Chapter 88: with translation of chapter title

Sir Zhao listened, fell into contemplation for a moment, and said:

This matter is of great importance; we need to deliberate carefully.

He turned his head to look at Advisor Tang beside him.

Advisor, what do you think?

Advisor Tang stroked his beard and spoke slowly and deliberately:

Sir, what Sir Li said is absolutely correct, but the Blood Moon Sect acts secretly; we cannot afford to be careless.

Sir Zhao nodded and said:

Advisor Tang makes sense, Wenqing; you must act cautiously and certainly not startle the snake.

I understand, sir." Li Wenqing replied, bowing.

Sir Zhao then ordered Advisor Tang, saying:

Advisor, arrange a unit of elite troops to assist Sir Li; make sure this matter is settled.

As you command, Sir.

Advisor Tang received the order and departed.

Li Wenqing secretly rejoiced; everything was proceeding according to Jiang Xiaomu's plan.

At the same time, in the dark, damp cell, the old beggar curled up in the corner, shivering.

In the ruined temple west of the city outskirts, several black-clad men sat in a circle, the atmosphere heavy.

Have you heard? The old beggar has confessed; the envoy's identity may already be exposed!

One of them lowered his voice and said:

Is the news reliable?

Another asked.

Absolutely certain! Now everyone in the city is saying that Li Wenqing said it himself.

Damn it! That old beggar is utterly incapable of success and only brings ruin!

What should we do now? The envoy's safety is the most important!

We must quickly eliminate that old beggar to prevent future trouble!

I'll go arrange the manpower right away.

……

Inside the Xian Ya prison, there was a deathly silence.

Several black shadows slipped silently into the prison; they were agile and swift, quickly locating the cell holding the old beggar.

The black-clad men hesitated not at all, drew their daggers, and stabbed toward the old beggar's heart.

Having completed their mission, the black-clad men swiftly vanished into the darkness.

Outside the cell, a black shadow clung tightly to the wall—this was Pei Dongyong, who, under Jiang Xiaomu's orders, secretly watched the Xian Ya prison.

Jiang Xiaomu stood outside the Xian Ya, pacing back and forth, his expression anxious.

At that moment, he recalled the system's voice:

【Ding! The host personally led troops to track the Blood Moon Sect.】

【Found the Blood Moon Sect's lair in the cave, began fighting.】

【In the chaos, the host was wounded by the sect leader's hidden weapon and died on the spot!】

Died on the spot? No way it could be that sinister!

He muttered under his breath, his right hand unconsciously stroking the saber at his waist.

Mr. Jiang, don't worry; Pei Dongyong is agile and will have news soon.

Li Wenqing stood aside, but his own face was somewhat pale, obviously also very nervous.

Just then, Pei Dongyong came running, panting, his face grave.

Mr. Jiang, they… they went to the western suburbs outside the city; I left markers along the way.

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Good! Sir Li, immediately take people and seal the city gates—not even a fly may be let out!

Good!

Jiang Xiaomu turned his head to the captain of the elite troops who had long been waiting beside him, and said in a low voice:

Take your men and follow me!

Night shrouded the land; the group, using the faint moonlight, followed the markers Pei Dongyong had left, pursuing all the way.

The markers finally stopped at a barren hill outside the city; at its base lay a concealed cave entrance.

It looks like this is their lair.

Jiang Xiaomu narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing within.

Inside the cave, flickering firelight illuminated hundreds of figures clad in blood-red robes.

They formed a huge circle, with an altar placed in the center, upon which a person seemed to lie.

They are conducting some kind of ritual.

The captain of the elite troops lowered his voice and said:

Jiang Xiaomu nodded, signaling everyone to stay alert.

He glanced around and saw that many guards armed with weapons surrounded the cave, each solemn and vigilant, watching everything around them.

It seems a frontal assault won't work." Jiang Xiaomu thought to himself.

We need to find a way to sneak in.

He noticed that the guards' waists all bore a special token, engraved with a blood-red moon pattern.

"Got it!" Jiang Xiaomu's heart stirred, a plan formed.

Got it! Jiang Xiaomu's heart stirred, a plan formed.

He pulled out a token he'd seized from a captured Blood Moon cultist earlier and handed it to the elite squad captain.

He produced a token he had found on a captured Blood Moon Sect follower earlier and handed it to the elite troops captain.

"Take a few men, pose as patrolling guards, and go in through the front."

Take a few men, disguise yourselves as patrolling guards, and enter from the front.

"Remember, stay vigilant and don't slip up."

Remember, you must be extremely careful and cautious, and not reveal any flaw.

"All right!" The elite squad captain took the token, led a few elite soldiers, and marched confidently toward the cave entrance.

All right! The elite troops captain took the token, leading a few elite troops, swaggering toward the cave entrance.

The guards saw their tokens, didn't suspect anything, and let them through.

The guards saw the token on them, had no suspicion, and let them pass directly.

Jiang Xiaomu, meanwhile, took Pei Dongyong and the elite soldiers around to the rear of the cave to search for another entrance.

Jiang Xiaomu then led Pei Dongyong and the elite troops around to the back of the cave, searching for another entrance.

Behind the mountain, jagged rocks and tangled weeds made footing nearly impossible.

Behind the mountain, jagged rocks and tangled weeds left almost no place to set foot.

Jiang Xiaomu fixed his eyes on a massive boulder.

Jiang Xiaomu's gaze locked onto a huge rock.

The rock's surface was blanketed in moss, blending almost seamlessly with the surroundings.

The rock's surface was covered in moss, almost blending with the surroundings.

But Jiang Xiaomu keenly noticed that the rock's shape and placement were somewhat odd.

But Jiang Xiaomu keenly noticed that the rock's shape and placement were somewhat strange.

He felt around on the rock a few times and indeed found a hidden mechanism underneath.

He felt around on the rock a few times, and indeed discovered a hidden mechanism beneath it.

A light press triggered a dull grinding sound; the rock slowly moved, revealing a dark, black gap.

A light press triggered a dull scraping sound; the rock slowly shifted, revealing a dark crack.

"A hidden door!"

Secret door!

Pei Dongyong gasped, excitement flashing in his eyes.

Pei Dongyong exclaimed, excitement flashing in his eyes.

Jiang Xiaomu said nothing, just led the way into the hidden door, with Pei Dongyong and the elite soldiers close behind.

Jiang Xiaomu said nothing, simply led the way into the secret door, with Pei Dongyong and the few elite troops following closely.

Beyond the hidden door was a narrow passage barely wide enough for one person.

Beyond the secret door was a narrow passage allowing only one person through.

At the passage's end, they emerged into an open space behind the altar.

At the end of the passage, it suddenly opened up—they had actually gotten behind the altar!

On the altar lay a disheveled woman bound tightly, motionless, her fate unknown.

On the altar, a woman with disheveled hair was bound, motionless, her life or death unknown.

Hundreds of Blood Moon cultists circled the altar, chanting as they performed some eerie ritual.

Hundreds of Blood Moon Sect followers surrounded the altar, chanting, performing some bizarre ritual.

Just then, an arrow whistled through the air, aimed straight at Jiang Xiaomu's face.

Just then, an arrow shot through the air, heading straight for Jiang Xiaomu's face!

Jiang Xiaomu had anticipated it, sidestepped, and barely avoided the arrow.

Jiang Xiaomu had been prepared; he sidestepped and narrowly avoided the arrow.

"Kill!" Jiang Xiaomu barked, drew his waist sword, a flash of cold steel, and lunged into the crowd.

Kill! Jiang Xiaomu shouted low, drew his waist sword, a cold light flashed, and he charged first into the crowd.

He struck mercilessly, each blow fatal; within moments several Blood Moon cultists fell beneath his blade.

He struck mercilessly, each blow fatal; in an instant several Blood Moon Sect followers fell beneath his blade.

Pei Dongyong and the elite soldiers followed close behind, clashing fiercely with the Blood Moon cultists.

Pei Dongyong and the elite troops followed close behind, engaging the Blood Moon Sect followers in fierce combat.

"Mr. Jiang, watch out!"

Master Jiang, be careful!

Pei Dongyong shouted, only to see a Blood Moon cultist lunging from the side to ambush Jiang Xiaomu.

Pei Dongyong shouted, and saw a Blood Moon Sect follower sneak-attack Jiang Xiaomu from the side.

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes narrowed; he backhanded his blade, cleaving the cultist in half.

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes turned cold; he backhanded a slash, splitting that follower in two.

Just then, shouts of battle rang from the cave entrance.

Just then, shouts of killing came from the cave mouth.

"It's the captain and his team!"

It's the captain and them!

Pei Dongyong exclaimed in surprise and delight.

Pei Dongyong exclaimed in delight.

The elite squad captain's ruse as patrolling guards succeeded; they had already stormed the cave from the front, flanking the Blood Moon cultists alongside Jiang Xiaomu and his men.

The elite troops captain's plan to pose as patrolling guards succeeded; they had already attacked from the front into the cave, and together with Jiang Xiaomu's group they pincered the Blood Moon Sect followers from front and rear.

The Blood Moon cultists, caught between forces, fell into immediate chaos.

The Blood Moon Sect followers, attacked front and rear, instantly fell into chaos.

Jiang Xiaomu seized the chance and fought his way straight to the altar.

Jiang Xiaomu seized the opportunity and fought his way straight to the altar.

"Where is the cult leader?"

Where is the sect leader?

He seized a Blood Moon cultist and demanded loudly.

He seized a Blood Moon Sect follower and demanded in a stern voice.

"I… I don't know…"

I... don't know...

The cultist trembled with fear, his eyes filled with terror.

That follower trembled with fear, eyes full of terror.