[Hetu] [Heavenly Demon] [Episode 1] Chapter 2

Chapter Two: The Yang Family's Two Branches

Tianjin, an ancient city, has been a strategically vital location since ancient times, and a vital trading

port . Being near the capital, it has always been a prosperous place. The towering city walls and red-lacquered gates

exude an air of unparalleled majesty. The city bustles with people, from laborers to merchants, and carriages, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere. However

, the number of soldiers guarding the city gates is several times greater than usual, and their checks are particularly strict, causing the locals

to murmur amongst themselves, wondering what has happened.

The locals are also surprised to find that the guards are no longer the constables from the old government offices. Although

they still wear constable uniforms, their weapons and unyielding demeanor

clearly indicate that they are the garrison of Tianjin, no longer the slick, unyielding old constables.

Having traveled for several days straight, enduring wind and rain, eating only dry rations as hard as iron, and drinking unboiled

river water, even Yang Cun, with his exceptionally strong physique, was exhausted from the journey.

Upon reaching the city gate, he obediently dismounted and joined the other civilians in queuing for inspection.

While Yang Cun was inherently shameless, he adhered to a principle of discretion and saw

no need to waste time at this crucial juncture.

The inspection team moved slowly forward; it was obvious to anyone with eyes that the checks upon entering the city were lax, but those leaving

were frighteningly strict. It was unclear who the soldiers were looking for, but the younger or

stronger men were subjected to particularly rigorous scrutiny.

As they approached the city gate, the centurion spotted Yang Cun in the crowd. His eyes narrowed, and noticing

the conspicuously large black horse, he immediately strode over, sword in hand, and demanded sternly, "What are you doing here?

" "I am Yang Cun, here to visit a friend," Yang Cun replied politely, bowing respectfully.

"Is this your horse?" The centurion looked at the tall black horse with a hint of admiration, then at Yang

Cun's somewhat thin frame. A suspicion began to creep into his eyes. This tall, magnificent horse with its glossy coat and black mane was

clearly a top-quality military steed, but the boy before him didn't seem like a soldier. He looked travel-worn;

wealthy families usually traveled by carriage. It was rare to find someone like Yang Cun, without any attendants or luggage

. It was hard not to be suspicious.

"Indeed," Yang Cun replied, feeling a bit nauseous at his own flowery words.

"No need to check those entering the city, Commander Zhang, what are you doing?" At this moment, a

man who looked like a clerk patrolling around glanced at the situation and immediately snorted in dissatisfaction.

"Go in!" Commander Zhang glanced at Yang Cun, then looked longingly at the tall and handsome black horse,

waved his hand, and no longer made things difficult.

Following the flow of people into the city, Yang Cun stretched comfortably, no longer feeling the discomfort of being squeezed in crowds.

However, when he looked up, he was startled. Good heavens, the line of people waiting to leave the city was as long as a dragon,

and it looked like there were more than a few thousand people. There were at least two thousand soldiers in charge of checking people in the city. The soldiers were not only on guard everywhere, but

many of them were also constantly patrolling back and forth. It seemed that something serious had happened. Otherwise, according to the authority of the Governor of Tianjin,

he would not have the right to mobilize so many troops without the permission of the Ministry of War.

Yang Cun found a decent-looking inn to stay in.

After washing away the dust of his journey and changing into new clothes, night had already fallen. Sitting on the hotel terrace, sipping wine, watching the people

coming and going , all seemingly filled with fear, and then glancing at the soldiers moving about, their faces grim

, Yang Cun couldn't help but feel puzzled. Something seemed to have happened in Tianjin; it felt unsettling.

"Young master, your dish..." Just then, the waiter brought over a steaming bowl of steaming fish. Having

received a generous tip from Yang Cun upon entering the restaurant, he was beaming, treating the big black horse like royalty,

running around serving Yang Cun as if he were his own father. It seemed the allure of money was indeed incredibly

powerful.

"Thank you for your trouble, young man." Although Yang Cun disliked such glib talk, that's

how ; he couldn't help but get used to it.

"Please enjoy your meal. There's still one Eight Treasure Roasted Chicken that hasn't arrived yet. I'll urge them to bring it to you right away." The waiter smiled very

attentively . In these days, who wouldn't like such a generous customer who would casually give a tael of silver when visiting an inn? You know,

his monthly salary was only one and a half qian.

"I want to ask you something." Yang Cun quickly stopped him and asked curiously, "I see constables and soldiers

everywhere , and the checks when leaving the city are very strict. Has something happened?" "You

don't know?" The waiter had just finished speaking when he immediately slapped his head and smiled apologetically, "Look at my

brain Young master, you've just arrived in Tianjin. How would you know about this? It's like this,

not long ago, the Imperial Preceptor Zhang Baocheng passed away. He was from Tianjin, and the imperial court sent him back to his hometown for burial with a grand procession. But as soon as the Ministry of Rites'

procession arrived in the city, something big happened!" "What big thing happened?" Yang Cun's eyes narrowed.

"I don't know if it's accurate or not; those officials won't tell us." The waiter, looking cautious,

glanced before approaching and whispering, "It's said that on the first night the entourage stayed in our city,

over sixty officials from the Ministry of Rites, along with the Imperial Preceptor's disciples, were all murdered. When they discovered it the next day, the governor

was so frightened he fainted. Not only was the Imperial Preceptor's body missing, but many of the burial items were also gone. Even the Imperial

Preceptor 's favorite scriptures, some Taoist implements, and many items bestowed by the Emperor were gone.

" "No wonder they're so strict." Yang Cun suddenly understood. With such an incident happening locally, it was no wonder the Tianjin

governor was so nervous; if the court investigated, it would be a matter of life and death.

"Sir, please enjoy your meal. I'll go downstairs to serve the dishes." After saying this, the waiter immediately went downstairs to work.

These matters were merely topics of conversation for them, common folk busy

making a living, with no time to concern themselves with the life or death of officials; such things were far removed from their lives.

When the Imperial Preceptor Zhang Baocheng passed away, he was over 110 years old, with only a handful of disciples, but Heaven ...Those who followed him praised him highly, and many even revered him as their patriarch. Zhang Baocheng was already famous throughout the land by the age of thirty. In terms of the Dao, he had reached a state of being half-human, half-immortal, having comprehended the two extremes, and was even bestowed the title of Imperial Preceptor. Throughout his life, he assisted…

Having served three emperors, Zhang Baocheng held such a high position that even the reigning emperor revered him as his patriarch, and he was highly

praised . It is said that Zhang Baocheng was not only proficient in medicine and metaphysics but also knowledgeable in various esoteric arts. Although

no one had ever heard of him, he was already considered a semi-divine being.

Thirty years ago, Zhang Baocheng consulted the stars at night, observing the constellations, and later comprehended the secrets of heaven, leaving behind

the concluding words, "Heaven and earth clash, the five elements emerge," eight short characters containing countless heavenly secrets. From then on, the peaceful and prosperous

era of the Great Hua Dynasty underwent a dramatic change. Not only did martial arts practitioners from various sects begin to roam the world, but even those skilled in

esoteric arts

began to enter the mortal realm. Strange and mysterious figures emerged in droves. Whether they were sorcerers or Taoists, they seemed to have agreed to enter the mortal world. While it wasn't exactly chaos,

it certainly caused the court considerable headaches.

