SWDnovel Chapter 110 A caged beast, who is the prey in this game?
Chapter 110 A caged beast, who is the prey in this game?
Chapter 111 A caged beast, who is the prey in this game?
Bai Feng's fingers were still trembling; she was truly terrified.
She pointed to the pitch-black night outside the window, her voice trembling.
"The backyard."
"There's an air-raid shelter down there built by foreigners. They say it was constructed to German standards, with reinforced concrete, so even heavy artillery couldn't break through it—"
"Commander Zhang—he's right down there."
Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng frowned slightly.
Underground fortress?
This is a bit tricky.
If it were a building on the ground, with his current Ghostly Steps and his skill in scaling walls and rooftops, it would be as easy as walking on flat ground.
But that underground turtle shell is a dead end; getting in is easy, getting out is difficult. Moreover, once such a confined space is discovered, they can easily block an opening, release toxic fumes, or flood it, trapping the turtle in a jar.
"unlucky."
Lu Cheng cursed inwardly.
This division commander is also a rat in the Chinese zodiac; why does he have to crawl into a hole for no reason?
In the brief moment that Lu Cheng was distracted...
Bai Feng, who had been huddled in the corner of the sofa, crying her eyes out, suddenly had a hint of resentment flash in her eyes.
She was a warlord's concubine, a woman who had been steeped in the corrupting influence of this chaotic world.
She knew that she had betrayed Commander Zhang's hiding place. Even if Lu Cheng didn't kill her, she would still be burned alive when Commander Zhang returned.
Either way, it's a dead end.
Since we're going to die anyway, we might as well take a gamble.
"Go to hell."
Bai Feng's hands were always hidden under that thick fox fur coat.
At that moment, she abruptly pulled her hand away.
In her hand was a small, exquisite Browning pistol with an ivory handle, a little trinket given to her by Division Commander Zhang for self-defense, which she usually kept hidden in a secret pocket of her coat.
The distance is too close.
Less than three steps.
Although this woman had never practiced martial arts, in this life-or-death situation, her fierce determination erupted, and her movements were surprisingly fast.
The dark muzzle of the gun was pointed directly at Lu Cheng's chest.
"Bang!"
A shot rang out.
Flames shot out, and the smell of gunpowder instantly filled the entire room.
A ferocious look of ecstatic joy appeared on Bai Feng's face.
It's a sure thing! It's so close, it must have been a sure thing.
As long as I kill him and take his head to the warlord, it will be a great achievement. Not only will I not die, but I will also become the true mistress of the warlord's mansion.
however.
next second.
The smile on her face froze.
Because she saw that the man who should have been lying in a pool of blood was still standing there.
His body swayed slightly, as if he had been blown by the wind.
The bullet grazed his night clothes and struck the antique shelf behind him, shattering a Qing Dynasty Qianlong period famille rose vase with a crash.
"you----"
Bai Feng's eyes widened as if she had seen a ghost.
How is that possible?
How did he manage to dodge at such close range?
Lu Cheng looked at her, his eyes showing no anger, only a faint mockery.
Since acquiring the talent of "seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune," coupled with his heightened spiritual awareness after mastering the Dark Force, even the slightest bit of killing intent is as conspicuous to him as a torch in the dark night.
He knew the moment Bai Feng made her hand move.
"In your next life, may you be reborn into a better family, so you won't be a plaything for warlords again."
Lu Cheng's wrist twitched slightly.
"Whoosh—"
A locust-shaped stone, no bigger than a fingernail, flew from his fingertip.
There was no earth-shattering sound.
There was only a very faint "plop" sound.
The pebble, imbued with hidden force, pierced Bai Feng's brow.
It's like nailing a piece of tofu in.
Bai Feng's body suddenly stiffened.
The gun in her hand fell to the ground with a "clatter".
The light in those beautiful eyes quickly faded, finally settling on a look of extreme fear and regret.
