I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 100 - 88: The Great Commander Passes Away!

Chapter 100: Chapter 88: The Great Commander Passes Away!

Linjiang Station.

Lin Yan first returned home, met with his family, had dinner, and then went back to Linjiang Station.

He thought that Feng Hui would have been sent back to Linjiang Station, but for some reason, he was still recuperating at the Outer South Bureau.

Chief Clerk Yang reported the recent developments, one by one.

The slaughterhouse case involved many aspects.

For example, the grain store, the Liyang Trading Company, and other various forces, all were affected.

"Overall, it’s still relatively stable. Master Wu’s previous actions of cutting down Liang Hu and killing Liu Yi have continued to command respect and keep the various factions in check,"

said Chief Clerk Yang. "Nowadays, the factions within Linjiang Square have become much more orderly..."

"I remember the principals of the grain store and salt store, they were inseparable, close as brothers?"

Lin Yan suddenly asked this.

"It’s said that Master Qing has disappeared and Master Bai was captured by the Outer South Bureau but, after interrogation, it turned out he wasn’t a remnant from the Tribulation Ash,"

said Chief Clerk Yang. "However, it was discovered that over the years, he colluded with various parties in many dirty dealings and he’s now in prison."

"Hmm."

Lin Yan nodded slightly and instructed Chief Clerk Yang to leave the reports accumulated in the recent days here.

Then he saw him take out a pouch.

Inside were rewards from Qifeng Prefecture City: an Essence Nourishing Pill, a Body Fortifying Pill, and a parasol leaf.

"Send it to the City Defense, for the Great Commander."

Lin Yan said with a serious tone, "As soon as the Great Commander wakes up, report to me at once. I want to see him."

Chief Clerk Yang acknowledged and immediately excused himself.

Meanwhile, Lin Yan checked the recent distribution of salaries.

After securing the silver taels and putting away the medicinal herbs, he took an Essence Boosting Pill.

Indeed, its effect was much lower than that of the Great Essence Boosting Pill. Taking two Essence Boosting Pills would only slightly increase one’s cultivation.

As he went over the reports, he saw a young girl carrying tea, slowly approaching, looking a bit nervous.

"Master Wu, your tea."

"Place it there."

"..." The Zhou family’s young girl set down the tea but couldn’t help looking at Lin Yan a few more times.

"Since you’re willing to stay and have gotten used to it over these days, then continue to stay. Linjiang Station indeed needs someone to clean."

Lin Yan said calmly, "You’ll be paid the regular wages for a menial worker, one silver tael per month. You may go."

"Thank you, Master Wu!"

The Zhou family girl was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately knelt down, kowtowing again and again.

Lin Yan frowned and said, "There’s one thing, in Linjiang Station, there is no need to kneel or kowtow! In the days to come, stand straight, lift your head, and stand firm!"

"Yes, Master Wu."

The young girl lifted her head, her expression determined, her eyes now filled with defiance.

She seemed like a completely different person compared to the little girl who cried inconsolably on the street when her grandfather was killed not so long ago.

Without the shelter of her elders and facing grave misfortune, she seemed to have grown up a lot in just a few days.

"You may go."

Lin Yan waved her away but soon after, he saw Chief Clerk Yang hurrying over.

In his hands was the package that was supposed to be delivered to the Great Commander.

In that instant, Lin Yan felt his heart sink.

Chief Clerk Yang approached with a solemn expression.

"The Great Commander has passed away."

"..."

Lin Yan did not respond, merely closed his eyes slightly.

Chief Clerk Yang did not speak further, standing silently to the side.

After a long pause, Lin Yan slowly opened his eyes and said, "For the next few days, you’ll continue to hold down Linjiang Station. I’m going to keep vigil for him."

His voice had turned somewhat hoarse and dry.

----

The southern outer city gate’s wall falls under the City Defense Army’s jurisdiction.

But the City Defense headquarters is located inside Linjiang Square.

Great Commander Zhao Zhou was born during the expansion period of the outer city, when the city walls were crude and the defensive system incomplete.

At that time, Liu Venerate’s protective range was only limited to the inner city.

Therefore, in the era of his birth, the threat of evil spirits was extremely terrifying.

Since his understanding, he devoted himself to cultivation, aspiring to reach the Refining Essence Realm and become one of the strong pillars of the Human Clan.

For this reason, he dared not lose his virginity, retaining his essence, and did not marry or have children.

In his eyes, the descendants of the Human Clan were his own descendants.

His personal soldiers were like his sons and nephews.

Now, at the City Defense headquarters, white banners were hung.

Upon the arrival of Flag Commander Wu Chang from the Linjiang Station, everyone’s expressions became complicated.

The Great Commander entered the flesh mountain to save this man, which led to his severe injury, and to this day, he could no longer hold on and departed from this world.

Some people harbored resentment and were quite dissatisfied with him.

Others sighed deeply, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

Only Deputy Commander Gu and Colonel Meng Lu came forward to greet him.

"Master Wu, don’t blame them."

Deputy Commander Gu said apologetically, "The Great Commander loved his soldiers like his own children, so they revere him greatly... that’s why..."

Lin Yan nodded slightly and said, "I understand."

Among the City Defense Army, there were also many like Deputy Commander Gu who showed affinity for this young Master Wu of Linjiang Station.

First, because he was young but highly capable and in charge of Linjiang Station, his future prospects were limitless.

With the affection of the Great Commander, showing goodwill now would mean getting closer in the future.

