I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 292 - 208: Heavy Casualties, Murderous Intent Arises Again!

Chapter 292: Chapter 208: Heavy Casualties, Murderous Intent Arises Again!

Outside the High Willow City, Linjiang Square.

Lin Yan, under the guise of Wu Chang, returned to the Linjiang Station.

Chief Clerk Yang’s hair was graying, and his face looked even older than before, yet he no longer had the haggard appearance from last time.

On the contrary, this scholar who had never learned martial arts had a resolve in his eyes that was three parts firmer and possessed a more ruthless demeanor.

"It seems that the Linjiang Station has been under no small pressure since my departure," Lin Yan observed, understanding the situation at the Linjiang Station.

"Beyond Linjiang Square, preparations to expand the city walls involve a variety of materials that touch on such broad interests they could drive people to desperate measures, even to gamble with their lives," Chief Clerk Yang said, massaging his forehead. "It was manageable when Master Wu Chang was here — his thunderous methods and the bloodshed enforced order..."

"I did not blatantly leave High Willow City. Officially, I’m still here," Lin Yan said, raising an eyebrow.

"But in the end, Master Wu Chang is no longer here," sighed Chief Clerk Yang. "It’s like the area within a hundred miles outside High Willow City is Liu Venerate’s territory! But Liu Venerate is still only in the city itself. As for outside, the farther away, the less effective the branches and Night Lamps..."

"What about the person sent from the Sky Observation Bureau in the inner city to replace me?" Lin Yan frowned.

"Not everyone is you, Master Wu Chang," Chief Clerk Yang whispered. "They couldn’t bear the pressure and didn’t dare face it head-on, merely collecting evidence in secret!"

"The evidence?" Lin Yan inquired.

"In the inner city, after all, the Linjiang Station couldn’t hold its ground," said Chief Clerk Yang in a low voice. "Returning from the ruins, the Observatory suffered heavy losses, lacking manpower, and even the Commander himself lost an arm, greatly diminishing his strength. Currently, the High Willow City Sky Observation Bureau’s momentum is significantly weakened."

"Is Wu Chang, the Inspection Envoy, here?"

Just then, a voice came from outside.

Lin Yan glanced outside.

Chief Clerk Yang hastened to greet them.

Accompanying the entry was the seasoned clerk from the Commander’s side.

"Coming from the inner city, I was ambushed twice along the way, yet I fulfilled my duty without dishonor."

This seasoned clerk gestured with his hand, throwing a box over, and said, "The Commander had me bring this; it seems to be tied to many people’s lifelines, and some desperately tried to snatch it away."

"From whence came those who ambushed you?" Lin Yan’s eyebrows subtly raised.

"They announced their identity as soon as they made a move," said the seasoned clerk with a chuckle. "Of course, they used the name of Tribulation Ash."

"The Observatory is so weakened that such brazen assassination attempts occurred in the city, targeting an elder like you?" Lin Yan’s eyebrows tightened slightly.

"Therefore, the Observatory must regain its authority. We suffered a great loss this time, and the Commander lost an arm, inevitably inviting contempt," said the seasoned clerk with a smile. "When I set off, Commander had already drawn his sword in the inner city... And as for the handling of this outer city’s big flag, can you bear it?"

"Hasn’t it always been borne by me?"

Lin Yan opened the box and saw that the letter on top was soaked with blood.

"Two Zhao Ye people hidden in the city died, along with one Flag Commander and six subordinate officers, to retrieve this letter," said the seasoned clerk indifferently. "I remember it was Deputy Director Yuan of the temporary Linjiang Station who led the team for the rendezvous."

Chief Clerk Yang whispered, "Deputy Director Yuan blocked a masked man and was seriously injured... The information was brought back by Meng Lu and others."

Seeing Chief Clerk Yang hesitate to speak, Lin Yan vaguely understood something.

"Where are they?"

"Zou Jin is dead, Zheng Liu’s right leg is broken, and Meng Lu is seriously injured," Chief Clerk Yang sighed. "Later, Deputy Director Yuan faced the enemy alone, while Meng Lu carried Zheng Liu and dragged Zou Jin’s corpse all the way back... Thankfully, Xiao Hui led the Outer South Bureau’s junior officers in time to meet them, saving Meng Lu’s life, but he was wounded in twelve places by blades and is still recuperating."

"Make proper arrangements," said Lin Yan, expressionless, his face twitching slightly as he looked at the box.

"It’s been done. Their families have been settled, and the compensation has been delivered. Meng Lu is recovering at the Outer South Bureau," Chief Clerk Yang said softly.

"Sort out the evidence. Those involved, no matter who they are, be they powerful figures from all sides or servants who have benefited, not one shall be spared!"

Lin Yan gripped the handle of his knife tightly, took a deep breath, and declared, "Today, I will turn High Willow City upside down and eliminate all these vermin!"

"Yes!"

Chief Clerk Yang’s expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "We’ve been awaiting Master Wu Chang’s return, counting the days. At last, the time has come!"

He carried the box and promptly withdrew.

The seasoned clerk, with a calm demeanor, said, "This time, many will have to die."

Lin Yan slowly stated, "My philosophy is that eliminating evil is doing good. Only by killing all these damned people can we save the lives of those who deserve to live!"

