Chapter 7: Burning The Gilded Cage, Breaking Out Of The “immortal Realm”!
Whoosh!
The narrow-faced man remained silent, his body slightly hunched, his back like a drawn bow. The muscles in his thighs tensed abruptly. As the sound of his feet scraping the floor began, he shot forward like a leopard.
He gripped the steel saber in his right hand, his arm muscles bulging, his chilling killing intent openly displayed. In a breath, he reached a sturdy woman attacking Yang Lie.
The cold edge flashed, and the fully charged saber shot out like an arrow from a bowstring, directly at the woman’s forehead. The woman’s face contorted in horror, and she quickly took a step back, holding her quarterstaff horizontally with both hands to block.
“Villain!” a sturdy woman holding a short blade and observing from the side shouted, leaping forward. She circled behind the narrow-faced man and thrust her short blade at his neck.
The steel saber and the quarterstaff collided with a crisp clang, like metal striking metal. The hand of the woman holding the staff trembled, her tiger’s mouth torn, and she almost lost her grip on the quarterstaff.
However, this quarterstaff was indeed incredibly tough wood; it didn’t break even after such a powerful strike.
The narrow-faced man’s expression was indifferent, like withered wood or green stone. He rotated his wrist, and the momentum of the saber striking the quarterstaff became parallel. It brushed past the staff and swiftly slashed at the arm of the woman holding it.
A “pfft” sound rang out, followed by a scream. The woman with the staff couldn’t dodge in time. Three fingers on one of her palms were severed, blood splattering, and the quarterstaff fell.
The narrow-faced man’s steel saber continued its momentum, drawing a half-circle. Coiling like a snake, it suddenly turned to his back neck and collided with the incoming short blade, sending sparks flying.
The woman holding the blade was forced back several steps.
The narrow-faced man, still using the momentum, drew his steel saber again, slitting the throat of the woman who had lost several fingers and was still screaming.
Yang Lie also swung his staff at this moment, forcing his opponent back, and gasped for breath, “Uncle Wu, you finally arrived. These women are no easy opponents; they all have astonishing strength and are skilled with staffs. I could handle two of them, but three is too much!”
“Setting fires outside and having to avoid those guards delayed us a bit,” the Wu-surnamed Man said calmly, frowning. “I always told you to practice martial arts diligently, but you were always just getting by. Now, at this critical moment, it’s not enough. After this, I will train you properly.”
“Ah, this…” Yang Lie’s face turned bitter.
Before he finished speaking, the woman with the blade coldly declared, “There will be no after. None of you will leave today.”
Her tone was full of killing intent.
Although half of the eight of them inside the hall had already died, the force guarding this entire “Immortal Realm” consisted not only of these servants who had trained their bodies for years but also of nearly eighty guards.
These guards were all capable of fighting and killing, their hands stained with blood. They were well-fed and well-treated, raised to be fierce and strong. If they could just hold out for a moment until the guards arrived, how many fists could these four petty thieves inside the hall resist?
Moreover, the guards were not fools; they wouldn’t come empty-handed. Of course, they would bring sabers, spears, clubs, and staffs to kill the enemy.
The woman with the blade squinted at the Wu-surnamed Man, her gaze settling on the steel saber in his hand. She saw scale-like embellishments on the hilt and said in a low voice, “Fish Scale Saber? That’s a saber made by the ‘White Scale Guard.’ You’re from the ‘White Scale Guard,’ are you abandoning your post or a deserter for committing a crime?”
Hong Yuan’s brow twitched. He glanced at the Wu-surnamed Man. He had heard of the White Scale Guard; they were one of the three garrisons guarding Linjiang Prefecture.
Linjiang Prefecture was located at a vital waterway and land route, with highly developed grain transport, which naturally led to the prosperity of the prefecture city and the influx of vast sums of money.
And what was the most important thing to train an elite force?
Money and provisions!
Linjiang Prefecture did not lack money and provisions. With provisions, they could adequately nourish the physique and strength of their soldiers, and with money, they could forge excellent equipment. With both applied, the White Scale Guard might not be the absolute elite of the world, but they were certainly presentable.
