Chapter 33: Killing

The Human World

Qin Sang’s face lit up with joy. "Isn't this perfect? Brother Liu might not know, but I just received a pigeon message from General Wang Liu outside the city. He said the mountain roads are difficult, and he’ll be delayed by two days. In that case, let’s proceed as you suggested. Send someone to inform General Mu that we’ll act according to the plan the day after tomorrow, and open the city gates at dawn the following day."

Qin Sang secretly sneered, watching Liu Ji and his subordinates look surprised and uncertain because of his words.

The Blood Robe Tower was not a monolithic entity. Its master, True Immortal Black Crane, had four subordinate guardians: Elder Yue, Immortal Cao Tou, Scholar Bai Yi, and Lady Hong Xiu. These four operated independently and harbored mutual grudges.

Qin Sang and Elder Yue only took orders from Princess Dongyang.

Lady Hong Xiu was a trusted confidante of the Crown Prince. Qin Sang had met Lady Hong Xiu once and suspected that this seductive woman might be the Crown Prince’s concubine.

Immortal Cao Tou was a direct subordinate of the Third Prince of the Royal Mansion and represented the weakest faction within the Blood Robe Tower. In Qin Sang’s opinion, this position seemed more like a conciliatory gesture.

Scholar Bai Yi was True Immortal Black Crane’s close confidant, and Liu Ji was one of Scholar Bai Yi’s people.

Qin Sang’s single probing remark had indeed exposed Liu Ji’s secret. Wang Liu’s collusion with Liu Ji indicated that True Immortal Black Crane had likely aligned himself with the Crown Prince, which was bad news for Princess Dongyang’s faction.

Within the Dongyang Royal Mansion, there were four princes eligible for succession. The Crown Prince was, of course, among them. Among the other three, the Third Prince was the strongest, but he could not threaten the Crown Prince’s position.

However, the Dongyang Royal Mansion had an anomaly: Princess Dongyang.

Princess Dongyang, originally named Princess Anning, was the eldest legitimate daughter of King Dongyang. After the passing of the former Queen, Lady Feng, the King, deeply saddened, doted on Princess Dongyang even more.

As Princess Dongyang grew older, she displayed extraordinary intelligence, further endearing herself to the King. He granted her every wish, even bestowing upon her the title "Princess Dongyang."

Supported by her maternal family, Princess Dongyang’s influence was no weaker than that of the Crown Prince. However, being a woman, and with the Crown Prince holding legitimate authority, it was understandable that True Immortal Black Crane would side with him.

With the overall situation still undecided, various factions were beginning to harbor their own agendas.

Liu Ji, unsuspecting, accepted the explanation readily. "Hall Master Qin is wise. The mountains in Jiangzhou are treacherous and the forests dense, so a delay of a day or two is normal… Please ask General Mu to march slowly; that way, the timing will be perfect. This truly is divine assistance!"

"There’s no rush for this," Qin Sang said, waving his hand. "General Mu is already close. Sending someone out of the city to deliver the message tomorrow will be soon enough. Let’s review the plan tonight, and tomorrow, you can take me to familiarize myself with the county town so we won’t be flustered when the time comes."

He Ning County had a strict curfew, and as they were new faces, it was not advisable to go out at night.

"Yes!"

The next day, not until dusk did Qin Sang, Liu Ji, and the others return to the inn. They had brazenly walked around He Ning County several times, primarily observing the city defenses and the residences of the county magistrate, Chu Dazhuang, and others. Qin Sang also carefully ascertained their daily movements.

"You all wait outside," Qin Sang ordered.

After instructing the Water Monkey, Qin Sang pointed at Liu Ji. "Mr. Liu, please bring someone here to get my token and take a message to General Mu outside the city."

Liu Ji hurried off and returned just as quickly, leading someone into the room and knocking on Qin Sang’s door.

"Come in and close the door."

The two men gently pushed open the door and, just as they turned to close it, suddenly felt their vision go black and lost consciousness.

