Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 124 - 107: Seizing Control

Originally, he intended to go straight to a shop and buy weapons, but given the current predicament, most of these shops were likely under strict control. So instead, he went to a Martial Arts Hall to borrow a couple of weapons.

Whether or not the other side would actually lend them—he didn’t care either way.

A minute later, Lu Chang’sheng tossed down a few silver coins, left a bunch of Martial Arts Hall disciples wide-eyed and speechless, and walked out with White Ape.

"If I want everything to go as safely and securely as possible, then the key is to subdue Lord Zhao as fast as possible!"

Out the door, Lu Chang’sheng and White Ape headed quickly toward the Zhao Mansion.

It was already nightfall, and the city was entering curfew. Any moment now, Prefecture Soldiers from Longyang would be out on patrol. He had to move quickly.

The man and the ape hurried down the street, soon catching the attention of some watchful eyes.

"Stop! Freeze—right now!"

Shouts rang out amid the thinning crowds.

Lu Chang’sheng caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. He could tell right away these people, dressed much like ordinary citizens, were almost certainly from the prefectural office.

A few subtle things in how they moved gave it away.

Clearly, Lord Zhao was taking no chances with his own safety. Even though this spot was still quite a distance from the Zhao Mansion, the place was already under surveillance.

True Qi surged within Lu Chang’sheng, and he leaped straight onto the rooftop.

Getting a bird’s-eye view.

This way, he could also help White Ape on the ground be ready in advance.

"Too bad I can’t perform Crossing the Void—otherwise, this would be a hell of a lot less troublesome!"

Lu Chang’sheng was growing more and more interested in Seeking Immortality.

The closer he got to the Zhao Mansion, the tougher the resistance became—especially since the whole area surrounding the gate had already been sealed off by a squad of a hundred Prefecture Soldiers.

No ordinary person could even get close. But for one man and one ape, it was barely a hindrance.

"Bang bang!"

White Ape spun its long spear wide, wielding it like a master of the staff technique. Wherever it passed, a dozen Prefecture Soldiers went flying with screams. If they hadn’t been armored and had some cultivation themselves, just that one blow would’ve ended their lives instantly.

"Creak creak creak~"

Just as White Ape was tearing through the ranks, the sound of crossbow strings being drawn echoed—barely audible beneath the screams.

Lu Chang’sheng used both his ears and eyes, and in a single glance, he noticed some unusual movement in two nearby buildings—a faint clatter of armor coming from within. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

No doubt, those were crossbows.

And not just any crossbows.

Without hesitating, Lu Chang’sheng leapt between rooftops, landed heavily, and plunged directly into one of the buildings.

Right in front of him: several Prefecture Soldiers busy loading the crossbows.

He lunged forward, smashing the soldiers away from the crossbow, then grabbed the weapon and aimed toward the other building.

With a thunderous boom, the half-foot-thick wall split open.

A crossbow arrow, longer than a man, punched through the wall, blasting a hole straight into the next room.

Lu Chang’sheng saw another arrow streak out from the collapsing house and plunge into the crowd ahead.

Obviously, Lu Chang’sheng’s interference had thrown off their aim—the fired crossbow arrow lost most of its accuracy, tore through five or six Prefecture Soldiers, then crashed into a stone lion at the Zhao Mansion entrance, shattering it instantly.

"Looks like crossbow arrows in this world are even deadlier than I thought."

With force and penetration like that, no Protective True Qi from a True Qi Realm practitioner could hope to stop it head-on.

In the True Qi Realm, you could take on a hundred, even a thousand, but you relied on skill and agility.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t stick around. After dealing with the two biggest threats, he charged ahead.

He wasn’t here for a bloodbath.

The man and the ape moved so fast that, in the blink of an eye, they’d already entered the Zhao Mansion itself.

After subduing a few guards and extracting the location of Lord Zhao’s current hideout, Lu Chang’sheng and White Ape raced straight for it.

And now, finally, the Prefecture Soldiers from Longyang realized what was happening and began converging toward the commotion.

······

"Hmph, it’s got to be those Black Mountain Prefecture people again. That damn Xu Yuan—why does he always have to make trouble for me?"

In a luxurious grand hall, Lord Zhao—bulky and round like a ball—heard the servant’s report and scowled impatiently.

He’d planned to enjoy a little opera tonight, with those girls singing and dancing for him, maybe have some fun afterward. Who knew things would blow up like this?

"Ruined—my night is ruined!"

"If Lord Zhao wants those girls to keep you company, you’ll have more than enough chances in the future. Right now, for your safety, it’s best you lie low for a bit!"

"I’ll have to trouble you for that, Dean Fang!"

Lord Zhao certainly wasn’t the sort to risk his life for a little lust. He quickly nodded his agreement.

Dean Fang was someone he’d personally invited—the Martial Artist Institute Dean from Jixia Academy in Longyang Prefecture. Fang was his secret weapon whenever he managed to survive yet another assassination attempt.

He was just about to escape when—unexpectedly—a figure dropped onto the rooftop not far away.

"How dare you!"

Dean Fang’s heart skipped a beat; he bellowed in rage.

Someone had just reported a break-in at the front gate, and it couldn’t have been more than a handful of breaths ago—but already the fight was here.

Dean Fang wasn’t like Lord Zhao; he knew exactly how impressive that feat was.

Ever since the first assassination attempt months ago, the entire Zhao Mansion had been fortified with layers upon layers of Prefecture Soldiers—over a thousand men packed into the estate.

That many soldiers could ten a tide in a small battlefield—and here, they were deployed to keep just Lord Zhao safe.

Shows just how timid Lord Zhao was.