushing his opponent with a fatal punch.

However, Chu Heng's punch was a beat too slow, and only when he was behind him could he see Bai Zhang's other hand hanging down. That hand held a transparent sphere, the rear hand that had been heavily compressed by "skillful hands"...

It's highly compressed air!

Bai's palm crushed the air sphere. The burst of air transformed into invisible blades, carrying momentum straight towards Chu Hengkong's face. Chu Hengkong immediately crossed his arms in defense. He felt as if he had been hit head-on by a car, the unrestrained force instantly propelling him several meters. He crashed through countless fruits and vegetables until he finally came to a stop, barely managing to strike a concrete wall.

The immense impact caused spiderweb-like cracks to appear on the wall, and the air blades slashed wounds across his arms, silver blood flowing from the tentacles. Chu Hengkong took a deep breath, compressing his muscles to forcefully stop the bleeding. Bai Zhang's laughter pierced his ears as he charged forward with his arms outstretched, as ferocious as a truck floored on its accelerator.

"I will offer your flesh and blood to the moon!" Hundred Palms laughed wildly. "Before you die, take a good look... this is what 'skillful hands' truly means!"

The crescent-shaped scar on his chest gleamed with a dark light, and ugly, fleshy bulges sprouted from both sides of his wrists. These newly grown flesh rapidly enlarged, forming yet another pair of hands. The four hands continued to multiply relentlessly, from four to eight, eight to sixteen… In the blink of an eye, the shadows of the giant hands covered the earth, the hundred hands becoming a sprawling tree, the ever-growing giant hands its branches and leaves. One hundred hands formed a net around Chu Hengkong, each hand possessing terrifying compressive power, each hand a "skillful hand"!

This is the origin of the title "Hundred Palms"—he is a powerful figure with a hundred skillful hands, and even a hundred elite soldiers would be no match for him. Chu Hengkong felt difficulty breathing as the pressure subsided; the gas within the net was decreasing, and a hundred compressed air balls were simultaneously being generated. Hundred Palms intended to blast him alive within the net, and if he dared to break through rashly, he would be the one to die in their palms.

“It’s all brute force, no skill,” Chu Hengkong said. “It’s not true dexterity.”

Even now, he still had the energy to smile, commenting on his enemy's actions like a seasoned master. The long-awaited injury had excited him, igniting his fighting spirit and allowing his martial arts instincts to overshadow his assassination skills. Chu Hengkong raised his right hand behind his back, leaning slightly forward, his left arm taut like a silver, soft sword. He thrust that soft sword straight out, aimed directly at one of the hundred palm strikes in front of him.

A bloodthirsty excitement gleamed in Bai Zhang's eyes as he anticipated the blood splattering when his tentacle was crushed. But suddenly, he felt a needle-like pain, an agony that seemed to penetrate to the bone, seizing control of his nerves and causing his hand to involuntarily turn. The half-formed air blast shattered, and the rampaging wind blades cut his own hand!

Bai Zhang stared in disbelief, catching a glimpse of Chu Hengkong's smile through his fingers. After a stealthy thrust, the tentacle retracted, followed by a barrage of cunning and deadly strikes. The attacks struck fingertips, lashed the soles of palms, and sometimes merely grazed the fingertips; but once they landed, the hand would move erratically, completely out of control. The rhythm of the compressed air bullets was utterly disrupted, the whirlwind of energy slicing through muscle, causing streaks of blood to bloom on Bai Zhang's web.

The hundred palms' attack was instantly torn apart, because the moment Chu Hengkong made his move, the enemy's body no longer belonged to him. This was true mastery, the ability to control every piece of flesh and blood within one's own body, thus allowing for the free control of others' bodies. In some legendary tales, this is called acupoint striking; in certain faiths, it is referred to as the demonic puppet hand; and in most of the dust islands of the Submerged Realm, it has a resounding and infamous reputation—

Dragon Township Boxing Technique!

"You... a martial arts practitioner from Dragon Township?!"

Crimson blood rained down, easily tearing through the intricate net of a hundred palms, who cried out in disbelief. Chu Hengkong leaped out of the net through a gap, somersaulting in mid-air behind the hundred palms. In desperation, the hundred palms abandoned the encirclement and turned, spreading their palms in front of them for protection. Chu Hengkong concentrated, preparing to kill his enemy with a powerful punch, but at that moment, his tentacles twitched excitedly. The fighting spirit excited by the battle seemed to have activated an inspiration, giving him a faint feeling of the day he ascended to immortality.

He adapted to the strange sensation, changing his stance and letting inspiration surge through his body. His right fist, about to strike, clenched into a claw, the surging energy flowing into his left arm, causing the tentacles to compress inward inch by inch. As the power reached its peak, Chu Hengkong's eyes shone like bright lamps. He exhaled sharply, his left foot stomping forward, the power from all parts of his body instantly converging, and his surging left arm transformed into a silver flash!

