Chapter Twenty-Six: Murder!

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Night had fallen, yet the city of Celestial River was still alive with vibrant energy. The main streets were adorned with lanterns and banners, crowds gathered to drink and chat, some sang and danced to enliven the atmosphere, while others performed small spells that made mortal children shriek with delight. Not far off, the crackle of firecrackers occasionally broke the night, followed by waves of cheerful shouts and laughter.

Indeed, the city was illuminated through the night, throngs of people weaving through the bright avenues, as songs of joy echoed everywhere.

“Friends, let me toast you all,” a visiting cultivator raised his cup and declared, “May all fellow cultivators of Celestial River City enjoy prosperity for ten thousand years, and peace evermore.”

The table was ringed by several long-time residents of the city, who exchanged smiles and lifted their cups in reply.

“Let’s hope your blessing comes true,” one of them sighed after downing his wine. Yet worry clouded his face as he continued, “My Zhang family came here six thousand years ago, drawn by the awakening of a prodigy, and eventually our whole clan settled here. Our ancestors hoped we would be blessed and achieve greatness under their shade, but who could have foreseen…”

A bitter, self-mocking smile flickered across his lips. He went on, “Who could have foreseen that in my generation, Zhang Jiufeng, though I had the fortune to witness the last awakening of a prodigy, it turned out the child had only ordinary blood, with a spiritual root even less gifted than mine. That would have been enough, but now the seal on Prodigy Valley is loosening, and in ten years a great calamity is feared. Is Heaven playing a joke on the Zhang family?”

He drained three more cups in quick succession, venting his frustration.

“Brother Zhang, why worry? There are still ten years left. If you feel uneasy, just move your family elsewhere,” one of the others advised.

“When your ancestors moved to Prodigy Valley, now you move them out—future generations will thank you for it,” another chimed in, seeking to comfort him.

“Ah, moving the whole family is easier said than done. I hear the Four Continents have changed beyond recognition, nothing like Celestial River City. If we leave, we’d be like frogs at the bottom of a well, making a laughingstock of ourselves. No, no, this city is our home—I don’t want to go anywhere. I trust the Four Continents Council, and I trust Qi Tianjiao,” Zhang Jiufeng said, waving his hands.

The others merely shook their heads with gentle smiles, dropping the matter.

“In truth, compared to us, Xu Tianjiao is even more pitiable. At least we can choose to leave or stay. But today, Qi Tianjiao issued a prohibition—if Xu Tianjiao leaves the city, he dies. That’s truly ruthless.”

Someone brought up the topic, sighing with emotion.

“Heh, everyone knows Qi Tianjiao apprenticed under that great figure in the Northern Continent, and was sent here to guard Celestial River City. How could Xu Tianjiao not be suppressed?”

“But Xu Tianjiao only has mortal blood now, is there any need to suppress him further? The Northern Continent’s methods are really overbearing.”

“Shh, keep your voices down. Best not to discuss such matters.”

...

As the night wore on, the centennial Peace Night festival drew to a close. Many cultivators parted ways, bidding farewell and returning to their own abodes, and some were already preparing to leave the city. The mortals who had come to join the festivities began to disperse.

By the roadside, however, two children sat crying loudly, their helpless eyes following the passersby, who paid them no heed.

“Noisy little brats—whose children are these, left unattended? Mortals truly are hard to understand,” a cultivator grumbled, frowning as he sipped his wine.

“They look like my neighbors’ kids,” Zhang Jiufeng leaned forward for a better look, then laughed. “No matter, you all keep drinking. I’ll take them home and be right back.” He rose with a smile.

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“They’re just two mortal children, Brother Zhang, no need to trouble yourself. Their parents will come looking soon enough.”

“It’s no trouble. I’ll take them,” Zhang Jiufeng replied, already leaving the table. He grabbed some peanuts and strode toward the two boys.

The children, perhaps five or six years old, sat bawling in the middle of the street so late at night—a strange sight indeed.

“Dashun, Ergou, what are you two doing here crying? Why aren’t you home? Where are your parents?” Zhang Jiufeng squatted in front of them, ruffling their hair and smiling.

The boys recognized him and sobbed, “Uncle Zhang, our parents are missing.”

“Missing? Did your father get drunk again and sleep at someone else’s house, so your mother went to fetch him?”

“No, our mother said it was cold, so she went home to get us some clothes and told us to stay put with our father. But just now, our father said he was going to practice martial arts with an auntie and left us here, telling us to wait for our mother.”

“Er... How long has your mother been gone? Still not back?”

“No. We know the way home. We just went to look, but no one was there.”

As the child finished, he wiped his nose with his hand and smeared it on his little brother’s sleeve.

Zhang Jiufeng chuckled, handed them the peanuts, and said, “Come, I’ll take you home. Maybe your parents are back already.”

The two boys nodded and followed him, munching peanuts as they went.

The three of them wound through several streets, heading into an alleyway.

“Who’s there?”

Suddenly, sensing danger, Zhang Jiufeng threw his arms around the boys and pulled them behind him, staring into the depths of the alley and shouting.

“Well, he’s got decent skills to have noticed us,” a voice said.

“Enough talk. Let’s finish this quickly before anyone notices,” another replied.

“Heh, don’t worry. The area’s been cleared—no one else around,” said the third.

Three figures stepped from the shadows, all dressed in black with their faces covered. One of them dragged a woman behind him.

“Mother!”

“It’s our mother!”

Dashun and Ergou cried out, trying to run to her, but Zhang Jiufeng yanked them back, shielding them.

“Mid-stage Foundation Establishment…” Zhang Jiufeng muttered. His eyes fell on their boots and his expression changed. “The Cold Crow Army? Why are you arresting mortals… This is bad.”

He realized too late he shouldn’t have exposed their identity.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the two children and dashed in the opposite direction.

“Trying to run? You think you can?” sneered one of the masked men, extending his hand.

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Instantly, white runes lit up across the alley floor.

Zhang Jiufeng had barely taken a few steps when a tremendous force slammed into him. He was hurled through the air and crashed to the ground. Though he shielded the children, they were both knocked unconscious by the shock.

Blood poured from Zhang Jiufeng’s mouth as he stared in horror at the glowing runes. “An elementary killing trap?”

Despair overtook him.

The assailants had spared no expense, using a precious killing formation to capture him quickly and avoid attracting attention.

“Aren’t you of the Cold Crow Army, sent to guard Celestial River City? What are you trying to do?” Zhang Jiufeng shouted, seeing no escape.

The three masked men said nothing, merely advanced to seize him.

Suddenly, a strange gurgling sound filled the air.

“Who’s there?” the three men called out in alarm, striking toward the source of the noise.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three muffled explosions rang out. Two unknown objects burst from the hearts of the three masked men—one blow, three kills.

Blood spurted from their chests as all three fell dead in an instant. The killing formation lost its power and faded.

Zhang Jiufeng stood frozen, stunned.

Then he saw—those two unidentified objects were the size of fists: two eyeballs, dripping with blood, greedily devouring the life essence of the fallen men.

“Bone-Skinned Giant Eye Demon…” Zhang Jiufeng recognized the horror and nearly lost his soul in terror. He grabbed the boys and the woman, fleeing toward the street.

“Murder! The Cold Crow Army is killing people!” Zhang Jiufeng’s shouts soon rang through the ancient city’s streets.

...