Slaying an Official

"Please take care, Immortal Master."

We will forever remember the Immortal's great kindness----

As soon as Zhou Wuji mounted his horse, a large group of villagers who had escorted him to the village entrance knelt down.

The village head, an elderly man, knelt down, his words very earnest.

Zhou Wuji was slightly surprised. This old man was quite good at handling things; at least his act of gratitude was quite convincing, which he liked!

The village head also gave Zhou Wuji, presenting him with a bulging leather pouch. "Daoist Master," he said, "This is the gall bladder of a bear demon, a valuable item. I've soaked it in strong liquor. You can take it back to refine elixirs and make medicine."

"Alright." Zhou Wuji didn't stand on ceremony. The most valuable part of the bear demon was its gall bladder, which was perfect for refining pills.

He hadn't planned to accept it, but since the old man had given it to him so sincerely, there was no need to be coy.

Zhou Wuji dismounted, bowed deeply to the many villagers in farewell, and then remounted and set off again.

Zhou Wuji hadn't ridden his horse for long when Jin Chuan, pale-faced, emerged from the roadside woods. He looked at Zhou Wuji pitifully, "Daoist Master—"

"Don't be afraid, the Seven Star Life-Locking Incantation will only take twelve hours to activate." Zhou Wuji's words of comfort only made Jin Chuan's face turn even uglier.

Jin Chuan bowed his head and pleaded, "Master, please give me any orders, and I will not hesitate."

He knew perfectly well that Zhou Wuji not to kill him but instead to use a spell on him meant that he had something for Zhou Wuji to do.

To save his life, he had no choice but to agree.

Zhou Wuji found it somewhat amusing; the so-called Seven Star Life-Locking Incantation was something he had made up.

The Northern Pole Sect School, one of the seven orthodox schools of Daoism, would never possess such insidious and vicious Law Technique.

Daoist Law Technique is profound and mysterious, and it is not something that a Ironclad Guard officer could understand.

The main reason is that with the Heavenly Puppet integrated into Jin Chuan's body, this guy's life and death are truly in his hands.

Although the Seven Star Life-Locking Incantation is illusory, the restriction itself is real.

"You don't need to do anything. Just go back to Wu Di and tell him you've captured me. That'll trick him into coming out."

Zhou Wuji spoke casually, but Jin Chuan was so frightened that he trembled all over.

"You're unwilling?" Zhou Wuji glanced at Jin Chuan, his eyes turning cold.

"I, I..."

Jin Chuan's lips trembled. He didn't care whether Wu Di lived or died, but he knew very well that Zhou Wuji killed Wu Di, he would definitely kill him to silence him.

After all, Wu Di was a Seventh Rank -rank officer of the Ironclad Guard. Not to mention Zhou Wuji, a mere Daoist priest, even the Celestial Master of the Heavenly Master's Manor could not kill an official appointed by the imperial court without authorization.

Jin Chuan dared not refuse; if he agreed, he could live another day, but if he refused, he would die right now.

Zhou Wuji understood Jin Chuan's thoughts perfectly well, so he remained silent and let Jin Chuan tremble.

After a while, Jin Chuan couldn't delay any longer, so he had no choice but to say, "I'm willing to help the Daoist priest. I only ask that he spare me after it's done."

"That's natural."

Zhou Wuji smiled, "Killing an official is a serious crime, but you were also an accomplice, so why should I kill you?"

" With Wu Di dead, you'll be temporarily in charge of the Ironclad Guard in Siming County. With a little maneuvering, it's not impossible for you to become a captain."

"We'll look after each other then; Siming County will be our territory."

Although Jin Chuan didn't quite believe Zhou Wuji's words, he was still somewhat tempted by them.

With Zhou Wuji's abilities, killing Wu Di would be a piece of cake. All he had to do was lure Wu Di out of the garrison.

With Wu Di dead, he had a chance to temporarily assume the position of commander-in-chief through his connections.

However, he truly didn't trust Zhou Wuji! That kid was ruthless and vicious—

Zhou Wuji didn't care whether Jin Chuan believed him or not; he just said it to give Jin Chuan some hope and prevent him from getting too anxious and causing trouble.

