Chapter 363: Midnight Ghost God Language

"Donghu Patriarch?"

Hearing this name, Li Yan's brow furrowed immediately.

This demon occupied the Donghu outside Wuchang. It was said to be a big toad and had some background; it had once received the enlightenment of Liu Hai.

Speaking of it, it couldn't be considered an evil spirit; it had also been practicing in seclusion for years. If it weren't for the Tuo Master, they wouldn't even know this old demon existed.

According to the Tuo Master, many old demons along the Yangtze and Han rivers had been persuaded by Huang Liushi to unite against the imperial court, and the Donghu Patriarch was among them.

It seems this time, it also couldn't be separated from this demon...

"Where did it disappear?"

"Near the river channel of Xianshan."

"Let them inquire about more news. After saving Daoist Wang and Old Uncle Sha, we will go find the Tuo Master..."

After giving instructions, the Tuo dragon disappeared into the water.

"Brother Li Yan..." Lu San's expression was solemn.

He had originally thought the Xiangyang epidemic was just a small matter, and that they could find the source with some effort. He hadn't expected to encounter such a situation the moment they entered the city.

Encountering an attack, the Tuo Master disappearing... it seemed like a pair of eyes was watching them, weaving a net layer by layer.

Lu San already had a premonition of danger.

"No matter."

Li Yan patted his shoulder and said coldly, "This is the hinterland of the imperial court's army. Not to mention the 200,000-strong army in Yunyang, even the Xiangyang navy and garrison are a powerful force."

"Now that the Human Dao is paramount, don't look at any old demons or giant monsters. If they really had the guts, why would they hide in the dark and play tricks?"

"What they rely on is nothing more than the Heavenly Saint Sect and the Ghost Sect lurking, colluding inside and out, and playing gods and ghosts."

"As long as we find these people, we can break the situation!"

…………

The layout of Xiangyang City was very rigorous.

Besides the six city gates, there were four corner towers, and the whole was divided into four parts by a cross shape, separating the entire city.

At the very center of the cross street was a towering drum tower. Because it was built to commemorate Crown Prince Zhaoming, it was called Zhaoming Terrace.

Li Yan and his companion had just returned to the city when they heard a burst of clamor in the distance.

"Why won't you let us leave?!"

"That's right, you're clearly trying to let us die!"

It was at a street corner where many people were shouting crazily.

Looking at their attire, some were ordinary people, some were laborers, and there were also many luxuriously dressed people and scholars mixed in the crowd.

The guard soldiers held long spears to blockade the street corner, but these people were clearly somewhat crazy, holding torches, carrying sticks, knives, and spears.

An old scholar stood on a high platform in the distance, shouting with all his might: "Fellow villagers, do not act recklessly! The imperial court's move is also a last resort. The epidemic is fierce. If it spreads to other places, the entire Ezhou will suffer!"

"Master Lu!"

In the crowd, a luxuriously dressed old man roared, his eyes red. "You speak lightly! My family is about to collapse. Why should we be trapped here waiting for death!"

Bang!

Before the words fell, Zhou Thousand-Household rode over on a horse, pulled out the flintlock firearm from his waist, fired a shot into the sky, and shouted sharply: "This official will count to three. Whoever dares to rush the checkpoint again will be executed on the spot!"

Clatter!

Hearing the order, the soldiers raised their firearms one after another.

"Don't, don't act recklessly!"

The old scholar on the platform saw this and tried to persuade them quickly.

"Hmph!"

Zhou Thousand-Household's eyes were cold as he scanned the crowd. "This official is giving Master Lu face, so I won't pursue you today!"

"Squire Zhao, I advise you all: if money is gone, you can still earn it;

Everyone had vinegar-soaked cloths covering their faces. Hearing him say this, several people in the crowd immediately had shifty eyes and retreated one after another.

Without a leader, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Only then did Li Yan and his companion ride over.

"Li Li Shaoxia."

Upon seeing them, Commandant Zhou shook his head and sighed, "You all saw it too; those were people from the horse caravan. They are currently short on provisions and want to leave Xiangyang as quickly as possible, fleeing toward Shu along the mountain roads."

"If they are allowed to run, everyone along the way will suffer."

"To tell you the truth, I have already suppressed three riots today. Fortunately, the garrison troops were moved into the city ahead of time. If this continues, something will go wrong sooner or later."

"I'm afraid something has already gone wrong..."

An aged voice came; it was the old man who had been dissuading the crowd earlier.

Commandant Zhou hurriedly said, "Li Li Shaoxia, let me introduce you. This is Master Lu from the Longzhong Academy, a man of great virtue and prestige in Xiangyang City."

"Greetings, Master Lu." Li Yan nodded slightly.

He had long heard that Xiangyang was a place where, since ancient times, the literary tradition had flourished and people of talent had emerged, boasting four great academies: Lumeng, Xiangyang, Longzhong, and Ziyang.

Among them, Lumeng Academy was on the north side, Xiangyang Academy served as the examination hall, and Longzhong and Ziyang Academies were not located within Xiangyang City.

After a brief introduction, Commandant Zhou asked, "Master Lu, what do you mean when you say something has already gone wrong?"

Master Lu's white hair was somewhat disheveled, and his eyes were full of fatigue. He shook his head and said, "Xiangyang has the garrison, the yamen, and the Commandant's Office to suppress unrest, and food is sufficient. With a few measures, it can be stabilized."

"The real trouble lies in the surrounding towns and villages."

Commandant Zhou said in a deep voice, "Master Lu, you are worrying too much about that. We have already sent men to blockade all the main roads around Xiangyang; not even a fly can get out."

"That is exactly where the trouble lies!"

Master Lu shook his head and said, "How many people are there in Xiangyang City?"

"In those rural villages, the plague is spreading; I fear they have already fallen. On my way here, I heard that some villages were already in revolt..."

"Moreover, there are many Miao and Man tribes in the Xiangyang mountains. Even the prefectural yamen doesn't know how many stockades they have. If the plague breaks out, and with people inciting them, the consequences will be unimaginable..."

These words made sweat bead on Commandant Zhou's forehead.

Master Lu was right; he didn't really believe these people would dare to gather and storm Xiangyang City.

But storming the checkpoints and causing the epidemic to spiral out of control would be easy.

Thinking of this, Commandant Zhou hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "I wonder what brilliant plan Master Lu might have?"

Master Lu pondered for a moment and said, "On Lumeng Mountain, there is a hermit named An Fade. He is both a man of the Confucian school and a Mystic Sect practitioner. He often goes deep into the Xiangyang mountains to gather herbs and has a good relationship with those Miao and Man stockades."

"You can go and invite him to enter the mountains to communicate with those stockades and stabilize the situation."

"An Fade..."

Commandant Zhou looked thoughtful, then cupped his hands and said, "Many thanks for the reminder, Master. Someone, escort Master Lu home, and send some rice, grain, and firewood."

After sending the old man away, Commandant Zhou's gaze quickly turned cold. He said in a deep voice to Li Yan, "Master Lu is a man of great virtue and prestige in Xiangyang, and I trust him, but this An Fade likely has some issues. Li Li Shaoxia, you are a member of the Mystic Sect; have you ever heard of this person?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "I have never heard of him."

Commandant Zhou nodded. "I will send men to investigate this matter. The key is still to find the source of the plague as soon as possible."

"Li Li Shaoxia, don't blame me for being inquisitive, but the man is locked in the Commandant's Office, and so much news has been released—anyone can see it's a trap. Will those evil people really come to silence him?"

Li Yan said coldly, "In the prefectural yamen, in broad daylight, people from the Medicine Saint Li family vanished into thin air. These evil people are very bold; if they succeed once, there will certainly be a second time."

"And what comes might not necessarily be human..."

Commandant Zhou felt a headache coming on as he listened. He shook his head and said, "I truly don't understand these things. Li Li Shaoxia, what do you need me to do?"

The mission Li Yan and his companions accepted this time was issued jointly by the Yunyang Prefectural Yamen and the Zhenwu Palace, with the Ministry of War also participating. Therefore, as soon as he entered the city, the local powers in Xiangyang immediately latched onto him—first, to snatch the credit, and second, to shift the blame in the future.

Of course, Li Yan did not have the authority to command everything; his mission was to find the source of the plague.

Because of certain connections, Commandant Zhou was also willing to cooperate more.

Li Yan pondered for a moment and whispered, "If Commandant Zhou truly wants to help, you can secretly move new-style artillery here. Remember, you must keep it confidential..."

…………

The Xiangyang Commandant's Office is located in the west of the city.

Like most other cities, the place where the Commandant's Office is located is usually not bustling; the common people keep their distance, and the Commandant's Office also does not want the flow of people around it to be too complex.

The busiest place nearby was the Xiangyang mule and horse market, but it had long since been closed and was empty.

Inside a warm pavilion in the side courtyard, Wu Degui, the Commandant of the Xiangyang Commandant's Office, picked up his teacup, skimmed the tea foam, and smiled, "Li Li Shaoxia, do you really think those people will come?"

Li Yan laughed dryly. "The plan was proposed by you, sir; why ask me?"

!.

Wu Degui was not embarrassed and shook his head. "I don't understand sorcery; I only arrange plans based on human nature."

"Given the current situation in the city, we can't stand it, and those evil people are no better off. If they don't use thunderous means to deal with the traitor, morale will scatter, so they will definitely take action."

"The only thing I don't understand is that both the county yamen and the Commandant's Office have suppression artifacts set up; how can the other party use sorcery to sneak in?"

Li Yan shook his head. "Sir, there is no need to be anxious. We shall just wait; the other party will show their true colors sooner or later."

Having said that, he changed the subject and asked about the situation in Zigui.

"Commandant Yuan of Yichang is formidable..."

Wu Degui briefly described the situation there and then sighed, "The brothers there are bold and capable; they have made many contributions. I fear that after the war in the Southwest, they will soar to great heights."

"Tsk tsk, sigh~ It's a pity that I injured my lungs practicing martial arts, and I have no such ambitions. As long as I can guard Xiangyang and not lose my job, that's enough..."

Squeak, squeak!

Just as they were speaking, a mouse's squeak suddenly came from the rafters. It was none other than Mouse Da, its fat body climbing on the rafters with unusual agility.

Lu San said in a deep voice, "Someone is tampering with the formation, placing a 'yansheng' object on a tree in the courtyard to the left of the main gate..."

Li Yan nodded slightly and said, "Just as I suspected, it must be collusion between inside and outside to achieve this. People from the Medicine Saint Li family were likely abducted in this way."

Upon hearing this, Wu Degui's expression immediately turned ugly. "I have let Li Li Shaoxia see a joke."

Although he was annoyed, he did not rush to catch the person. Instead, he said, "The inside traitor broke the formation; there must be an evil person outside setting up an altar to perform sorcery. Can Li Li Shaoxia catch the person?"

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "As soon as they perform the sorcery, I can find them!"

Having said that, he went into the courtyard and performed a hand seal. "Nuogao! Taiwei Chuling, create soldiers and armor, drive away evil and assist the righteous, spread the yang harmony, North Yin Imperial Order, suppress the blades..."

Swish, swish, swish!

Three paper-cutout 'chuling' figures flew out from his waist.

As his cultivation entered the Third Floor, although he hadn't learned new sorcery, the power of his original sorcery had increased accordingly.

For example, this 'chuling' technique was not only more flexible but could also borrow the energy of the 'gang' and 'sha' to toughen itself, as if the paper had turned into iron plates.

In other words, it now had offensive capabilities.

The three paper figures soared into the air, flipping and flying with the wind. After landing on the roof, they suddenly stiffened, their legs sprinting along the eaves, and soon disappeared into the darkness...

Afterwards, Li Yan performed a hand seal and took a deep breath.

The aura within a five-hundred-meter radius all surged into his nasal cavity.

Combined with the vision of the paper figures, he immediately saw the traitor's movements.

It was an old man with a full head of white hair and triangular eyes. By the looks of it, he was just a squad leader, secretly placing a Bagua mirror on a tree stump.

Li Yan ignored him, merely memorizing the man's appearance.

The other party destroying the formation was exactly what he wanted. Right now, the entire Commandant's Office was under his control, and with the cooperation of Lu San's animals, he didn't believe he couldn't find the traces of those evil people!

However, after waiting for a while, there was still no movement.

Just as Li Yan was doubting, he suddenly smelled several whiffs of a fishy, earthy, and woody odor coming rapidly from the northwest, but it didn't rush to get close, instead circling the Commandant's Office continuously.

What is this?

Li Yan frowned, feeling somewhat strange.

The smell on the other party was not that of ghosts or fierce spirits, but a fishy odor of artifacts, as if wood had been placed in the soil and had become rotten.

Moreover, there was also a faint scent of incense...

Is it a spirit?

It doesn't quite look like it...

Just as Li Yan was puzzled, human voices suddenly reached his ears.

"Here! Here! Here!"

"Hee hee hee, kill kill kill, die die die!"

The voices were manic and chaotic, like those of a mad child.

Subsequently, several auras rapidly submerged into the ground.

"Not good, save the person quickly!"

Li Yan gave a low shout, immediately leaping up. After jumping onto the rafters, he unleashed a hidden force from his feet, 'whoosh', breaking through the air.

Wu Degui and Lu San were startled and hurriedly followed.

The prison where the Lord Tian Sheng Sect man was being held was in a nearby courtyard. Li Yan leaped down, immediately giving the guarding Commandant's Office members a fright.

"Mr. Li..."

Before they could even ask, Li Yan rushed into the gate. "Quick, blockade the entire Commandant's Office, don't let anyone escape!"

At the same time, Wu Degui and Lu San also rushed over.

Everyone flooded into the prison and was immediately shocked.

They saw two Commandant's Office guards already fallen to the ground, unconscious, while the man in the prison was suspended in mid-air, clutching his own throat and struggling frantically.

And around him, a sinister wind swirled continuously.

"Get out!"

Li Yan gave an angry shout, and the Soul-Severing Flying Knife whistled out.

Pfft!

Like piercing a balloon, with an explosive sound, the sinister wind instantly vanished, and the man fell to the ground, his eyes full of terror, coughing continuously.

Everyone saw with their own eyes that the straw on the ground flew about, and it seemed as if several black shadows burrowed into the ground and vanished rapidly.

"This... what is this?"

Wu Degui watched, dumbfounded.

"It's a Wild God!"

Li Yan couldn't spare the time to explain more. He immediately pulled out his horse armor, and while tying it, said, "Brother Lu San, send the hawks to follow. Commandant Wu, gather men to support; I'll go one step ahead."

Having said that, he paced the 'bu gang ta dou' and performed a hand seal. "Nuogao! Six Jia and Nine Chapters, the sky is round and the earth is square. The four seasons and five elements, the sun and moon are the light..."

Whoosh~

A fierce wind blew, and the person had already vanished.

Wu Degui immediately realized something and said with surprise in his eyes, "Quick, quick, gather the men, call the garrison to send troops to support; we've found their lair..."

"Also, catch that bastard from just now!"

As for Lu San, he had already raised his hand to release the hawks to follow Li Yan.

The entire Commandant's Office was suddenly filled with blazing fire, noisy human voices, and the neighing of warhorses...

Second update at 3:30.

(End of chapter)