Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 243 - 240: Coming One After Another

Chapter 243: Chapter 240: Coming One After Another

The border between Yan State, where Yunjing City is located, and Yu State, home of Dengzhou Prefecture.

This year’s deep autumn seemed to arrive earlier than usual.

It was only the beginning of October, yet the mountain paths were already a desolate sight, covered with dead branches, withered leaves, and... severed limbs, dismembered arms, blood!

A refined yet slightly frail-looking young man was pulling along a girl who resembled him somewhat, desperately fleeing along the mountain road.

"Zhiyin, hold on. There’s a temple ahead. If we can make it there, we’ll be safe."

"Brother, I...huff... I can endure..."

The tearful girl was actually exhausted, and at this point, was only mechanically being dragged along by her brother.

A pity.

How could these siblings, clearly not cut out for strenuous activity, possibly outrun the ferocious pursuers behind them?

They had just caught sight of the temple gates when they were overtaken by a group of grimacing pursuers, ultimately failing to seize the slim chance created by a few guards who had fought to their deaths to protect them.

Moreover, the temple ahead had been abandoned for who knows how long; not a soul was in sight.

Let alone anyone to save them.

Seeing the dozen or so fierce figures encircling him, the young man pushed his sister behind him and shouted at them furiously:

"Stop! I am the soon-to-be-appointed Yunhe County Magistrate of Dengzhou Prefecture!

How dare you, as soldiers of the Official Army, engage in such murderous highway robbery? Aren’t you afraid of military law and the Court’s wrath?"

The group of blood-stained garrison soldiers in military uniforms paused at his words, then burst into raucous laughter.

One particularly brutish one-eyed officer almost cried he was laughing so hard:

"County Magistrate? The law? Hahaha, the army is dying of laughter! Are there really such naive people in this world?

Kid, haven’t you heard the saying: ’Bandits comb through, soldiers rake through, officials shave through’?

If you strut about these deserted wilds, and we don’t rob you, can we even call ourselves soldiers?"

He then turned his gaze to the pretty girl shielded by the young man, a lewd smile on his face:

"Sweetheart, you’d better come over here and lie down willingly. As long as you serve us well, we might just spare this pathetic excuse of a brother you have."

Just then, the one-eyed officer was suddenly pulled at the sleeve by someone beside him.

Turning his head, he saw a burly soldier with a face full of scars who, instead of looking at the delicately beautiful girl, was ogling the handsome and fair young man, licking his thick lips:

"We can’t let him go!

Big brother, you know how I am. I won’t need a share of that young lady; just leave this young man to me."

Hearing this, the group of soldiers laughed once more:

"Niu Er here claims he can overpower a bull. In all these years, which of the maidens we’ve captured has survived his abuse?

I bet this soft-skinned boy won’t be able to handle it either."

"Not to mention, this lad is quite handsome. I think it won’t be a problem to give it a try.

Plus, he claims to be some County Magistrate. Not sure if that’s true, but if we dress him up in an official robe and have some fun with the brothers...well..."

"Stop it, brothers, don’t fight with me for this."

"Everyone quiet down, we’ll take turns soon.

I truly must thank their father for birthing such remarkable children, giving us this opportunity to indulge, hahaha..."

Upon hearing such filthy language, the young man was already shivering with anger:

"How dare you! My late father was the thirteenth Imperial Censor of the Great Yan Inspection Office, holding the power to supervise officials, inspect states and counties, rectify prisons, and regulate court ceremonies.

How could he be defamed by the likes of you lowlifes?!"

The illiterate thieves had no idea about the status of an Imperial Censor.

In fact, although the Imperial Censor was just a seventh-grade official, he was among the purest of the officials.

He also held the power of supervising the army and cleaning the military, acting as the emperor’s eyes, ears, and spokesperson; he was an influential figure whom not even the superiors of these soldiers could provoke.

But for these soldiers, who corrupted military discipline and acted like bandits behind closed doors, this held no deterrence whatsoever.

