Three punches shattered the demonic soul, young hero, I'm an honest man!

Night at the River of Oblivion.

It should have been bustling, brightly lit, and rife with undercurrents.

Tonight, however, it is unusually quiet.

It was eerily quiet.

Even the most unruly thugs and the most greedy brokers seemed to have their throats frozen by an invisible chill.

They huddled in their respective corners, not daring to make a sound.

Because someone has arrived.

They were not ordinary government officials, nor were they local bullies who occasionally came to give orders.

They are the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The flying fish robe swept past in the dim lantern light, and the cold tassels on the hilt of the embroidered spring knife swayed gently, carrying a chilling rhythm.

They walked slowly, yet with a calm composure that seemed to crush everything in their path.

Wherever he went, the crowds parted silently like a tide.

Awe and fear were written on every face.

The leader was a young man.

His ordinary blue casual clothes made him stand out somewhat from the menacing Imperial Guards behind him.

It was Pei Yun.

He walked leisurely, his hands tucked into his sleeves.

His gaze seemed to casually sweep over the various obedient people on both sides, a faint smile playing on his lips.

There was no warmth in that smile, only an indifference as if looking down on ants.

It was as if this filthy and corrupt Wangchuan Ferry was nothing more than a weed-overgrown pond in his own backyard.

"This is it."

Pei Yun stopped in front of an inconspicuous shop.

Moyunzhai.

The storefront is small, exuding an old-fashioned, bookish air that clashes somewhat with its surroundings.

He didn't even look up at the plaque, he just said something indifferently.

Behind him, Zhang Quan already understood.

There were no superfluous words, no warnings, and no attempts to persuade him to surrender.

Only the cold sound of a blade being drawn from its sheath could be heard.

"Clang!"

Two Imperial Guard captains stepped forward and swiftly kicked open the seemingly heavy wooden door.

"Bang!"

The door panel shattered, and wood chips flew everywhere.

Several figures rushed out of the shop, their blades flashing, aiming straight for the Imperial Guards at the front.

"court death!"

Zhang Quan snorted coldly, drew his Embroidered Spring Blade, and a flash of cold light appeared.

Several gasps came from inside, followed by the sharp sound of weapons being drawn and a suppressed growl.

"The Imperial Guards are on duty! Bystanders, please stand aside!"

Zhang Quan's voice was cold and hard, carrying an unquestionable authority.

The imperial guards, who had been waiting nearby, surged in like wolves and tigers.

In the narrow shop, a fierce battle erupted instantly.

Amidst the clash of swords and the clashing of fists and feet, muffled groans and screams filled the air.

But the chaos did not last long.

The Imperial Guards were ruthless and precise in their actions, displaying a killing instinct honed through long-term training.

Their teamwork was excellent, and their formation was impeccable.

Like cutting tofu, it swiftly tore apart the opponent's hastily organized resistance.

Pei Yun remained standing outside the door.

With his back to the bloodstains, he watched with great interest a little beggar huddled in a corner across the street, trembling.

It seemed that the life-or-death struggle inside was far less interesting than the terror on the little beggar's face.

Soon, the sounds of fighting subsided.

Zhang Quan walked out, covered in blood, and bowed.

"My lord, the cleanup is complete. Five people have been captured alive, and the rest... have all been executed."

Pei Yun casually flicked out a few taels of silver.

Regardless of the little beggar's suddenly bright eyes.

Then he turned around and slowly strolled inside.

The shop was in a mess, and the smell of blood mixed with the scent of ink was particularly pungent.

Several men in black who had put up a stubborn resistance fell into pools of blood, their eyes wide open in death.

The five captured men were disarmed and bound to the ground.

But his eyes didn't have the lewdness or madness of the eccentric Zen monks; instead, they revealed a well-trained, fearless spirit.

Pei Yun's gaze swept over the corpses and prisoners.

"The techniques are rather mixed, with traces of military combat methods as well as some sinister and unorthodox approaches."

He walked to a bookshelf that had been overturned and picked up a few pieces of paper scattered on the ground.

The familiar "ancient intertwined branches" symbol is drawn on it with a strange ink.

There were also several encrypted letters and ledgers recording unexplained transactions.

Pei Yun's gaze finally fell on an inconspicuous wooden box in the corner.

The box was not locked.

He gestured for Zhang Quan to open it.

It contained neither gold nor silver jewelry, nor any secret martial arts manual.

There is only one token.

Neither gold nor jade, it feels icy to the touch, like a piece of ancient ice.

The token bears the symbol of "ancient intertwined branches".

Pei Yun had never seen this symbol in any of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's files, and it was completely different from the symbol of the Candle Shadow Sect.

"This is getting interesting."

Pei Yun stroked the cold token, his smile deepening.

The Joyful Zen School is indeed a bait.

But what lies behind this is not the Candle Shadow Sect, but another unfamiliar force?

Their style of doing things is more like that of a military force than that of a江湖草莽 (jianghu grass-roots) or a demonic sorcerer.

They can bewitch Miaole, steal the Star-Guiding Sand, and even silently eliminate the Foundation Establishment stage Star Guardian of the Imperial Observatory...

This force has ambitious plans.

Moreover, they are very good at hiding their true feelings.

"grown ups……"

Zhang Quan said in a low voice.

"We've interrogated them, but they're very stubborn. They only say they were following orders and know nothing else."

"Judging from their appearance, they seem to be... suicide squads."

Pei Yun nodded, not surprised.

"It seems this is just an outpost, used for relaying messages and trading shady things."

Even before entering the room, Pei Yun had already used [Intelligence Refresh].

[Intelligence Update]

[Hidden in a secret compartment behind the west wall of Moyunzhai are some of the core accounts and contact lists that were not destroyed in time.]

[Having discovered that the base has been exposed, the "Category 3" team, responsible for liaison in the area, is attempting to evacuate from the Thirty Mile Inn, carrying crucial tokens.]

"Zhang Quan".

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Take men and go to Thirty Mile Inn; use the carriages and horses."

Pei Yun spoke in a flat tone.

"Since the guests want to leave, we, as the hosts, should naturally see them off."

"yes!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Quan immediately mustered his men and disappeared into the night like a gust of wind.

The net has been cast, and we're just waiting for the fish to run right in.

……

Thirty li of shops.

An important transit point for carriages and horses on the outskirts of Beijing.

Night had fallen, but the carriage and horse carriage workshop was brightly lit.

Beside a few unassuming horse-drawn carriages, a dozen or so men in tight-fitting clothes were busy loading boxes onto the carriages.

The man in the black robe who was in the lead was of medium build and had a restrained aura.

But his eyes were sharp as a hawk's, scanning his surroundings warily.

He would occasionally look up towards the capital, his brows furrowed slightly.

For some reason, I felt uneasy.

Logically speaking, even if Moyunzhai's side is exposed.

It takes time for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to find clues and then take action.

They should have had enough time to evacuate.

"Hurry up! Be quick!"

The man in the black robe urged him in a low voice.

Just as the last box was being loaded onto the carriage.

Suddenly, a dense array of torches lit up the area around the carriages and horses.

Splash!

The sound of armor rubbing together rang out.

Squads of Imperial Guards dressed in flying fish robes emerged from the darkness, instantly blocking all their escape routes.

The cold blade gleamed with a bloodthirsty light in the firelight.

The person in the lead was none other than Pei Yun.

He stood in the firelight, his expression indifferent.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

The leader's expression changed drastically, and a look of disbelief and horror flashed in his eyes.

So fast?!

They had just received news that their stronghold had been exposed, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already set up an ambush here!

Their movements were precisely tracked!

The intelligence capabilities of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were terrifyingly high.

"We can't leave..."

The man in black robes instantly assessed the situation, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, he spoke in a stern voice.

"Self-determination!"

He was well aware of the interrogation methods of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so he was determined not to leave any survivors.

Only the dead will not reveal information!

As soon as he finished speaking, the men in black behind him all let out a muffled groan.

Black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, his eyes quickly dimmed, and he collapsed limply to the ground.

He committed suicide by poisoning himself!

Clean and efficient, without the slightest hesitation!

The leader then suddenly pulled out a scarlet pill from his pocket and swallowed it in one gulp!

boom!

An extremely violent aura erupted from his body!

The man in the black robe seemed to have swelled up.

The veins under his skin were bulging and his eyes were bloodshot.

His cultivation level, which was originally at the late stage of the eighth rank, was forcibly boosted in an instant, and he faintly touched the threshold of the seventh rank!

"Blood-Burning Secret Technique!"

Zhang Quan's face darkened.

This is an evil technique that overdraws one's life force in exchange for temporary, powerful strength.

Once used, death is certain!

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard..."

The leader let out a low growl like a wild beast, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, filled with intense hatred.

"I'll drag you all down with me even if I die!"