Chapter 550: What's the Meaning of This?
Chapter 550: What's the Meaning of This?
"Ghost Blade, Ghost Blade..."
As Hu Ma introduced himself, the black-robed lady staggered back a step, her voice trembling with disbelief, "This is impossible. How can the Ghost Blade appear before the person?"
"He wouldn't be so rude. You think I can't see through him?"
Her voice suddenly carried a hint of inexplicable doubt, and she shouted, "With your skills, you're most likely from the Longevity Gate Sect. How dare you claim to be the Ghost Walker's Ghost Blade?"
"Is this the side branch of the Hu family? And we're even related by blood?"
As the woman's voice trembled, Hu Ma slightly raised his head, examining her features, figure, and demeanor. In his heart, he silently thought, "...Not bad food!"
But when he spoke, his eyes only carried a faint hint of pride, "Whether I'm qualified or not, what does it have to do with you?"
Seeing that the other party was already gritting their teeth, his voice suddenly deepened, resonating through the air, "The Noble in the mountains said that he hates the Ghost Walker Sect for its decline over the past twenty years. Those with virtue hide in the countryside, unable to practice the right path. Those without virtue enjoy wealth and luxury, shaming the ghosts and gods."
"So, he chose me, the New Year Guardian, to be the Ghost Blade. I'll act first and report later, only considering punishment without regard for who the other party is or..."
"...Doesn't matter if they're named Hu!"
"...
"...
As these fierce words were spoken, the black-robed lady staggered back as if struck by a heavy blow.
The city's elite informants, who had just escaped with their lives, suddenly realized the truth, their hearts filled with astonishment and dismay. "It's true, it's true. We've been deceived by the Truth Sect. They have no connection with the Noble..."
"The Ghost Walker's Ghost Blade has appeared, and these people are just demons and heretics!"
"We... arrested the wrong person!"
An outsider sect, with no roots in Mingzhou, had suddenly gained prominence. Not only did they boldly move into the Mingzhou Prefecture government office, but they also received assistance from various noble lords and officials, even collecting grain taxes for themselves.
At any other time, anyone would ask: On what basis? Do they really think the Truth Sect is so powerful that it can attract so many believers?
In the end, it was all because of the word 'Hu'.
But now, the situation had already escalated. Even their privately raised soldiers had been sent into battle, and no one knew how many had died. The grain taxes had been collected, and they were eagerly awaiting the Noble to show up and give them reassurance.
Yet, they suddenly heard that it wasn't his intention? Their hearts were filled with absurdity, dismay, and anger. Some even felt a surge of frustration, leading to anger: If the Truth Sect wasn't established by you, why didn't you say so earlier?
These people are using the Hu family's name to deceive others. Why didn't you warn us earlier? Although it's disrespectful, some even harbored suspicions: Is the Noble deliberately making fun of them?
"Enjoying wealth and luxury, shaming the ghosts and gods..."
Amidst the chaos, the Qingyuan Hu Clan Miss, who had stepped out of the sedan chair, was also trembling with anger. Since arriving in Mingzhou, she had been waiting for the other party to show up. Now, she had received these eight words, and she already understood their attitude.
From the previous Spirit Reasoning, to the decisive questioning without even showing their face, to the small Altar Deity who couldn't even hold her ground, and now to the Ghost Blade of the Longevity Gate Sect...
Each development was the last thing she wanted to see, causing her to momentarily lose control of her expression. She gritted her teeth, "This isn't a child's play!"
"The Pacifying Evil Office can't be so frivolous in bestowing titles. He doesn't even show his face, nor does he understand the situation in Mingzhou, yet he dares to send an outsider like you to kill. Does he... know what he's doing?"
"Does he really think that by finding anyone to be the Ghost Blade, he can solve everything? Does he really think that by not showing his face, he can protect this small Altar Deity?"
"...
As she roared, her eyes narrowed with intensity, staring at the solitary Hu Ma guarding the Truth Altar. Behind her, the ground shook, and the sound of heavy hoofbeats and scattered footsteps filled the air, coming from outside and echoing in their ears.
In the surrounding night, various spies were listening to the Ghost Walker's Ghost Blade's words. Just as they were most dissatisfied with the Truth Sect, this sudden display of force made their hearts tremble. Without time to look elsewhere, they hurriedly turned towards the direction of the sound.
Behind them, from the direction of Mingzhou City, a contingent of soldiers was rushing over, leading the way with the Qingli Religion's banners. And that wasn't all; in the western night sky, they also saw numerous banners fluttering, rapidly approaching.
"The Truth Sect's soldiers?"
Countless people were shocked, "They're only dealing with a small Altar Deity, yet they've even mobilized their soldiers?"
"To destroy the small shrine of the Red Lantern Lady, they're directly sending soldiers?"
"This... doesn't follow the rules..."
