Chapter 278: Chapter 171: Who is the Sect Leader?! (2)

Beside them, Gu Zheng’s sharp brows furrowed. "Who is your Sect Leader?"

"King Runan," Tang Qiyun blurted out. "I only found out about the Sect Leader’s public identity by chance myself."

"King Runan of Nanyun Prefecture?"

Gu Zheng frowned. "To Nanyun Prefecture, immediately!"

The moment he spoke, blades danced through the air, slicing down the last Cultist.

Then, Spirit Capturing!

[Demon Points +19]

For all the effort of storming the Main Altar, he had only gained a little over three hundred Demon Points.

Most of the people had been taken away, heading for Nanyun Prefecture. Gu Zheng suddenly had a bad feeling.

Just as he’d feared. By the time he had dragged Tang Qiyun to Nanyun Prefecture City at top speed and descended upon King Runan’s Prince’s Mansion, King Runan himself was nowhere to be found.

Tang Qiyun went to make inquiries and was told that King Runan had gone to Qingshi County.

King Runan hadn’t taken his wife or children, only a group of Attendants from his mansion. He had gone to Qingshi County!

...

「Qingshi County.」

「The City Gate.」

"No. Your identities and origins are unclear. You can’t enter the city. Go to Wuli Town."

A constable blocked a few travel-worn men and women who looked like merchants and waved them away.

"Huh? Sir, please, be reasonable. We’ve been traveling for over a month to get here to Qingshi. Please just let us in."

An elderly man offered a humble, fawning smile as he pressed a silver ingot into the constable’s hand.

"What do you think you’re doing!"

The constable dropped the silver as if he’d been shocked, recoiling a step. "Cut it out with that filthy business!" he scolded. "I said you can’t enter, and I meant it! Anyone without travel permits or clear identification must go to Wuli Town!"

"But..."

"What’s all the racket?" a lazy voice called out. A group on horseback approached the gate, led by a refined-looking middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache.

"Everyone get out of the way! The Prince has arrived and wishes to enter the city!"

Hearing this, the merchants hurriedly retreated to the side.

The government constable taking records, the constables on duty, and the city guards all stood and moved aside.

"Hmph."

The middle-aged scholar snorted, nudged his horse’s flanks, and ambled toward the gatehouse tunnel.

Behind him, a long line of people followed closely.

"Halt!"

A shout rang out as Han Ming led a squad of men to block their path.

"Everyone dismount to have your identities verified..."

"Insolence!" the middle-aged scholar roared. "Who do you think you are? You dare demand to verify the Prince’s identity? You? Get Tong Yuanshan out here, that might be a different story! No, even Tong Yuanshan isn’t qualified to check the Prince!"

"Move aside. If you don’t want to die, get the hell out of my way."

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Armored Warriors behind the middle-aged scholar immediately drew their Battle Blades, their tips pointing at Han Ming. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Heh."

Han Ming remained unperturbed, chuckling lightly. "So Lord Tong isn’t qualified? Then what about my Lord Gu?"

"Your Lord Gu?" The middle-aged scholar raised an eyebrow. "And who might your lord be? Surname Gu? What great official surnamed Gu is there in Qingshi Coun—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his expression changing abruptly.

’A high official in Qingshi County with the surname Gu?’

’Not only is there one, but he’s incredibly famous—the whole of Fengzhou knows him!’

’The newly-minted Demon-slaying Grand General, Gu Zheng!’

The middle-aged scholar could dismiss Han Ming without a second thought, and he wouldn’t be particularly afraid even if Tong Yuanshan himself showed up.

But when faced with Gu Zheng, even King Runan was out of his league.

As the atmosphere grew tense, a guard ran up from the rear. "Why have we stopped?" he asked. "The Prince has given an order: enter the city at once!"

"..." The corner of the middle-aged scholar’s mouth twitched. "Ah, please report back to the Prince," he said awkwardly. "Everyone must have their identity verified to enter the city. This is an order from Gu Zheng... from Grand General Gu!"

"Gu Zheng is—" The guard instinctively blurted out, but he cut himself off as his face changed dramatically. He visibly stiffened. "I... I’ll report to the Prince this instant," he said with a strained laugh.

With that, he turned and ran back toward the procession.

Han Ming curled his lip and exchanged a look with the constables behind him.

The order that every outsider needed their identity verified to enter the city was from Tong Yuanshan.

But Tong Yuanshan had mentioned it to Gu Zheng, and Gu Zheng had agreed.

