Chapter 67: When Evil Takes Root
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan, disguised and enveloped in a black mist, floated through the night.
Even if someone looked directly at them, they wouldn’t be seen.
This was the power of the Night Wanderer Talisman.
The divine crystal within, the Night Wanderer, could only be used at night.
Without using any true energy or movement techniques, they effortlessly floated over the ten-foot-high wall surrounding the Huo estate.
Although a self-contained estate, the wall couldn’t be too tall; otherwise, it would be seen as a challenge to the barbarian court’s authority.
Guards patrolled the wall, and watchtowers stood at intervals, but since the war hadn’t reached this area yet, and the Huo family was a powerful and influential family in this region, most of the guards were lax and inattentive.
They floated past the watchtowers and over the buildings, reaching the main residence at the heart of the estate.
The security here was much tighter, a clear indication of “guarding against internal threats more than external ones.”
However, tight security was no match for the Night Wanderer Talisman. They easily bypassed the outer defenses and entered the inner compound.
Even the rooftops of the buildings within the estate followed a strict hierarchy, different styles and sizes indicating the status of the residents, a level of detail not even found in the mansions of nobles and marquis.
Thanks to Xu Xiaoyan’s earlier explanations, Shi Hao could now tell, just by looking at the rooftops, which buildings housed important figures, which were for lesser branches of the family, which belonged to the daughters, and which were for servants.
Xu Xiaoyan said, “The talisman’s effect is wearing off. You go kill the old man, and I’ll steal the saber. We’ll meet back here. I’ll use the Void Traversing Brick to get us out.”
Shi Hao smiled, “Alright.” He released her hand, determined his direction, and slipped away.
Huo Fu, the head of the Yuan Dan Huo family, had three wives and several concubines, his descendants numerous.
His second wife had a son named Huo Yingcai, an outer disciple of the Chongxian Sect.
Although only a ninth-rank martial artist, due to his family’s wealth and his frequent gifts to the sect, he had good connections within the Chongxian Sect. He had married the niece of Recluse Dan Ying of the Kun Zhen Courtyard and had a daughter named Huo Yuzhi.
That evening, Huo Yingcai’s wife, Zhu Man, and their daughter, Huo Yuzhi, were entertaining guests.
The guests were Zhuo Mulan and her disciple, Du Yuejiao.
Zhuo Mulan, originally from the Kun Zhen Courtyard, had known Zhu Man since childhood. She was on her way back to the Chongxian Sect’s main temple and had stopped by for a visit.
Huo Yingcai, being a Chongxian Sect disciple, treated them with great respect, offering them hospitality.
Knowing Huo Fu was a renowned philanthropist, often helping the poor and needy, and his reputation among the local gentry impeccable, Zhuo Mulan accepted their hospitality.
That night, as Zhuo Mulan and Du Yuejiao dined with Zhu Man and her daughter in the back garden, a scream suddenly pierced the night, followed by shouts of “Murder! Murder!”
The darkness erupted in chaos.
Zhu Man exclaimed, “That’s coming from Master’s residence!”
Zhuo Mulan, with her sixth-rank cultivation, far surpassing the ordinary martial artists employed by the Huo family, listened intently.
She heard the continuous clash of weapons and screams, indicating the killer was still on the loose.
She drew her sword, “Yuejiao, protect them. I’ll go and see.” She leaped through the window, scaled the wall, and headed towards the source of the commotion.
She landed on a fire-breathing beast statue on the roof and looked down.
A young man in black, wielding a sword, was cutting his way through the Huo residence.
He had a high forehead, a prominent hooked nose, sharp features, and a menacing aura.
Zhuo Mulan thought, Is that the villain who kidnapped and tortured Yuejiao?
She saw the young man leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
Enraged, she drew her sword and, like a streak of light, attacked him, “Villain, don’t you dare!”
The moment her sword intent surged, the young man with the hooked nose sensed it through the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, realizing she was a powerful expert.
As her sword light approached, he knew her power surpassed his own. Recognizing her as Zhuo Mulan, he was surprised.
He wasn’t surprised by her strength; he knew she was a sixth-rank expert. He was simply surprised to find her here.
Of course, it wasn’t unusual for wealthy families like the Huo family to have connections to the Chongxian Sect.
