The Fuhǔ beast struck with such force that Lu Ling Feng was forced to retreat, his fingers almost unable to grip the hilt of his sword!
“Could this be a real beast and not an illusion?”
Zheng Qing quickly said:
“General, attack above them, this must be a ferocious beast played by someone!”
Lu Ling Feng, receiving the hint, leaped into the air, landing on top of the beast and plunging his blade into its back, piercing through its body!
The smoke dissipated, revealing three figures rolling on the ground.
It was actually Eleven and the two thieves!
The constables moved forward to fight the other two thieves while Lu Ling Feng faced Eleven.
Zheng Qing sensed something amiss.
He flipped the palanquin, only to find a menacing figure trying to drag Pei Xi Jun below!
These people had dug a tunnel underground without anyone knowing!
Boom!
Zheng Qing acted.
He pulled Pei Xi Jun into his arms and retreated backwards, a gust of wind hitting his back.
It was the Youli Four Monsters!
A wolf-tooth club came smashing down, the spikes on top were nearly as long as a man's palm!
Zheng Qing dodged gracefully, his sword flashing as he slashed forward.
One of the Youli Four Monsters laughed loudly:
“It's useless, I have the skin of copper and bones of iron! Ordinary blades can't harm me! Today I will take your life!
You were so proud when you broke the iron cage with your bare hands! Today my four brothers will kill you here!”
The blade struck, and the man laughed, seemingly unconcerned.
But soon, he let out a grunt, his face contorting.
The spot where the blade had cut turned rapidly purple and blue, like a new tattoo.
The purple and blue spread outwards, quickly consuming his entire body!
It was poison!
One of the Youli Four Monsters exclaimed in shock:
“You poisoned me? How despicable!”
Zheng Qing replied in a casual tone:
“What, did I say I was a righteous gentleman?”
He pressed the attack, moving with incredible speed. Though ordinary swords were ineffective, the Youli Four Monsters dared not let Zheng Qing get close!
“Save me!”
Suddenly, the Youli Four Monster who had been poisoned cried out in pain.
The poison spread quickly, and his chest was already beginning to rot!
By now, most of his body was purple and blue, and his life was hanging in the balance!
A short man shouted:
“Go back quickly and find the Immortal! Get the Immortal to save us!”
“Yes!”
A strange whistling sound echoed, and the Youli Four Monsters charged towards the deepest part of the Ghost Market, their speed incredible.
Zheng Qing followed with Pei Xi Jun in tow.
…
The County Magistrate’s Residence —
Yuan Lai didn’t know how many cups of wine he had downed, he only felt dizzy and lightheaded:
“Ugh, I can’t do this anymore, I’m not good with alcohol, I’m going to sleep!”
He stood up, swaying as he walked towards the inner room.
Su Wu Ming quickly got up:
“I’ll help you.”
“No, no!”
Yuan Lai waved his hand.
Su Wu Ming stepped forward and held Yuan Lai’s arm, then said:
“Ah, this is a special day.”
“Hmm?” Yuan Lai looked confused.
Su Wu Ming explained:
“I mean, today is the day of the year with the heaviest Yin energy. Back when I followed my Master, I would stay by his bedside on this day!”
“Oh! But I’m not Lord Di, I wouldn’t dare trouble you, brother!” Yuan Lai waved his hand.
“Ah! County Magistrate Yuan, I am your subordinate. To me, you are no different from my Master!”
Su Wu Ming said earnestly.
Yuan Lai couldn’t refuse. Even after lying down, he still felt confused:
“I dare ask, brother, apart from accompanying Lord Di for a drink, why are you staying by my bedside? What other significance is there?”
Su Wu Ming nodded:
“Of course!
Wu Ming has been an extremely Yin body since childhood. When I followed my Master, I saw many strange cases and even many bizarre herbs.
My Master’s greatest wish in life was to compile a Book of Natural Wonders!
Every time he encountered a new and strange herb, my Master would have me test it on myself!
Fifteen years ago, an assassin poisoned Lord Di. Do you remember, brother?”
Yuan Lai seemed to fall into a reminiscence, then nodded:
“Indeed.
The entire court knew about that, but Lord Di survived unharmed afterward. How did that happen?”
“Because I tasted the poison then. I only remember that the poison was truly potent!
I fell unconscious for seven days and nights, even hovering between life and death. My Master brought several physicians from the imperial capital to save me!
After administering the antidote, he used the Tian Shan Qi Lan stored in the palace to make a medicinal bath for me, which finally cured me of the poison!”
Yuan Lai exclaimed in surprise: “Decades ago, a group of merchants from afar offered tribute to our Great Tang, including a batch of precious treasures.
Tian Shan Qi Lan was indeed among them!”
Su Wu Ming nodded:
“Yes! I still remember the warm spring-like temperature of the medicinal bath, the most Yin substance in the world! Therefore, I am the most Yin person on this day of the year.
Since then, every Ghost Festival, I have stayed by my Master’s side, the evil spirits will only come to bother me, not trouble my Master!
Now that County Magistrate Yuan is my brother, I must naturally draw the evil spirits away from you!”
Yuan Lai nodded:
“So that’s how it is!”
Su Wu Ming wanted to continue guarding, but Yuan Lai got up:
“If that’s the case, then I can’t sleep soundly while you wait here!
Just the other day I acquired a treasure, but I haven’t figured out its exact usage. Since you’ve always followed Lord Di, maybe you have seen it before.”
Su Wu Ming became interested.
“There are still treasures that even you haven’t seen, brother?”
Yuan Lai shakily walked over to a cabinet, took out an item, then suddenly turned around, a fierce glint in his eyes, and splashed it backwards!
It was blood!
Su Wu Ming’s entire body tensed, and he fell to the ground.
Yuan Lai sneered:
“You fool, you didn’t know when to quit!”
He brought Su Wu Ming to the Ghost Market and tied him up on a stone platform.
As Yuan Lai went to get the tools, he heard Su Wu Ming say slowly from behind:
“It seems you no longer intend to pretend, are you ready to reveal your true intentions?”
Yuan Lai turned around. Although he was still wearing the Fang Xiang mask, his trembling hands betrayed the fact that he was not calm at the moment.
“What’s going on? How could you wake up so quickly? Don’t you have haemophobia?!”
Yuan Lai pondered, a sense of betrayal rising within him.
Su Wu Ming sneered:
“Wu Ming did indeed have haemophobia since childhood, but after learning to examine corpses from my Master, Lord Di, I no longer fear blood.”
“It’s fine, you will soon see your own blood with your own eyes!
And you will see for yourself how I remove all your organs while you’re still alive!”
Yuan Lai sneered.
Su Wu Ming said:
“Don’t you want to know how I saw through you?”
…
Chapter Six is delivered!
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