33: Successfully rescued

Xiao Zhuo's figure transformed into a silver streak tearing through the night in the dense forest, shooting towards the valley where Swift Wind Stockade was located!

His Divine Sense spread out like an invisible spiderweb, covering the sky and earth, every rustle of wind and grass within a thousand meters reflected clearly in his mind.

The two bandits lurking in the rock crevices at the mouth of the valley were perfectly clear in his Sea of Consciousness, like fish on a chopping board waiting to be slaughtered.

Chii! Chii!

Golden light flashed at his fingertips, and two almost imperceptible streams of Qi were unleashed into the air!

The True Essence, carrying a subtle yet deadly sound of tearing air, easily pierced through the rock wall, accurately penetrating the lungs of the two men!

"Uh... ho..." Sweet-smelling blood foam instantly gushed down their throats, the two bandits' eyeballs bulged, and their bloodshot pupils reflected endless terror as they collapsed and died in suffocating spasms.

Xiao Zhuo maintained the operation of his Divine Sense detection and Spirit Concealment Art, silently infiltrating the valley like a ghost.

Deep inside the rock cave on the right, only three guards were lazily leaning against the stone wall, a full twenty zhang away from the dark prison cell where the children were held.

A cold arc curved on Xiao Zhuo's lips.

Swish!

A silver-white afterimage suddenly flashed past the cave entrance! Three gleaming Saber Qi cast terrifyingly twisted silhouettes on the dim firelight and the stone wall!

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The three bandits didn't even have time to cry out before they clutched their gushing throats, their murky pupils reflecting the equally astonished and twisted faces of their companions, before they slumped to the ground and died.

Xiao Zhuo did not immediately rescue the children in the prison; the green light around him suddenly flared, transforming into a green meteor, rushing straight towards the main bandit lair on the left, accompanied by a piercing sound of tearing air!

This time, he made no attempt to conceal himself! The sharp sound of tearing air was like a death knell, instantly making all the bandits inside the cave's hair stand on end!

"Who?!" A Body Tempering realm minion at the cave entrance had just turned back in surprise when his vision suddenly rose and spun—a large head, accompanied by a gushing fountain of blood, shot into the sky!

Sticky, hot blood splattered on the cold stone wall, glowing with a nauseating dark red under the flickering torches.

Wind and Thunder Fleeting Shadow Steps was pushed to its limit! Xiao Zhuo was like a phantom of death, rapidly moving through the narrow passage!

Seven or eight small fry who had not yet entered the True Essence Realm had just poked their heads out from the stone rooms on both sides when gruesome blood blossoms silently bloomed at their throats; they collapsed to the ground without even being able to scream.

He rushed into a foul-smelling hall, about two hundred square meters, surrounded by five passages.

The strong smell of sweat, cheap alcohol, and a faint scent of blood mixed together, assaulting his nostrils.

His Divine Sense instantly swept over a room at the end of the leftmost passage—a short, stocky bandit leader whose aura had reached the True Essence Realm was fumbling with his pants!

Meanwhile, in the other passages, over a dozen bandits below the True Essence Realm were swarming out at the sound!

"That saves me the trouble of looking for them one by one." Xiao Zhuo stood with his saber, blood drops falling from his dark robe, splattering into dazzling red plum blossoms on the ground.

Bandits rushed out from each passage, and what greeted their eyes were seven or eight mangled corpses strewn across the center of the hall!

Blood flowed freely, illuminated by the firelight like a painting of Hell, and the thick, sweet scent of blood slowly permeated through the stone crevices.

"You..." The True Essence Realm bandit leader who rushed out from the left passage was a mix of shock and rage, and had just uttered one word—

Xiao Zhuo moved!

Three solidified, crescent-shaped Saber Qi tore through the air, emitting sharp, piercing screams!

Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!

Except for the short, burly leader, all the bandits who had just surged into the hall were instantly cut in half at the waist, like wheat stalks mowed down by a scythe!

Dismembered limbs, broken arms, and internal organs splattered, and the sounds of wailing and gushing blood instantly filled the entire space!

Xiao Zhuo's figure appeared in front of the short, burly leader as if teleporting!

