I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 120 - 97: Ancient Hidden Dangers, The Tragedy of the Elderly Martial Artists!_2

Chapter 120: Chapter 97: Ancient Hidden Dangers, The Tragedy of the Elderly Martial Artists!_2

"Oh?"

Lin Yan was somewhat surprised and said, "Since I’ve encountered this, I’ll accompany you. Will that be convenient?"

"If the Flag Commander is willing to inspect the matter for us, nothing could be better."

Shopkeeper Pan immediately showed a look of joy.

He then instructed the others to wait there and, along with more than a dozen men, proceeded towards the direction of the Pure Land with Lin Yan.

The Pure Land wasn’t roadside; it was within the forest.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, as they drew near, they were assailed by the stench of blood.

"This wasn’t done at night!"

Lin Yan, who was extremely sensitive to the smell of blood, thought to himself, "This happened two hours ago, after daybreak."

Further ahead, there were large pieces of corpses, along with the horses that were pulling the carts, all cut into three sections.

The merchandise, which looked like silk and fabric, was scattered all over the ground.

"Ouch, all these goods are stained with blood, how are they supposed to be sold now?"

Shopkeeper Pan rubbed his head, sighing with grief, shaking his head repeatedly.

The two men left behind to guard the scene, who had kept their distance, hurried over when they saw their companions arrive.

This was an unwritten rule.

Usually, three people formed a team, and if something happened, one person would return to report the incident.

The remaining two would stand guard and watch over each other to prevent secret theft or concealment.

"Shopkeeper Pan, they’re all dead."

A middle-aged man came up to them, sighed, and said, "Only thirty steps away from Pure Land, they obviously sensed danger and attempted to escape into it, but it seems that they all died in an instant."

Lin Yan didn’t speak but drew nearer to take a look and found that these scattered corpses, while appearing numerous, actually belonged to four bodies in a gruesome state too horrifying to witness.

"A Refining Essence Realm blade!"

Lin Yan finally spoke, his tone becoming extremely grave, "Even a warrior at the peak of inner strength could not make a cut like this."

He pointed towards the ground, where there was a seemingly bottomless gash, clearly left by a blade.

Moreover, the weapons of these merchant guards had been split in half.

The exchange was over in less than a breath.

"Refining Essence Realm?"

Shopkeeper Pan’s face turned pale, and he immediately shook his head, saying, "Let’s not investigate this case."

He waved his hand and shouted to the other workers, "Quick, pack up the goods, we’re heading to High Willow City, don’t delay..."

"..."

Lin Yan glanced around, making no attempt to stop them.

Clearly, these people were not capable of provoking someone from the Refining Essence Realm.

Besides, the culprit had already left, and now the merchant group needed to set off as quickly as possible to reach the next Pure Land before nightfall, in order to get to High Willow City by the next day.

While the merchants were packing up, Lin Yan squatted down to examine the remains on the ground.

"They were cleaved open by a blade, but their hearts were torn out and eaten alive?"

Lin Yan’s expression shifted uncertainly, and then he suddenly became aware of something and looked up.

Above him, the green leaves were rustling in the wind, stained with some blood.

This Refining Essence Realm killer not only murdered his victims but also consumed their hearts and walked through the bloody scene.

When leaving, he used a highly skilled movement technique to leap onto the treetops and tread away.

"Bloodstains?"

Lin Yan approached and plucked a few of the blood-stained leaves down.

He laid them out on the ground, gradually piecing together a mark.

Although incomplete and with large cracks in the middle.

From this shattered mark, Lin Yan recognized a familiar feeling.

He slowly lifted his foot and looked at the sole of his boot.

Boots from the Observatory!

He held his breath, remaining silent.

A character likely from the Observatory and of the Refining Essence Realm!

On this road, so far, there was only one person who fit the description.

"Is this the garrison commander from Qifeng Prefecture City?"

Lin Yan turned his head and glanced back at his own bundle.

Inside was a beast egg covered by a two-winged white ape.

The transcript section of the ninth volume of Strange Books had also been transported by that garrison commander.

The ominous omen of breaking the rules of the night, could it indeed be so prescient?

—

An hour later.

The trading company had finished packing up and had already begun their journey.

And Lin Yan was also ready to continue moving forward.

"Once I return to the city and report this matter, you all shall continue on your way. When you reach High Willow City, you can seek out the Linjiang Station... This horse, I’ll borrow it for a while!"

Lin Yan said so and galloped away on his horse.

About an hour and a half later, Lin Yan saw a wisp of blue smoke rising from the left side ahead.

The smoke rose into the air like silk, wafting upward.

This was the scent of incense burned for help by the Observatory!

