The Incineration

The next day, at noon.

The sun blazed overhead. This was when the yang energy was at its strongest, and even the thin mist around Black Water Town seemed to have dissipated by a third.

Several steeds galloped along the official road.

"This time, besides Great General Black Wind, our enemies include the Reincarnators!"

Wu Ming reined in his horse before Black Water Town's boundary stele and spoke thoughtfully. "The few newcomers are no threat. Now they're dead or injured, scattered to the winds. Only Tu Yanghao and Zheng Qian remain. One is an Innate martial artist, and the other practices Daoist arts. Neither can be underestimated..."

Recalling that day, he had managed a successful ambush, but only because he'd caught them off guard. He and Zheng Qian had both held back, neither revealing their trump cards. His eyes turned dark and distant.

By now, he had a good grasp of his own side's strength. Ling Guhong was a sword cultivator, and his martial arts were roughly equivalent to the Innate realm, making him a match for Tu Yanghao.

Shan Lan's martial skills were weaker, but she had other trump cards. She had probably exchanged for powerful talismans, magical artifacts, or some obscure little spell.

Unfortunately, the cultivation methods Reincarnators exchanged for at the Main God Hall couldn't be copied for one another. Wu Ming also looked down on such methods, which offered techniques but no Dao.

As for Lin Qizhi, he was learned and perceptive, quick-witted, and possessed an extraordinary bearing. But the Confucianism Righteous Qi he cultivated hadn't even reached minor mastery. It was useless in a hundred ways.

What a pity... If Lin Qizhi were a Great Confucian, renowned across an entire commandery, this matter would be simple. A minor town's evil god wouldn't withstand a single shout. Even if it had a domain, it would be shattered...

All things considered, even if Shan Lan has another trump card, with Lin Qizhi as nothing more than an extra, they can at most take Zheng Qian down with them. That still leaves Great General Black Wind and his underlings—the demons and ghost soldiers. Do I have to handle them alone?

Wu Ming's face remained wooden, but he couldn't help feeling regretful.

If he had also stayed in Black Water Town for a while back then, or even gone to pay his respects at the Land God Temple, perhaps he could have received a villain mission.

Thinking of how Zhang Zhengyi was worth one thousand five hundred, and even Wu Hong was worth five hundred Great Merit, Wu Ming's mouth watered. And that was not to mention the many high-ranking officials in the city, such as the Six Offices officials, the Chief Clerk, and the County Vice-Magistrate. If they could take them all in one fell swoop, the rewards would surely be immense!

Of course, Wu Ming wasn't a fool. He understood, at least a little, that the greater the reward, the greater the risk.

The human force of Black Platform County was terrifying, to say nothing of the Black Terrace City God within its borders. It wouldn't be easy for Zheng Qian and the others to assassinate even one or two people.

The best-case scenario is that those two are still in the county seat. They could find a chance to assassinate the magistrate or the inspector and stir up chaos...

Now that I've gravely injured Tu Yanghao, even if he has spells to heal him, his combat strength will still have suffered. With every moment we delay, Great General Black Wind becomes more likely to refine the divine position and ascend to Orthodox Godhood... Once he's finished, we'll be dead without a burial place. We can't delay any longer!

Wu Ming glanced at the others. Shan Lan and the rest all looked solemn. They understood this too; otherwise, they wouldn't have come together. He nodded to himself.

"Honored heroes, we've made all the arrangements as instructed!"

At that moment, two black-clad constables came out of town and bowed.

Wu Ming looked them over. One wore a panicked expression and had a deeply troubled face; the other had a square, honest-looking face that radiated righteousness. At a glance, it was clear that they were either unlucky men from the constabulary's rapid-response squad or those who had been pushed aside. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been assigned this task.

"Very good! Even the emperor doesn't send soldiers to battle on empty stomachs. We won't shortchange you, either..."

Wu Ming had made a killing earlier, so he could still play the wealthy patron. He pulled out two small five-tael ingots and gave one to each man. The troubled-looking one brightened slightly, but the other declined twice before reluctantly accepting it. "We came to protect the people, not for this reward!"

Wu Ming knew at once that this sort of man meant what he said. He was also the kind who got things done.

If he hadn't been so sharp-edged, he wouldn't have been driven out here. Wu Ming asked their names and learned that the honest-looking one was Zhao Zhu, while the man in front was Wang Er. Both were proper constables with official posts.

In truth, this sort of suicide mission was usually left to unofficial hired hands. But the county magistrate had given the order this time. The chief constable's refusal was the limit; the rest had to at least put on a show of cooperation.

Without another word, they went straight to the outskirts of town, where they saw a Land God Temple. Its doors stood wide open, and the place was quite tidy. Incense smoke even curled through the air, though the whole place seemed shrouded in Yin Qi.

A few old men emerged after making offerings. When they saw Wu Ming and his group, their faces changed.

"Heh... People are still worshipping this god!"

Lin Qizhi trembled at the sight. Wu Ming's face stayed wooden, but a dark gleam flashed in his eyes.

The Land God was a God of Fortune and Virtue, revered by the people and sustained by incense offerings.

But an evil god could also wreak havoc in the underworld, unleash ghosts, spread fear, and gain reverence and Blood Food! It could even be more efficient!

There were surely plenty of people in Black Water Town who worshipped it to protect themselves! Power came from force—that was the truth! And who still remembered the unlucky Land God who had been there before?

