Chapter 501: The Deranged Old Woman

As expected, just as Zhao Tai said.

The next day, a burly woman knocked on Lin Chao's door.

"Junior Brother Xia Yang, Fifth Elder Zhuge Liu has been ordered to collect fees and has specifically conscripted you into the ranks. Assemble and depart in three days.

I ask that you prepare early, Junior Brother."

The burly woman was named Wen Rou, and she was a Registered Disciple of Zhuge Liu.

This woman, along with Wang Zhi and a fair-skinned man, had originally been in the same group as Lin Chao, responsible for guarding the safety of Zhuge Qingxia.

She and Lin Chao could be considered acquaintances.

However, at this moment, the gaze she directed at Lin Chao appeared exceptionally cold.

"Understood, many thanks for the notification, Senior Sister." Lin Chao did not say much else to Wen Rou.

He and the Fifth Elder had already torn off their masks.

The Fifth Elder conscripting Lin Chao into the ranks naturally meant he had ill intentions.

He might even have the idea of disposing of Lin Chao.

He wanted to dispose of Lin Chao, but how could Lin Chao not want to dispose of him?

Within the Qingxu Sect, it was difficult for him to make a move.

But out in the wilderness, while suppressing rebel forces, there would always be an opportunity, right?

Watching Wen Rou leave, Lin Chao carried a few small bags and headed toward his master's residence.

The old man Jiang Boye sat on a recliner, with a stove placed beside him, warming himself by the fire.

Icicles hung from the eaves, and everyone who walked by could not help but look up, fearing they might fall and pierce their necks.

Jiang Boye glanced sideways at Lin Chao, holding a small bag in his hand and feeling the temperature on it: "This heating bag of yours is quite useful, it's just that the usage time is too short; one can only be used for half an hour."

Once winter arrived, Jiang Boye's legs would ache severely, and they required high heat to find some relief.

The items similar to hand warmers that Lin Chao made himself came in handy.

"There are seven more here; they should be enough for Master to use at night for a few days," Lin Chao said.

The elderly feared the cold.

Lin Chao had also made quite a few for Hua Popo; they not only radiated heat but also exuded a faint fragrance.

This fragrance was refined from Chinese medicinal herbs, and smelling it for a long time had slight benefits for the body, prolonging life.

"You are thoughtful." Wrinkles squeezed onto Jiang Boye's aged face, though his features were distinct, and one could tell he must have been a handsome man in his youth.

Jiang Boye warmed himself by the fire, the charcoal in the stove making crackling sounds, with sparks flying out from time to time.

"How is your cultivation lately?" Jiang Boye asked. "If you step into the Golden Core realm within three years, I can help you apply to enter the Academy."

"This disciple has been practicing diligently and will certainly not fail Master's expectations."

"Your talent seems quite average; stepping into the Golden Core realm within three years is difficult for you," Jiang Boye said, but then he changed the subject. "Zhuge Liu is going to suppress bandits and has conscripted you to go?

Do you want me, this old man, to go find the Sect Master so you don't have to go this time?"

Zhuge Liu's conscription of Lin Chao was born of sinister intent.

Upon hearing this, Lin Chao's expression remained calm: "There is no need to trouble Master; this time, I, the disciple, also wish to go out and see the world."

Jiang Boye looked at Lin Chao: "I don't know what trump cards you have to be this confident, but do not underestimate the people of the world.

In this world, even a beggar in a small alley, if they strike with desperation, can kill a high-grade martial artist."

"This disciple will remember that." Lin Chao had always been cautious and would not look down on anyone.

"Zhuge Liu is a Sixth-grade Martial Artist.

Once a martial artist reaches the Sixth Grade, their overall strength increases significantly; with a single punch, they are capable of snapping wood, and the power is astonishing.

However, when Zhuge Liu was young, his left leg suffered some injuries; although it does not affect his walking, it is still very obvious during intense combat. You can keep this in mind." Jiang Boye's expression was serious.

His personality had always been like this.

Toward Lin Chao, he was cold in appearance but warm in heart.

"Many thanks for the information, Master," Lin Chao said.

……

Luo Ma County, inside the county government office.

Zhuge Liu's eyes held a look of respect: "Lord County Lieutenant, the Qingxu Sect has a total of one hundred and twenty men, and they have all been accounted for. We await your orders."

The County Lieutenant was also a Sixth Rank Martial Artist, but he was a Sixth Rank Martial Artist from the military.

Unlike martial artists like Zhuge Liu, two Zhuge Lius would not be a match for the County Lieutenant.

The County Lieutenant nodded, his voice thick: "With the heavy snow sealing the mountains, it is troubling to have the Fifth Elder come here; I, Yu, feel uneasy about it."

Zhuge Liu hurriedly said: "Working for the imperial court is the honor of the Qingxu Sect."

However, Zhuge Liu still lowered his voice and asked: "Lord County Lieutenant, with the heavy snow sealing the mountains this time, it is not easy to send troops, so why..."

Zhuge Liu knew that a new Prefect had arrived in the commandery, forcibly compelling the various counties under his jurisdiction to send troops to surround and suppress thieves and rebel forces.

