Chapter 416

Large patches of bright light swayed, the dragon-elephant within his body let out a long roar, auspicious qi rose around him, Zhao Yin struggled to get up.

The cheeks battered to a pulp by Wu Tie healed rapidly, instantly returning to normal; Zhao Yin's whole body turned into a dazzling, blinding light as he lunged at Wu Tie. Still several zhang away, Zhao Yin flicked his hands, a lotus sword flashing with spiritual light appeared in his grip, and he brought it down in a overhead strike at Wu Tie.

"Huo Xiong, you dare subordinate the Law Enforcement Office!" Zhao Yin roared hoarsely, sword light like a silk ribbon, like a long rainbow, a sword strike burst out, the wooden buildings along the entire street instantly collapsed.

Countless people screamed in shock.

A torrential downpour poured down; wood chips and splinters flung up by the collapsing wooden buildings flew about, then were slammed heavily to the ground by the rain.

In the high sky, dozens of triangular sails on the wind-fire meteors lit up simultaneously, and a sharp whistle came from within the airship.

A law enforcement officer poked half his body out of the ship's bow and shouted at Zhao Yin: "Sir, retreat quickly!"

The city was filled with troops of the Great Marsh State and the Black Phoenix Army; no matter how strong your cultivation, Zhao Yin, you could not stand against a million-strong army.

Zhao Yin let out a hoarse long howl, ignoring the law enforcement officer's shouts; sword in hand, sword qi soaring to the heavens, he sought only to slay 'Huo Xiong'.

Wu Tie paid no heed to the long sword in Zhao Yin's hand; he lifted his head and bellowed: 'Strike!'

Among the many tower ships and airships surrounding the wind-fire meteors, three flagship tower ships opened fire simultaneously. The bow's main cannon did not move, but the nearly hundred side-mounted secondary cannons almost simultaneously spat out beams of white light, easily piercing the wind-fire meteor's hull, and together with the law enforcement officers left aboard, they were blown to smoke.

Zhao Yin roared: 'Huo Xiong!'

The long sword came down; Wu Tie drew his Six‑Refined Immortal Sword, its light turning into a fire dragon that soared upward, heavily planting itself atop Zhao Yin's lotus sword.

With a tremendous boom, the two sword lights shattered simultaneously; countless fragments of sword qi lashed out in all directions, within a radius of several li large swaths of wooden buildings were sliced to pieces, and the countless townsfolk dwelling in those buildings screamed, experienced as they were, they clutched their heads and flung themselves to the ground.

Zhao Yin was hurled high into the air by the violent sword blow, involuntarily soaring upward.

Wu Tie turned into a golden flash, instantly appearing behind Zhao Yin; then Wu Tie whipped up dozens of afterimages, swirling rapidly around Zhao Yin and hacking wildly. The sword light fell like a sudden rain, densely striking Zhao Yin's body.

The protective treasure robe on Zhao Yin burst forth with firework‑like radiance, a dazzling rain of light flashing; shaken back and forth, after a few impacts he spat out mouthfuls of blood, and within his body came the sound of bones breaking.

Pei Feng raised his head to a clear whistle, the long spear in his hand swaying specks of black fire, which instantly swept like a phantom past the many attendants behind Zhao Yin.

Dozens of law enforcement officers had a point of fire light ignite at their brows; the black fire instantly burned through their skulls, directly incinerating their souls to smoke, not a wisp of remnant soul remaining.

"Kill! Encircle and exterminate the whole city, eradicate those colluding with demons, the traitors who plotted to murder Sir Zhao Yin and all past prefects and military commanders of the Great Marsh Prefecture."

Pei Feng's voice was exceptionally clear and pleasant; under the impetus of her powerful magic, her voice swiftly spread throughout the city, and all the Great Marsh State troops and Black Phoenix Army soldiers within heard it.

The walls of Great Marsh City blazed with dazzling light, threads of five‑colored mist rose into the air, quickly enveloping the entire city.

The heavy footsteps thundered like claps of thunder, echoing throughout the city.

The Great Marsh State Army and the Black Phoenix Army joined forces, beginning a house‑to‑house search for the law enforcement officers brought by Zhao Yin.

Now in Great Marsh City, Wu Tie and Pei Feng are the two biggest local tyrants; when they join forces in cooperation, Zhao Yin's subordinates instantly run into bad luck, having no way out to heaven or earth, with no escape whatsoever.

Merely a few hundred law enforcement officers: some were gathering information everywhere, some were harshly interrogating the secretly captured Great Marsh State military officers, while others sought out some of Wu Tie's aides underneath him, bribing them with various favors.

Furthermore, some of them were using their professional skills to carry out chicken‑crowing, dog‑stealing type deeds.

For example, when a few law enforcement officers were discovered, they were binding several mid‑ and lower‑rank officers of the Great Marsh State, preparing to forcibly search their souls with a demonic path soul‑searching technique.

Moreover, a few law enforcement officers actually donned tattered coarse hemp clothes, furtively producing large sums of money, now haggling with several baojia chiefs appointed by Huang Lang, hoping to assume false identities and lurk in Great Marsh City.

In short, these law enforcement officers are not merely hotheaded brawlers; they possess high professional competence and specialized skills, and they are doing everything they can to cause trouble for Wu Tie, for the Black Phoenix Army, and for the entire Great Marsh Prefecture.

But Wu Tie suddenly turned hostile, with no warning, as nearly a hundred thousand soldiers combed the entire city; these law enforcement officers were instantly dumbfounded.

Faced with a three‑dimensional dragnet on land and in the sky, these law enforcement officers rose in resistance, but they only struggled for the length of a meal; after inflicting about a hundred casualties on the Black Phoenix Army, most of them were slaughtered.

Hmm, that's right, the casualties were all from the Black Phoenix Army.

At Pei Feng's command, the Black Phoenix Army troops launched a valiant charge against the law enforcement officers.

And Wu Tie's military stalwarts … they were very dutiful, stationed a li or two away, waving flags and shouting, clapping to cheer on the Black Phoenix Army's comrades.

Thus the casualties were all Black Phoenix Army soldiers; the Great Marsh State Army suffered not a scratch.

In the high sky, Wu Tie fiercely attacked Zhao Yin while observing the movements within the city.

Zhao Yin was being beaten by him until he kept vomiting blood; he wanted to flee but could not outrun Wu Tie.

Wu Tie devoted a little of his attention to Zhao Yin, while the bulk of his focus was on Great Marsh City. He had already memorized the appearances and auras of the law enforcement officers Zhao Yin brought during the day.

These fellows must not be allowed to escape; if even one got away, it might bring trouble for Wu Tie and Pei Feng.

Therefore, it is best that they be utterly wiped out in Great Marsh City.

Anyway, the Great Marsh Prefecture has already lost so many prefects and military commanders; what's a few more law enforcement officers from the Law Enforcement Office?

A single sword strike sent Zhao Yin flying; his body turned into a flowing light that shot to the howling 'ah‑ah' Zhao Yin's rear, an elbow smashed into his back, blasting him several hundred zhang toward the ground; Wu Tie was about to lunge forward to completely crush Zhao Yin's resistance when he suddenly saw several law enforcement officers in the city jumping up and waving both hands at him.

At the same moment, Wu Tie saw one of those law enforcement officers crush a jade tablet, while a delicate jade ring in his sleeve began to vibrate violently.

Thousands of Black Phoenix Army soldiers had already encircled those few law enforcement officers, and over a thousand standard‑issue armor‑piercing heavy crossbows of the army had locked onto their silhouettes.

Moreover, Uncle Ma led dozens of Black Phoenix Army stalwarts, brandishing weapons with a grim grin, as they closed in on those law enforcement officers.

Wu Tie furrowed his brow, his body flickered as he closed in behind Zhao Yin, his left hand pressing on Zhao Yin's back‑heart, a faint, unnoticed black‑red divine light flashed.

A gloomy, profound thunder‑force erupted silently.

Zhao Yin's protective treasure robe shattered instantly; he let out a shout, a mouthful of blood sprayed far away, and at once the thunder‑force welling from Wu Tie's palm blasted his five viscera and six bowels nearly to ruin, causing him to faint outright.

Grabbing Zhao Yin by the neck, Wu Tie stepped upon flowing light and rushed swiftly toward the several law enforcement officers who were surrounded.

Uncle Ma brandished two wolf‑fang hammers, bellowing loudly, about to summon the nearby Black Phoenix Army commanders to charge forward and behead those law enforcement officers, when Wu Tie roared from afar: 'Spare their lives; these people must not be killed!'

Uncle Ma and the dozens of Black Phoenix Army stalwarts stared, then simultaneously turned their heads to look at Wu Tie.

When they saw Zhao Yin in Wu Tie's hand, Uncle Ma and a few others exhaled in relief, a hint of ease appearing in their eyes.

As long as Zhao Yin is captured, everything afterward becomes easy to do.

Whether it is to eliminate Zhao Yin and then find an excuse to report to the military bureau, or to fabricate charges against Zhao Yin to make him accept certain terms, all these actions become feasible.

The Black Phoenix Army soldiers also cleared a wide road, allowing Wu Tie to break into the encirclement.

But reacting even faster than the Black Phoenix Army soldiers were Wu Tie's subordinates, the stalwarts of the Great Marsh State Army.

Hearing Wu Tie's shout and seeing him fly over with Zhao Yin in hand, Li Er Haizi took the lead, bringing a band of 'Fearless Brave' stalwarts who forcibly pushed into the Black Phoenix Army's encirclement.

Li Er Haizi brandished a light spear that weighed less than three hundred jin, shouting haphazardly: 'Take them down, take them down! These bastards dare scheme against our commander‑in‑chief, the great elder; seize them all, break their dog legs, cut off their dog‑birds, chop them to pieces and throw them out to feed the dogs!'

Wu Tie gave a sideways glance at his own band of 'Fierce Generals and Hardy Soldiers', then let out a heavy grunt.

It was as if a thunderclap sprang from the ground; the Black Phoenix Army's troops were unscathed, while the brave soldiers of Great Marsh Prefecture's army each seemed like turtles struck by lightning, and with a bang they all knelt neatly on the ground, opening their mouths only to suck in cold air, unable to utter a single word.

Wu Tie landed before those few flustered military law officers, drenched in cold sweat.

"You... Li?" Wu Tie mumbled indistinctly.

The few military law officers gave a bitter smile and nodded.

One of them flicked his finger, and a small jade talisman popped out from his fingertip, swayed in front of Wu Tie, then quickly retracted.

Wu Tie's mouth twitched; when that officer just now pinched the jade piece, causing the jade ring in his sleeve to vibrate violently, he realized these people were connected to Mr. Li.

When leaving Anyang City, Mr. Li had promised that, when the opportunity arose and when it would not draw attention, his master behind him would gradually send people to bolster Wu Tie's forces, gradually increase Wu Tie's power in Great Marsh Prefecture, and thereby help Wu Tie gain control of the entire Great Marsh Prefecture.

Well, the so-called time that would not draw attention, the so-called opportune moment, is these guys directly showing up as military law bureau officers, following Zhao Yin to run to Great Marsh Prefecture to cause trouble for Wu Tie.

If Wu Tie were really that ordinary 'Huo Xiong,' then these few military law officers lurking under Zhao Yin's command could indeed become excellent pawns, playing a huge role.

But Wu Tie is not that 'Huo Xiong'; his methods exceeded the expectations of Mr. Li and his master.

In just a few short months, Wu Tie actually killed Zhang Xibai, forcibly recruited hundreds of thousands of troops, and brought the internal affairs of Great Marsh Prefecture into perfect order. Even the Silver Dragon King and Heavenly Centipede King, who had plagued Great Marsh Prefecture for years, were slain by Wu Tie.

These few military law officers showed up at this moment...

Wu Tie looked at them, thoughtfully nodding: "If you say so, will the people of the Military Law Bureau believe it?"

The officer who had just shown the jade talisman smiled and bowed slightly to Wu Tie: "General Huo Xiong, I am Li Qian, Zhao Yin's deputy; according to the Military Law Bureau's regulations, Zhao Yin and I are in a mutual supervisory relationship."

Li Qian gave a faint smile and spoke softly: "So, my words can serve as reliable evidence."

Wu Tie suddenly clapped his hands hard, laughing as he vigorously patted Li Qian's shoulder: "Excellent, this..."

Wu Tie seized Zhao Yin, raised his sword and struck—with one blow he sliced off Zhao Yin's head; flames blazed, Zhao Yin burned to a wisp of ash, not even a remnant soul remained.

Li Qian's eyes twitched; he stared in horror at Wu Tie: "Sir!"

Wu Tie looked at Li Qian with deep sorrow: "General Li Qian, General Zhao Yin loyally served the state; to uncover the truth of the assassinations of the previous prefects and military commanders, he fearlessly led his subordinates deep into the wilds... Alas, alas, he encountered the Silver-tonghed King..."

Li Qian looked at Wu Tie, gradually revealing a smile: "General Zhao Yin unfortunately fell to the Silver-tongued King?"

Wu Tie said in a low voice: "Wrong."

Li Qian stared for a moment: "Wrong?"

Wu Tie again vigorously patted Li Qian's shoulder, speaking seriously: "General Li Qian, you are just too honest... Well, Zhao Yin did not die fighting; he abandoned his comrades, fled the battlefield, and unfortunately was gravely wounded by the Silver-tongued King's Void-Shattering Slash, then devoured by several giant vultures."

Wu Tie smiled: "General Zhao Yin, you can't die too gloriously, do you understand?"

Li Qian stared blankly at Wu Tie: "What do you mean?"

Wu Tie laughed brightly: "Throwing filth on a dead person's grave—don't tell me you've never done such a thing; if so, I really ought to ask Mr. Li whether the aide he sent me is a helper or a nursemaid."

Li Qian gave an innocent smile: "I understand; I will go draft the document, and I will use secret arts to write the cause and effect of General Zhao Yin's death clearly and plainly."

Wu Tie then laughed even more brightly: "Very well. Hmm, hurry up and attend to proper business. Before sending out the document, first let me see it; all of Great Marsh City must have a unified story—General Zhao Yin certainly died in battle after slipping out of the city privately..."

Li Qian gave Wu Tie a military salute and spoke solemnly: "I will obey... Furthermore, according to the Military Bureau's intent, I will be the chief of the Great Marsh Prefecture Military Law Bureau sub-bureau; from now on, please, General Huo Xiong, look after me."

Wu Tie's eyes flickered.

Will Li Qian be the future chief of the Great Marsh Prefecture Military Law Bureau sub-bureau?

This is practically a talisman for Wu Tie, the thickest shield imaginable.

It couldn't be better.

"We're all our own people, fine, fine." Wu Tie once again patted Li Qian's shoulder: "From now on, brothers, we'll enjoy the good things and endure the hardships... This Great Marsh Prefecture's realm will ultimately belong to us brothers."

Li Qian's eyes flickered as he gave Wu Tie a deep look.

He suddenly realized that his own master seemed this time to have picked an exceptional promising talent!