Chapter Twenty-Nine: Night Battle

"I've let you suffer, madam." Taking Lady He from the golden toad's tongue, Li Yang removed his robe and wrapped it around her, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

"When I saw that toad, I knew it was you. Didn't I ask Jinling to take you away from Nuqing County?" Leaning against Li Yang's arm, Lady He shook her head with a gentle laugh, then reached out a hand as warm and smooth as jade, touching his face with a complicated look in her eyes.

"Do you think I would just leave? Your kindness and grace are something I, Li Yang, will never forget. If I truly abandoned you and left, I'd spend the rest of my life in guilt, and my path would never reach its end," he comforted her softly, then said with a bitter smile, "Unfortunately, I was still a step too late—I couldn't save Xiaoliu and the others..."

"So it’s a remnant of the He family. I wondered what kind of master you might be!" The old man cast a cold, glinting gaze at Lady He in Li Yang’s arms, his voice menacing.

"Rest for a moment, madam. Let me deal with this wicked practitioner. Then I’ll take you away."

"Young Li, you should go. I know you have remarkable means, but with me as a burden, how far could you run? Chen Sanpao is ruthless and commands a strong force. If anything happened to you, how could I ever rest in peace? While the men in the mansion are still unaware, hurry and leave. If I can see you safe before I die, I’ll have no regrets. Remember—take good care of Jinling." Staring at the old man across from them, fear flashed in Lady He's eyes. She quickly regained her composure and pushed Li Yang away, her face full of anxious worry.

"If I just left, not only would I never have peace, but even Sister Jinling would never forgive me. Since I dared to come, I have my means of escaping. Please rest assured." Li Yang comforted her with a faint smile.

"Ignorant child! How dare you be so arrogant!" The old man’s face darkened as Li Yang called him a wicked practitioner, showing no respect. From his bosom, he pulled out a small drum, mottled black and white.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Though the drum was small, its sound was thunderous, echoing throughout Nuqing County.

A dense, buzzing hum soon filled the sky as swarms of venomous insects, dark as storm clouds, gathered from all directions over the He estate.

"Gu sorcery?" Li Yang frowned as he watched the swarm.

"Today, boy, you’ll have no grave to die in," the old man sneered coldly, and the insects swarmed towards Li Yang.

Lady He’s face turned deathly pale, her body trembling as she watched the black cloud above.

"Don’t be afraid, madam. Here, close your eyes." Li Yang frowned, drew a silk scarf from his coat, and gently tied it over Lady He's eyes.

As the swarm descended, a brilliantly colored rooster, clothed in resplendent feathers, suddenly leapt from Li Yang’s arms. It raised its head and crowed, its voice bright and clear, as if heralding the rising sun and dividing light from dark.

A ripple of golden-red energy spread through the air like a wave. The venomous insects in the sky suddenly seemed intoxicated, swaying and faltering. Soon, they dropped like rain, forming a thick layer on the ground. The survivors, regaining their senses, scattered in all directions.

With a sudden gulp, the golden toad at the side inhaled deeply, drawing a fierce current of air that swept the fallen insects into its mouth as if rivers poured into the sea.

"The boy has some luck," the old man said with a hint of envy, glancing at the proud, upright Rooster of Nuqing.

"But your luck ends here."

"Ghost toad, command the nine palaces: Go!" The old man formed a seal with his hands. A specter in red emerged behind him, followed by five ghostly figures.

"Ghosts of the Five Elements! Such evil must be destroyed!" Even the usually calm Li Yang could not suppress his anger at this sight. The method was truly vile: a woman would be chosen and made pregnant at an auspicious time to bear five children, each aligned with one of the five elements. The five would then be locked together and forced into cannibalism, like raising gu poison, until only one survived. The last would be sewn into the ghost mother's womb and tormented to death.

"Entangle the ghost mother..." At Li Yang's mental command, the Rooster of Nuqing spread its wings to block the ghost mother in the air, while the six-winged golden centipede unfurled and swept toward the old man.

"A six-winged golden centipede—what a rare breed," the old man praised, his gaze sharpening. Reaching into a pouch at his chest, he crushed two skulls the size of his palms and hurled his fists forward with a sound like thunder.

The golden centipede was sent flying, tumbling through the air, but quickly shook its head and charged once more at the old man.

"Who the hell has the guts to cause trouble in my commandery?" A bellow rang out.

From afar, Chen Sanpao approached, flanked by a horde of armed men.

"Master, are you alright?"

"Brothers, open fire!"

Gunshots rang out in a hail of metallic clangs.

Seeing Chen Sanpao's arrival, Li Yang felt a surge of anxiety. With a thought, the golden centipede grew, coiling protectively around him and Lady He. Bullets sparked harmlessly off its gleaming body.

"Boy, you’re still too green. Five ghosts, devour his soul!" Freed from the centipede’s harassment, the old man formed a seal with his hands. The five ghosts behind the ghost mother lunged at Li Yang, chilling the air.

"Mere little ghosts, you dare approach me?" Li Yang sneered at the oncoming spirits. His life force surged, rising around him like a column of smoke, radiating a masculine energy as fierce as the midday sun. The very air grew warmer.

Sizzling and wailing resounded as the ghosts were seared by his energy.

"A cultivator of the human immortal path—who would have thought such methods still existed in the world today. Hmph! Let’s see how much vital energy you have to burn," the old man scoffed, his eyes unsettled by the burning smoke rising above Li Yang's head.

"Bring up my cannon, boys—blast them to pieces!" Chen Sanpao’s expression was grim as he shouted, glaring at the centipede that was like a wall of bronze and iron.

In truth, Li Yang’s time in cultivation was short and his methods limited. With his three strange beasts entangled, he found himself in dire straits.

"Fire! Blast them!"

The thunder of artillery exploded. The golden centipede screamed in pain, its body trembling uncontrollably.

"Boy, just hand over Lady He and surrender. If I’m in a good mood, perhaps I’ll spare your life," the old man said, his eyes flickering with greed as he glanced at the enormous centipede and the Rooster of Nuqing.

"Young Li, why don’t you leave me and escape alone? Your feelings are enough—if I die, at least I’ll go with a smile, knowing someone in this world cared for me. If there’s a next life, I’d wish to meet you again." After a long silence, Lady He reached out, caressing Li Yang’s face with tearful eyes.

"Don’t lose heart, madam. The outcome is still undecided!" Li Yang gritted his teeth, knowing that at this moment, only a desperate fight would suffice.