He quickly reacted, slashing at her with his sword.
Zhuo Mulan felt her attack being inexplicably deflected mid-flight, its trajectory shifting.
“Demonic arts!” she snorted. Only the demonic sects used such bizarre techniques.
She flicked her wrist, one sword shadow intercepting his attack, while several others, like blooming orchids in the night, enveloped him.
Shi Hao knew he was no match for her. She was a rank higher, and a single sword shadow from her was enough to deflect his attack. Her Chongxian Sect swordsmanship was powerful and precise.
And more martial artists were arriving, surrounding the area.
Shi Hao shifted his footwork, his body moving in a bizarre, unpredictable manner, making Zhuo Mulan’s attack miss completely.
Zhuo Mulan was taken aback by his sudden movement, as if he had been pulled away by an invisible force. She hadn’t been able to anticipate it.
At the same time, a ninth-rank martial artist standing on a nearby pavilion suddenly saw the young man with the hooked nose appear beside him with impossible speed.
The martial artist, having been gathering his energy, preparing to attack the villain from the side, was now caught off guard.
Startled, he slashed at the young man.
The young man’s sword twisted, deflecting the attack.
Swish! The martial artist’s head flew through the air.
Zhuo Mulan, enraged, leaped onto the pavilion, but the young man had already fled in another direction, moving through the crowd of martial artists, too fast for her to catch.
Someone entered the blood-soaked hall, filled with corpses.
“Master!” he cried, recognizing one of the bodies.
Another shouted, “Master Hong, Master Zhao, and the Young Master are also dead! Quickly inform the Six Gates!”
Initially, Shi Hao had only intended to kill Huo Fu.
But he had overheard their conversation, their plotting and scheming, and in a fit of rage, he had slaughtered them all.
Killing so many people had inevitably attracted attention. He had planned to meet with Xu Xiaoyan and use her magical weapon to escape.
But he had been intercepted by Zhuo Mulan.
Although he used the Soul Chasing Locking Steps to evade her attacks, Zhuo Mulan was no ordinary opponent.
Seeing he was about to escape, she unleashed a powerful gust of wind, pushing aside several martial artists in front of him.
She landed gracefully, her sword flashing, creating a net of sword light that enveloped Shi Hao. She shouted, “Groups of three! Watch out for each other! Approach him slowly! Don’t let him use you!”
The martial artists, initially disorganized, quickly formed groups of three.
Shi Hao used the Soul Chasing Locking Steps to move, but now, wherever he appeared, he was immediately attacked.
And Zhuo Mulan blocked his path, preventing him from reaching Xu Xiaoyan.
Knowing he couldn’t escape if Zhuo Mulan caught him, Shi Hao abandoned his original plan and fled in another direction.
Although the martial artists had formed groups, there were still gaps between them.
Shi Hao weaved through the crowd, fighting his way out.
How could Zhuo Mulan allow him to escape after slaughtering so many people right before her eyes?
If he escaped while she was here, it would be a disgrace to the entire Chongxian Sect. And he had also harmed Yuejiao.
She pursued him relentlessly, using her superior light-foot skills.
Suddenly, a fire erupted in the distance. A girl’s voice shouted, “Fire! Fire! Help!”
Zhuo Mulan, mid-flight, looked back. The fire spread rapidly, billowing smoke filling the sky. Seeing some of the men turning to fight the fire, she shouted, “Ignore the fire! Capture him first!”
This sudden fire was clearly a diversion.
The martial artists, hearing her command, obeyed, continuing their pursuit of Shi Hao.
With a crash, a stone wall shattered under his sword. Shi Hao rolled away and leaped into the air, twisting his body to avoid the arrows from the watchtower.
Zhuo Mulan’s sword light, like a coiling dragon, pursued him. He landed and, grabbing a nearby maidservant, pulled her towards him.
The maidservant screamed, but Zhuo Mulan’s sword light dissipated just before reaching her.
The Huo family, being wealthy, had numerous servants and relatives. In the chaos, people ran in all directions.
Knowing Zhuo Mulan wouldn’t harm innocent people, Shi Hao used the crowd as cover, preventing her from using her full power.
Every time she was about to catch him, he would use some trick to escape, her frustration growing—
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