I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 55 - 53 Venerate Huai Flees for His Life

Chapter 55: Chapter 53 Venerate Huai Flees for His Life

This was originally the Boundary where Venerate Huai resided.

But now, Venerate Huai had disappeared, leaving only a huge pit in the ground.

Lin Yan’s expression was solemn as he glanced around, detecting few traces.

It didn’t seem as though it had been forcefully uprooted by someone.

After a moment of silence, Lin Yan continued to look forward.

He spotted a line of soil traces, with broken branches and fallen leaves on both sides.

It looked as though it was dragging a trail of blood, appearing extremely bleak and miserable.

He squatted down and noticed that the outer layer of these soil traces had dried up, but the larger clumps inside were still moist.

"..."

Lin Yan fell into deep thought once again.

From the looks of these soil traces, it seemed the incident occurred before noon.

This morning, he had asked Xiaohui to inform Venerate Huai, stating that he would come to pay his respects in the afternoon.

So had Venerate Huai run off by noon himself?

In an instant, such a scene emerged in Lin Yan’s mind.

——

In the morning, a small flag from the Linjiang Station came to inform Venerate Huai.

"Flag Commander Wu Chang will come to pay his respects this afternoon," he said.

Upon hearing this, Venerate Huai’s entire body trembled, its branches swaying uncontrollably.

After Xiaohui left, having pondered for a moment, Venerate Huai made a significant decision.

Two branches, like hands, fell to the ground to brace on both sides.

Then, it used these two branches to push against the ground and uprooted itself.

A massive amount of soil came out, like gushing blood, pouring down.

Then, numerous roots, like countless legs, clattered and began to run.

This large tree then hastily fled towards the depths of the mountain.

Along the way, much of the soil shook off, as if dragging a trail of blood behind.

"..."

Lin Yan rubbed his brows, his face filled with complexity.

It’s said, "Trees die when moved, people live when moved."

Even for a tree demon like Venerate Huai, forcibly uprooting itself to relocate would also inevitably cause severe damage to its vital energy.

He had clearly instructed Xiaohui to convey his intentions and goodwill to Venerate Huai, explaining his purpose for visiting, and had shown his kindness.

This time, he had come to offer sacrifices, pay respect with incense, and thank for the guidance the previous night.

It was also to apologize formally for the confrontation with drawn swords the previous night toward Venerate Huai.

Why would Venerate Huai flee for its life then?

"No!"

Lin Yan whispered, "I had Xiaohui convey my goodwill, moreover, my conduct has always been upright, fair, and just, with a well-known reputation and numerous praises, not even a single enemy!"

"Logically speaking, Venerate Huai should not fear me so!"

"There must be another reason that made Venerate Huai fearful, causing it to flee this place!"

"If that’s the case, it might not be due to me. After tomorrow, I will search for Venerate Huai’s whereabouts again."

Thinking this, he looked deeply in the direction of High Willow City.

The reason it wasn’t today was because he was searching for Venerate Huai’s whereabouts.

First, it was about to become night, and unless hiding in the Pure Land, even with the Cultivation of the Refining Essence Realm, one might not necessarily be able to ensure one’s own safety in the darkness.

Second, he had other matters to attend to tonight!

——

High Willow City, the southern gate.

It was already evening, about to turn into night.

Nighttime city defense carried extreme danger.

This night, Deputy Commander Zhou was responsible for the city defense.

At this moment, Deputy Commander Gu was in the process of handing over the duty to him.

During the handover, they inevitably discussed matters concerning Linjiang Station.

This afternoon, the issue had caused quite a stir in High Willow City, even reaching the inner city.

"Wu Chang had already left the city."

Deputy Commander Gu said solemnly, "He left in the afternoon and has not returned yet."

Deputy Commander Zhou’s expression turned extremely grave.

Night was approaching, and under normal circumstances, the city gate was about to close.

Once closed, entry and exit would not be permitted.

Especially entry into the city!

"If he plans to return to the city today, then he must be within three to five miles of High Willow City already."

Deputy Commander Zhou frowned and said, "Only then could he make it back in time."

Deputy Commander Gu said, "Half a moment ago, it was already checked that within three miles outside the city, there was no trace of him."

Deputy Commander Zhou pondered and said, "Then, did he determine the location of the ’Pure Land’ before leaving the city?"

Outside the city, some special places were known as "Pure Land."

Before the establishment of High Willow City, generations of the Human Clan ancestors lived in exile within the "Pure Land," barely surviving.

Left the city in the afternoon, not returning tonight, most likely, he had settled in the Pure Land before dusk.

Last time, when Wu Chang left the city at midnight, everyone believed he wouldn’t reach the Pure Land and would be devoured by evil forces on the way.

Later, when Wu Chang returned to the city and was appointed as the Flag Commander of Linjiang Station, it indeed surprised everyone.

"Last time he was outside the city, he probably resided within the Pure Land unharmed."

Deputy Commander Gu said this, then with a grave expression, he spoke, "But if that’s the case, it’s still all right."

"Do you think he might return to the city in the middle of the night?"

Deputy Commander Zhou instantly understood, then said in a deep voice, "During the middle of the night, no one is allowed to enter the city!"

"That’s what I’m afraid of!"

Deputy Commander Gu rubbed his brow and said, "This Master Wu Chang, notorious for his fierce reputation, if he insists on returning in the middle of the night without regard for the rules, a conflict will inevitably arise."

Deputy Commander Zhou’s brows were tightly knitted, his gaze slightly heavy.

If it had been before today, just a Flag Commander of Linjiang Station, he wouldn’t have taken seriously.

But after this afternoon, this Flag Commander had demonstrated cultivation at the peak of Refining Essence Realm.

At such a young age, such cultivation was indeed extraordinary and his future was boundless.

Moreover, this man was dominant by nature, quick to draw his sword at any disagreement, which was really troublesome.

"That’s not necessarily the case."

At this moment, Colonel Meng Lu, who was beside them, spoke seriously, "Master Wu Chang is quite reasonable to talk to, and even the last time he left the city, he didn’t make things difficult for us."

"Before leaving the city, he told the duty officer that he would return after daybreak, so as not to trouble us."

"Actually, these days everyone thinks that Master Wu Chang doesn’t follow the rules and draws his sword at a word’s disagreement."

"I, for one, think that Master Wu Chang is the most observant of rules, which is why he drew his sword resolutely over this afternoon’s injustice."

Upon saying this, both deputy commanders glanced at him.

Soon after, a report came from a city defense soldier.

"The carriage from Linjiang Station has been spotted three miles away, on its way back to the city."

"The carriage is moving quickly and should arrive before we close the city gates."

"Good!"

Both deputy commanders breathed a sigh of relief, avoiding the worst-case scenario.

Perhaps as what Meng Lu said, this Flag Commander from Linjiang Station still respects the rules.

"City Guard Mansion has ordered, due to poor weather today, it will turn dark early, and the city gates will close a quarter of an hour earlier than usual, permitting no one to enter or leave."

Just then, however, a voice came from below the city gate, holding up a token high in hand.