Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Xiao He’s Son! Blood-Cloth Aura Emerges!

"Young Master, why don’t we leave... this place is so creepy."

"What are you afraid of?" The man pressed down on the woman, laughing as he pounced, "That’s what makes it exciting."

The two of them intertwined once more.

But behind them, a child’s figure stood silently watching.

The moonlight shifted, extending the child’s shadow until it reached the pair.

"Who the hell are you?!" Young Master An was startled, shivering with fright, and shouted angrily.

There was no response.

"Young Master..." The woman shrank back, a little afraid.

Young Master An got up in anger at her actions.

"Courting death!"

With five fingers forming a claw, he reached towards the child against the moonlight.

The child neither dodged nor flinched, seemingly unafraid.

"Where did this little brat come from!"

The Young Master gripped the child’s neck, intending to lift the frail body, only to feel a sticky sensation, as if he was touching slime.

The faint moonlight hit the child’s profile, revealing a face pale as paper.

"You?!"

Young Master An felt a chill on his back, his grip going limp in fear.

The child dropped to the ground, slowly crawling up, unfocused eyes staring at the Young Master. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Uncle..." A weak voice came from the girl’s mouth, "Don’t you recognize Little Ying?"

"Little Ying?" The Young Master of the An family bristled with goosebumps, "You... you died long ago, didn’t you?"

"Uncle doesn’t recognize Little Ying?" The child repeated, as if not hearing, her pale feet moving step by step toward the Young Master An.

"Little Ying... Little Ying..."

The shifting moonlight fully revealed the child’s face.

Deathly pale, with eyes lacking pupils...

"Ah—"

"A ghost—"

Young Master An and his young and beautiful stepmother screamed in terror.

But the next moment, their screams abruptly stopped.

Creak... creak...

In the pitch-black room, only the faint sound of something akin to a mouse gnawing on grain remained.

"Uncle... you taste... so good..." accompanied by the girl’s emotionless voice.

Outside the house, atop a tall tree.

Chu Ming watched calmly.

Everything that had happened in the house was under his observation.

He took out the blood-colored bell and shook it gently.

Jingling...

The clear sound pierced the night, reaching into the house.

The girl heard the bell, her frail body stiffening for a moment before mechanically walking out, standing under the moonlight, blankly staring into a certain direction.

That was where the bell sound came from, and where Chu Ming was.

Chu Ming gazed at the girl below, his brows furrowed.

The appearance and figure were identical; the girl before him was indeed An Ying, the Young Master of the Blood Evil Sect, whom he had slain in Baiyuan County.

But now, this girl An Ying was vacant-eyed, like a walking corpse.

Or rather, a Blood Guard obeying the blood-colored bell.

He leapt down from the tall tree, standing before the girl An Ying, a flame flickering in his right hand.

A person who shouldn’t have appeared, why do they appear here.

An Ying... An Hengying...

Under the moonlight, red fire burned, illuminating the eerie, sinister house.

...

In a dark space, blood-colored liquid churned in a pool.

In front of the blood pool, Blood Servant Pei Yan knelt in front.

"Sect Leader, Blood Vine Castle is destroyed, An Hengying and Teng Sect are dead, the two Bloodthirsty Guards are obliterated..." Pei Yan spoke tremblingly.

"And the Blood Vine?" A cold voice echoed from the blood pool.

"The Blood Vine..." Sweat beaded on Pei Yan’s forehead, "The Blood Vine was destroyed by fire."

"..."

With that, the liquid in the blood pool churned even more violently.

"Pei Yan." After a long silence, the cold voice spoke again, "You know the purpose of the Blood Vine, right?"

"I... I know." Pei Yan’s face was pressed against the ground, his voice full of fear, "The Blood Vine is... the Sect Leader’s breakthrough material."

The blood pool was silent again, chillingly so.

"Sect Leader, I... I will definitely find a new Blood Vine..."

"No need." Finally, there was a response from the blood pool.

"Sect Leader..." Pei Yan was even more frightened.

"Prepare the Blood West Plan."

The Blood West Plan!

