The Wooden Man

The next morning.

Jiang Yan had breakfast early. After "escorting" Lu Lu to the Yanlu Merchant Association, he didn't linger and headed straight for White Crane Headquarters.

On the way, he spared a little attention to observe the streets and found that the events of the previous night had inevitably affected the city today.

The streets weren't empty, but they were quieter than usual. Most pedestrians hurried along with their heads down. When they occasionally looked up to survey their surroundings, their eyes were wary.

Many of the shops on either side of the street had their doors shut and hadn't opened for business.

The patrols had changed, too. The constables and strongmen had been replaced by soldiers. These men looked as if they'd been stamped from the same mold, their expressions wooden. Hard armor covered them from head to toe, and sharp blades hung at their waists.

Jiang Yan lifted his head and glanced at the sky above Nanyan City, then quickly lowered it again.

As he did, he closed his eyes once more. Scalding tears seeped from their corners.

"It seems this really isn't over yet.

"The Rune Soldiers haven't been sealed away. They're still awakening; they've just concealed most of their power, making them impossible for ordinary people to detect."

Jiang Yan lowered his head, deep in thought.

The authorities were still the most powerful force in Nanyan City, and no other faction could stand against them. After last night's slaughter, the authorities would surely have learned much more about the Dream Star Sect.

In other words, the campaign to wipe out the Dream Star Sect had only completed its first half. It was far from over.

"Mm. If they manage to capture some major figures, the campaign might even spread, affecting the entire Nanyan Prefecture."

Jiang