"Chase them down for me!"

"Kill the assassin!"

Zhang Wanlong was furious. That man in black had clearly been on the verge of collapse, how did he manage to escape again?

When he gave the order, only about twenty to thirty percent of the remaining black-armored soldiers could still move.

Half of the elite black armor troops were lost.

The main hall was filled with the stench of blood.

The entire county city was brightly lit.

"Immortal Master, why not pursue them while the advantage is ours?" Zhang Wanlong looked at the guardian Immortal Master, hatred and confusion flashing in his eyes.

At a moment like this, why not press the attack?

Even someone like him, a mere mortal, could tell that the assassin was at the end of his rope.

He could collapse at any time.

Once the assassin lost consciousness, how could that ghost continue its rampage?

Such an excellent opportunity if missed now, it might never come again.

The youth gave Zhang Wanlong a glance, then released his grip on the ebony sword.

The ebony sword turned into a palm-sized wooden sword and was stored away in a storage talisman.

Then, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

His once slightly ruddy complexion instantly turned pale, devoid of any color.

The youth shook his head. "I've already sustained serious injuries. Continuing the fight would bring no benefit."

"I will request reinforcements from the sect."

"The county governor may also appeal to Liang City..."

Before he could finish speaking, the youth began coughing violently.

His jawbone might be broken, any movement now triggered intense pain.

If not for the golden talisman protecting his body, he likely wouldn’t even be able to speak.

The ghost had grown stronger.

This was the first time he had encountered such a ghost.

By rights, such a powerful and cunning ghost shouldn't obey the assassin’s orders.

That man was too weak.

At most at the second layer of Qi Refining.

If he could get close to the man in black, a single sword strike would kill him. Yet that powerful ghost remained at his side.

Even when it could have pressed the advantage, it abandoned the opportunity to return to the banner master’s side and rescued him.

This couldn’t help but raise suspicion.

Did that thing... possess high intelligence?

After a moment of contemplation, the youth said no more.

His message had already been conveyed to Zhang Wanlong. Whether the latter would listen or not was no longer his concern.

His duty was to protect the people of the county from demons and ghosts.

When encountering demonic cultivators, he only needed to kill them.

As for other matters, he neither cared nor wished to get involved.

After a short while, the youth left the governor’s residence.

Zhang Wanlong's expression was grim as he swept his arm in anger.

He knocked the teacup off the table to the floor.

The porcelain shattered.

The crisp shattering sound, none of it was enough to quell the fury in Zhang Wanlong’s heart.

The pain of losing his son pierced the soul of this aging county governor.

And that ghost had taken his enemy and left.

One day, they would return.

Return for revenge.

The cultivator would advance and he was a mortal with no miraculous means.

As for what the young immortal master had said about being seriously injured, Zhang Wanlong half-believed it.

More than anything, he didn’t trust him because when Li Qingfeng questioned him, the Immortal Master hesitated.

Though Immortal Masters might shut their ears to the affairs of the world, trying to gloss over lies with false righteousness still revealed flaws.

Besides, this person was not easy to fool.

That was Zhang Wanlong’s first impression of the young immortal master.

Though he looked young, he was unexpectedly calm and powerful, with highly refined swordsmanship.

He didn’t drink, didn’t indulge in music or women.

He only ate the coarse food provided by Five Directions Temple.

Zhang Wanlong even wondered whether he inspected the food before eating it.

He thought it was very likely.

To kill someone like that, one must strike in a single blow. No second chance.

From the young immortal master’s hesitation, Zhang Wanlong understood, this man had certainly perceived part of the truth.

That was why he had become wary of him.

Zhang Wanlong wasn’t sure how effective mortal poison would be against an Immortal Master.

Internal qi could resist even potent poisons or circulate to expel toxins.

An Immortal Master was no ordinary person, they had spiritual power. Perhaps poison had no effect at all.

To take down an Immortal Master, one must use what Immortal Masters use.

Without the Immortal Master’s deterrence, that assassin would surely return.

When the killing resumed, Zhang Wanlong would have no power to resist.

Even with the Immortal Master’s attitude, Zhang Wanlong endured.

He sat alone in silence for a long time.

Then he stood, his expression dark. "Better to rely on oneself than on others."

"Come! Have Advisor Song come here."

"Reporting to the governor, Advisor Song has already been dismembered in the side hall."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanlong had no visible reaction. His face showed neither joy nor sorrow.

It only further cemented his resolve.

He waved his hand, signaling the servants to leave.

The main hall was already in ruins. The corpses were being hauled out by cart, one after another.

Some bodies had flesh and armor so entangled they couldn’t be separated, mashed into a pulp, and had to be buried together.

The deaths were brutal. Blood was everywhere.

Even crueler than a battlefield between two armies.

The governor’s residence was in chaos.

Zhang Wanlong summoned the steward.

"How’s the matter going?" he asked, urgency in his tone.

The aging steward replied respectfully, face beaming, "Reporting to lord, we’ve found it."

"Good!"

Zhang Wanlong was overjoyed. A twisted smile crept across his face.

Heaven had not forsaken Zhang Wanlong. After so long, they had finally found it.

"Prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

"I’m writing a memorial to the imperial court."

For double insurance, Zhang Wanlong decided to heed the young immortal master’s advice and write a memorial to the court.

Liang City had the Offering Pavilion, which recruited loose cultivators from among the common folk.

So long as he described the man as a demonic cultivator, and blamed the deaths of the five city gentry families and over a hundred soldiers on this demon. For the sake of safety, Liang City would surely send an Offering.

Eight Directions County wasn’t far from Liang City. If the cultivators from the Offering Pavilion traveled day and night, they’d arrive quickly.

As a county governor, it had been a long time since Zhang Wanlong had personally written a memorial.

Writing a memorial was a basic skill for officials.

One never forgets it.

Zhang Wanlong laid out the rice paper and took up the brush.

The young immortal master, having returned to Five Directions Temple, was received by the temple’s daoists.

"Why are you so gravely injured again?" The old Daoist was alarmed and quickly ordered the young disciple to prepare hot water.

Cough cough.

The young immortal master coughed twice, straightened his back, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and much of the paleness on his face faded.

The weakness in his expression disappeared entirely.

"No need. I will be healing over the next few days. If the governor sends anyone, do not let them in."

"Just leave the food at the door."

With those words, the Immortal Master closed the room door.

He stuck talismans on the windows and doors, only then letting himself resume a weakened posture.

He could not show weakness.

Not even before the people of Five Directions Temple.

Who could say whether there were spies for the governor here?

If what that banner-wielding demonic cultivator said was true, that Zhang Wanlong had used people as medicine to save his son, even granting him a spiritual root so he could cultivate. Then, in his moment of weakness, it was entirely possible that Zhang Wanlong would make a move against him

Mortals and immortal masters, in truth, there’s not much difference between them.

Most of the time, desire drives people to do irrational things.

More often than not, desire drives people to irrational acts.

There are few truly wise people in the world. Most are fools.

The blending of truth and falsehood often discourages even the smart from investigating further.

Sometimes, suspicion alone is enough.

The mortal world is treacherous, one must stay vigilant.

Tu Shanjun held Li Qingfeng under his ribs. He could feel his spiritual power fading.

Perhaps in just a few more moments, he would dissolve into black mist and return to the banner.

He could no longer take Li Qingfeng out of the county, he had to find a place nearby.

As long as Li Qingfeng woke up, it would be fine.

Shaking off the soldiers, constables, and government pursuers was simple.

Tu Shanjun cleaned up all traces and finally brought Li Qingfeng to a hidden place.

(Chapter End)