The seasoned clerk laughed, saying, "The Commander ordered me to bring these things, and has handed you full authority over them."

Lin Yan closed his eyes slightly and inquired, "How significant is Tribulation Ash’s influence here?"

"People from Tribulation Ash are mixed in, and not in small numbers, with some new faces appearing... who weren’t even on our radar before," said the seasoned clerk after pondering.

"But they, at most, are just instigators. The real actors are those who have the standing to gain here," he added.

As he spoke, he heard the old steward muse, "The Great City Guard has entered seclusion, but the City Guard Mansion is willing to cooperate with us to investigate everything within the city. A big reason is to support you, a heaven-sent genius."

Lin Yan said coldly, "If they truly valued me, why would there be so many problems?"

"This time, the number of people buried within the ancient relics is not small. You did not return in time, and rumors have spread that you died within the relics."

The old steward said, "Though you have already earned a great reputation among the younger generation, all those who went to the relics are from various high levels of society, including many at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm... It is not too surprising for a genius to die at the hands of the powerful."

He softly stroked his beard and continued, "But now that you have returned alive, it must be causing many people a lot of sleepless nights."

Lin Yan said gravely, "Had I known this would happen, why would I have gone in the first place?"

The old steward sighed, "Greed for materials can secure ten years, twenty years, or even the latter half of one’s life without worries of cultivation! It could even take them to realms previously out of their reach... Moreover, they have grown accustomed to this practice in the recent period."

There was a pause, and then the old steward spoke again, "Also, remember that even though you defeated Xu Dingye and exhibited an astonishing talent, there is still a group of people in the city who think you are in their way and do not want to see you grow stronger!"

"Then there are some who are close to dying, hoping to use vast amounts of resources to break through to higher levels and thus extend their lifespan."

"If you are incorruptible and upright, cutting off their financial channels, you are also cutting off their lifeline."

"For them, this is a struggle for the grand way, as well as a struggle for life and death."

With these words from the old steward,

Lin Yan pondered for a while before he spoke slowly.

"Then let them die."

----

Linjiang Square, Spring Night Brothel.

The young man in white looked at the wine in his cup, took a light sniff, and seemed thoroughly intoxicated.

"Indeed, the wine brought from Feng City is the tastiest, by far superior to that brewed in High Willow City."

"I heard that the exploration of the ancient relics yielded a great deal, with some even acquiring the ancient techniques of brewing wine, who are now attempting to recreate the ancient wines."

"Who knows when that will be possible to taste."

He expressed some lamentation, looked towards the man beside him, and asked, "Gui Lin is dead, and there are no ripples in Prefecture City?"

"Not at the moment."

Clad in green, the man bowed and said, "Master, Wu Chang has even slaughtered a disciple of the Holy Land Envoy. It seems that High Willow City is about to be awash in blood again..."

"As expected."

Li Xuantong said, "The Commander of High Willow City is about to die, and now that the Skylight Observation Bureau is weak, they naturally want to bolster their reputation! But, being implicated too broadly could prove difficult to handle..."

He stood up, leaned on the railing, and gazed towards the Linjiang Station, saying, "Actually, from the perspective of Qifeng Prefecture, having such a person is quite beneficial..."

"Master, when you eventually take over Qifeng Prefecture, this person could be a loyal and righteous officer," the man in green said with a smile.

"Loyal and righteous, kind-hearted, he deserves a toast."

Li Xuantong raised his cup and drained it in one gulp, then added, "Pity he’s not clever enough."

"What do you mean by that, Master?"

"If he were clever, now would not be the time to turn against those old officials but to join them in their corruption, gathering more benefits to make oneself stronger," Li Xuantong said with a smile. "Once those old officials died, he would surely become the strongest by leveraging these profits! In the future, wouldn’t he be the one setting the rules?"

The man in green whispered, "From this perspective, he really isn’t smart."

Li Xuantong continued, "Actually, from the big picture, the Commander should have restrained Wu Chang from acting."

"Why is that?"

"The matter of the ancient relics has already cost High Willow City a lot of its strong people."

"You mean there shouldn’t be any more losses?"

"Of course," Li Xuantong said. "With Liu Venerate in a deep slumber, it is the upper echelons of High Willow City who are the true powers... If the power holders die, wouldn’t that leave us headless dragons, leading to even greater chaos?"

"So, do you plan to take action?" the young man asked.

"Let him kill. The more he kills, the more chaotic High Willow City becomes," Li Xuantong said with his hands behind his back. "I am in charge of the authority, expanding the new city with remarkable achievements. My succession as the Great City Guard of Qifeng Prefecture is essentially secured."

"No wonder Master, you stay in High Willow City, unwilling to leave," the young man said with a laugh.

"But if it gets too out of hand, Wu Chang might not meet a good end."

Li Xuantong looked out of the city and sighed, "Actually, expanding the new city and taking in more of the lower-class Human Clan is merely adding more mouths to feed... In my eyes, gaining another top-tier strong person is more worthwhile!"

He tossed the wine cup casually and continued, "But people have different views. In Wu Chang’s eyes, a life in the Qi Refining Realm holds no more value than the life of an ordinary citizen... He’s far too rash. In the future, such a person can be useful, but ultimately cannot be employed by me. So this time, there’s no need to help him. Let’s just watch how things unfold."

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