sonovelo Chapter 660: Now It Feels Safer
Chapter 660: Now It Feels Safer
chapter 660: now it feels safer
the servant outside stumbled back in a panic, shouting incoherently, "mad, mad—they’re on a mad killing spree!"
tang song stood at the entrance of the hall, gripping a weapon with a righteous expression. "go hide in the painting! if those bandits dare break in, i'll deal with them using mount shu sect's techniques!"
"father, if you're scared, you don’t need to pretend you’re not," tang yu'an said. "your legs are trembling."
tang song, once a humble painter, had learned some divine techniques from a teacher from the mount shu sect and advanced to the second realm of cultivation. as that teacher was from the mount shu sect, tang song had always felt a strong connection to the sect and had generously donated to it over the years.
the last time his son, tang yu'an, was pulled into the famous painting ladies of the eastern suburbs by one of those female ghosts, it was chu liang and jiang yuebai from the mount shu sect who resolved the matter.
after the incident, the painting remained in their home. with his modest cultivation, tang song could open the portal into the painting occasionally. the hidden realm within the painting had a slower flow of time, making it convenient to store vegetables and fruits—essentially serving as a magical cellar.
the streets outside roared with chaos—slaughter and screams echoing endlessly. from the shouts, it was clear that rebels had stormed wu'an city, pillaging and setting fires as they went. soldiers patrolled frantically, urging citizens to stay inside to avoid the spreading violence.
city guards and cultivators from the city supervisory division took action, activating the great city-protecting formation. yet, the rebels' strength was overwhelming, and the sounds of the city guards' resistance grew fainter with each passing moment.
tang song, frail and thin, was just a painter. if the city supervisory division couldn't hold them back, what could someone with his low level of cultivation hope to accomplish?
though he tried to appear brave, tang song's legs trembled uncontrollably. when his son called him out, he gritted his teeth. "i've collected so many antiques and paintings. if they're stolen, so be it. but what if those bandits destroy them?"
"what's more important, the paintings or your life?" tang yu'an exclaimed.
tang song finally relented. "fine, the bandits are still far away. let me gather a few more things, and i'll join you to hide in the painting."
everyone in the tang residence rushed to the study in the back courtyard. tang song carefully unfurled ladies of the eastern suburbs and activated the opening to the hidden realm within. one by one, they stepped inside, disappearing into the painting. a group of panicked figures then appeared on the painting.
tang song carefully tucked the painting away and hurried to gather the rest of his antiques and scrolls. before he could finish, a loud thud echoed from outside.
no... it can't be. tang song's heart skipped a beat.
the attackers had entered from the south, and his home lay in the northern part of the city. they shouldn't have made it here so quickly... unless they came directly to rob his house first.
tang song cautiously peeked outside, but the courtyard was empty.
i'm just scaring myself...
letting out a breath of relief, tang song turned back to continue gathering his things.
"ahhhhhhh!"
tang song’s scream echoed through the room as his eyes locked onto a gaunt young man lounging in his study chair. the intruder wore ill-fitting new clothes and smirked mischievously.
"you..." tang song asked in a trembling voice. "who are you?"
"me?" the young man squinted. "who i am doesn't matter. time is short, and i don't want to waste it. i just need one thing from you. give it to me, and i'll leave without harming you or your family."
"what do you want?" tang song asked hurriedly.
"do you have a painting from the previous dynasty?" the young man asked. "i think it's called ladies of the eastern suburbs, right?"
"ah?" tang song's face twisted in despair the moment he heard those words.
if you take that painting, you won't be sparing my family. that would be the same as killing my entire family...
...
"young hero, i'll give you all my wealth. can you let me go?" nangong zhi pleaded.
inside the basement lay a chilling sight.
several women hung limply from iron pillars, their bodies marred with wounds, barely clinging to life. in nearby cages, more women huddled together. all of them flinched in shock and fear the moment they saw chu liang.
the bloodstains on the ground and the dense resentment-filled qi hanging in the air clearly indicated the kind of place this was.
obviously, not every woman was willing to serve as a cultivation cauldron. this basement was clearly where nangong zhi punished those who wouldn't obey him.
the overwhelming scent of blood hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the countless lives lost in this place.
chu liang's expression darkened.
he first freed the imprisoned women and guided them to a safe place.
once they were safe, he leapt back to the courtyard.
by this time, the men from the imperial supervisory bureau had arrived. they had come to jiuguan city after receiving word from the mount shu sect. the city appeared normal, with no signs of trouble—except for one irregularity recorded at nangong residence.
upon arrival, they encountered the disciples of the mount shu sect and nangong zhi.
leading the group from the imperial supervisory bureau was a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features and piercing eyes. his pupils glowed with a deep purple hue. it was celestial official ji zidian.
nangong zhi had been detained by the group from the imperial supervisory bureau, tightly bound within a formation. lin bei was in the middle of recounting the events when chu liang reappeared.
ji zidian's eyes widened in surprise. "chu liang!"
"celestial official ji," chu liang greeted with a slight bow.
"where have you been all these years?" ji zidian asked. "we've searched everywhere for you."
"we can discuss that later," chu liang replied, shaking his head. "i don't think taking him away is the safest option."
"you doubt our ability to transport him?" ji zidian asked, feeling puzzled.
"i found more incriminating evidence in the basement. his crimes warrant death. if you take him back, can you guarantee his execution?" chu liang asked as he stepped closer.
ji zidian furrowed his brows, lost in thought. "this..."
nangong zhi served chancellor su qian as one of the sect leaders in the chancellor's sixteen-faction alliance. his contributions to su qian were invaluable. even if his crimes warranted death, as long as it wasn't treason, the chancellor could protect and save him. nangong zhi would probably be dealt with a harsh punishment at most, not execution.
the chancellor had to intervene to ensure that the people who serve him would continue to support and risk their lives for him. the factions handled many covert operations for him. if he abandoned them at the first sign of trouble, no one would risk their lives for him again.
chu liang approached nangong zhi as he spoke. "so..."
seeing the terror on nangong zhi's face, chu liang struck without hesitation.
even as ji zidian realized chu liang’s intent, he merely called out, "chu liang?"
ji zidian had a high level of cultivation, so he could have intervened. however, in that instant, he chose not to.
boom!
chu liang's fist, wreathed in crackling violet-gold divine thunder, descended like a stroke of heavenly judgment. nangong zhi's head was obliterated. it vanished as if swallowed by a black hole. the strike was clean, precise, leaving no trace behind.
in the blink of an eye, only nangong zhi's headless body remained, swaying slightly as if unaware of what had happened.
chu liang calmly flicked his wrist and turned to ji zidian. "now it feels safer."