Chapter 81: Chapter 81 The Dark Moon and High Wind However, achieving perfection in the Shapeshifting Technique is not a feat accomplished overnight. Gu Sheng wasn’t in a hurry; slowly refining it was the way forward. For now, the Great Achievement Realm of this technique was more than sufficient. "With my current strength, I can be considered unrivaled below the Blood Refining Realm. Moreover, the Great Achievement state of the Shapeshifting Technique allows me to conceal my identity. It’s time to bring things to an end." A cold glint began to flash in Gu Sheng’s eyes. In Canghe County, the vast majority of martial artists were merely in the Refining Skin Realm. Those in the Blood Refining Realm were considered among the rare elite, while those in the Bone Refining Realm were exceedingly scarce—countable on one hand. Currently, the Li family fortress lacked martial artists in the Blood Refining Realm overseeing its defense. With Gu Sheng’s abilities, he only needed to exercise some caution to operate freely within its surroundings. But to be prudent. Gu Sheng decided to first scout ahead. At the very least, he needed to familiarize himself with the terrain of the Li family fortress to avoid mishaps from unforeseen circumstances. Planning carefully before taking action was his guiding principle. With the Shapeshifting Technique, Gu Sheng could easily disguise himself as either a traveling merchant or a wandering vagrant, drawing no undue attention. In the current times, the presence of vagrants was all too common. Even Gu’s Manor occasionally saw such wanderers. Having made up his mind, Gu Sheng began to prepare. It seemed he might even have to make a trip to the city to purchase some supplies. ... A few days later. Gu Sheng pretended to go hunting in the mountains. In reality, after using the Shapeshifting Technique to alter his appearance, he disguised himself as a traveling merchant, effortlessly blending into the vicinity of the Li family fortress. Traveling merchants were known for their unpredictability; hardly anyone could spot a flaw. The Li family fortress was located roughly ten miles from Gu’s Manor—not too far. "Selling candied hawthorn sticks~~" "Pins and needles for sale!" Gu Sheng called out while surveying the layout of the Li family fortress. Its structure bore some resemblance to Gu’s Manor, though the earthen fortress of the Li family clearly had superior defensive capabilities. "Tsk... If it hadn’t been for Du Jiangbo leading the way back then, the Black Sand Gang would have paid dearly to seize the Li family fortress." Outside the fortress, there were numerous scattered grass huts. These housed tenant farmers and others of lower status; without some social standing, living inside the fortress was out of the question. At this moment, Gu Sheng appeared as a pleasantly plump, kind-looking figure. His smile radiated friendliness. He occasionally paused nearby, interacting with tenant farmers who came over to trade. Through brief exchanges, Gu Sheng gradually gained a clearer understanding of the Li family fortress. Items like candied hawthorn sticks were beyond the means of ordinary tenant farmers. Naturally, Gu Sheng’s target was the households within the fortress. With his amiable demeanor, Gu Sheng easily earned permission to enter. The Li family fortress was presently under the management of Du Jiangbo and martial artists from the Black Sand Gang. Life within had grown far from idyllic; traveling into the city had become far less frequent compared to before. Merchants, however, could somewhat alleviate their material shortages. The houses within the fortress were noticeably superior in quality. Some areas even featured courtyards scattered throughout. From afar, Gu Sheng immediately spotted the conspicuous red pavilion at the center. Faintly, he could hear someone inside singing, while two martial artists with starkly contrasting auras patrolled the surrounding area. "Black Sand Gang members..." Gu Sheng’s heart stirred as he roughly guessed the identity of the individual within the pavilion. Several residents emerged to trade with Gu Sheng. Casually guiding the conversation, he quickly confirmed his suspicions. Knowing when to stop. Gu Sheng refrained from further probing to avoid drawing suspicion. Like any typical traveling merchant, after making his rounds, Gu Sheng began to leave the Li family fortress at a leisurely pace—without leaving any trace of suspicion, and with no one daring