On the high platform, “Mother of Virtue and Power” shrieked, her rolls of fat quivering. Her small eyes seemed about to pop out of her sockets as she roared, “White Scale Guard? Do you know who I am? Do you know who raised the White Scale Guard? How dare you invade me?”
The Wu-surnamed Man twisted his neck and said to Yang Lie, “It’s no problem for you to deal with these two women, right?”
Without waiting for Yang Lie’s reply, he turned his gaze to the “meat mountain” on the high platform, covered in blood. He sneered coldly, “Linjiang Wei family, Wei Half-City! What a grand title, how could I not know it? I also know you are a young lady from the Wei manor… oh, no! Decades ago you could be called a young lady, but now you’re just a pig. Wei Zhenzhu, bah! Truly lives up to her name, indeed a fat pig. Killing you is perfect for a prosperous new year.”
The Wu-surnamed Man charged forward with his saber.
“Kill him!” “Mother of Virtue and Power” Wei Zhenzhu roared repeatedly, but she was held back by two servants on the platform and forced toward a golden, jewel-encrusted grand chair.
The Wu-surnamed Man’s expression changed. He quickened his pace, his body shooting forward. He leaped from the hall floor onto the high platform.
At the same time, another man in black also moved. Unlike the Wu-surnamed Man, this man in black was covered in black cloth, with a headscarf obscuring most of his face, leaving only a pair of bright, spirited eyes visible.
With a fierce roar, he joined Yang Lie in attacking the two sturdy women below.
Whoosh!
A staff shadow swung down at the Wu-surnamed Man as he leaped onto the platform. He had anticipated this. He shifted his body, pressed one palm on the platform, and kicked up a sweeping leg, knocking the servant wielding the staff to the ground.
With a “chi,” his right hand flashed with a saber, piercing the servant’s chest. It penetrated very deeply. The servant cried out in pain and ferociously raised her hand to scratch at the Wu-surnamed Man’s face, but her strength was already gone.
With a “clatter,” the last servant holding Wei Zhenzhu slapped the back of the grand chair. Immediately, the platform vibrated with a “buzz,” and Wei Zhenzhu, along with the chair, suddenly vanished, disappearing into a large slide that had appeared beneath them.
The servant did not leap into the hole with them. Instead, she bent down and thrust her short blade, piercing a mechanism within the hole’s wall. With a “clack” of the mechanism, a thick iron plate slid out, precisely blocking the opening of the hole.
The Wu-surnamed Man’s expression turned grim. The servant on the platform grinned triumphantly, “None of you will escape. Await the ‘Mother of Virtue and Power’s’ revenge. If I were you, I would draw my sword and commit suicide now, otherwise, you will experience a fate worse than death.”
Bang!
With a dull thud, the servant’s ferocious grin froze. Her head was struck with great force, like a baseball, and with another “thump,” it hit the stone slab, and she died on the spot.
“Too much nonsense!”
Hong Yuan had arrived on the platform at some point. He held a staff in one hand, his fingers rubbing the iron hoop, feeling that after using the staff to kill several people, he was becoming more proficient with it.
“Who are you?” the Wu-surnamed Man asked, somewhat puzzled. Knowing that the person before him was not an enemy, he still kept his hand on his saber hilt, as if it were a long-ingrained habit. His sharp eyes were like lightning as he scrutinized Hong Yuan.
“Hong Yuan, just a scholar!” Hong Yuan cupped his hands.
The Wu-surnamed Man looked at the blood dripping from the tip of Hong Yuan’s staff. Was there such a violent scholar?
“This Brother Hong is indeed a scholar, but I also didn’t expect his skills to be so impressive.” Yang Lie and the man in black had also dealt with the other two servants and ascended the high platform. Yang Lie pointed at Hong Yuan, “Brother Hong was also the first to take action, killing the wicked servants!”
“Oh!” The Wu-surnamed Man’s cold expression thawed, and he offered Hong Yuan a slight smile. The man in black also looked kindly at him and nodded in greeting.
