Eyes Meet, Baleful Shadows Clash with Spirit Rain; Cracked Divination Terrifies the Old Immortal

A woman held her child, tears streaming silently down her face. "Is County Magistrate Wang still alive? Can he protect us?"

"He's alive! County Magistrate Wang is still alive!"

"As long as he's alive, perhaps... Blood Butcher... won't run completely unchecked..."

The replies were filled with uncertainty.

At that very moment.

Throughout Wu'an City, the only sounds were the Blood-Clad Army's hooves as they rode through the streets and the clatter of their armor. Not a single other sound broke the silence.

Wherever the Blood-Clad Army passed, muffled sobs came from the houses—or people clamped their hands over their mouths, afraid even to breathe lest they disturb the fearsome army.

As they reached North Street, an unexpected incident suddenly occurred.

An old man selling candied hawthorns was carrying his shoulder pole. His home must have been far away, and he hadn't had time to hide there.

Seeing the Blood-Clad Army charging toward him, his legs went weak with fright. He fell to the ground with a thud, overturning his pole. Bright red candied hawthorns rolled everywhere, and bamboo skewers scattered in all directions.

"Mercy, soldiers! This commoner didn't mean to—"

The old man scrambled to his knees, pounding his forehead against the ground with a series of thuds, hard enough to make the flagstones ring.

Behind the surrounding windows, the townspeople held their breath. The old man was surely doomed!

Yet Zhao Cheng merely glanced at him and rode on without stopping.

A Blood-Clad Army soldier at his side rode out of formation and dismounted with nimble ease. His Black Armor clinked softly.

He bent to pick up the scattered skewers, quickly gathering them into a bundle. He even retrieved the candied hawthorns that had rolled farther away. As he handed them back to the old man, he merely said,