Citywide Martial Law

Hetu Dao Master?!

That was right—Wancheng's big boss was not far from He Zhao. Who would have thought that the Dao Master, who had kept a low profile for years and was either in secluded cultivation or on the road to secluded cultivation, would actually show up on the streets for a stroll today? He even seemed to be in quite a good mood.

What made things even more of a mixed bag was that Someone surnamed He had gone out fewer than five times in two months. Two homebodies from Great Xuan had actually crossed paths in an Earth-Shattering first. What a goddamn screw-up.

Although he wore the Divine Concealment Ring on his thumb, warping everyone's perception of his identity, the Spirit Power coursing through his body was practically overflowing.

A young beast had suddenly trespassed into the territory of another, fully grown beast. What did you think would happen to the cub?

It was definitely too late to turn around and leave now, and doing so would surely draw the other party's attention.

He could only steel himself and keep walking. If it came down to it, then he could not blame him for abandoning martial virtue and striking first with a sneak attack!

A vicious glint flashed through He Zhao's eyes as he tightly gripped the Bone Dagger hidden in his sleeve. So long as the other man showed the slightest hint of suspicion, he would immediately unleash a Heavy Punch.

Strangely, until the two brushed past each other, the Hetu Dao Master—clad in purple robes and exuding an overwhelming air of nobility—did not reveal the slightest abnormality. It was as though Ruthless He Zhao was merely some irrelevant Passerby A, not even worthy of a glance.

"."

So I'd been fighting wits and courage with thin air this whole time?

That shouldn't be possible!

Compared with when he had first entered the Simulation Scenario, his Spirit Power had grown by far more than tenfold. It was understandable if a Secret Blood Warrior could not see through him; after all, they did not belong to the same system.

But how could an Unusual Scholar of the Riding Light Realm possibly fail to see through him?

Although He Zhao did not know exactly what marvels the Riding Light Realm possessed, he could make some guesses. At the very least, it had to represent a gap between ordinary martial artists and Secret Blood Warriors.

He Zhao carefully recalled every detail of the Hetu Dao Master's expression and movements, only to find nothing unusual. Moreover, his Sixth Sense had given no warning at all.

He can't see through me?

There was no second explanation!

As the supreme leader overseeing Wancheng's Unusual Scholars, the Hetu Dao Master would certainly question any unfamiliar Unusual Scholar entering the city at the first opportunity.

Without identification issued by the Bureau of Peculiar Individuals, he could directly seize and kill them, or mobilize the Secret Blood Warriors and Garrison soldiers within the city to surround and suppress them. Afterward, all he needed to do was submit some paperwork.

He Zhao raised his left hand and examined the Divine Concealment Ring on his thumb. Aside from granting him a second identity, could this Sacrificial Vessel also conceal his aura and shield him from others' perception?

"If that's the case, then I seem to have found the key to avoiding becoming a Secret Blood Warrior."

Even before becoming Old Jin's disciple, he had been pondering how to steal the sky and swap the sun. He had an Aberration as powerful as Pig Woman, as well as the Spirit Realm space to suppress the rejection for him. He had no desire to use trash like Blood Bear to advance into a Secret Blood Warrior.

As Ruthless He Zhao was about to reach Hengshan Martial Arts Hall, a large group of fellow disciples emerged from within, surrounding a burly man.

Isn't that the Secret Blood Warrior who took part in the siege against me at Hetu Dao Temple?

"Senior Disciple Brother, tell us—just who was that Purple Robed Man who came to see Master today? This is the first time I've ever seen someone make Master personally go out to greet him."

"Senior Brother, tell us. That way, these junior brothers who don't know any better won't accidentally offend some honored guest."

As the two sides passed each other, He Zhao listened to their conversation, his brows tightly furrowed as he fell deep into thought.

Hetu Dao and Hengshan Boxing Gym had close ties.

What had brought him here this time?

Was it because of him, who had gone missing, or Liu Da, who had vanished again after returning to the city?

He had no clue.

One thousand eight hundred taels in banknotes had bought him one hundred and eighty catties of Aberration Flesh. In the past, He Zhao would definitely have agonized over it for a while. But the forty-five thousand taels sponsored by the Demon Eater had turned him into a filthy-rich tycoon in one leap. He could not have been more cheerful when paying.

At the same time, he easily passed the test and was permitted to learn boxing techniques. Before he left, Old Jin reminded him with a somewhat gloomy expression that the current situation was rather chaotic, and told him not to leave the city lightly.

He Zhao was utterly baffled by this.

The moment he left the martial arts hall, he discovered that fully armed soldiers were patrolling at intervals, maintaining order within the city.

The usual street loafers, punks, and hooligans had lost all their former swagger. Every one of them had their heads tucked in like quails, obedient beyond belief.

After leaving the Aberration Flesh at the Inn, he went to the city gate. The soldiers who had once been lax and adept at every kind of extortion had all been replaced by Elites with murderous looks on their faces.

Not only that, a huge number of people and livestock had piled up outside the gates. From asking around, he learned that the Garrison Office had recently issued orders forbidding anyone from leaving the city and forbidding anyone from entering it.

As for when the restrictions would be lifted?

To be determined!

An air called martial law rapidly spread through Wancheng.

Upon returning to the Inn, most of the diners were huddled together in conversation.

"Everything was fine yesterday. Why does it feel like we're about to go to war today?"

"Heh, my son works at the Garrison Office. When he came home last night, he told me that the chiefs of the water strongholds in Five Mountains and Eight Bays had gone mad for some reason and suddenly launched a large-scale assault on the villages and towns around Wancheng.

"They say quite a few people died, and some places were even slaughtered clean. Several trading houses and escort companies suffered grievous losses. Not only were large quantities of goods plundered, they also had to pay a huge sum in compensation to the families of the dead and wounded."

Hearing this, He Zhao sat down at a nearby table, ordered several small dishes and a pot of wine, and prepared to keep listening.

"Also, to prevent Water Bandit collaborators from being inside the city, the east, south, west, and north gates have all been placed under martial law. No one is allowed in or out."

"Is that really necessary? Our Wancheng has strong troops and sturdy horses—five thousand infantry, eight hundred cavalry, countless siege-defense weapons, and ample food and water. The Water Bandits wouldn't dare attack, would they?"

"Bullshit! You don't know the inside story. How many of the people in charge don't drink the soldiers' blood? Out of those so-called five thousand infantry, they'd be lucky to have a little over one thousand. As for eight hundred cavalry? What nonsense.

"Remember those horse merchants who left Wancheng years ago? They drove away several hundred fine horses when they left. How many cavalrymen with horses do you think are still in the city?

"As for siege-defense equipment, that's an even bigger joke. The one surnamed Wang sold it all off! When my son inspected the armory three years ago, the weapons and armor piled inside were all old goods from more than a decade ago.

"The only force in the city that looks halfway decent and has some combat power is Commander Wang's private soldiers. There aren't many of them, but at least their bearing and equipment aren't bad."

He Zhao: "."

No wonder that five years later, a group of sallow-faced, emaciated Vagrants had managed to fight all the way to the outskirts of Xuan Capital. The reigning emperor had even been forced to dispatch the Xuandu Army to suppress the bandits.

Great Xuan's officials had rotted to the core!

"Ah..."

He Zhao sighed. After draining a pot of wine, he returned to his room in a rather depressed mood.

He tightly shut the doors and windows, bent down, and pulled out the Wooden Box hidden beneath the bed with one hand.

As he shook it, some Lime spilled out.

"This was only meant as a backup. Who would have thought I'd really need to use it!"