Pei Yan’s heart skipped a beat.

The Blood West Plan, also known as the Blood Wash Plan, to cleanse Xirong County in blood!

"A new Jingyan Salt Mine has been discovered underground in Jingyan County. Begin there," the blood pool’s voice was still icy cold.

"Yes." Pei Yan dared not say more.

The blood pool churned as if a fierce fire burned beneath it.

After a long while, the pool once again emitted a voice.

"His name is Chu Ming, correct?"

Chu Ming?

Pei Yan paused, recalling the name.

Such a minor official, why would the Sect Leader mention him directly?

But then, he suddenly thought of something.

Baiyuan County, this person was there, Young Master An Ying died.

The Black Wind Stronghold attacked this person, the Black Wind Stronghold was destroyed, and the Great Yan Dynasty Prince Yan Huan, who had been imprisoned for decades at Black Wind Stronghold, vanished.

In Jingyan County, Blood Vine Castle attacked this person, Blood Vine Castle was destroyed, An Hengying and Teng Sect’s two Meridian Unlocking Realm warriors died, and the Blood Vine was reduced to ashes.

All signs indicated that this minor official named Chu Ming had major issues!

Under the blood-colored mask, Pei Yan’s bloody eyes were sinister and cold.

"Step back."

"Yes."

"..."

...

Xirong County, in a secluded pavilion of the royal palace.

Under the Lake Heart Pavilion, the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince of the Great Qin Dynasty sat opposite each other.

"Old Seventh, the play we acted out this time..." The Fifth Prince poured tea for the Seventh Prince, smiling as he said, "We gained a lot."

"Thank you, Fifth Brother." The Seventh Prince rotated his teacup, also smiling warmly, "Indeed, we’ve gained a lot."

At this moment, the two princes were getting along harmoniously, in stark contrast to their previous open and covert struggles.

"The new salt mine discovered in Jingyan County has a lot of high-quality Jingyan salt. Father will definitely be pleased to hear this." The Fifth Prince slowly sipped his tea.

"The Blood Vine Castle was destroyed, An Hengying and the two Meridian Unlocking Realm experts of the Teng Sect died unexpectedly, even Big Brother couldn’t have anticipated that."

"With An Hengying and the Teng Sect dead, that old bastard, King of North Snow, must be furious."

"Uncle Wang’s anger will put a lot of pressure on Big Brother."

"That’s true..."

"Big Brother has already sent word, urging us to hurry back."

"Alright."

A gentle breeze rippled across the lake’s surface.

The two princes sat beneath the pavilion, sipping tea.

Shortly thereafter, the Seventh Prince spoke again, "Fifth Brother, since it was Chu Ming who discovered the new resource in Jingyan County, shouldn’t we reward him?"

"Haha, Old Seventh, are you really impressed with that young man?" The Fifth Prince chuckled.

"Fifth Brother, although Chu Ming lacks the backing of a major family, he has some talent. It wouldn’t hurt to give him some benefits now; he might be of help to us in the future."

"Haha, Seventh Brother, since you’ve put it that way, as your Fifth Brother, I’ll definitely support you." The Fifth Prince put down his tea cup, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

"How about this: I previously mentioned that if he could increase production in Jingyan County, there would be a reward..." The Fifth Prince mused, "A promotion by one rank, and award him a Yellow Armor, how about that?"

"..." The Seventh Prince shook his head, "Forget the Yellow Armor. When I first arrived in Xirong County, I gave the Red Book Iron Certificate that Big Brother gave me to Chu Ming."

"Oh?" The Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow, "Seventh Brother, you really value Chu Ming highly, to even give away the Red Book Iron Certificate."

"I did it to win over Grand Tutor Xiao. Both Grand Tutor Xiao and Shen Yu think highly of Chu Ming."

"Grand Tutor Xiao... Indeed, if Big Brother could gain the support of the Xiao Family, many things would become easier to handle."

"..."

...

Xirong County, Commandery Mansion.

"Father, I’m back."

The Xirong County County Magistrate, Xiao He, who was reviewing documents, immediately got up in surprise to welcome the voice.