His heart sank slightly, he spurred his horse faster and hurried towards the front.

When he got close, he found six people at the scene, all dressed in the attire of the Observatory.

The man at the forefront was around fifty, with a robust figure; he carried a jade token at his waist, indicating a rather high rank.

"Hmm?"

The man looked over, his eyes sharp. After recognizing Lin Yan’s attire, he softened a little and said sternly, "Are you the one from High Willow City Sky Observation Bureau responsible for the reception? Why are you alone?"

"Flag Commander Wu Chang, under the jurisdiction of the Outer South Bureau of High Willow City."

Lin Yan reined in his horse, dismounted, and said with a frown, "I’ve been ordered to come here, merely to provide escort and show the way."

The garrison commander from Qifeng Prefecture City who led the team was actually on his way to take up a new post in High Willow City, so he was new to the area.

Thus, his initiative in leaving the city and traveling over a hundred miles out to welcome the visitors was, in fact, a way of showing the way as well as expressing goodwill to the new garrison commander.

"They’re all dead."

The robust man said in a low voice, "I am Pei Xiong, General Flag Envoy from Li City’s Observatory, in the North Outer City. I have been ordered to go to High Willow City to investigate an issue with the Liyang Trading Company!"

He waved his hand slightly, and the people behind him retreated.

On the ground not far away, there were more than ten small piles of dirt.

"Those lying inside are our people from the Observatory, likely from Qifeng Prefecture City."

With a solemn face and a grave tone, Pei Xiong said, "If I’m not mistaken, this month’s supplies for High Willow City were to be escorted by them."

Lin Yan took a quick glance and said in a heavy voice, "Were they ambushed?"

Pei Xiong shook his head and replied, "They were plundered approximately two hours after their deaths. I’ve ordered my men to pursue the thieves along the way! As for the murderer..."

He shook his head slightly and said, "We’ll wait a bit longer."

Lin Yan looked at the hilltop not far away, where a wisp of blue incense smoke was rising.

This smoke, coming from Qifeng Prefecture City, served an extremely important purpose.

But based on Lin Yan’s understanding, even if the Observatory Headquarters in Qifeng Prefecture City received the message the instant the incense was burned, and immediately dispatched a skilled person who traveled lightly and sped on their way, it would still take at least a day to arrive!

Even for the closer High Willow City, one would have to wait until nightfall.

"No rush, it has been said that an Inspection Envoy from Qifeng Prefecture has recently arrived at High Willow City, and he has tamed a swift ’eagle demon.’"

Pei Xiong, obviously understanding Lin Yan’s thoughts, said, "We arrived here an hour and a half ago, saw the scene, and immediately burned the incense. If that Inspection Envoy is quick enough, he should be arriving soon!"

Shortly after, a cry of an eagle was heard from the sky.

Everyone looked up to see a small black dot gradually drawing closer from the direction of High Willow City.

As it approached, they realized it was a giant eagle with a wingspan of around twenty feet, strong and majestic.

Atop the eagle sat a man, not yet forty, dressed in the attire of the Observatory, adorned with golden embroidery on his half-sleeves.

When the giant eagle landed, he leaped down, his face etched with gravity.

"What on earth happened?"

"Reporting to the Inspection Envoy!"

Pei Xiong stepped forward and began to explain, "As soon as we arrived here, we saw..."

As Pei Xiong spoke, the Inspection Envoy’s expression grew increasingly grim, his eyes began to show shades of sorrow.

And Lin Yan, standing nearby, listened clearly to every word.

Pei Xiong also suspected that the person in charge of escorting this mission, the garrison commander who was in the Refining Essence Realm, was the murderer who killed the other Observatory members!

However, it was utterly nonsensical for the garrison commander to suddenly attack and slaughter his companions!

At first, Lin Yan thought of the "Tribulation Ash" criminals!

But at that moment, he heard Pei Xiong, with a heavy tone, whisper, "Inspection Envoy... could that new garrison commander headed to High Willow City be practicing an ancient technique?"

"Yes."

The Inspection Envoy nodded, his expression complex, his voice hoarse, "My uncle master is already sixty-seven years old."

As he said this, his tone turned icy, stating firmly, "He hasn’t managed to suppress the hidden dangers of the ancient technique. We must kill him quickly, or it will become a major threat."

"Spread out in all directions; find any clues you can, but do not act rashly. If you encounter danger, burn incense as a signal!"

"Whoever finds his whereabouts, if accurate, will be rewarded six hundred merits!"

"Go now!"

The Inspection Envoy had barely finished speaking.

When the nearby Flag Commander from Linjiang Station sighed, he raised his hand.

"I know where that garrison commander went."