More than a dozen abacus rods fell into the jade platter, leaping and dancing like pearls scattered on the ground. It was not until much later that they finally came to rest. The elder in hemp clothing opened his eyes and focused, looking towards the abacus rods while making gestures with his hands.
As he discerned the final arrangement of the rods, his body suddenly jolted, and a look of extreme terror appeared on his face. He rose to his feet, intending to flee, but before he could even fully stand, he let out a muffled groan and collapsed. His face turned deathly pale as a gush of blood spewed from his mouth, dyeing the abacus rods in the jade platter a ghastly crimson.
The first mouthful of blood seemed to open the floodgates; the blood kept pouring from the elder’s mouth, unstoppable. He reached up to cover it, but it was no use. His life force quickly waned.
Knowing his end was near, the elder struggled to sit up. He dipped his finger in his own blood and quickly scrawled a few large characters on the floor. However, as he wrote, his hand trembled more and more, causing the characters to become blurry and tilted. Finally, his body gave a lurch, and he collapsed, never to move again.
Hearing the commotion, a servant outside the door called out several times. Receiving no response, he hesitated for a moment before knocking again. Still, there was no answer. His face darkened, and after a moment’s hesitation, he boldly pushed the door open, peering inside. Upon seeing the scene, he let out a startled cry and fell back onto the ground. But then he sprang to his feet and ran away as fast as he could.
A short while later, a stern-faced middle-aged man hurried over. The servant was sprinting behind him, barely managing to keep up.
The middle-aged man pushed open the door and entered the room, his expression immediately turning grim.
Breathing heavily, the servant explained, “I heard something was amiss from outside. When I pushed the door open, this was what I saw. I immediately came to inform you, without any delay.”
The middle-aged man walked over to the elder, checking for a pulse and then feeling for signs of life at the ear and heart. His face grew increasingly dark, as if about to drip with water. Rising to his full height, he followed the elder’s outstretched finger and read the blood-smeared characters on the floor.
“Great matters can be achieved, but just like a rising serpent…” the middle-aged man murmured.
The latter part of the message was nothing but a mass of blood, impossible to decipher. After staring at it for a long time, he gritted his teeth and said, “Even at the brink of death, he couldn’t write fewer empty words!”
If only the elder had been more direct, more critical information might have been left.
He ordered the servant to bring paper and a pen, meticulously copying the bloodied characters and the indecipherable mess, and then turned to leave.
“Sir, what should we do with Mr. Huangfu’s body?” the servant asked from behind.
“Bury it.” The middle-aged man threw these two words over his shoulder and left as swiftly as the wind.
The motorcycle roared across the vast wilderness, its momentum like a dragon, heading straight for the Tide City. This custom-built heavy-duty motorcycle had excellent endurance, with ample space to store black crystals, allowing it to travel all the way from Nanqing to the Tide City.
At the city gate, a merchant caravan and several travelers were waiting in line to enter. Although the order was maintained, the aftermath of the war was still palpable. Everywhere on the city walls, hasty repairs were visible, and the scorched marks left by artillery fire were still clearly distinguishable.
The motorcycle’s rumble was too startling. Seen from a distance, a cloud of dust obscured the vehicle, making it indistinguishable. As it approached, its thunderous rush was akin to a charging war machine. The sentry on the city wall, noticing this clearly hostile visitor, immediately became tense and signaled the guards below.
The guards on this section of the wall sprang into action, with machine gunners and their assistants turning their weapons toward Qian Ye’s approaching direction. Qian Ye ignored the guns aimed at him, charging right into their range and barely reaching the city gate before skidding to a halt. The tires screeched against the ground, the massive vehicle spinning twice and sliding several meters due to the sheer inertia before coming to a reluctant stop.
As the dust settled, Qian Ye’s figure emerged. He looked up at the watchtower, where the expressions of the guards varied—some were tense, others bewildered, and a few even trembling as they shifted their guns elsewhere, clearly afraid.
In the ensuing silence, a click sounded—a safety being disengaged on a machine gun. The inexperienced gunner, his face ashen and hands shaking, was immediately struck down by a veteran, who hissed, “Do you want to get us all killed?”
The new recruit, dazed and confused, looked around at his comrades and was shocked to see that some had actually removed their guns from firing position.
Gradually, more and more guards recognized Qian Ye—the one who had slain Luo Bingfeng. While the battle against Luo Bingfeng had been highly advanced and beyond their comprehension, Qian Ye’s true moment of imposing authority had been the series of battles blocking the gates of the Tide City.
Had anyone ever heard of a single person holding a city?
No matter how fierce the defenders of the Tide City, they were still human and feared death. They were not eager to die needlessly. Since Luo Bingfeng’s demise, the Tide City had been taken and retaken by both the Empire and the Evernight. The reckless ones had long since perished, leaving behind either new recruits or seasoned veterans.