A handsome young man, composed and wearing a scholar’s robe, stepped steadily into the mansion.

"Wen’er!" Xiao He saw the young man, and the furrows in his brows smoothed out.

This young man, named Xiao Wen, was Xiao He’s second son.

"Father, why the worried look?" Xiao Wen saw Xiao He’s weary expression and asked in concern.

"Sigh..." Xiao He took Xiao Wen’s hand and sat him down, heaving a long sigh.

Xiao Wen poured Xiao He a cup of water, speaking in a deep voice, "Because of the Inspectorate and Governor’s Office and An Hengying’s matter?"

Xiao He nodded, "Yes, An Hengying led over six hundred constables from the Inspectorate to besiege the Blood Vine Castle. In the end, this Governor, An Hengying, and the Blood Vine Castle were all part of the Blood Evil Sect. Only a little over a hundred of the Inspectorate’s six hundred constables returned."

"The Inspector General of the Inspectorate, the Deputy Inspector General, the Captain, and the Criminal Captain, almost all perished at Blood Vine Castle."

"This matter has already spread throughout Xirong County, causing panic in the county city. Many officials are seizing the opportunity to form factions, vie for power, and engage in intrigues..."

"Among the populace, without the Inspectorate’s deterrence, Martial World sects are fighting fiercely over territory, leading to frequent bloodshed and loss of life."

"Sigh..."

Yesterday morning, Xiao He received news of the battle at Blood Vine Castle, and by the afternoon, chaos began to erupt across Xirong County.

Especially today, after the two princes left, the mess in Xirong County was handed directly to Xiao He.

"Father, I heard a mysterious expert appeared in the end, fighting alone against An Hengying and the two Meridian Unlocking Realm experts of the Teng Sect. Could that mysterious expert be Second Uncle?"

Xiao Wen’s second uncle was Xiao Jianxin, the Meridian Unlocking Realm expert of the Commandery Mansion.

Xiao He shook his head.

"Not Second Uncle? Then who?!"

"I don’t know." Xiao He smiled bitterly.

The identity of this mysterious expert was another matter troubling him.

Xiao Wen paused, his gaze flickering as he poured another cup of water for Xiao He, then softly chuckled, "Father... Actually, I’ve returned this time on Big Brother’s orders to help you handle this matter."

"Oh?" Xiao He’s eyes lit up, "What did your big brother instruct you to do to help me?"

"Big Brother asked me to bring you an assistant."

"..."

...

Xirong County Government, main hall.

"Is everyone here?" Xiao He sat at the main seat, as gentle as the spring breeze.

Below were a number of Xirong County officials, Chu Ming and Shen Yu among them.

"Reporting to County Magistrate Xiao, everyone is present." County Governor Baili Xinghua bowed as he said this.

"Good." Xiao He stood up, surveying the officials below, "I gathered you here today, and I believe you all know why."

"The battle at Blood Vine Castle greatly weakened the Inspectorate; only about a hundred constables are still performing their duties now."

"Governor An Hengying, Lord An, as well as Inspector General Zhou Xi, Lord Zhou, have all fallen in battle. The Inspectorate’s deterrence is virtually nonexistent."

"In the past few days, the circumstances in the county should be well-known to you all. Do you have any suggestions?"

Xiao He finished speaking, withdrew his gaze, and sat back down at the main seat.

A brief silence followed.

"Lord Xiao, I believe we should first expand the Inspectorate’s manpower," an official said.

"I agree," another official said.

"..."

Once someone spoke, the officials below started to murmur among themselves.

Shen Yu and Chu Ming stood aside.

"There’s a trick hidden up the sleeve, today’s act doesn’t seem like Old Xiao’s usual demeanor," Shen Yu whispered.

Chu Ming looked towards the stage, silent, his eyes seemingly flashing with a cold gleam.

[Sword Gourd Spirit] sensed three people behind the hall.

And one person’s aura...

"The scent of blood on the blood cloth!"

He hadn’t expected that the scent of the elusive blood cloth would appear in such a manner.