The military forces from Fenghua City carried torches and arranged themselves into a single-file serpent formation, with several individuals riding horses at the forefront.
By the ti they reached Qingshi Town, it was dawn, with the fish-belly white sky of the East hinting at the sun that had yet to pierce the clouds, and a white mist enveloped the vast plains.
Leading the group, Heavenly Master Wang wiped the sweat from his forehead as he looked at the golden waves of wheat, feeling sowhat shaken, thinking, "Is the harvest really this good?"
It seed that Qingshi Town had transford since a few months ago. The official road was neat and flat—an improvent even over urban infrastructure.
The town’s walls had also been repaired, with sentinels keeping watch atop them.
He expressed his surprise, "We’ve finally arrived... Who knows what has happened here in Qingshi Town to cause such drastic changes?"
An accompanying taoist approached, his voice fierce and low, "No matter what has happened, if it cos to light, we’ll all be eradicated by the court’s army. Better to kill the wrong person than to let one go!"
"We just need to be wary of those explosives, the long-range sneak attacks."
Heavenly Master Wang’s face darkened likewise, "Not to worry. As long as we keep our distance, let those Yellow Turban strongn lead the charge, we won’t have to fear the explosives. I still have treasures bestowed by ’The God Without a Na’ that can turn the tide in a critical mont. Everyone, rest assured."
...
...
Soon, the patrolling mbers of Qingshi Town discovered the approaching court’s army.
"Quickly report to the Great Witch, an enemy is attacking!" The man responsible for night patrols hurried to sound the horn.
"Woo," the horn’s sound spread throughout the town.
"Why are there so many people?"
"It’s good that the Great Witch and others are clairvoyant and were prepared."
Before long, a crowd gathered atop the town walls. Now, with Great Witch Pan Hao gone to appease the "Mother Turtle Spirit," it fell upon local gentry, the elderly Mr. Huang Youcai, to stand on the wall and shout.
"Who are you people and why have you co to our Qingshi Town with such aggression?"
After all, as a Landlord, Mr. Huang did have so standing, and as a Village Chief of Qingshi Town, he was also one of the local leaders.
Also, more than two hundred militia had assembled on the city walls.
The militian felt pressure at the sight of the towering and powerful Yellow Turban strongn, unsure why these official forces were here.
In Fenghua City, a large city with a population of one hundred thousand, a formidable army of more than two thousand, plus so thirty giants, each as tall as two or three-story buildings, presented a mighty swath of darkness.
Facing an Evil God, these ordinary citizens could sacrifice their lives, but facing the court’s regular army, they didn’t have much desire to resist.
After all, that was the court.
Heavenly Master Wang shouted from afar, "I am Wang, the Heavenly Master from Fenghua City. Last night, a demon person set fire to the Taoist Temple of Mother Turtle Spirit. Through our Divination, we pinpointed that the demon is hiding in Qingshi Town!"
"Now step aside and let us search the town, and if that demon escapes, it will be your responsibility!"
"What? The Mother Turtle Spirit’s temple has been burned down!"
Old Master Huang Youcai was completely flustered, overwheld with panic. To be accused of setting fire to Mother Turtle Spirit’s temple carried an unbearable charge!
Yet, for so reason, hearing their accusations, he felt an odd sense of contradiction.
To capture a demon, such a massive deploynt was unnecessary. With a population of only two to three thousand, why would they send an army of over two thousand?
The more than two hundred militian on the walls also felt a wavering of morale, murmuring to one another.
"How could anyone set fire to the Taoist Temple..."
"Yes, who did it? We can’t cover for them."
The locals revered the Deities, and if soone indeed had burned the Taoist Temple, it would be a most unforgivable sin.
"Nonsense!" Suddenly, another voice erupted from the wall, and everyone hastily looked towards the source.
It was Xiao Yun, an A-level Superpower User who had previously captured the Water Ghost King. Known for his incredibly loud voice, his roar now drowned out all others.
Xiao Yun bellowed, "I’ve heard that ’Mother Turtle Spirit’ excels at Water Control, so how could any great fire consu her temple? It’s impossible... unless sothing befell Mother Turtle Spirit herself, her temple could not be so easily burned."
"I’ve been vigilant here all night and haven’t seen any demon enter Qingshi Town. Have you?"
Several night guardsn hurriedly shook their heads. They couldn’t bear such an accusation, not to ntion they hadn’t actually seen any so-called "demon," so they had no choice but to deny it.
Huang Youcai suddenly slapped his thigh, realizing that indeed, Mother Turtle Spirit was skilled at Water Control. How could the temple possibly burn down?
In this world, Deities were real, and the fight for the Power of Incense was fierce.
How could a re fire destroy the temple? If it were that easy, the temples would have been razed long ago!
With a loud shout, Xiao Yun exclaid, "What has happened? Who set fire to the temple? Call forth Mother Turtle Spirit to manifest and ask her, and we’ll know."
"Why cause such a commotion and take up arms? If it was truly done by soone from Qingshi Town, we would naturally deliver that person to you!"
It wasn’t just the militian from Qingshi Town who felt this way. Even the official soldiers brought by Heavenly Master Wang and others sensed sothing fishy: the temple of the Mother Turtle Spirit, unexpectedly burned for no reason, defied logic.
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