"...
At this moment, the Hu Clan Miss heard the sound of the approaching soldiers, and her face turned grim. She understood the rules, perhaps even better than Hu Ma. But now, her eyes held a hint of severity:
"He shouldn't hide his face and reject his own bloodline. He shouldn't ignore the world's situation and treat the Pacifying Evil Office as his playground..."
"If these soldiers attack and, after his intervention, still destroy the Red Lantern Shrine Temple, where will he put his face? Where will the Hu family's face be?"
"..."
"..."
Looking at the swaying green banners behind her, and the figures surging beneath them, clashing blades, and the face hidden beneath the Hu Ma mask, a hint of gloom settled over it.
"Oh no..."
At the center of the Truth Sect's ritual altar, everyone's hearts were on edge, including the spies of the noble lords who knew Hu Ma's identity. They saw the Soul Hunter acting alone, but within moments, two to three thousand troops had arrived. No matter how powerful a single person was, how could they possibly withstand such a massive army?
If the Soul Hunter were to die at the hands of these people, how would everyone else save face afterward?
"My Guardian..."
In the Red Gate Town, Red Lantern Lady was trembling with fear, and her incantations momentarily ceased. The faint, shrinking red light turned towards the north, "Even the troops have been dispatched?"
Whether it was the Red Lantern Lady or the Left Guardian Shen Hongzi, their positions and ambitions were not particularly high. However, they had also heard the astonishing sound of galloping horses, and their hearts sank in despair.
This evening, the Truth Sect had employed various techniques, but regardless of whether it was the Green Banner Ghost Binding or the Hundred Sons Cauldron, none were as terrifying as the troops.
Even the Red Lantern Lady herself seemed to realize this, as if her spiritual power was indeed not weak. But if those two to three thousand troops charged together, just the overwhelming aura alone would be enough to suppress her directly. Not to mention herself, even the Temple God might not be able to withstand it.
Here, there was a clear distinction between life and death, and power and authority.
A temple god could influence the lives of millions of people in a city or even an entire region. But influence was one thing; if someone were to gather a group and directly topple the temple, breaking the golden body, a few hundred people would be enough.
The situation changed drastically, causing countless hearts to tremble with uncertainty.
However, Hu Ma was surprised to see the Truth Sect's troops gathering at this moment. The surrounding Yin Wind blew intermittently, some of it coming from the direction of Old Yin Mountain.
Amidst the sounds of battle and slaughter, he understood the situation clearly. As he witnessed the increasing number of Truth Sect troops, each green banner represented at least two to three hundred soldiers. With over a dozen banners, how numerous were the gathered troops?
Facing the furious and intense expression on the face of the Hu family's elder sister, and the deafening sound of horses' hooves and the raging battle, a mocking smile appeared on his face, "Do you really think you've seen through the secrets of Mingzhou?"
As his words fell, the Executioner's Saber in his hand suddenly unleashed layers of malevolent energy. The raging wind resembled a series of thunderclaps, stinging everyone's faces. Even the horses of the nearby troops were startled, rearing up on their hind legs.
For a moment, it seemed as if he alone, with his saber, had quelled an entire army.
In this brief moment of silence, everyone heard the sound of horses' hooves on the ground, but the direction was opposite, coming from the south towards the north. From the south of Red Gate Town, heavy galloping approached with large strides.
Everyone's faces paled, and they quickly looked south, hearing a voice in the night wind, "Who dares to disrespect my Red Lantern Lady?"
"Yin Mountain Grain Protection General, Red Fragrance Disciple Yang Gong, specially here to protect the Red Lantern Lady's chariot..."
"..."
"Huh?"
Upon hearing this voice, everyone's expressions changed, including the woman in the palanquin, the spies listening in secret, and even the Truth Sect troops gathering from all directions. They all looked towards Red Gate Town in disbelief.
Inside Red Gate Town, the trembling Red Lantern Lady was stunned, "What?"
"..."
"Who dares to disrespect my Red Lantern Lady?"
Following the rapidly approaching hoofbeats, other voices joined in, "Internal Affairs Incense Master Xu Wensheng leads his men to protect the chariot!"
"Kouzi Mountain Branch Shopkeeper Bald Old Zhang, leading his men to protect the Red Lantern Lady's chariot..."
"Hozi Ridge Old Bear comes to protect the chariot..."
"Hongmi Ridge Branch Shop Miss Sun Woman leads the entire mine army to protect the Red Lantern Lady's chariot..."
"..."
One voice after another resounded, shocking everyone present, leaving them in disbelief.
In the southern night sky, a massive force of troops surged forward, breaking through the darkness. Like a black tide, they swept past Red Gate Town, their dark silhouettes rising, filled with a surging killing intent, advancing towards the Truth Sect's ritual altar in the night.
(End of Chapter)
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