The skinny constable burst out laughing. "Time is running out. Hurry up and take your clothes off, little beauty. It'd be such a pity if you died later."
A flash of silver suddenly streaked through the inn, cold and dazzling!
Li Xuanxiao held a longsword, the line of blood on its blade gathering into droplets that rolled down.
Falling together with those blood droplets was the skinny constable's head.
The fat constable froze, having never expected that anyone would dare lay a hand on them.
Through her tear-blurred eyes, Li Mengyun saw that utterly unremarkable figure suddenly charge forward.
He was not particularly handsome.
Nor was he as dashing and peerlessly elegant as the heroes described in novels, transcendent beyond the dust of the world.
But there was a certain feeling to him.
Though spiritual power could not be used here, his martial arts foundation remained.
Li Xuanxiao swung one arm and smashed out every tooth in the fat constable's mouth with a punch.
A constable's words had to be obeyed. If he could not speak, then there was no need to listen.
The fat constable had just been about to speak when blood immediately streamed from his mouth, leaving him unable to utter a single word.
Li Xuanxiao gave him no chance to react. He grabbed his fat head and slammed it into the floor, smashing a crater into the wooden boards.
Holding the sword in one hand, Li Xuanxiao thrust it toward the man's neck.
With a muffled splat, he forcibly tore open the man's neck. Blood sprayed everywhere, flesh separated from bone, and at last Li Xuanxiao tore off the entire head.
Scalding blood splashed out, covering Li Xuanxiao's face.
It was the first time Li Mengyun had seen such a bloody scene.
She looked at Li Xuanxiao and found it strange that she did not feel afraid.
On the contrary, that ordinary face now seemed a few shades more valiant and handsome in Li Mengyun's eyes because it was stained with blood.
Li Xuanxiao turned, pointing the tip of his sword at Li Mengyun.
"Take off your clothes!"
Li Mengyun froze.
Li Xuanxiao slashed with his sword.
The sword tip traced one precise arc after another.
Li Mengyun's upper garments immediately slid off.
Li Mengyun let out a startled cry.
Li Xuanxiao threw his own clothes to her, then ignored her and turned to strip the black clothing from the constables on the floor.
Rule Nine: There are no constables in the town. Rule Ten: Those wearing black are constables, and a constable's words must be obeyed.
There were no constables in the town. As long as one put on black clothes, one could become a constable.
Whatever a constable said, everyone else had to obey.
Then, naturally, constables could be killed. It was not an invincible identity.
Rule Twelve: Constables may freely enter and leave Luoshui Town, drawing more people into Luoshui Town. Once the number exceeds one thousand, they may gain an opportunity to leave Luoshui Town. After leaving, they will lose all memories concerning Luoshui Town.
The instant Li Xuanxiao put on the black clothes, the additional Rule Twelve appeared before him.
It applied only to constables.
Freely enter and leave Luoshui Town?
Then if he became a constable and left the town, would it not be better to report what had happened here to his sect?
But Li Xuanxiao swiftly dismissed the thought. If he left this place by following the rules—
Then he would most likely still have to abide by the town's rules. In other words, he could not reveal any information about the town to anyone.
Rigorous.
Li Xuanxiao put away the other set of black clothes, lest someone use it to kill him.
Outside Luoshui Town.
Liu Qiushui stared unblinkingly at Luoshui Town—or rather, at Li Xuanxiao within Luoshui Town.
He was still alive?
Murong Mo was still alive, and by a twist of fate, he had entered the restriction Elder Sikong had left behind.
Liu Qiushui had never expected to encounter Li Xuanxiao here, disguised under the name Murong Mo.
In Liu Qiushui's view, he should already have died by Di Nüfeng's hand.
Afterward, she had even sought news from Shu Mountain and confirmed that Murong Mo was dead.
Because of this, Liu Qiushui had once felt somewhat sorrowful.
There were not many people in this world who could make someone like Liu Qiushui feel that way.
Thus, when she encountered Li Xuanxiao again, Liu Qiushui had just been hesitating over whether to intervene and pull him out.
But she quickly dismissed that idea.
If she forcibly intervened and brought the people within the restriction out—
Then she would destroy the restriction Elder Sikong had left behind.
With her strength, once Elder Sikong's restriction was destroyed, he would never be able to awaken again.
Was she to kill a Body Integration Realm great power of Asura Hall—
For the sake of a Shushan Disciple who had once saved her?
Liu Qiushui fell into hesitation.
This was reality.
It was not some female-oriented cultivation novel.
Nor was it some male-oriented cultivation power fantasy.
As the leader of the demonic sect, Liu Qiushui might occasionally grow weary of her present life.
Or perhaps, at some particular moment, she had become interested in Li Xuanxiao, that youth who had, to some extent, saved her.
But that was all.
Liu Qiushui could choose to save Li Xuanxiao, reward him with treasures, grant him status...
Of course, that was only when it placed no burden on Liu Qiushui.
It was like how humans often gave snacks to pets they liked.
That was the feeling.
But when she truly had to give up something, and that thing would harm Liu Qiushui—
Then Liu Qiushui had to consider it.
Compared to a Body Integration Realm cultivator, what weight did Li Xuanxiao carry?
Liu Qiushui could naturally choose to save Li Xuanxiao for her own amusement.
But Asura Hall was not hers alone.
Forcibly interfering with the restriction was no different from killing Elder Sikong.
How was she supposed to explain that to the other higher-ups?
Just to save a Shushan Disciple...
Not worth it.
After a brief consideration of the gains and losses, Liu Qiushui made her choice.
I'll treat you as though you have already died, and then compensate your family.
Liu Qiushui said inwardly.
"This person seems to have already grasped a loophole in the rules Elder Sikong left behind. Nothing unexpected will happen, right?"
Seeing that Li Xuanxiao had already put on the constable's black clothes, a disciple of Heavenly Fiend Hall beside her could not help feeling worried.
"What is there to worry about? Elder Sikong is a Body Integration Realm great power."
Liu Qiushui raised her brows slightly. That possibility... seemed far too unlikely.
Within Luoshui Town, at the Mountain God Temple.
Rule Seven: The Mountain God Temple is safe. Rule Eight: Dangerous vicious beasts dwell within the Mountain God Temple.
Holding a candle, Li Xuanxiao walked alone into the Mountain God Temple through the darkness.
The Mountain God Temple did not look large from outside, but once he entered, he discovered that the space within was enormous.
A massive azure dragon coiled there, its colossal body taking up nearly half the temple hall.
Every scale gleamed with cold light, radiating an ancient and powerful aura. Its sharp dragon teeth were like swords, making one shudder with fear, as though it might open its blood-filled maw and roar at any moment.
Standing before this azure dragon, an incomparable pressure crashed head-on, crushing the breath from one's chest.
This fear did not arise from a physical threat, but from the reverence for unknown power buried deep within the soul.
The azure dragon looked at Li Xuanxiao teasingly.
Li Xuanxiao looked back at him.
Suddenly, the azure dragon opened its huge mouth and lunged to swallow Li Xuanxiao.
Li Xuanxiao did not move.
The azure dragon roared, and the candle flame went out.
Rule Two: At night, there must be a candle at your side, and the candle must not be extinguished.
At that moment, the only candle beside Li Xuanxiao had gone out.
Yet Li Xuanxiao stood firm as a mountain, allowing the azure dragon to roar and bare its fangs before him.
The Mountain God Temple was safe.
Before you continue