Jin Chuan naturally has horses, and they are good horses.

The two had been traveling all day, and along the way they had encountered some pedestrians, including Zhang Laoyao was also hurrying along.

When Zhang Laoyao met Zhou Wuji, he was both surprised and delighted. He dismounted from his donkey, came over to greet him, and inquired about the situation.

Upon learning that the bear demon had been eliminated, Zhang Laoyao was overjoyed and immediately knelt down to kowtow to Zhou Wuji in gratitude.

Zhou Wuji chatted with Zhang Laoyao for a few minutes, then let Zhang Laoyao leave.

During this time, Jin Chuan remained hidden by the roadside and was not seen by Zhang Laoyao.

They did the same with other pedestrians on the street, always keeping a safe distance to avoid being seen traveling together.

When they passed through Old Cang Village at night, Zhou Wuji did not stop, but instead led Jin Chuan on a journey through the night.

At midnight, the new moon had already set, and only the stars shone silently in the night sky.

Zhou Wuji dismounted in a grove of trees outside the city, found a secluded spot to tie his horse, changed into Yin Yang Dao Daoist robe and put on a lotus mask, and quietly followed Jin Chuan to the east of the city.

The county town gates were tightly closed, yet no one dared to stop Jin Chuan.

It was a small place after all, and every guard on duty knew Jin Chuan.

Jin Chuan shouted and opened the city gates, then rode his horse directly into the garrison in the east of the city.

Zhou Wuji circulated his True Qi and lightly tapped his feet, soaring more than two zhang into the air like a flying crane. With a flick of his sleeves, he moved several zhang horizontally in mid-air and directly crossed the wall.

Having mastered the Five Tigers Fist, his body's energy became pure and unified, and with proper coordination, his Movement Method became increasingly agile and swift.

The rammed earth wall, which was more than two zhang high, looked to him like a pit two chi wide.

Jin Chuan had no idea that Zhou Wuji was following behind him. He rode his horse into the garrison and dismounted only when he arrived at the courtyard where Wu Di was staying.

As a flag officer, Wu Di always had several guards protecting his courtyard.

Upon hearing the sound of horses' hooves, some people came out of the courtyard to check the situation.

Upon seeing that it was Jin Chuan, the guard hurriedly smiled obsequiously, "Master Jin is back?"

"Is the commander asleep?" Jin Chuan asked, but his feet didn't stop as he walked straight into the courtyard.

Just as the guard was about to speak, Wu Di's voice came from the main room. "It's Jin Chuan. Come in."

Upon hearing Wu Di's words, the two guards dared not say anything more and could only smile obsequiously as they watched Jin Chuan enter the main room.

Wu Di, dressed in loose nightgown and holding a True Yang Pearl in his hand, walked out of the bedroom, instantly illuminating the dark main hall as if it were daytime.

Wu Di casually placed the True Yang Pearl on a specially made stand, then sized up Jin Chuan. He noticed that this trusted confidant had shifty eyes, an unpleasant expression, and was holding a long roll of cloth in his hand, which appeared to contain a sword.

Traveling at night makes it easy to encounter evil spirits and demons, and Jin Chuan wouldn't rush back to see him unless it was something important.

Jin Chuan was still hesitant. As Wu Di's confidant, he knew Wu Di's cunning and ruthlessness. Wu Di would never care about his life or death. Moreover, Wu Di had no ability to capture Zhou Wuji.

If you help Zhou Wuji lure Wu Di out, he will almost certainly be silenced by Zhou Wuji.

Jin Chuan was racking his brains, but he couldn't think of a way out.

Seeing that Jin Chuan remained silent, Wu Di frowned in displeasure and asked, "Why did you rush back? What's the matter?"

"Commander-in-Chief," Jin Chuan thought long and hard, and felt that choosing Wu Di still offered a glimmer of hope.

Even if he dies under Zhou Wuji's Law Technique, Wu Di will still have a chance to avenge him.

Just as Jin Chuan was about to recount the whole story, he suddenly couldn't open his mouth. His hands, however, uncontrollably untied the roll of cloth, took out the Seven Star Sword from inside, and handed it to Wu Di. At the same time, he bowed deeply, appearing humble.

