Snowy Night Return to the City, Slaughter in a Desolate Village

Over the past half month, the proficiency of the Blood Nourishing Stance Art had risen by more than a hundred and sixty points. His strength had also increased by nearly a thousand jin. Moreover, in another seven or eight days, he would be able to condense Blood Qi and step into a new realm.

Unfortunately, he had no way to break through in the mountains.

That morning, Master Liao had sent word that they would leave the military camp and return to the city tonight.

It was not because some accident had occurred. It was simply because the New Year was approaching...

In Cangzhou, one complete cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter counted as a year, with the end of winter and beginning of spring marking the start of the year.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed, and winter was about to end.

Aside from the troops stationed in the camp, who had to remain at their posts, Martial Academy disciples like them all had to return home for the New Year.

At the hour of Xu, the Martial Academy disciples gathered in front of the barracks. When Liu Zhuang and the other two saw Gu Yang, they immediately came over.

"Brother Yang."

"Hello, Brother Yang."

"..."

The three greeted him in turn, and Gu Yang nodded back at them.

During this time, whenever they were in the camp, the three of them would gather around him. Even when Gu Yang cultivated, they cultivated alongside him.

Before they knew it, both sides had become familiar with one another.

The other disciples kept glancing their way, unable to help wondering, What was this guy's background?

Yet Gu Yang usually kept a low profile and was unfamiliar with the other disciples. Thus, they had only heard of his name, never realizing that the ruthless man who had killed the Black Panther and beheaded the Wolf King was this harmless-looking youth before them.

Soon, all the Martial Academy disciples had assembled. Master Liao, who was leading them, waved a broad hand and led the group out of the military camp.

Several squads of soldiers saw them off from behind.

Within one squad, several burly men wearing half-armor could not help muttering under their breaths.

"We've finally sent that kid off. We can relax for a while now, right?"

"Exactly. Whenever the captain saw that kid training, he drilled us like his life depended on it. Now that the kid's finally gone, no one will provoke the captain anymore, right?"

"Although we've improved a lot lately, I still miss those happy old days."

That one remark instantly struck a chord with the entire squad. For a moment, every man in the group looked as though tears were welling in his eyes.

Sensing something, Gu Yang turned around. Seeing the soldiers who often trained with him looking so reluctant to part, he was deeply moved.

He immediately waved at the squad and called out, "No need to be so reluctant, everyone. Work hard over this period—I'll be back after the New Year!"

"..." The soldiers' expressions froze. Those with weaker nerves nearly burst into tears.

To hell with that—coming back?!

Please, let us never see you again!

Gu Yang could not hear their inner thoughts. Seeing their sorrowful expressions, as though they were about to cry, he too felt reluctant to leave.

After all, other than when he practiced Stance Training, he had spent most of his time sparring with those soldiers.

That was precisely why the proficiency of his Azure Dragon Dance had risen so quickly.

Unfortunately, no feast beneath heaven lasted forever.

As Master Liao strode onward, the Martial Academy group finally left the military camp and headed toward Wan City.

Heavy snow suddenly began to fall from the sky. As the group traveled through the mountains, their Blood Qi surged with every step. Before the snowflakes could even reach their heads, they turned into crystalline droplets, then into wisps of vapor and evaporated.

Yet apart from the road they had traveled, the entire earth was turning white at a visible pace.

"Mother, the New Year is almost here. When will Brother return?"

In a shabby little courtyard, Gu Yingying stood in the yard and caught a pure white snowflake in her tiny hand. Turning around, she asked Gu Mother.

"Ah, I don't know either. Perhaps soon. Even if he's cultivating in the mountains, he can't possibly skip the New Year."

Gu Mother gathered the clothes hanging in the courtyard and brought them inside, then called to Gu Yingying, "Stop running wild outside. If you catch a chill, you'll have to drink that bitter medicine!"

"I'm coming." At the mention of medicine, Gu Yingying's little face immediately twitched, and she hurried into the house.

That winter, she had already caught a cold once. It was then that she had tasted the foulest thing in her life. The flavor of that medicinal soup remained fresh in her memory.

Under Nightfall, a group of several dozen people sped through the wilderness.

As they passed a village, Master Liao suddenly raised his hand and shouted, "Stop!"

Everyone halted and looked at Master Liao in confusion.

Master Liao's ears twitched, and his face turned grim. He ordered, "Someone in this village is conducting a ritual. Everyone, follow me. Kill every person involved in the ritual—do not let a single one escape!"

"A ritual?" Gu Yang blanked out for a moment before understanding.

That was right. In the memories of his former self, all of Houshan Village had never had the custom of worshipping their ancestors.

Gu Yang had assumed it was merely a difference in culture and had paid it no mind. He had never expected rituals to be taboo here.

The others did not share Gu Yang's reaction. They had already drawn their weapons and charged after Master Liao, clearly accustomed to such operations.

Seeing this, Gu Yang hurriedly followed and entered the village with the others.

No evil ritual was being held in this village. It was merely that, with the year-end approaching, several households were worshipping their ancestors.

"Father, please bless A-Bo so that he may be chosen by the Martial Academy next year and become a martial artist..."

"Mother, please bless A-Hua, that the second child in her womb may be born safely..."

As they drew near, the sounds of worship from inside the houses reached them.

Yet Master Liao ignored it all. With one kick, he smashed open the door of a household, then swept his blade through the ancestral tablet they were worshipping.

Three flashes of blade light followed. A couple and an eight- or nine-year-old child were immediately severed from their bodies.

The next instant, Gu Yang watched with his own eyes as Master Liao drove another blade into the woman's abdomen, sparing not even the unborn child.

The sight shook Gu Yang profoundly, and he fell silent.

Why had Master Liao dealt such a vicious hand to this family? Gu Yang could not understand it at all.

Yet no one besides him had such misgivings. Aside from Master Liao, the others rushed toward the remaining households worshipping their ancestors.

They showed the same mercilessness, the same cruel and ruthless hearts.

Hua Yuanqi, who usually wore a broad smile whenever he faced Gu Yang, was equally unsparing now.

Moreover, everyone's eyes were filled with tension, as though some great terror would descend if they were not fast enough.

In only a few moments, Gu Yang realized there was nothing left for him to do.

Blade light erupted within the final house from which voices could be heard, and the people inside fell one after another.

Master Liao walked outside and coldly gave another order. "Search the entire village and inspect every house. If anyone has conducted a ritual within the past two days, kill them all! Move quickly. If a Specter descends, retreat at once. Do not rush in and throw your lives away!"