Chapter 178: Bloodsucking Annihilation of the Family

Mo Bei, Changling County.

It was half a month later when Gu Mo and his group finally returned to Changling County. Along the way, Six Doors deliberately took detours to maximize publicity, conspicuously parading the corpses of the Dragon and Tiger Duo through various towns and cities.

It must be said, the corpses of the Dragon and Tiger Duo proved surprisingly useful. Even in a hot region like Mo Bei, after half a month, there wasn't a single sign of decay. Calling them zombies wouldn't be an exaggeration, the only difference being that legendary zombies fear sunlight, while their bodies showed no such vulnerability.

Upon their return to Changling County, having been away for nearly a month, the county had undergone a significant transformation. Previously, even the county seat had seemed desolate, but upon their return, Gu Mo and the others were surprised to find it bustling with activity. While it still couldn't compare to a bustling town in more prosperous regions, the foot traffic was more than ten times what it had been. The streets teemed with martial artists coming and going, yet order was remarkably well-maintained.

Upon reaching the Six Doors headquarters, they found it even livelier. Martial artists, many in groups from various sects, streamed in and out without cease.

"Quite a change, wouldn't you say?" Zhuo Qingfeng said, leading Gu Mo and Gu Chudong into a small courtyard.

Gu Chudong asked, "Brother Zhuo, what happened? How could Changling County change so much in just one month?"

Zhuo Qingfeng smiled. "It's all thanks to Impermanent Ghost Elder and the Tongshan Sect. Back at Ghost Cry Ridge, I arrested those Tongshan Sect disciples, didn't I? Afterward, I issued an ultimatum to the Tongshan Sect in the name of Six Doors. Tongshan Sect Master Han Xiren had no choice but to rush to Changling County to deal with the matter. I returned both the people and the corpses to him. However, I also made the Tongshan Sect sign a series of treaties accepting Six Doors' management. Honestly, this would be a minor, normal affair in Yunzhou or Qingzhou. After all, even the Canglan Sword Sect and the current Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance have signed management treaties agreeing to comply."

"Normally, all martial arts sects and guilds must register with Six Doors before they can operate, remaining subject to Six Doors' supervision at all times, and undergoing annual review. However, Mo Bei is quite unique; Six Doors hasn't conducted reviews here for many years, and any previous establishment deeds or operating agreements are long void. This time, the Tongshan Sect was compelled to sign treaties accepting new reviews. Consequently, all martial arts forces affiliated with the Tongshan Sect in the Ghost Cry Ridge area voluntarily came forward to sign treaties and undergo review. Additionally, when Impermanent Ghost Elder was captured, I invited many martial arts forces who held grudges against him to observe his trial."

"Since those sectarian forces were already here, why wouldn't they invest in and build up Changling County? If the Eight Great Sects also begin undergoing review, it would largely stabilize the chaos in Mo Bei."

Gu Mo chuckled lightly. "The Tongshan Sect was lucky this time. I doubt Han Xiren himself expected his disciples to attack Six Doors officials."

"It wasn't luck," Zhuo Qingfeng countered, shaking his head. "It was inevitable. Six Doors has practically no presence in Mo Bei. Let alone the younger generation, even the older generation barely pays us any mind. Now that Six Doors has been established in Mo Bei and is operating with great fanfare, conflicts with the disciples of major sects are bound to happen sooner or later, as those individuals hold no reverence for Six Doors. If it weren't the Tongshan Sect, it would have been another; someone was bound to cross the line. However, the Tongshan Sect's misfortune this time will certainly serve as a warning to other sects, making it much harder to catch them off guard so easily again."

Gu Chudong asked, puzzled, "I don't quite understand. Mo Bei is so chaotic now; isn't it a good thing for Six Doors to maintain order? Those are all righteous sects; shouldn't they be supportive? Why are they so resistant to Six Doors?"

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled. "If everyone thought like you, Sister Chudong, the martial arts world would have been peaceful long ago. Unfortunately, the martial arts world is a place of fame and fortune. So-called righteous and prestigious sects are merely tools to gain fame and fortune, not beliefs. How comfortable is it to be a local tyrant on your own patch of land? Who would like to have a sword hanging over their head, being managed by others? You need to understand, Six Doors' management isn't just a word; it comes with many restrictions."

"To be blunt, being regulated by Six Doors means at least half of those sects' illicit operations would be shut down, drastically reducing their income. Furthermore, they used to be able to roam the martial arts world at will, even openly collecting taxes from common people. But with Six Doors coming in, who would dare to openly oppress ordinary people? That sense of superiority would immediately diminish. These are just some of the reasons; there are many more restrictions, and they'd also need to pay annual taxes to the government. So, how could those martial arts sects not resist Six Doors?"

Gu Chudong nodded. "So that's how it is!"

Gu Mo took a sip of tea. "By the way, I sent someone to pass you a message earlier about the Zombie Art. Have you investigated it?"

