Liang Capital

Asking for bodies happened three times along the way.

There were ghost creatures, and also spirits that imitated human speech.

If you were to ask about the danger, the last time was the worst.

That hedgehog spirit that could speak human language charged into the military formation and brutally killed several soldiers.

It almost reached the carriage before being surrounded and killed by the Old Hundred-Household and his men.

The Venerable Soul Banner gained a hedgehog Yin Soul.

It had some strange abilities, but it had only just reached a rank.

It only knew how to rely on brute force and didn't understand any techniques.

To avoid the smell of blood attracting unnecessary trouble, the convoy decided to travel through the night.

They finally saw the city walls of Liang Capital when the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Closer to Liang Capital, there were no longer those ghosts and spirits bothering them.

The Immortal Masters in the Hall of Offerings would take care of them.

"Finally, we've arrived."

The Old Hundred-Household let out a long breath, his anxious heart finally settling.

When the Old Hundred-Household stood up, the position of his right hand was already empty.

He had lost an arm blocking that spirit.

Liang Capital in the early morning was shrouded in a faint layer of gray mist.

The yawning city guards, seeing the convoy with the Embroidered Uniform Guard banner, immediately sobered up.

The gate officials didn't dare to stop them.

The city gate opened wide.

The convoy drove into Liang Capital, with the five soldiers' stitched-up bodies on the flatbed cart behind them.

Unknown vendors on the street were steaming something, and the steaming baskets emitted a large amount of steam.

The shop assistants were dismantling the wooden plank doors piece by piece, preparing to welcome customers.

An old man carrying candied hawthorn skewers and wearing patched clothes was hawking his wares along the street.

Merchants with novel small items had set up their stalls early.

Ox carts and donkey carts traveled on the street, passing through the mist and crushing the lingering stains.

The drivers cracked their whips, shouting something.

Beggars huddled together against the wall, embracing for warmth.

Fortunately, it wasn't a season cold enough to freeze people to death, so there was no need to worry about falling asleep and never waking up again.

The market pavilions were open, and the smell of cosmetics drifted down from the windows.

From time to time, courtesans applying makeup could be seen.

Liang Capital was indeed more prosperous than Eight Directions Prefecture City.

The streets were wider, and there were more people.

But for the convoy, they only felt exhaustion.

Only by rushing back to Liang Capital day and night could their hearts feel at ease.

"Shizhu, you take a few brothers to collect the compensation for our fallen brothers."

"Iron Head, you come with me to deliver the Immortal Masters' bodies back to the Hall of Offerings." At the fork in the road, the Old Hundred-Household instructed his right-hand men.

They couldn't deliver the bodies to the brothers' families first.

When a person dies, there must be an explanation.

If they only saw the bodies, how could they continue to live?

After reporting and collecting the compensation, the brothers would add a little more. As colleagues for many years, it was a small token of their regard. He hoped the families who had lost their pillars of support could get through this.

"Alright, Boss," Shizhu nodded.

The convoy split up at the fork in the road.

There weren't many people in the Hall of Offerings. When the Immortal Masters' bodies were transported to the entrance, there were special people to receive them.

Along with the two Immortal Masters, they also handed over the body of Li Qing Feng, whom they believed to be a Demonic Cultivator.

Made of paulownia wood and bluestone, with carved railings and jade steps.

A faint blue light flickered slightly, blocking the Old Hundred-Household and the others.

This was the Hall of Offerings' formation.

It prevented ordinary people from disturbing the Immortal Masters inside.

Those who could invite Immortal Masters were invariably high officials and noblemen.

Naturally, as Enshrinements of the Imperial Court, they must share in the Court's worries.

If strange occurrences arose that normal people couldn't resolve, the Immortal Masters would be needed to step in.

At the same time, they also prevented assassins from killing the Emperor and dealt with Immortal Master Enshrinements from other countries.

The status of an Immortal Master was somewhat detached.

The receiving Daoist Acolyte looked bewildered. He hadn't expected three corpses to be brought back.

Immortal Master Wen and Immortal Master Zhu were both dead.

The Daoist Acolyte immediately understood that something major had happened and ran back towards the buildings without looking back.

After a short while, an old man in a green robe and Daoist attire hurried over. Pushing through the crowd, he saw the three bodies lying on the carriage board.

"To think that this trip to eliminate demonic forces would cost us two Enshrinements."

Wearing a green robe and Daoist attire, holding a whisk, he looked like a figure of immortal grace and Daoist bone.

Tu Shan Jun within the Venerable Soul Banner slightly narrowed his eyes. This old Daoist's cultivation wasn't low.

The old Daoist examined the Demonic Cultivator's body. The body was surrounded by Yin Evil and Blood Fiend Qi overflowed.

