Demon Rats

Black Crow Sect forbidden grounds.

This was an exceptionally vast, spacious cavern. Several thick pillars even stood within it, supporting the dome overhead.

The rich stench of blood was exceptionally pungent. Looking toward the center, one could clearly see a dark-red Blood Pool. Something seemed to be constantly writhing within it, enough to make one's hair stand on end.

Not far away, numerous Black Crow Sect members were besieging a lone figure.

The person under siege was Xu Hongyu.

Though she was said to be under siege, not a single wound could be seen anywhere on her body. Instead, corpses lay everywhere at her feet. Someone died beneath her sword from time to time. Facing numerous Black Crow Sect higher-ups alone, she even held the upper hand!

"I underestimated her..."

The Black Crow Sect Leader wielded an iron staff, spinning it so densely that not even water could pass through, blocking Xu Hongyu head-on. Yet his expression was exceedingly grim.

His plan had been to divide and conquer Xu Hongyu's group: first use mechanisms and traps to separate them, then gather everyone to besiege Xu Hongyu. Even if they could not kill her, they would heavily wound and drive her back, leaving her powerless to continue her assault.

Yet the Chief Constable of the South District was far stronger than he had anticipated!

He had thought Xu Hongyu was merely at Yi Jin Minor Completion. His own strength was no weaker than hers, and with numerous Black Crow Sect members gathered to attack her, she was bound to come away empty-handed. But at some point, Xu Hongyu had silently stepped into Great Accomplishment of Yi Jin.

Initial Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment.

A difference of one word, yet worlds apart.

At the Yi Jin Realm, even a small step forward made an enormous difference. With her Great Accomplishment of Yi Jin, Xu Hongyu forcefully held off the Black Crow Sect's higher-ups and still occupied the upper hand. The Black Crow Sect members could do no more than hinder her steps.

"Xu Hongyu! So what if you are strong? Your subordinates are already dead or grievously wounded, and our sect's Guardian God is about to emerge. You alone cannot stop it! Why struggle in vain? Withdraw at once and think of some other plan."

The Black Crow Sect Leader spoke in a deep voice.

Xu Hongyu's timing in attacking was perfect. Had she come even slightly later, once the Guardian God emerged, it would soon spread throughout the entire city and become impossible to stop. Right now, however, was the most crucial moment.

"My subordinates are not so useless."

Xu Hongyu answered coldly, but the sword in her hand did not pause in the slightest. Sword light scattered like countless raindrops, and wherever it passed, the continuous clangor of metal rang out, occasionally blooming with sprays of blood.

"Do you think your scheme is certain to succeed? Mere demon rats—even if they truly spread across the entire city, there are plenty of ways to deal with them. What you imagine is nothing more than wishful thinking." Xu Hongyu's tone was indifferent.

Though the Black Crow Sect Leader was something of a figure himself, he was ultimately inferior to her in both strength and vision. If mere demon rats could allow him to command the Outer City and coerce the major Inner City powers, then those Inner City powers did not deserve to govern Jade City.

However.

Though this was not an unsolvable matter, it would still be troublesome. Some casualties would be unavoidable. And if the matter ultimately had to be resolved by the Inner City, then she, the Chief Constable of the South District, would undoubtedly become a laughingstock.

Hearing Xu Hongyu's words, the Black Crow Sect Leader's heart sank slightly. For some reason, he felt she might be telling the truth. Otherwise, at this point, the Inner City should not have remained so calm.

But having come this far, he was already on a single-plank bridge, with only one road leading into darkness.

"Even if you can deal with the Guardian God, how many casualties can you bear? You will still have to throw the rat-fearing vessel."

The Black Crow Sect Leader replied coldly.

Even if the Guardian God could not hold the entire Outer City populace hostage, as long as it could take a third of them down with it, he would still have some room to negotiate amid such severe casualties.

Just as the Black Crow Sect Leader and Xu Hongyu traded verbal blows, bubbles suddenly began to rise from the Blood Pool behind them.

"It's done!"

The Black Crow Sect Leader immediately noticed the change in the Blood Pool, and a flash of delight appeared in his eyes.

