Star Martial Soaring Cloud

In Zhongzhou, in Zhongyun City, the sun rises.

Wang Xiao stared blankly at the half-written red text in his hand.

But the lingering warmth between his brows and the constant noise around him told him that this was not a dream.

"It's over, it's over, this boy is going to die!"

"Ten years have passed, and no one dared to touch this controversial article. He just tore it up like that?"

"Huh? What do you mean I tore up the red letter? Didn't it just fly into my hand by itself?" Wang Xiao came back to his senses and asked in a low voice, puzzled.

The half-red mark on his fingertip turned to ashes in surprise, but the lingering warmth between his brows became clearer, and an invisible brand was deeply embedded in his bones and blood.

The surrounding chatter all revolved around one name: "Song Qing! It's the wanted poster with a bounty on his head!"

Upon hearing this name, Wang Xiao's blank gaze instantly cleared, revealing an incredulous shock—how could it be him?

"Can it really be that unlucky? What kind of joke is God playing on me? I just came down the mountain and I'm already going to have to go see the King of Hell?"

As a cultivator, Wang Xiao was very familiar with the name Song Qing.

The martial arts of the world are divided into four realms: the Fish Leaps to Dragon Realm, the Dragon Gate Divine Realm, the Divine Thought Realm, and the Void Immortal Realm.

"If I remember correctly, Song Qing is a powerful cultivator at the Divine Sense Void Realm. Asking me, a cultivator who's just entered the Fish Leap Realm, to capture him? Are you kidding me? Wait, how did Song Qing end up as a bandit in Zhongyun City?"

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats grew louder as a group of city guards, clad in silver armor and long swords at their waists, rode up amidst the rising dust. Leading them was a stern-faced middle-aged general, whose token at his waist was engraved with the words "Criminal Investigation Division".

"Young man, was it you who received the warrant for Song Qing's arrest?" The leader reined in his horse, his gaze sweeping across the crowd like a hawk's, finally settling on the faint dark red mark between Wang Xiao's eyebrows.

Wang Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and she waved her hands repeatedly: "Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! That red document just flew into my hands by itself; I had no intention of taking it!"

"Are you the destined one we've been waiting for?" Upon hearing that Hongwen had automatically recognized him as its master, the middle-aged general quickly dismounted and strode towards Wang Xiao.

"Do you know that whoever accepts this red curse will suffer a blood curse backlash and die if they fail to make Song Qing disappear from Zhongyun City within a month!"

"What? You call this a destined person?" Wang Xiao's voice suddenly rose. He finally understood why everyone was looking at him like he was dead.

The middle-aged general gave an awkward smile. "There's nothing we can do about it. Song, that bandit, leads a gang of robbers. He acts like a ghost, his hands and feet are as swift as a whirlwind. He's robbed countless wealthy merchants in Zhongyun City of everything, and even experts at the Divine Sense Void Realm have fallen into his hands!"

"Because that traitor Song was so famous, the initial ordinary red inscription attracted countless people who wanted to become famous overnight, causing great trouble to Zhongyun City. Helpless, the Imperial Observatory set up this blood curse red inscription."

Wang Xiao was "invited" by two silver-armored guards to walk towards the city lord's mansion. He understood the reason for the red text. He could no longer feel the residual heat between his eyebrows, but instead felt icy cold from head to toe.

The murmurs on the street were drowned out by the sound of horses' hooves clattering against armor plates. He could feel countless gazes, some sympathetic, some gloating, pressed against his back.

"General, I want to confirm one more time—the Blood Curse Red Text automatically recognizes its master, and the curse will last for one month. If Song Qing leaves the city, the curse will be lifted; otherwise, I will die suddenly?" Wang Xiao swallowed, his voice trembling.

"Indeed." The commander of the Criminal Investigation Department said expressionlessly, "The magic of the Imperial Observatory is never child's play. Over the past ten years, countless red marks have flown over the heads of people, but they only landed on your brow. This is the will of Heaven."

"Fate my ass!" Wang Xiao roared inwardly, but dared not show it on his face.

