Chapter Twenty-Two: Murder and Arson

“Ah!”

“Hurry, grab it!”

“Don’t use the knife! You have no idea how important it is—do you want to die?”

With a harsh tearing sound, a figure slammed heavily against the wall and crumpled to the ground. Thick blood and flesh smeared the iron post.

The man who died was a member of the Water Dragon Gang, a minor leader. Sensing danger, Kou Li arched his back, twisted his joints, and lunged half a yard, clutching the iron chain thick as a fist and yanking it down.

“Pull!”

“Pull it down!”

Amid the thunderous blows from the iron-headed staff, the beast at the chain’s end finally quieted—though not before slaughtering three more slaves.

It was a massive leopard, limbs as thick as pillars, head round and neck long, its stretched body radiating an indescribable elegance and savagery. Beneath sparse fur, copper-coin-sized spotted scales glimmered.

According to the leader, this was a ferocious beast from an overseas island, worshipped by the locals. Its capture had cost the lives of four gang boxers.

“Not bad, you’ve got guts. When this task is over, come find me—I’ll arrange a good position for you,” the chief nodded approvingly. In that chaos, even the other gang members hadn’t reacted, but this slave had shown courage.

Kou Li silently surveyed the three corpses. Staying put would’ve been suicidal, yet in their eyes, it was valor.

“Damn it, the sedative soup is useless. Every time we let out the Copper Leopard, something goes wrong. I say we pour out a few bowls of blood first—let’s see if it still has energy to rampage,” the minor leader cursed, grieving for his sworn brother who’d just died.

“Shut your damn mouth!” the chief roared. “This is the elders’ favorite. Do you think they really want it to kill? It’s all to provoke its wildness. In the final moment, when they dig out its heart for the medicine, that’s a treasure priceless to any warrior!”

The words passed without intention, but Kou Li listened intently, finally understanding that such beasts had their own uses.

Two days had passed since the Beast Banquet began. Kou Li and the others had released at least twenty prisoners. In that time, four more slaves had been killed—adding the three just now, only Kou Li and a small fellow remained.

Yet Kou Li’s actions had won him favor among the regular gang members. Daring and hardworking—who wouldn’t appreciate such a fool?

“Just half a day more, and it’ll be over,” one member sighed. Even for them, nerves were taut in this environment; their lives were at stake.

Earlier, a gang member was strangled to death while administering medicine, caught off guard.

“Orders from above: you’re in charge here now. It’s almost over—don’t cause trouble,” the chief instructed, then left with two confidants. Only five Water Dragon Gang members remained, besides the slaves.

“It’s always like this—dirty, exhausting work dumped on us. What arrangement? Just currying favor,” one grumbled.

With the chief gone, the rest relaxed. One gang member weakly ordered, “Hey, Blackface, go wash the guy in the far-left cell. Take these three Leopard Fetus Pills, too.”

“Are you insane? Let him do it?” someone exclaimed.

“What’s the big deal? It’s just medicine. Besides, the boss likes this guy. Maybe tomorrow he’ll join us—might as well teach him the ropes early. Isn’t that good?”

Kou Li stepped forward without a word, taking the keys and three red pills. Suddenly, he asked, “Are three enough?”

“So you do speak,” the member blinked, then burst out laughing. “What are you talking about? Three? Even one would send an elephant mad, turn cats and rabbits into man-eaters. You think three aren’t enough?”

Kou Li nodded, understanding the potency. With such strength, perhaps half a pill would suffice to send someone into a frenzy yet retain some sanity.

Thanks to the hypnotic palm technique applied earlier, the prisoners were docile. The guards had begun to slack off, and Kou Li even had time to wander.

Beyond the Copper Leopard, Kou Li discovered other strange beasts deep in the cages. They resembled tigers, wolves, jackals, and leopards, but all were larger and deformed in certain parts. Even with heavy doses of sedative soup, they remained fierce and unruly.

The roars he’d heard upon entering the passage had come from them.

On the other end, the tunnel led directly to the Beast Banquet’s arena—a distance of about eighty yards, as Kou Li judged by footsteps.

He still hadn’t made a move. Though the Water Dragon Gang was his enemy and he didn’t mind causing trouble, it wasn’t his style to risk his life for mere provocation unless safety was assured.

