Chapter 29: Luo'an Blood Sacrifice, The Sword Strikes a Thousand Li

Luo'an City is one thousand three hundred li from Han Zhou.

Even if a great army marched south, it would take at least seven days.

But Jiang Che could not wait seven days.

The warning from the Sword Vein grew increasingly strong.

Every two hours, the Green Bamboo Sword trembled and hummed; blood-colored patterns surfaced on its blade, as if countless Living Souls were being used to pollute the Human Qi.

Chen Shanhe firmly opposed Jiang Che going south alone.

"Young Master, the Beijing Capital Region must be heavily ambushed! If you leave Han Zhou and the court takes the opportunity to counterattack..."

Jiang Che said, "I leave Han Zhou to you."

Chen Shanhe urged anxiously, "But you must take at least five thousand elite cavalry with you!"

Jiang Che shook his head.

"There is no time."

Xie Tingxue said, "I will go with you."

Jiang Che looked at her.

Xie Tingxue said calmly, "You cannot stop me."

Jiang Che smiled. "Very well."

In the end, Jiang Che took only three hundred Sword Cultivators from the Green Blade Camp, along with the fast horses provided by Shen Wanjin.

Just before departure, Shen Wanjin handed over a small box.

"Young Master, inside is the register of all undercover agents the Wan Tong Merchant Association has in the Beijing Capital Region. Once you reach Luo'an, someone will meet you."

Jiang Che took it. "Aren't you afraid of losing everything?"

Shen Wanjin sighed. "I finally understand now; doing business with the Young Master, money is a minor matter, life is the major one."

He paused, rarely dropping his smile.

"The Wan Tong Merchant Association also has people in Luo'an."

"They are Shopkeepers, Clerks, and Accountants, but they are also living, breathing people."

Jiang Che nodded.

"I will do my best."

The three hundred riders left Han Zhou under cover of night.

Wind and snow were left behind them.

They changed horses day and night, entering no cities, traveling only through the Merchant Association's secret routes.

On the third day, they arrived within a hundred li of Luo'an.

From a distance, a layer of dark red cloud mist hung over Luo'an.

Like blood.

Jiang Che's expression darkened.

They were still one step too late.

Outside Luo'an City, the Imperial Guard surrounded the walls.

The common people inside the city were being driven toward the central Altar.

The Altar was built of Black Stone, its surroundings covered in Golden Runes.

Standing in the center of the Altar, the gray-robed National Preceptor held a whisk, while behind him floated a phantom golden seal.

Upon the golden seal, faint patterns of mountains and rivers could be seen.

That was the Nation-Suppressing Heavenly Seal.

Within Luo'an City, the sound of weeping shook Heaven.

A woman holding a child knelt and begged for mercy, only to be kicked down by a soldier of the Imperial Guard.

The elderly, children, merchants, and scholars were herded toward the Altar like sheep.

On the city tower, the Execution Supervisor sent from the Capital City proclaimed loudly:

"Luo'an City has colluded with the rebels of Han Zhou; by imperial decree, we cleanse it!"

The common people were terrified and bewildered.

They did not even know when they had colluded with Han Zhou.

They only knew that the Emperor wanted them dead.

On the hillside outside the city, the Sword Cultivators of the Green Blade Camp watched until their eyes turned red.

The one-eyed swordsman gritted his teeth. "Young Master, let us charge in and kill them!"

Jiang Che did not move immediately.

He was studying the formation.

The Altar was already complete; if they forcibly broke the formation, the backlash of the Blood Sacrifice might instantly kill the common people within the city.

Xie Tingxue whispered, "I can break the runes at the southeast corner, but I need ten breaths."

Jiang Che said, "I will give you ten breaths."

"And you?"

Jiang Che gazed at the gray-robed National Preceptor in the center of the Altar.

"I will go kill the person conducting the formation."

Xie Tingxue frowned. "That National Preceptor is not simple."

Jiang Che said, "No matter how complex, he is still human."

He drew the Green Bamboo Sword.

Sword light rose.

A single sword leap crossed a hundred-zhang city wall.

The Luo'an City gate exploded with a boom.

"Green Blade Camp."

Jiang Che's voice was cold and sharp.

"Save the people."

Three hundred Sword Cultivators entered the city like flowing light.

They did not kill ordinary Imperial Guard soldiers, only beheading the officers driving the commoners and the array guards.

Xie Tingxue headed straight for the talisman patterns in the southeast corner.

Jiang Che stepped into empty air, his form like a blue thunderclap, plunging straight down to the Altar.

The gray-robed National Preceptor looked up, seeming to have waited a long time.

"Jiang Che, you have finally come."

Jiang Che slashed down with one sword strike.

Golden light appeared before the gray-robed National Preceptor, blocking the sword edge.

He smiled and said, "Do you think this was to kill the Luo'an commoners?"

Jiang Che's eyes turned cold.

The gray-robed National Preceptor said, "No."

"This was to lure you here."

As his words fell, eight Golden Pillars suddenly rose around the Altar.

Between the Golden Pillars, Heavenly Gate Remnant Patterns appeared, trapping Jiang Che within.

On the city tower, the Execution Supervisor laughed loudly.

"The Jiang thief has entered the array!"

The Luo'an commoners looked up in despair.

Standing in the array, Jiang Che felt the Green Bamboo Sword hum.

The gray-robed National Preceptor said softly, "Using an entire city as bait to fish for you, the Sword Vein Master of the Human Realm."

"Worth it."

Jiang Che looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"People like you always think you are so clever at scheming."

The gray-robed National Preceptor frowned.

Jiang Che raised his sword, the tip pointing at the Altar beneath his feet.

"But you miscalculated one thing."

"What?"

Sword Intent surged violently in Jiang Che's eyes.

"Since I have come,"

"I did not come to enter your game."

"I came to overturn the table."

The Green Bamboo Sword pierced into the Altar.

The next instant, the Northern Border Sword Vein, a thousand li away, responded with a boom.

A streak of blue sword light crossed a thousand li to arrive.

Above Luo'an City, the Blood Clouds were torn apart by a single sword strike.