"Good thing we came early. With these Incense Wish Power offerings, it would have refined the divine position in no time!"

Wu Ming waved his hand. "Move!"

"Wait... What are you doing?"

The old men were afraid, but still blocked their way.

"Pitiful wretches, helping a tiger do evil! Get out of the way!"

Wu Ming didn't even look at them. He lashed out twice with his whip, and the group scattered, clutching their heads.

By then, a crowd of townsfolk had gathered nearby. They stood woodenly, their ashen eyes seeming to hold both hostility and expectation.

Wu Ming sneered and pulled an official document from his robes. He unfolded it and read aloud, "...Upon investigation, the Black Water Town Land God has harmed the townspeople, leaving the people in dire straits. By special order, the temple is to be demolished!!!"

The document bore the county magistrate's seal, square and clear. Even now, it carried an indescribable power.

As soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous boom rang out. It was as if muffled thunder had rolled through the void, followed by a distant roar. Then silence fell.

It's noon, and we carry the county magistrate's order. If our opponent were a pure demon, that would be one thing. But since it stole the Land God's divine position, this is going to be troublesome!

Wu Ming had everything in hand. He immediately said, "Zhao Zhu, Wang Er! What are you waiting for? Go seal the temple!"

Wang Er still had some misgivings, but Zhao Zhu answered loudly and strode forward.

"Wait... This is the Land God's temple! You can't seal it... You can't!"

Just then, an old man shouted, "If you seal it, the god will fly into a rage, and none of us will survive! Everyone, together!"

The crowd stirred, and the air grew thick with agitation.

Wu Ming's sneer deepened at the sight.

One man could become a dragon; three became worms. When trouble came, everyone wanted to hide their heads and let someone else step forward or make the sacrifice. Yet they never imagined that when everyone did the same, they would be held in check and forced to give up their interests.

And once this went on long enough to become a habit, they would grow anxious and rush to defend the system, afraid that upheaval would cost them even more. How utterly tragic.

"This is the county magistrate's order! Are you trying to rebel?"

Ling Guhong flashed forward and stopped in front of the old man. He lightly tapped the back of the man's neck with one finger, and the old man's eyes rolled back as he fainted.

He was a sensible man, too. He knew they had to cut through the mess quickly. Otherwise, if things escalated, a handful of people fighting the "will of the people" of the entire town would be foolish.

"Stand back!"

The people's hearts were iron; the law was a blazing furnace. The common folk's fear of officials was an eternal truth.

With the ringleader quickly subdued, the townsfolk shrank back in the face of the county constables, not daring to step forward.

"Hmph! Evil worship brings harm!"

Zhao Zhu snorted. He glanced at the statue inside the Land God Temple and saw a hazy light seem to flicker across it. His heart tightened, but he steadied himself and strode forward. He didn't enter. He simply shut the doors and pasted two seals across them, each bearing a bright red stamp that stood out sharply.

"Mission accomplished!"

Seeing this, Wu Ming finally let out a hearty laugh. "Shan Lan, Ling Guhong, hurry up and burn this temple down together!"

The Land God Temple received offerings, so it might well have a domain. Ordinary ghosts wouldn't dare emerge in broad daylight at noon, but within a domain, it was hard to say. That was what the Black Terrace City God had warned them.

But now, they had sealed the temple and would burn it down. No matter how many demons, ghosts, mechanisms, or traps it contained, they would all be reduced to dust!

"We've been ready!"

Shan Lan smiled. She and Ling Guhong took out water skins and quickly splashed their contents over the Land God Temple. Then they struck a fire starter and tossed it at the building.

Whoosh!

Terrifying tongues of flame surged upward. The water skins hadn't been filled with water, but oil.

The flames soared into the sky. Amid the crimson blaze came a series of shrill screams, along with a charred, foul stench. No one knew how many things were inside.

"Was that... it?"

Lin Qizhi found it hard to believe. "If it was this easy, why didn't anyone do it before we arrived...?"

"The ordinary little demons and ghosts are surely finished, but Great General Black Wind won't go down so easily!"

Wu Ming gave a bitter smile. "And that's not to mention... Even if we kill Great General Black Wind, Lord of Black Mountain will retaliate, and the consequences will be far-reaching. That's why Black Platform County hasn't dared to act rashly. But we're different!"

Lin Qizhi immediately understood.

They were people from beyond this world, with no roots here, so naturally they didn't fear retaliation.

Still, with an approach so ruthless, even the county magistrate probably hadn't expected this.

Lin Qizhi turned to look and saw that Wang Er and Zhao Zhu were both wearing stunned expressions. Clearly, they hadn't expected Wu Ming and the others to either do nothing or strike with such thunderous force, leaving no mercy and no survivors!

"Squeak!"

Suddenly, a loud crash rang out from within the sea of fire. Two burning doors flew out, followed by a huge mass of black fur. Its fangs jutted out, its claws were sharp, and its long tail was wreathed in flames. A layer of black-and-white light enveloped its body, lending it an eerie air.

As soon as the beast emerged, the flames on its body went out. Its green eyes, each as large as a wine cup, fixed on Wu Ming and the others, filled with hatred. Then it suddenly spoke in a human voice: "You've ruined my great undertaking! What incredible audacity!"

"Is that the Land God?"

"A-a monster!"

The group was immediately stunned. "So our Land God was actually a rat... a Rat Demon?"