Evil Arts and Sorcery

In less than half a quarter-hour, twelve men in black had assembled before Han Shantong. Each swallowed a scarlet pill.

"This is called a Blood-Burning Pill. For the next few hours, you will feel no pain, fear no death, and possess far greater strength. But six hours from now, you will be utterly crippled." Han Shantong's gaze swept over the twelve men.

"We are willing to die for you, Master!" the twelve shouted in unison.

Han Shantong nodded slightly, well pleased with them.

He had bought all twelve as children from among the refugees for next to nothing. He had raised them, brainwashed them again and again, and trained them into men who would fight to the death.

"Move out!"

At Han Qi's low command, the thirteen of them swiftly vanished into the night.

Meanwhile.

Cao Family Village was in chaos.

Cheng Yannian led his team through the main gate, breaking it down and driving into the village like the point of a knife.

Cries of battle rang out from several other directions across the estate.

"Get down!"

"The Soul-Calming Office is here! All of you, get down!"

Cheng Yannian sped along a broad road. At every courtyard he passed, frightened residents of Cao Family Village rushed out of their homes.

The constables behind him immediately stepped forward and barked orders, forcing everyone to crouch in a corner of the courtyard.

Cheng Yannian quickly checked them over. Anyone with martial arts training was bound with hemp rope, and two constables stayed behind to guard them.

He pushed deeper into the estate with the remaining constables. Moving at a tremendous pace, they pressed steadily toward its innermost courtyards.

At that moment.

In a courtyard deep inside Cao Family Village, Yin Muhua's face was dark as shouts echoed from every direction.

"Ma'am, what do we do now? The Soul-Calming Office has come out in full force. Constables have sealed off every route," someone asked.

"Cough, cough! That Cheng Yannian clings like a ghost. Split up and break through!" Yin Muhua said coldly.

"Yes."

The dozen or so black-clad figures beside her scattered at once, racing in different directions.

Just then, the courtyard gate was kicked open, and Cheng Yannian stormed in with a squad of constables.

Yin Muhua had not yet managed to leave. Her gaze swept over Cheng Yannian, but she showed not the slightest hint of panic.

"Cheng Yannian, why make trouble for an old woman like me?"

"Yin Muhua, you've slaughtered people like cutting hemp. In the past six months, more than fifty innocent people have died at your hands. While you live, the people cannot rest easy, and neither can I." With a ringing clang, Cheng Yannian drew his saber. Its keen edge gleamed coldly beneath the moon.

"Hmph! They took things they shouldn't have. They deserved to die! Besides, it was only forty or fifty lives. Why insist on fighting me to the death?" Yin Muhua sneered.

"So cruel and heartless—you're no different from a demon. I can't let you live!" Cheng Yannian lunged forward. His saber flashed in a bright arc, stabbing straight at Yin Muhua.

Yin Muhua drew both her sabers and charged to meet him.

"Last time, this old woman was injured, and you got the better of me. This time, I'll show you the power of the Yinyuan Sect's Bone-Devouring Saber Art!"

The two figures collided. Blades rang against each other, their sharp metallic clamor echoing through the courtyard.

They exchanged more than a dozen blows in an instant before Cheng Yannian suddenly sprang back. A strand of hair drifted to the ground.

"As expected of someone from the Yinyuan Sect. That Saber Art is vicious! But you're alone, and I have a dozen men to help me. Everyone, attack! Take her down!"

The dozen or so constables drew their sabers and rushed in together. Cheng Yannian led the assault while the others supported him, surrounding Yin Muhua. In an instant, saber flashes wove a net around her from every direction.

Yin Muhua soon struggled to fend them off, her saber work turning erratic. Cheng Yannian seized an opening and drove his blade into her back, piercing straight through her body.

Yin Muhua grunted, then suddenly let out a tremendous howl.

It sounded less like a human voice than a wailing beast, with the sound of a woman weeping woven through it.

Cheng Yannian's vision blurred. It was as though he had fallen into another world. He stood below a stage where a woman in red danced gracefully, letting out sorrowful sobs from time to time.

The sound filled his ears, and a powerful fear welled up inside him beyond his control.

Fortunately, the illusion lasted only about five breaths. The scene suddenly shattered, and Cheng Yannian returned to the real world.

He looked around. Yin Muhua had vanished, while the constables beside him were in a sorry state—some wailing, others standing motionless.

Cheng Yannian frowned. His gaze flickered toward a vivid red streak of blood on the northern wall. Yin Muhua had clearly left it.

One after another, the constables woke from the nightmare, all looking dazed.

"Damn it, where's Yin Muhua?" someone cursed.

"That old witch knows sorcery. She's escaped again!" another said.

"The Bai'e Cult worships many Evil Spirits, each of which can grant its followers different sorceries. The one that old witch Yin Muhua worships is called the Red Embroidered Lady. Her cries can throw people's minds into chaos, drag them into illusions, and draw out and magnify the fears in their hearts." As he spoke, Cheng Yannian stepped into a house directly ahead. Inside stood an offering table laden with various animal organs. A portrait hung on the wall, depicting a woman draped in red gauze, with a graceful figure and a seductive smile. Yet in the room's gloom, that smile sent a chill down his spine.

It also confirmed Cheng Yannian's words: the portrait depicted the Red Embroidered Lady.

The constables followed him inside, their eyes settling on the portrait.

"Burn this house down. I'm going after Yin Muhua!"

With that, Cheng Yannian used his movement technique to vault over the wall and sped off in the direction Yin Muhua had fled.

Most of the other constables had no movement technique, while the few who did were too weak to keep up. They stayed behind as ordered and soon set the house ablaze.

"Cough, cough!"

Elsewhere, Yin Muhua vaulted over several walls in succession and landed in another small courtyard.

She began coughing violently. Blood kept gushing from the wound in her chest.

"Damn you, Cheng Yannian! One day, this old woman will tear out your heart, liver, lungs, and guts and offer them to the Red Embroidered Lady!" Yin Muhua cursed viciously.

Suddenly, she swayed, overcome by dizziness.

No. I've lost too much blood. I can't keep the Evil Spirit down!

The sound of a woman weeping suddenly reached Yin Muhua's ears. She knew it was no illusion: the Evil Spirit was trying to seize control of her body.

The Yinyuan Sect, like the rest of the Bai'e Cult, took Evil Spirits into their souls. This granted them all manner of evil arts, but they had to constantly consume blood and vital energy to suppress the spirits. Otherwise, the spirits would turn on them and drive them mad. That was why the Bai'e Cult had been branded an evil cult.

I need blood and vital energy!

Killing intent surfaced in Yin Muhua's eyes. Her hearing was exceptionally keen, and she suddenly caught the rustle of footsteps ahead.

After a moment's thought, she leaped onto the roof behind her and lay perfectly still.

Then the courtyard gate was kicked open, and Lin Qing and the others burst in.