Delays May Breed Change

"Young master, I must remind you: Jia Song and that ghostly thing have sealed off the entire town with an array. If the Azure Blood Talisman is activated within the town, its effect may be greatly diminished."

"It would be best if you found a way outside the town before activating it. Then the azure-blood golden light will soar into the sky, and even the Youdao Division in the prefectural city will be able to see it..."

Zhou Gang spoke in warning, rubbing the golden talisman in his hand. Deep in his eyes, there was still a trace of hesitation.

"Mm. Just infuse the talisman. As for when and where to activate it, I'll handle that myself!"

Li Qingyun was inwardly startled, but nodded to show that he understood.

"Good. I hope you won't break your word, young master. Protect my household and keep them safe!"

"Especially my eldest son, Zhou Heng. He has a Dao bone. If things truly become critical, young master, you need only take Heng'er away..."

Zhou Gang's expression sharpened, recovering some of the imposing presence of a commander.

He suddenly raised his hand and drew a vertical slash across his forehead. Amid spraying skin and blood, he slapped the golden Azure Blood Talisman onto it.

Buzz!

Golden radiance flickered. The talisman immediately seemed to take root in Zhou Gang's forehead, crazily drawing in his blood, mana, and everything else.

The golden talisman's power and effect were astonishing, but for someone in the Qi Refining Realm to activate and wield it, the sacrifice was bound to be immense!

"Though Zhou Gang failed in his duty as town commander, he has at least shown some of a commander's bearing in the end..."

Li Qingyun felt a slight pang of pity.

Before his eyes, Zhou Gang's body rapidly withered and dried up. His soul flame dimmed, on the verge of going out.

The so-called Azure Blood Talisman burned the azure blood of a Dao official who governed a region, transforming it into golden light that shot into the heavens and could alarm those a thousand li away!

Once this talisman appeared, it signified an extreme emergency, perhaps even the death of a Dao official with "Dao Child potential." It would surely draw the highest attention.

Unless the circumstances were perilous in the extreme, no one would be willing to use it!

A quarter of an hour later, Zhou Gang's breath ceased. He had fulfilled the Azure Blood Talisman.

Reduced to skin and bones, he lay on his back upon the bed, his furious eyes wide open. His left hand pointed beyond the room, carrying too many regrets, too much unwillingness, and too much reluctance to part.

His final gesture was a reminder to Li Qingyun: protect his family.

Putting away the Azure Blood Talisman, Li Qingyun stood silently before Zhou Gang's corpse. At last, he gave a deep bow.

He walked out of the room and shut the door behind him.

"Zhou Gang's situation is unusual. Without Deputy Commander Jia's orders, no one is to enter for the next few days, including his household!"

"Qin Qing"—Li Qingyun—shouted at the two armored soldiers outside the door.

The soldiers hurriedly acknowledged the order.

Under the night curtain, a side room in Zhou Mansion was still lit. Li Qingyun glanced over and saw Madam Zhou still standing by the window, looking in his direction, appearing sorrowful and helpless.

"In this world, it is not easy for ordinary people just to stay alive..."

Li Qingyun sighed inwardly. His robes fluttered in the night wind as he strode swiftly out of Zhou Mansion.

He then returned to the grim, shadowy Youdao Division under Qin Qing's identity.

In a corridor where the chill struck to the bone, his figure suddenly flickered, and he slipped into the shadows beside an ornamental rockery.

He heard the sound of something slicing through the air ahead. A familiar Daoist figure descended from above, his face like old tree bark, his limbs stiff, his aura cold and carrying the stench of blood. Who else could it be but that old bastard Jia Song?

After landing, Jia Song raised a hand and wiped the trace of crimson from the corner of his mouth. His dull eyes seemed to hold a few more glimmers of light. Then he swayed as he strolled toward his residence, soon disappearing from Li Qingyun's sight.

"Qin Qing..."

From afar came the old Daoist's voice, calling for Qin Qing.

Li Qingyun was alarmed and hurried back to the side courtyard.

Once inside his room, he withdrew his Illusionary Mana and returned to his original appearance.

Yuanbao, the Big Black Cat, sprawled atop the roof beam and lazily let out a meow.

It seemed to be greeting him: Pooper-scooper, you finally came back!

The moment he returned, he also drew the attention of Zhao Yifan, Chi Hui, and the two Daoists from Purple Gold Temple who were staying in the side courtyard with him. They all sent voice transmissions to ask what had happened.

