Chapter 87: Chapter 86: Follow-Up (Two-in-One Chapter) Early the next morning. Da-da-da! A thunderous gallop broke through the government road, a dozen stern-faced martial artists in tight uniforms charged forward atop fine horses, tearing through the snowy winds. Leading the group was a towering figure with a beard covering half of his face, his gaze terrifyingly dark and venomous. Han Lu still couldn’t believe it—Du Jiangbo, that coward who feared death, had actually dared to do something so bold! How long had it been since Han Lu stepped out of the Li family fortress? And now, such a calamity had already occurred! After the blaze was put out last night— Those remaining in the Li family fortress quickly realized the gravity of the situation when they discovered that all Black Sand Gang martial artists and Du Jiangbo had vanished without a trace. Li Yu’s blood-dripping severed head was the final, horrifying proof. The two remaining martial artists from the fortress rushed overnight to the Black Sand Gang headquarters to inform Han Lu, knowing full well that if Han Lu’s wrath descended upon them, it would spell annihilation for the Li family fortress. Han Lu said nothing, his expression ashen and grim. Upon receiving the news, he didn’t hesitate for a moment before heading directly to the Li family fortress. He had to see the events with his own eyes to believe them. Soon. The Li family fortress came into view in the distance. A crowd of fortress locals had gathered together, sleepless all night, anxiously awaiting Han Lu’s arrival. These were the higher-ranked residents of the fortress, such as stewards, who were typically responsible for overseeing the lowest-level tenant farmers. "Out of my way!" Han Lu roared furiously and lashed out with his whip. Crack! The whip carried immense force, its tail striking like lightning and lashing across the nearest steward. The steward’s face turned pale with terror as his body flew uncontrollably high into the air. An intense pain engulfed him, and upon looking down, he saw his legs had been cleanly severed at the roots. A muffled scream escaped him as Han Lu charged forward without a word. Behind him, the dozen knights followed ruthlessly, galloping fast. The steward with mangled legs was quickly trampled into minced flesh beneath the hooves. The bystanders watched in paralyzing dread, their faces a mix of fear and horror as chills ran down their spines. Han Lu headed straight for the red pavilion. This was the place where he kept his ’golden canaries,’ pampered with care. Usually, when he approached the pavilion, the canaries would cheerfully rush out to greet him. But today, what greeted him was nothing but piles of charred, black ash. The acrid stench of burnt remnants filled the air, making Han Lu’s face twitch uncontrollably and his heart swell with rage. "Dig it up!" Han Lu roared furiously, and the dozen Black Sand Gang members behind him dared not hesitate. They instantly sprinted forward, mobilizing the gathered fortress residents to begin excavating the pavilion’s remains. "Dig hard! Do not overlook even the tiniest clue!" A leader barked sharply. The crowd worked in quiet terror. Han Lu was now a lion in a fury. Nobody dared provoke him, as even the smallest error meant an instant and brutal death on the spot—even for members of the Black Sand Gang. "Han Master... over here..." One gang member stammered as he pointed shakily toward a distant gazebo. Han Lu’s jaw tightened involuntarily. On his way here, he had already learned the gist of the situation. He took a deep breath and strode toward the gazebo. A night had passed. The blood dripping from Li Yu’s severed head had long coagulated, leaving only a dark, intense bloodstain streaked across one of the gazebo’s pillars. The shriveled head had been nailed to the pillar, its hair disheveled and half-covering its face, the sight grotesquely horrifying. Han Lu brushed the hair aside, his heart jolting suddenly. A pair of eyes stared back at him—wide open and brimming with hatred, resentment, and despair, so piercing they nearly convinced him a vengeful ghost had come to claim him. "You filthy bitch!" Han Lu furiously swung his hand, and with a burst of unstoppable energy, the shriveled head erupted like a smashed watermelon, scattering fragments in all directions, splattering the faces and bodies of nearby onlookers. Yet, fearing Han Lu’s wrath, none dared to move a muscle. But as soon as the head exploded, a flicker of regret appeared in Han Lu’s eyes. "My Little Yu’er, rest assured—Han Master will avenge you." His gaze shifted to a line of words etched nearby, "Han Lu, you treacherous dog. I will see you dead one day." The carving was deep and deliberate, as if driven by an unyielding fury. Han Lu’s face twitched, his pupils contracting. Someone near him leaned in cautiously and murmured: "Han Master, it’s Du Jiangbo’s handwriting." Han Lu suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Excellent! Who would’ve thought—after all my days hunting geese, I’d finally be pecked by one! Du Jiangbo, that worthless coward, has dared to perch atop my head to sh*t!" Though laughing, the killing intent and rage woven into his laughter were unmistakable. Those nearby instinctively stiffened, lowering their heads further, as if afraid to provoke Han Lu’s ire. Soon. A trusted lieutenant rushed over from the distance, speaking in hushed tones: "Han Master, there are no signs of corpses—no charred bones or remains. It seems even Wang Feng and the others’ bodies were thoroughly disposed of before being burned. Not one trace is left behind." Han Lu whipped his head around abruptly, fixing his icy gaze on the man. The lieutenant stiffened instantly, his scalp tingling and retreating a step reflexively before hastily adding: 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖 "However, the brothers found traces of sleeping drugs in Du Jiangbo’s usual quarters. He likely drugged the other two and seized the opportunity to ambush Wang Feng and the others. This man has been suppressing his plans for months; he must have hidden means at his disposal." Han Lu let out a cold, contemptuous snort but laughed bitterly: "So! It seems the Black Sand Gang has become nothing but a den of incompetents. Four men couldn’t even guard against one—a complete slaughter? Wonderful!" "Listen up! Spread the word to every division in the county—hunt Du Jiangbo down alive for me! When I get my hands on him, I’ll flay him alive, strip every bone, and see what outrageous audacity fuels him to provoke me like this!" Han Lu’s killing intent grew more ferocious than ever before. To be so openly challenged by Du Jiangbo—if Han Lu failed to capture him, how could he ever command respect within the gang again?