This was Chu Hengkong's fastest attack ever. The exploding tentacles were like indestructible spears, their tips unleashing white sonic booms. The force of the attack shattered Bai Zhang's hands, creating a bloody hole in his chest and abdomen!

Bai Zhang was blown high into the air by the raging storm, his blood splattering down to form a crimson trail. His teammates, who had been calling for help with their communicators, instinctively lowered their arms. They, along with the citizens, gazed at the man who had thrown the punch, as if looking up to a hero beyond human comprehension.

Chu Hengkong withdrew his tentacles, brushed the dust off his body, and was extremely satisfied with this ingenious move that had come from inspiration. He was pondering what to name this move when he turned around and saw Ji Huaisu leading his team to provide support.

"Wow!" The blonde girl exclaimed, her mouth agape. "Tentacle Spring Fist!"

Chapter 24 Imminent

"I'm so sorry~ I didn't mean to~"

Ji Huaisu chuckled awkwardly and rubbed his hands together, while Chu Hengkong silently turned his head to the side. This childish behavior made his partner back down, and he ran to the others and whispered, "This is bad, what should we do? He seems really angry."

Ji Qiufeng, sitting at the head of the conference room, pretended not to hear while blowing on tea leaves, while Youyou beside him tried hard to suppress her laughter. Jie An distributed documents to everyone, shaking his head and sighing, "Girl, you can't blame him this time. It's like a swordsmith who gets inspired and forges a unique weapon, pondering whether to name it Giant Sword Greedy Wolf or Invincible Steel Breaker, and then you suddenly say, 'I think this sword has a very peculiar design, so let's call it Toilet Plunger'... Once those words are spoken, it's all over. From now on, no matter what it's called, everyone will just call it the Divine Sword Toilet Plunger."

Ji Huaisu gasped: "I didn't really mean you used your hand to flush the toilet... oh no, I mean the spring..."

The snake let out a cackle, the first time Chu Hengkong had ever heard a snake laugh in his life; its voice sounded a lot like a duck. He looked up to the sky and sighed, "Aren't we going to have the meeting or not?"

"Alright, enough nonsense, let's begin the meeting. We'll start with the changes in the situation last month..."

The hotpot meal they didn't get to eat was two days ago; now Chu Hengkong is in a meeting. Being promoted to senior detective means he's now a cadre, required to attend monthly meetings, bi-weekly meetings, develop various emergency plans, and participate in discussions on future decisions. Right now, Jie An is standing next to a large map of Huilong City, pointing and gesturing. The map is filled with colorful circles, each connected to a wanted poster by a long line.

He picked up a black pen and crossed out each wanted poster: "...Last month, the case-solving rate reached 93%, and the arrest rate for current wanted criminals is 65%, including Detective Chu arresting 14 people and Captain Ji arresting 10. The first healing temple has been successfully rebuilt, and the second is on the agenda, greatly reducing the pressure on medical services. It may sound unbelievable, but judging from the central courtyard alone, we can say that the local public security is quite good. Currently, the small and medium-sized gangs in the central courtyard have been basically eliminated. What are your thoughts on the next step?"

If we view the restoration of order as a game of "reclaiming lost territory," then the resurrected forces' base is currently three-quarters of the central courtyard. The upper workshop area is almost entirely dark, while the lowest level is a patchwork of dark, fragmented circles, indicating that the forces have virtually no control over these two levels. Their influence is limited to the central courtyard.

“The great scourge of Central Court has not yet been resolved,” Ji Huaisu spoke first. She pointed to the western part of the map, where a huge gray circle was drawn, encompassing nearly a quarter of Central Court. That circle was the most prosperous area of ​​Huilong City, filled with the villas of the wealthy and the bars and casinos that sang every night. A gray cat perched atop the wealth, greedily coveting the capital city at night.

The gray cat's name is the Maivia Club, a giant in the gambling and prostitution industry, and the culprit behind almost all the disappearances in Midgard. Everyone in Dragon City knows that as long as you pay enough, you can get the club's protection. Countless blood-stained criminals have entered the gray cat's lair, indulging in extravagant pleasures under its lavish lights.

"As long as the club exists, the people of Zhongting will never be at ease," Ji Huaisu said coldly. "Now that the small fry have all fallen into the net, we can finally free up our hands. Now we should concentrate our forces and take down the club in one fell swoop!"

Jie An didn't offer any comment, but instead asked, "What is Detective Chu's opinion?"

"Clean up the swamp," Chu Hengkong said succinctly. The swamp was the lowest district of Huilong City, a poor, chaotic place where various sects gathered, known as "Bize".