As the band of marauding soldiers closed in, the brother and sister, unwilling to endure such degradation, showed fierce resolve.

One pulled a silver hairpin from her hair, the other drew a dagger carried at all times, each pointing it at their own throats.

At this moment, the young man managed a bitter smile, his own life was secondary; his only regret was for his sister, who he depended on, and...

Turning his head towards Dengzhou Prefecture, he said apologetically:

"Prince Jing, we have known each other for many years, but I, Duan Xing’an, am inadequate and have failed your trust; I am unable to go to Dengzhou Prefecture to assist you."

This young man was indeed one of the recruits called by Zhou Jinhuan.

Upon Wang Yuan’s prompt, Big Cousin immediately began using his influence to prepare for a major restructuring of the official circles in Dengzhou, inserting his own people.

Duan Xing’an had just received his official document from the Ministry of Personnel and was about to head to Dengzhou Prefecture to fill the vacancy of Yunhe County Magistrate.

But he had not anticipated encountering such a calamity mid-journey.

Just when the siblings contemplated suicide, the one-eyed military officer leading them merely smirked coldly:

"Want to kill yourselves?

Fine, even if you die, your bodies will stay warm for a while. After the brothers have had their fun, we’ll hang your naked bodies on the busy official road.

You are children of officials, aren’t you? Let all your family’s acquaintances come see your tragic state.

I think you so-called scholars who’ve read yourselves stupid still care about your faces, don’t you? Hahaha..."

The siblings’ bodies jerked suddenly, completely unprepared for the depths of evil these soldiers could reach.

A profound despair suddenly enveloped their hearts.

Suddenly, a voice arose beside their ears:

"Hehe, this young man is certainly not foolish. Such an enlightened, ’Heart Light’ ignited scholar is likely smarter than ninety-nine percent of the people on earth.

He is merely inexperienced in the ways of the world, still believing in the civic virtues and righteousness spoken of in the saints’ scriptures."

Everyone abruptly turned around and saw an unkept figure quietly sitting on the steps of the dilapidated temple, having sat there for God knows how long.

It was a man with a broad back and hefty build, his face covered with a beard, appearing much like a human-shaped bear, dressed in black coarse cloth, carrying a long wooden box on his back.

He seemed majestic, yet he exuded the air of a defeated dog that had lost its home.

Upon spotting this man, even though he had reached such perilous straits, Duan Xing’an wasn’t about to drag innocent people into the mess and loudly proclaimed,

"Brother, you must leave quickly. These people are ruthless demons with no shred of humanity."

"Stinking beggar! I advise you to mind your own business!"

The one-eyed officer had not anticipated the presence of others; his expression changed dramatically as he signaled to the people around him with a glance.

The soldiers by his side understood and silently drew their firearms, encircling the downcast Han in a goose formation.

After all, such dealings of killing an official left no room for survivors.

As they closed to about ten steps, the men triggered the triggers in perfect unison without a command.

Bang! Bang! Bang!...

Gunsmoke rose, and the lines of fire blazed forth.

What met them, however, was the great Han’s low shout,

"Taiyin Split Light, slash—!"

Clang!

Accompanied by a crisp sound of sword ringing, the soldiers saw nothing but blazing white.

Before they could discern what it was, their skin felt bursts of icy pain and then darkness enveloped them, completely losing consciousness.

By the time they fell to the ground, they had turned into a mess of flesh.

Were mere commoners a match for the "Yin God Sword"?

Plunk!

"Tha..Thank you, Sword Immortal, for saving us!"

Nie Renxiong, who was sheathing his sword, raised his hand to stop the siblings, who were about to kneel in gratitude.

He glanced at the still-living sister and thought of his own sister who had died and couldn’t help but sigh deeply,

"Are you also headed to Dengzhou Prefecture? Pack up, and you shall come with me later."

He said no more, paying no heed to the siblings as they thanked him profusely and went back to packing their belongings.