His face was pale and gaunt, which fit the image of a Demonic Path fiend.

"Boss."

A hurried Embroidered Uniform Guard soldier quickly ran to the Old Hundred-Household's side, gasping for breath while lowering his voice.

He whispered, "Something's happened. Brother Shizhu and the others have been detained."

"What?" The Old Hundred-Household's expression froze.

Although the Old Hundred-Household's expression changed drastically, with an Immortal Master present, it wouldn't be good to just leave with his men.

He cupped his hands towards the old Daoist in the robe: "Since the Immortal Masters' remains have been returned, we have other important matters and won't trouble the Immortal Master any further."

The old Daoist had already checked; the Storage Talismans were all there, and none of the Magic Tools were missing.

There was even a Sword Hairpin on the Demonic Cultivator's body, which looked quite extraordinary.

He simply waved his hand and let the Old Hundred-Household and his men leave.

Since nothing was missing, there was no need to keep the military households.

Moreover, it sounded like they had encountered trouble on their end as well.

Although the soldier had lowered his voice, as a Cultivator, he possessed this level of five senses and six consciousnesses.

Having received the Immortal Master's permission, the Old Hundred-Household led his brothers and drove away.

The old Daoist in the green robe and Daoist attire instructed the Daoist Acolyte beside him: "Go, find all the Enshrinements."

The Embroidered Uniform Guards driving away headed towards the Yamen.

The Old Hundred-Household inquired about the reason for the incident, but unfortunately, the soldier who came to deliver the message knew very little. He only heard that a conflict had broken out in the Yamen, and then Shizhu was suddenly detained.

Seeing that things were bad, he had run back to the Hall of Offerings without looking back.

The Old Hundred-Household unconsciously touched his waist saber with his only remaining left hand. With this touch, he remembered that a small command flag was still tucked into his waist.

This was obtained from that Demonic Cultivator Immortal Master.

At the time, to bolster his courage and hope that the Magic Treasure could help him, he had taken it out.

He hadn't expected it to be truly useful when killing Ghost Creatures.

And it had successfully scared away the ghost thing in the sedan chair.

He had kept it on him ever since.

Just now, when the soldier called out and he heard that Shizhu had been detained by the Yamen, he had actually forgotten to hand over this Magic Treasure to the Immortal Master at the Hall of Offerings.

"Forget it, I'll hand it over when I have time."

"Saving people is like fighting a fire, no time to delay," the Old Hundred-Household tucked the small command flag back into his waist and urged the soldier driving the carriage to go faster.

Tu Shan Jun remained noncommittal.

It was just a pity that he hadn't acquired a new Qi Cultivator Banner Master.

Tu Shan Jun felt that as long as the Banner Master wasn't an evil person, he could support them.

Considering some things, Tu Shan Jun also made no move.

Although the Old Hundred-Household was strong, he could only be considered a Second-Rate Jianghu Expert who had cultivated Internal Qi.

He had also lost an arm, and his age wasn't young, so he probably wouldn't be able to embark on the Immortal Path.

The most important thing was not knowing if the Old Hundred-Household had Spiritual Root talent.

This was the more crucial matter.

Without Spiritual Roots, it would delay a lot of time.

A moment later.

The carriage arrived at the Embroidered Uniform Guard Yamen.

The Old Hundred-Household hurried towards the main gate but was stopped by two soldiers. "Hundred-Household Lord, please allow us to report your arrival."

The Old Hundred-Household forced a smile and stopped the men behind him. "That's fine."

After waiting for a while, the gate soldier finally arrived, a look of feigned apology on his face. "Oh, Hundred-Household Lord, you've been waiting. The Thousand-Household Lord requests your presence inside."

The Old Hundred-Household nodded slightly and walked towards the yamen.

In the open space inside the gate lay the bodies of his five brothers. The remaining few were held back by waist knives.

Shizhu was restrained by two Embroidered Uniform Guards, unable to move.

Seeing the Old Hundred-Household walk in, Shizhu's eyes widened.

Just as he was about to get up, a soldier behind him kicked him.

His hands and feet were bound, and his mouth was stuffed with a rag. He struggled to move his body on the ground.

The Old Hundred-Household's face was cold as he looked at the two men holding Shizhu down. He didn't speak but walked directly into the Central Hall of the yamen.

A person dressed in a silver-white embroidered robe was bent over a desk, writing something.

Against the light, the person's face was unclear.

"Lord," the Old Hundred-Household called out cautiously.

He forced an awkward, constrained smile onto his face. "If my subordinates have offended you in any way, please, Lord, overlook the transgressions of a lesser man."

"I apologize to you on Shizhu's behalf. I will discipline him properly when we return."