Chapter 107 The Messenger of the Underworld
Chapter 107 The Messenger of the Underworld
The old man didn't stop the carriage even after rushing a long way from the "snake den".
There was a deathly silence on the carriage.
It seems like only yesterday that I met Gu Lianyong on the way, and heard Gu Lianyong tell me how he met the old man, his experiences in the Bewitching Town, and his desire to rescue the other people in the Bewitching Town.
But in such a short time, barely enough to finish exchanging pleasantries with the old man and recount his experiences over the years...
The sound of horses' hooves echoed, and even the unevenness of the road trodden by the wheels seemed less noticeable.
As the sun rose, its rays gradually fell upon the horse's back and the roof of the carriage, so bright that it was difficult to open one's eyes.
While the car was traveling, the old man suddenly tightened the reins.
The carriage suddenly stopped.
Grandpa Weng, Jiang Yutang, and Wang Sumo all looked at him.
The old man threw down the reins with a "smack," and fell into a silent, sorrowful state...
Grandpa Weng gestured to Yutang.
Yu Tang understood and got out of the carriage, picked up the whip, and handed it to Old Master Weng, who then started driving the carriage forward again.
Gu Lianyong's appearance was brief, but it brought shock and sorrow to everyone.
But a carriage can't have everyone suffering; someone has to keep going.
Weng He was clear-headed.
Wang Sumo remembered the surprise in Gu Lianyong's eyes when he recognized the old man, repeatedly saying "Senior, save me!", and then jumping off the carriage without hesitation...
Wang Sumo knew that the old man was overwhelmed with guilt and self-blame.
“The exit is ahead…it’s the exit three miles east, leading to two miles east.” Weng He read the words clearly.
Although it was quite far away and the writing was somewhat blurred, the outline of the words "Dong Er Li" could still be vaguely seen.
Two miles east is one mile east.
Once you leave East First Lane, you've left the Bewitching Town!
In the past, everyone in the carriage would have been excited; but now, it seems to have become just a symbol. Despite having looked forward to it for a long time, there is no excitement or anticipation.
Just a little bit more, just a tiny bit more...
Inside the carriage, Wang Sumo bent his knees, rubbing them with his hands, looking somewhat dejected.
In the past, I always felt that riding the Eight Treasures Pavilion would bring good fortune and help me escape danger easily.
But if it weren't for Gu Lianyong this time, they probably wouldn't have made it out of the three or four li east...
Although if you don't enter the Bewitching Town, you won't encounter Gu Lianyong.
But when he encountered it, he couldn't pull himself out of the nightmare, and he felt guilty and regretful.
She knew Gu Lianyong's choice, his considerations, and his unavoidable circumstances, but all of these were like a cold pool or an ice cellar, making it hard to breathe.
After passing through the stone screen at the bend, you will arrive at Dong Erli.
Compared to the thrilling experience just now, this place is as peaceful as a paradise.
As dawn broke, the ruins that had appeared particularly desolate and terrifying in the darkness now showed faint traces of their former existence...
If Gu Lianyong were still alive, he would definitely recognize him.
In the silence, Weng He drove the carriage and said, "We've made it through the dangers of East Three Miles and East Four Miles, I wonder what lies ahead in East Two Miles?"
He could only try to remind everyone that it was not necessarily safe at the moment.
Who knows what lies ahead!
The calmer things seem at times like these, the more turbulent the undercurrents are.
It's too quiet here.
It was so quiet, as if they knew the other side wouldn't be able to get through, so there was no obstruction. Even the scenery remained the same, retaining the closest resemblance to the town's former self…
"The smell is off," Jiang Yutang was the first to realize.
She grew up alongside Zhu Weng.
In his early years, Zhu Weng often went to the tomb.
One of the most essential skills for anyone going into a tomb is the ability to perceive the smells in the air.
An unusual smell in the air often foreshadows danger in a large tomb.
