Killing Intent Surges

"Regardless, Zhou Gang activating the Azure Blood Talisman with his death at least saved the lives of more than half the people. Therefore, I should take care of his family..."

Amidst the chaotic crowd, Li Qingyun swallowed a Minor Grass Pill, his appearance and aura shifting to resemble the Daoist priest he had just struck with lightning.

In the disorganized situation, the soldiers suppressing and intercepting the citizens on the street naturally dared not stop him.

The Zhou Mansion was filled with cries.

Qin Qing's face was pale, his eyes unfocused. He forcibly composed himself and sat at the head of the hall, ordering over a dozen armored soldiers to bring everyone from the Zhou Mansion there.

Zhou Gang's corpse was also carried out and placed on the ground. It was shriveled like firewood, extremely abnormal.

In Qin Qing's opinion, Jia Song had already made his move, having drained Zhou Gang's life force last night.

"Commander Zhou was, after all, a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining. Jia Song was probably impatient! But if he wouldn't spare Commander Zhou, would he really keep his promise and let me go?"

The wails of Madam Zhou and several children in the hall made him increasingly uneasy, filled with dread and confusion.

"Father, wake up. You said you would take Heng'er back to You Capital to take the entrance exam for the Daoist Academy..."

Suddenly, a six-year-old boy who looked very much like Zhou Gang, taking advantage of the soldiers' inattention, ran over and clung to his father's corpse, weeping loudly.

"Slap!"

An agitated armored soldier grabbed the boy and slapped him across his tender face. The boy's face immediately became red and swollen.

The armored soldier had a ferocious expression and radiating malice. He roared at the boy, "It's all your father's incompetence, his stubbornness and arrogance, that almost got us all killed, along with everyone in town! Why are you crying? What right do you have to cry..."

Desperate roars echoed in the air.

It was as if they spoke the inner thoughts of Qin Qing and the other soldiers in the hall.

The armored soldier, still holding the boy, seemed to treat the child as a toy to vent his anger. He shoved him hard again.

Amidst Madam Zhou's terrified screams, the boy was sent flying like a light, fluffy ball, crashing towards the wall of the hall. He was about to be smashed into a pulp!

"Stop that..."

Qin Qing, unable to bear it any longer, stood up to intervene, but it was too late. He could only watch with his eyes open, expecting to see blood splash the next moment.

He knew this boy was called Zhou Heng, Commander Zhou's most beloved child.

"Forget it, we're all going to die anyway..."

Qin Qing turned his head away.

"What sin has this child committed?"

Just then, everyone's vision blurred. A Daoist priest with a stern face swept into the hall.

It was Li Qingyun, disguised as a Daoist priest from the You Dao Division.

He had arrived just in time. Had he been a moment later, this boy, entrusted to him by Zhou Gang, would have been splattered with brains.

He channeled his Mana, reached out, and caught the boy, nullifying the force of the impact. Then, he gently set him down.

"Zhou Heng, find a place to hide..."

Li Qingyun whispered to the boy, who had narrowly escaped death, gesturing for him to hide behind the statue of the Dao Lord in the hall.

Although terrified, young Zhou Heng quickly calmed down. He didn't cry wildly, glanced at Li Qingyun, and ran towards the statue of the Dao Lord.

"Qu Xiao, how did you get here? What's the situation at the city gate..."

Qin Qing looked at Li Qingyun's sudden appearance and the rescue of the boy. He felt an inexplicable sense of relief and was curious why Qu Xiao, who should have been guarding the south gate, had come to the Zhou Mansion.

But as he spoke, Qin Qing was horrified to realize that "Qu Xiao's" appearance was rapidly changing. His arm trembled as he pointed at Li Qingyun, "You, you're not fellow Daoist Li?"

Under everyone's gaze, Li Qingyun, standing in the hall, his face transformed, quickly reverting to the handsome and composed young Daoist priest!

"You can all die now!"

As Li Qingyun's face returned to normal, his figure moved.

Like a gust of wind, he swept towards Qin Qing and the armored soldiers present.

"Kill him quickly!"

Qin Qing shouted, ordering the soldiers to attack.

