As he spoke, he wiped his right hand across his waist. The hand crossbow Wuxin had thrown to him was still there. Without looking, he shot an arrow towards the mouth of the alley.
A young man closest to the mouth was slowly edging his way out. A black shadow skimmed past his shoulder and shot towards a lantern hanging on the eaves opposite, bursting into a flame that illuminated his pale face.
The fabric on his shoulder shattered, revealing a pale arm, from which blood flowed. Several moments passed before the young man felt his legs weaken and he sat down on the ground. He wanted to scream, but was too frightened to make a sound, feeling a warmth in his pants.
He had never been so terrified.
Wang Anfeng still didn't look over, his expression calm as he gazed at the tattooed burly man, then re-holstered the crossbow at his waist.
The burly man saw that the young man was indeed the subordinate who had been mouthing off earlier. His eyelid twitched, realizing that the hand crossbow in Wang Anfeng's hand was the same as that used by the city's martial soldiers. He assumed Wang Anfeng was an official, swallowed hard, and forced a smile, saying:
"Sir, we only do small, insignificant things. Kindly spare us, let us have a way out, or even take us in if you must, no need to sully your own reputation..."
"I am not one of the Great Qin's Imperial Court."
"This is considered a Jianghu matter."
"Do you have any acquaintances in those two district markets?"
The man could only nod. In our line of work, having good information is essential. Wang Anfeng lowered his eyes and said:
"That would be best."
He moved his right foot aside, allowing the man to use the wall to stand. Wang Anfeng then gestured for a young man to come over. Witnessing Wang Anfeng's earlier frenzied stance of drawing the crossbow without speaking, they dared not defy him and trembled as they approached. Wang Anfeng glanced at him and said:
"Go to the Zhang Family Inn in the north of the city, find those who are with me, and tell them to look for me in the An Market and Jinquan Market areas."
His voice paused slightly, as he acted to throw down a token from his waist, stating coldly: "Go quickly."
This token was not concealed; it was made of bronze, with a dragon soaring above and a tiger crouching below, looking extremely fierce and domineering. The words "Divine Martial" were inscribed in dragon-like calligraphy, and upon seeing this token, one of the young men nearby turned pale, barely able to stand steadily.
The tiger-tattooed man shivered slightly.
This place is not far from Jiangnan Road, and for anything happening in the Jianghu, news here is always received first. Recently, these words have been the most renowned force in the Jianghu, even overshadowing the Seven Great Schools around County City near Jiangnan Road.
This reputation was earned through the blood of one-fifth of Jiangnan Road's martial elite and a generation grandmaster, without any embellishment.
He didn't believe anyone dared to joke with this name and swallowed hard, wishing he could gouge out his eyes on the spot, pretending he had never seen this token, mistaking him for a sheep, never imagining they tied down the fiercest tiger in Jianghu today.
Having a token, he was probably a mid-level figure within the Divine Martial Mansion.
He saw his subordinate still standing there dumbfounded, hated that iron could not become steel, and kicked him, making him stagger, scolding: "Didn't you hear what this gentleman said? Go quickly!"
Then turned to Wang Anfeng, with a flattering smile:
"Sir, there's one more thing..."
Wang Anfeng said: "I want to know who has been coming and going in these two district markets this month, where people hide, where are experts at concealment, and any places that have had recent visitors."
The burly man's face twitched. Although he was considered unremarkable, he was still a man of the Jianghu. Just from those few words, he could almost smell the thick scent of blood, and nervously said:
"Sir, such matters… we probably can't do that…"
Wang Anfeng smiled slightly, patted his shoulder, and said:
"Tiger Lord, there's no need for false humility."
"I thought it over, and in this entire city, your information is the most well-informed. Even the patrol officers and martial soldiers might not know more than you. Just as I was about to find you, there you were."
The burly man's mouth twitched.
Wang Anfeng squinted his eyes and said:
"I know you're afraid of death, but you only have one life, not like a cat with nine lives."
"This one life, you can hand it over to me now, or take a chance later, it's your choice..."
As he spoke, he began to take off the worn-out clothing on his body, revealing a muscular upper body, tossing it aside, he said:
"Find me a set of clothes."
The young men around him trembled as they each took off a piece of their clothing. Wang Anfeng replaced his former scholarly and heroic attire with a set of close-fitting vigorous attire, wearing the man's soft armor underneath.
He raised his hand to remove the mask from his face, putting it into his bosom.
As he removed the mask, Wang Anfeng's appearance had altered using a technique from the Divine Thieves Sect into a cold, high-browed man. With a blade in his right hand, his presence was imposing.
The man standing there was now a swordsman with a cold demeanor.
The burly man's forehead was dotted with cold sweat, knowing they had seen the true face of this demon. He feared that if they didn't agree to his demands, they might end up decapitated, making him hesitant for a moment.
Wang Anfeng looked coldly out from the shadowy alley.
The eerie alley and the bustling street seemed like two separate worlds, distinctly apart.
Wuxin had said that from details, one can deduce the other's location, and he knew this too. However, the Imperial Court has its methods, and the Jianghu has its own ways. While unfamiliar with the court, he was still well-versed in the ways of Jianghu.
Battles in the Jianghu do not implicate one's family.
From now on, this matter is considered an affair of the Jianghu.
In this current era, within the Jianghu of Jianan Road, nothing is more significant than the kidnapping of the Mansion Master's blood-related sister from the Divine Martial Mansion.
Wang Anfeng adjusted his arm guards, then took the man's treasured blade, wiped away the dust by drawing it against his arm guard, gave a clear sound before sheathing it, and flicked a small jade plaque on his waist, secret ripples coursing through into another world, sending vibrations echoing miles away.
The old soldier of the Divine Martial Mansion instantly opened his eyes.
His calloused hand gripped the sword handle.
The sword's edge rang sharply, rising with a clear sound.
PS: Today's chapter is merged into two parts, um, due to writer's block and plotting stage, the word count is slightly less, my apologies... five thousand two hundred words.