Chapter 17: Death is Pardonable, but Living Crimes Cannot Escape!

Cai Feng laid everything bare, revealing all information regarding the stronghold, his eyes pleadingly fixed on Su Lang. "This is everything, can you let me go now?"

While his expression was filled with anticipation, a hidden smirk swelled in his heart along with a burgeoning thrill for revenge.

What he hadn't expected in his wildest dreams was that Su Lang had already reached the Late-Stage Body Tempering! Moreover, in about an hour, he would break through to the Peak-Stage Body Tempering! With this newfound strength, Su Lang could roam unbridled, especially in the absence of the stronghold's guards.

"Hmm, I'll keep my promise and spare your life," Su Lang said, withdrawing his Saber from Cai Feng's neck, his face breaking into a satisfying smile that revealed gleaming white teeth.

"Then I'll take my leave. Thank you for sparing my life!" exclaimed Cai Feng, his eyes wide with relief, as he hastily bowed in gratitude, ready to turn and flee.

"Hold on!" Su Lang's mouth curved into a grin as he stopped Cai Feng. "Did I say you could go?"

"Wha—what? You said you would spare me!" stammered Cai Feng, fear washing over him as his body began to tremble again.

"I was indeed planning to spare your life. But remember, death is pardonable, but living crimes cannot escape," Su Lang said, twirling his blade and allowing a faint, cold smile to play across his lips. "If you wish to leave, leave behind your hands."

Cai Feng was one of the culprits behind Su Lang's previous incarnation's death. How could Su Lang let him off so easily?

"Leave my hands!? You—you're going back on your word!" Cai Feng exclaimed in alarm, quickly turning to anger. "We're both in the Early-Stage Body Tempering. I was just momentarily under your control, that's why you could manipulate me. I have hunted fierce beasts; do you think a city rookie like you can scare me?"

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, you're not scared of me?" laughed Su Lang. "Then why were you kneeling on the ground just now?"

"You despicable cur! Die!" Cai Feng, both ashamed and enraged, gritted his teeth, pulled a short sword from his waist, and furiously lunged at Su Lang.

"This is your own doing. Don't blame me if you die," Su Lang said, his eyes flashing with a cold smile as he deflected the blade.

In a flash, the gleaming blade light shone like thunder, and Cai Feng's rage froze instantly.

"This is impossible," he stammered, his eyes wide with terror. Blood spurted from his throat, and he collapsed with a thud.

Even in death, he couldn't fathom how Su Lang had become so powerful.

"Wouldn't it have been better to surrender your hands peacefully?" Su Lang shrugged, looted Cai Feng's body, and then headed swiftly to the Broken Axe Hunting Group's stronghold.

Now that the stronghold was unguarded, it was the perfect opportunity to plunder. The strongholds often traded with each other and bought precious materials from individual sellers, so they had considerable wealth stored. Even the lowest-ranked F-class stronghold would have an astonishing amount.

Based on the information provided by Cai Feng, Su Lang bypassed more than a dozen arrow towers and checkpoints, arriving at the center of the Broken Axe Hunting Group's stronghold.

The stronghold didn't have robust fortifications; instead, giant, smooth logs were bundled together to form a crude wall. Such structures were often destroyed by beasts attacking the city every ten years or so.

Following the wall, Su Lang quickly found the underground passage that Cai Feng had mentioned.

"Cai Feng's words can't be fully trusted. I must be careful," Su Lang thought, entering the dark, damp tunnel with caution.

His rich experience as a killer allowed him to navigate the treacherous environment with ease, and he met no danger along the way.

However, as he approached the exit, he heard a noise.

"Someone is guarding this tunnel!" Su Lang realized, his expression changing. "Cai Feng indeed tricked me."

He moved stealthily towards the exit, where the guard was posted overhead.

"Mid-level Body Tempering Stage," he assessed before suddenly lunging at the guard.

"Who's there?" the guard shouted, alarmed. But before he could make out the intruder's face, a flash of blade light dazzled his eyes.

He tried desperately to dodge but to no avail. The cold blade slashed his throat, and agonizing pain engulfed him, robbing him of all consciousness.