"No matter what, Commander Zhou activated the Azure Blood Talisman with his death, at least saving the lives of the majority. I should look after his family a bit..."
Amidst the chaotic flow of people, Li Qingyun swallowed a Minor Grass Pill, his features and aura shifting until he turned into the Daoist priest he had struck with lightning just moments ago.
In the disorderly situation, the soldiers suppressing and intercepting the commoners in the streets naturally did not dare to stop him.
Inside the Zhou Mansion, cries echoed endlessly.
Qin Qing sat in the main hall with a pale face and vacant gaze, forcing himself to remain calm as he ordered a dozen armored soldiers to herd everyone in the Zhou Mansion here.
Zhou Gang's corpse was also carried out and placed on the ground, withered like firewood and entirely abnormal.
In Qin Qing's view, Jia Song had already made his move and consumed Zhou Gang last night.
Commander Zhou was, after all, at the ninth layer of Qi Refining. Jia Song probably couldn't wait any longer! But even if he spares Commander Zhou, is he really willing to keep his promise and let me off?
The wailing of Madam Zhou and several children in the hall made him increasingly restless, terrified, and bewildered.
"Father, wake up! You said you would take Heng'er back to Youjing to take the Daoist Academy examination..."
Suddenly, a six-year-old boy who looked very much like Zhou Gang seized an unguarded moment by the soldiers, ran over to collapse on his father's corpse, and wailed loudly.
"Slap!"
An anxious armored soldier strode over, hoisted the boy up, and struck him across his tender face, causing it to instantly swell up red.
The armored soldier's face twisted with ferocity and growing hostility, and he roared at the boy: "It's all because your father was incompetent, headstrong, and arrogant, trying to get us and all the townspeople killed! What are you crying for? What qualifications do you have to cry..."
The despairing roar reverberated through the air.
It was as if he were voicing the innermost thoughts of Qin Qing and the other soldiers in the hall.
Clutching the boy, the armored soldier seemed to treat the child as a toy to vent his pent-up rage, shoving him hard once more.
Amidst Madam Zhou's terrified scream, the boy immediately flew outward like a lightweight rubber ball, hurtling toward the wall of the main hall, seemingly about to smash into a pulp!
"Stop right..."
Qin Qing ultimately felt a trace of reluctance, rising to intervene, but it was somewhat too late; he could only watch open-eyed as blood splattered in the next moment.
He knew this boy named Zhou Heng was Commander Zhou's most cherished child in daily life.
Forget it, everyone is going to die anyway...
Qin Qing averted his gaze.
"What crime has this innocent child committed?"
At that very moment, a blur passed before everyone's eyes as a stern-faced Daoist priest swept into the hall.
It was precisely Li Qingyun, disguised as a Youdao Division Daoist.
He had arrived just in time; had he been even slightly later, the boy entrusted to his care by Zhou Gang would have had his brains dashed out.
Channeling his magic power, he reached out to catch the boy, neutralizing the brute force before gently setting him down.
"Zhou Heng, find a place to hide..."
Li Qingyun whispered to the boy who had just cheated death, signaling with his eyes for him to hide behind the Dao Lord statue in the hall.
Though terrified, the boy Zhou Heng surprisingly calmed down quickly without crying further; he glanced at Li Qingyun once and ran toward the Dao Lord statue.
"Qu Xiao, why have you come here? What is the situation at the city gates..."
Watching Li Qingyun suddenly appear and rescue the boy, Qin Qing felt an ungrounded wave of relief, yet wondered why Qu Xiao, who should have been guarding the South Gate, had arrived at the Zhou Mansion for no reason.
Yet as he spoke on, Qin Qing watched in creeping horror as "Qu Xiao's" features rapidly shifted; his arm trembled as he pointed at Li Qingyun, stammering, "Y-You, aren't you Fellow Daoist Li?"
Under the gaze of everyone present, the handsome and calm young Daoist standing in the main hall transformed back to his original appearance in a flash!
"All of you can die now!"
As Li Qingyun's features restored, his figure moved.
Like a gust of wind, he swept toward Qin Qing and the armored soldiers present.
"Kill him, quickly!"
Qin Qing shouted, ordering the soldiers to act.
His reactions were swift as well, immediately hurling a fire talisman toward Li Qingyun while slapping two layers of protective talismans onto his own body.
