Explosion II

Lu Sheng sighed inwardly. In this family, the only ones he still had the heart to protect were his father Lu Quan'an, Second Mother, and Xiao Qiao.

He had no feelings for any of the others. Lu Qingqing had been ruined, yet none of them seemed particularly saddened. Even Lu Yingying, her younger sister, could say such things. It showed just how cold and heartless they were.

Although he had no feelings for Lu Qingqing either, thinking of Second Mother's condition and recalling what Yan Kai had said before...

His former expectations sank to rock bottom, and Lu Sheng felt despondent as well.

After being low-spirited for a while, he gradually recovered.

He might be an ordinary person, but he had the Modifier. Even if he could not cultivate the methods of Spirit Exorcists, that did not necessarily mean he would be inferior to them.

He refused to believe that, relying on his own strength, he would be unable to deal with demons, ghosts, and monsters.

"Let us put Qingqing's matter aside for now. If we get the chance later, we can still seek out a physician to treat her.

"But another matter cannot be delayed.

"I learned from Yan Kai Daoist Priest that quite a few ghosts are still lurking within Nine Links City. We must take precautions," Lu Sheng said gravely.

"There are quite a few more?" Lu Quan'an froze, and the others were all struck dumb with horror.

Ghosts like the one before could not be fought off simply by having more people. And there were actually quite a few ghosts like that!? This is simply fatal!!

Fifth Mother shot to her feet with a cry.

"Shut up!"

Lu Quan'an slammed his palm heavily against the armrest.

Fifth Mother shuddered all over in fright, then sat back down.

Lu Sheng swept his gaze over the entire family. Every one of them looked like eggplants wilted by frost, all spirit gone from them, their eyes filled with panic and helplessness.

"So my suggestion is that, while it is still safe, the Lu Family should leave Nine Links City immediately."

Lu Quan'an shook his head.

"That is no longer possible. An absolute order has come from above: none of the Four Great Families are allowed to leave Nine Links City. I did not understand what that order meant before, but now that I think about it..."

Lu Sheng's heart turned cold.

Were the people of the imperial court deliberately cooperating? Or was it merely a coincidence? "What if we leave in small groups?" Fourth Mother asked softly. "Isn't Big Brother here?"

"No." Lu Quan'an shook his head. "When I went to the city gates before, Big Brother would not see me. He only had a message passed out: now, even the Prefect is not permitted to leave the city."

Everyone fell silent at once. They all turned their eyes toward Lu Sheng.

Previously, it had been Lu Sheng who had turned the tide and resolved the matter of the female ghost crying in the estate.

"Now..." Lu Sheng lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "we can only remain in the estate and have the buyers stockpile as much food, grain, and meat as possible, turning them into food that can be stored for a long time.

"We must prepare to be trapped here for an extended period."

"That is right." Lu Quan'an had regained a little of his composure by then and nodded.

BOOM!!

At that moment, the ground jolted and shook.

A tremendous explosion suddenly rang out from the west of the city.

With a start, Lu Sheng leaped up and rushed out of the hall, looking toward the western sky.

A swath of crimson fire shot into the heavens there. Something had clearly exploded, setting off a massive blaze.

The red firelight illuminated half of Nine Links City's sky.

From afar came countless cries, wails, and shouts, mixed with calls to put out the fire.

"I'll go take a look first!"

Unable to see the situation clearly from the inner courtyard, Lu Sheng quickly informed his father Lu Quan'an and rushed toward the estate gates.

The moment he stepped outside and had a servant go bring his horse, Lu Sheng saw quite a few people carrying sabers and swords hurrying down the street before Lu Estate toward the blaze.

Every one of them moved with nimble footwork and seemed trained in martial arts. Yet when they looked toward the fire, their eyes did not hold the shock and panic Lu Sheng had expected, but traces of greed and desire.

In merely the dozen or so breaths Lu Sheng stood at the gates, he saw three groups of martial artists pass by.

Some galloped wildly on horseback, while others sprinted on foot. There were men and women, young and old.

Yet most were not locals from Nine Links City or its surrounding area.

Their attire was finer and more elaborate than that of the locals, often adorned with little accessories. At a glance, one could tell that most of them were from the Central Plains.

By the time the frightened servants had struggled to lead out the horse, Lu Sheng patted the fine steed, which was constantly straining in terror, and was about to mount when he spotted two familiar faces among the martial artists passing down the street.

Duanmu Wan and the male guard who was always inseparable from her were each mounted on a horse, galloping toward the blaze.

Duanmu Wan wore a black gauze robe and a woven bamboo conical hat. Even through the gauze, one could still make out hints of her graceful figure.

As she passed Lu Estate, she saw Lu Sheng as well and gave a surprised little sound.

"You're not dead yet?"

She suddenly said this, slowing her horse slightly as she stared at Lu Sheng as though he were some rare creature.

"What do you mean by that, Miss Duanmu?"

Lu Sheng's expression darkened. He did not understand what she meant.

"Interesting." Duanmu Wan smiled. "It seems we truly are fated. I'll come find you again later."

Lu Sheng still wanted to question her, but Duanmu Wan had already urged her horse onward, speeding toward the fire with her male guard.

Before leaving, the man gave Lu Sheng the same astonished look.

That look was as though... as though he had seen someone who should have died, yet was somehow still alive.

Lu Sheng mounted his horse, intending to follow them.

But a voice immediately stopped him. It was Yan Kai.