Knowing the value of life, he sought to surpass it. Bravery for its own sake only brought fleeting glory; he desired the grandeur of years well-lived.

Returning to the entrance, Kou Li saw layers of Water Dragon Gang guards. The massive iron plate—at least a thousand pounds—could be triggered by the guards above. Once the gate closed, not even immortals could escape.

“What a waste, such a golden opportunity,” he thought, as the time to disembark drew near. He could even hear the waves crashing against the rocks. Frustration stirred within him.

After being hunted and cornered for so long, who wouldn’t be angry?

But Kou Li swiftly cut off the thought. On the path to longevity, one must advance bravely when needed, endure silently when necessary.

Blind, reckless charge was a sure way to die.

“Thief!”

“Something’s wrong—the Ice God Water is gone! Quick, investigate!”

“Damn, someone’s broken into the beast arena!”

“The thief is escaping—block him!”

Kou Li’s ears twitched, though he remained calm, his fists subtly tightening.

“What’s happening?” The remaining guards heard the commotion and quickly questioned above.

But the upper level was eerily silent—no reply, not even from the gatekeepers.

“Damn it, who’d dare make trouble on Water Dragon Gang turf?” The gang members paced anxiously, gripping their red staffs and waist knives.

Kou Li shrank into a corner, shadowed and insignificant.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the tunnel. The group tensed, then a leopard’s head, size of a millstone, appeared—its demeanor listless, fur stained with blood.

“Someone broke into the beast arena, stole the gang’s Ice Spring Essence. We had to halt the duel and drag it back. Fortunately, the Leopard Fetus Pill’s side effects kicked in—it’s weak now. Lock it up; this is Chief Lu’s prized treasure!” the exhausted member hauling the chain gasped.

Even so, it was clear the Copper Leopard was truly weakened. An hour ago, not even seven or eight strong men could hold it, but now one could press its head.

“You bastard, get over here and help your grandfather! Did you grow up eating pig shit?” The gang member cursed at the two slaves, who stared vacantly. The small fellow shivered and ran to help, but Kou Li remained motionless. The gang member cursed even louder, ready to beat him if not for the chain in his hand.

“This is the elders’ favorite…to provoke its wildness…a prize for any warrior!”

The others were about to intervene, when Kou Li raised his head.

What flashed in his eyes was not madness or murderous intent—then what was it?

Enduring humiliation was nothing compared to the thrill of killing and arson.

More importantly, killing and arson brought treasures—how could he resist?

His body shook, as if a tiger had been unleashed; shoulders dropped, elbows hung, waist sank, neck stretched, toes dug in—he seized his prey.

Blending the stance of a crouching predator with the courage of a pouncing beast, he shot forward like an arrow, fingers clamping the opponent’s throat, piercing five bloody holes.

With a twist of force, he flung the man aside like a post, tiger charging the mountain, the posture shifting in and out, back and shoulders arching together like iron chisels, smashing the Copper Leopard to the ground.

Only now did the others react—so this “fool” was a skilled fighter! They drew knives and clubs, rushing him.

The last one dashed toward the exit, whether to call for help or shut the gate—anything to trap Kou Li inside.

Kou Li knew that if he succeeded, even his martial prowess would be useless.

Tiger shakes off fleas, steps swaying, blade never touching him. Two red staffs grazed him, but his internal energy contracted. If not for his mastery of Tiger Fist, he would have been done for.

The Redwood clubs were indeed potent, dispersing energy and blood, but Kou Li was no longer the man he once was. Twisting joints, weaving strikes, his forearm rotated, fingers compressing into bloody claws.

With three crisp slaps, three men collapsed, faces blackened, blood and fragments mixing at their lips.

Zhangmen point—a death point, at the tip of the first rib, between the abdominal muscles, linking the foot’s liver meridian. Striking it shocks the liver and spleen, ruptures the diaphragm, damages organs, and causes heavy bleeding.

After dispatching three, Kou Li lunged at the last man, twisting, turning, and punching.

The punches flowed in one breath, exploding from the waist. His breath burst, fierce and sharp.

Sweat sprayed from his fists, and with two cracks, the red staff and ribs snapped together.

The gang member, halfway up, sensed the silence behind him, paused in confusion, and as he glanced back, his ankle was clamped as if by iron pincers. A tremendous force surged suddenly…