Chapter 207: The ’Head’ Pledge

The Evil Extermination Bureau.

In a secret chamber, Mo Tang opened her eyes and let out a soft breath.

The injuries she had sustained from her previous battle with several True Master Golden Cores from the Corpse Refining Sect had finally healed.

Mo Tang walked out of the secret chamber and glanced out the window.

Night had already fallen.

Mo Tang was about to go find something to eat. After a moment’s thought, she decided to ask Lu Bai and He Liangzhi to join her.

’Since I’ve decided to take Lu Bai to the capital, I should tell him my plans and ask for his opinion.’

’If I leave, I’ll also need to entrust some matters to He Liangzhi.’

This trip to the capital had to be done in secret.

Otherwise, the journey would undoubtedly be fraught with peril.

Moreover, after she left, the Evil Extermination Bureau in Jingzhou City could not fall into chaos. He Liangzhi would have to hold down the fort.

Mo Tang arrived at the door to Lu Bai’s room and knocked.

There was no response from inside.

"Xiaolu, Xiaolu?"

Mo Tang called out softly a few more times.

Still, no one answered.

However, not far away, He Liangzhi heard her and pushed his door open. "My lady, Brother Lu has gone out."

Mo Tang asked, "Where did he go so late at night?"

He Liangzhi sighed softly. "The young master of Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion took a liking to his Chongming Bird. Brother Lu was afraid they would make things difficult, so he said he would send the Chongming Bird over."

Mo Tang’s brow furrowed.

’This doesn’t seem like Lu Bai’s style.’

’Back in Liuxi Town and Bluestone City, how many things did Lu Bai do? How many people did he kill?’

’He didn’t earn the title of Black Hand Yama for nothing!’

Anyone who provoked him never survived.

’How could he possibly submit so obediently?’

Mo Tang’s thoughts shifted.

’Their opponents are powerful. After all, it’s a First-Grade Marquis of the Wu Dynasty, with the Governor of Jingzhou, the Demon Suppression Envoy, and the Fujiao Gang all involved—major powers in both the orthodox and unorthodox worlds.’

’It would be understandable for Lu Bai to compromise and endure it for now.’

’Surely he wouldn’t go and fight them to the death, would he?’

At this thought, Mo Tang’s heart skipped a beat.

Anyone else would naturally lack such courage.

But Lu Bai...

Mo Tang was uncertain. She applied a bit of force with her palm and pushed the door open.

The first thing that met her eyes was a set of black Profound Armor, neatly folded on the table. On top of it lay the Yin Soul Compass and the Evil Extermination Order.

Seeing the strange expression on Mo Tang’s face, He Liangzhi also walked over and glanced inside.

"What does Brother Lu mean by this?"

He Liangzhi was confused.

"This is bad!"

Mo Tang cried out, grabbed her weapon, and sped outside.

He Liangzhi hurried after her, asking as he ran, "What’s wrong, my lady?"

"Come with me to Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion! Lu Bai is in danger!"

Mo Tang’s expression was grim. She mounted her horse and was just about to gallop toward Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion when shouts erupted from nearby.

"Trouble! Lu Bai killed someone at Wangjiang Tower!"

"Who did he kill?"

"They say it was the young master from Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion."

"And Lu Bai wrote a few lines on the wall of Wangjiang Tower. The things he said are terrifying."

Mo Tang and He Liangzhi were both aghast.

Lu Bai had killed the young master of Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion!

Mo Tang had considered that Lu Bai might not compromise so easily, but she never imagined he would dare to harm someone from Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion.

And not just anyone—he had killed Marquis Jingzhong’s grandson!

This was truly earth-shattering!

Mo Tang and He Liangzhi exchanged a look and spurred their horses, galloping toward Wangjiang Tower.

Just as they reached the base of Wangjiang Tower, the crowd ahead was so dense that their horses could no longer move.

At this hour, the area around Wangjiang Tower was still packed with people, buzzing with discussion and roaring with noise.

People from the Prefecture Government Office had already arrived and begun to control the scene, but the surrounding crowd only grew larger.

Just then, the city gates opened.

