With over three hundred people from the Huishui County hall and another two hundred or so from the Rongcheng County hall, they quickly brought order to everything inside and outside the city.
The weather was still miserable, but as the porridge kitchens placed bowl after bowl of hot congee into the refugees’ hands, the makeshift rain shelters built along the walls gained a faint warmth, driving off so of the chill in the night rain.
One clay brazier after another was carried in, charcoal glowing red.
The rich dicinal fragrance drifting out from within the city also soothed many hearts, leaving them strangely calm.
They worked without pause until dawn. By daybreak, the rain finally began to ease.
At daybreak, even more people were mobilized.
More craftsn hamred and nailed, setting up additional rain shelters.
By this point, the entire group from the county yan had been worked to the bone. The County Magistrate’s eyes were webbed with bloodshot veins as he quietly glanced toward the city gate and the area beyond the walls.
When he saw Yulong Gang disciples—both inner and outer—standing at the gate and at every street corner inside the city like upright spears, he nodded again and again, deeply reassured.
Cold Wuxia, attending at his side, said, “Hall Master Wangchuan held his post all the way until dawn before he finally went back. The fact that the county seat stabilized so quickly is largely thanks to him.”
“I know,” the magistrate said. “That young man who shot the Five Poison Sect’s Snake Elder has courage and strategy. He is a promising seedling.”
“But…” He paused, his brows tightening. “I have a very bad feeling.”
The County Magistrate frowned hard. “Yesterday, I already sent a letter to Magistrate Luo of Rongcheng County, urging him to bring his people here to Huishui County for refuge and to settle his family. But a whole day and night have passed, and there has been no word at all.”
His gaze fell on the endless rows of rain shelters outside the walls, and he could not help sighing.
“Please… do not let anything happen.”
Just then, a man in a constable’s uniform ca galloping in. He rushed straight into the city, dismounted, strode up to the magistrate, and clasped his fists.
“My lord! This is bad!”
“The Rongcheng County Magistrate’s party has been wiped out. Their bodies are lying exposed in the wilderness. Eight people in total—including the magistrate himself, the chief clerk, and constables—have been killed, and their heads are missing. It should be bandits!”
The blow of the grim news drained all color from the Huishui County Magistrate’s face. He swayed, nearly collapsing on the spot.
“My brother Luo… you died so horribly!”
“My lord, please take care of your health!” Cold Wuxia hurried to steady and support him.
The magistrate sucked in a long breath, grief curdling into rage. His eyes reddened, and his teeth ground together.
“Investigate!”
“Send people at once to bring the bodies back. At the sa ti, search among the refugees for eyewitnesses. Offer a heavy reward! No matter the cost, bring the killer to justice—life for a life!”
“Yes!”
Two constables clasped their fists and accepted the order.
Before leaving, Cold Wuxia specifically went to find Chen Ergou, asking Qin Ming and Lin Xun to help gather intelligence from among the refugees from Rongcheng County.
Not long after, they learned that refugees had indeed seen the magistrate’s group ambushed.
The attackers claid to be from the “Earthfiend Sect,” old enemies co to take the Rongcheng County Magistrate’s life for a long-standing grudge.
…
Su Wangchuan had stood in the cold wind all night. When he logged off, he really was exhausted.
But he knew that the more critical the mont, the less he could afford to rest for too long.
So he only allowed himself three hours of sleep. After getting up, he circulated 《Qingcheng Heart thod》, completing roughly a dozen cycles. Sure enough, the lingering fatigue in his body vanished at once, leaving him refreshed from head to toe.
“With 《Qingcheng Heart thod》, I can cut down on sleep from now on. No wonder Captain Bai recomnded it.”
In high spirits, he called Lin Xun to ask whether the floodwaters in Rongcheng County had receded. The voice on the other end was hoarse, and Lin Xun sounded half-asleep.
“No. I have not closed my eyes for two days. I need to sleep a bit more. As for the water level, just arrange for soone to go take a look… I am hanging up!”
Beep, beep, beep.
Listening to the busy tone, Su Wangchuan could only feel helpless.
Back in the ga, he went straight to the city gate and made a full inspection. Only after confirming there were no surprises did he tell Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao to log off and rest.
But soon, he received very bad news.
Cold Wuxia had led people to transport a batch of corpses back from outside the city. They were said to be from the Rongcheng County yan convoy—magistrate included, along with his family. None had survived.
At the sa ti, a carrier pigeon ssage arrived from Yang Feiyue at the Yulong Gang’s Water Stronghold.
The heavy rain in Rongcheng County had stopped.
The floodwater around the Water Stronghold would likely need two or three days to fully recede.
Yang Feiyue warned Su Wangchuan:
Similar floods had happened before.
Every ti, human calamity followed close behind.
Huishui County needed to raise its guard and prepare every defense, in case bandits used the chaos to slip into the city to rob hos and plunder shops—especially a group known as the “Earthfiend Sect.”
These Earthfiend Sect n usually hid deep in the mountains. They only erged when there were wealthy households to raid, and their thods were brutally vicious. They never left survivors, and they were exceptionally cunning and ruthless.
Back then, the Earthfiend Sect had even coordinated with Blackwind Stronghold to attack Huishui County. They had nearly breached the county yan. It was Yang Feiyue himself who led the counterforce, joining hands with several families to drive them away.
Hearing this, a shadow settled over Su Wangchuan’s heart.
He had thought that as long as the refugees were stabilized, Huishui County would be safe, and they could simply wait for the waters to recede…
He had not expected a threat like this to be lurking in the dark.
He imdiately dashed out and headed straight for the county yan.
At the entrance, he happened to run into Cold Wuxia returning to report. The two went in together to request an audience with Magistrate Huang.
At that mont, Magistrate Huang was slumped over his desk, dozing in exhaustion.
“Magistrate,” Cold Wuxia stepped forward and woke him. “This subordinate has confird it. The people who ambushed and killed the Rongcheng County convoy were indeed from the Earthfiend Sect.”
“Was the Earthfiend Sect’s leader not killed?” Magistrate Huang jolted, old mories surfacing. A wary look filled his eyes. “How have they not disbanded?”
Su Wangchuan stepped forward at once. “My lord! Our Gang Leader is also concerned that the Earthfiend Sect will exploit the flood disaster to stir up trouble. I have co this ti specifically to consult the Earthfiend Sect’s case files—and to see their wanted portraits—so the brothers under
can keep a sharper lookout.”
“Hall Master Wangchuan is right!” Magistrate Huang said. “Constable Cold, take n at once and retrieve the relevant files and wanted portraits! Post them across the entire city! We cannot give the Earthfiend Sect any chance to strike!”
The magistrate made his decision.
Cold Wuxia quickly fetched the case files and a stack of wanted portraits. After making rubbings, they began posting them inside and outside the city.
Su Wangchuan took the files and read them carefully.
The records were extrely detailed.
The Earthfiend Sect had indeed taken advantage of a prior disaster’s chaos, disguised themselves as refugees, and slipped into Huishui County. Working in coordination with Blackwind Stronghold, they incited the refugees, killed many of the yan soldiers and Qingfeng Escort Agency guards, and then attacked the estates of several families…
In the end, because the Yulong Gang intervened and joined forces with those families, they finally beheaded the Earthfiend Sect’s sect master and captured or killed many Earthfiend Sect disciples.
Only two First-Rank martial artists, leading a small remnant force, had managed to escape the county seat by sheer luck.
Su Wangchuan’s eyes narrowed in thought.
That shattered remnant of the Earthfiend Sect had clearly expanded again.
“Hall Master.”
Just then, soone rushed in to report. “Captain Zhao sent this subordinate to find you. He said soone matching the wanted portrait has been spotted among the newly arrived refugees.”
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