On the surface, it was an act of rashly seeking merit.

But Zhuge Liu knew that the new Prefect was a scion of a northern noble family.

Such pampered sons of the wealthy, while they could be playboys, were more often than not the pride of heaven.

Hearing this, the County Lieutenant narrowed his eyes and said slowly: "Evil cults."

"What?" Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liu's expression tightened, and he felt some fear in his heart. "If it is an evil cult, how can we deal with them with just our manpower?"

In the Zhenyuan Kingdom, the Holy Sect is the only recognized faith.

But under the Holy Sect, there are many evil cults.

These evil cults have many methods, and they are strange and sinister.

Only some Dao Soldier Users of the Holy Sect can deal with them.

The County Commandant was unhurried: "It is merely a small wave of remnants, not worth mentioning."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A few days later, Lin Chao took the spear distributed to him; holding the heavy spear, a look of nostalgia appeared in his eyes.

After all, it had been a long time since he had used a spear as a weapon.

When he was Heize, his spear skills were astonishing, and he had once held off ten thousand troops with a single spear.

Now, holding this spear, Lin Chao felt his strength had increased by a notch.

Carrying the weapon, Lin Chao followed the main army, traveling over mountains and ridges.

The group conducting the bandit suppression consisted of three hundred county soldiers and one hundred disciples of the Qingxu Sect; the number was not large, but dealing with ordinary bandits posed no major problem.

There was a lot of accumulated snow on the road, and traveling through the mountains was quite difficult and required extra caution.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a burst of noise came from somewhere.

The already disorganized formation became chaotic at this moment.

The County Commandant shouted loudly: "Quiet, move forward!"

Only then did the entire group maintain their formation and slowly move forward.

Yet the entire group remained anxious.

Lin Chao only then learned that just a moment ago, a soldier had accidentally rolled into a mountain ravine, triggering the commotion.

As for that soldier, no one went to save him.

The group continued to move forward.

Lin Chao followed within the crowd; as for the Fifth Elder Zhuge Liu, he had not seen him at all.

However, Lin Chao also remained vigilant.

He knew that Zhuge Liu would very likely take the opportunity to make a move against him.

The army advanced, and they were only a few miles away from the rebel bandit lair.

Lin Chao and the other Qingxu Sect disciples were separated into two groups from the County Commandant's soldiers.

Under the leadership of Zhuge Liu, their group of Qingxu Sect disciples circled to the Back Mountain.

The frontal battlefield was left to the county soldiers.

And what the Qingxu Sect was responsible for was cutting off the rebels' retreat.

Therefore, Lin Chao had been slacking off the whole time.

Even when night was about to fall, he had not seen any rebels.

Instead, at the very end, a group of people fled toward them; they were two beautiful women who were shot and killed by the Qingxu Sect disciples.

The items on the two beautiful women were stripped away and handed into the hands of Zhuge Liu.

Not long after, soldiers sent by the County Commandant arrived to inform them that the rebels had been wiped out.

The Qingxu Sect group would rendezvous with the County Commandant's soldiers.

Because it was already late, everyone would rest for the night in the rebels' lair.

Hearing this news, the many Qingxu Sect disciples reacted differently.

Some felt it was a pity they didn't get to have a good fight, but others felt lucky not to have to face the bloodshed directly.

Lin Chao arrived at the bandit stronghold; the stronghold was somewhat different from what he had imagined, consisting only of some thatched huts.

If it weren't said that this was the rebels' lair, Lin Chao would even have thought this was just a gathering place for refugees.

It was crude, with almost no defensive fortifications.

However, Zhao Tai had already told Lin Chao about this.

These people were less like rebels or bandits and more like refugees, merely a line on the Prefect's record of merit.

As night fell, stepping on the thick snow, Lin Chao caught sight of several frozen corpses in his peripheral vision.

However, because of the heavy snow, the bloodstains on the ground had long been covered; no one knew that a battle had taken place here.

"Xia Yang." At this moment, a voice came; a burly woman walked over with a cold expression.

This woman was Wen Rou.

Seeing Wen Rou, Lin Chao knew that Zhuge Liu was about to make a move against him.

"The Fifth Elder has ordered that you are responsible for guarding the rebels detained in the Yi-One cell tonight."

The County Commandant had captured this refugee gathering place and had also detained many refugees.

"Understood," Lin Chao replied.

Regarding Zhuge Liu, Lin Chao had actually long since developed the intent to kill.

However, he had to find a suitable reason, and one that was completely unrelated to him.

Otherwise, the quota for the Academy would not be so easy to obtain.

For Lin Chao, Zhuge Liu was already equivalent to a dead man.

Whether he died sooner or later made no difference.

Knowing the location, Lin Chao headed toward the prison.

Outside the prison, a group of soldiers was gambling; seeing Lin Chao, one person's eyes flashed with a complex look: "You are Xia Yang?"

"That is correct."

"The Yi-One room is inside; go in yourself.

By the way, the person locked in the Yi-One room has mental issues; do not communicate with her too much."

"Understood."

Lin Chao exchanged a few words with this person and then entered the prison.

Outside the prison cell, these few soldiers revealed expressions of pity in their eyes.

"I don't know who this kid offended to be assigned to guard that madwoman in cell Yi-One."

"What's wrong with that madwoman?"

"You don't know? Today, when our great army entered this place, that mad hag used sorcery and killed several of our brothers."

"The County Commandant took action personally to capture her, and she is being prepared to be escorted to the prefecture."

"That kid guarding that mad hag will likely be cursed; even if he doesn't die, he'll lose a layer of skin."

Lin Chao did not hear these exchanges.

At this time, he had arrived near the temporary prison cell, Yi-One.

Heavy snow was falling, the wind was howling, and it was very cold.

At a glance, Lin Chao saw an old woman whose entire body was bound by chains.

That old woman was iron-blue and flushed, her hair disheveled, and her appearance looked incomparably miserable.

When Lin Chao arrived here, he immediately met the old woman's cold, gloomy gaze.

The old woman stared coldly at Lin Chao.

This kind of gaze appeared exceptionally chilling in a place where the light was already weak.

Regarding this kind of gaze, Lin Chao felt no fear at all.

He found a place sheltered from the wind and sat down on the ground at will.

As for the old woman's gaze, he did not pay it any mind.

That old woman continued to stare faintly at Lin Chao, exceptionally chilling.

Not knowing how much time had passed, the old woman suddenly trembled all over; she collapsed to the ground, her appearance incomparably comical.

"In the imperial court, they are all giant rats, woo-woo... there is no saving them, no saving them."

"No saving them, Zhenyuan is beyond saving."

"Giant rats, damn them, damn them!"

Lin Chao glanced at the old woman and withdrew his gaze.

But at this moment, the old woman suddenly stopped trembling and looked at Lin Chao again.

Her voice became hoarse: "Little brother, come over here, I will tell you a secret."

Lin Chao looked at the old woman, a curious expression appearing on his face: "You can just say it like that."

He was also somewhat curious about the old woman.

Because this old woman's physique looked like it had no threat at all, yet her whole body was locked with chains; she did not look like a simple prisoner.

"Do you... believe in the light?" the old woman murmured, her eyes full of piety.

"Light?" Lin Chao was slightly stunned; he muttered in his heart, Tiga or Taro?

"This is the world created by God; in order to forge this final paradise, He exhausted everything and fell into an endless slumber."

"The Venerable of Light was born from the light; all that has light is bestowed by the Deity."

"But now the world is occupied by demons from beyond the realm."

"Only by believing in the light can one sweep away the demons," the old woman said in a rambling, mystical manner.

Lin Chao was slightly stunned upon hearing this.

Sure enough, this world was not as simple as he had imagined.

Now, even deities had appeared.

Of course, it was possible that this deity was also fictional and did not exist.

"I don't believe in religion." Lin Chao lost interest and leaned against a pillar.

Upon hearing this, the old woman's gaze became ferocious.

"If you do not believe in the light, you will be swallowed by the darkness!"

Lin Chao laughed upon hearing this: "Your doctrine even comes with threats?"

He did not care.

The old woman suddenly spoke: "You have seen a Shrine and looked directly at Him; if you do not believe in Him, disaster will descend."

A Shrine?

Lin Chao was slightly stunned.

He remembered the two beautiful women who had fled in the Back Mountain earlier; what they were holding in their hands was a Shrine.

Later, those two women were Slayed, and Lin Chao had looked at the Shrine from afar.

However, he had not seen the idol.

How did the old woman know he had seen a Shrine?

"How do you know that?" Lin Chao was surprised, and his gaze toward the old woman became serious for the first time.

"God is benevolent and pities the world."

"Only by chanting the true name of my God will disaster retreat," the old woman rambled mystically.

However, suddenly, she became crazy and deranged again.

"Giant rats!"

"Giant rats!"

"Giant rats are wreaking havoc on the human world, they all deserve to die!"

Lin Chao looked at the deranged old woman and said nothing.

He leaned against the pillar and closed his eyes to rest.

The sky grew darker and darker, and almost no light could be seen.

Inside the crude prison cell, there were no candles either.

Only the snow-covered white could enter one's line of sight.

Lin Chao leaned against a pillar, feeling his body grow somewhat cold.

He closed his eyes to rest his mind, slowly whiling away the time.

Suddenly, Lin Chao's consciousness became a chaotic blur.

He realized that his consciousness had entered a place of complete darkness.

This kind of pitch-black was a darkness without any light, a darkness that could not be seen, impossible to describe.

Amidst the darkness where there was no sight, he seemed to hear an inexplicable whisper.

That whisper was incomparably frenzied, enough to make one lose themselves in it.

Lin Chao was slightly stunned.

Wasn't he just closing his eyes to rest?

Was he dreaming?

Or was he truly being influenced by that Shrine?

He woke up with a start, and looking around again, the surroundings were quiet; he was still outside the prison cell.

He looked toward the old woman and discovered that she was still fast asleep.

Lin Chao's gaze immediately became grave.

"This world is truly extraordinary."

(End of chapter)