Heaven and earth clash, the five elements emerge; heaven is unrestrained, earth bestows true spirits.

Cultivating the Tao, questioning righteousness and evil—who doesn't know the eight-character proverb left by Zhang Baocheng? Whether it truly is eight characters,

no one in the world knows, but from the moment the secret of heaven was revealed, it was destined that this world would no longer be peaceful .

After a few simple dishes and a pot of wine, having filled his stomach, Yang Cun, following the old Taoist's instructions, headed to the west of the city and

found the small temple he had mentioned.

However, at this time, there wasn't a single person in the temple. Just as Yang Cun was feeling frustrated, he heard an extremely

faint sound! It was the sound of clothes rustling in the wind, so faint that, without a sudden flash of alertness,

such a small movement wouldn't even be as loud as a fly buzzing in an ordinary person's ear.

Strange, it was already past midnight, and the city was under complete lockdown; yet someone dared to sneak around like this at

night . Yang Cun's heart tightened immediately, and he quietly followed the direction of the sound. Knowing that such

a large-scale operation meant not only a large number of soldiers but

also many skilled fighters lurking nearby, he dared not rashly use his lightness skill to avoid trouble. Instead, he relied on his agility to weave through the streets and alleys, closely

following his target.

Under the moonlight, a figure clad entirely in black gauze moved with lightning speed across the rooftops. His nimble movements

made no sound, demonstrating his incredible speed. The flowing black gauze further enhanced his lightness,

obscuring his features and figure, leaving only a blurry black silhouette as

he raced .

"Who goes there?" Although the shadowy figure moved almost silently,

a thunderous shout rang out as he approached the city wall. Suddenly, an incredibly tall figure leaped from the wall, and in a flash

, a silver light flashed as a precious sword was drawn, slashing down like a mountain crashing down on the shadowy figure.

"Wow, that's ruthless!" The shadowy figure's rapid movement suddenly halted, and in the instant the blade flashed

, it vanished like a ghost. The flowing black veil retreated like ink, landing lightly, followed by an

extremely alluring laugh, tinged with teasing, seemingly without a trace of tension.

"Damn, it's a girl!" Yang Cun's eyes immediately burned with desire. After all, in so many years in the deep mountains and dense forests,

women were a rare sight. Although he had seen many females along the way, most looked

similar to birds and beasts, failing to arouse any desire for mating. This girl before him, though

far and unable to see her face or figure clearly,

possessed an indescribable femininity simply from the light, graceful movement of the black veil and the alluring, nightingale-like voice, a hazy temptation.

With a deafening "bang," like an explosion, the gleaming broadsword slammed into the roof,

nearly shattering half the house. Wood and stone fragments flew everywhere, sand and gravel swirling in the air. The fierce strike was incredibly brutal; the air

was instantly filled with dust and grime, which lingered under the moonlight. Yang Cun stared, his tongue lolling out.

Good heavens , this guy is as strong as an ox. His body is like a mountain, and even a casual strike is this ruthless

. If he had actually struck that girl, wouldn't she have been turned into mincemeat? At the very least, she would have been reduced to dust.

The burly man's strike stunned the city guards beside him. But the man, seemingly undeterred by his missed attack,

slowly raised the broadsword and slung it over his shoulder, coldly watching the dark figure that had already drifted several feet away. At this moment, an

extremely cold, seemingly emotionless voice softly rang out: "What are you doing, members of the Demonic Sect, sneaking around in the dead of

night ..." Following the sound of the voice, a long robe fluttered in the wind. Just as everyone was astonished by

the burly man's incredibly fierce strike, a very refined figure appeared beside him.

His voice, utterly chilling, carried no trace of joy or anger, nor any emotion, as if he were speaking to the dead, indifferent to

everything, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

For a moment, the surroundings were shrouded in a hazy dust. The tall and refined figure walked slowly, his

steps deliberate and elegant, each step seemingly silent, like a silent thunderclap. Each silent step

carried an irresistible pressure, suffocating the senses, an unyielding majesty.

As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, a man of about thirty years old was revealed.

His features was breathtaking, enough to make even women envious. However, his icy expression kept everyone at a distance. He wore

a white, top-quality silk robe, clearly indicating his wealth and status. But what was most astonishing was his extraordinary skill.

With a single step, he appeared before the woman from the Demonic Sect in the blink of an eye. His speed was like that of

a ghost, so fast that even the naked eye could hardly catch his movements.

"Who are you?" The woman immediately became wary, taking a small step back and looking

at the icy man before her with suspicion. Even though the man before her was undeniably handsome, the terrifying aura he exuded was

something no one dared to underestimate.

"The capital, the Yang family." The man's voice trailed off as he stared sharply at the woman before him, his tone still

emotionless . "The Demonic Sect has no connection with my Yang family, but now that the imperial artifact is lost and the Imperial Preceptor's body has been dishonored,

and you appear here in the dead of night, if you don't have a reasonable explanation, don't blame me for being ruthless..." "Zhang Baocheng's things

?" The woman, though drenched in cold sweat, still chuckled, her

smile alluring yet provocative. "I'm quite interested, but unfortunately, someone else got there first. Is the Yang family of the capital so great? My Demonic

Sect never hides its actions. We do want Zhang Baocheng's things, but we weren't fast enough to act. This matter

has nothing to do with us."The man remained silent, his face cold and expressionless, his jade-like complexion and eyes calm yet filled with a profound sense of composure.

His expression was so solemn it was almost blinding; his face was as white as snow, his brows were like demonic eyebrows, and his eyes were like swords—handsome, yet exuding a calm and masculine

aura.

The Yang family of the capital? The direct line of the Prince of Zhen! Yang Cun was immediately jolted . So this

guy, who looked almost like a demon, was a relative of his. Although the Yang family had produced three dukes, all descended from the

same ancestor, the Prince of Zhen, hundreds of years ago, these days the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was very

clear . The relationship still existed, but contact wasn't as frequent anymore. Especially for his own branch, although two dukes had emerged, they had always lived far

outside the capital, rarely interacting with the direct line of the Prince of Zhen. So, it seemed unnecessary to have a blood relation—

how vulgar!

"Your Highness!" At this moment, the burly man, carrying a large sword, came up behind the man, bowed respectfully, and

said nothing more. The man stood expressionless. Although he was of average height, the giant behind him

was even taller, like a mountain, making the scene extremely bizarre. This giant's body was ridiculously large, unlike

that of an ordinary person.

At the same time, thousands of soldiers emerged from the darkness carrying torches, revealing that the Prince of Zhen had been

waiting .

"You are the current Prince of Zhen, Yang Shu?" The woman seemed somewhat surprised, looking at the young

man before her, a sense of unease creeping into her mind.

"How dare you address the Prince by his name!" The giant behind her, hearing her nonchalant tone,

immediately roared in anger.