Her body went limp and she sank into the expensive leather sofa, like a withered flower that had faded in the mud of this chaotic world.
Lu Cheng didn't look at her again.
He walked over, bent down, and picked up the small pistol with the ivory handle.
I held it in my hand and weighed it in my hand.
"This is the Browning M1906? That's a pocket pistol for ladies."
Lu Cheng fiddled with it for a moment, then removed the magazine and checked it; there were five bullets left.
"The workmanship is exquisite. Although its power is a bit weak, it is well concealed."
"Keep it, we can give it to Hongyu and Qinglian for self-defense later."
He tucked the gun into his pocket and then searched the body of Wang Wu, the "ghost hand" he had just run over.
He pulled out several silver notes and an unopened bottle of poison.
"Poor wretch."
Lu Cheng pursed his lips and stuffed the silver note into his sleeve.
Then he turned around and strode out.
The footsteps gradually faded away until they disappeared completely in the corridor.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed.
The door of the huge mahogany wardrobe against the wall suddenly moved.
Followed by.
The door slowly opened.
A lean man dressed in black night clothes emerged like a large raccoon.
The man was pale, his forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and he was breathing heavily, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
His name was Zhao Laoliu. He was a notorious lone thief in Beiping City and also a skilled martial artist. He had mastered internal strength techniques, which extended to his waist and legs, and he was extremely good at light footwork.
Tonight, he was invited by Commander Zhang at great expense to "hold the line".
However, this person is cunning.
He sensed something was off about the atmosphere in the room as soon as he arrived.
Especially when that "ghost hand" Wang Wu was slammed against the wall by Lu Cheng like a dead dog, he hid in the cabinet and could see it clearly through the crack.
That collision.
That domineering and boundless force.
There's also the murderous aura emanating from Lu Cheng, which treats human life as worthless.
Zhao Laoliu was so frightened that he almost wet his pants on the spot.
Although he was greedy for money, he valued his life even more.
"My goodness!"
Zhao Laoliu wiped the sweat from his face and looked at the two corpses on the ground, still feeling lingering fear.
"That Lu Cheng—he's a real devil incarnate."
"That old bastard Wang Wu, his Shadowless Needle technique is renowned throughout the martial arts world, yet he couldn't even withstand a single move from this opponent."
"Luckily, I was smart enough to hold my breath and not dare to move. If I had rushed out, I would be the one lying on the ground right now."
Zhao Laoliu patted his chest, feeling his heart still pounding wildly.
He's there to do his job for money, not to die.
This money is too hot to handle.
"No, we can't stay here."
Zhao Laoliu's eyes darted around.
He glanced at the black telephone on the table.
That leads to the guardhouse downstairs.
All it takes is a couple of phone calls to summon hundreds of soldiers downstairs to completely surround the area.
At that time, even if Lu Cheng had wings, he would have had a hard time flying.
He could then achieve great merit, receive a reward of several thousand silver dollars, and enjoy a month or two of pleasure in the Eight Great Hutongs.
Zhao Laoliu reached for the phone.
But at the very moment before he touched her, he abruptly pulled his hand back.
It felt like I'd been burned.
"No, no."
Zhao Laoliu shook his head.
"Since Lu Cheng dared to venture into this dangerous place alone, he must have a backup plan."
Zhao Laoliu dared not gamble.
The reason he's survived this long is because of his "cowardice," which means he knows how to assess the situation.
"You can't make this call; if you do, you'll make a blood feud."
"It's not worth offending such a killing machine for Zhang Laogou's little bit of money."
Having figured this out, Zhao Laoliu breathed a sigh of relief.
Since you're not planning to call the police, then what about the things in this house—
His gaze fell on Bai Feng's wrist.
There was a translucent jade bracelet and a pearl necklace around her neck.
"When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; it's a pity to bury such a good thing in the ground."
"Consider it—a reward for calming my nerves."