“We can’t let that dead fat pig escape like this!” The Wu-surnamed Man was still unwilling. He leaned over to examine the opening of the slide and even tried to pry it open with his steel saber. However, the iron plate was stuck fast in the recess of the wall and could not be pried open in a short time.
“Even if it can be opened, there might be mechanisms hidden below. Rushing down rashly is not wise,” Hong Yuan said.
The Wu-surnamed Man knew this, so he put away his steel saber and sighed softly, “Failure at the last step, what a pity. I used up all the fire oil outside to cause as large a fire as possible. Otherwise, I could pour fire oil now and turn that fat woman into a roasted pig.”
The man in black shook his head. “Given Wei Zhenzhu’s physique, her movement must be inconvenient. The space below must be very large, suitable for her to live in. How much fire oil would that take…”
“Our mission this time was to eliminate this group of perverted women. Now, it’s good that we’ve only killed some pawns, and the main culprits have escaped completely.”
Yang Lie slapped his forehead, very annoyed.
To investigate the truth of this “Immortal Realm,” he had entered this place no less than three times, cooperating from the inside and out, and had even been chosen by that dead fat pig once…
His sacrifice was too great!
Yang Lie’s eyes welled up with tears; he was extremely unwilling.
At this moment, the air grew hotter. The outside of the hall was lit red. The crackling sound of sparks, and the crashing sound of collapsing houses blended into one.
Screams and commotion arose from various places, interspersed with sharp reprimands and curses. Perhaps the fleeing people had run into the manor’s guards.
Immediately after, hurried footsteps sounded, rapidly approaching the main hall.
The Wu-surnamed Man and Yang Lie’s expressions changed. Hong Yuan also looked serious.
Although he had assessed himself and believed he might have reached “Master Ye’s” level, his actual combat ability was still unknown.
Moreover, although no overly extraordinary powers had been seen in this world yet, the swiftness and quick reactions of the eight strong servants, Xiao Chan, and the Wu-surnamed Man and Yang Lie beside him, meant they could not be regarded as ordinary people.
The Wu-surnamed Man listened intently and analyzed expertly, “At least twenty or thirty people are coming. These guards have weapons, and a few might even be wearing cloth armor. Once we’re cornered, it won’t be easy to escape. Let’s go.”
Hong Yuan lifted a curtain on the platform, revealing a cleverly and exquisitely arranged space with fruits, dim sum, and wine. A magnificent carpet covered the floor, and behind it was a small, dark red door.
He reached out and pushed it. It wobbled slightly. Without hesitation, he unleashed a flying kick!
With a “boom,” the door frame vibrated non-stop. The small door was kicked backward, revealing a passage with hanging wall lamps.
Hong Yuan, possessing the ability of 【 Clear Eyes and Penetrating 】, scanned the sides of the passage carefully. He did not find any hidden weapons or traps. He also saw that the passage was only a few dozen paces away from revealing a courtyard view.
“There’s a small door leading to the outer courtyard here. Those six so-called Immortal Aunts escaped from here just now. Let’s chase quickly, maybe we can catch one or two.”
Hong Yuan said.
“Quick!” Yang Lie’s spirits lifted, and he rushed into the passage first.
The four of them entered the passage and instantly arrived in a courtyard. Looking around, they were all somewhat flustered.
They hadn’t been able to see clearly outside from the main hall, but now, outdoors, Hong Yuan looked up. Fires had erupted in buildings everywhere, with thick smoke billowing. A pungent odor permeated the air. The most intense burning was in a four-story tower, with flames shooting up into the sky. The firelight illuminated the scene like vibrant clouds.
“That place had a bit too much fire oil,” the man in black said. Although his face was masked, his expression couldn’t be seen, but his tone carried a hint of pride.
Yang Lie scanned the surroundings. The courtyard was dense, with corridors extending in all directions. There were also numerous rockeries, flowing water, and secluded paths. People had already darted into them, and finding them now would be difficult.
