Chapter 941: Chapter 542: Locked Down Main Street, Showdown with Zhao Shixiong
With one step forward, Zhao Douan seemed to pass through an icy, bone-chilling waterfall.
Yet behind him, the doorframe adorned with rivets and beast-shaped copper rings flashed with a pale green light momentarily. The lilac depicted in gold lacquer on the door ignited and slowly vanished.
A lilac pattern appeared on Zhao Douan’s cheek, gradually dimming and blending into his skin.
The ritual was complete.
"Within the next two hours, as long as I remain in Yongjia City, I can utilize the unique properties of the Two-Life Gate at any time, activate the Array, and teleport back here."
Zhao Douan caressed the doorframe, his confidence bolstered. He had promised the Empress that he wouldn’t risk his life, so he would prepare adequately for self-preservation.
Tonight, he was going to stir up trouble within the city. Meanwhile, to cover the actions of the remaining Shadow Guards, he had to use himself as bait, placing himself upfront to draw Zhao Shixiong’s attention.
He wasn’t sure just how strong this Border Army General, whose name he had known for quite some time, was, but he understood to never underestimate him, especially since this was rebel territory. Even if a Heavenly Human Realm master was surrounded endlessly by an army, they would be exhausted to death.
"The hour is about right." Zhao Douan leapt out of the room, appearing on a nearby street with agility. He didn’t take out the Chasing Saber or Taibo Bow but instead drew out a long, heavy black stick from a silver scroll, clamped at both ends by bronze hoops.
[Fearless Stick]
This was a weapon seized from the Martial Monk Fan Long of Divine Dragon Temple in a previous battle.
With the stick in hand, a bold and fearless aura surged forth, as if daring to pierce the heavens even if the Divine obstructed the way.
"It’s only polite to reciprocate; although it may not be of much use, causing some trouble for Divine Dragon Temple and making a few enemies is fine."
Zhao Douan muttered as he walked, slowly gathering a phantom Golden Bell around him. This was the Buddhist Golden Bell Shield, the signature Magic he learned from Green Lotus.
"Who goes there?"
A group of rebel soldiers escorting "suspects" passed through the street, crossing paths with Zhao Douan, who was holding the long stick and surrounded by the rotating Golden Bell Shield, shouting loudly.
"Amitabha Buddha," Zhao Douan replied with a compassionate demeanor, sweeping the long stick horizontally: "Good dogs don’t block the way."
In the blink of an eye, the rebel soldiers fell dead on the ground, and the captured civilians were terrified and trembling.
Watching Zhao Douan, who seemed like a god of death, continue towards the city’s Prefecture, a civilian knelt, clasped his hands together, trembling: "Buddhist Bodhisattva..."
In the distance, another squad of rebel soldiers was chosen by Zhao Douan, their screams and Buddhist chants uninterrupted.
Tonight, to force the Shadow Guard into the open, over ten thousand soldiers were dispersed throughout the city for search operations.
At this moment, Zhao Douan, who should have been fleeing and hiding, had instead transformed into the "hunter" and was attacking the rebel squads without restraint.
...
The government office’s prison.
Here were detained a batch of officials and generals who refused to surrender to the rebel army, imprisoned within.
However, tonight many gang members involved in an assassination attempt on the supervisor were also escorted here.
Song Jinxi blended in among them, being shoved and scolded by the prison guards to enter the jail.
"It’s about time." In a cell, Song Jinxi gazed at the moonlight streaming through the ventilation shaft, speaking softly.
"What?" A member of the Night Fragrance Sect nearby was puzzled, looking at his companion who he’d shared a few drinks with.
Song Jinxi turned his head, smiling at him. With the smile, a Human Skin Mask fell from his face, and he spat out a steel needle hidden within his body. Holding it between his fingers, he skillfully unlocked the shackles binding him with a "click," regaining his freedom, under the shocked stares of everyone in the cell, he opened the cell door.
"You didn’t think you’d come to this place and still live, did you? If you don’t want to die and still want to take a shot, find a way to escape yourself."
Song Jinxi said to them, before disappearing like a shadow. Soon, the cells along the corridor were opened one by one, and several prison guards patrolling this area fell silent, poisoned.
In a deathly silence, finally, a courageous prisoner gritted his teeth, walked out of the cell, picked up the prison guard’s saber, and charged outward with fierce eyes, feeling they had no path left to survival, a choice between death or fighting.
After someone took the lead, more and more prisoners quickly rushed out with reddened eyes, soon cries and the sounds of fighting echoed from ahead of the prison.
Song Jinxi had not left, instead moving like a ghost along the now-empty corridors, heading into the deepest part, opening several cell doors, and smiling at a prisoner inside who showed signs of fatigue and vigilance:
"Are you the Yongjia Prefect? When rebels attacked, you were meant to defend the city but were controlled by the officials around you, opening the city gates to welcome Zhao Shixiong’s entry?"
The injured Yongjia Prefect was uncertain and suspicious: "Who are you...?"
Song Jinxi replied with a smile:
"I am here on behalf of Chaos Suppression Grand Commander Zhao Douan to rescue you all. The city is in chaos, and the Five Army Camp outside is attacking. It’s a good time to escape whether you can get away successfully, it’s all up to tonight."
Zhao Douan? Is it the Junior Guardian Zhao? The officials inside the cell were stunned, watching Song Jinxi spit out a talisman from his stomach and paste it on the wall of the cell. The wall started to soften, slowly opening a large hole, letting in the moonlight from outside.
The escape of those prisoners earlier was deliberately orchestrated by Song Jinxi, with the aim of creating confusion and buying time.
...
In a small depot, not very important, where military supplies were stored somewhere in the city camp.