Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 714 - 644: Out of the Cage

The blood mist spread rapidly, corroding the walls and floors it encountered, causing large chunks to fall off and revealing the Prohibitions hidden within the bricks and stones.

SIZZLE—

The complex lights symbolizing the Prohibitions flickered erratically under the effect of the blood mist until they completely dimmed. Alongside them, the talisman lamps and candles were also extinguished.

"Help! My leg is trapped!"

"Let me out, I’ve bashed my head—"

The moans and cries of the prisoners and prison guards rose and fell in succession. Some were not even aware that their eardrums had burst as they kept shouting loudly.

The Qi Sea was suppressed, and the efficiency of Spiritual Energy circulation was reduced to less than an eighth of its original.

Under the dim moonlight, Song Shaoyuan stared intently at the blood mist before him. His thoughts were racing. The explosion earlier had echoed through the night sky, and the South Government Guards and the Garrison would soon arrive.

Although the Ministry of Justice was important, it was not a crucial institution for the survival of the entire city. Facing off against Yu Country, destroying the Ministry of Justice was not significantly beneficial. Unless... this was a trap.

Song Shaoyuan formed a hand seal with one hand and executed the Bright Light Technique. A chicken-egg-sized sphere of light flew straight ahead, barely illuminating the ruins through the blood mist.

SWISH—

Everyone could clearly see, through the brightness, the dozen or so inhuman figures slowly rising from within the blood mist.

"Demon, it’s a demon!"

A prisoner screamed shrilly. Standing before him was a demon more than ten feet tall.

It had four segmented legs and a fat, wide waist. Its upper body abruptly narrowed, and above its bamboo-pole-thin neck hung a greenish, winter-melon-sized head with a ferocious expression, like a ritual mask.

The scream drew the demon’s attention. It slowly turned its head, looking at the prisoner. In the next instant, its elongated, inhuman arm pierced directly through the prisoner’s mouth, shattering his upper and lower jaws along with half of his skull.

Blood spilled on the ground as if it cost nothing. The prisoner bled from all orifices and died on the spot. Yet, his corpse convulsed violently after a few breaths and transformed into a smaller demon.

THUD. THUD.

The newly born inhuman creature used its four insect-like legs to slowly stand up. Its expression was equally fierce, like a ritual mask, its vacant eyes reflecting the somber faces of those in the Ministry of Justice.

「The blood mist had appeared, and the demons were unleashed.」

"Haotian above, exterminate the Pseudo Emperor!"

"Exterminate the Pseudo Emperor, clarify the Central Plains!"

The shouts of killing thundered across the skies of Yan Zhou City. The majestic Spiritual Energy collided and stirred, and the talismans and Magic caused violent winds from the raging fires that dispersed the overcast clouds.

Thirteen black-clad figures of unknown identity were attacking the Governor Mansion of Yan Zhou City. Their Cultivation Techniques and styles were vastly different, the only commonality being they were all low-level Candle Cloud Realm.

Such a force could destroy a city and slaughter all its inhabitants within 15 minutes. Opposing them were the Imperial Palace Tributor and experts from the Garrison.

Inside the Governor Mansion, officials of various levels who had accompanied the Emperor to Mount Tai for the grand sealing ceremony hid in the courtyard layered with protective Prohibitions, anxiously watching the starry sparks from the aftermath of the battle.

"Your Majesty, news from Chang’an. An explosion occurred at the Ministry of Justice, affecting Shunyi Gate, Construction Supervision, and Weiwei Temple, with an unknown number of casualties." Shen Tuyu slightly bowed his head and said solemnly, "The South Government Guards and the Garrison have already gone to investigate the situation."

"I know," Emperor Yu said calmly as he sat upright in the secret chamber of the Governor Mansion.

Tonight’s assassination attempt and ambush were not beyond his expectations. The Imperial Palace Tributor had made sufficient preparations to ensure nothing went wrong.

Ever since the Mountain Master was attacked and a declaration was issued from Taihao Mountain, Emperor Yu had anticipated that those conspirators lurking in the darkness of Yu Country would sooner or later take action, causing trouble and attempting to bring Li Yu to his knees.

This time he had decided to leave the capital to perform a sealing rite at Mount Tai, not only to retrieve a Secret Treasure left behind by the first emperor of Yu Country but also to lure out the snakes from their holes and eradicate the internal crisis in one fell swoop.

Resolving these conflicts now and capturing all evil spirits was certainly better than waiting a few years until the strength of the Mountain and River Guardian Talisman faded and All Nations attacked, only to be backstabbed by "one’s own people," leading to a total loss.

The only problem was whether the Crown Prince, acting as regent in Chang’an, could stabilize the situation as planned...

「」

BOOM!

A sound akin to thunder boomed from the north of the city. Wu Shiqi instinctively shrank his neck while reaching for the saber hidden beneath his regular clothes and turned his head towards the north.

A blood mist was rising from the north of the city, like a thin layer of chiffon or a light dusk, blood-red. It continuously rose and spread as time passed. The specific location seemed to be... inside the Imperial City?

Wu Shiqi stood frozen in place. There was a folk tale that every brick and wall in the Imperial City was engraved with an Array designed to ward off evil spirits.

Though somewhat exaggerated, the Imperial City indeed had heavy Prohibitions. Last Qixi, when a huge fire engulfed Chang’an and Chaotic Wind wreaked havoc, the inside of the Imperial City had suffered minimal damage. Until now.

In the deep of night, the few pedestrians on the streets also heard the thunderous explosion and saw the blood mist rising like a curtain in the sky, panicking and shouting aloud. Only when the drum sounds for curfew echoed urgently in the streets and alleys did the people snap out of their daze.

The urgent drumming signaled the curfew order, meaning Chang’an was under military control. No civilians should roam the streets, or they would be considered suspects.

This rule was deep-seated in the hearts of the people. Those close to home hastily ran back, locking doors and windows, and hanging up the Haotian Bell.

Those far from home sought refuge at relatives’ or friends’ houses. If that failed, they rushed into the nearest pub or inn—during special periods, innkeepers couldn’t turn people away.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Explosions came one after another from various directions. Blood mists rose from those places too, connecting mid-air.

Pedestrians scattered in all directions. Only Wu Shiqi stood rooted to the spot.

He had initially found out that the fine dog who died in the well belonged to the Zhong Family of the Garrison and planned to scope out Zhong Mansion tonight. He hadn’t expected such a sudden change of events.

Now what? Should I head straight home, or should I return to Wannian County to wait for further orders from above?

Wu Shiqi hesitated for a moment. With both my parents deceased and living alone, I have no obligations at home. As for the Wannian County Magistrate... I don’t think a County Magistrate can do much at a time like this.

Rather than being a mere spectator, waiting for the city’s Cultivators to fight it out and decide the fates of all the city’s residents, I’d rather take some action myself.

Having made up his mind, Wu Shiqi clenched his teeth and took off at a sprint. Relying on his years of experience as a constable roaming through the streets and alleys, he took the shortest route, heading towards Zhong Mansion to the south.

Just then, silence fell.

The barking of dogs, the fearful voices of people, the cries of the citizens, and the drumming of curfew—all noises ceased. It was so quiet that one could even hear their own heartbeat.

Stiffly, Wu Shiqi twisted his neck to look back. He saw the blood mist overshadowing the sky, blanketing everything above and drastically narrowing his field of vision.

And within the depths of the blood mist, creatures that looked neither human nor monster had already made their way onto the streets.