Chapter 79: Wind Howls and Cranes Cry (A State of Panic)

"These traitors!"

Upon learning the news, Uncle Nine was greatly enraged.

Zhang Cheng also said, "Since they have already defected to the enemy and betrayed the country, they can no longer be spared. Otherwise, other cultivators will follow their example, and the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Uncle Nine nodded and said, "Indeed, this matter must be reported to Master immediately."

Realizer Jinbao was also furious upon receiving the news. He immediately issued an order to Shi Jian: once any cultivator is found heading to Hongkou, execute them on the spot and send their souls to the underworld for punishment.

At the same time, Realizer Jinbao sent a message to the Realizers of the Maoshan Northern Sect to discuss this matter.

Zhang Cheng had already purchased a mansion, which cost him tens of thousands of US dollars. To welcome the Realizers of various sects, Zhang Cheng and the other Maoshan disciples busily tidied and decorated it.

First, the entire mansion was enveloped by the Golden Steel Array. The Xiezhi Divine Light Mirror was placed on the mansion's main gate, and yellow Maoshan command flags fluttered in the wind around the perimeter.

Third-generation disciples like Qiusheng all put on the dharma robes and Seven-Star Copper Swords distributed by Zhang Cheng.

As for the interior of the mansion, it was decorated in a Chinese style. In the main hall, a large Yin-Yang Five Elements Eight Trigrams hung above, and the patriarchs of the sect were placed all around.

Inside the main hall, besides the two grand chairs and a table in the seat of honor, there were five rows of chairs on both sides below, with twelve chairs in each row.

The Five-Thunder Realizer of the Northern Sect looked at the opulent Southern Sect venue with eyes shining with envy, and even the Realizers from the three great ancestral courts of the Complete Perfection Sect clicked their tongues in wonder.

Realizer Jinbao and the Five-Thunder Realizer sat in the seats of honor, while the others sat according to their respective sects.

Realizer Jinbao stood up and said, "I have invited all fellow Daoists here today to discuss a very important matter. Now that the Japanese invaders are running rampant, some people are not thinking of serving their country but instead want to defect to the enemy. We cannot ignore this."

Realizer Dunan of Mount Longhu nodded and said, "Fellow Daoist Jinbao is absolutely right. This matter must be handled seriously; otherwise, if all those heterodox practitioners defect to the Japanese invaders, our land of China will surely suffer a catastrophe."

The other Realizers nodded one after another, agreeing with this statement.

Realizer Jinbao continued, "You all know about my young disciple being ambushed by a group of heterodox practitioners. The leader is said to be Chen Yuhe, the son of the Chen family in Shanghai.

However, many of the heterodox practitioners involved in this matter have already defected to the Japanese invaders. Coincidentally, people from the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect were also involved that day. Whether there is a connection here remains to be verified.

But fellow Daoists, think about it: if the Japanese invaders and these heterodox practitioners join forces to ambush our young disciples, the consequences are something we cannot bear."

Once these words were spoken, everyone fell silent, and their expressions became grave. Before, they were speaking from a sense of righteousness, but now, their own personal interests were at stake.

In the face of righteousness, they only offered polite words to show support, but now that Realizer Jinbao had brought up practical concerns, they could no longer be vague.

One Realizer said, "Defecting to the enemy and betraying the country, and even harming our own compatriots—this is unforgivable!"

"Find one, kill one! We must never let them stir up trouble!"

"We, the righteous sects, must take up this responsibility to protect our country and its people!"

Realizer Jinbao nodded and said, "Good. Since everyone feels this is the right thing to do, let us make a vow here today. Heaven is our witness: those who defect to the enemy and betray the country shall be executed without mercy!"

The Realizers of various sects stood up one after another and said, "Those who defect to the enemy and betray the country shall be executed without mercy!"

After the crowd established the covenant, Realizer Jinbao reminded them, "Please spread this news far and wide, fellow Daoists."

The group of Realizers bowed to one another, accepted the task, and then departed.

Only Realizer Dunan of Mount Longhu stepped forward and said, "Fellow Daoist Jinbao, regarding the matter of the Chen family boy, can you spare his life?"