A group of people, blood-soaked and disheveled like refugees, rushed in. They looked as if they had seen a ghost, their faces pale, constantly glancing back with terror in their eyes.

"Aren’t those people from the Fujiao Gang?"

"What happened? Did something happen to the Fujiao Gang?"

"Didn’t you hear about the words Black Hand Yama wrote on the wall at Wangjiang Tower? It said the Fujiao Gang was involved in that whole affair."

The surroundings were a tumultuous uproar.

"Lu Bai has gone mad! He’s on a killing spree at Fujiao Manor!"

"Quick, go inform the Lord Governor!"

Several members of the Fujiao Gang saw the state government constables and cried out for help.

He Liangzhi was dumbfounded, his heart pounding in his chest as he listened.

’What has Brother Lu done?’

’Fujiao Manor has hundreds of Martial Artists and even a True Master Martial Dao presiding over it, yet these guys were so scared they fled to Jingzhou City for help?’

"Go back to the Evil Extermination Bureau! You don’t need to follow me!"

Mo Tang instructed He Liangzhi. Gazing at the dense, dark crowd before her, she made a snap decision, suddenly leaped into the air, and shot toward Fujiao Manor outside the city.

-----------------

Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion.

In a spacious courtyard, Wu Lan and his family had just finished their meal. A group of maids began to clear the leftover food from the table.

A woman complained in a low voice, "You should discipline that child, Ziyan. He spends all day drinking and carousing at Wangjiang Tower and doesn’t even come home for meals."

"He’s a grown man now. Let him be, as long as he doesn’t neglect his Martial Dao."

Wu Lan smiled faintly. "If he still hasn’t entered the Golden Core Realm in three years, then I’ll deal with him."

Just then, a government soldier ran in, his face fraught with panic.

Wu Lan frowned, about to reprimand him.

"T-terrible news!"

The soldier’s voice trembled. "The... the young master... has been killed..."

"What?"

Wu Lan’s expression changed instantly. For a moment, he couldn’t believe his ears.

「At the same time.」

Two figures tore through the air, bursting into the courtyard from above.

The Governor of Jingzhou, Liang Yifan.

The Demon Suppression Envoy, Yu Weifeng.

Both men wore ugly expressions.

"Heir, something has happened!"

Liang Yifan said in a low, grave voice, "Ziyan was killed by Lu Bai at Wangjiang Tower!"

CRACK!

Enraged, Wu Lan slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet.

The stone table beside him instantly shattered into pieces.

"Lu Bai!"

Wu Lan’s killing intent surged. His gaze was terrifying as he practically squeezed the two words through his clenched teeth.

"There’s more."

Yu Weifeng frowned. "I heard Lu Bai also wrote something on the wall at Wangjiang Tower. Many people saw it. That’s the real trouble."

"Wrote what?"

Wu Lan asked.

Yu Weifeng said evasively, "He... exposed our business to the public."

"What did he say?"

Wu Lan, furious, pressed him through gritted teeth.

Yu Weifeng looked at Liang Yifan.

Liang Yifan hesitated before reciting, "Marquis Jingzhong, the Governor of Jingzhou, the Demon Suppression Envoy, and the Fujiao Gang colluded with the Demon Sect’s Corpse Refining Sect to slaughter thousands of Shimo Refugees, using their flesh and blood as materials to refine Human Pills. Their crimes are monstrous and unforgivable by Heaven’s law!

"Xue Chen, a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator from Danding Temple, was silenced for discovering this matter.

"True Master Dan Ding was bought by Wu Lan, Heir of Marquis Jingzhong, and murdered the righteous Shi Tianlei.

"You are all beasts in human clothing, usurping high positions, slaughtering living beings—your actions incite the wrath of both men and gods!

"Wu Lan, you shameless dog, you held my mother hostage to force me to join your ranks and pledge my allegiance. Today, I, Lu Bai, use your son’s head to give you my ’head’ as a pledge!

"The killer, Black Hand Yama!"

By the time Liang Yifan was halfway through, Wu Lan’s face had already become extremely ugly.

When he recited the final words, "The killer, Black Hand Yama," even with Wu Lan’s disposition, he trembled with rage. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he said in a chilling voice, "I will tear that mother and son to pieces!"