Therefore, Zhu Weng was an expert in the study of poisons and toxic gases. As the saying goes, "one is influenced by one's company," Jiang Yutang and Zhu Yu were also sensitive to these smells from a young age.
"There's poisonous powder mixed in with the air," Jiang Yutang warned early, so the people in the carriage had time to adjust their breathing and resist the effects of the toxins.
Wang Sumo quickly covered the corner of her mouth with a wet handkerchief.
Previously, when using tiger urine, I had activated the mechanism on the horse's hood. These doses of poison are effective against humans, but relatively less dangerous to horses.
Grandpa Weng unscrewed the jade bottle and took one of the pills inside.
Then it is passed on to the other people in turn.
Having served in Zhenhu Division for so long, Old Master Weng has dealt with all sorts of sects, including many that use poison.
These sects, needing to earn a living under the Zhenhu Division, would naturally rack their brains to offer things to Old Master Weng. Other things wouldn't catch Old Master Weng's eye, but he certainly wouldn't mind having too many of these life-saving items.
These pills were made by Medicine King Valley.
The martial arts sects that are assigned to the Bewitching Town are basically peripheral sects.
The poison used was of third-rate quality; the medicine Old Master Weng had was a detoxifying and life-saving medicine from Medicine King Valley, and its effects would only be greater, not less.
After each person took a pill, even Wang Sumo felt that his breathing was much easier. Although it seemed that there would be no problem even if he removed the handkerchief, Wang Sumo still covered the corner of his mouth with the wet handkerchief just to be on the safe side.
Without the miraculous elixirs of Medicine King Valley, ordinary people, even ordinary martial arts masters, would probably find it difficult to breathe in this poison that spreads through the air.
Some people don't want them to leave Bewitching Town, and they'll stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
If it weren't for the Eight Treasures Pavilion, the presence of Old Master Weng, Old Master Qu, Jiang Yutang, Bai Cen, and the encounter with Gu Lianyong along the way, even martial arts masters would have had a hard time getting through.
Therefore, no one can be sure whether the snake swarm is the opponent's last trump card.
If not, what comes before that?
If they can't get out, then Gu Lianyong...
Lost in thought, the carriage suddenly came to a stop.
As dawn broke, two rows of figures stood on the rooftops on either side of the road ahead. Because they were backlit, only blurry figures and outlines could be seen.
However, one can tell from the outline of their clothes that they are uniform attire and belong to the same sect.
The old man, who was already immersed in anger, seemed to have suddenly found a precise outlet for his emotions.
The leader-like figure, positioned high above in the light and shadow, said condescendingly, "You have some skill and some luck, managing to get through all the way here, but unfortunately, you can't get past this point. Blame yourselves; you insisted on walking into a gateless hell. Here..."
Before he could finish speaking, the old man had already unleashed a powerful palm strike, the "Piercing Clouds and Shattering Mountains" technique.
The leader, who had just been speaking, died on the spot.
The entire right wall collapsed, and everyone standing on it collapsed along with it before they could react.
Furthermore, along with the collapse of the wall, two more loud "booms" were heard.
The sound was deafening!
Was that an explosion?!
Were these people carrying explosives?
Not only the old man himself, but also Wang Sumo and the others were stunned.
Fortunately, Grandpa Weng and Jiang Yutang reacted quickly and grabbed the horses tightly. Otherwise, the explosion and the huge noise of the wall collapsing would have startled the horses, causing them to rush out and be buried in the ruins!
The old man's previous Cloud Piercing Mountain Breaking Technique only broke through half of the wall, so the wall only partially collapsed. But with these two explosions, the entire wall on the right front exploded and collapsed, directly burying everyone who was standing on the roof under the bandits!
The people on the rooftops on the left were immediately stunned. This...
Everyone looked in horror toward the carriage, toward the old man.
Faced with overwhelming power, explosives are simply too late to use; in fact, they would only blow you away – just like the boss did!