Qin Sang appeared behind Liu Ji, catching the two bodies, and carefully moved them to the inner room. He waited for Yanwang to extract their souls before beginning the interrogation.

Liu Ji had indeed colluded with Wang Liu, and the order came from Scholar Bai Yi. Qin Sang sneered, yet felt no fear.

He didn't seek to be an official for life; he didn't care who became emperor. But the Princess had promised him the qualification to be enfeoffed at Sacred Mountain, so his loyalty was solely to her.

In the past year, no small number of his Blood Robe Tower colleagues had died by his hand. Anyone who blocked his path was killed.

Today, let alone Liu Ji, even if Scholar Bai Yi himself were present, if he needed to be killed, he would be.

As the interrogation continued, Liu Ji was reasonably honest. The overall plan didn't differ much from what he had previously stated, but Liu Ji hadn't told the truth about the whereabouts of his subordinates.

Qin Sang meticulously noted down each person, and later that night, he changed into dark clothes and left.

Qin Sang killed Liu Ji's close aide with a single palm strike. He handed a piece of paper to the Water Monkey and said with a chilling tone, "Liu Ji betrayed us, secretly sided with the false emperor, and tried to sell us out. I have killed him with a palm strike. His subordinates cannot be trusted. These are their hiding places; leave no one alive and dispose of the bodies cleanly. After you're done, meet me at the city gate."

Zheng Kun and the Water Monkey said nothing further, immediately accepted the order, and departed.

Qin Sang activated his 'Shadowless Steps' technique and silently approached the county yamen alone.

County Magistrate Li Ji resided inside the county yamen. Monk Mang's residence, the Chu Mansion, was not far from the yamen. Qin Sang's primary target was Monk Mang.

The security around the county yamen was noticeably much tighter than elsewhere, but these militiamen and yamen runners could only guard against ordinary people and would never detect Qin Sang's movements.

In the large mansion, only Monk Mang and a few servants lived. Qin Sang easily located Monk Mang's dwelling. Monk Mang's martial arts were not weak, so Qin Sang, unwilling to take risks, stopped outside the room.

Just as he was about to unleash Yanwang, he suddenly heard a long roar erupt from the room.

"Who goes there?!"

The roar was like a clap of thunder on a clear day, causing Qin Sang's head to buzz. He felt dizzy and disoriented, but quickly bit the tip of his tongue. The sharp pain brought him back to his senses, and a powerful sense of alarm surged within him. He swiftly retreated.

The next moment, Qin Sang felt an incredibly violent aura appear out of nowhere within the room, surging towards him.

'Boom!'

A fiery red fist-shadow powerfully blasted a large hole in the wall. Enveloped in a hot, violent aura, it rushed fiercely towards Qin Sang's hiding spot, creating a deep crater in the bluestone-paved ground where it struck.

Broken stones flew, and withered leaves scattered.

Externalized True Qi!

Qin Sang's expression subtly changed. Had Monk Mang already broken through to the Innate realm?

No, there were two people in the room!

An old monk emerged from the shattered wall, followed by a tall, burly, fat monk behind him—this was Monk Mang, Chu Dazhuang.

Qin Sang didn't recognize the old monk. He looked like an ordinary elderly man, his face covered in wrinkles, his form emaciated. Yet, facing this person, Qin Sang felt an immediate sense of crisis; the hairs on his skin stood on end.

Within that withered, thin body, astonishing energy was contained.

Qin Sang had never encountered anyone who could evoke such a feeling in him; neither Elder Yue nor Bai Jianglan was comparable to this old monk.

Monk Mang, with tiger-like eyes, glared at Qin Sang and said coldly, "Master, this person might be an accomplice of the rebels!"

Monk Mang's master, Venerable Yuanjue, the Head of the Arhat Hall at Xuanji Temple!

A flash of realization struck Qin Sang's mind. He had hit a formidable opponent. Venerable Yuanjue was openly recognized as Xuanji Temple's top master, and some speculated he had already entered the Innate realm. Now, it seemed that was indeed the case.