Jie An immediately beamed: "Oh, I think this is a great idea! The swamp is vast and rich in resources; who knows how many rare medicinal herbs we can find..."

"Don't let personal factors get mixed into the meeting!" Ji Huaisu frowned. "Chu Hengkong, I know you're thinking about that bastard who hired someone to kill you, but the swamp is not a good place. The people there are so obsessed with demons that they've gone mad, and there are too many underhanded tricks in the underworld. It's too risky and the returns are too low, so it's not a good choice."

The five assassins from the day before yesterday were loose-lipped and readily sold out their employer. The eccentric white-robed man resembled a cultist from the swamp, leading Ji Huaisu to believe the idea was motivated by personal revenge. Chu Hengkong didn't refute this, but suddenly said, "After Tina's case, I've been looking for White Eyebrows' henchmen."

"You found it?" Ji Huaisu perked up.

"I've found nothing. There's no relevant information in the relics, the surrounding residents have no recollection of him, and our people are watching the club's entrances and exits every day, but we haven't found a single clue about him." Chu Hengkong pointed out the key issue. "The club's secrecy is too good; I even suspect they have relics that allow them to become invisible or teleport. Now we can't even track down the whereabouts of a mere thug, so how can we talk about destroying the organization behind him?"

Ji Huaisu was speechless for a moment, then said in a fit of pique, "Break down their doors and go find them one by one!"

“If I were still an assassin, I would smash doors on your orders and I would even take the club owner’s head for you,” Chu Hengkong said. “But now I’m a senior detective, and when I smash doors, I’m responsible for the lives of my men. I can smash doors and walk away unscathed, but others can’t.”

Instead of using a rhetorical question, he used a simple declarative sentence, which suppressed Ji Huaisu's anxiety. She gritted her teeth and said dejectedly, "You're right."

“Of course I’m right. I have far more experience in gang warfare than you,” Chu Hengkong laughed. “Although there are numerous sects of all sizes in the swamp, they all see each other as rivals. In the early stages of clearing out cultists, we not only encountered less resistance, but the local forces were also happy to see it happen.”

“But going to the swamp won’t do us any good,” Ji Huaisu emphasized again, clearly strongly opposed to the decision. “Breaking down the club will allow us to seize a large number of Flowing Pearls and relics…”

“Nearly half of the city’s population lives in the swamp. Eliminating the cult in the swamp will greatly stabilize the overall order of Huilong City,” Chu Hengkong pointed out. “No amount of money can buy Huilong’s strength.”

Youyou, who was listening in, nodded frequently, looking at Chu Hengkong with the friendliest gaze she had ever seen. Ji Huaisu herself was also convinced, and she reluctantly turned her head: "Father, what do you say?"

Ji Qiufeng smiled slightly, gesturing for him to finish his tea. Chu Hengkong felt a little strange; given his temperament, this man should have already chimed in with jokes and guided the conversation, instead of making him waste so much breath.

Ji Qiufeng put the teacup aside, opened his paper fan, and said with a smile, "Chu Hengkong's suggestion is excellent. You can discuss the specific details, but you must be very careful..."

He lowered his paper fan slightly halfway through his sentence, revealing a patch of crimson that had seeped through the paper, like an ominous red embroidery. Ji Huaisu stood up abruptly: "Father!"

"It's nothing." Ji Qiufeng wiped the blood from his lips with his fan and smiled. "I accidentally bit my tongue, I... cough...!"

He suddenly began to cough violently, coughing so painfully that it felt as if he were coughing up his heart and lungs. Large splatters of foul blood sprayed onto the conference table; at first, it was bright red, but then the blood he coughed up turned gray. Chu Hengkong had never seen human blood turn such a color before, gray and dry like burnt bones. The wooden table, stained with blood, began to rot, instantly turning into a lifeless pile of decaying wood.

Ji Qiufeng coughed so hard he bent over. This usually composed man could no longer maintain his smile; his eyes lost their luster, and he looked like a dying old man. Everyone was stunned for a moment. Only Youyou jumped up urgently: "Xiao An, go pound the medicine! Everyone out, don't come in!"

"I'm going right now." Jie An's face turned ashen, and he rushed out the door. Ji Huaisu wanted to go take care of her father, but Chu Hengkong silently pulled her away. His intuition told him that the gray blood was an extremely terrifying thing, and he must not touch even a trace of it.

Before closing the door, he saw Youyou bravely wade through the blood and filth, emitting a clear light towards Ji Qiufeng.

·

"Mr. Ji, please eat slowly."

"...Much better. Thank you."

"Please don't say that," Jie An said, squeezing her eyes shut. "If I were more successful, you would have..."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Ji Qiufeng smiled weakly. "I'm much better now. Go and rest."