"What does it matter to me whether he's a prince or not!" The woman's eyes narrowed, and she looked at Yang Shu without fear,

coldly snorting, "Yang, we're also looking for Zhang Baocheng's things. Our Demonic Sect doesn't need to act suspiciously

. If the items are truly in our hands, we're not afraid of the world knowing! But I don't have time to argue with you now.

If you don't believe me, then I have nothing more to say. Let's fight." The hereditary Prince of Zhen, Yang Shu. Hearing

this name, Yang Cun was also surprised. After all, although the Yang family had split into two branches, the Prince of Zhen's lineage was still

the mainstream, and the hereditary Prince of Zhen presided over the sacrificial rites. Although the title of Prince of Zhen wasn't

as prestigious as it was decades ago due to ancestral blessings, he was still the first prince of a different surname in the Great Hua. But what was unexpected was that the current

Prince of Zhen, Yang Shu, was so young, looking only in his twenties. Damn it, he's even more handsome than me! Is there

no justice in this world?!

"Sneaking around, who is it?" Yang Shu seemed to be squinting in thought when he suddenly snorted coldly,

and an intense chill emanated from him.

"A petty thief, he's been following me all this way," the woman from the Demonic Sect replied, her gaze falling

on the hut where Yang Cun was hiding.

"Come out!" The burly man suddenly reacted, immediately shouting as he leaped into the air, quickly gripping

his broadsword and charging towards Yang Cun like a mountain.

"Hey, hey, don't be so impulsive..." Yang Cun quickly emerged from the darkness,

waving his hands as he looked at the burly man who had already pounced on him, saying, "You guys talk, I'm just here to kill time and watch the fun, I

have no . We're all civilized people, arguments are common, please don't fight. Ah! You're even using a knife, can't you have

any sense of propriety?" "Glib talker!" The woman from the Demonic Sect snorted disdainfully, turning back to continue

confronting Yang Shu.

Yang Shu didn't even look, closing his eyes and saying nothing.

"Take this!" the burly man roared, and his hundred-pound sword actually came crashing down.

The sound of it cutting through the air was deafening, and the overwhelming pressure of the blow terrified all the soldiers guarding the city gates, preventing them from approaching.

It was a familiar scene: dust billowed, stones flew everywhere, and with a loud "bang,"

a five-meter-diameter crater appeared in the ground amidst the flying sand and stones. Everyone who saw this couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines. Good heavens, if

that sword fell, there probably wouldn't even be any bones left! The burly man slowly tightened his grip on the sword, slowly raised it, and

suddenly looked up at the opposite rooftop. In an instant, veins bulged on his face, his teeth clenched, and his eyes widened in fury; he seemed

truly enraged.

Looking at the sword in his hand, even though his body was as large as a mountain, the sword seemed even more exaggerated!

The long blade was almost 1.5 meters long, and the thickness of the blade was definitely no less than 30 centimeters, even surpassing

Yang Guo Xuan Tie Heavy Sword! The blade was incredibly transparent, heavy and powerful, and its weight was estimated to be no less than

200 kilograms. Yet, in his hands, he wielded it with ease, as if it were nothing. Each strike felt

like ; if someone were to be cut, they would be utterly annihilated, at best crushed into a pulp.

"Hey, big brother, that's dangerous!" Yang Cun hid on the roof, looking at the huge crater in the ground,

and couldn't help but stick out his tongue in fright. He patted his chest and said with a look of disdain, "You've made such a big

hole in such a good road! Let's not even talk about whether we have to pay compensation, but you have to know that the road construction is all the hard-earned money of the people. What if an innocent person is

accidentally hurt, or a child falls into the hole? You know, children are the treasures of their families..." "Interesting!" The woman from the Demonic Sect couldn't help but chuckle

at Yang Cun's incessant rambling . Yang Shu stood with his hands behind his back, eyes closed, 　　deep in thought. 　　His brow furrowed slightly, seemingly taken aback by Yang Cun 's unexpected dodge of a strike that carried the power of heaven and earth. "You scoundrel..." The burly man, having missed twice with his strikes, seemed enraged. He gritted his teeth and took a step forward, his breathing becoming heavier. With each step, the earth seemed to shake, and his true energy grew increasingly dense, almost to the point of explosion. A strange, reddish-yellow aura strangely enveloped his entire body. Instantly, the true energy surrounding the burly man became so intense it was almost suffocating. With just a light step, the ground churned like flying sand and stones, and a powerful pressure expanded from his massive body, like a storm suddenly erupting from flat ground. 　　The burly man's approach was relentless, each step feeling like a blow to the heart. Yang Cun felt he could barely breathe; the overwhelming force, like a mountain pressing down, was unimaginable. 　　Without Yang Shu's orders, none of the soldiers dared to move. The bizarre scene unfolding around the burly man left them speechless, and even Yang Cun was instantly drenched in cold sweat. Good heavens, this seemingly ...The seemingly foolish and dull fellow was actually a master who had cultivated a spiritual pill. Judging from his aura, it was impossible to know just how strong he was; he was at least several levels stronger than himself. Not only Yang Cun was surprised, but even the other person...

The woman from the Demonic Sect was also taken aback; she seemed unable to fathom how powerful the burly man could be.

Since Zhang Baocheng comprehended the mysteries of the battle between heaven and earth, the world seemed to have lost many constraints in an instant.

Whether cultivators or martial artists, they were all astonished to discover they possessed inner cores. Strength

was measured by the number of inner cores one possessed. Having one inner core already made one extraordinary, two inner cores marked one as a worldly expert, three

inner cores as a first-rate expert, and four inner cores or more were extremely rare. The burly man before her was currently radiating an

overwhelming , oppressive aura of fury, the effect of at least a five-core or higher true qi eruption. An expert with five inner cores—such

a powerful being was simply unparalleled in the world.

"Damn it, I've kicked a hornet's nest!" Yang Cun was truly dumbfounded. Although Yang Cun was only eighteen years old and

had already reached the strength of three inner cores under the old Taoist's tutelage, making him a top-tier expert with exceptional talent

among his peers, his pitiful strength was no match for this monstrous guy

.

Not only did the dust on the ground begin to swirl, but it seemed that in an instant, the entire city of Tianjin was shaking violently

. The burly man glared angrily, approaching step by step, gritting his teeth as he viciously raised the

heavy giant blade in his hand. Yang Cun was drenched in cold sweat. Even though he wanted to resist, the

fear dominated everything, and he didn't even have the ability to lift his feet and run away.

"Earth slave, that's enough!" Just as the burly man was about to explode, Yang Shu appeared silently

in front of him without anyone noticing. With just a soft utterance, the burly man, who had been like a powder keg,

immediately . Aside from glaring resentfully at Yang Cun, his overwhelming aura dissipated.

"You can leave now, member of the Demonic Sect!" Yang Shu coldly glared at Yang Cun, scoffing without turning his head

.

"There's a show to watch, but unfortunately, I don't have time." The Demonic Sect woman seemed unwilling to

linger with Yang Shu. With a charming smile, she lightly leaped over the city wall and out of the city. With Yang Shu's words, the soldiers

dared not stop her, only able to watch helplessly as the ethereal black figure slowly disappeared into the night.

