CHAPTER 345: CHAPTER 342: CULTIVATING MOMENTUM WITH KILLING ENERGY (THIRD UPDATE)

The sudden appearance of Yang Gong surprised many people. Even if they racked their brains, scratching their heads so hard that they went bald, they couldn’t figure out what was going on.

But in fact, Yang Gong himself didn’t know what was happening either. Initially, he just thought, since he was out, he might as well help the villagers get rid of the bandits, vent some of his inner grievances, and by the way, bring fame to the Red Lantern Lady.

Unexpectedly, driving out the bandits took several days. After dealing with the bandits in one village, another village was facing trouble. Upon arriving, he heard rumors of a group with ill intentions by the mountainside.

Everywhere they went, some young and strong individuals joined them. Some of the scattered bandits, when brandishing knives intending to kill, would kneel and cry.

They said their village was also plagued by bandits and feared they had no way to survive. Since there was someone to fight the bandits, they felt they had to follow the Old Master, hoping to reclaim the stolen grain and save many lives in their village.

The more people joined, the more unstoppable the momentum became.

Moreover, Yang Gong had dreamt countless times of such a situation, leading a large force all over the place. Now that it had unexpectedly come true, with so many people counting on him, how could Master Yang Gong possibly refuse?

When he suddenly found himself idle, it occurred to him: he had originally gone into the mountains to handle matters for the Lady. How had he suddenly become solely focused on eradicating bandits?

But every time he thought this, seeing his people everywhere, there were villagers helping to deliver meals and feed the horses. Even some wealthy households banded together to send grain and intelligence, only asking him to eliminate the bandit threats so their families could sleep peacefully.

Yang Gong was somewhat surprised. Why were so many people willing to follow him? And how had so many people given grain, even offered horses and iron tools, simply for him to use freely?

After some inquiries, he found out these people had come, either out of sheer desperation or common hatred for the bandits. Some had dreams in which ancestors admonished them:

"Calamity is coming, ruining prosperity, destroying fortune. Why not join that bandit-killing Old Master? If you don’t eliminate the bandits, will this village face ruin?"

Some people’s reasons were even more peculiar, like an old cow in the family suddenly speaking or a century-old elm tree worshiped by the village issuing decrees to the wealthy. Or, the vindictive souls of those slain by bandits gathered to weep.

For these reasons, Yang Gong found them hard to believe.

How could there be so many strange occurrences, forewarning and even guiding the way? Though Master Yang Gong was born one of the negative spirit people, he hadn’t encountered so many bizarre things.

Besides, even if these things were truly spiritual, how could they recognize him?

Yet, these people truly came to seek refuge, bringing horses, collecting grain, clearly having no prior acquaintance with him, yet willing to entrust their lives to him, all for eradicating bandits.

Yang Gong couldn’t refuse. After figuring out where the largest bandit threat was, he decided to take the people with him and charge bravely.

Thus, chasing them all the way out of the mountains, his heart remained uneasy. He was only thinking that they seemed to be nearing the Green Stone Town manor. Will the Red Lantern Lady find out I’m not focused on my main task?

This unexpected scene indeed caught everyone’s attention.

Among Yang Gong’s group, a few hundred, all looking as strong and robust as laborers, seemed indistinguishable from the bandits and disaster victims. However, their faces bore deep hatred as they approached with torches, ready to strike down the bandits.

If it truly came down to skills, Yang Gong’s people were likely far inferior to these Martial Artists.

Yet, in terms of momentum, they were several levels higher, unafraid of the bandits’ malicious aura, almost overwhelming them at the first encounter.

While Yang Gong was worried about the Red Lantern Society discovering his actions, the distant left and right protectors watched him dumbfounded. The red lanterns glowed eerily, almost like cold sweat.

"My incense servitor?"

"But he... he looks fiercer than I do?"

"..."

"..."

"This is bad..."

In the plum blossom lane, at the same moment Yang Gong led his people into battle, two goldfish in the well, previously seeming lifeless, suddenly became vigorous, nodding their heads and wagging their tails toward the Southwest, looking like they were kowtowing.

The originally murky well water became even murkier, like a turbid stream swirling rapidly into the well.

Old Master Mei, even during the chaos of Mingzhou, remained composed, seemingly having everything under control.

Whether the Five Evil Altar Envoy was intercepted and killed, or the Red Lantern Society rallied Martial Artists to destroy altars and extinguish Magic, even when Grass Heart Hall sent over warnings and rebukes—none changed his expression.

But now, as Yang Gong led hundreds to join the battle against the bandits, his face changed suddenly. He even knocked over his cane chair, staring fixedly at the well.