Silently, he pulled out an imperial decree from his bosom, and as he looked at the bright yellow luxurious silk, his expression turned somber,

"Before leaving, the Director of the Imperial Observatory had forecasted my sister’s fate for me, but no method of divination could locate Nie Hongying in this world again.

The Nie Family has been listed among the ’General’s Family’ since the founding of Great Yan, serving as generals generation after generation, with 43 military officers of fifth rank or higher.

Not a single one has died in his bed.

To have served Great Yan so devotedly, and yet in the generation of our siblings, it comes down to a future of ending without offspring?"

This former Imperial Dragon Guard-General Wu Yi, now a Ghost Hero transformed in death, lived a life without wife or children, almost entirely dedicated to the Court.

Two months ago, his only sister died in battle for the nation, and all his subordinates, except for Qiu Shaobai, were wiped out.

One could hardly speak of more loyalty and bravery.

Ironically, having served in the Imperial Dragon Guard for many years, Nie Renxiong had seen through the dark corruption of the Dynasty.

He clearly understood that the number of commoners killed by corrupt officials was hardly less than those killed by the weird.

Since childhood, Nie Renxiong and Nie Hongying were taught to be loyal to their monarch and love their country.

State officials could be corrupt, but the Emperor had to be just!

If the Emperor ever committed any wrongdoing, it must have been under the influence of evil courtiers!

This contradiction between ideal and reality tormented the former General to no end,

"My family has always been loyal and loving towards the monarch, but who has ever loved us in return?"

Nie Renxiong’s fingers caressed the imperial decree in hand, his expression fluctuating.

Posthumously honored his father, Nie Dingbang, as Uncle Xianyou;

Reinstated himself to the original position, fifth rank Minister Talismanic Treasure, commanding the Imperial Dragon Guard of Dengzhou Prefecture;

Also honored as the City God of Shanyang City, commanding all the local "Yin Officials."

The Emperor’s grace and honor were indeed generous.

"If I intensively cultivate the ’Ghost Path,’ perhaps one day I might attain a realm comparable to a Sage, becoming a ’Ghost King’ and avenge my sister.

But if I engage with Incense Fire Vow Power, what future would remain?

Yet, the Emperor’s command is inescapable..."

Nie Renxiong had indeed entered "Taiyin Xuanbing Dao" and even had been considered by his sect as a once-in-sixty-years genius.

Yet, even at the Yin God realm, he had never thought of leaving the Imperial Dragon Guard to solely pursue the Dao for Immortality.

Because every member of the Nie Family had died out of loyalty to their monarch, and such a sunken cost was too heavy to bear.

Emperor Jianming Zhou Wenrui saw exactly this point, which is why he had Nie Hongying escort the National Destiny Divination and why he continued to entrust the deceased Nie Renxiong with important tasks.

This naturally suspicious Emperor of Great Yan always believed that there was no absolute loyalty in this world.

Betrayal, only a matter of insufficient price!

But if "loyalty" and "betrayal" are on opposite ends of a balance,

He didn’t realize what needs to be placed on the "betrayal" side to compensate for this cost for Nie Renxiong.

Nie Renxiong didn’t know either.

Even if the Emperor demanded he turn his sword against his sect, he didn’t know what he would ultimately do.

In another role, this man ought to have been a supreme Sword Immortal, carefree and repaying kindness and enmity at will.

Yet now, he seemed to carry the heavy shackles of sin, and even his broad, tower-like back seemed somewhat stooped and pitiful.

Unfolding the imperial decree, it read:

Decree: Nie Renxiong is to monitor various "Yang Officials" as the City God.

Core Responsibility: Ask no questions, think no thoughts, whoever dares to disrupt the ’Yunhe Bridge,’ be they human or demon, all must be utterly exterminated, including princes and grandsons too!

This was the direct response of "Huo Langlong" Zhou Wenrui to the "Yunhe Bridge Falling Dragon"—to lock Qingyan at all costs and secure his royal throne!

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