"Who goes there?" Yang Shu's two short words, delivered with an icy tone as if addressing a dead man. As

the new King of Zhen, his imposing presence was incredibly heavy; no wonder he inherited this

incomparably noble throne at such a young age. A single word, a short sentence, was enough to convey

the majesty of someone who held the power of life and death.

"Yang Cun." Yang Cun dared not play around any longer. In an instant, just an instant,

the unparalleled power of the burly man's fury had completely rendered him powerless to resist. He didn't even need to touch himself to know that he

was covered in cold sweat. He had even had the mind to tease him just now; if the man had unleashed that

earth-shattering strength from the start, his life would probably be over long ago.

"Where are you from..." The familiar name made Yang Shu frown,

a ripple appearing on his usually icy face for the first time.

"Jiangnan, Yang family." Yang Cun could only give his family name. Yang Cun's voice

trembled slightly as he spoke, still somewhat dazed. The pressure from Yang Shu's cold words was even more overwhelming than the

terrifying burst of true energy from the burly man.

"A descendant of the Duke of Jingguo..." Yang Shu's face showed a hint of surprise as he frowned and looked at the

boy who had been grinning the whole time. He asked with a touch of suspicion, "May I ask, what is your birth order in your family?" "If my older siblings

were alive, I would be the fourth." Yang Cun understood; it seemed he too had some doubts. However, at this crucial moment,

he dared not try to be evasive. He didn't know how skilled Yang Shu was, but the monster behind him called Di Nu

was glaring at him fiercely, looking like he was ready to stab him at any moment. Now was definitely

not the time for smooth talk.

"Do you have any proof?" Yang Shu's eyes narrowed, his question light and casual, seemingly tinged with a mixture of delight and surprise.

Even though he was afraid, Yang Cun was still somewhat annoyed by Yang Shu's stern interrogation. Gently pulling down

his collar, he picked up the snow-white jade pendant hanging around his neck and said irritably, "Look at this, you should recognize it!"

The snow-white jade, flawless and exquisite, surpassed even the beauty of snow itself. Its entire surface was warm and smooth, its color like the crystalline frost of a cold cave. Even within

the imperial palace, it was a rare and exquisite piece, and even more so among the common people. The white jade was carved into a plaque, with three intertwined pythons,

and in the very center a large character, "Yang," written in a vigorous and powerful style. Even though it was engraved in seal script,

the depth of the writer's skill was evident, making him a true master. Such a rare and beautiful jade, coupled with calligraphy unmatched in the world, meant that

even ordinary high-ranking officials could not possess such an exquisite jade pendant.

"Jiangnan white, Kyoto blue." Yang Shu's eyes lit up, and for the first time, a faint smile appeared on his usually cold face.

Looking at Yang Cun again, his eyes were filled with indescribable joy. Suddenly, he clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply

, saying, "Nephew Yang Shu greets Uncle!" "Get up quickly, we're all family!" Yang Cun

felt awkward for a moment. Yang Shu's face had been as cold as if his parents had died, but now he was suddenly performing such a grand ceremony.

Putting aside his status as the Prince of Zhen, even if he were just an ordinary junior

member of the Yang family, it seemed unnecessary to be so respectful. However, it seemed that the Prince of Zhen was actually younger than him. While Yang Cun was being modest, he couldn't help but feel a little smug.

"This is my first time greeting Uncle, and my words have been disrespectful. Please forgive me!" Yang Shu slowly shook his head,

a hint of shame flashing across his face, and immediately bowed respectfully again.

"It's alright, it's alright, we're all family." Yang Cun was even sweating a little. The Prince of Zhen! " I didn't expect him

to be such a rigid person. Judging from his actions, he practically wants to kneel and kowtow to me three times. Is it really necessary to be so

polite?

" "Uncle, are you going to the capital?" Yang Shu asked softly after respectfully performing the junior's greeting.

"Yes, I need to register at the Ministry of Rites." Yang Cun nodded helplessly. Although he was the hereditary Duke of Jing, he

still had to register at the Ministry of Rites. Otherwise, without his own seal, even knowing

he was a descendant of the Duke of Jing, he wouldn't have the right to enjoy that privilege."Excellent!" Yang Shu said, unable to hide his joy. "In that case, once I'm done with my work, I will personally escort you to the capital, Uncle. It's been a long time since our two branches of the Yang family have gathered. I've heard that you've been cultivating under the tutelage of a reclusive master since childhood..."

" Alright, I've visited many times over the past ten years without success, which I deeply regret. Now that we've met by chance, please, Uncle, do not refuse. Let your nephew

host a dinner in the capital, to extend the century-old kinship between our two branches of the family." Yang Cun was really fed up with his

classical Chinese and wanted to slap him to death. His eyes flashed and he saw the thousands of soldiers on the edge of the city, then looked at

the terrifying monster behind him, and couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Your Highness, what are you doing here?" "Uncle, you

can just call me Shu'er..." Yang Shu quickly pretended to be unworthy, but his face darkened, and he shook his head and said,

"...Uncle, you don't know, your nephew was just investigating in Tianjin when this case happened.

Seeing that so many evil people are emerging in the world, not only disrupting the world and our laws, but even daring to touch the remains of the Imperial Preceptor and steal

the items bestowed by our Emperor, their crimes are so great that they must be punished." "It just so happens that my nephew has brought five thousand cavalry, which will be a great help to the governor

of Tianjin , allowing him to capture the audacious thief as soon as possible." "Shu'er is very thoughtful." Yang

Cun's face twitched stiffly as he spoke. This Yang Shu, aside from anything else, is just a stubborn blockhead! Judging from his

way , he's the epitome of incorrigibility. Anyone who messes with him in this kind of situation is doomed, but he's doing it anyway, leading his troops

blindly charging forward—he's fucking stupid!

"Your Highness!" At this moment, the previously silent Di Nu suddenly raised his head, staring intently westward,

frowning as he said, "There's a strange feeling over there." Yang Shu seemed to trust him completely, and upon hearing this, he immediately

flashed westward. While running, he turned back and said, "Uncle, please wait a moment. I'll go check.

Uncle, you can stay with me tonight." "Hmph!" The slave turned and glared at Yang Cun before quickly chasing after him

. Despite his enormous size, he moved with surprising speed, and his hostility towards Yang Cun was

palpable .

"I'll go too." Watching their departing figures, Yang Cun felt a bit bored and immediately started

walking, quickly following after them.

The three figures moved swiftly across the rooftops. Yang Shu's speed was astonishing, almost a blur

, moving forward without stopping, so fast that it was almost impossible to catch up. The Earth Slave was slightly slower,

but

panting heavily. He couldn't help but wonder how these two monsters cultivated themselves, running so fast without even breaking a sweat.

It was infuriating!

The three figures followed one after the other, moving silently through the night. Originally, Tianjin was quite quiet at night

, but as they approached the West Gate, a sudden burst of flames shot into the sky, accompanied by screams, shouts, and roars from who-knows-where, creating

a scene of utter chaos. Yang Shu frowned upon seeing this from afar

: "What's going on? Isn't there a Tianjin garrison at the West Gate? Does someone dare to openly defy the imperial army?"

