Chapter 213

The Little Palace Master told Wu Rong everything she had heard and seen at the Sword-Leaning Tower.

Not only that, she also told him that she had left the Five Absolutes Palace, though she did not reveal the reason.

"Heh, I never thought Chen Yi He could now match you in battle!" Upon hearing the Little Palace Master say she had fought Chen Yi He, Wu Rong laughed and said, "But he has great potential; I've never dared to underestimate him."

"Mm." The Little Palace Master nodded in confirmation, "He's much stronger now than he was a year ago."

"But what I didn't expect even more is that the great calamity of the Thousand Gates was only the beginning, and now a Heavenly Dao has appeared." Wu Rong furrowed his brows and said, "It seems we are about to usher in a chaotic age!" From his words and tone, he doesn't seem like a twenty-something young man; he seems more like a seasoned, mature, painstaking middle-aged person.

"I don't know about that." The Little Palace Master helplessly shook her head and gave a wry smile.

"I just don't know what connection there is between the Thousand Gates and the Heavenly Dao; otherwise, how could Xiao Yu Xiao be used by the Heavenly Dao?"

"I know even less about that."

"Sigh, thinking about all this now is useless; you should just heal your wounds quickly, and then we'll leave together." Wu Rong said to the Little Palace Master.

"Leave?" the Little Palace Master asked.

"When those of the Heavenly Dao descend to the mortal realm, it concerns the safety of everyone and every sect on the Tian'an Continent; do you think our Purgatory Sect can avoid it?" Wu Rong countered the Little Palace Master.

The Little Palace Master didn't answer; sunlight from outside the window fell on her, casting a pale yellow glow on her pallid cheeks, making her look even more beautiful and holy.

"Besides, I still want to see Chen Yi He, hahaha! That brat—I hope he can hold out so I can see him alive." Wu Rong laughed loudly, then walked toward the door, paused there, and turned back to say, "Take good care of your wounds; in our Purgatory Sect, this Heavenly Dao won't be able to find us for a while, so don't lose heart—you'll always be number one."

"Hey… why did you save me…?" Just as Wu Rong was about to leave, the Little Palace Master summoned all her strength and shouted, stopping him.

Wu Rong stopped again, turned around, and without hesitation replied, "Because you once saved me; if it weren't for your reminder in the underground world of the Thousand Gates, I might now be like Tie Yi and the others—a soulless skeleton!" Having said that, he left without looking back.

The Little Palace Master gazed out the window, ignoring the blinding sunlight, and clenched her fists tightly, thinking, "What I have lost, I will surely take back."

……

Xiguan City, lumber mill.

The lumber mill had been idle for over a month; tall, heavy timbers were stacked several stories high, the ground covered with yellowed, rotted wood shavings, the interior empty and devoid of people, yet filled with a strong moldy smell emanating from the wood.

Sniffing more carefully, within that moldy odor lay a trace of blood, an old bloodstain; examining the ground closely, indeed there were bloodstains—not just a few, but everywhere, the bloodstains buried beneath the wood shavings.

A year ago, Xiguan City's lumber mill was booming, because a batch of hardworking, capable laborers came from Qunshan City and quickly got the mill up and running; but half a month ago, everything changed.

A rift split open in the sky, and the citizens of Xiguan City thought the heavens were collapsing; facing death, they indulged in a final revelry, smashing, looting, burning, raping, and pillaging everywhere, throwing the city's order into chaos. As for the city's soldiers, who had the mind to manage this? With the heavens about to fall, what were they to do? They simply killed the magistrate, joined the populace's ranks, and led the way in wrongdoing.

This small city of Xiguan, within just a few days, fell into utter chaos; the surrounding cities were like mud Buddhas crossing the river—each struggling to survive themselves, unable to aid Xiguan, and could only let it descend into disorder.

At that moment, Xiguan City's lumber mill was also affected; the wicked soldiers, having revealed their true nature, led the frenzied townsfolk in pushing open the mill's gates and storming inside.

But the result was not what they had imagined.

Only to see the mill's workers, each wielding swords and knives, rush out from the large wooden hall and launch a frenzied assault on the outsiders.

These soldiers, accustomed to bullying and domineering in the tiny Xiguan City, had never seen anyone resist; they were instantly caught off guard and slaughtered.

The leader of the workers shouted even louder, "You, as imperial officials, actually lead the way as thugs, smashing, looting, burning, committing every evil! Today, the workers of Xiguan City's lumber mill will enforce Heaven's will and seek justice for the common folk!"

The lumber mill's workers raised their blades and struck down; within a quarter of an hour, they had fought their way out of the mill and headed toward the magistrate's office.

This group of diligent, hardworking laborers actually showed signs of wanting to seize power!

They walked a path, killing along the way, slaying only officials and soldiers, not civilians,

while the agitated townsfolk by the roadside saw real blood and the soldiers' corpses, and in a moment they all panicked, falling to their knees, terrified of death.

The leader of the workers was Gao Dizhen of the Longhu Sect, and the workers of Xiguan City's lumber mill were the brothers of the Longhu Sect; they held their heads high, strode confidently.

"The court and its people slaughter innocents indiscriminately; we will enforce Heaven's will!" Gao Dizhen shouted while swinging his fists.

The brothers behind him joined in the chant.

Xiguan City's soldiers collapsed like a mountain, throwing down their weapons and surrendering en masse, while many fled outside the city, unwilling to return.

Within three hours, Gao Dizhen and his brothers leveled the magistrate's office of Xiguan City and took control of the city.

"Dragon King, Yi He, don't blame me; if I hadn't done this, the whole of Xiguan City would have become a ruin!" Gao Dizhen stood at the gate of the magistrate's office, silently thinking to himself.

At that moment, a carrier pigeon flew toward Gao Dizhen.

Gao Dizhen was very puzzled; he and his brothers had concealed their identities in the lumber mill for a whole year, never communicating with the outside world—how could a letter arrive now?

After reading the letter, Gao Dizhen got the gist: Chen Yi He is now a member of the Jianghu Grand Alliance; they have already fought their way to the imperial capital, razed the Western Factory, and inquired how he was faring, adding that if he had any problems, he should immediately go to the capital to find him.

"Yi He, Yi He, you really haven't let me down! Hahaha! Truly a talent favored by the Dragon King!" Gao Dizhen exclaimed, looking at the rows of brothers standing behind him, he clenched his fists inwardly, "Then I must look after my brothers well. Now that you need me, I will surely respond."