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded. "I was just about to tell you about that." He placed a box on the table, quickly opened it, revealing a stack of Xuan paper. "This contains information about everyone who might have died from blood drainage in the past thirty years, which we've recently investigated. However, due to the age of many cases and the difficulty of managing Mo Bei, much of the information isn't completely accurate. What we can confirm, however, is that over these years, cases of people dying from blood drainage have continuously appeared in various places. It's not on the scale of the past zombie incidents; they're usually isolated incidents, two or three at a time, with no large-scale village massacres. In a chaotic place like Mo Bei, such cases hardly attract any attention."

Gu Mo asked, "How far back can it be traced?"

Zhuo Qingfeng slowly replied, "To some extent, it has never stopped. After the Flower-Pattern Sect was wiped out back then, there were also continuous blood-draining incidents. However, because the time is too long, we can only find some hearsay, unable to confirm their authenticity. The furthest confirmed cases are from ten years ago. Furthermore, based on the Dragon and Tiger Duo's case, I deduce that more than just the two of them practiced the Zombie Art. Over these years, some evil path experts have continuously appeared, and incidents of village massacres and clan annihilation have occurred from time to time. It's just that, previously, like with the Dragon and Tiger Duo, after some handling, no one noticed if it was blood drainage. But, according to my deduction, at least ten evil path experts might have practiced the Zombie Art. Some of these individuals, like the Dragon and Tiger Duo, have histories of massacring villages and annihilating clans, while others were involved in typical acts of burning, killing, and looting. But without exception, all of their whereabouts can be matched with some blood-draining incidents, such as Thousand-Handed Butcher Sikong Xiao and Nine Nether Ghost Mother Yin Jiuniang, among others."

Gu Mo asked, "So what are your plans now?"

Zhuo Qingfeng said, "I actually think this is a good opportunity for Six Doors. We should vigorously publicize the Zombie Art matter, ideally enough to cause panic in Mo Bei. Then, Six Doors can use this as a reason to investigate. If we can discover a true mastermind behind those individuals, that would be best, as it would greatly enhance Six Doors' prestige. Even if we can't find one, it won't matter; we can simply use the guise of investigation to enter the territories of various major sects and exercise our authority, suppressing them step by step. It would just take a little more time."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I'm very interested in this matter. Inform me immediately if you find any clues."

Zhuo Qingfeng smiled. "You don't need to tell me; I'd seek you out anyway. I'm not stupid. If I didn't make use of a grand master like you, it would be a crime against heaven."

Gu Mo chuckled lightly. "Enough with the pleasantries. Let's settle the fees. One Impermanent Ghost Elder, one Dragon and Tiger Duo. I'm telling you in advance, not a single penny of the bounty should be short."

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled. "You'll get your share, don't worry. I've already submitted an official letter to Yunzhou headquarters, and the funds will be allocated soon. Oh, by the way, what about the task I entrusted you with?"

"Are you talking about Yu Shijiu?" Gu Mo shook his head slightly. "I spent a few days with him, and I'm very sure he's not suitable for Six Doors. His sword has already entered the Dao. You're also a swordsman; you should understand that if a swordsman's Dao contradicts Six Doors, then it's impossible for them to join."

Zhuo Qingfeng frowned. "That's a pity. That kid is very talented; at such a young age, he already has the standard of a top-tier martial artist. Moreover, he's very tenacious and righteous-minded. He's a good prospect."

Gu Mo smiled. "His sword is actually more than just first-rate. His mental state, however, is constrained, holding him back and preventing him from fully unleashing his true strength. If he can resolve his inner conflicts one day, he will surely achieve great things."

Zhuo Qingfeng said helplessly, "The more you say that, the more regrettable I find it."

After returning to Changling County, Gu Mo settled down at the Six Doors headquarters. Because of the matters at Dawang Village, Gu Chudong had been greatly impacted and needed a good period of rest. Coincidentally, Gu Mo was also preparing to use this time to teach Gu Chudong the Exterminating Cross Blade technique. Previously, in the desert, Gu Chudong's improved Profound Void Blade technique had already reached mastery. The Guchen Demonic Blade, under Gu Chudong's occasional soothing with the Bright Jade Skill, had also largely synchronized, making it the perfect time to learn the Exterminating Cross Blade technique.

However, circumstances quickly changed.

Just on the third day, early in the morning, Zhuo Qingfeng rushed into the courtyard, his face solemn. "Brother Gu, something's happened!"

Gu Mo, who was eating breakfast, asked, "What is it?"

Zhuo Qingfeng sat down and said gravely, "You remember the Great Blade Sect you met earlier at Hanyadu, right?"

"It hasn't been that long; of course, I remember!" Gu Mo replied.

"They were wiped out." Zhuo Qingfeng continued, "It happened three days ago. All 124 sect members and over 70 servants within their gates died overnight, with no survivors. Most importantly, all of them were drained of their blood!"