A large hand, like an iron clamp, gripped his neck, lifting the bandit leader, who was no more than five feet tall, off the ground like a small chicken!

"Speak! Was Young Master Chu kidnapped by you? Where is he?!" The cold voice carried an undeniable Killing Intent, and a domineering True Essence instantly invaded the other party's body, completely immobilizing his own True Essence!

The short, burly leader's eyes were a mix of horror and terror, and his body trembled violently uncontrollably: "I... I... don't know!"

"Don't know?" A cold light flashed in Xiao Zhuo's eyes, his long saber in his right hand disappeared, and he grasped the other party's left index finger, applying a slight force between his fingers!

Crack!

With a crisp sound of bone cracking, that finger instantly twisted into a bizarre angle!

"Ah—!!" A shrill scream echoed in the stone cave, making the flickering torchlight sway wildly!

"Since I came for this matter, you'd best abandon all thoughts of luck." Xiao Zhuo's voice was as cold as ten thousand years of profound ice, and his right hand had already grasped another of the other party's fingers.

The short, burly leader convulsed in pain, a struggle flashed in his eyes, but he still kept his mouth shut.

Crack!

Another teeth-grinding crunch!

The second finger broke in response!

"Uh ah—!!" The bandit leader's forehead veins bulged, large beads of sweat rolled down, and his entire body was violently twitching.

Xiao Zhuo frowned slightly, casually flicked his left hand, and slammed him heavily against the cave wall!

"Puff!" The bandit leader spat out a mouthful of blood, sliding to the ground like a broken sack.

"My patience is limited." Xiao Zhuo slowly stepped forward, looking down from above, his voice carrying a deliberately created ominous tone, "If you don't speak, I will crush your fingers and toes one by one, and finally... that thing between your legs."

"Hundred Demon Mountain! Taken away by the demons of Hundred Demon Mountain!" The bandit leader's psychological defenses completely collapsed, tears and snot streaming down his face, letting out a beast-like roar, "I really don't know where they were taken! Ah—!"

Xiao Zhuo had obtained critical information, and it was certainly not good news.

He no longer had any interest in listening to his wailing, and casually flicked a finger!

Puff!

A sharp stream of Qi instantly pierced his glabella, and the wailing abruptly ceased.

Xiao Zhuo expressionlessly took out a recording jade slip, infused True Essence into it, and completely recorded the tragic scene of the entire bandit lair in the valley.

Afterward, he turned and walked towards the right rock cave where the children were held.

Over thirty children, like frightened young beasts, huddled in the corners of the wooden cells, suppressed sobs rising and falling.

Xiao Zhuo swung his hand to cut the prison locks, opening them one by one. He tried his best to restrain his Killing Intent and show gentleness, but the children's eyes still filled with fear and evasion when they looked at him, especially when the strong scent of blood from his black robe wafted over; the Little Girl closest to him even cowered and desperately retreated.

"Don't be afraid, Big Brother is here to save you, all the bad guys are dead." Xiao Zhuo helplessly turned sideways, pointing towards the cave entrance, "If you don't believe me, look..."

When the children's gaze met the corpses strewn outside the cave and the dazzling bloodstains, the screams that rose and fell instantly pierced the oppressive atmosphere inside the cave, making Xiao Zhuo's eardrums buzz.

After coaxing them for about half an incense stick's time, a Little Girl, about seven or eight years old, wearing a dirty green silk dress, timidly tugged at his sleeve.

Although the girl was disheveled, her clothing was of high quality, clearly indicating a distinguished background.

"Big Brother... are you really here to save us?" The girl's voice trembled with a hint of hope.

Xiao Zhuo squatted down, gently stroked her messy hair, and showed a gentle smile: "That's right! Big Brother will take you back to Qingyang City, back home, okay?"

The girl carefully scrutinized Xiao Zhuo's young but steady face, and after a moment, she nodded vigorously: "Okay!"

Xiao Zhuo looked at the other children, and seeing that the fear in their eyes was finally replaced by a hint of trust and anticipation, a relieved smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

"Let's go! Everyone follow Big Brother closely, we're leaving this place!"

