73: Golden Jade Pavilion, charred corpse in the clinic (please read more)
After an unknown amount of time, Sun Qianzhao and Elder Chen had already rotated many times, and the White Bone Army finally retreated. At this point, torches had been lit on the city wall.
Qin Jiang and the rest of the Red Tiger Gang sat below the city wall, while Long Yuesheng picked up the shattered remains of his warhorse, though he couldn't be sure if what he was picking up was actually from it.
Zhang Lin, who had rotated back to the city wall, opened the city gate and pushed out a cart of food. Qin Jiang and the others rushed over like hungry tigers.
A moment later, Qin Jiang let out a long sigh of relief.
During this slaughter, he, Long Yuesheng, Sun Qianzhao, and Kong Hai were mainly responsible for the main force, with the others primarily providing support.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A sound of horse hooves came from within the city. Meng An rode out on a fast horse and dismounted directly.
“Boss, the other three city gates have been fortified. Aside from our side, which has a large number of White Bone Skeletons, the other three only have a small number of White Bone Army attacking.”
Long Yuesheng frowned slightly upon hearing this. Was it really such a coincidence?
Suddenly, a thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. He looked sharply at Qin Jiang, “Brother Qin, can you go deeper into the Ghastly Mist with me? I might know the source of this White Bone Army.”
Qin Jiang raised an eyebrow, “Let’s go.”
With that, he looked at the members of the Red Tiger Gang, “Alright, don’t stay here anymore. Everyone, go back up to the city wall.”
After everyone entered the city and closed the gate, he looked at Long Yuesheng, “Where to?”
Long Yuesheng nodded, “Follow me, it shouldn’t be far.”
The two walked into the Ghastly Mist. With their eyesight, even with the Ghastly Mist obscuring things, they could still see everything within a ten-meter radius, so they didn't have to worry about sneak attacks from White Bone Skeletons.
Moreover, if needed, they could unleash their Inner Qi to temporarily dispel the surrounding Ghastly Mist.
After walking for a moment, Long Yuesheng slightly raised his hand, signaling them to stop.
Then he exhaled sharply, and his Inner Qi dispersed, dispelling the Ghastly Mist within a hundred-meter radius, revealing a scene that astonished both of them.
Before them was a mass grave, with countless White Bone Skeletons crawling out of the pit.
‘This is where the refugees were buried before!’ Qin Jiang’s pupils contracted slightly.
Long Yuesheng felt his heart skip a beat, and his expression suddenly changed. These White Bone Skeletons were all formed from the dead refugees, weren't they?!
He vaguely remembered that the decision to cremate the refugees was made after discussions between him and the officials of the County Yamen.
It seemed he was even the one who initiated it?
His heart became flustered, feeling as if he had been manipulated.
“Go!”
He shouted loudly, wielding the Blood Flame Golden Spear in his hand. At this point, the White Bone Army had already surrounded them.
Qin Jiang threw a punch, shattering a group of the White Bone Army, then retreated.
Before long, the firelight illuminated the path ahead, and the two had left the range of the Ghastly Mist. For some reason, the White Bone Army did not pursue them.
These White Bone Fiends seemed somewhat unusual, attacking the city during the day and retreating at night.
Back on the city wall, Qin Jiang was feeling a bit irritable. Firstly, he didn't know how long this Ghastly Mist would last, and secondly, he was worried about the Eye Fiend that had not yet appeared but was very likely to.
Long Yuesheng saw his concern and smiled slightly, “No need to worry. Although I was forced to retreat, I have already sent a request for aid to the Commandery City.”
Qin Jiang looked up at him, “Are you sure it will be received?”
As his words fell, not only he but also the other members of the Red Tiger Gang looked over.
Long Yuesheng pondered for a moment, “If there’s no reinforcement within five days, it probably wasn’t received. However, given the scale of this Ghastly Domain, even if the request for aid isn't received, the Commandery City will discover it.
At most, within ten days, someone will come.”
With the power of the Bronze Bell Sect in the Commandery City, solving a Ghastly Domain was not a difficult task.
The person he intended to invite back to the Commandery City this time was actually a True Disciple of the Bronze Bell Sect.
A true Secret Martial Artist, solving a Ghastly Domain that had not yet fully formed was not a difficult task.
However, it seemed there had been some unexpected developments.
Qin Jiang nodded slightly and said nothing. Compared to rescue, he still trusted his own fists more.
That night, at the Song family estate.
Boom—!
With a violent crash, Qin Jiang kicked open the Song family gate and walked straight in.
“Who are you?! How dare you break into the Song family estate! Don’t you know our patriarch is the County Magistrate!”
A night watchman, looking like a steward, walked out and pointed at Qin Jiang, demanding.
Ever since their master had taken the position of County Magistrate, no one had ever dared to belittle the Song family so much!
The next moment, his body flew backward. Even though he was unconscious, blood continued to gush from his nose and mouth.
A surging bloody Evil Qi flowed out, spread across the courtyard, and surged into the back courtyard.
“Cough, cough, cough. So it’s Chief Qin. May I ask why Chief Qin is breaking into my Song family estate at night? Isn’t this a bit too disrespectful of the law?”
Song Xiaoan walked out from the back courtyard, wearing white pajamas, his face showing a hint of anger.
Even now, he still didn't believe Qin Jiang would dare to openly attack him like this.
Moreover, he wasn't someone to be trifled with. If it came to a fight, he might not necessarily lose!