The main hall of the City Lord's Mansion was brightly lit. Seated in the center was a middle-aged man in a brocade robe with a prosperous appearance, none other than Shen Yue, the City Lord of Zhongyun City. Standing on both sides were several experts with imposing auras, clearly key figures from the Criminal Investigation Department and the City Lord's Mansion.

"Young Master Wang, is it?" Shen Yue spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority. "The red inscription recognizing its master is not your fault, but it is your calamity, and also a turning point for Zhongyun City."

Wang Xiao gave a bitter smile, cupped his hands, and said, "Lord City Lord, I have only just entered the Fish Leap Realm. Even a Divine Sense Void Realm expert couldn't withstand a single move from Song Qing. This one-month deadline is tantamount to a death sentence. Is there any way to break this blood curse?"

"The blood curse is irreversible!"

"I'm so angry!" Wang Xiao cursed, "If the blood curse is so powerful, why not just use it on Song Qing?!"

"Laws and rules only apply to those who are willing to obey them!"

"What do you mean?"

"Because it's impossible."

"I'm so angry!" Wang Xiao started cursing, then asked the question that had been bothering him, "Why is Song Qing a bandit in Zhongyun City?"

"have no idea."

"I'm speechless!" Wang Xiao rolled his eyes. "Then, if I may be so bold as to ask, what do you know, Lord City Lord?"

"The entire Zhongyun City is united in its resolve and fully supports Young Hero Wang's expedition to suppress the bandits!"

"That's all?" Wang Xiao looked at the righteous city lord, waiting for him to continue.

"That's all. Come on, everyone, let's all shout together and show Young Hero Wang our determination!" The city lord stood up straight and waved for everyone to shout together.

"The entire Zhongyun City is united in its resolve and fully supports Young Hero Wang's expedition to suppress the bandits!"

"I accept." Wang Xiao interrupted the crowd, his face dark, "But I have a request..."

"No problem!" Shen Yue agreed without even hearing the request. "As long as you can resolve Song Qing's problem, I'll take care of everything, even ten or a hundred. How many men do you need?"

"Not for now. I have a friend who will be here shortly, so it'll just be me and the dog."

"So what are your requirements?"

"Seven days. If I cannot resolve the calamity caused by Song Qing within seven days, I hope the city lord will not stop me and will allow me to leave!"

silence!

A deathly silence!

If the city lord's previous words had left Wang Xiao speechless, then with Qi Tian's words, the entire city lord's mansion's offensive and defensive posture changed. Everyone in the city lord's mansion looked back and forth several times before they dared to believe that they had not misheard.

The silence in the main hall of the city lord's mansion was broken by Shen Yue's cough. The portly city lord almost lost his composure, rubbing his ears as if he had misheard something out of the blue: "Young Master Wang, you said... seven days?"

"Exactly." Wang Xiao straightened his back, the dark red mark between his eyebrows glowing slightly in the lamplight. "Within seven days, I will make Song Qing leave the city; if I cannot do so, I ask the city lord to fulfill his promise and let me leave. As for the backlash of the blood curse, I will find another way."

"Nonsense!" A bearded general on the left couldn't help but scold, "That scoundrel Song Qing is elusive. We've laid a net of heaven and earth for ten years and still haven't been able to harm him in the slightest. What can you, a mere greenhorn who's just entered the Fish Leap Realm, do in seven days?"

Wang Xiao glanced at him, her tone flat, "What you gentlemen have been unable to resolve for ten years, I have no confidence in doing as well. But if it is the will of Heaven, I will do my best. However, my fate is my own, and I must leave some time to resolve the power of the blood curse. What do you say, City Lord?"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Shen Yue's eyes. He stared at Wang Xiao for a long while, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Seven days it is. After seven days, Young Hero Wang is free to come and go as he pleases. Zhongyun City will not bother you." He tossed over the jade seal at his waist. "This is the city lord's military tally. The city defenses, the treasury, and the Criminal Investigation Department are all at your command!"

