Chapter 434: Chapter 434: You’d Better Protect Your Old Man

Beside the dry well, Shen Fu slowly pulled up an iron cage. A person sat inside, completely unconscious.

Thanks to his immense strength, Shen Fu gripped the iron chain with both hands and managed to pull the cage up all by himself.

Song Lianhe recognized the person in the cage as Emperor Cheng Xiao at a single glance. He wore a yellow robe covered in drawn talismans, and his eyes, ears, and mouth had been sealed shut. His hands and feet were bound by five-color ropes, and he was so emaciated he looked like nothing but skin and bones.

The iron cage was locked. Without a word, Shen Fu pulled out a pair of iron hammers and, with two loud CLANGS, smashed the lock to pieces.

Song Lianhe hurried forward to check his breathing. "Quick, get him back to a room!" she urged.

The group immediately carried the man away. Zhou Junlin stood under the eaves of a nearby corridor, quietly watching them, his composure almost eerie.

"Gu Ha."

He spoke suddenly.

"Here!"

"There will be a fierce battle tonight."

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Golden Feather Guards are all on standby!"

"Protect this place." A moment later, he added, "Protect her." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Yes!"

How could such a commotion escape Venerable Ling Xi? Supported by a young Daoist boy, he rushed over as well.

"Wenxin... Is that the Holy Emperor?!"

Venerable Ling Xi was startled. After hearing a rough explanation, he stepped forward for a closer look and was utterly horrified.

"This is... a Blood Sacrifice Soul Talisman!"

He pointed a trembling finger at the symbols on Emperor Cheng Xiao’s robe. Seeing his sealed eyes, ears, and mouth, he asked in a shaky voice, "Who could be so malicious?"

Shuang Ye was using warm water to wipe the paste from Emperor Cheng Xiao’s eyes, and then from his mouth.

Meanwhile, Song Lianhe administered acupuncture. After a few needles, the Emperor’s breathing stabilized, and he could open his mouth again, letting out an extremely faint groan.

Venerable Ling Xi said in disbelief, "Stripping away the five senses, denying him food and water, purifying his body... They intend to turn the Holy Emperor into a mummified corpse to bless the fortune of future generations!"

"Venerable One, what does it mean to ’bless the fortune of future generations’?"

Zhou Junlin had just walked in, and hearing this, he asked, "And what is the secret behind this talisman?"

Venerable Ling Xi explained, "This Blood Sacrifice Soul Talisman originates from the Nanchen Kingdom. Due to its malicious and evil nature, it is forbidden in our Da Cheng. The people of the Nanchen Kingdom don’t believe in gods or buddhas, but they do believe in karma and reincarnation. So, they devised this wicked method to suppress a victim’s soul. In the most extreme cases, they seal the victim’s five senses and starve them to death, then preserve the body to create a mummy. The descendants can then use this to borrow the victim’s remaining lifespan and fortune."

’Hearing the word "Nanchen," everything became clear.’

’No wonder Consort Zhao Hui and Prince Hang still brought him here to Dao Yuan Temple, even after they’d already secured the position of Crown Prince!’

’Consort Zhao Hui is from the Nanchen Kingdom. She wants to use Emperor Cheng Xiao’s remaining fortune and lifespan for her son!’

’She must be afraid of heavenly retribution for her evil deeds, so she’s using this damn Blood Sacrifice Soul Talisman to slowly wear him down to nothing and turn him into a mummy. The purpose is basically the same as one of those ’lucky doll’ charms from Siam.’

’This mother-son duo is unbelievably ruthless!’

Looking at the dying Emperor on the bed, Song Lianhe couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for him.

’He fought and schemed his entire life, always on guard, only to be betrayed by the wife and son he trusted most. I can’t imagine how he’ll feel when he fully regains consciousness.’

’He must have been tormented by his thoughts during these three days trapped in the well.’

After treating Emperor Cheng Xiao, Song Lianhe wrote a prescription and sent Shuang Ye to brew the medicine. She then went to reassure the venerable elder and, figuring it was better to be safe than sorry, asked him to perform a ritual to counteract the curse.

