Chapter 52: Return to Huicheng and the Blood Butcher

Jinshan County City, Tianyang Branch Academy, Lecture Hall.

Seeing the flag master Zhong Da racing toward him, Academy Head Zhou Qingzhu had lost his usual composure.

In the past, he had always waited calmly for Zhong Da to report.

But now, Zhou Qingzhu could no longer wait, and asked directly, “How is it? Has Ji Bochang agreed to act?”

“Report, Academy Head: latest intelligence shows that, with deliberate leniency from Supervisor Huang Yunshu, this morning’s dawn, Flag Master Ji Bochang and Cui Tianqi slipped away from the demon-hunting squad and split up.

Ji Bochang obtained the star-pigeon from Yue Chong’s squad, reporting that Yue Chong’s team failed; he will annihilate the Heshui County squad next, then turn to destroy the Jinsha County squad. He further stated he will monitor the Heshui, Jinsha, and Nanhe County squads—if our assigned teams fail, he will intervene as reinforcement to eliminate them. He assures you he will maintain contact.” Zhong Da reported.

Hearing this, Zhou Qingzhu exhaled deeply.

“Yue Chong, a Star Refining Stage Two, also failed.”

“Indeed, Dong Zhao had prepared backup plans—but Dong Zhao never imagined I’d spent over a decade planting a high-ranking mole who earned their trust.

Worth it.” Zhou Qingzhu said.

“Academy Head’s insight is unmatched.” Zhong Da offered a timely compliment.

“I was right about him. When I saw Ji Bochang’s filial piety, I judged him loyal and righteous—and now, at the critical moment, he truly delivered.

One man like him is worth ten!” Zhou Qingzhu was visibly pleased.

“Academy Head’s discernment is extraordinary.”

Zhong Da’s perfectly timed flattery pleased Zhou Qingzhu greatly: “Send those who can leave the city with star-pigeons. Find Ji Bochang along his expected route. Tell him: if he clears the three northwestern counties, hurry to the eastern side of the county city—any survivors there will be easiest for him to eliminate.

Afterwards, I’ll arrange his transfer to the Tianyang Branch Temple.”

“Understood.”

“By the way, were the two Firecloud Seals sent east?” The eastern academy’s strength was formidable—first Luo Kexing, then Cui Tianqi—so Zhou Qingzhu had personally crafted two powerful Firecloud Seals, capable of killing both in a single strike if used well.

“Report, Academy Head: already dispatched.”

“Good. Report immediately if there’s news.”

Zhong Da bowed and departed, finally breathing easier.

The one thing about their Academy Head that inspired the most trust: he never betrayed those who served him.

At Jinshan Academy, Academy Head Dong Zhao, upon reading the latest star-pigeon message, also exhaled in relief.

With Flag Masters Ji Bochang, Cui Tianqi, and Luo Kexing dispatched to support the squads, plus the life-saving seals given to each team, most squads should return safely, right?

Beneath Lihua Hill, even though Ji Bochang appeared dead, Xu Jin and Niu Gui did not rush forward.

He might still be holding his last breath.

If they approached now, he could explode and take one or two with him.

No rush.

“First, divide the spoils. Ji Bochang’s share is separate.” Niu Gui said.

The disciples finally snapped back to reality—the events of the past moments felt like a dream.

Such legendary experiences had just happened to them.

4,560 taels of silver: Xu Jin and Niu Gui each took 910 taels; the other eleven received about 250 taels each.

Xu Jin and Niu Gui took more silver notes; Xu Jin took three Spirit-Reviving Pills, but declined the Star-Nourishing Pills, which were divided among the others.

Not because they didn’t need them—after cultivation, Star-Nourishing Pills offered far worse value than Spirit-Reviving Pills.

Thus, Xu Jin now possessed twelve Spirit-Reviving Pills.

His silver: 780 taels seized in Heshui County last night, 820 taels in cash today after deducting the Spirit-Reviving Pills, plus over 200 taels remaining from before—Xu Jin now held over 1,800 taels.

He was, by any measure, comfortably wealthy.

Xu Jin planned to use it wisely after returning: terminate his sister’s indenture contract, help her awaken her star core, and move his father to the county city.

He didn’t know housing prices, but with this much silver, renting would be effortless.

This life, he wouldn’t be a tenant slave.

The rest would go toward accelerating his cultivation.

He still needed to strengthen himself.

Seals were powerful, but too unpredictable.

Twice today he used the Spiral Blade Seal—honestly, without Niu Gui’s coordination, his hit rate would’ve dropped.

That would’ve been a waste.

Yet despite such thoughts, Xu Jin still placed one of his two Dawn Seals beneath the Star Lamp to cultivate.

Who would be the second victim of the enhanced seal’s power?

After a full half-minute, certain Ji Bochang was truly dead, Xu Jin and Niu Gui finally approached.