Jie An was equally pale. He nodded silently and stood in the corner. They were still in the conference room. Ji Qiufeng, who was seriously injured and unable to move, had a bed and blankets temporarily brought in.

Ji Huaisu helped her father cover himself with the blanket, her voice trembling involuntarily: "I told you you were pushing yourself too hard! You haven't rested for three whole days..."

"We're all going to die eventually, so whether you sleep or not makes no difference," Ji Qiufeng said calmly. "You need to learn to accept it. You might as well help your father write down his will in advance..."

"I don't want to remember this!" Ji Huaisu roared. "How could I possibly accept this?!"

Ji Qiufeng looked at her helplessly, his eyes revealing a father's doting affection. That look blocked all the words she wanted to say. Ji Huaisu quickly walked out the door, slamming it shut with a loud bang.

Chu Hengkong, who was standing at the door with a water bottle, silently took a step back, avoiding looking at his partner's red eyes. Ji Huaisu vigorously wiped her eyes and pushed him away: "It has nothing to do with you!"

She hurried away, disappearing from Chu Hengkong's sight around the corner, where a faint sob could be heard in the distance. Chu Hengkong remained standing at the doorway, not going in. He recalled Ji Qiufeng's every move, his fiery eyes and ever-composed demeanor, that reassuring air of a powerful figure.

It turns out that all of that was an act. This frail patient was the real Ji Qiufeng, watching death approach every single second. He looked so strong, but in reality, even a water gun would be enough to take his life.

That's why Ji Qiufeng was in such a hurry to teach others, because if he didn't hurry, he would really die.

Chapter 25 Lamenting Mediocrity

The night sky over Huilong City is devoid of stars and moon, save for the ceaseless flow of the water curtain. If the lights were turned off at this hour, there would be no light at all; everything would be pitch black, as if the city were dead.

Jie An lay in deathly silence, holding a pestle in his hand. The small, dark gold pestle was engraved with patterns of clouds and wind, and the handle was shaped like a half-open lotus flower. This was an exquisitely crafted work of art, meant to be solemnly offered in a ceremony, not held in the greasy hands of a cook.

Jie An also felt he shouldn't have held this thing; it was too sentient, even emitting light in the pitch-black night, its reflection illuminating his ugly face on the lotus petals. What a shameful expression! A grown man in his thirties looking like he was about to cry, yet an overwhelming sense of oppression welled up inside him, crushing his already dwindling dignity. He unconsciously loosened his grip. The pestle fell and struck his forehead. It hurt terribly. He opened his mouth wide, wanting to scream, but no sound came out; he silently screamed.

Then, after a few seconds, as if realizing his foolishness, Jie An gripped the pestle tightly again, put on his clothes, and went out. The headquarters building was always lit up. He hesitated as he walked towards the dormitory building, stopping as he passed the lounge.

The assassin stood in the doorway, silently watching him.

"Shall we chat?" Chu Hengkong asked.

“Okay,” Jie An said, “Let’s chat.”

On the table sat a half-finished bottle of liquor, the cheap kind Chu Hengkong had bought last time. It was originally half full, but now only a third remained. Ji Huaisu was huddled on the sofa, drinking it silently. Jie An was momentarily surprised; he hadn't expected the two to be so close that they would drink together so late at night. But he quickly realized the truth: they, like him, couldn't sleep, and had both decided to find someone to talk to.

Chu Hengkong poured a cup for Jie An as well: "Tell me about the situation?"

As he spoke, he looked at Ji Huaisu. The blonde girl finished her drink and whispered, "Actually, you can probably guess. Huilong City experienced a great battle, and my father was seriously injured as a result. We are committed to maintaining order in the city in order to restore Lord Huilong's power and hope to heal my father... But it seems that there is not enough time now."

Chu Hengkong nodded and asked, "What will happen if Mr. Ji dies?"

Ji Huaisu was momentarily enraged; she hadn't expected the other party's question to be so cold-blooded. Jie An spoke up before the conflict escalated: "Huilong City is doomed."

"why?"

“The enemy that started the war hasn’t left; they’re still waiting for their chance. You’ve seen many demons so far, but there are things outside the city that are even more terrifying than demons…” Jie An said softly. “After Mr. Ji died, they had no more scruples; they will turn the city into a living hell.”

"We also have the mithril."

"not enough."

So everyone fell silent, and the air became deathly still. But Chu Hengkong remained unchanged, his expression unreadable, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

“Then we need to think of a way to save Mr. Ji,” Chu Hengkong said. He spoke so naturally, as if he could do it himself. “You won’t rely solely on Huilong, Jie An, you must have a way too. I heard Youyou asked you to make medicine.”