"What is this thing? Is it possessed by a ghost?!" Jin Chuan was terrified, but he couldn't control his body at all.

At that moment, he was like a puppet on strings, his body controlled by invisible threads, yet he could not react at all.

Wu Di didn't notice anything unusual about his subordinate. He casually grabbed the scabbard of the Seven Star Sword and was about to take it when the scabbard suddenly felt heavy.

As Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, Wu Di immediately sensed something was wrong, and he instinctively gripped the scabbard with his right hand.

He practiced the Pacification Office's unique Mountain-Subduing Force, which was said to have the power to suppress mountains and stabilize the seas.

Zhou Wuji, hiding behind the room, could sense Wu Di's various changes through the Heavenly Puppet on Jin Chuan's body.

In the void, countless invisible threads connect to the Heavenly Puppet, and these threads are also connected to Zhou Wuji's brow, allowing him to completely control the Heavenly Puppet through his Divine Sense, and in turn, control Jin Chuan's every move.

If he were to advance further in his cultivation of the Heavenly Puppet Scripture, he might even be able to control Jin Chuan's tongue to speak and make various subtle facial expressions.

Zhou Wuji is still lacking in skill and cannot control Jin Chuan with such precision.

He can truly control the Heavenly Puppet Heavenly Puppet; Jin Chuan is merely a vessel for it.

Seeing Wu Di instinctively exert his strength, Zhou Wuji knew that his judgment was correct. Although Wu Di was Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, his martial arts skills were not particularly high. He was much worse than the Seventh Rank soldiers who broke into Hidden Dragon Temple, and even worse than Zhang Xinhu.

The Heavenly Puppet is merely a puppet transformed from Law Treasure; it lacks a physical body and cannot circulate its internal energy like a martial artist.

His Heavenly Puppet Scripture level was insufficient, and he was unable to circulate Jin Chuan's physical power.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Puppet could operate its true power, and although it consumed some energy, it was enough to deal with Wu Di.

Zhou Wuji manipulated the Heavenly Puppet to release the sword sheath, and his left palm struck Wu Di directly in the heart.

Wu Di reacted quickly; he immediately realized that Wuyi in him grabbing the scabbard.

Facing Jin Chuan's direct left palm strike, Wu Di inhaled and pulled his chest back, knocking the chair behind him flying.

If Jin Chuan had made a move, he wouldn't have even been able to touch Wu Di. But Heavenly Puppet was different; his palm strikes were incredibly fast, striking Wu Di squarely in the chest.

The Heavenly Puppet is stronger and harder than refined steel. This palm strike is fast and has a force of over a thousand catties, plus the seventy percent of true power that Zhou Wuji unleashed.

With a muffled thud, Wu Di's loose nightgown shattered, revealing the black leather armor he wore underneath.

It's also because the weather is cold now, and Wu Di has done too many bad things, so he even wears armor to sleep.

The armor absorbed most of the powerful force of the palm strike, yet Wu Di was still struck so hard that he coughed up blood and his face contorted in pain.

You dare!

Wu Di, utterly shocked and enraged, roared. How dare this nobody from Jin Chuan launch a sneak attack on him? Had they eaten the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard, or were they possessed by a ghost?

Jin Chuan's face was extremely pale, but he couldn't control his body at all and couldn't answer anything.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Jin Chuan drew his Seven Star Sword with his right hand and swung it at Wu Di.

Just as Wu Di was about to dodge, the true essence that penetrated his body made his Qi and Blood boil, and his limbs went weak, so he slowed down a little.

A cold, sharp sword light swept across, and Wu Di's head flew off with it, blood spurting out in the process.

The headless body then unleashed its power, leaping backward more than ten feet, crashing directly into the central scroll painting in the hall.

The painting depicts a black tiger rendered in splashed ink, perched on a rock, poised to pounce, its expression fierce and imposing.

This splash of ink turned the scroll a deep red, and the tiger in the painting gained a more savage and ferocious air.

Jin Chuan stared blankly at Wu Di's severed head, then at the painting in the central hall, his hand gripping the sword trembling uncontrollably.