Chapter 145: Subduing Xiaoqian

The East Gate of Qingliu County.

A monstrous shroud of nether qi hung across the firmament, a vast expanse of dark, oppressive clouds pressing down from the sky as though they could easily crush the county town below. This abrupt transformation caused the expressions of the city guards to shift drastically, and they hurriedly rushed off to report to the magistrate.

Outside the city, several commoners who had yet to return within the walls were snatched away by a horde of fierce ghosts, vanishing without a trace.

"Have you heard? A mass of black clouds has appeared at the east gate of our county! Word is, it's a minor ghost king!"

"What? A minor ghost king? Just how terrifying is a minor ghost king?"

"Even more formidable than a first-rank martial artist."

"Ah? Why would such a terrifying ghost come to our Qingliu County? It's not here to slaughter people, is it?"

"I heard the magistrate has already gone over there, but nothing good ever comes of a ghost king descending upon the city walls. We'd better prepare ourselves in advance!"

"Damn it! I just took a wife yesterday. If I die so soon, it'll be a total loss... No way, I'm heading home first to get some quick action in...!"

"Why on earth did this ghost king target Qingliu County out of the blue?"

Inside Qingliu County, the news spread rapidly through the streets. After all, with the entire east side of the city oppressed by nether qi, far too many people could see it.

The magistrate had also rushed in a panic to the top of the city wall. Looking at the dark specter hovering before him, his legs turned weak with fright. Fortunately, a fifth-rank martial artist was supporting him by his side, bolstered further by the blessing of Confucian righteousness within his own body, otherwise his legs would have long since gone jelly and he would have collapsed onto the ground.

"May I ask what brings the minor ghost king to my Qingliu County?" the magistrate called out cautiously.

*Whoosh...*

Amidst the billowing nether qi, a human figure gradually stepped forth. Clad in black robes, his entire body was suffused with billowing nether qi, his hair disheveled, and his face filled with viciousness and cruelty—a single glance was enough to strike terror into the heart.

"My woman was snatched away, and I sensed that she is right here within your Qingliu County! Find that man and cast him out of Qingliu County. If I have to make a move myself, I'm afraid it won't just be that single man who dies...!"

"The one who just entered your county today—here is his portrait!"

As the words fell, the Minor Ghost King tossed a portrait toward the magistrate on the city wall. It fluttered gently down and landed right in the magistrate's hands.

Gazing at the portrait in his grasp, the magistrate let out a long breath of relief, though he dared not slacken in the slightest. He quickly replied, "Wait a moment!"

With that, clutching the portrait, he descended from the city wall.

If the Minor Ghost King dared to enter the city and slaughter people, it would inevitably provoke suppression from the Demon-Suppressing Army. However, a ghost king was fully capable of blockading all four gates of Qingliu County or even ambushing and hunting down commoners who ventured outside. Should that happen, the entire Qingliu County would likely be plunged into a state of living hell.

Since the Minor Ghost King was not here specifically to cause trouble for Qingliu County as a whole, things were much simpler. That fellow was certainly bold to have snatched the ghost king's woman, but he had to be found quickly and driven out of Qingliu County.

Yet, a trace of worry lingered in the magistrate's heart.

The martial artist capable of snatching away the ghost king's woman probably possessed formidable strength not to be underestimated; he might not necessarily obey his orders...

Before long, the yamen runners within the prefectural office swiftly sketched a few new copies of the portrait and fanned out across the taverns to search and compare.

*Clang, clang, clang...!*

A series of fierce knocks sounded. Su Yang, who had been fast asleep, was forced to wake up and open his chamber door. Looking at the bailiffs outside, he asked, "What is it?"

Glancing at the man in the portrait in his hand and then at the living Su Yang right before him, the lead bailiff swallowed hard and asked, "You're the one who arrived in Qingliu County today?"

"Correct!"

"What rank martial artist?"

"Fourth-rank!" Su Yang thought for a moment before answering.

"Senior, please stay right here. I'm going to invite my magistrate over immediately."

The chief bailiff exchanged a meaningful glance with the runners behind him, then bolted out of the inn at a run to summon the magistrate.

"What has happened?"

"Senior, do you truly not know?"

"How should I know?"

Looking at the man who was a dozen years older than himself yet calling him 'senior,' Su Yang felt a slight sense of awkwardness.

"Did you or did you not snatch away the Minor Ghost King's woman?"

"Oh...!"

Upon hearing the bailiff's words, Su Yang roughly guessed what was going on. He asked, "That ghost king has entered the city?"

"Not yet. Right now, he is outside the city and has warned our magistrate to find you, Senior, and drive you out of Qingliu County."

"How did this ghost king figure out I was here?" Su Yang furrowed his brow slightly. Along the way, he had taken countless detours; how could this ghost king possibly know his current location?

Unless?

Having roughly guessed the reason, the magistrate of Qingliu County soon arrived—a plump man in his forties, clad in an official's robe of green and soap.

Seeing that Su Yang's body radiated no vital blood energy whatsoever, the magistrate involuntarily frowned. Was this person truly a fourth-rank martial artist? Why did he feel much more like an ordinary person?

Nevertheless, the magistrate dared not presume too much and spoke up, "Senior, you must already be aware of the situation, I presume?"

"For the sake of the commoners of Qingliu County, I sincerely hope that you, Senior...!"

"I won't make things difficult for you."

"Just give me some time. In about half a day, I will leave Qingliu County. How about that?" Su Yang asked.

"Many thanks for your understanding, Senior. I can certainly buy you some time." The magistrate felt a weight lift from his heart and repeatedly nodded in agreement.

The inn was swiftly surrounded by yamen runners.

Word was sent out to the ghost king that the yamen officials were still searching for the martial artist who had stolen the ghost king's woman, and an explanation would be delivered to the ghost king in about half a day.

Returning to his chamber, Su Yang looked at Xiaoqian, whose soul body and aura were extremely faint. "Has the ghost king placed something upon you so that he can sense your general location?"

The ghost king must only be able to sense an approximate direction. Otherwise, he would have already broken into the city to capture them precisely. As long as the ghost king entered the city without slaughtering people, it wouldn't matter much. The only reason the ghost king was currently hesitating outside was likely out of fear that he would be unable to suppress the raging fury within his heart and resort to mass murder.

"Alas... That ghost king possesses a secret technique that allows him to roughly pinpoint our locations through the skeletal remains we left behind in life. My mortal remains were buried near the Rakshasa Temple, and the ghost king dug them up after finding them. Ever since, I have been unable to escape the palm of his hand."

"Now, it must be through those mortal remains of mine that he has locked onto our current position."

"I cannot escape. Either you kill me, scattering my soul into nothingness, or you leave me here and flee by yourself—you might still have a sliver of a chance at survival."

Xiaoqian said in a remarkably weak voice, "However, if you have no better method, I only hope you will give me a swift end. I refuse to become a concubine to that ghost king."

Gazing at the wisps of golden fortune intermingled with the aura above Xiaoqian's head, Su Yang's heart was filled with conflicted hesitation. Should he really do this?

This Xiaoqian was a second-rank wild ghost possessing formidable strength. If she retained that sliver of destiny, her future accomplishments would undoubtedly be boundless. Perhaps it was worth taking a gamble...!

At this point, there was no other choice.

"I have a method that can free you from that ghost king. I wonder if you are willing?" Su Yang asked in a profound tone, looking at the delicate, soft-bodied beauty before him.