to follow. In these times, anyone daring to travel as a merchant was guaranteed to have some skills. Not just anyone could challenge them, and those capable wouldn’t bother with such trivial pursuits. In the days that followed. Gu Sheng periodically visited to scout the area, swapping between various disguises and adopting entirely different appearances each time. Over time, he gained a thorough understanding of the Li family fortress’s internal workings. "Currently, the original martial artists of the Li family, along with Du Jiangbo, total three individuals. Du Jiangbo is a martial artist in the Iron Skin Realm, while the other two are in the Stone Skin Realm. However, the Black Sand Gang has several elite members stationed here—two in the Iron Skin Realm and another two in the Stone Skin Realm. A group monitors Du Jiangbo while another protects Li Yu." "Seven martial artists... If all of them are alerted, it’ll be troublesome. Fortunately, they’re not united in purpose, making it possible to eliminate them one by one." "As for the dynamic between Du Jiangbo and Li Yu, it turns out the rumors were true—they’re like fire and water. Every time I’ve seen them, the animosity in their eyes suggests they wouldn’t hesitate to kill each other. Killing Li Yu and letting Du Jiangbo take the blame would ensure it doesn’t arouse Han Lu’s suspicions..." "Regarding Han Lu... He visits the Li family fortress unpredictably, roughly twice a month. Once he leaves, it’s some time before he returns. I need to avoid the periods when he’s present—martial artists in the Blood Refining Realm are beyond my current ability." Everything was prepared, awaiting the opportune moment. Gu Sheng had mapped out every detail thoroughly. His plan was flawless, and now he merely had to wait for the right timing. He waited for Han Lu to leave the Li family fortress. Yesterday, Han Lu had arrived at the Li family fortress to lavish attention on Li Yu. At most, he would linger for one or two days—he wouldn’t stay long. ... Gu Sheng was an excellent hunter, patient to the extreme. Silently, he waited without the slightest trace of impatience. This time, Han Lu’s visit unexpectedly extended an additional two days. It seemed Li Yu had devised some fresh diversion to please him, making Han Lu utterly delighted. When he departed, his face was still brimming with joy. Gu Sheng observed from a distance, his intent to kill growing stronger. Even if Han Lu had a heart of stone, this degree of coddling could soften him. Li Yu was indeed a treacherous seductress—she had to be eradicated quickly to eliminate the source of trouble. Looking at Du Jiangbo’s expression, it stood in stark contrast to Han Lu’s, dark and brooding as though a storm were brewing within. Gu Sheng’s mind shifted—this man could serve as a useful pawn. Effortlessly extricating himself from the Li family fortress, Gu Sheng noted that broad daylight, bustling with people, was far from an ideal time for action. Night fell. In his courtyard, Gu Sheng lit an oil lamp and meticulously applied poison to his arrows. The Green Frost poison he had acquired earlier proved highly potent but required the poison to be fixed with heat in advance due to its volatility and limited preservation. Half the arrows were laced with poison and placed in the left side of his quiver; the other half were stored on the right, without poison. A short axe was fastened to his waist. He had purchased it while visiting the city. Up until now, he had only used a firewood-cleaving knife. With better circumstances, it was logical to upgrade to an axe. For first-level rending techniques like "Chopping Wood," axes were the most suitable weapons. In truth, heavy axes were more appropriate than short axes, but those weapons came with a hefty price tag and were inconvenient to carry. For the time being, Gu Sheng wouldn’t consider them. Once he finished his preparations. Gu Sheng adjusted his nightwear attire and quietly activated the Power of his Shapeshifting Technique. A faint crackling sound ensued, and his face and physique underwent a complete transformation. His gaze remained calm, though deep within, murderous intent surged. Looking up at the sky, on this night, the full moon was hidden, leaving the night shrouded in darkness. Gu Sheng deftly flipped out of Gu’s Manor like a lynx and rushed towards the Li family fortress at full speed. A dark and windy night, perfect for killing—today would finally see a conclusion!