“I ask you, what exactly happened with the female ghost in the back courtyard of Facing Phoenix Tower?” Qin Jiang asked.
Song Xiaoan’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, then he quickly composed himself and smiled, “You mean that cheap woman? She claimed to be a pure courtesan, but she was no longer a virgin. How could my Song family’s reputation allow her to defile it? Naturally, she deserved to die!
To be honest, I, your master, was still kind-hearted. I had her hanged after sending her back.”
Qin Jiang nodded, “So that’s how it is. And my sister? Where is she?”
“Your sister? Who is your sister?” Song Xiaoan asked with a puzzled expression.
Qin Jiang’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Qin Hong.”
Song Xiaoan’s face showed a sudden realization, “Oh, it was her. I wouldn't know about that. You see, with my position as County Magistrate, it's very difficult for me to see your sister.”
Qin Jiang shook his head, “It seems you are ready to die.”
Song Xiaoan’s expression changed slightly, “Chief Qin, what are you doing?! I am an official appointed by the imperial court! Are you trying to rebel—”
He hadn't finished speaking when the sole of a shoe appeared before his eyes.
The speed was so fast that he couldn't even make a move to dodge!
Boom—!
Song Xiaoan was kicked by Qin Jiang into the back courtyard, directly smashing a deep pit in the ground.
The next second, Qin Jiang had transformed into a four-meter giant and charged over, grabbing Song Xiaoan and slamming him repeatedly, each blow making the ground tremble.
“Are you going to talk? If not, then die for me!”
The violent sounds made all the family members in the back courtyard cower inside their houses, trembling, not daring to show their heads, fearing that Qin Jiang would casually twist off their heads.
“Golden! Jin Yu Pavilion!”
As more and more deep pits appeared, Song Xiaoan finally couldn't bear the pain any longer and shouted.
Qin Jiang immediately stopped, casually throwing Song Xiaoan to the ground, and in passing, used Evil Qi to shake off the bloodstains on his hands.
Song Xiaoan picked himself up and sat on the ground, looking at Qin Jiang with terror in his eyes. He had no doubt that if he hadn't spoken just now, he would already be a dead man!
He really dared! He really dared to kill me!
“Tell me about it, Jin Yu Pavilion.”
Qin Jiang spoke. This should be the second time he had heard this name.
Song Xiaoan wiped the blood from his face with his sleeve and took a few deep breaths before speaking, “Regarding the Jin Yu Pavilion, I, the County Magistrate... I only know a little. They seem to work for the Huai Country and are very mysterious.”
“What does this have to do with my sister?” Qin Jiang said, a cold light appearing in his eyes.
Song Xiaoan’s body trembled, “They, that day they found me and said that as long as I helped abduct Qin Hong, they could guarantee the Song family’s safety during this tide of oddities.”
“Huai Country? Jin Yu Pavilion.”
Qin Jiang’s eyes flashed with fierce light. First, they tried to kill him, and then they abducted his sister. It was truly going too far.
He closed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath, “Magistrate Long, you heard everything.”
Long Yuesheng stepped out from the shadows, holding the Blood Flame Golden Spear as he approached. Without any unnecessary words, he plunged the spear directly into Song Xiaoan’s head.
“To dare betray the country, he deserves to die!”
He looked at Qin Jiang, his heart filled with shock at Qin Jiang’s strength. Few Grandmaster-level experts he had seen could compare to Qin Jiang.
“Don’t worry, I’ve heard of the Jin Yu Pavilion. I will help you investigate.”
Qin Jiang nodded slightly, “Thank you, Magistrate Long.”
“Oh, you’re too polite. Just call me Brother Long from now on!”
Half a month later, Anxin Villa.
Inside the house, Qin Jiang looked at the antique old objects before him, feeling a bit agitated.
It had already been half a month. Not only had there been no reinforcements, but the White Bone Army had attacked the city every two or three days during this period. The Disciples in the Red Tiger Gang had suffered heavy casualties, losing hundreds of brothers.
If this continued, Black Mountain City would fall within ten days!
Looking at this last batch of antique old objects before him, these were things he had gathered by mobilizing his forces, under the names of the Red Tiger Gang and the County Magistrate.
It could be said that at this moment, Black Mountain City truly had no more antique old objects, unless they were some secret family heirlooms unknown to others.
His palm gently touched them, and a moment later, the potential points were absorbed.
Potential Points: 483.6
Looking at the value, which was still a bit short of five hundred, his eyelids couldn't stop twitching.
Twenty short! Still twenty short?! How is it still twenty short?!
The frustration accumulated over many days finally made him unable to resist grabbing an antique vase and smashing it out.
“Clang!”
The vase hit the ground but didn't break; it was caught by Meng An, who had just entered.
“Boss!”
Qin Jiang looked at Meng An irritably, “What is it? Didn’t I say not to bother me unless it’s important.”
“Boss, didn’t you arrange for me to bring the Liu Family couple, Old Master Wang, and Physician Baiyun to the Inner City?” Meng An said.
Qin Jiang frowned, his gaze turning cold, “What happened? Did someone stop you?”
Meng An shrank his head, his eyes somewhat evasive, “No, no, it’s just Physician Baiyun... Physician Baiyun isn’t here, and also—”
“And what! Just say it!” Qin Jiang said impatiently.
“The medical hall was burned down! Only two charred bodies were found at the scene—”
Boom—!
Qin Jiang’s figure disappeared from the house, rushing out like a whirlwind.