Human Martial Saint: Starting with Bajiquan

Chapter 64 Arson

It was past midnight.

The commercial street, northeast corner.

Unlike the deathly silence of the southwest corner, everything here seems to be just beginning.

Several gambling dens, kilns, and taverns bearing the "Black Fox" logo were brightly lit.

The sounds of gamblers shouting, prostitutes joking, and drunkards babbling could be heard from inside.

Although it cannot compare with the Lichun Courtyard in the south of the city, it is still a rare "nighttime bustle" in Crescent Moon County.

At the edge of the dim light, three dark figures, like ghosts, rapidly approached.

They were all dressed in patched and stained Beggar Clan robes, their faces covered with black cloths, only their eyes were visible.

It was Lai San, and his sworn brothers Diao Da and Xiong Er, whom he had lured into the scheme by promising "a hundred taels of silver for every big heist."

The three men carried bulging bundles on their backs, filled with coarse hemp torches soaked in oil.

That wasn't enough; in their hands, they also carried heavy kerosene cans, filled with oil.

But none of this prevents them from walking briskly.

"Third brother, is it... really burning? What if the Black Fox Gang catches us..."

Xiong Er was burly but not very brave. He looked at the Black Fox Gang guards loitering in front of a gambling den not far away, and his voice trembled slightly.

"Nonsense! How can we muddy the waters and rescue your niece, Xiaolan, if we don't boil it?"

Lai San glared at him and lowered his voice.

Hearing Xiaolan's name, Xiong Er finally mustered up his courage again.

Both he and Diao Dadu were very fond of this little niece.

Therefore, their trip was not entirely for money, but more so because they genuinely wanted to rescue their beloved niece, Xiaolan.

Of course, no one can refuse to make money.

Diao Da licked his chapped lips and confirmed again:

"Third brother, one hundred taels, really?"

Lai San took out the one hundred tael silver note from his pocket, quickly waved it in front of them, and then swiftly put it back into his pocket.

The two men's outstretched hands missed their target.

"Remember, keep your faces covered, start from that gambling den at the east end, and burn everything in your path. When they catch up, run back to the Beggars' Sect's territory, shouting as you run, 'Black Fox Gang scum, how dare you steal our Beggars' Sect's territory!'"

Without hesitation, they took advantage of the darkness and the cover of the buildings to silently approach their target.

Lai San was skilled; he used a thin iron hook to gently pry open the simple latch on the back window of the gambling den.

The three filed in, where the air was thick with smoke.

Several pimps and gamblers from next door were gathered around a table gambling by the dim light of an oil lamp, completely absorbed in their game, oblivious to the commotion at the back window.

Lai San gave Diao Da a wink, and Diao Da quickly pulled out a torch from the bundles on the backs of the three men.

Xiong Er then poured kerosene on tables, chairs, curtains, and other items in the dark.

Finally, Lai San took out a tinderbox, blew on it, and lit three torches without hesitation. Then he threw the torches into the area where oil had been poured on them.

"boom!"

Flames shot out instantly, the fire spread, and the flames startled the gamblers.

"Fire! Fire!"

Exclamations immediately rang out, and the guards of the Black Fox Gang outside rushed inside upon hearing the commotion.

Seeing this, Lai San did not linger in the fight. Taking advantage of the chaos and the fact that no one was paying attention, the three of them climbed out of the back window again.

After leaving, Lai San didn't forget to shout out in a hoarse voice:

"Those bastards from the Beggars' Sect are causing trouble! Brothers, grab your weapons and let's attack!"

After shouting, the three immediately disappeared into the dark alley.

Without pausing, they worked in perfect unison, repeating the same method to quickly set fire to a woodpile in the kitchen of a tavern and a storage shed on the side of a kiln.

Fires broke out one after another, standing out starkly against the night sky.

Alarmed, the Black Fox gang members poured out from their various hideouts, their shouts, cries for help, and screams filling the air, completely plunging the already chaotic neighborhood into chaos.

Then, the three of them, not forgetting to be thoughtful and perfectly timed, were "bumped into" by the Black Fox Gang members.

"There they are! The ones in beggar's clothes are running north!" A sharp-eyed member of the Black Fox Gang spotted them and shouted.

"Chase them! Damn it, the Beggars' Sect is asking for it!"

A man who looked like a gang leader roared and, with several gang members wielding sticks, gave chase.

However, Lai San and his two companions were already very familiar with the alleys in the west of the city, and they specifically chose to run along narrow and winding paths.

Since they were all ninth-rank martial artists, their speed was even faster. As they ran, they deliberately made more noise and would occasionally turn around and curse, "Black Fox Gang bastards," keeping the pursuers firmly behind them.

Soon, they rushed across the invisible "boundary" between the two factions.

We finally entered the northern part of the city, which was controlled by the Beggars' Sect.

"Let's split up and meet at the usual spot!"

Lai San gave a low shout, and the three of them accelerated their pace, instantly scattering and disappearing into the intricate slum.

They vanished in the blink of an eye.

The Black Fox Gang members who had been chasing them stopped before the "boundary" and hesitated as they looked at the Beggars' Gang's territory.

The leader was furious, but dared not lead his men any further, fearing it might trigger another conflict between the two gangs.

After all, it was the county magistrate who personally mediated the situation a few days ago. Although the Beggars' Gang made the first move today, they dared not chase after them so easily.

Not to mention the danger, if the other party catches you and turns around and bites back, you'll be in big trouble.

After much deliberation, the junior leader stopped where he was.

Calling out to his underlings:

"You, go back and report to Seventh Master. The rest of you, stay here with me!"

At the other end, Lai San weaved through the alleyways, quickly removing his beggar's clothes and his black mask.

He revealed a clean brown short-sleeved shirt from the Mingsha Gang.

He wrapped the remaining kerosene can in his clothes, determined his direction, and sprinted towards the center of the county.

Lai San was concerned about Xiao Lan's safety and dared not delay for a moment. He used all his strength, and as a ninth-grade martial artist, his blood and qi surged, making his legs much faster than usual.

Before long, he arrived at the "old place," a corner in the north of the county, where he met up with Diao Da and Xiong Er.

"Silver notes!" Diao Da stretched out his hand.

Lai San took out the hundred-tael silver note, slapped it into Diao Da's hand, and handed the clothes and kerosene he had put away to Xiong Er.

His tone was urgent and solemn:

"The money's been paid. Listen up! Go find Gou Xiong right now and tell him the Black Fox Gang has crossed the border and invaded your territory, even injuring your men. Stick to the fact that the Black Fox Gang started it. Make the biggest fuss possible!"

"Got it, got it!"

Diao Da clutched the silver notes tightly, his eyes gleaming:

"Don't worry, Third Brother. We're professionals at reporting and stirring up trouble. We'll make Chief Gou furious!"

Diao Da was very satisfied with this. Since the Beggars' Gang and the Black Fox Gang made peace, he could no longer lead his team to rob things in the commercial street. Instead, he could only go after tough guys like the Mingsha Gang, and the losses always outweighed the gains.

If he can capitalize on this momentum and reignite the war with the Black Fox Gang, he'll have another chance to fish in troubled waters.

"Hurry up, especially Second Brother, keep your mouth shut. I need to get back too!"

Without further delay, Lai San turned around and disappeared into the night again. He passed through the Mingsha Gang market, then took a detour towards the Black Fox Gang's stronghold, rushing towards it with all his might.

He must bring back the good news that "the fire has been lit and the bait has been laid" to Sheng Ge'er!