Chapter 592: Bloody Street Battle

"Get out of the way!"

The Blood Nuo Master Ba Daiza roared a warning.

At this moment, his head was ringing.

This heavy-armored Black Feather Guard of the Shu Prince was their trump card, secretly trained until the great event neared, when they finally unveiled him to secure the scene.

Their primary target was the practitioners of the martial Dao sects.

Leveraging their equipment advantage, they crushed everything in their path.

Of course, this was far from enough to fight an army—they never intended to confront the imperial forces from the start.

Who could have imagined the enemy was also using firearms?

They fired the Tiger Zun Cannon using human power.

Could this be a demon?

Boom!

Before he could think further, Wu Ba had already fired the cannon.

This Tiger Zun Cannon could fire both lead bullets and scatter shot—effective at both long range and wide areas.

When Sha Li Fei and the others arrived at the Prince's mansion, the battle there had already ended, but the Tiger Zun Cannon was too heavy for the garrison soldiers to move, so they reclaimed it.

This weapon was originally forged at great cost by the Tian Sheng Sect; after the Shu Prince's mansion acquired it, they reinforced it further, increasing its power.

It was loaded entirely with scatter shot.

With a deafening roar, flames several meters long erupted, thick smoke billowed, and a dense hail of pellets screamed outward.

The entire street was covered; bricks and tiles shattered into fragments.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The heavy armor of the Black Feather Guards tore like paper—some were split in two, others had their cloth shredded.

A mist of blood exploded across the snow, painting vivid red blossoms on the ground.

After the smoke cleared, only ruin remained.

A few surviving Black Feather Guards could not rise; they rolled in blood-soaked mud, groaning, breathing out more than in.

It was past noon.

On the first day of the New Year, most civilians were at home—even those who had gone out for the "Joyful God's Procession" had returned.

This district was mostly inhabited by high-ranking officials and nobles.

The continuous gunfire and troop movements had already driven them to hide in the inner courtyards.

The roar of the Tiger Zun Cannon threw them into panic.

"Oh my god!"

On the second floor of a teahouse across the street, the shopkeeper, who had been watching the spectacle, turned pale and slammed the window shut with a clatter.

Wealthy gentry from surrounding mansions fled in panic through their back doors, dragging servants with them.

The entire street had been cleared; Wu Ba was nowhere to be seen—he had been thrown backward by the cannon's brutal recoil, crashing straight through half a wall behind him.

Fortunately, this brute had thick skin and tough flesh; not only was he unharmed, but the impact stirred his ferocity—he laughed loudly and reloaded the Tiger Zun Cannon.

"Die!"

The Blood Nuo Master's face twisted in fury, his eyes bloodshot; he leapt into the air, crimson Dao knife in hand, descending from the rooftop wrapped in a veil of blood mist.

This mission had already failed, with heavy losses.

Yet Blood Nuo Master Ba Daiza still sensed a sliver of opportunity.

Their forces still held the advantage; tens of thousands of troops from Chengdu were rushing toward this location.

If they killed the wild man wielding the Tiger Zun Cannon, their numerical superiority and coordinated volleys would leave no one alive.

These experts before him were the greatest threat.

Killing them was worth any cost.

Li Yan naturally saw his intent.

"Look after this elder!"

Wrapped in black mist, he seized the dying Golden Granny and hurled her toward Lu San behind him, then leapt forward himself.

At this moment, Li Yan was empowered by the Eight Outer Altar Spirit Generals, clad in the Soul-Grabbing Chain as armor—his strength, speed, and the Gangsha energy swirling around him were like a ghostly deity.

He struck from behind, surging upward in black mist, intercepting Blood Nuo Master Ba Daiza, his Zhanjiaoduanchen Knife rising upward.

Sensing the killing intent, the Blood Nuo Master slashed his blade to block.

The Duanchen Knife clashed with the crimson Dao knife, roaring—yet it was blocked.

The true power of the Zhanjiaoduanchen Knife lay in its thunder magic; Li Yan, to sustain prolonged combat, had not used thunder.

Even so, the Blood Nuo Master's blood mist shattered; his face twisted in rage, veins bulging on his forehead, his whole body trembling.

Seeing him exhausted, Li Yan followed with a kick to the chest.

Boom!

The Blood Nuo Master flew backward, crashing into the wooden pillar outside the inn; the broken pillar, mixed with bricks and tiles, tumbled down in a clatter.

But something surprised Li Yan.

That kick could have killed a tiger.

Yet the Blood Nuo Master shoved aside the rubble, leapt to his feet, face flushed, black foul blood pouring from his mouth.

Though battered, he regained some vigor.

Li Yan stared, startled.

This old demon, no wonder he was the Shu Prince's top evil cultivator—he could control his entire blood supply, expelling the foul blood in an instant.

It was a kind of alternative recovery method.

Moreover, he wore some powerful artifact on his body.

"Master Ba, don't engage him up close!"

Seeing Li Yan's black mist form, Si Tu Qian's eyes filled with dread—he recalled unpleasant memories.