Everyone looked at the old man in alarm; some were already trembling, and they were exchanging bewildered glances.
A motley crew, their leader dead, suddenly had no idea what to do next. They just stood there dumbfounded against the wall, utterly embarrassed.
Grandpa Weng, Jiang Yutang, and Wang Sumo all recalled the Fengyang Sect and Eagle Sect that had appeared before... It seems that those that appeared here were indeed some peripheral sects.
The old man's Cloud-Piercing Mountain-Splitting Hand technique was a shocking sight they had never seen before!
So, he cried out, "Great hero, spare my life!"
"Please spare my life, senior!"
"Spare me!"
...
Unexpectedly, the other side suddenly pulled this stunt. However, Old Master Weng said in a deep voice, "All of you, come down." Old Master Weng was afraid that if he hesitated any longer, Old Qu, who was already in a rage, would chop them all down with one palm.
The dozen or so people on the wall quickly did as instructed, leaving the backlight from the roof. Indeed, it was clear that their aptitude and spirit were not good, seemingly at the opposite extreme compared to the disciples of Qingyun Manor.
"What sect are you from? What are you doing here? Everyone, tell us honestly, or you'll see what happens." Old Master Weng had a precise grasp of these people's mentality.
"Who wants to go first?" Old Master Weng pointed with his riding whip.
The tallest person in the crowd spoke first: "Me, me first! We are from the Five Poisons Sect, and our sect leader was just killed in an explosion."
Five Poisons Sect?
Well, a sect that isn't even registered and doesn't pay its taxes on time.
Grandpa Weng nodded: "Continue."
The second person continued, "We've been in Bewitching Town for two or three years, responsible for guarding the snakes from East Fourth Mile to East First Mile, and from East Fourth Mile to East Third Mile, as well as the granary and gunpowder depot in East Second Mile."
The snake swarm and the granary were all expected, but when they heard about the gunpowder depot, Wang Sumo and the others were stunned.
"Is there a gunpowder depot under Dong Erli?" Weng He confirmed.
The third person nodded: "Yes! It's the gunpowder depot! The grain is all transported down from the west side through a mechanism, and the people from the Kangding Sect are responsible for transporting it to the designated location; the people from the Fengyang Sect in the middle are responsible for guarding those strange people, as well as the vicious dogs and piranhas in the west side; our Wudu Sect is responsible for organizing and transporting the grain in the east side, as well as guarding the gunpowder depot."
The fourth person said, "Our sects each have their own responsibilities and are only responsible for their own tasks. We do not contact each other and cannot inquire about each other's affairs, unless it is an upstream link, such as when the Kangding Sect informs us that grain has arrived."
Kangdingmen, Fengyangmen, and Wudumen are all little-known sects, each with its own responsibilities and affairs, and they do not contact each other unless absolutely necessary...
Even if you turn this bewitching town upside down, you still won't be able to get the most important information out of these people.
The person behind this is extremely thoughtful.
"Who allowed you to come here?" the old man asked in a deep voice.
Everyone looked at each other again, then shook their heads in a panic.
One of them spoke up: "Only the sect leader knows that the Netherworld Messenger will contact the sect leader."
Messenger of the Underworld?
What normal person would call themselves by this name?
Wang Sumo frowned.
"Has any of you seen the messenger of the underworld?" Old Master Weng asked.
Most people shook their heads, while one or two nodded.
"You speak," said Old Master Weng, pointing at someone.
One of them said, "The Netherworld Messenger comes every now and then, or when there's something important. He always contacts the sect leader, but I saw him last time when he was supervising the transport of grain by the Kangding Sect... He was wearing a black cloak with a hood and a white smiling mask..."
Messenger of the Underworld, Inspector, wearing a white smiling mask?
Wang Sumo looked at Jiang Yutang.
If we're talking about who has the best connections in the martial arts world, it's definitely the all-knowing martial arts expert.