Moreover, one didn’t know where hidden passages or secret rooms might be. How could they find them? He couldn’t help but sigh, “Let’s go! We’ll find another opportunity to settle accounts with them later.”
“It wasn’t a completely wasted trip.” The Wu-surnamed Man stroked his chin. He had come to terms with it now. Pointing to the continuous flames of the buildings, he said, “To set such a luxurious and magnificent estate ablaze, let alone the amount of wealth contained within, just rebuilding this meticulously designed garden would take several years. Wei Zhenzhu, with her vast wealth and power, must be heartbroken to death.”
“I hope she dies of anger,” Yang Lie said hatefully.
The man in black led the way, not heading directly for the courtyard wall. He skirted around the areas with intense flames and, after several turns, returned to the scenic lake.
It was where Hong Yuan had initially awakened.
Hong Yuan looked at this scene thoughtfully. This man in black was so familiar with the estate. Besides Yang Lie and the two people in colorful clothing, there must have been other insiders.
To make this large estate burn from all sides, a large amount of fire oil would be needed. How could the fire oil be brought in and hidden quietly? Setting fires wouldn’t be something one or two people could do simultaneously from all sides.
By the lakeside, a person stood with his hands clasped, staring blankly at the lake’s surface illuminated by the firelight. The seductive light of the flames danced with the ripples, making the not-so-deep lake water seem as profound as an abyss.
Hong Yuan glanced at him. The person standing there blankly was the only man around forty years old.
He had only had a little white frost at his temples before, but now, it seemed as if he had lived through ten years of cold and heat in an instant. His hair had a lot of dry white strands, and the wrinkles on his face had become much deeper. His eyes were no longer bright, becoming dim and unfocused. He just murmured, “Gone, it was clearly here, how could it be gone?”
His right fist was clenched tightly, and his body trembled slightly.
“Master Qin… have you found that child Ziyue?” the man in black coughed and called out.
Master Qin turned his head woodenly, unfurled his clenched right fist, revealing a yellow talisman in his palm. It had peculiar crimson patterns, but a charred mark ran through the center, breaking the patterns.
Hong Yuan sniffed lightly and detected a faint scent of blood. His gaze flickered slightly, “What is this?”
“Blood Contract Talisman!” Yang Lie said in a low voice, looking at Master Qin with a hint of pity in his eyes.
Hearing this answer, Hong Yuan’s emotions stirred slightly, but now was not the time to investigate further.
The Wu-surnamed Man seemed to understand something. His gaze turned towards the scenic lake. His hawk-like eyes reflected the flickering firelight, indistinctly.
The man in black sighed. He wanted to offer some comfort but didn’t know what to say. Just then, a few panicked maidservants rushed past. He flipped his hand, grabbed one of them, and said sternly, “Those who were brought here by you and haven’t left, where are they?”
The maidservant’s face was filled with fear. She unconsciously turned her head towards the scenic lake, her lips trembling.
“Speak!” the man in black exerted more force, making it seem as if her shoulder blades were about to crack. The maidservant quickly said, “They’re dead, those who died were all drowned by the Mother of Virtue and Power and the Immortal Aunties. It has nothing to do with me, I’m just a small maidservant… sob sob sob…”
“Scram!” The man in black kicked her away.
Upon hearing this, Master Qin’s face instantly turned ashen, and he swayed precariously, about to collapse. The Wu-surnamed Man winked, and the man in black and Yang Lie quickly stepped forward, supporting Master Qin on either side.
At that time, the bright moon was in the sky, its clear light washing over everything.
Amidst the roaring flames, Hong Yuan and the Wu-surnamed Man led the way, charging into the estate. Along the way, they encountered a few stray guards, all of whom were easily dealt with by the two. In a short while, the group of five had fought their way out of the estate.
“Where is this?”
Hong Yuan, hidden in the shadows, glanced back at the still burning estate. Then he looked around. He saw rows of houses and a cool street, not looking like a place with many inhabitants. Only one street outside the estate was quite lively, with many figures emerging from the houses on both sides and converging towards the estate.
