Only one day remained until the City God Festival.
Hun City had already become extraordinarily lively.
When the time came, every household had to send at least one person to the City God Temple to worship. If there was only one person in the household and they could not conveniently go due to injury or some other reason, they could be exempted from worship.
Even Qixia Street, where only a scant few households remained, was now hung everywhere with red lanterns.
Jiang Wang lay in a rattan chair in the front courtyard.
Listening to the somewhat boisterous sounds outside, he thought about how the Green-robed Cultivator, White-robed Cultivator, and Purple-robed Cultivator were bound together, practically inseparable. If they had an enemy, that enemy should not have targeted only the Purple-robed Cultivator.
Even if Feng Linghuai possessed the ability to kill cultivators, he could not possibly take on three alone. That was why he had chosen to break them one by one.
Perhaps it was because the Green-robed Cultivator and White-robed Cultivator had never separated, and perhaps because his disciple had been killed, that Feng Linghuai had not struck again and had instead set his primary target on Jiang Wang.
Jiang Wang had reason to suspect that, given the chance, Feng Linghuai would also do his utmost to kill the Green-robed Cultivator and White-robed Cultivator.
On the day of the City God Festival, those who had gone out would try their best to return home, and Hun City's defenses would be stricter than usual.
If Feng Linghuai wanted to make a move, he would either choose today or wait until after the City God Temple Fair had ended.
But the City God Temple Fair would last a full ten days. Plans often failed to keep pace with change; no one knew what might happen in ten days.
Jiang Wang rather hoped Feng Linghuai would be a little braver.
He should stop hiding like a rat.
Yet before Feng Linghuai arrived, at the second quarter of the Monkey Hour, someone else visited the Xunyang Marquis Manor.
The White-robed Cultivator opened the gate.
A middle-aged man in a blue brocade robe stood outside the manor gates. A little girl followed at his side, holding a chicken leg and gnawing it until her mouth was greasy.
"Who are you two?" The White-robed Cultivator's gaze fell on the middle-aged man's brocade robe, and his expression suddenly changed. He immediately lowered his posture and asked cautiously, "Could you be an esteemed guest from the Qingxuan Bureau?"
The Brocade-robed Man raised an eyebrow slightly. "A Cave Nether Realm cultivator?"
He peered into the marquis manor, his brow gradually furrowing deeper.
What dense monster aura!
The White-robed Cultivator thought Mr. Jiang truly was extraordinary. Even such an important figure from the Qingxuan Bureau had come to visit. Deeply apprehensive, he said, "I am merely a minor cultivator from Moonlit West Tower. I did not know an honored guest from the Qingxuan Bureau had arrived and failed to welcome you from afar. I beg your forgiveness."
The Brocade-robed Man said in a deep voice, "Why is a Moonlit West Tower cultivator here?"
The White-robed Cultivator did not dare conceal anything. Though Moonlit West Tower did not involve itself with the imperial court, it feared the court all the more.
He told him everything in full detail: how they had come to Hun City seeking Immortal Traces, encountered Jiang Wang, and how the monster Ao Yin and the Purple-robed Cultivator had been killed.
Fish Abyss Academy, which likewise belonged to the imperial court, was far less intimidating to cultivators across the realm than the Qingxuan Bureau. It could be said that, apart from sect leaders of great sects, there was no one who did not respect or even fear the Qingxuan Bureau.
The Brocade-robed Man looked at the trembling White-robed Cultivator, remained silent for a moment, then walked past him straight into the marquis manor.
The little girl gnawing on the chicken leg glanced at the White-robed Cultivator, seemingly with some pity.
This left the White-robed Cultivator utterly baffled.
Jiang Wang lounged comfortably in the rattan chair.
The chair sat beneath a banyan tree.
The Green-robed Cultivator waited at one side, his posture far more proper than Zhao Si's.
But because the two green- and white-robed cultivators had arrived, Zhao Si was quite pleased.
He had shut himself in his room all day studying his paintings, and no one disturbed him anymore.
The White-robed Cultivator hurried to Jiang Wang and said in a low voice, "Mr. Jiang, an official from the Qingxuan Bureau has come."
Before Jiang Wang could ask anything, the Brocade-robed Man had already appeared in his sight, leading the little girl who was chewing on a chicken leg.
"So it's you, you greedy little girl."
Jiang Wang's gaze immediately landed on the little girl.
The little girl recognized Jiang Wang as well and instinctively hid the chicken leg behind her back.
Jiang Wang looked deeply aggrieved.
He had merely been bored and looked a few extra times while sitting outside the tailor shop on Qixia Street, yet the little girl had taken him for someone trying to snatch her food.
"You are Jiang Wang?"
The Brocade-robed Man smiled faintly. "Quite capable, indeed. As a monster, you actually have two cultivators guarding you at your side."
Jiang Wang pointed at himself. "Are you talking to me?"
The Brocade-robed Man said, "The monster aura here is extremely dense. It seems your cultivation is quite profound. Unfortunately, you encountered me. Today, I will subdue you, and my Monster Slaying Record will gain another entry."
Jiang Wang's expression turned solemn. Looking at the White-robed Cultivator beside him, he said, "Why did you let a lunatic in?"
The White-robed Cultivator was greatly astonished. Looking at the Brocade-robed Man, he said, "Sir, how can you spout such nonsense and call Mr. Jiang a monster?"
The Green-robed Cultivator had already summoned his Flying Sword. The moment the other man spoke, he knew the visitor meant ill.
Even if this was an important figure from the Qingxuan Bureau, he was willing to risk his life for Mr. Jiang.
The Brocade-robed Man chuckled. "You two must have been kept in the dark. This man is a monster. Do not defend him so fiercely merely because he has shown you a few minor kindnesses. This monster has lurked in Hun City and even spared no effort to slaughter his own kind. He must be plotting something tremendous. Since you do not know the truth, stand with me now, and I can let bygones be bygones."
The White-robed Cultivator finally realized the problem and shouted angrily, "Utter nonsense! Though the Qingxuan Bureau bears the heavy responsibility of overseeing the cultivators of the Sui Kingdom and slaying monsters and demons, casually accusing others of being monsters is simply the greatest absurdity under heaven!"
"You say the monster aura here is dense. Why can't I sense it at all?"
The Brocade-robed Man said in a deep voice, "That is because you have been deceived by the monster, and your realms are too low. This monster's cultivation exceeds even Ao Yin's. How could minor cultivators like you sense it so easily?"
Jiang Wang seemed thoughtful. He looked up at the banyan tree and said, "There truly was once a monster here. The monster aura you sensed should belong to that monster."
The Brocade-robed Man said, "That monster is you. This argument is rather laughable."
"Upon learning that a monster was hidden in the Hun City Marquis Manor, I had some doubts. But the facts have proven that report true. I believe only what I have sensed myself. If you tell me your hidden purpose, I may let you die more easily."
Jiang Wang wondered whether Miss Shu was behind this.
In all of Hun City, there was no one else who would call him a monster.
The White-robed Cultivator directly drew his sword, his face dark. "I thought you were an honored guest, but you turned out to be an unwelcome one. Insulting Mr. Jiang is worse than insulting me. Today, I would like to witness the abilities of a Qingxuan Bureau cultivator!"
He struck first.
The Green-robed Cultivator followed close behind.
The Brocade-robed Man said in a deep voice, "Since you remain stubborn and aid evil, the Qingxuan Bureau's swords can slay monsters and suppress cultivators alike!"
The moment his words fell,
two Flying Swords appeared out of thin air.
The two green- and white-robed cultivators became entangled with the Flying Swords, yet could not get anywhere near the Brocade-robed Man.