Second, given how the Great Commander risked his life to save him, it was evident how much the Great Commander valued him.

The person the Great Commander valued so much as to risk his life for deserved their affinity as well.

"..."

Meng Lu stood on the side, struggling to find the right words.

Deputy Commander Gu glanced at him, as if to warn him not to speak.

Lin Yan, with his extremely keen senses, vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

He had initially thought that the Great Commander had been injured too severely to cling to life.

But the attitudes of the two suggested that there were hidden truths.

Looking around, he saw that quite a few members of the City Defense Army harbored hostility towards him.

After a moment of silence, Lin Yan finally turned to look at Meng Lu, his expression grave.

"..."

Meng Lu hesitated, but despite Deputy Commander Gu’s warning, he spoke in a low voice, "The Great Commander committed suicide by biting his tongue."

For an instant, Lin Yan was completely stunned.

After a long while, he said, "Understood."

No wonder the City Defense Army’s attitude towards him was so complicated.

The Great Commander had taken his own life.

Having practiced martial arts all his life and reached the peak of his internal strength, the Great Commander was always mighty and powerful—even in his old age, he was like a fierce lion.

To slay the evil doers of the Human Clan!

To resist the invading evil forces!

How could such a figure tolerate spending the rest of his life lying on a sickbed, a cripple?

"Perhaps the Great Commander would have preferred to die on the night of the slaughter at the marketplace."

Deputy Commander Gu finally sighed and added, "Before he took his own life, he left words for Master to not blame himself... He said that at his advanced age, if he could save a distinguished junior of the Human Clan, his life would not have been lived in vain."

Lin Yan did not respond and simply walked into the memorial hall.

The Great Commander Zhao Zhou’s coffin was placed in the middle for people to pay their respects.

After tomorrow, it would be sent to the Liu Zun Temple to eliminate all the strange aura around it and prevent evil spirits from lingering, then be cremated on the spot.

If there were no family members, he would disappear like smoke and dust, without a trace left in this world, dissipating into the heavens and the earth.

If there were family members, a spirit tablet would be erected and sent back to the family home.

And for all those in the City Defense Army who died in the line of duty from all eight regions of the outer city, their spirit tablets would be left in the temple’s mountain at the back.

"Although I’m not a member of the City Defense Army, the Great Commander had saved my life," Lin Yan said. "May I trouble Deputy Commander Gu to allow me to keep vigil for the Great Commander."

Deputy Commander Gu nodded slightly and said, "Master is kind-hearted, and we naturally won’t obstruct."

Lin Yan nodded slightly, took some incense sticks, and stepped forward to pay his respects.

Before long, a voice came from outside.

"Colonel Wang Yuan, from the city administration, has come to pay respects."

"..."

Lin Yan looked over and saw an elderly man slowly making his way forward.

Having grown up in Linjiang Square, he had heard of this important figure in charge of all the military forces in the southern region of the outer city, but this was his first meeting with him.

The old man’s stature was imposing for his age, though slightly more refined than that of Great Commander Zhao Zhou.

Colonel Wang Yuan, apart from Han Commander, was another publicly known figure in the Refining Essence Realm in the southern region of the outer city.

"Are you Wu Chang, the Flag Commander of Linjiang Station?"

Wang Yuan gave him a profound look and asked.

Lin Yan nodded slightly and stepped aside.

Wang Yuan approached the coffin, sighed, and asked, "Before I left, he was still in good condition. Did he leave any last words?"

Lin Yan looked towards Deputy Commander Gu.

Deputy Commander Gu shook his head slightly and said, "The Great Commander passed away with a smile, believing that his old life, at sunset, was worth exchanging for the life of an outstanding successor of the Human Clan."

"That is indeed his style," Wang Yuan acknowledged. He patted the coffin and said, "Old friend, you have indeed earned my utmost admiration... Now that you have gone with peace of mind, I will follow your wishes in the battle for the Human Clan, protecting the future generations."

As he said this, his expression was complex, and his eyes couldn’t help but show some sorrow.

Eventually, he took a step back and paid his respects.

He then turned, went to the front of the hall, and had someone bring him pen and ink.

With a sweep of the brush, he wrote four characters.

Everlasting shared grief!

The Colonel Wang Yuan then threw down the brush, laughed at himself bitterly.

His laughter was tinged with sorrow as he walked out.

"Hang it up," Deputy Commander Gu sighed and instructed Colonel Meng Lu.

And Lin Yan, standing beside the coffin burning paper offerings, looked up and saw the elegiac couplet.

"Everlasting shared grief..."

Lin Yan’s gaze suddenly narrowed.

He had a faint feeling that the handwriting looked very familiar.

He closed his eyes slightly, and it was as if a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind.

Liang Hu’s belongings!

Two secret letters!

In an instant, Lin Yan’s eyes opened, becoming exceedingly cold, and he said to Meng Lu, "Bring me the obituary."

On the obituary were the dates of birth and death of Great Commander Zhao Zhou.

After he looked at the Great Commander’s birth date, the surface appeared to have no connection to the third son of the Lin Family, Lin Yan’s own birth date.

But within this month, the fate was afflicted by the Heavenly Star.

Lin Yan’s eyes turned exceptionally cold as he quietly looked at those four characters.

The one who had asked the Great Commander to join the investigation on the night of the slaughterhouse case, the one who visited the slaughterhouse by night, was the city administration’s Colonel... Wang Yuan!

After the slaughterhouse case, the one who received the most credit and rewards was also Colonel Wang Yuan!