Chapter 224: Assistance

In the small courtyard atop the sheer cliff, silence lingered for a moment before Zheng Yunfeng spoke slowly:

“I understand your meaning, younger sister. The Great Li Tianjin Guard is like an egg striking a stone—it will reap what it sows. As fellow disciples of the same sect, we must watch over each other; this battle must see the Great Li imperial Tianjin Guard erased from history.”

At these words, the woman’s voice in the courtyard responded:

“Brother’s righteousness moves me. Knowing your birthday draws near, I wish to express my respect—tomorrow, I shall send my disciples to present you with a ‘Divine Essence Pill’ as a gift. I hope you will not disdain it.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yunfeng, encircled by golden true qi, visibly stirred, then said gravely:

“Younger sister, you’ve spent too much. The Divine Essence Pill is difficult to refine—it enhances the union of Heaven and Human, and refines the True Meaning of Martial Dao. It is a rare treasure. I shall not refuse your kindness.”

“Rest assured, younger sister. I shall personally intervene to eliminate the former Commander of the Great Li Tianjin Guard.”

In the empty space of the courtyard, the true qi of heaven and earth trembled gently:

“Thank you, elder brother.”

As her words faded, the invisible true qi coalesced into a faint shadow, rising swiftly into the cloud layer nearly crushing the cliff’s peak, then vanishing.

…

The Hundred Refinement Peak and Hundred Refinement City were separated by roughly twenty li. The Lady, accompanied by a group of martial experts, galloped swiftly, and soon the city lay less than half their journey away.

Yet at that moment, the sound of galloping hooves echoed through the night ahead.

A lone rider dashed through the hazy darkness, torch in hand, racing straight toward the Lady and her party.

“Lady, it’s someone from the Hundred Refinement City Lord’s mansion.”

One of the Enforcement Hall elders watched the rider, then called out to the carriage behind him.

“This man rides urgently in the night—stop him and find out what’s wrong.”

The Lady spoke coldly. The Lord of Hundred Refinement City was her eldest son, Zheng Shangzong.

Whatever happened in Hundred Refinement City, she had every right to inquire.

Moreover, she suspected something—his frantic haste likely related to Zheng Zi’s death.

At that moment, the martial expert previously sent by the silver-haired elder of the Lord’s mansion to deliver news to Hundred Refinement Peak recognized the Lady’s party at once.

He yanked the reins hard, causing his horse to rear up with a piercing neigh that shattered the night’s silence along the mountain road.

After stopping his mount, the Lord’s expert leapt off, and the Lady’s party halted as well. The Enforcement Hall elder asked gravely:

“Has something happened in Hundred Refinement City?”

At this, the Lord’s martial expert looked up at them, then knelt halfway, head bowed, voice trembling:

“Report, Elder… the City Lord has been killed!”

At these words, the wide mountain road fell utterly silent.

The next instant, the Lady’s luxurious carriage behind the elder exploded into dust.

The elegant, noble Lady moved in an instant, unleashing a terrifying true qi gale that carried her to the side of the kneeling martial expert.

In an instant, the Lord’s expert felt himself lifted by a monstrous force, floating helplessly in midair.

And beside his ear came the Lady’s roar:

“Say that again!”

The Lord’s expert’s face flushed crimson. He looked down at the Lady, suddenly standing before him, and felt his body crushed beneath the terrifying martial aura she radiated.

The Lady’s face twisted into a monstrous snarl, yet deep in her eyes lay shock—and a flicker of clear panic.

“We found… the City Lord and two elders… murdered… outside the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion…”

The martial expert forced out the words, fighting both fear and the crushing pressure of her aura.

The next moment, he felt himself flung by a monstrous force, crashing into a mountain hollow dozens of feet away.

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

The Lady’s face turned deathly pale as she shook her head violently:

“Shangzong is a Heaven-Man expert—how could he be killed so easily?”

At this, the two Enforcement Hall elders exchanged glances, their faces filled with disbelief, then darkened with dread.

They knew well: the Lord’s martial expert would not dare lie before them.

Yet they could not believe it—Zheng Zi had just been killed, and now Zheng Shangzong was dead too.

This was the territory of Luoshen Peak—what had happened in Hundred Refinement City?

Who dared strike at the Peak Lord’s two sons, killing both the Young Lord and the City Lord in succession?

At once, one of the Enforcement Hall elders moved, sprinting toward the hollow where the Lord’s expert had fallen.

Soon, he returned with the dying man, and from him, learned the full truth of what had occurred in Hundred Refinement City.

The Lady, who had heard every word, trembled violently, nearly collapsing.

After all—two sons dead in one night. Who could bear such a blow?

“Who? Who is it?!”

The Lady’s face resembled a demon, her killing intent nearly solidified into form.

Yet what shone in her eyes was not rage alone—it was unbearable grief.

In that instant, she seemed to age a hundred years.

“Lady, please control your sorrow.”

One of the two Enforcement Hall elders soothed her emotions, while the other spoke gravely:

“The events in Hundred Refinement City are no simple brothel brawl. The killer likely targets Hundred Refinement Peak—or even the Peak Lord himself.”

Earlier, the courtesan of the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion had sent word: the killer who murdered Zheng Zi had brazenly declared he wanted the Peak Lord to come to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion for revenge.

Though the two elders did not believe the killer truly dared face the Peak Lord—likely just empty, blustering words.

But now, with Zheng Shangzong and the two elders dead, even if the killer dared not face the Peak Lord, he was no mere thug.

“Proceed… proceed to Hundred Refinement City. I will tear the killer who murdered my sons into a thousand pieces!”

At this, the Lady, her hair now white, suppressed her grief and fury, slapped one of Hundred Refinement Peak’s disciples aside, seized his horse, and galloped wildly toward Hundred Refinement City.

Seeing this, the two Enforcement Hall elders exchanged glances.

“Follow her. If the killer hasn’t fled yet, help the Lady kill him.”

“Whoever dares oppose Luoshen Peak—no matter who they are—we will annihilate their sect and exterminate their family!”

Then the two elders immediately led the Hundred Refinement Peak experts in pursuit.

(End of Chapter)