"What’s the matter?"

Those around him were all alarmed, standing up to observe him.

"We’ve been plundered..."

Old Master Mei’s hands trembled, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed, speaking in a trembling voice, "This is wrong, very wrong. Without any warning to us, how could he suddenly bring up such a figure?"

Hearing this, everyone else was confused, hurriedly asking, "What’s going on? Tell us, quickly!"

"He didn’t rely on us officials to suppress that chaos..."

Old Mr. Mei was initially panicked. After a long pause, he rasped, "He actually raised a figure with fortune, assisting him in quelling that evil force..."

"He... he selected an Emperor’s destiny!"

"How does he dare use the calamity arranged by the Five Evil Master to nurture his chosen Emperor Seed’s life force? The prestige, fortune, all are at risk of being stolen by him..."

"..."

"How could this happen?"

The onlookers around him all stood up, faces drastically changing, feeling as if years of meticulous planning had been destroyed overnight.

Yet, the Black Robed Mage, seeing his Master’s dazed appearance, timidly said, "Master, could it be when he stopped us from rescuing Son-in-law Wei, it was equivalent to giving us a sign?"

"Yet we didn’t understand and acted too cleverly?"

"..."

His words were quite audacious, yet Old Master Mei hesitated for a moment before suddenly coming to his senses, "Quickly!"

Everyone looked at him in a panic, but Old Master Mei no longer cared and shouted, "Go today, send people to suppress the bandits, disperse the disaster victims..."

"If we don’t act, Mingzhou’s fortune will be snatched away, and there will be nothing left for us..."

"..."

"..."

His words made everyone realize the gravity of the situation. They hurriedly rushed back to gather their forces and departed from the city that very night.

Meanwhile, in Yellow Dog Village, the Five Evil Gods clearly hadn’t anticipated this. Though rampant in cruelty, after successive defeats, they began to feel suspicious, looking around and muttering, "I do not believe. I do not believe your words..."

"Isn’t it simple?"

The mountain lord merely glanced outside lightly. Of course, he wouldn’t reveal his hidden aid. He simply replied faintly, "You only know about Biebao’s Evil Creation, deluding people’s minds, ruining treasured lands, and breeding wicked people."

"Yet, do you understand? Five Evil’s barren land nurtures dragon seeds, a feng shui treasure rears loaches. The more chaotic the place, the more heroes arise from it. Ha, truly think the Hu Family needs those scheming individuals to succeed?"

"Ha, the clan is like dry bones while the people have Great Power. This idea, you and those in plum blossom lane probably will never understand..."

"..."

"The clan is like dry bones, while the people have Great Power?"

Hearing him, the Five Evil Gods felt a deep fear amidst his anger. "I know those words! They were spoken by the Great Evil Spirit tossed into the Meat Grinding Pool years ago, yet you..."

"Yes."

The mountain lord laughed lightly, "They said it, but isn’t it accurate?"

Even discussing the matter filled the Five Evil Gods with fear. He suddenly unleashed a surging malicious aura that resonated with the bandits outside, creating a colossal change, accompanied by his furious cry, "Naive! Delusional!"

"You wish for anyone to casually suppress the malice I’ve brought? Do you think this is child’s play? That one’s destiny is weak, his nature shallow. Even if he wants this fortune, can he bear it?"

"..."

He could see at a glance that the leader, seemingly negative spirit-borne, had an extremely shallow life. Now, having stirred such malice, he was already filled with malevolence, intending to fight desperately.

But the mountain lord, with a wave of his sleeve, again wove a green tent, his voice laced with cold mockery, "The one naive has always been you."

"Whether that person can withstand it, whether his nature is enough, doesn’t it only rely on this family’s words?"

"..."

"..."

"Seventh Aunt, take care of Aunt Zhang, I’m going to settle something..."

At that same moment, seeing Yang Gong appear, Hu Ma had the ridiculous feeling: At this critical juncture, it’s this kid who appeared?

But in that instant, he understood all the events thoroughly. His mood suddenly lightened. He entrusted Aunt Zhang to Seventh Aunt, then mounted a horse, riding swiftly towards his family’s manor.

Meanwhile, the Five Evil Gods trapped in Yellow Dog Village found their wrathful energy affecting the bandits—or rather, influencing the ongoing battlefield. Some hidden variables began to point toward Yang Gong in the crowd.

Someone’s eyes suddenly turned red, and disregarding everything, they charged at Yang Gong, who was at the forefront.

Some arrows flying chaotically through the blood-soaked milieu miraculously threaded through gaps in the melee, aimed straight at Yang Gong’s vital points.