Realizer Jinbao bowed and said, "Fellow Daoist Dunan, I have already made my stance clear on this matter. If I go back on my word now, where would my dignity be?"

"Fellow Daoist, I am not concerned about my own dignity; this concerns the dignity of our Maoshan Sect.

Besides, the Chen family are mere mortals, yet they are so presumptuous. We, who have studied the heavens and humanity, can summon wind and rain above and slay demons below, yet we have never been as presumptuous as them."

"Our cultivation is not just for ourselves, but to act on behalf of Heaven. That Chen Yuhe has not only violated national law but also offended public morality. Such a person cannot be left alive."

Seeing that Realizer Jinbao's attitude was firm, Realizer Dunan could only say, "Fellow Daoist, the Celestial Master Gongguan is in a difficult position. When the time comes, please just play along with a show, and Chen Yuhe will still be taken away by you."

Realizer Jinbao thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Very well, let it be done as you say."

The next second, gunshots rang out outside the mansion, and after a short while, the gunfire ceased.

Realizers Jinbao and Dunan rushed out of the hall instantly and arrived at the main gate; the disturbance had already subsided.

Zhang Cheng grabbed a person and stepped forward, saying, "Master, it is an assassin from the Axe Gang!"

Realizer Jinbao sneered, "Good, very good. Fellow Daoist Dunan, what do you think should be done about this Axe Gang?"

Realizer Dunan also had an ugly expression as he said, "This matter has nothing to do with my Celestial Master Gongguan."

Realizer Jinbao nodded and looked at Zhang Cheng, saying, "Asheng, handle it as you see fit. Don't lose the dignity of Maoshan."

Zhang Cheng felt a surge in his heart and immediately summoned Mitaro, saying, "The Axe Gang assassin just came to attempt an assassination. I leave it to you to investigate this clearly; the Five Fierce Soldiers and Horses will assist you."

Mitaro was overjoyed and immediately took ten underlings, charging directly into the Axe Gang's territory.

This matter caused a huge stir, and the government could no longer ignore it, so they had to come forward to negotiate.

But this time, the Daoist Alliance's attitude was extremely tough.

The Axe Gang was directly wiped out.

Regarding the issue of the Chen family, the government had not yet compromised.

But Realizer Jinbao did not want to dwell on this matter any longer, so he asked Zhang Cheng if he wanted to do it himself.

Zhang Cheng understood Realizer Jinbao's meaning, and directly in front of everyone, he struck Chen Yuhe dead with a bolt of heavenly lightning.

The county magistrate glared and shouted, "You are ignoring the law!"

Zhang Cheng immediately said, "If we really followed the law, how many of you sitting here would still be left?! Don't be ungrateful!"

Realizer Dunan hurriedly stepped forward to ease the atmosphere, and the matter was eventually left unsettled.

But this incident caused a great stir in Shanghai, and coupled with the Daoist Alliance's vow, many rogue cultivators became much more well-behaved.

Among them was Abe Hiroaki, who had been ordered to enter the concession.

Abe Hiroaki had disguised himself as a local heterodox practitioner and found An You, who had run away from home. He took the alias An Guang and rented a small apartment.

An Guang returned home after gathering information, and An You immediately leaned in and asked, "Brother Guang, what major events happened outside?"

An Guang looked at the excited An You and felt a headache, but he had no temper, so he said, "It's the people from Maoshan. They have already blocked the roads leading into Hongkou. Some people from the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect have already been discovered and killed on the spot.

There is also a new piece of news: once any cultivator is found colluding with the Japanese, they will be executed on the spot."

An You shrank her neck and said fearfully, "That's terrifying."

An Guang nodded with a serious expression, "This time, the Tang people's cultivation world is making a big move. It seems the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect has truly poked a hornet's nest. A great battle between us and the Tang cultivators is imminent."

"Xiao You, do not go out for the time being; you must be cautious and not let the Tang people discover our identities."

An You nodded repeatedly; she was also feeling a bit afraid now.

I will not write out this plot segment in detail, and I will speed up the writing to finish it during this sensitive period. The wind is blowing hard lately.

(End of chapter)