"Young Master Sheng, you should not join in this excitement. This matter has nothing to do with you."

Yan Kai, Duan Rongrong, and Zhuan Feng were all hurrying toward the blaze.

Seeing that Lu Sheng intended to follow, Yan Kai had no choice but to warn him.

"What do you mean, Daoist Priest?" Lu Sheng asked in a deep voice.

"The fire was caused by a Greater Demon, and it was deliberate. Resentful energy rises to the sky over there. Any ordinary person who approaches will lose their mind. Their lives will be in danger!" Yan Kai said sternly. "Even if Young Master Sheng's martial arts are exceptional, the outcome will be no different."

"But I saw quite a few people heading over there as well," Lu Sheng said, puzzled.

"Those people are courting death. No one can save them. And it seems someone is deliberately luring them there," Yan Kai said coldly.

Lu Sheng fell silent.

To watch some great event unfold near his home with his own eyes, yet not know what had actually happened—this feeling left him deeply unsettled.

Knowing Yan Kai had warned him out of goodwill, he clasped his fists and bowed to him.

"Thank you for the warning, Daoist Priest."

Yan Kai nodded at him. Then, together with Duan Rongrong and Zhuan Feng, he hurried toward the blaze.

Seeing this, Lu Sheng immediately understood. Duan Rongrong and Zhuan Feng might possess unusual abilities as well; they were no ordinary people.

Or rather, they had come all the way to Nine Links City, this small city near the northern ice ocean, for another purpose entirely.

Having realized this, he dismounted again and called out to Yan Kai.

"Daoist Priest, Miss Zhuan Feng, why not let me arrange horses for you? It will be faster!"

Yan Kai was startled, then immediately understood that Lu Sheng was offering him a favor.

Considering what might happen after they arrived, conserving their strength was important.

He hurriedly nodded.

"Then we shall trouble you!"

Lu Sheng was about to order someone to bring horses, then abruptly came to his senses.

"No, there's no need to lead them out. The stables are right beside us. Someone! Take the three of them to the stables and let them pick horses. Any horse will do!!"

Lu Sheng called loudly.

"Young Master Sheng is truly righteous!"

Yan Kai clasped his fists, then followed the guards in a hurry toward the stables.

Lu Sheng stood alone at the gates of Lu Estate, with only a few guards beside him who had no idea what was going on.

He gazed toward the blaze and fell silent for a time.

The fire burned for an unknown length of time before slowly dimming and going out.

Lu Sheng stood at the estate gates for just as long.

Crack!

A streak of blue lightning flashed across the sky.

Dark clouds filled the heavens; it was impossible to tell whether they were smoke that had just drifted upward or actual storm clouds.

Soon, a long, torrential downpour came crashing down.

Lu Quan'an came out as well and stood beside Lu Sheng. Servants held up a canopy over the two of them.

Rain hammered the ground with a roar, splashing up a hazy layer of white mist.

The sky was faintly brightening, nearly dawn. Without anyone noticing, the entire night had passed.

Standing at the gates, Lu Sheng was deep in thought.

He sensed that something immensely important had occurred in last night's fiery explosion.

It had happened right outside his home.

Unfortunately, he was too weak. He had not even dared to approach.

He could tell that Yan Kai had not lied to him. What had happened last night truly was not something ordinary people could approach.

"The fire should be out now. I received word that it was a Fireworks Shop in the west of the city. A large stockpile of fireworks exploded, starting the blaze. Quite a few people died..." Lu Quan'an sighed.

"Fireworks Shop..." Lu Sheng repeated, gazing toward the west of the city.

The sky was gradually brightening, the horizon completely turning into a blend of blue and white.

Lu Sheng tightened his grip on the saber at his waist and headed toward the blaze.

"Father, I'll go take a look over there."

"Be careful." Lu Quan'an did not know there was more to the fire, only that Nine Links City had been unsettled lately, and hurriedly cautioned him.

"Got it!"

Lu Sheng left the estate and made his way toward the west of the city.

At first, he could not see much. But as he drew closer to where the fire had been—

The houses and streets gradually began to turn ash-black. Many commoners stood on the streets clutching bundles, bedding, and other belongings, left homeless.

Crying, voices, shouting, noise, and clamor all blended into one chaotic mess.

Lu Sheng hurried onward for some distance.

Gradually, there were fewer and fewer people. The houses on both sides had become completely charred. Some had burned down, their roofs punctured by huge holes.

From time to time, he could see charred and melted corpses on the ground. Such skeletal remains were everywhere.

The closer he came, the more alarmed Lu Sheng became.

There were simply too many skeletal remains. He had no idea how many people had died in the explosion and fire last night.

Soon, Lu Sheng saw the very heart of the explosion and blaze.

It was not some Fireworks Shop, but another residence belonging to Prefect Song Duanchi—Pearl Estate.

The entire Pearl Estate had collapsed beyond recognition. Piles of ruins, large and small, dotted the area around it like burial mounds of every size.

Lu Sheng saw that he was not the only one who had come. Quite a few Jianghu People carrying sabers, swords, and other weapons were wandering about nearby, seemingly searching for something.

These Jianghu People all kept their distance from one another, vigilance in their eyes. Each carried some measure of presence, making it clear that they were not the martial artists native to Nine Links City.

He also saw these Jianghu People occasionally dig up all kinds of miscellaneous items from the rubble and swiftly tuck them into their clothes.

Seeing the reviews in utter chaos... I should thank Holy Milk Knight here for that poisonously bad recommendation...