Venerable Ling Xi considered it his solemn duty. Regardless of the victim’s identity—even if he had been a commoner—the venerable would have done his utmost to help.

He turned and instructed the Daoist boy to prepare the altar immediately.

"The Holy Emperor is awake."

Song Lianhe came out and spoke to the man standing outside.

Zhou Junlin merely hummed in acknowledgment, his gaze fixed on the pitch-black surroundings. "In a bit," he said slowly, "you’re to follow Gu Ha down the mountain."

Song Lianhe was also on alert. "Are Consort Zhao Hui’s people coming?"

"They... are already here." Only then did Zhou Junlin turn to face her. "If they couldn’t find Father, that would be one thing. But now, they will do anything to stop this from getting out. If not for the free clinic you’ve been running, they likely would have struck much sooner. So tonight..."

"I’m not leaving." Song Lianhe showed not a shred of fear. As someone who had survived the battle of Sishui City, she didn’t consider this level of danger a threat.

"The Holy Emperor’s condition is not good. He was already suffering from a chronic illness, and now he’s been deprived of food for three days. His life could be in danger at any moment. Since I promised the Empress, I will see him safely back to the palace!"

Zhou Junlin’s brow furrowed in disapproval, but meeting her resolute gaze, he let out a soft sigh and relented. "Fine. I will protect you."

Song Lianhe, however, did not appreciate the gesture. "I can protect myself. You’d better focus on protecting your old man!"

With that, she went back inside.

Zhou Junlin watched her retreat and chuckled to himself. ’She’s so stubborn.’

Gu Ha suddenly stepped forward. "My Prince! They’re here!"

The words had barely left his mouth when clanging erupted in the courtyard. Soon, the continuous clash of weapons filled the air, seemingly coming from all directions.

Zhou Junlin’s expression remained unchanged. He stood before the door with his hands behind his back. "Go."

"Yes, sir!"

Gu Ha drew his twin swords and charged into the night.

Another clear voice rang out from inside the room: "Sister Mei! Master Shen! Go!"

"Yes!"

With a WHOOSH, two more figures shot out into the fray.

Zhou Junlin turned to look. Song Lianhe stood inside the room, arms crossed, her presence as formidable as any man’s.

’As if she doesn’t have a few friends who can fight, too!’

He chuckled softly, then turned back around, his smile vanishing as he intently watched the action outside.

The Daoists of Dao Yuan Temple had never witnessed such a scene. They huddled together on the temple grounds, trembling in fear.

Venerable Ling Xi, however, showed no fear. He donned a purple Daoist robe, grasped a Thunderstruck Wood Seven-Star Sword, and, standing in the middle of the grounds, began his ritual.

Suddenly, a large group of men in black charged over, swinging their swords at the Daoists—

"Get back!"

With a roar, Shen Fu charged forward, smashing into them with his Meteor Hammers!

The Meteor Hammers were attached to long iron chains wrapped around his hands. He could swing them out, retract them, and then viciously whip them out again. With a single back-and-forth motion, he knocked down four or five men.

Soon, Gu Ha and the Golden Feather Guards also rushed to the scene.

"Haha! I never thought I’d see the day we’d be fighting side-by-side!" Shen Fu bellowed, his hammers swinging out to crush another three men.

Not to be outdone, Gu Ha brandished his short swords in a dazzling blur. "Care for a competition? See who can kill more!"

"Haha... Why wouldn’t I dare?"

The two were now locked in a fierce competition. For every one Shen Fu smashed, Gu Ha would stab two!

They needed no one else’s assistance; between the two of them, they had already cut down most of the assassins.

Still not satisfied, Shen Fu brandished his two Meteor Hammers and roared, "Who else?!"

The young Daoist boys were completely stunned. They had never witnessed such a bloody spectacle in their lives!

Venerable Ling Xi remained completely undisturbed by the chaos. Treading in the pattern of the Seven-Star Steps, he pointed his sword to the heavens and shouted, "Break!"

At that very moment, Emperor Cheng Xiao suddenly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood...