Chapter 22: Life or Death Decided

Sun Xiang had served as the captain of the Crimson Guard for more than five years. As one of the nine captains, he was a prominent figure in the entire Changfeng City. His residence was vast, spanning dozens of acres, with multiple buildings, and attended by more than ten servants and maids.

Lu Yan slipped quietly inside and came upon a servant. Without warning, he seized the man's throat.

"I ask, you answer. If you dare make a sound, you die."

Lu Yan deliberately lowered his voice, making it rough and menacing, charged with murderous intent.

The servant was nearly frightened out of his wits and nodded desperately.

"Where is Sun Xiang? Which room?"

Lu Yan asked, loosening his grip.

The servant gasped for air before replying, "The master is in the rear courtyard's training room, practicing martial arts. Right there."

He pointed toward a building in the rear courtyard, begging, "Please, spare me, sir. I'm just a servant—I know nothing!"

Lu Yan struck the servant on the back of the head, knocking him out, then moved like a phantom toward the training room, alerting no one.

He appeared before the training room.

The lights were still on inside; faint sounds of the air being split by swift movement could be heard. Clearly, Sun Xiang was still practicing.

"Lu Yan of the Crimson Guard, pays respects to the captain," Lu Yan announced.

His voice was soft, ensuring no one else in the Sun residence could hear, but he was certain Sun Xiang would. Someone who had broken their limits four times possessed sharp senses, far keener than ordinary folk.

Sure enough, the sounds inside stopped. After a few moments, Sun Xiang's deep voice rang out, "Come in and speak."

Lu Yan entered, closing the door behind him.

Sun Xiang stood bare-chested, drenched in sweat, his muscles like cast iron, regarding Lu Yan with surprise.

He seemed puzzled—why was Lu Yan here, and how dare he appear?

"Lu Yan, coming to me so late, what is the matter?" Sun Xiang asked.

"Captain, Zuo Yi, Gan Bu, and Song Jiacheng are trying to kill me," Lu Yan feigned a look of panic.

"Nonsense. You are colleagues; why would they kill you without cause?" Sun Xiang's face hardened, rebuking him.

"It's the absolute truth. Because I discovered a secret—one that involves Vice Captain Meng Qi as well. Had I not been quick-witted and found a chance to escape, I’d already be dead. The matter is grave, and I dare not spread it. I could only come to you at night for justice," Lu Yan said.

Sun Xiang did not know that Zuo Yi and the others had already been killed by Lu Yan, nor that Song Jiacheng had confessed all. Lu Yan, of course, would not know that Sun Xiang himself was the mastermind.

If one finds the vice captain suspicious, it’s only natural to seek out the captain. Lu Yan intended to use this logic to lower Sun Xiang's guard.

"What secret?" Sun Xiang asked, feigning surprise and curiosity.

"A fine actor," Lu Yan thought with disdain, but aloud he said, "This matter involves the Green Bamboo Gang. I've written everything in a letter for you to read, Captain. I beg you to uphold justice and spare my life."

As he spoke, he stepped quickly toward Sun Xiang, reaching into his clothes as if to retrieve the letter.

Suddenly, a handful of fiery red chili powder was flung at Sun Xiang's face.

But Sun Xiang seemed prepared, sweeping his hands to the sides with force, sending the chili powder away. He stepped forward, his claws like a flying eagle, reaching for Lu Yan's throat.

Swift as wind, fast as lightning, the attack came with a terrifying roar.

As expected, chili powder was useless against a wary martial arts master.

Lu Yan dared not be careless; his blood surged, black threads wrapped around his hands as he launched a barrage of attacks.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In a flash, fist and claw collided three times.

Both men trembled, retreating three steps each.

"Your... your strength? Innate power—you possess a congenital martial body. Well, boy, it seems we've all been fooled by you," Sun Xiang exclaimed, shocked.

In their first clash, he had gained no advantage.

He could see now that Lu Yan had broken his limits twice. For someone at that stage to possess such strength, there was only one explanation: a congenital martial body.

And, even more fearsome than Liu Xingchao’s.

"How did you know I was about to make a move?" Lu Yan countered, ignoring the question.

"If you’d simply slipped away, Zuo Yi, Gan Bu, and Song Jiacheng wouldn’t be missing—they would have already reported back. Now it seems all three were killed by you," Sun Xiang said coldly.

"So, this was the flaw. These old hands are not easy to fool," Lu Yan mused inwardly.

"Looks like you’ve uncovered the truth. I can’t let you live," Sun Xiang declared, murderous intent swelling. His muscles bulged, and his Flying Eagle Claw, a second-rate martial art, was unleashed to the utmost, swooping down on Lu Yan like a predatory eagle.

Lu Yan faced him without fear, launching his fists.

The two exchanged blows several times. Suddenly, Lu Yan kicked straight for Sun Xiang's chest.

Startled, Sun Xiang retreated swiftly, avoiding the kick.

Lu Yan stamped his foot, shooting forward like an arrow, striking with both fists and feet in rapid succession.

He had achieved harmony between man and martial arts, seamlessly combining Iron Thread Fist and Six-Harmony Kick, no longer limited by form.

With each exchange, Sun Xiang grew more alarmed.

He gradually realized that Lu Yan’s strength was not solely in his power, but in the sophistication of his techniques—surpassing eve