Zhao Laoliu was also a habitual thief, quick and efficient.
He rushed over and quickly stripped Bai Feng of all her jewelry. He then rummaged through the room and found a few coins and a stack of silver notes.
"We're rich! We're rich!"
Old Zhao tucked the things into his pocket, feeling incredibly pleased.
This trip was worthwhile; I not only saved my life but also made a windfall.
"withdraw!"
He dared not use the main gate, fearing he would encounter patrolling guards.
He tiptoed to the window, pushed it open a crack, and looked down.
The third floor, not high.
For someone like him who practices light-body skills, this is flat ground.
He flipped over and leaped out of the window, using both his hands and feet to slide down the drainpipe.
It landed silently.
Zhao Laoliu looked around, but there was no one there.
He was secretly delighted, crouched down, and followed the shadows at the base of the wall, preparing to make a quick getaway.
Once he leaves this mansion, the sky's the limit. This money is enough for him to go back to his hometown, buy dozens of acres of land, and become a wealthy man.
however.
Just as he turned a corner, preparing to crawl through the dog hole...
A slender hand emerged from the darkness without warning.
"Holy crap?!"
Zhao Laoliu was so frightened that his soul almost left his body, and the hair on his body stood on end. He instinctively wanted to jump back, while his right hand reached for the short knife at his waist.
But he discovered that he couldn't move.
An immense, suffocating aura had locked him in place.
It felt like being held down by the claws of a prehistoric behemoth.
He turned his head stiffly.
In the shadows of the corner, a person was standing.
He was dressed in black, and his face was not masked, revealing a young and handsome face.
Those eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness, watching him with a half-smile.
Lu Cheng!
He didn't leave!
He had been waiting downstairs!
"Thump."
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhao Laoliu knelt down in the mud.
He's a seasoned veteran, very pragmatic.
If you can't win and you can't run away, then you have no choice but to admit defeat.
"Master Lu—Grandmaster Lu, Lord Lu, Ancestor Lu!"
Zhao Laoliu's voice trembled as he quickly pulled out all the gold bars, silver notes, and jewelry he had been carrying, holding them in both hands and raising them above his head.
"I was wrong, I'll hand over the items right now."
"I was just passing by, I had no intention of going against you."
Lu Cheng did not accept the valuables.
He simply watched Zhao Laoliu quietly, his eyes filled with amusement.
"Zhao Laoliu, the thief from Ruyi Pavilion."
Lu Cheng immediately recognized his background.
"Your skill at 'climbing a wall like a gecko' is quite good; you're starting to get the hang of it."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Laoliu became even more flustered.
The fact that someone has figured out everything about me means that they've been watching me for a long time.
"Master Lu, you flatter me. My skills are mere trifles; they would be like showing off my limited abilities in front of you."
Zhao Laoliu kowtowed repeatedly.
"Master Lu, for the sake of—for the sake of Master Li, please spare my life."
"Third Master Li?"
Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Zhao Laoliu, as if grasping at a straw, hurriedly said, "Third Master Li is my childhood friend. We've known each other since we were little kids."
"The other day—the other day, about that incident at the Simin Martial Arts Club, Third Master Li went to ask for help, and I went too."
"I was lying on the roof at the time, keeping watch for our people."
"My feelings for you, Master Lu, are nothing but reverence, nothing but admiration."
"I'm here today purely because—because I'm really short on cash."
Zhao Laoliu had a bitter face, and his expression was full of helplessness.
"But I swear, I really didn't mean to lay a hand on you. I didn't dare utter a sound while I was in the closet."
Lu Cheng listened, a smile appearing on his lips.
In fact, he had recognized the man long ago.
That rainy night, the Simin Martial Arts Club had a major battle.
Under his keen observation, he did indeed see a person lying on the roof.
Although that person didn't directly engage in combat, he did help the martial arts school disciples by giving them a warning, and even secretly threw a few tiles, knocking out two Japanese ninjas who were trying to launch a sneak attack.