Thus, it wasn’t a lie to say the order came from Gu Zheng.

Facing King Runan, Han Ming had no choice but to borrow Gu Zheng’s authority.

If King Runan’s retinue had only been a hundred or so people, letting them in wouldn’t have been an issue.

But this long, snaking procession definitely had more than five hundred people!

The complexions and auras of half the people in the group were clearly different from those of the other guards and Attendants.

Han Ming couldn’t put his finger on it, but he felt an instinctual aversion to them.

...

"Make way, make way!"

Shouts erupted. From the back of the halted procession—or more accurately, from its center—a group of people emerged.

The man in the lead was stout, yet he walked with a powerful, commanding stride, his face radiating authority.

"The Prince!"

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Seeing the man approach, the crowd gathered at the gate hurried to pay their respects, some bowing and others kneeling.

Han Ming and his men also bowed in salute.

"Greetings, Your Highness..."

"Hmph. I can’t say I’m worthy of such a grand welcome," King Runan said with a cold snort. "But since it’s an order from Grand General Gu, I will naturally cooperate. Go on. How do you intend to verify my identity?"

"...My apologies, Your Highness, but I must ask you to present your Identity Token or your Duke’s Seal," Han Ming said, steeling himself.

"Fine."

King Runan reached to his waist, pulled off a Token, and tossed it to Han Ming. "Take it and look. Look all you want."

Han Ming caught it, glanced at it quickly, then held the Token with both hands and returned it to King Runan.

"Please have the others present their proof of identity as well."

"That’s enough!" King Runan snatched the Token back, his brow furrowed. "I’ve humored you, which is more than enough face for Grand General Gu," he snarled. "If you continue this nonsense and don’t learn your place, believe me when I say I’ll have Tong Yuanshan strip you of your position!"

"I don’t believe you."

"Who? Who’s causing trouble?" King Runan snapped, whipping his head around to look.

"It’s Lord Gu!"

On the periphery, among the crowd of onlookers, a surprised and joyful cheer suddenly rang out.

"Greetings, Lord Gu!"

"It really is Lord Gu! Quick, quick, pay respects to Lord Gu!"

The crowd erupted into a clamor.

People on the roadside, soldiers on and below the walls, those waiting in line, and the guards conducting inspections—all of them either knelt or bowed deeply.

And more people knelt than bowed.

High above the city wall, floating in mid-air, was Gu Zheng. He was dressed in a simple, sky-blue robe, his hands clasped behind his back. His long hair was tied back, its tips swaying gently in the breeze.

"Greetings, my lord!"

Han Ming and the other constables knelt neatly on one knee and shouted in a loud voice.

Their voices were resonant and brimming with confidence!

"...So it’s Grand General Gu."

King Runan’s expression changed slightly. He cupped his fists in a salute. "Has Grand General Gu recently returned for a rest?"

"I have. Thank you for your concern!"

As he spoke the last three words, one by one, Gu Zheng’s power suddenly flared. A wondrous divine energy surged forth as he seized King Runan from afar, yanking the man into the air and flinging him skyward.

"Han Ming, close the city gates!"

A low shout echoed through the air and across the ground.

SHING! SHING! SHING!

A cold light flashed as blades shot through the air, streaking toward King Runan.

But King Runan reacted just as quickly.

The moment he was thrown upward, his body swelled, transforming him into a three-meter-tall giant. Black qi coiled around him, and his head doubled in size, the crown of it bulging grotesquely.

As Gu Zheng’s blades flew toward him, King Runan let out a long roar. He swung a swollen arm, smashing it violently into the empty air before him.

BOOM~~!

A deafening boom that seemed to shake space itself instantly echoed out.

Visible ripples spread through the air, forming a barrier that slowed the approaching blades.

SWISH!

SWOOSH~!

The flying blades suddenly vanished.

When they reappeared, they had traversed space to materialize inside King Runan’s body—and inside his massive head.

SQUELCH! SQUELCH! SQUELCH!

The sickening sound of blades slicing through flesh echoed across the sky and ground. A torrent of dark blood erupted, splattering black and white matter across the air.

"ROAR~!!"

His body pierced and his head shattered into pieces, King Runan’s headless corpse trembled violently, letting out a beast-like roar of fury.

As he roared, a fang pulsing with black light emerged from his chest, causing the air around it to distort. Then, as everyone watched, it shattered with a loud BANG, dissolving into countless motes of light.

Amidst the fluttering motes of light, a massive black shadow was suddenly born from thin air!