The little girl chewing on her chicken leg walked straight toward Jiang Wang.
"Is the chicken leg good?"
Jiang Wang sat calmly in the rattan chair.
The little girl halted, then quickly finished the chicken leg and tossed the bone at Jiang Wang. Pouting, she said, "Do you want to eat it?"
Jiang Wang lowered his head to look at the chicken bone covered in dirt and smiled. "Little girl, fighting and killing do not suit you. How about I get you something tasty, and you squat off to the side and play in the mud for a while?"
The little girl raised her head. A great scythe instantly appeared in her hand. "My name is Akong. I have already passed my coming-of-age ceremony."
Jiang Wang was greatly taken aback.
So she was a grown young woman?
Yet her figure was so petite and exquisite.
"Though you are old enough to marry, you are still a little girl."
Akong's face immediately frosted over. She was not stupid; naturally, she understood what Jiang Wang meant.
The little girl who had looked so very adorable while gnawing on a chicken leg now seemed to have stepped into the opposite extreme.
Explosive crackling sounds rang through the air. Her black dress, seemingly untouched by any grease stains, fluttered in the wind. Her long dark hair whipped wildly about, her eyes became icy cold, and the great scythe in her hand gave off a chilling, oppressive aura.
"How do you have two faces?!"
The gale nearly overturned the rattan chair. Jiang Wang gripped it tightly, his body swaying back and forth with the chair.
"Mr. Jiang!" Though he knew full well Jiang Wang did not need saving, the White-robed Cultivator still endured being struck by the Brocade-robed Man's Flying Sword and rushed at Akong as fast as he could.
A streak of cold light erupted as Akong's great scythe slashed directly at the White-robed Cultivator.
The scythe collided with the longsword. The White-robed Cultivator's body continued forward, but the sword in his hand was knocked away, even splitting the web between his thumb and forefinger.
Akong followed with a kick, sending the White-robed Cultivator spraying blood as he fell.
Seeing this, the Green-robed Cultivator was slightly distracted. The next instant, a Flying Sword pressed against his forehead.
The Brocade-robed Man sneered. "Is this all you can do?"
Jiang Wang steadied the rattan chair and breathed lightly, somewhat unable to believe it himself. "I knew you were weak, but I did not expect you to be this weak."
The White-robed Cultivator was deeply ashamed.
In truth, he should not have lost so quickly.
The moment he came into contact with Akong, he clearly sensed that the little girl was merely in the Cave Nether Realm.
By rights, within the same realm, he had deeper cultivation and more experience. No matter what, things should not have ended this way.
But in fact, the force behind Akong's scythe strike had been exceedingly fierce. One wrong move, and the entire game was lost; in that instant, there had been no way to make up for it.
Thinking of how the two cultivators had risked their lives to protect him, Jiang Wang felt his words had been inappropriate and comforted them instead. "It is nothing. Victory and defeat are common in battle. Let me avenge you."
Akong had changed her face, and her aura was indeed terrifying, but it also pushed Jiang Wang's combat strength to its peak.
At last, he rose from the rattan chair.
He casually picked up the Long Night Saber resting beside him.
The blade pointed at the Flying Sword pressed against the Green-robed Cultivator's forehead. The next moment, the sword drifted lightly to the ground like a kite with its string cut.
The instant the Green-robed Cultivator was freed, he immediately retreated, helped the White-robed Cultivator to his feet, and withdrew to Jiang Wang's side.
The Brocade-robed Man's expression grew grave. Just now, it had seemed as though he had lost control of the Flying Sword, yet it also seemed as if some force had directly severed his connection to it.
This monster truly was fierce!
"Akong, come back." Another sword appeared in the Brocade-robed Man's hand as he watched Jiang Wang warily.
The situation seemed more troublesome than he had imagined.
When Akong retreated behind him, the Brocade-robed Man said in a deep voice, "It seems I will be updating my Monster Slaying Record today."
Before you continue