I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 467 - 308: Let the Undercurrents Rage

Chapter 467: Chapter 308: Let the Undercurrents Rage

The Deputy Commander of the Observatory from Qifeng Prefecture did not come closer, but stopped at the other end of the street, looking over this way with utmost indifference.

Even when his gaze fell on Wu Chang, the youngest garrison commander, it still appeared cold and detached.

"Officer Shi, this person is indeed under the command of my Observatory, though he is insubordinate and unwilling to leave the city gates, it still does not warrant a death sentence."

The gaze of the Deputy Commander fell on Officer Shi, who spoke indifferently, "You took the opportunity to draw your sword and kill using the law as your pretext, which, if discussed, could constitute a capital offense!"

Officer Shi frowned slightly, sheathed his sword, and said, "It was merely a show of force. Some hard-headed folks won’t follow the rules without a scare."

The Deputy Commander stated, "You hold great power, and the enforcement of the law should follow the established rules."

"I’ll take note for next time."

That is what Officer Shi had to say.

The Deputy Commander nodded slightly, obviously no longer pursuing the matter.

After all, drawing a sword for intimidation while enforcing the law is sometimes inevitable, and even if pursued, the most one might face is a reprimand from above, nothing more.

He withdrew his gaze, which landed on Lin Yan.

The atmosphere suddenly became a bit stagnant.

"Wu Chang, you have quite the nerve!"

The Deputy Commander rebuked, "Without being summoned or reporting beforehand, and having no official duties, you left High Willow City on your own and intruded into Qifeng Prefecture City, defying the local laws! The Observatory is responsible for supervising the implementation of laws everywhere, and should thus adhere to them even more. With your reckless behavior, do you still deserve to be promoted to a garrison commander?"

He spoke thus, across a thousand steps, in a deep voice, "According to the rules of the Observatory, you should be confined and sent back to High Willow City, demoted and punished! Considering your previous merits and youthful recklessness, I’ll turn a blind eye this time and absolve you of your responsibility!"

"The sky is darkening already, and evil spirits abound at night, so I will not expel you. Leave the prefecture city first thing tomorrow morning!"

Sitting astride his horse, he called out in a deep voice, "Where is the Flag Commander of this place?"

Not far away, a robust middle-aged man quickly stepped forward, bowing as he said, "I am here!"

"Though this person is from the Observatory, his arrival in the prefecture city was not through the proper channels. You need not regard him as a colleague!"

The Deputy Commander looked at Lin Yan and spoke dispassionately. "Let him go tonight; tomorrow morning, you shall escort him out of the city!"

The Flag Commander’s eye twitched in difficulty, but ultimately he bowed his head and replied in a muffled voice, "Understood!"

"Considering it’s his first visit to the prefecture city, and the trip wasn’t easy."

The Deputy Commander said slowly, "There’s no need to have someone keep an eye on him tonight. Let him enjoy the sights of the prefecture city!"

Having said that, the Deputy Commander seemed unwilling to spare another glance, turned his horse around, and headed towards the inner city.

However, as he rode away to a secluded boundary, his face showed some complexity, and he cursed, "Damn it, what a crappy task this is!"

----

Officer Shi bestowed a deep look upon Lin Yan, but ultimately turned his horse around and headed back the way he came.

Since the Observatory had intervened, he had no grounds to seek a pretext for action.

Lin Yan merely glanced at the other side and then turned his attention to another person.

This person had come with a resolve to die.

And he had said, "Do you want to try what it feels like to behead a city guard in the street?"

Accompanied by the other party’s expression, the statement seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

In High Willow City, Lin Yan had once, while disguised as a burly man, beheaded a city guard in the street.

"Since Master Wu has come, enjoy the grandeur of this prefecture city, which is quite different from the desolate boundary of your High Willow City."

The person waved his hand and turned to leave, then, as if remembering something, calmly said, "I wonder, did those two fellow disciples of mine die easily?"

Before Lin Yan could respond, the man sneered and strode away.

Lin Yan watched the man’s retreating back and glanced around.

The local Flag Commander, with a complex expression, shook his head slightly and stepped back half a step, not coming any closer.

It was Zhan Peng, the Deputy Commander, who stepped half a step forward and said in a low voice, "Master Wu, the man just now is named Zheng Yan, who is apprenticed to a prominent person... Along with him, two others joined the sect, one named Gui Lin and the other Gui Zhen, both of whom died in High Willow City."

"..."

Lin Yan immediately understood.

The envoy from the Holy Land held a very high status in Qifeng Prefecture City.

After his arrival, he had taken in three disciples.

These three people were originally martial artists from within the prefecture city, but upon being taken in by the Holy Land Envoy, their status changed overnight, and they became disciples of the Holy Land.

Others envied them, thinking they had ascended to the heavens, from grass snakes to dragons.

But Gui Zhen and Gui Lin were slain by Lin Yan.

And the third one, now it seemed, was used as a pawn, his life sacrificed to force Lin Yan into murder!

"It appears this prefecture city doesn’t welcome you very much."

Duke Murky Spirit chuckled and said, "You lad certainly know how to make yourself hated."

"A tall tree catches the wind, it’s hardly avoidable."

Lin Yan remained expressionless and mused to himself, "However, today’s conflict was probably meant as a warning."

"Not necessarily, after all, they were ready with cavalry to charge; if it was just a warning, there would be no need for such a big show."