The Mourning Actress Bai Qihong was finished; the Blood Basin Holy Mother's possession would take months to recover, and he had secretly sent her away.

"Mind your own business!"

Blood Nuo Master Ba Daiza snarled impatiently.

A few days ago, he had nearly slain the declining Cheng Jianxian; years of pent-up rage had been unleashed, and he was riding high.

Who knew he'd be humbled here?

Thinking of it, the old demon grabbed his worn black robe and tore it apart, revealing his bare torso.

Everyone gasped.

His body was covered, one patch after another, with gray carapace-like scales, outlining his muscles as if the armor had been sewn into his flesh.

Not only that, his chest and back were painted with a bizarre oil painting: five grotesque red-robed immortal officials stood atop coffins.

At his chest was a sunken footprint—the one Li Yan had left moments ago—but now it slowly swelled, gradually healing.

They did not know this was the Blood Nuo Master's ultimate treasure: the Plague God Armor, made from the back skin of violently dead corpses, inscribed with the "Five Plague Funeral Map."

In the past, every man, woman, and child from the destroyed Tujia villages had worn layers upon layers of this skin, appearing like armored carapaces.

"Dagizaxi, aid me!"

The old demon roared, slicing open his palm with his blood knife.

Behind him, the Black Sect lama Duoji Zaxi spun around, stripped off his monk's robe, and hung it upside down—the back was embroidered with a massive thangka:

Two skulls wearing bone crowns, wielding ritual implements, surrounded by flames, their feet standing on a sea of countless vengeful ghosts…

The Lord of the Corpse Forest!

Li Yan sensed danger and, ignoring the re-forming soldiers afar, transformed into a swirl of black mist and shot forward.

But it was too late.

The Black Sect lama Duoji Zaxi spun his prayer wheel, chanting incantations; thick yin-sha energy poured forth like a waterfall, flooding into the Blood Nuo Master.

The sha energy was icy; frost erupted wildly around them.

Simultaneously, a ferocious stench of blood rose.

Boom!

Just as Li Yan neared, a crimson shadow burst through the ice, lunging straight at him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Two clouds—one black, one red—collided furiously on the street; gales howled, and walls collapsed wherever they passed.

Snow and wind whipped in reverse, blinding the soldiers.

The two were evenly matched!

On the other side, Si Tu Qian was also engaged—he fought his adoptive father, Si Tu Bo.

Both had studied the late Tang-era evil art, the "Hundred Masks Scripture."

At this moment, Si Tu Bo's head shifted, his face now wearing the Guan Gong Nuo mask: red face, long beard, leaping and bounding, his Guan Dao swirling snow, radiating killing intent.

Si Tu Qian had just returned from the "Joyful God's Procession," also dressed as Guan Gong; his sword slashed, his aura no less formidable. "Hah!"

Si Tu Bo's phoenix eyes blazed, his crimson face fierce; he slammed his Green Dragon Halberd into the ground, its blade ringing: "You ungrateful disciple! You disrespect heaven, earth, sovereign, and parents; you show no compassion to the common folk. You are disloyal and unfilial—you're worse than a pig or dog!"

Righteous and majestic, his divine aura was formidable, and his attacks left no mercy.

His crimson face and long beard, his Green Dragon Halberd dragging three inches in the mud, his stomping steps shattered the snow; he executed a sweeping backslash, the blade's back rising like a crescent moon.

Si Tu Qian was no less capable; though he had lost a leg and had it replaced with Nie Sang's mechanical prosthesis, making it clumsy, he compensated with youth and strength.

He sidestepped backward, his sword angling upward to strike seven inches high; as the blade's spine struck the halberd's guard, he flicked his wrist and effortlessly lifted the Guan Dao away.

"Hahahaha, what a joke!"

Situ Qian gritted his teeth: "You old bastard, you once had a name in the Jianghu, once shone brightly—now that you're weak with age, you tell me to learn loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness, and live a lifetime of humiliation!"

"My father's mistake wasn't joining the ghost opera troupe—it was that he wasn't strong enough!"

With new grudges added to old ones, both sought to kill each other.

!

"Kid, you think you're strong?!"

A cold female voice sounded beside them.

It was the others of the Bamboo Grove Six Idle Ones coming to assist.

Tea Demon Niang Liang Yu shook her sleeve, and suddenly a teacup appeared in her palm; she flung it out with the technique of hidden weapons.

The tea's fragrance drifted, but Situ Qian's face changed—he hastily stepped back, and as the tea splashed onto the ground, the snow quickly turned black.

"Hahahaha…"

Before he could steady himself, an aged voice rang out.

A blind old man leapt down, crouched in a horse stance, sat cross-legged in midair, placed his erhu on his knees, and said, "Strong? So what? In the end, you're still just a handful of yellow earth, nameless in this mortal world~"

His voice carried the cadence of opera; as he drew and released the bowstring, visible ripples cleaved through the falling snow, racing straight for Situ Qian's face.

The old man was none other than "Earth Listening String" Yue San'er of the Bamboo Grove Six Idle Ones.