Although he was a mercenary hired for money, he wasn't completely wicked when it came to matters of principle.
Moreover, this person had the opportunity to call the police upstairs, but didn't.
This shows that he is a smart person and also a person with principles.
"Alright, get up."
Lu Cheng said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Laoliu felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly got up from the ground, but his back was still bent, and he dared not look directly at Lu Cheng.
"If you touched that phone upstairs just now..."
Lu Cheng looked at him, his tone calm.
"You're a dead man now."
Zhao Laoliu shuddered, and cold sweat broke out again.
He knew that Lu Cheng wasn't trying to scare him.
If that grappling hook had been thrown earlier, it could have ripped a hole in his head even through the cabinet door.
"Thank you—thank you, Master Lu, for sparing my life." Zhao Laoliu bowed deeply again and explained.
"We martial arts practitioners may seem glamorous, but it's actually tough."
"The world is in chaos, and prices are skyrocketing. Dozens of mouths in my martial arts school are waiting to be fed. My students need meat to practice and medicine to buy when they get injured."
"Well—we're really out of options."
He pointed to Commander Zhang's safe, which wasn't properly locked.
"I was thinking, General Zhang has already amassed so much wealth from the people, he won't be short of a little more."
"I'm thinking of borrowing some 'travel expenses'."
"By the way—"
Zhao Laoliu gritted his teeth, a hint of hatred flashing in his eyes.
"It would be even better if we could take a few foreign guns back with us."
"In this day and age, no matter how good your martial arts skills are, you're still afraid of a kitchen knife, and even more afraid of a foreign gun."
"I want to get some weapons for my apprentices. In case the Japanese invade one day, we can't just go and fight them with swords and spears, can we? That would be suicide!"
These are very true words.
This is also the most authentic portrayal of the martial arts world during the Republic of China era.
The old saying "the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts" is outdated. Nowadays, most martial artists are dirt poor, and they have to do all sorts of dirty and hard work to keep their martial arts schools and preserve their traditions.
Lu Cheng looked at Zhao Laoliu.
He noticed the bulging cloth bag at the man's waist, which likely contained the gold bars and silver dollars he had looted during the chaos.
But he also saw that when Bai Feng was about to shoot him, Zhao Laoliu's hand had actually reached for the throwing knife at his waist.
If I hadn't acted so quickly, this man probably would have also stepped in to save the person.
He is a loyal and righteous person.
"Since it's for the sake of resisting Japan, that's a noble cause."
Lu Cheng said calmly.
"Take the money."
"Take as much gold and silver as you want here, as much as you can."
"Let's just consider it—Commander Zhang's contribution to our resistance against Japan."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Laoliu's eyes widened in surprise.
"Mr. Lu, you—you don't want it?"
The valuables in this house are worth at least tens of thousands of silver dollars.
"I find it dirty."
Lu Cheng straightened his cuffs, his expression calm.
"However, Master Liu, there's something I need your help with."
"Please speak."
Zhao Laoliu patted his chest and said, "As long as you don't kill me, I'll do anything, not just one thing, but ten. It would be my good fortune to be able to do things for Master Lu."
He was genuinely afraid that Lu Cheng would kill him to silence him.
After all, such an attempt to storm a military camp and assassinate a warlord was a capital offense, and the more people who knew about it, the greater the risk.
"It's nothing serious."
Lu Cheng walked to the window and pointed to the night outside.
"I'm going to that underground fortress."
"But there are two hidden sentries and a patrol team along the way."
"I don't want to make too much of a fuss."
"Go over there—"
Lu Cheng pointed to a stable and a pile of grain and hay to the east.
"Set it on fire."
"Make a big commotion, preferably enough to wake up all the dogs in the camp."
"this----"
Zhao Laoliu swallowed.
Arson? Arson in the military camp?
This is a life-threatening job.
