Knife splashing

Chapter 798 Split up
Swish!
The rain pattered heavily on the eaves, like silkworms devouring mulberry leaves.

The mist rising from the courtyard continued to gather, yet there was no sound.

Qiu Mingyuan and his men, who were lying in ambush outside, were completely unaware of what was happening.

Everyone who saw this had a gloomy expression.

All magical techniques rely on manipulating the Qi of Heaven and Earth. In the process, some disturbances are inevitable, such as howling winds and ground tremors, all caused by the flow of Qi of Heaven and Earth.

This level of control is something I've never seen before in my life.

Soon, the water mist gathered into a human figure.

Her face was obscured; only her build suggested she was an elderly woman using a cane.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist tightly.

His biggest worry was that the other party had more than one Earth Immortal, but that was precisely the worst-case scenario.

"Follow me..."

The figure in the mist spoke in an aged voice, followed by a chilling laugh:
"If you can't keep up, the trade is off!"

Before he finished speaking, a plume of water vapor rose into the air and flew into the distance at an astonishing speed.

This is a strategy to catch them off guard.

However, all of this was within Kong Shangzhao's expectations.

Li Yan's expression was solemn. He nodded to everyone, then pushed off with his feet and leaped into the air. At the same time, he formed hand seals and used the Northern Emperor's Divine Speed ​​Technique. The armored horse that had been tied to his legs immediately heated up.

A fierce wind suddenly arose in the sky, and Li Yan's figure disappeared in the wind.

At the same time, footsteps sounded.

But Qiu Mingyuan arrived in a hurry with a group of people. Upon seeing the scene, he immediately became anxious, asking, "Where is everyone?"

Seeing everyone's expressions, he guessed what had happened and couldn't help but say angrily, "This is utterly absurd! You are all people of the martial arts world, how could you be fooled by such a trick? This is like lambs to the slaughter!"

He was also seething with anger.

Although there are many officials in the capital, he is still a powerful figure in the Commandery. However, since arriving in Jinling, he has been unable to control many things. He treated Li Yan with courtesy, but the other party began to be wary of him.

Seeing that the situation was getting worse, his face turned very gloomy.

"Lord Qiu, please don't be angry..."

Kong Shangzhao remained calm and said in a deep voice, "The Commandery is full of people and eyes. When the incident happened before, there was likely someone on the other side's radar. At this critical moment, we cannot afford to make any mistakes."

"Oh?"

Qiu Mingyuan was also a shrewd man, and his eyes immediately lit up. "What have you discovered?"

Seeing that Kong Shangzhao and the others remained silent, he immediately understood and ordered all his men to leave.

After a while, the elite guards outside saw Qiu Mingyuan stride out and give a deep order: "Take my warrant and go to Lord Chu, the Vice Commissioner of the Northern Garrison, to immediately close the city gates and prohibit anyone from leaving. At the same time, send men to guard all street intersections and enforce a curfew. Anyone who dares to wander around at night should be arrested immediately!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

Someone cupped their hands and said, "Sir, a temporary curfew has been imposed..."

They were also in a dilemma. In such a large city as Jinling, if they issued an order to impose a temporary curfew, they would inevitably have to let the army into the city, which would cause panic among the people and make the local officials of Jinling resentful.

"Shut up!"

Qiu Mingyuan's eyes were filled with murderous intent as he said in a deep voice, "His Majesty sent me to Jinling, not to put on an act. If something serious happens, everyone will lose their heads. If anyone has any objections, let them come to me!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Seeing his anger, the crowd dared not say another word and left one after another.

This temporary military order was like a spark thrown into a frying pan, instantly igniting the deathly silence and oppressive atmosphere of Nanjing in the night.

The tall city gates creaked open, and the black-clad knights surged in like a tide.

Countless hooves trampled the bluestone slabs, sounding like thunder.

Chu Zhenyue, the Vice Commissioner of the Northern Garrison, was already a ruthless man, and this time when he entered the city, he was even more full of murderous aura.

Rumble!
After the army entered the city, the heavy city gates slammed shut with a loud bang amidst the ear-piercing scraping sound of winches.

The iron-clad bolt fell, cutting off all communication between the inside and outside.

Squads of heavily armored soldiers lined the streets, their heavy footsteps echoing on the wet cobblestones, accompanied by harsh shouts: "Curfew imposed! Everyone must return home immediately! Anyone who disobeys will be punished as a traitor!"

The lanterns were extinguished abruptly, and the shops closed their doors tightly.

The people were so panicked that they hid in their homes, afraid to go out, peeking through the cracks in their windows at the cold glint of the armor.

The music and singing on the painted boats on the Qinhuai River came to an abrupt halt, replaced by the solemn military formations.

Inside the Jinling Prefecture government office, the local officials who were not implicated gathered together.