Seeing the six united, Situ Qian knew he couldn't win—he leapt upward, turned, and fled, roaring: "You want numbers? Fire! Shoot them dead!"

Far off, the garrison soldiers had already assembled, raising their flintlock muskets into a three-line formation.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The garrison soldiers pulled their triggers.

The Bamboo Grove Six Idle Ones sidestepped and leapt, vaulting over walls to dodge.

In an instant, earth and stone sprayed from the walls, pockmarked with craters.

"Old fool!"

Seeing them evade, Situ Qian shook his head, his mask instantly shifting into the form of Zhong Kui, preparing to chant a spell.

But as soon as he began chanting, a sharp warning surged in his heart—he leapt up without hesitation, smashing through the wall and charging into a nearby shop.

Boom!

A deafening explosion filled the air with smoke.

It was Sha Li Fei, crouched on the rooftop, firing his gun.

He didn't hit Situ Qian, but drew the soldiers' attention—they all raised their guns and pulled triggers.

"Cowardly bastard!"

Sha Li Fei cursed under his breath, rolling off sideways.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Tiles shattered and flew from the rooftop.

At that moment, Wu Ba finally reloaded the Tiger Cannon, leapt out, and lit the fuse.

Boom!

A thunderous blast—houses collapsed, limbs flew across the street.

In a short time, firearms and magical arts erupted—the street was in chaos.

Boom boom boom!

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble.

In the distance, warhorses thundered down the main street, black banners waving—two cavalry units charged from the direction of the Shu Prince's Mansion.

"Wind's picking up—let's split!"

Seeing this, Sha Li Fei shouted urgently.

The others quickly gathered toward him.

They were too few; though the Tiger Cannon had given them temporary advantage, they couldn't hold against a cavalry charge.

On the street, only two swirling mists—one red, one black—fought wildly.

"Young Master Li, hurry and go!"

Sha Li Fei cried out anxiously.

"Hmph!"

Li Yan had already sensed the reinforcements' arrival; though unwilling, he let out a cold snort, enveloped in rolling black mist, and soared into the air.

When he landed, the black mist dispersed, revealing his true form.

"Take the Jiuyan Bridge! Old woman knows a place…"

Golden Granny tore off her mask, her face pale as death, coughing blood.

No one wasted words—they sped up, fleeing wildly through alleyways, soon shaking off their pursuers and vanishing from sight…

Watching them leave, the Blood Nuo Master made no pursuit; he too landed, the blood mist dissolving, his skin now deathly pale.

He swayed unsteadily, nearly falling.

"Release the falcons—search!"

He roared in frustration, giving orders.

But he knew deep down—he'd likely find nothing.

Indeed, the cavalry scoured everywhere but found no trace of Li Yan or the others; the falcons released were slain by Lu San's falcon Lidong.

"Withdraw—return and report!"

The Blood Nuo Master, unwilling but resigned, ordered retreat.

In the year Yi Si, the first day of the first lunar month, dark clouds hung over Chengdu…

…………

In a dilapidated, abandoned old house in eastern Chengdu, Li Yan and the others sat on the ground, all gasping for breath, exhausted.

Chengdu had become a dangerous place; the Shu Prince's Mansion had skilled sorcerers adept at tracking—they'd changed locations repeatedly to shake off pursuit.

Now, a Concealing Qi Talisman was pasted on the distant gate, and several magical flags were stuck into the walls overgrown with wild grass, forming an array.

"This is the Bai family's old house."

Golden Granny, pale-faced, said: "Years ago, there was a horrific incident—I helped clean it up, and afterward took this house as my base."

"Behind the main hall, there's a secret passage with rations…"

Before she finished speaking, she fainted.

The old woman was already advanced in age; having repeatedly used powerful magical arts, she was now drained to the point of exhaustion—even if she recovered, her cultivation would likely decline.

Liang Yu quickly helped her into the room.

Li Yan then asked about the events.

It turned out that Wuxiang Young Master and the others had hidden well, but some rumors leaked—and Liang Yu, familiar with Chengdu, found them.

They originally planned to meet Li Yan, but encountered Sha Li Fei and the others, who had heard of the incident and were rushing to rescue them.

Now, the group headed toward the Grand Commandery Prince's Mansion.

Li Yan also recounted his experience at the Prince's Mansion.

"That bastard—definitely no good!"

Hearing Wuxiang Young Master had kicked them while they were down, Sha Li Fei cursed: "Just days ago, he acted so noble and righteous—finally his fox tail showed."

He rubbed his bald head, still shaken: "Thank heaven we went to rescue them—if we hadn't, that bastard would've come back and screwed us over too."

"Those people can't be trusted."

Liang Yu of the Bamboo Grove Six Idle Ones added gravely: "We got word—the reinforcements from Qingcheng Mountain have arrived. They ambushed the Shu Prince at the Wu Hou Temple, but failed."

"Also, we sought you mainly for this."

With that, she pulled from her robe a cloth-wrapped copper coin.

It was the "God of Joy Coin" the Shu Prince had just scattered…

(End of Chapter)