But at that moment, the sound of countless footsteps came from a nearby passage. Then numerous Yamen Runners, led by Xiao He, surged out. Qin Bei and Chen Mu were among them, all arriving at the forbidden grounds.

"Kill every Black Crow Sect member without mercy! Destroy that Blood Pool, and the reward is one thousand taels of silver!"

Xu Hongyu's cool voice echoed through the Black Crow Sect forbidden grounds.

After a brief pause, the Yamen Runners erupted into frenzy. Their eyes burned as they charged toward the Blood Pool at the center of the forbidden grounds. A thousand taels of silver was nothing much to Qin Bei and Chen Mu, but for ordinary Yamen Runners, it was wealth that could nearly change their fate. Moreover, these were words spoken personally by Xu Hongyu, the Chief Constable. For a time, the place boiled over.

"Not good, stop them!"

The Black Crow Sect Leader's expression changed. He had not expected a large force to storm into the forbidden grounds at this moment.

The Yamen Runners charged forward, and in an instant, a chaotic melee erupted with the Black Crow Sect members.

"A thousand taels of silver..."

Qin Bei narrowed his eyes slightly. He raised his Yamen Saber and charged toward the center of the forbidden grounds.

To him, a thousand taels of silver was also a rare fortune. More importantly, as a head runner of the City Guard, he knew Xu Hongyu's words represented the importance of that Blood Pool. It was most likely what had cultivated the so-called Guardian God.

Qin Bei had a large family living in the Outer City as well. He did not have the means to move them all into the Inner City. He could not tolerate such a thing spreading.

Whoosh!

Chen Mu's gaze was equally cold as he raised his Yamen Saber and charged toward the Blood Pool.

Xu Hongyu alone had originally beaten the Black Crow Sect members until they could only defend themselves, unable to prevail. Now that Xiao He, Qin Bei, and the many Yamen Runners had joined the battle, the situation instantly turned upside down. The Black Crow Sect retreated step by step.

The Black Crow Sect Leader and several Vice Leaders could no longer withstand Xu Hongyu's sword edge and retreated repeatedly. Yet they could only grit their teeth and hold her back, for they absolutely could not let Xu Hongyu pass.

Gurgle, gurgle.

Bubbles constantly rose from the Blood Pool at the center of the forbidden grounds. The blood within rapidly receded, gradually revealing the scene inside: a nest of tiny rats, their gray hides densely covered in threadlike veins of blood, their appearance horrifying.

These Bloodline Rats continuously sucked in the blood from the Blood Pool, stretching their limbs as they gradually began to crawl.

By then, some Yamen Runners had nearly reached the Blood Pool. But at that moment, a group of Black Crow Sect members carrying poisonous-water apparatuses rushed over. They sprayed poisonous water ahead, blocking everyone's advance.

"Ah!"

A yamen runner was splashed by the poisonous water. He let out a pained cry and fell to the ground, twisting and rolling.

The appearance of the Poisonous Water Squad immediately curbed the frenzy of the Yamen Runners. Many who had nearly reached the pool were forced to retreat, able only to watch the Bloodline Demon Rats taking shape in the gradually emptying Blood Pool crawl faster and faster.

At last.

One Bloodline Demon Rat stretched its limbs, crawled out of the Blood Pool, and was about to dart away.

But at that moment, Chen Mu burst out from behind the Yamen Runners. His Yamen Saber swept up a howling gust of force, catching the poisonous water flying toward him and flinging it aside. He charged through in a flash, then hurled his Yamen Saber forward.

Crack!

The Yamen Saber traced an arc through the air, struck the ground, and cleaved the fleeing demon rat straight into two!

Then he crossed the Poisonous Water Squad and arrived beside the dried-up Blood Pool. Raising his Yamen Saber, he chopped down several times with sharp cracks, cutting the remaining six or seven Bloodline Demon Rats attempting to crawl out of the pool all into two.

The Yamen Saber struck the Blood Pool with crisp clangs.

For a moment.

Whether Black Crow Sect members or the many Yamen Runners, all paused briefly. Countless gazes converged upon him.

They saw Chen Mu standing with his saber held across his body.

The corners of his mouth curled slightly, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.