Jiang Yutang began, "Someone saw similar people in the Loucheng area before. They also wore black cloaks, hats, and white smiling masks. The weapons they used were fist-swords that resembled cat paws..."
"Yes, yes, yes! It's the Cat Claw Fist Sword!" The man nodded quickly.
That's it.
Jiang Yutang looked at Wang Sumo and the two old men: "They are collecting something. Many martial arts sects near Loucheng have been slaughtered, and the methods used are ruthless."
"Heroes and valiant warriors, we've said everything we can! Please, valiant warriors, spare our lives!"
"We kowtow to you, esteemed heroes!"
"The sect leader is dead, we'll disperse immediately, we'll disperse immediately!"
"Please, everyone, spare my life!"
More than ten people knelt or kowtowed.
Wang Sumo looked at the old man. She knew that the old man was still brooding over Gu Lianyong's death. These were all incompetent fools. Gu Lianyong's death was inextricably linked to them, but they were all minor figures who didn't even know their backgrounds...
But no matter what the old man did, she didn't think it was inappropriate.
"Listen up, something's happened in Bewitching Town..." Before the old man could finish speaking, several sharp "whoosh" sounds pierced the sky.
Wang Sumo subconsciously reached out and covered his ears. The sharp sounds of weapons piercing flesh and bone were so distinctive that they were unbearable to the ears, making his head numb.
Wang Sumo was only spared from the tingling sensation of those weapons—no, I should say, the hidden weapons—because he had no martial arts skills. It was only because Old Master Qu, Old Master Weng, and Jiang Yutang all used their internal energy to defend themselves that Wang Sumo's scalp didn't tingle from the sound of those weapons!
But when they came to their senses and looked ahead, the Five Poisons Sect disciples who had been kneeling were lying sprawled on the ground, their bodies pierced by something like a flying knife, lifeless.
There were ten people, and each of them had one in front of them, without exception.
Ten blade-like objects can be combined to form a cat claw fist sword.
The old man was the first to look up at the rooftop opposite, right where the dozen or so people had stood. A black cloak fluttered in the wind, and a white smiling mask looked ghostly and eerie in the dim morning sunlight.
"The Cloud-Piercing Mountain-Severing Hand, the Eight Treasures Pavilion..." The other party's voice was also like a ghost, as if it came from the underworld, making people involuntarily furrow their brows.
It's the Netherworld Messenger I just mentioned...
"Now that this Bewitching Town has been discovered, the things here can no longer be kept. It's a pity that so much disaster relief food is still unprocessed down here, and it will be blown to dust along with you and this entire Bewitching Town..."
"The other party described it in an extremely calm tone, eerily, as if they were a messenger from the underworld."
"The gunpowder has been ignited. You have no way out. Just wait here to die. Look at the spectacular sight of these gunpowder explosions, hehehehe~" A ghostly laugh followed, accompanied by spreading his arms and leaping backward, preparing to disappear into the surrounding abandoned houses.
Has the gunpowder been ignited?
"He's leaving! Old man!!" Old Master Weng reminded him.
However, the two were too far apart, and the other was familiar with the terrain. Even if they chased now, they might not be able to catch up. The old man and Jiang Yutang jumped up together.
But there was no trace of panic in the other person's eyes. This was Bewitching Town; they weren't familiar with the terrain, and he had plenty of time to escape…
Suddenly, the Netherworld Messenger's gaze sharpened, instinctively sensing a powerful killing intent and malevolent aura emanating from behind him.
He turned around in surprise, and a figure that had suddenly appeared from the secret passage was now behind him!
this!
He quickly turned to avoid it, but the fist and sword in his hand had already taken all the lives!
Right now, the opponent made a move, the blade in his hand flashing cold light as it slashed directly at his back, leaving him no way to dodge.
What is this? Fish-cleaning knife technique?
He asked in surprise, "The Rakshasa Alliance, Zhao Tong?"
With a loud thud, Zhao Tong stomped on him and said coldly, "I don't like your mask."
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