A moment later, over thirty children tightly huddled around Xiao Zhuo, arriving in the open valley.

"Big Brother is going to fly you back, don't be afraid, and don't move around, okay?" Xiao Zhuo again showed a comforting smile. When the children heard "fly back," their eyes immediately filled with wonder and longing, and they started asking questions excitedly.

"Haha! Watch closely, this is how we fly!" Xiao Zhuo laughed loudly, and the power of wind surged around him!

Buzz!

A soft, pale green halo instantly enveloped all the children!

"Ah—!" Amidst the children's exclamations, the light orb shot into the sky, leaving the dark valley filled with blood and sin far behind in the deep night.

Approximately an incense stick's time later, at the towering city walls of Qingyang City.

The on-duty soldier suddenly looked up, only to see a sizable green streak of light in the night sky rapidly flying towards the city!

The soldier's expression changed, and he immediately ran down the city wall to report to the commanding officer.

As Xiao Zhuo approached Qingyang City, two silver-armored City Guard generals had already shot into the sky, blocking his way.

"Who goes there! Halt!" One of the generals, with a bushy beard, spoke with a voice like a booming bell, exceptionally clear in the silent night sky.

Xiao Zhuo hovered in mid-air, and in the halo behind him, a group of children with curious wide eyes were nervously and excitedly looking around.

"I am Xiao Zhuo, a Disciple of Yuyang Sect, specially here to return the children stolen from Qingyang City and its surroundings!" Xiao Zhuo's voice was clear and carried through the night wind.

Upon hearing this, the two generals' tense expressions immediately relaxed.

The bearded general immediately cupped his fists, his tone much more respectful: "Thank you, Young Hero Xiao, for your righteous assistance! Please follow us to the government office to meet Lord Chen, the Prefect."

"Very well!" Xiao Zhuo nodded.

The three immediately controlled their elemental power and flew towards a brightly lit four-story government building in the city.

That was where the Qingyang City government office was located, and also the residence of Prefect Chen Jingshan.

The stream of light slowly descended onto the stone steps in front of the main gate of the government office.

Although it was almost midnight, there were still yamen runners on duty at the entrance. Hearing that a distinguished Disciple of Yuyang Sect had returned the missing children, the yamen runners did not dare to neglect and quickly went inside to report.

A moment later, Xiao Zhuo was led into the Prefect's living quarters area in the back hall of the government office. The children were taken by special personnel to the front hall for registration and initial placement.

Under the guidance of the prefectural steward, Xiao Zhuo soon arrived at an elegant study.

A middle-aged scholar, dressed in a plain white gown with a refined demeanor, was already seated in the main position, waiting. Beside him stood a black-clad middle-aged man with a deep and reserved aura, and eyes like a hawk.

"Greetings, Lord Chen!" The two generals were the first to cup their fists and salute.

"Greetings, Lord Chen!" Xiao Zhuo also saluted with cupped fists according to etiquette.

Chen Jingshan's gaze swept over the three, waved his hand to dismiss the formalities, and then landed on Xiao Zhuo, his tone gentle but with scrutiny: "Young Hero Xiao is from Yuyang Sect? Did you rescue over thirty children this time?"

"Precisely!" Xiao Zhuo responded politely, then his gaze slightly narrowed, his lips unmoving, but he used the technique of sound transmission into a line to precisely convey his words into Chen Jingshan's ear: "Lord, this matter is of great importance, and there is another crucial matter to report. Please dismiss those around us."

Chen Jingshan's deep gaze lingered on Xiao Zhuo's face for a moment, then swept over the genuine Yuyang Sect Disciple's waist token at his waist, a glint flashing in his eyes, and he slowly nodded: "Yao Jiang, Zheng Ze, you two have your duties. Return to city defense for now. This official and Young Hero Xiao still have important matters to discuss."

"Understood!" Generals Yao and Zheng showed no hesitation, cupped their fists, and withdrew.

After the study door was gently closed from the outside by the steward, Chen Jingshan picked up his teacup, his gaze returning to Xiao Zhuo, his tone calm but with an invisible pressure: "There is no one else here now. Young Hero, what important matter do you have? Please speak freely."