But he glanced at Lu Cheng's calm, almost frighteningly so, eyes, and then at the two still-warm corpses on the ground.
He knew he had no choice.
Moreover, he also wanted to pull off this job.
These warlords usually act arrogantly and oppress the people. If we can burn their grain supplies, it will be a way to vent the people's anger.
"become."
Zhao Laoliu gritted his teeth and tightened the cloth bag around his waist.
"Master Lu, just you wait and see."
"I have experience with arson. I've done it quite a few times back in the southern part of the city."
"Give me the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn."
"If I can keep this Fengtai camp from turning into a complete mess in half an incense stick's time, I'll twist my head off and let you kick it around like a ball."
After saying that, Zhao Laoliu didn't hesitate. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lu Chengyi, turned around, and darted out the window.
Although his movements weren't as graceful as Lu Cheng's, they were still as agile as a large raccoon cat, disappearing into the night in a few moments.
Lu Cheng watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"This martial arts world is still quite interesting."
Fifteen minutes later.
"Fire!!"
"Fire! Help! Put out the fire!!"
Suddenly, flames shot into the sky from the east side of Fengtai Daying.
-
That's where the granary and stables are located.
The fire started too quickly and too fiercely, and with the help of the night wind, it instantly turned half the sky red.
The sounds of horses neighing in fright, soldiers' hurried footsteps, and gongs blaring to put out fires rang out all at once.
"Quickly, everyone go put out the fire! First Battalion, Second Battalion, get to the top!"
"If we burn the grain supplies, the commander-in-chief will surely execute us."
The entire camp was in chaos.
The once tight patrol network suddenly developed huge loopholes.
All attention was drawn to the east.
And it was amidst this chaos that...
A white figure silently slipped out from the shadows of the division commander's residence.
Lu Cheng moved like a gust of wind, passing through the empty defenses and heading straight for the underground fortress in the northwest corner.
Nearly.
closer.
The concrete entrance is right in front of us.
Four heavily armed Japanese soldiers stood at the entrance, remaining motionless despite the chaos outside, clearly the elite of the elite.
"snort."
Lu Cheng snorted coldly.
He held four flying locust stones in his hand.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Four whooshing sounds rang out almost simultaneously.
The four Japanese soldiers didn't even utter a sound; a blood flower bloomed between their brows at the same time, and they collapsed limply to the ground.
Lu Cheng flashed forward, caught one of the corpses, and gently set it down without making a sound.
He arrived at the heavy iron gate.
The door is locked from the inside, and it's the kind of mechanical lock that can only be opened from the inside.
If we launch a direct assault, it will definitely alert the people inside.
Lu Cheng stuck it to the door and activated the [Toad Fishing Technique].
He pressed his ear against the iron gate, listening intently to what was happening inside.
The sound insulation is excellent; you can barely hear anything.
But he has keen eyesight.
Golden light shimmered.
My gaze followed the keyhole and fell upon the scene inside.
This is a long corridor that leads to a spacious basement.
The basement was brightly lit.
Commander Zhang was sitting in the main seat, covered in sweat, constantly wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
Two Japanese people were sitting opposite him.
The man in the suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and with a refined demeanor, was Matsui, the counselor at the Japanese consulate.
The other one, dressed in a traditional kimono, knelt on the ground, holding a folding fan, staring at Commander Zhang with a gloomy expression.
This man was Colonel Tanaka, the head of the Black Dragon Society in North China and the mastermind behind all of this.
Besides these three, there were several guards dressed in ninja outfits standing in the corner. Each of them exuded a calm and composed aura, clearly indicating that they were all experts.
"Zhang Sang".
Matsui pushed up his glasses, his tone revealing a hint of impatience.
"Our patience is limited."
When will that batch of "goods" be shipped out?
"The whole city is in turmoil, and those martial arts masters are eyeing us covetously outside. If this drags on any longer, and word gets out—"