Duke Murky Spirit spoke somberly, "They think you are bloodthirsty and impulsive, only capable of drawing your sword and not using your head, intending to trap you to death in one fell swoop."

"If you had drawn your sword today, you’d be marked a criminal, either to be captured with your hands tied, judged and sentenced—with prison at the least, death at the utmost."

"Or you would have to flee the city and live in exile, never again to receive the nurturing of the higher echelons of the Human Clan."

"In the Human Clan, whether it be cultivation techniques, pills, spirit talismans, weapons, divine items, including records of all aspects, various secrets, all sorts of knowledge, and intelligence from all quarters... you would lose access to them all!"

"If you really cultivated your unique True Qi with Slaughter Qi, you definitely couldn’t have suppressed it just now; in that case, the other party would have succeeded."

Duke Murky Spirit slowly said, "In fact, in my opinion, this person behind the scenes doesn’t seem simple either."

Lin Yan, leading his horse, looked at his second brother and said, "Let’s find a place to rest. We’ll be busy tonight."

——

Atop the Lanyue Building.

The middle-aged man crushed the wine glass in his hand, expressionless.

The general standing behind him sighed, "Even if he really is a brute, after being with Mr. Lu, he should have made some progress."

"It was my overconfidence that led me to underestimate him."

The middle-aged man withdrew his gaze and said slowly, "It won’t happen next time."

"My debt to you is now repaid."

The armored general spoke slowly, "Although there wasn’t a fight this time, the problem lies with you... I have called upon forty elite soldiers; their lives, along with mine, are at your disposal. After this, our past relationship ends here."

As he said this, he waved his hand and added, "As the Great Commander of the city’s northern outer gate, I have to inspect the city defenses. There’s no need for further contact in the future."

"As you wish."

The middle-aged man, hands behind his back, said slowly, "In truth, owing someone a favor is also a way to build a connection! Now that I’ve repaid the favor, if you regret it in the future and wish to reconnect with that old man, it won’t be easy."

"Don’t trouble yourself."

The Great Commander of the outer city’s northern gate said indifferently, "As for you, hoping to use that old man to become the next Great City Guard of Qifeng Prefecture City, I’m afraid there’s little hope."

"Deputy City Governor Shi has already been dismissed, and the other two Deputy City Governors have backgrounds inferior to mine."

The middle-aged man sneered and said, "As long as the person backing me makes further progress, who else but me will be the next Great City Guard of the Prefecture City?"

He clenched his fists and said slowly, "My talents surpass those of the current Great City Guard. Why should he possess Refining God’s Power while I have been stuck in the Qi Refining Realm for many years?"

"Just let me take control and gain access to the Prefecture City’s treasury resources. All cultivation materials could be at my disposal..."

"Then, I wouldn’t even need the token of the previous City Guards; I could have the hope of Refining God on my own!"

"The next Great City Guard of Qifeng Prefecture will be a true Refining God Realm cultivator!"

——

As night fell, the city lights shone brightly.

Qifeng Prefecture City, even its outer city, was more bustling than the inner city of High Willow.

Lanterns hung high, and the sounds of people filled the air.

Shops lined both sides of the streets.

Vendors shouted loudly, offering an array of items to the eye.

There were all sorts of foods, with fragrances filling the streets.

"Qifeng Prefecture City is the only one that keeps its night market open without curfew," Lin Yan said with a sigh, "Usually in High Willow City, at this hour, every household would already be closed, and only the inner city remains lively after nightfall! But in Qifeng Prefecture City, there is a night market throughout the entire city..."

Logically speaking, during a bewitching night filled with endless dark, the excessive noise of people would certainly attract evil spirits.

However, Qifeng Prefecture City, with its strictly-guarded defenses, was difficult for evil spirits to breach.

What’s more, Wutong Divine Mother is currently the only lucid Old God within Qifeng Prefecture!

"Second Brother doesn’t seem to be in the mood to enjoy himself," Lin Yan glanced at his elder brother.

"We’re leaving tomorrow," Lin Lei said in a low voice. "I can’t see our eldest brother, and I don’t know if our arrival in the city will cause trouble for him?"

"They are targeting Wu Chang, not Lin Yan."

"But I’m also here."

"They didn’t come for you either."

"This..."

"At this point, the best protection is not to seek out our eldest brother and avoid dragging him into this."

Lin Yan said this and then added, "Since Second Brother isn’t in the mood for sightseeing, we should head back."

Lin Lei nodded slightly.

After entering the city, the two brothers did not stay at the local Observatory but found an inn instead.

And behind the inn, there were twelve small courtyards.

Lin Yan and his brother stayed in one of these courtyards and spent two silvers for just one night.

"Actually, staying in the inn’s rooms would have been fine. Why go to the trouble of finding a courtyard?"

"Without a courtyard, there isn’t enough room to move."

"Hmm?"

"There will be uninvited guests tonight, possibly more than one."

Lin Yan said this and added, "The Observatory’s attitude is extremely strange. If I’m not mistaken, they intend to draw a clear boundary."

He paused and said, "That Deputy Commander demonstrated no malice towards me, and of course, no good will either! But his behavior is too abnormal! However, tonight, we should get an answer..."

Afterward, the two brothers returned to their courtyard and bought six dishes and a jar of wine.

Before the brothers had a chance to taste the fine wine of Qifeng Prefecture City, they heard a voice from outside the courtyard.

"Deputy City Governor Shi personally guards the northern inner gate!"

"Your actions tonight have nothing to do with the Observatory!"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.