The investigation of the silk weaving bureau, the shocking explosion at the Prince's mansion, and the tragic deaths of the heads of the Lu and Xie families had already put them on edge due to this series of events. Now, their faces were ashen, and their whispers were full of resentment.

"Nonsense! What a nonsense!"

"Has Qiu Mingyuan gone mad? To mobilize such a large force and seal off the entire city, how can he ensure the safety of Nanjing?"

"The massacre at the Prince's Mansion has not been resolved, and the Lu and Xie families have lost their pillar of support. Instead of trying to appease the people, he is adding fuel to the fire! This is not quelling the rebellion, but clearly instigating it!"

"If this incites a popular uprising, let's see how he handles it!"

Of course, they only dared to complain in private gatherings.

Anyone could see that going to Qiu Mingyuan now would surely mean certain death.

They weren't fools, having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom.

One shouldn't be the first to stick one's neck out, but after something like this happened, submitting a memorial to the imperial court is a certainty.

Although this move completely alienated the local officials in Jinling, as Kong Shangzhao had predicted, this swift action also effectively cut off the "eyes and ears" of the Cocoon Robe Sect throughout the city.

Those low-level informants, driven by hatred or petty gains and responsible for passing on messages, can only stay at home now.

South of Jinling City lies a desolate and abandoned land.

Kong Shangzhao, Fatty Lin, and a team of elite soldiers personally selected by Qiu Mingyuan were braving the wind and rain as they quickly made their way through the muddy, dark alleys.

Rainwater washed over the broken walls and ruins, and the smell of decaying earth filled the air.

The target was precisely the key that Kong Shangzhao had uncovered during the day.

The ruins of the Lock Dragon Well beside the old course of the Rouge River.

Qiu Mingyuan had already learned of the situation on the way, and his eyes were now filled with gloom.

Although it happened a long time ago, during the Song Dynasty, both the Commandery and the Enforcement Hall had skilled criminal investigators. The fact that it was only discovered now is undoubtedly due to someone covering it up.

No wonder Pei Zongti lamented to him before coming to Jinling that although the Great Xuan Dynasty had been established for a hundred years and seemed to be thriving, it was riddled with sores. Not to mention that some of the chronic problems that had plagued the previous dynasty had been left behind because a large number of forces had surrendered at that time.

Now, outbreaks have begun to occur one after another.

Suddenly, the emperor's cold expression as he left came to Qiu Mingyuan's mind.

There's another group operating covertly...

He shuddered, vaguely guessing the emperor's intention.

After this, Jinling, and indeed the entire Jiangnan officialdom, is likely to be in trouble…

"right here!"

The sound interrupted Qiu Mingyuan's thoughts.

Kong Shangzhao wiped the rain off his face and pointed to an ancient well in front of him, surrounded by a low stone railing and seemingly bottomless.

The wellhead was weighed down by a thick basalt rock covered in moss, with remnants of faded and decayed silk ribbons that still exuded an eerie dark red hue. Intricate and strange runes were faintly visible on the ground around the well curb.

Despite the erosion of time, it still exudes an unsettling, chilling aura.

"The geomantic map shows that this is the Xun position auxiliary vein node of the 'Li Fire Locking Yin Formation,' which is also the 'live knot' left by Zhao Changsheng back then. When we came here during the day, we found that many people had set up tea stalls nearby. We don't know if there are any spies from the other side, so there is a curfew..."

As Kong Shangzhao spoke, he crouched down, carefully examining the runes revealed after being washed by the rain. His brow furrowed: "The 'red line probes the well, yielding black jade' in Cheng Hao's notes refers to this! There must be something fishy about the well. This place has been abandoned for so long; someone is probably up to something..."

"Do it!"

Qiu Mingyuan gave a low shout, and many captains and guards immediately stepped forward.

The basalt was enormous, too large for a dozen people to move, but they were prepared. They used crowbars and hammers to violently strike the basalt, chiseling cracks into it.

Kuai Dayou's simple blasting device was also carefully placed in the crevices of the rocks.

"boom!"

A dull thud, not too jarring in the rainy night, but with a significant effect.

A corner of the heavy basalt was blasted open, revealing a deep wellhead below that exuded a chilling aura.

A thick, foul odor, mixed with the smell of water, rose into the sky.

Call ~
A cold wind howled, causing the raindrops to hang upside down.

Only after the foul air had dissipated did Kong Shangzhao step forward with a torch.

But after taking only two steps closer, his expression changed slightly, and he quickly retreated, shouting, "Quick, get the torches away!"

Qiu Mingyuan also sensed something was wrong, and his face turned grim as he said:

"Oil? Looks like it's here!"

…………

Almost at the same time that the Dragon Locking Well was forcibly destroyed, on the turbulent Qinhuai River outside the city, several warships bearing the flags of the Commandery and temporarily reinforced were struggling to anchor in the designated waters amidst the raging wind and rain.

The ship was under blackout, creating a somber atmosphere.

Shalifei was soaking wet and covered the musket in his hand with an oilcloth.

