Chapter 287: A Full-Scale Emergency

SMACK!

SMACK!!

Across the waters of the Sanhe River and the Lei River, distress rockets exploded into the sky one after another.

The Caobang’s special emergency signals formed bloody characters beneath the Blood Moon, a terrifying sight to behold.

Yin Xingtian and Old Seven were still confronting the blood fog at the prefectural dock and the Main Helm, searching for a way to destroy it, when urgent reports began pouring in from their disciples.

“Hall Master!”

“This is bad!”

“A distress signal has appeared from Egret Island!”

“Egret Island is under attack!”

“Hall Master!”

“We have spotted a distress signal from Flying Fish Island! Flying Fish Island is in danger!”

“…The Leishui Branch Helm is also under attack!”

Yin Xingtian’s sharp gaze hardened, his expression turning grim.

Even though he had seen many major crises in his life, he could not help but feel a sense of panic.

One after another, the territories under his command were reporting disasters.

The Blood Moon Incident was far more severe than Offering Master Liu had described.

His trip to Sanhe Commandery to take command might not earn him any credit at all—he might even end up bearing the blame.

Staring at the sinister crimson Blood Moon in the sky, glowing like a demonic eye, Yin Xingtian took a deep breath and gave his orders.

“The blood fog over the river is dense and extremely dangerous. The hall cannot send reinforcements!”

“Immediately dispatch carrier pigeons to all locations. Inform every Branch Helm Leader, Island Master, and Mine Master to devise their own survival measures.”

Yin Xingtian did not want the hall’s forces entering the blood fog and suffering needless casualties.

But by doing this, his reputation among the branch helms, islands, and mines would plummet to rock bottom.

Old Seven and the two Deputy Hall Masters exchanged stunned looks.

Abandoning support.

The losses would be enormous.

After the Blood Moon Incident, the higher authorities would certainly demand accountability.

The Hall Master was in serious trouble.

But none of them had any better option.

The blood fog was too strange.

Several Second-Rank Martial Artists had already been swallowed by it.

All of them died without leaving behind any useful information.

For now, the constables from the Six Gates had suggested surrounding the edges of the blood fog with torches to prevent it from spreading into the streets and alleys of Sanhe Commandery.

Their plan was to delay until the Blood Moon disappeared.

Both constable captains and many experts from the prefectural government had already been mobilized to investigate.

This Blood Moon Incident was very different from the past.

In previous years, no one had known what would happen under the Blood Moon.

Now, nearly everyone had begun to understand the terror brought by the blood fog.

…

The Sanjiang Branch Helm was the first to receive the carrier pigeon message from the hall.

Reading the words written there—along with the shocking reports—Wangchuan felt a chill spread through his heart.

The blood fog on the river had invaded nearly every dock.

The Caobang had suffered heavy losses.

The Hall Master had ordered everyone to focus on saving themselves.

While Wangchuan was digesting the information, Chen Ergou and Zhao Heiniu threw several more tung oil jars into the dock plaza below.

The flames, which had nearly burned out, roared back to life.

The surging blood fog was once again pushed back by the light and heat, suppressing whatever enemies lurked within it.

“What time is it now?” Wangchuan asked the people beside him.

Wang Yuehui replied,

“Two hours until midnight.”

In other words, only one hour had passed since the attack began.

Yet within that single hour, many Caobang docks had already been struck.

Wangchuan could not help turning toward Yang Feiyue.

The latter frowned deeply.

Clearly, he had thought of something.

Several halls of the Yulong Gang had likely been attacked as well.

“Ergou!”

“Here!”

“Send carrier pigeons to Heilong County, Huishui County, Rongcheng County, and the Yulong Gang Water Stronghold. Also notify every dock gang along the upstream and downstream rivers to prepare torches and tung oil in advance to block the blood fog.”

“Yes!”

Chen Ergou immediately carried out the order.

Flap, flap—

As the pigeons were released, more than a dozen carrier pigeons flew into the night sky beneath the Blood Moon, heading in different directions.