He reacted quickly, immediately throwing a fire talisman at Li Qingyun while slapping two layers of protective talismans onto himself.

The armored soldiers were already restless, like wild beasts on the verge of losing control. Now, their eyes turned red. Some drew their swords, others raised their crossbows, eagerly anticipating seeing Li Qingyun riddled with arrows the next moment!

"Illusion!"

A clear shout rang out, and invisible ripples spread through the air.

The soldiers' expressions froze instantly, their minds momentarily lost.

Then, the handsome figure in the green Daoist robe on the stage moved with the speed of Wind Riding. He circled around, and dazzling sword light illuminated the entire hall. Blood splattered, and screams erupted in succession.

One by one, the armored soldiers had their throats pierced by swords, their lives extinguished instantly, and they fell to the ground with thuds.

When Li Qingyun stopped again, he was already in front of Qin Qing. His eyes were as cold as ice. He watched as Qin Qing clutched his bleeding throat and collapsed weakly, disbelieving.

"You, you..."

Qin Qing pointed at Li Qingyun, finally unable to speak.

He lay softly on the cold ground, convulsing, his eyes wide open, filled with unwillingness, regret, and lingering attachment…

In his rapidly dimming eyes, the scene from two years ago seemed to reappear:

He, full of youthful vigor, carrying the blessings and hopes of his family, left You Capital for Yin Mountain, his heart filled with the ambition to suppress demons, pacify monsters, and bring peace to the common people.

"Father, I was wrong. I have failed my family's expectations, and I am even more sorry to the people of this town!"

"How I wish I could return to You Capital and see the true prosperity of the Great You era…"

His life force then completely vanished.

Li Qingyun watched Qin Qing's rapidly stiffening and cooling corpse, a flicker of regret in his eyes.

If Qin Qing had dared to take a chance last night and reveal Jia Song's true scheme…

Or, if Qin Qing had shown a little more compassion just now and treated Zhou Gang's family and women kindly.

He wouldn't have been killed on the spot without mercy!

"Thank you, benefactor!"

Madam Zhou, holding her children, cried and laughed, wanting to lead everyone from the Zhou Mansion to kneel and kowtow to Li Qingyun.

"No need for this! Does your mansion have any secret passages or hidden rooms? Hurry and hide. Don't be afraid, the night will pass soon…"

Li Qingyun flicked his sleeve, and a gentle wave of mana lifted Madam Zhou and the others who were about to kneel.

"Y-yes, we do. Benefactor, would you like to hide with us?"

Madam Zhou organized her family and servants, carried Zhou Gang's body, and rushed towards the back hall in disarray, also inviting Li Qingyun to hide in the underground chamber.

"I won't be joining you!"

Li Qingyun waved his hand.

His eyes lit up, and he squatted down, reaching out to take a brocade pouch that was peeking out from Qin Qing's waist.

"It's a Hundred Treasures Pouch! This Qin Qing, perhaps a junior his family had high hopes for. What a pity…"

Holding the Hundred Treasures Pouch, he enveloped it with mana, carefully rubbing it back and forth several times, and in a moment, broke through the original minor restriction.

He sent his consciousness into it and saw that the internal space of the Hundred Treasures Pouch was about the size of a small room.

Inside were about thirty spirit stones, two or three bottles of Minor Grass Pills, and other items like gold, silver, and talismans.

There weren't many items, but the most valuable was this Hundred Treasures Pouch!

On the internal purchase channels of Lingbao Temple, it would cost at least two hundred spirit stones.

He tucked the Hundred Treasures Pouch inside his Daoist robe, keeping it close, not wanting to expose his wealth.

Then, ignoring the corpses filling the hall, he walked to the statue of "Dao Lord Lingxiao Miaozhen Dongyou Yinyang Rensheng" enshrined in the main hall. His killing intent receded, and his face became calm and serene.

He then sat down cross-legged, his eyes slightly narrowed, and began to meditate and cultivate on his own.

One moment, the wrathful gaze of a Vajra; the next, the gentle expression of a Bodhisattva.

Through the walls of the Zhou Mansion, the chaotic fighting outside did not disturb his mi