Behind him on the deck were rows of huge crossbows.

In the box behind him was the "Exploding Fire Crow" that he and Kuai Dayou had hastily made.

This thing is incredibly powerful and has a long range, but it requires a crossbow to fire and naval assistance.

Shalifei was full of confidence in the newly created firearms.

Beside him, Wu Ba stood like a mountain on the bow deck, holding the Tiger Crouching Cannon. Long Yan'er closed her eyes and concentrated, bringing all the powerful Gu worms. Kuai Dayou carefully inspected the "Exploding Fire Crows" to ensure they wouldn't fail him at the crucial moment.

Moreover, cultivators from Jinling Xuanmen sects such as Maoshan and Humenling also came to provide support, and were on high alert.

Although they were estranged from the Twelve Yuan Chen, they dared not act recklessly at this time, especially with Zhou Yin Yao's influence and the upcoming arrival of the leader of the Jiangnan Xuanmen and other sects.

If he continues to act arrogantly, he will likely become a laughing stock in the Taoist community.

In the distance, there were several naval warships, all equipped with new cannons.

It can be said that this force is enough to attack Taihu Lake.

However, Shalifei paced back and forth anxiously, his eyes fixed on the dark depths of the river.

"Damn it, not a sound at all!"

"Where exactly did Brother Yan go?"

The atmosphere on the boat was heavy, almost palpable, with everyone staring intently at the river.

Everyone knew that their actions were contingent on Li Yan being able to enter the "Red Silk Workshop" and find an opportunity to send a signal.

However, facing the Netherworld, which is guarded by at least two Earth Immortals, can Li Yan manage it alone?
How should the signal be transmitted?
Everything is unknown.

The cold rain pounded on the deck, also striking the taut strings of everyone's hearts.

All they could do was wait quietly in the boundless darkness and storm...

…………

The rain fell like a woven curtain, and the Qinhuai River surged in the darkness.

Li Yan was enveloped in a thin layer of water vapor, his figure as light as a ghost. He stepped on the turbid river surface, chasing after the fleeting water mist figure in front of him. The wind howled, leaving ripples behind him.

His current "Northern Emperor's Divine Speed ​​Technique" is comparable to flying on land among ordinary people, with extremely fast speed.

However, the figure in front of them was elusive and always maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

The wind and rain kept crashing in his face, but Li Yan's eyes were like knives, unblinking.

Soon after, a strange change occurred.

Thick white fog rose up around the river without warning.

This mist was not condensed water vapor; rather, it seemed to be alive, seeping out from the water's surface and the reeds on the shore. It carried a stench of decay and spread rapidly, engulfing Li Yan and the figures in front of him in the blink of an eye.

The light was completely blocked, and the field of vision was limited to only a few feet in front of him.

The sounds of the river, the noise of the raindrops, and even the faint chirping of insects on the bank were instantly shut out.

The whole world was plunged into a thick, suffocating silence.

Only the splashing sound of his feet hitting the water reminded him that he was still hurrying across the river.

Illusion?

maze?

Li Yan frowned slightly, unable to guess what kind of method this was.

However, the warrant in his arms was faintly warm, reminding him that the illusory figure in front of him was a Yin Fan.

"Follow me..."

The voice of the figure in the mist rang out again; it was clearly an old woman.

Immediately, the water mist and human figure vanished into thin air.

Just then, a faint light appeared deep within the thick fog.

It was a solitary red lantern, abruptly suspended on the murky river surface, emitting an ominous red glow.

The lanterns were not stationary, but moved forward slowly and silently.

Li Yan's eyes narrowed, and his vigilance instantly reached its peak.

Without hesitation, he channeled the power of water escape beneath his feet and chased after the red light.

No matter what kind of dangerous place lies ahead, Wang Daoxuan and Lü San are both in it, so he has no other choice.

Guided by the red light through the thick fog, Li Yan sniffed and frowned slightly.

His keen sense of smell detected an extremely subtle change.

The surrounding smell has changed!
It was no longer the smell of mud and fishy water from the Qinhuai River after the rain, nor the mixed smell of cooking fires from Nanjing.

Rather, it had an indescribable, stale, and decaying aura.

It was a mixture of the cloying sweetness of cheap cosmetics, the musty smell of old silk, and the sour stench of sweat and alcohol.

It's a bit like a brothel, plus the chilling, earthy smell.

"Is this a secret realm?"

Li Yan sensed something, but even greater doubts welled up in his mind.

All the secret realms I've visited before are layers between the Great Luo Dharma Realm and reality, like a projection space. The physical body cannot enter them; one can only venture into them through soul travel, which is extremely dangerous.

He also planned to use this point to negotiate, asking the other party to hand over the physical bodies of Wang Daoxuan and the other person first.

However, the physical body here is unhindered, as if it were simply walking from one door to another.

I've never encountered anything like this before...

(End of this chapter)