At that moment, a subtle change occurred within the blood fog.

Perhaps after being blocked repeatedly by the tung oil flames, the creatures inside seemed to grow irritated and furious.

Suddenly, sharp whistling sounds shot out from the fog.

“Watch out!”

Fortunately, the distance was great, and everyone was already on high alert.

Most of the projectiles were easily avoided.

SMACK! SMACK!

Sharp objects struck the roof tiles of the Branch Helm, shattering them into fragments.

Someone picked up one of the broken projectiles.

They were fragments of white bone.

They looked very much like human ribs and arm bones, still streaked with blood and bits of flesh.

Everyone immediately realized the monsters inside the fog were using the corpses of the fallen disciples as weapons.

“Damn it!”

“What kind of monsters are those things?!”

Everyone’s expressions changed as discussions erupted.

After launching only one round of attacks and gaining nothing from it, the creatures inside the blood fog seemed to give up.

The fog slowly retreated.

It withdrew from the dock and drifted back toward the river.

On the ground remained long trails of blood where bodies had been dragged away.

“They’re leaving.”

“The Branch Helm is safe!”

Many people revealed expressions of relief.

But Wangchuan shouted firmly,

“Everyone, remain on alert!”

“Ergou! Captain Zhao! Stay here and continue throwing tung oil at intervals to ensure the fires on the dock never go out!”

Everyone froze for a moment before quickly understanding.

The Helm Leader was worried the creatures in the fog were deliberately pretending to retreat, hoping to lure them into lowering their guard.

Sure enough—

As the tung oil flames were reignited once more,

the blood fog out on the river began to churn.

Pushing those pleasure boats along with it, the fog slowly moved deeper into the river.

The fog was leaving.

The pleasure boats disappeared.

Cold sweat ran down everyone’s backs.

“They were waiting for us to relax our guard so they could attack again.”

“Now they’ve truly left.”

“Too cunning.”

“Damn it!”

“What kind of monsters are they?”

Wangchuan finally let out a long breath.

“Everyone, remain vigilant!”

“No matter how much tung oil we use, we must hold out until midnight. We must endure until the Blood Moon passes!”

“Yes!!”

The entire Branch Helm shouted in unison.

Wangchuan then ordered another carrier pigeon sent to the prefectural city, detailing the entire sequence—from the blood fog’s invasion to its retreat.

…

Hejiang Town was only about ten li from the prefectural city.

The pigeon arrived quickly at the Caobang hall and was delivered to Yin Xingtian and Old Seven.

After reading the message, Yin Xingtian handed the slip of paper to Old Seven.

Old Seven’s eyes lit up.

“They fear light!”

“The Sanjiang Branch Helm used tung oil to block the fog, and the fog has already retreated.”

“Men! Prepare tung oil immediately—lots of tung oil!”

Old Seven quickly shouted orders.

His men brought over many jars of tung oil and smashed them across the dock plaza.

Flaming arrows ignited them.

Blazing fire instantly illuminated the blood fog.

Clusters of tung oil flames spread everywhere, opening a path forward.

“Light the torches in the Main Helm!”

Yin Xingtian led his men into the blood fog.

More people carried torches and threw them into the Main Helm, relighting the torches that had previously been extinguished.

The blood fog churned violently.

Something inside it seemed to be running rapidly.

Yin Xingtian, Constable Captain He, and Constable Captain Yu stood ready with drawn blades as they relit every courtyard within the Main Helm until it was fully illuminated.

Under the overwhelming firelight, the blood fog quietly retreated.

Within the blazing light, the fog withdrew from the Main Helm and drifted back toward the river.

Several Caobang disciples attempted to relight the tall torch pillars along the riverbank.

Suddenly, an enormous force dragged one of them straight into the river.

SPLASH!

Moments later, a surge of blood bubbled up from the water.

“Stay away from the river!”

Old Seven shouted loudly.

Everyone shuddered and quickly retreated from the river’s edge, keeping their distance from the water.