In the meantime, the group had moved the boulders blocking the road. Seeing Ji Bochang’s corpse, Niu Gui stopped Qian Xiaohu, who instinctively reached to loot: “Gentlemen, I ask a favor—Ji Bochang was a Flag Master of our Jinshan Academy, his status is special. I must take his body back to deliver to the Supervisor.”

Naturally, no one objected.

Only because Niu Gui was present—if not, killing a Flag Master and calling him a traitor would’ve required lengthy explanations.

As Niu Gui spoke, he picked up Ji Bochang’s star-weapon longsword, hesitated, then handed it to Xu Jin: “The higher the rank of the seal, the rarer it is. Your Spiral Blade Seal is devastating—you killed Ji Bochang. We all owe you.

This star-weapon longsword is yours to keep. Consider it compensation.”

Xu Jin wanted to refuse—he’d wanted to say the Spiral Blade Seal was given by Ning Jiaotou.

But why had Ning Jiaotou given it to him and not others?

This karmic debt would fall on Xu Jin to repay later.

So Xu Jin accepted it without hesitation.

Then Niu Gui slung Ji Bochang’s upper torso onto a horse, wrapped the remaining fragments in cloth, and the group resumed their journey.

Along the way, everyone remained tense, fearing another ambush.

Only when the towering walls of Jinshan County City appeared faintly on the horizon did they relax slightly.

Meanwhile, battles continued on the roads of other counties.

Some chased, some fled; others arrived as reinforcements.

For example, Luo Geng’s squad, having defeated their ambushers with the seal given by his uncle, soon encountered Flag Master Lin Lang of the Tianyang Branch Academy.

Fortunately, Luo Kexing arrived in time.

In strength, Luo Kexing and Lin Lang were evenly matched—but Luo Kexing fought wounded, and soon fell behind.

Luo Kexing had no choice but to use his life-saving seals—those given by his Academy Head and those from the Supervisor.

Yet just as Luo Kexing unleashed his seal, Lin Lang also activated a burst of firelight—instantly, Firecloud engulfed Luo Kexing, lifting him into the air.

Lin Lang was severely wounded; Luo Kexing, as if roasted alive, collapsed unconscious.

Fortunately, Luo Geng was ruthless—he hurled all his uncle’s life-saving seals at the wounded Lin Lang, then fished another seal from Luo Kexing’s robes, terrifying the injured Lin Lang into fleeing.

In another direction, Cui Tianqi and Jin Chi clashed.

At the final moment, Jin Chi activated the Firecloud Seal granted by his Academy Head.

Unfortunately, Cui Tianqi had anticipated it—he dodged slightly, suffering only minor injury.

Though Cui Tianqi’s thick beard and imposing appearance suggested brute strength, he was in fact meticulous: if his Academy Head gave him a life-saving seal, did Jin Chi have one too?

Almost certainly.

The battle ended with both Cui Tianqi and Jin Chi grievously wounded, but many disciples were caught in the crossfire.

In the end, only eight men from that squad returned with Cui Tianqi.

As the sun sank westward, Xu Jin led the first squad back to Jinshan County City.

Not only had all members returned alive, they’d brought the prisoner alive as well.

Instantly, Wang Qiang, the Tianyang Branch Academy’s Supervising Officer who had been confronting and restraining Ning Yuchan, realized something was terribly wrong.

Returning with a living prisoner was entirely different from returning with only a written confession.

The moment he saw Xu Jin’s squad entering the city, Supervising Officer Wang Qiang immediately turned and raced back to the Tianyang Branch Academy.

This matter must be reported to the Academy Head at once.

At the very instant he saw Xu Jin’s return—his intact squad, the living prisoner slung on the horse—Ning Yuchan surged her star force, transforming her iron cane into a starlight iron mallet.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Star force erupted—Ning Yuchan struck the ground three times, as if welcoming, as if venting.

At that exact moment, Supervising Officer Wang Qiang turned to leave.

Simultaneously, within Jinshan Academy, Academy Head Dong Zhao, who had been continuously activating the Star-Locking Ring, suddenly sensed a massive surge of star force.

A thread of starlight descended, touching Ning Yuchan—his awareness registered her changed aura.

“Ah, they’ve arrived. Yuchan sent me a signal.

Three strikes—clearly, the first squad completed their mission perfectly!”

The next instant, Academy Head Dong Zhao activated the Star-Locking Ring again—the starlight thread descending from the void trembled violently three times.

This starlight thread connected to the Supervisor of Jinshan Academy, Tian Zhang.

The mighty Blood Butcher Tian Zhang sat cross-legged in a cramped dwelling.

Suddenly, starlight descended, trembling three times.

“Is the finale approaching?”

The next instant, Tian Zhang rose, stepped outside, transformed into a streak of bloodlight, and leapt directly into a nearby courtyard.

(End of Chapter)