Wang Xiao raised his hand and caught the flying jade seal. It was icy to the touch, and the dragon patterns carved on it shimmered with a faint spiritual energy under the lamplight—the city lord's military token, which Shen Yue had casually tossed over.

The fact that someone has captured Song Qing is a great achievement!

Otherwise, why would the Imperial Observatory have personally issued the imperial edict?

For ten years, a full ten years, no one dared to approach Song Qing's red text.

"Thank you, City Lord." Wang Xiao put the military token into his pocket, turned around and left, his movements swift and decisive without the slightest hesitation.

"Young Master Wang, please wait!" The commander of the Criminal Investigation Department stepped forward quickly and handed over a bronze token. "This is the Criminal Investigation Department's waist token. With this, you can mobilize the city's hidden sentries and review all the files related to Song Qing from the past ten years. In addition, I have already arranged for the Jingxin Courtyard in the east of the city to be prepared. If you need anything, please feel free to do so."

Wang Xiao took the waist token, glanced at the bearded general who was still glaring angrily, and said calmly, "There's no need to send the file; I'll investigate it myself. As for manpower... it's not necessary for now. If needed, I'll use the military tally to send a message."

Having said that, he didn't linger and strode out of the city lord's mansion.

"He remains calm in the face of great events and unperturbed in times of crisis. He can switch between offense and defense in an instant. He is a formidable young man. We should send someone to follow him from a distance and also send someone to Fengyuxuan to find out his background."

"Oh, and don't forget to report this to the imperial court. It's a great achievement, a truly great achievement! Prepare a victory celebration!"

The sun was shining brightly outside the mansion, casting golden rays onto the bluestone path, but it couldn't dispel the chill in Wang Xiao's heart.

The mark of the blood curse was like a bone-deep infection, each throbbing a reminder to him: seven days, only seven days.

"Kid, you've only been gone half a day, and you've already gotten yourself into trouble with Song Qing of Liangshan. You really are a troublemaker!"

As soon as Wang Xiao stepped out of the city lord's mansion, a "monster" sent him a greeting.

It has a bright red rooster comb on its head, a swan-like body under its neck, slender legs like a red-crowned crane, but with webbed feet as big as palm fans, and trailing a colorful peacock tail behind it.

Its sparse feathers clung to its body like withered branches and fallen leaves, and its eagle eyes shone with a cold light. It possessed all the characteristics of birds, making it extremely bizarre.

Even with such an eye-catching beast beside him, passersby couldn't help but look at Wang Xiao.

He stood amidst the bustling crowd, his eyes displaying both the clarity of a young man and a composure far beyond his years. It was as if the city's vibrant life had nothing to do with him, yet he had become the most dazzling stroke in this prosperous scene.

"Hey Kung Pao Chicken, can you please tuck that lousy tail behind you?" Wang Xiao dodged Kung Pao Chicken's peacock-like tail. "If you keep flaunting yourself like that, you'll get caught and made into a circus act later, and I won't care."

"Ignorant brat! My tail feathers are an auspicious sign; it's a blessing for any mortal to even catch a glimpse of them! Why have you been inside for so long? If you don't come out soon, I'm going to storm in!"

"Then I'll go in and sit for a while, and let you perform for me."

"How uncouth! How uncouth! And that belt of yours!" Kung Pao Chicken stretched its neck and rubbed its wing against Wang Xiao's arm. "A white robe with a black belt, like mourning clothes, so unsightly! Why don't you borrow my tail feather? I'll pluck a seven-colored feather and weave you a wreath, guaranteed to be a hundred times better than this lousy belt!"

"Get lost!" Wang Xiao flapped its wings. "Don't even think about messing with it. How's your job going?"

"Is there any need to ask? I know everything about what's happening in Zhongyun City right now. It's exhausted me, and I'll need at least ten chicken legs this time. Now, where do we go?"

"Liangshan!"

"Huh? Wasn't it seven days? You want to go and fight Song Qing right now? Go if you want! You brat, let go of me, you damned brat, what are you doing?"