"In this era, although many martial artists don't take the imperial court seriously, they haven't reached the point of using martial arts to break the law,

after all, it's not what they pursue. Since the battle between heaven and earth, the heavens have bestowed spirituality upon all things, breaking all the original

constraints. For a time, demons and monsters entered the world, strange arts and immortal techniques, dragons and snakes mingled, breaking the original

peace of the world. However, no matter what, they will not choose to confront the imperial court. After all, they are not yet Great Luo Golden Immortals,

and no matter how powerful they are, they cannot resist the imperial army. It can be said that this is

the reason why the world is still relatively stable.

At the west gate, the garrison was in chaos, with cries and screams rising and falling. And in front of them

were dozens of people missing limbs, each one moving stiffly, tearing at any living person they caught without thinking!

In addition to drinking blood, they also ate raw human flesh, looking extremely terrifying, like the legendary zombies.

" What's going on? Yang Cun arrived and was immediately horrified by the scene before him! Those zombie-like

creatures, some missing arms or legs, some even with their eyeballs fallen out, seemed to feel

no merely attacked the living around them, baring their fangs and claws, as if greedily craving fresh flesh and blood

. The scene was utterly bizarre!

"Medicinal corpses…" Yang Shu, with his vast experience, frowned, sniffed the foul odor in the air, and

immediately gritted his teeth, saying, "It's Miao black magic. Legend has it that the sorcerer secretly concocts nearly a hundred kinds of poisonous insects and herbs into Gu. When

someone dies, on the first full moon after their burial, the grave is opened, the coffin is opened, and these Gu insects are fed into the mouth.

After six months, the dead person can be transformed into a medicinal corpse for the sorcerer to command. But this place is nearly a thousand miles southwest, how could there be medicinal corpses here?

" "Those people look familiar!" The Earth Slave seemed completely unafraid, looking at the writhing medicinal corpses on the ground,

only a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

"They are the disciples of the Imperial Preceptor and officials from the Ministry of Rites!" Upon closer inspection, Yang Shu was immediately astonished,

muttering in disbelief, "Impossible! The cultivation of a medicinal corpse takes half a year. These people have only been dead for three days, yet

someone has managed to refine them into medicinal corpses? How is this possible?" The soldiers, fearless against powerful enemies and bandits,

were now facing a group of zombies who only knew how to eat flesh and drink blood. They were terrified, crying and wetting their pants! Even

when slashed with swords, even when the blades pierced their bodies, the medicinal corpses only trembled slightly, showing

almost no reaction. Even when their arms were cut off, "they" didn't even glance at them; even when their legs were

severed, they continued to crawl on the ground. Their only sense seemed to be knowing where the living were, their only

instinct being a craving for flesh and blood, constantly gnawing on the corpses of the dead soldiers.

"Your Highness, should we deal with these things?" The slave looked at the medicinal corpses with disgust. The feeling was

strange, as if he were looking down on lower beings, particularly disdainful.

"Wait, something's odd!" Yang Shu narrowed his eyes, sneered, and said, "The biggest

weakness of these medicinal corpses is that they're useless once their heads are cut off. The person behind this was able to concoct these medicines in just three days.

Although I don't know what method they used, the fact that they're using them in such a hurry suggests they have some

ulterior motive. Let's wait and see!" Every moment, soldiers were attacked and torn to pieces by the medicinal corpses.

Their screams made the West Gate a scene of utter carnage, a living hell!Yang Cun watched from the sidelines, his skin crawling with unease, but Yang Shu seemed to have other plans in mind. Yang Shu was, after all, a prince, and Zhang Baocheng's case was so serious that, from the perspective of those in positions of power, sacrificing some ordinary soldiers was perfectly justifiable.

Although some soldiers had discovered the weakness of the zombies—their decapitation—

few dared to confront these terrifying inanimate objects head-on. The sounds of bones snapping echoed, and more and more mangled flesh littered the ground.

Finally , some soldiers huddled at the city gate couldn't take the shock anymore. One screamed, dropped his weapon, wet

his pants, and cried out, "I'm not a soldier anymore! Damn it, this is a ghost! This is haunted!" The chain reaction was

terrifying . As soon as the city gate opened, the first soldier ran out, followed by others who cried out and

fled, abandoning their armor and weapons. What was happening behind them was too horrifying for them.

Who could have imagined that zombies actually existed? Perhaps they weren't afraid of death or killing on the battlefield, but

none of them had the courage to face such a horrific reality. The mangled corpses of their comrades, the hoarse screams—all tormented

their already fragile nerves. Faced with such a horrific scene, no normal person could possibly endure it.

The soldiers fled like a receding tide, leaving behind only weapons and armor littering the ground. The west gate stood open, and for a moment

, only the remaining monsters lingered, gnawing on the still-warm corpses. Yang Shu watched this scene,

his face expressionless. He neither reprimanded the soldiers for their cowardice nor showed any sympathy for the torn-to-the-ground

dead . The slave beside him looked disgusted, but he didn't speak or take any action, simply

standing quietly behind Yang Shu.

"Damn it, what is this all about!" Yang Cun was horrified, feeling a

sense of disdain . If they didn't go down and deal with these monsters soon, and they finished eating the corpses before running into the city,

countless civilians would suffer. Tianjin was already in a state of panic;

if another case of monsters stealing corpses occurred, who would be able to suppress it?

"They're here..." The three waited quietly on the rooftop. Yang Shu squinted and remained silent for a long time,

then suddenly his ears twitched, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Damn it, who's here?" Yang Cun was already feeling the effects; he had already vomited twice. Damn it, how could these two be so calm watching

the zombies eat people! I must have been a fool to watch with them! These

zombies seemed to never get enough to eat; some had even burst their stomachs, their intestines and flesh spilling out

onto the ground, yet they were still greedily gnawing on the flesh of the dead. They were truly monsters without any sense of feeling.

Yang Shu remained silent, his gaze slowly drifting towards the dark street corner. At this moment, the soft

sound out, the speed gradually increasing. A simple carriage slowly approached, its door

shrouded by a black curtain, making it almost impossible to see inside. However, with the appearance of the carriage, even Yang Cun could smell a pungent

odor . Strangely, when the carriage slowly approached the horde of medicinal corpses, the corpses seemed oblivious,

not attacking the creatures before them. The horses, too, seemed to see nothing, continuing to advance silently.

At this moment, the area in front of the city gate was littered with corpses and blood, a scene of utter hell. The carriage showed no sign of

stopping , its wheels crushing the corpses as it continued forward. The medicinal corpses were momentarily stunned.

Their bloodthirsty eyes lost all light, as if their instincts had vanished in an instant. They dropped the severed limbs they held

or bitten, and as if by some unspoken agreement, swayed their mutilated bodies, slowly following

behind the carriage.

"Hmph, scoundrels!" Yang Shu's eyes lit up, and he snorted coldly.

"Hey…" Yang Cun just felt a gust of wind beside him. Looking up, he saw Yang Shu and the Earth Slave had already rushed down like

lightning .

Two figures as fast as lightning blocked the carriage's path. At this moment, the horses seemed to sense something amiss,

letting out a soft neigh before halting their advance. A deathly silence fell as both sides stood in a silent standoff. After

a long while, a low, sinister voice finally came from inside the carriage: "Who are you?" "Black Witch Corpses

!" Yang Shu, his face icy, didn't answer but instead asked, "Who are you?" "Kill them."

There was a moment of silence inside the carriage, followed by a chilling hum. The person inside didn't want to prolong the argument. As soon as he finished speaking,

plumes of black smoke billowed from the carriage, carrying an almost nauseating stench towards the corpses. The previously calm

corpses, upon smelling the stench, suddenly roared as if injected with hormones and charged towards the two men

!

"You ungrateful wretch!" The Earth Slave sneered, his massive body blocking Yang

Shu's path, who had already closed his eyes in disdain. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and with a furious roar, he unleashed his true energy, raising his greatsword

to

meet the attack. Before the medicine corpses could even get close, he roared in fury, "I'll finish you off in one go!" The massive greatsword, its silver blade now coated with a layer of crimson-yellow true energy, slashed fiercely, its blade energy scattering

in all directions like a sudden hurricane. Countless crescent-shaped blade lights flew out like lightning, instantly slicing through everything in their path

! The medicine corpses that had been roaring just moments before were all decapitated and killed by this overwhelming force,

as if they had been simultaneously shredded by thousands of blades, their bodies torn to pieces by the powerful blade lights.

"Die!" The Earth Slave roared, his face contorted with rage, his greatsword gleaming with a chilling light! With a few swift slashes, the medicinal corpses

shattered , leaving countless craters in the ground!

Dozens of medicinal corpses were completely annihilated in a single blow, their remains scattered everywhere. The Earth Slave smiled contentedly,

his face contorted with rage as he raised his sword, looking at the carriage before him with a hint of provocation.

"What a terrifying monster!" Yang Cun muttered to himself. That single strike carried the powerful

true energy of a Five-Element Pill or higher. Such a terrifying expert could probably be counted on one hand in the entire world. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had

the strength , but why did he seem to be as stupid as a donkey? Was it really true that being a little stupid was beneficial for cultivation?

"True essence and spiritual energy?" Yang Cun exclaimed in surprise, and the person inside the carriage was even more shocked, their voice trembling with excitement and

greed : "Human essence and spiritual energy! You...you're not human?" "Damn, what do you mean not human? Has this

guy lost his mind?" Yang Cun couldn't help but scoff, but seeing how ruthless the Earth Slave's attack was,

he wasn't particularly worried.

With him around, there shouldn't be any problems, and Yang Shu's composure at this moment suggests he's quite strong .The knowledge of i=64> was profound. Knowing his own limited understanding was limited, Yang Cun decided it was best not to embarrass himself by going. He simply sat on the rooftop and obediently watched the spectacle, thoroughly enjoying this rare sci-fi extravaganza.

"You know quite a lot!" Yang Shu frowned, glancing at Yang Cun, who was watching the commotion from the rooftop. He seemed

to want to say something, but then swallowed his words.

"Heaven and earth clash, the five elements emerge, the five elements emerge..." The person inside the carriage seemed to be

muttering incoherently , then suddenly burst into hysterical laughter: "That's right, that's right, Zhang Baocheng really comprehended the secrets of heaven! Haha,

really, really, this old man didn't lie!" With a burst of laughter, the carriage curtain was suddenly yanked open!

What appeared before him was a face covered in scars, its twisted eyes filled with a strange excitement.

The man, shrouded in a black robe, staggered out of the carriage,

his body trembling with excitement as he looked at the towering, mountain-like earth slave before him. He laughed wildly, "Really! True Yuan Spiritual Energy! Haha! Zhang Baocheng really didn't lie!

All the world's constraints are indeed gone! Haha!" "I don't know who you are." Yang Shu ignored his mad

ramblings, a cold glint in his eyes. He walked slowly forward, his face expressionless, saying, "However, it seems

you are involved in the desecration of the Imperial Preceptor's remains. This matter is of great importance; I have no time to waste on you. Surrender!" "Haha,

all five elements unleashed, heaven has no constraints!" The man inside the carriage laughed not just insanely, but with tears in his eyes, completely

ignoring the approaching earth slave and Yang Shu, only caring about his own maniacal laughter.

"Is he out of his mind?" The earth slave, uneasy by his maniacal behavior, roared and his massive

hand lunged at him. Just as he was about to grab the black-robed man, he eerily grasped empty air.

The black robe slowly fell to the ground, a foul odor rising from it. The body, which had been laughing maniacally, suddenly began

to rot rapidly, turning into a pile of bones almost instantly, the sound of bones cracking clearly

audible . The earth slave froze for a moment, while Yang Shu instantly became alert, turning sharply

and slashing a white burst of true energy towards the city gate.

In the darkness, the tall, black figure merely flicked his wrist, instantly deflecting Yang Shu's thunderous

attack. He seemed completely at ease, his skill far surpassing that of ordinary people. Before the gloomy city gate,

another figure, dressed in an identical black robe, spoke with the same low, hoarse voice, but his figure was noticeably more upright.

"Where are you going, you thief!" Yang Shu felt humiliated, and his white true energy suddenly

erupted !

"Don't worry, I didn't do Zhang Baocheng's thing." The shadowy figure continued to laugh wildly, seemingly unwilling to

get entangled with Yang Shu. He immediately shook his head and said with a hint of mockery, "I did refine the medicinal corpse, and I

did , but I abducted them along the way. As for those who did it, I spared their lives

. I don't have time to deal with you now! Although I'm very interested in your people, you shouldn't waste your

time ." "You caught him?" Yang Shu's mind raced, and his previously raging true energy subsided slightly

.

"Yes, but it depends on whether you want them alive!" The man in black moved slightly, producing a

crimson . After shaking it a few times, he chuckled in a low voice, "I have the only

antidote for those people's poison! If they don't get this before dawn... hehe, you know that poison-infused corpses have no

capacity for thought. This shouldn't be the outcome you want, right?" "What exactly do you want?" Yang Shu

frowned .

The man in black hesitated for a moment, then said with a hint of determination, "I have important business to attend to, and

you're , so I want to make a deal with you! You must

forget everything that happened today. I don't want to cause unnecessary trouble. Although I took Zhang Baocheng's things, I didn't kill those people

." "Arrogant!" Yang Shu suddenly shouted, "How dare you take what belongs to the Grand Preceptor? Besides, you

're quite suspicious. Today you killed so many garrison soldiers and turned officials into medicinal corpses; your crimes are

heinous .

Although Yang Shu is a reckless man, he must not aid and abet evil!" "How hypocritical..."

The man in black sneered, tightening his grip on the bottle slightly, and said decisively, "If you insist on

persisting , then you can go collect those corpses! Although I can't defeat you, I

won't refuse to fight you if you want!" "I, Yang, am never coerced!" Yang Shu remained resolute, coldly observing him without yielding

an inch.

Yang Shu was the Prince of Zhen, not the Governor of Tianjin; he wasn't responsible for the incident. Catching the culprit

would be a great opportunity to enhance his prestige, and even if he failed, there would be no loss. However, the black-clad man's attitude

displeased him, hence his stubborn refusal to back down.

"Wait!" Yang Cun, having watched the spectacle unfold, saw the stalemate and quickly shouted, rushing forward to stop him.

"Uncle!" Yang Shu's tense expression eased slightly. Although his status and cultivation were higher than Yang Cun's,

he was a man of propriety, extremely mindful of seniority, and remained respectful to Yang Cun. This made the servant

watching subtly displeased.

"You're also a member of the Yang family?" The black-clad man's voice carried a hint of mockery, seemingly

very .

"Yes, I agree to your conditions!" Yang Cun pondered their conversation and

immediately agreed before Yang Shu could react. However, he immediately added, "If you dare to lie to us, I swear, the Yang family

will follow you for life." "Uncle, how could you…" Yang Shu panicked and tried to stop him.

"Listen to me, you won't go wrong!" Yang Cun ignored the slave's almost tearing gaze, waved his hand

, and shook his head, saying, "I know what the Yang family needs right now. Although you are a prince, our Yang family has already

split into two branches. Ultimately, we all share the same ancestor. I understand what you're thinking." "Yes, we will heed your teachings, Uncle!

" Yang Shu hesitated for a moment, glared at the restless slave, and then respectfully agreed."The Yang family, quite interesting." The man in black suddenly laughed, flicking his wrist to toss the crimson bottle over. 　　"So trusting of me!" Yang Cun caught the bottle accurately, but couldn't help but chuckle mischievously, " Are n't you afraid I'll betray you after you've served your purpose? I already have the antidote; even if I wanted to deal with you now, it should be more than enough for us." "Yes, too bad you don't have time." The man in black said, whistling as he summoned...

As he sat down in the carriage, the man in black laughed arrogantly, "You'd better hurry back. If you're too late, you 'll only be able to kill a few more medicinal corpses!" "No need for your reminder." Yang Cun was also a little annoyed and snorted

.

"The old temple in the east of the city, everyone's there..." As the carriage slowly drove away, the man in black left only this faint

voice.

Time was running out! Although he didn't know if the man in black was telling the truth, seeing that he

could refine medicinal corpses in three days, Yang Shu was also a little worried. Yang Cun, of course, understood the reason. Watching

the carriage slowly drive away, he sighed helplessly and turned to the unwilling Yang Shu, saying, "Your Highness, the most urgent thing is

to find those petty thieves who stole the Imperial Preceptor's relics!" "Please, Uncle, still call me Shu'er." Yang Shu was

really straightforward; even at this time, he was still emphasizing the etiquette of respecting elders.

"Okay, Shu'er... let's go take a look." Yang Cun stammered as he spoke. He really should

dissect to study its structure. This guy was more than ten years older than him, yet he still called him Shu'er. Damn it, was it

really necessary to be so affectionate? I'm absolutely not gay.

You bastard, what the hell is wrong with your eyes! I'm definitely not gay, I absolutely like hot

girls! Damn it, why are you looking at me like that? I like women. I'm still a virgin, how could I possibly like men

...

What kind of attitude is that! If you've got the guts, call your wife over. If I don't get her pregnant, I'm not the father of your son! With

such a commotion in the middle of the night, the West Gate was littered with mutilated corpses and blood. Tianjin was far from

peaceful that night.

Despite his pent-up anger, Yang Shu acted with considerable restraint, knowing the potential commotion if

ordinary . Therefore, he immediately ordered the Tianjin governor to send men to clean up the body parts. It's said that several of the constables who arrived after hearing the news fainted

upon seeing the scattered remains; the gruesome scene was unimaginable. 　　The old temple in the east of the city, long neglected and without its abbot or offerings, was in a state of utter disrepair. Weeds grew rampant in the courtyard and scattered tiles and bricks littered the ground. Inside, a thick layer of dust covered the temple, obscuring even the most revered Buddha statues. To make matters worse, besides the garbage and weeds, it was also home to many vagrants, resembling a guesthouse instead of a proper temple. 　　Inside the main hall, the Earth Slave stood with his hands behind his back, thoughtfully observing the temple's furnishings: the statues, their features now indistinguishable, and the enigmatic inscriptions on the walls, weathered by time. Yang Cun, leaning against a large pillar, squinted, pondering the events of the night. Everything seemed too bizarre. It wasn't the江湖恩怨 (jianghu enmity) he had imagined, nor was it a revenge plot with swift strokes of the sword; now, even zombies had appeared! This seemed too absurd, too far removed from his memories of history. 　　Heaven and earth clashed, the five elements were unleashed, heaven was unrestrained, earth bestowed spirituality… What heavenly secrets ? Yang Cun couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had never had any great ambitions, inexplicably arriving in this world, thinking that with some title of Duke he could live a life of drinking, gambling, whoring, and abducting women. But now, this world seemed unusual. Was he about to unleash protagonist mode? Damn, was he going to transform into Ultraman and fight monsters or something? That was too far-fetched. 　　"No way! My ideal isn't to uphold justice!" Yang Cun swore to the heavens that drinking, gambling, and whoring were perfectly healthy hobbies. He really wanted to be a well-behaved spendthrift, idle and uneducated, spending his free time bullying the villagers with his lackeys, running rampant and dominating the land. Even abducting women would be fine! 　　"Uncle!" At this moment, Yang Shu rushed over, a joyful smile on his face. He and his entourage of royal guards had already completely surrounded the dilapidated temple. It seemed they had made some progress. 　　"Shu'er, did you find it?" Yang Cun felt awkward calling him, but after only half a night of interaction, he could clearly see that Yang Shu was the kind of rigid, old-fashioned, and stubborn person who held an extreme view of seniority. Therefore, as the Prince of Zhen, he could comfortably watch the corpses slaughter the soldiers from the rooftop. 　　"Yes, six people in total, found in the small house to the west. Most of the Imperial Preceptor's funerary objects were also found there!" Yang Shu couldn't hide his joy. "It seems that guy wasn't lying after all; these people are indeed the petty thieves who stole the Imperial Preceptor's belongings! 　　We've already given them the antidote, and they've been taken back to the Tianjin government office. The rest is no longer our concern. 　　Although this matter hasn't reached the capital, I believe the Emperor, given his respect for the Imperial Preceptor, will be furious. Now that we've captured the thieves, it's a huge boost to the Yang family's reputation." "Good that they've been caught!" Yang Cun was silent for a moment, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, then nodded and said, "Since they're being sent to the Tianjin government office, we should have used acupressure to immobilize them. They must be alive when we send them there. As for how to torture them, that's none of our business." "Yes, Shu'er understands." Yang Shu nodded solemnly. Although Yang Cun's words were subtle, he understood them perfectly. The credit belonged to the Prince of Zhen, and to the Yang family. As for the trouble, they would leave it all to others. No one knew the identities of these people, or whether anyone was directing them. Given the Yang family 's current special status, there was no need to cause unnecessary trouble. 　　After dealing with this matter, the sky began to lighten, and the morning mist dissipated. At this time, soldiers hurriedly escorted the bound prisoners to the Tianjin government office. Due to the special circumstances, Yang Shu cautiously increased the number of escorts, with over a thousand soldiers strictly guarding them. After all, there was another crucial point: many of Zhang Baocheng's disciples were highly skilled. To be able to quietly kill them all overnight meant that the bandits were definitely not just six people. 　　To find such a secluded place to hide in Tianjin, and to kill so many officials of the Ministry of Rites and Zhang Baocheng's , required skill and courage that were beyond the capabilities of ordinary martial arts practitioners. It's possible it was the work of a sorcerer. After all, Zhang Baocheng was half-immortal and half-human, and his relics are indeed very attractive. But to know the exact location of the ceremonial procession, and then to hide it silently within Tianjin after succeeding, such a scheme ...i=67> This is not something an ordinary person could do; at the very least, it shows that the mastermind's methods were extremely clever.

"Sigh, I hope nothing unexpected happens," Yang Cun said, giving a bitter smile.

The two exchanged a knowing glance, seemingly reaching a consensus: the inside story of this matter was definitely not simple.

Although the Yang family was the leading military family in the world, it was best to avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, many years

had passed, and while the Yang family's reputation hadn't diminished, their true influence was far less than it had been during the reign of the first generation of the town's king. Therefore,

the Yang family now not only needed to maintain appearances but also needed to avoid unnecessary trouble. Maintaining a low profile while

remaining active was a complex matter for any family.

At this moment, the guards carried out several more male corpses. Although they were poorly clothed, they were clearly flamboyantly dressed

young men, their bodies blackened and emaciated, dying with their eyes wide open. Each one stared wide-eyed,

as if they had encountered something terrifying; their lifeless eyes

contained nothing but extreme fear. Sometimes death itself isn't frightening, but such a bizarre manner of death still sends

a chill down one's spine!

"What's going on?" Yang Cun asked疑惑地, seeing a group of raggedly

dressed . Some were elderly men in their seventies, others were children as young as three or four. They

seemed unaware of what was happening, their eyes filled with unease and

apprehension at the sight of so many soldiers surrounding them.

"Reporting, sir!" The guards, originally Yang Shu's direct subordinates, were puzzled by Yang Cun but

dared not rashly inquire about his identity. Pointing to the bodies carried by the soldiers behind him, he respectfully said, "These

were all found near the West Wing Well. According to the vagrants, these are local thugs. Many

are criminals, and some are beggars, but they are all hooligans who bully others. According to their confessions,

although these people are evildoers, they are not the petty thieves we are looking for." "Understood, go down."

Yang Cun waved his hand, turned his head and glanced at the vagrants surrounded by soldiers in the corner. Many of them were trembling with

fear , and his heart ached.

"Uncle, it seems that guy still has some conscience." Yang Shu looked at the strange corpses and smiled

thoughtfully . Evil people, these scoundrels who bully the weak are worse than pigs and dogs in his eyes! Yang Shu

is tough but does not bully the weak, so he has extreme disdain for these thugs.

"Hmm!" Yang Cun was distracted and responded somewhat perfunctorily. His gaze involuntarily swept over the group.

Among the trembling, pitiful people were children as young as ten, elderly people nearing seventy, and many more dressed in tattered clothes,

unable to withstand the night's chill. Now, all were terrified; many children were already crying uncontrollably, their soft

sobs seemingly afraid of displeasing the soldiers before them. That vulnerability, that helplessness in the face of

survival evoked a pang of unease.

"Uncle, what's wrong?" Yang Shu asked, noticing Yang Cun's distracted state.

He had seen far too many such pitiful sights, perhaps to the point of numbness. Even if he felt sympathy,

he knew there were countless such people in the world, far too many to be pitied.

"Shu'er, after receiving my official rank, I should return to Jiangnan, shouldn't I?" Yang Shu's mind was also in turmoil, and

he uttered a vague answer.

"Uncle, it's up to you." Yang Shu said respectfully, "Although the Yang family in Jiangnan has

a Duke's mansion bestowed by the Emperor, we also have other residences in the capital. You can stay in the capital if you like.

However it seems that you don't have a fiefdom yet. This matter will have to wait until after the audience with the Emperor in the Golden Hall before a decision can be made." "Send someone to ask them!

" Yang Cun sighed. Although he understood that he was now in a different world,

he couldn't help but feel sad when facing these homeless children. In the end, his heart softened, and he said softly, "Among those young children, those who are willing to

come with me, arrange for them to work in my mansion. As for the elderly, they cannot travel long distances. Give them

some money so they can live out their remaining years in comfort!" "Yes!" Yang Shu didn't ask any more questions. After all, it was only

right to show some kindness occasionally. The Yang family had accumulated considerable wealth, enough to offset Yang Cun's occasional generosity. Moreover, the future mansion would

require many servants, and the Yang family's reputation couldn't be too weak; having a few more servants was perfectly reasonable.

"I'm going back to rest now," Yang Cun said, turning and walking outside. Although it was already

dawn, he had many things on his mind, secretly blaming the old Taoist for calling him here,

inexplicably getting into trouble.

Damn it, is my fate like Conan's, always getting into trouble wherever I go! But judging from today's situation,

it's probably Kindaichi level—wherever I go, a bunch of people die!

"Uncle, wait!" Yang Shu, seeing Yang Cun about to leave, quickly asked, "Where are you staying, Uncle?

" "At an inn." Wasn't that a fool's excuse? Where else would he stay if not at an inn? He wasn't an emperor with a bunch of palaces to stay

in wherever he went . Besides, he doesn't hold any official position now, so why should he have such a grand display?

"Uncle!" Yang Shu looked annoyed and grabbed Yang Cun's hand, saying with a hint of self-reproach, "Uncle

is the dignified

Duke of Jingguo, how can he live in such a humble place? Although our Yang family is not as prosperous as before, we still have our own villa in Tianjin. Uncle, please come back with me!

I should fulfill my filial duty as a junior. Why should live in a place without servants?" "My luggage is all at the inn!" Before Yang Cun could finish speaking,

he was dragged away. Seeing Yang Shu's solemn expression, he knew that his so-called nephew was the kind who really

cared about appearances. Judging from his expression, he really wasn't going to give him a chance to refuse.

"I will send someone to fetch it, Uncle, don't worry." Yang Shu's face was resolute, not giving Yang Cun

a chance . Although his attitude remained extremely respectful, it was clear that even someone raised in a wealthy family like him had moments of

pride , hence his firm refusal to let Yang Cun stay at the small inn.

This guy looks so thin, how come his hands are so strong? Hey, why are your eyes so bright ?"You wouldn't be up to something, would you?!" Yang Cun felt a chill run down his spine. Surely Yang Shu wasn't a brothel owner? If things got physical, he was no match for him. The thought sent a shiver down Yang Cun's spine...

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[Hetu] [Heavenly Demon] [Episode 1] Chapter 2

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