The armored soldiers were already agitated and restless like beasts on the verge of going out of control; now, their eyes turned red, and they drew blades and raised crossbows, eager to see Li Qingyun pierced into a beehive the very next second!
"Illusion!"
Then a crisp shout rang out, and the air rippled invisibly.
The soldiers' expressions abruptly froze, slipping into a momentary trance and loss of soul.
Immediately afterward, the handsome figure in cyan Daoist robes within the hall darted like the wind, weaving a circle. Piercing sword lights flared throughout the hall, blood splattered, and only then did the screams ring out in a continuous stream.
One armored soldier after another took a sword to the throat, their breathing instantly cut off as they tumbled and crashed heavily to the floor.
When Li Qingyun stood still once more, he had already appeared directly before Qin Qing, his eyes cold as congealed ice as he watched the man clutch his spurting throat and collapse limply in disbelief.
"Y-You, you..."
Pointing at Li Qingyun, Qin Qing could finally utter no more words.
He collapsed limply, twitching on the cold ground with wide-open eyes filled with resentment, regret, and lingering attachment...
Within those rapidly dimming pupils, the scene from two years ago seemed to resurface:
He was brimming with high spirits, carrying the blessings and expectations of his lineage as he left Youjing and headed to the Yin Mountains, harboring grand ambitions to suppress demons, vanquish devils, and pacify the common folk.
Father, I was wrong. I have failed my lineage's expectations, and worst of all, I have failed the common folk of this town!
How I wish to return to Youjing just once more, to lay eyes on the true flourishing prosperity of the Great You realm...
His life force completely vanished right there.
Li Qingyun looked at Qin Qing's rapidly stiffening corpse, a trace of pity flashing deep within his eyes.
If Qin Qing had dared to take a gamble last night and reveal Jia Song's true conspiracy...
Or if Qin Qing had shown just a bit more compassion moments ago and treated Zhou Gang's household of women and children kindly...
He would not have had to mercilessly cut them down on the spot!
"Many thanks, b-benefactor!"
Madam Zhou pulled her children along, crying and laughing as she prepared to lead the entire Zhou Mansion in kneeling to kowtow to Li Qingyun.
"There is no need for this! Does your household have a secret tunnel or hidden chamber? Hurry and hide inside. Do not be afraid; the dark night will soon pass..."
Li Qingyun flicked his sleeves gently, a wave of soft magic power holding up Madam Zhou and the others to prevent them from kneeling.
"Y-Yes, we do. Does the benefactor wish to hide with us?"
Gathering her family and servants to lift Zhou Gang's corpse, Madam Zhou hurried in a fluster toward the inner hall while also inviting Li Qingyun to take refuge in the cellar.
"There is no need for me!"
Li Qingyun waved his hand.
His eyes lit up as he squatted down, reaching out to pluck a pouch resembling a sachet from Qin Qing's waist.
It actually is a Hundred Treasures Pouch! This Qin Qing must have been a descendant with high hopes pinned on him by his lineage; what a pity...
Clutching the Hundred Treasures Pouch, he enveloped it in magic power and carefully ground against it repeatedly, shattering the original minor restriction in a split second.
His spiritual sense probed inside, revealing an internal space roughly the size of a small room.
Inside lay around thirty spirit stones, two or three bottles of Minor Grass Pills, alongside various gold, silver, and talismans.
The items were few, but the most precious thing by far was this Hundred Treasures Pouch!
Purchased through Lingbao Temple's internal channels, it would cost at least two hundred spirit stones.
He tucked the Hundred Treasures Pouch inside his Daoist robe, keeping it close to his body to avoid flashing wealth.
Then, ignoring the corpses strewn across the hall, he walked before the statue of "Dao Lord Lingxiao Miaozhen Dongyou Yinyang Rensheng" enshrined in the main hall. His murderous intent receded, leaving his expression calm and detached.
He proceeded to cross his legs and sit down, his eyes narrowing slightly as he partook in self-guided comprehension and cultivation.
The previous moment he glared with the wrath of a Vajra; the next moment he possessed the gentle compassion of a Bodhisattva.
Separated by the gates and walls of the Zhou Mansion, the chaotic slaughter outside posed no hindrance to his heart...
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