Zhao Yifan, who lived next door, said, "Junior Brother, how did it go? I was worried sick just now!"

Chi Hui was even more impatient. "Fellow Daoist Li, did you see Commander Zhou? Can he come out and take charge of the situation?"

Old Daoist Wang from Purple Gold Temple said, "Fellow Daoist Li is so young, yet possesses such remarkable skill. Your illusion arts are beginning to feel almost miraculous..."

Li Qingyun naturally sat cross-legged to meditate upon returning, though his heart remained heavy. He said, "I saw him. Zhou Gang was plotted against by Jia Song and placed under house arrest. We can no longer count on him. The entire town's defensive force is in Jia Song's hands now. But Zhou Gang gave me something, and he sacrificed himself for it! With this item, we can send word that this place has fallen into desperate straits, drawing the attention of the Youdao Divisions in neighboring counties and the prefectural government!"

"That's wonderful!"

"Then report it at once!"

"The various heroes and fellow Daoists trapped in town are saved!"

The few of them were overjoyed. Yet they did not ask much about Zhou Gang's sacrifice, nor did they seem to care much about it.

Li Qingyun pondered for a moment. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes as he immediately began making arrangements.

"The arrow is already on the bow; delay may breed change. Once dawn comes, Zhou Gang's death will be discovered. And there is a high chance that my visit to Zhou Mansion tonight has already been exposed. Once Jia Song and Tu Xiong are alerted, they will surely strike against us and the townspeople ahead of time!"

"Later, I will awaken the fellow Daoists and martial heroes in the other courtyards. Fellow Daoist Chi, Fellow Daoist Wang, and Senior Brother Zhao, lead them. Keep watch on the signal outside town. The moment you see the golden talisman light shoot into the sky, immediately kill your way out of the Youdao Division together, then scatter and flee..."

Chi Hui, Zhao Yifan, Old Daoist Wang, and the others answered in grave voices.

Having made their decision, each went to make preparations.

Li Qingyun changed his form once more. Illusionary Mana covered his body, making his entire person old and sinister. His features bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Jia Song.

But that was enough!

Jia Song was ruthless and deeply calculating. Now that he controlled all the armed power in town, no one dared stop or question him.

If he was going to do it, he might as well go all the way. Li Qingyun decided to make it big!

Hesitation and indecision were instead great taboos for cultivators!

"Yuanbao, follow behind me..."

Li Qingyun was not worried about the Big Black Cat in the slightest.

Since it could come and go freely in the back mountain of Lingbao Temple, "drawing in wealth and treasures," how could a mere town-level Youdao Division possibly stump it?

Disguised as Jia Song, Li Qingyun no longer needed to hide anything.

Mana circulated through him. The broad sleeves of his Daoist robe billowed in the wind, and with a light leap, he brazenly rose directly into the air.

When Jia Song had returned from outside earlier, he had likewise flown and leaped about the Youdao Division with such casual ease.

Amid the Vast Tree Shadow, soldiers were startled and immediately raised their crossbows to aim.

But in the hazy night, when they vaguely saw that it was Deputy Commander Jia, they were so frightened that they instantly lowered their bows and crossbows, secretly thanking their lucky stars that they had not acted rashly. Otherwise, their little lives would have been finished!

Previously, several night-watch soldiers had seen Deputy Commander Jia flying over the residential district of town at night. Thinking him a demon, they fired their crossbows at him. Later, the deputy commander called them over for a chat.

Then, within a few days, they vanished without a trace, leaving not even bones behind.

"Eh, why does it feel like the deputy commander isn't flying quite as gracefully as usual? His posture looks strange?"

"Watch your tongue! Is the deputy commander someone you can judge? Blind Zhang, don't get us killed..."

One soldier whispered his doubt, only to be harshly rebuked by his companion.

These armored soldiers tasked with watching Li Qingyun and the others had, at most, cultivated some unorthodox techniques. How could they possibly see through the difference between the real and fake Jia Song?

Their strength and speed were somewhat greater than ordinary people's, and their blood vitality was more vigorous, enough to startle wandering souls.

Strong-bodied soldiers wore heavy armor, affixed talismans, and wielded powerful crossbows. Fully equipped and fighting in formation, they could battle demons and monsters, and could even threaten Qi Refining cultivators of middling strength.