If not for this, Qian Ye’s aggressive approach would have prompted an immediate hail of gunfire.
Seeing no reaction from the city, Qian Ye felt a bit disappointed and shook his head. He had come expecting a fight, but the guards’ meekness, unexpected as it was, also made his plan moot.
Qian Ye did not dismount the motorcycle. Gathering his breath, he declared, “I am Qian Ye, the Lord of the Tide City. Open the gate for me!”
The guards exchanged bewildered glances.
A city the size of the Tide typically had double or triple gates, usually only partially opened for passage. Only during wartime or formal ceremonies were the gates fully opened, requiring the power of steam towers, not the strength of a few soldiers.
Qian Ye’s demand to fully open the gates, while symbolic and not unreasonable if he truly was the city’s lord, put the guards in a quandary. The guardsman in charge knew a little, but the rank-and-file had no clue. The appointment was embarrassing, and the various factions within the Tide City had yet to decide how to handle it, so they hadn’t publicized it widely.
The guards, unsure of what to do, all looked to their officers. The guard captain, having just received the news and rushing up the stairs, inwardly shuddered, knowing he had no choice. Stepping forward, he addressed Qian Ye, “Lord of the City, I see you.”
Qian Ye pointed at the machine guns and said coldly, “Since you know I’m the city lord, how dare you point your guns at me? Or have you already stopped respecting Zhang Bushou?”
Zhang Bushou himself had appointed Qian Ye as the city lord, and the announcement was made by people from the Heavenly King’s residence. Though everyone knew the truth, it still seemed like the Heavenly King’s will to outsiders. Qian Ye, insinuating disrespect to him as disrespect to Zhang Bushou, wasn’t entirely wrong.
The guard captain, realizing Qian Ye was here to cause trouble, sent a messenger to report to the city and shouted at the guards to lower their weapons. Pointing guns at such a deadly figure was suicidal.
Of course, the captain also forgot to order the steam towers, which rumbled into action, opening the gates of the Tide City along their tracks.
Qian Ye started the motorcycle and drove slowly through the gate, commanding, “Someone, take me to the city lord’s residence!”
The guard captain promptly assigned a few men, all old, weak, and crippled, to lead the way. Clearly, he was stalling for time to allow the city to prepare.
But Qian Ye wouldn’t give him that chance. In a flash, he appeared next to the guard captain, grabbing him, and said, “You’ll come with me.”
Terrified, the guard captain met Qian Ye’s icy gaze and immediately shivered, realizing there was no escape. He had no choice but to follow Qian Ye down the city wall.
Once on the motorcycle, the guard captain, already dazed, had no time to arrange for a car. Hearing the engine start, he instinctively ran ahead to lead the way.
The motorcycle rumbled through the streets, drawing attention everywhere, especially as the guard captain frantically ran ahead. Many, curious, began to follow.
In no time, they arrived at the city lord’s residence. Qian Ye dismounted and surveyed the imposing mansion and the crowd of warriors gathered at the entrance.
Numerous large, menacing warriors filled the entrance, arms crossed, chins raised, sneering at Qian Ye with defiance.
The guard captain had vanished.
Qian Ye removed his goggles, stepped off the motorcycle, and with a swift kick, toppled it. He strode toward the residence.
None of the warriors budged, showing no intention of letting him pass. Qian Ye noticed no one with officer insignia; the highest rank present was a sergeant, perhaps fourth or fifth-level in origin power.
These fodder were easily dispatched, but doing so would only make Qian Ye appear cruel and bloodthirsty.
Whether someone had ordered them to stand or they had come out of their own volition, Qian Ye had no intention of letting them think they could coerce him.
Ignoring them, he continued walking, his voice booming to cover half the city, “Do you no longer respect Zhang Bushou’s commands? Are his words nothing but hot air?”
His words caused a stir among the crowd. Despite the city changing hands twice, no one had dared show such disrespect to Zhang Bushou. Though Qian Ye claimed to uphold Zhang’s orders, he was, in essence, challenging the Heavenly King’s authority.
Still, the residence remained silent, and Qian Ye had reached the front lines. These burly warriors, larger and more imposing than Qian Ye, paled under his chilling gaze, the gap in their auras widening rapidly.
“Fools!”
With one step, Qian Ye charged at the hundreds of hulking figures.
“Stop!” a shout finally rang out from the residence, but it was too late.
As Qian Ye moved, the warriors felt a crushing force bearing down on them, each feeling as if carrying a heavy stone. A roar like ocean waves echoed in their ears.
Overwhelmed, many fainted, spewing blood. In an instant, none could stand.
The pressure also shattered the residence’s gates and the entrance, sending bricks and stones raining down on the fallen warriors, exacerbating their injuries and breaking bones.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage