Yujiang County Town.

Thousands of men and horses surged in, hoofbeats thundering, stirring up billowing clouds of dust. At first glance, the long street was filled everywhere with people scrambling to escape in panic.

Many people hid at a distance, watching, whispering among themselves,

Countless members of local Martial World Gangs within the city were so terrified at the sight of so many Embroidered Uniform Guards that their souls nearly fled their bodies. After all, in recent times, each and every Embroidered Uniform Guard seemed possessed by King Yama himself.

A few months ago, a Hundred Households Office had suddenly been established in Yujiang County Town. From the start, they unleashed a bloody massacre, and even now, a lingering shadow still hung over every gang within the city. Soon after, the whole Pingyang Prefecture was abuzz with the name of the God of Slaughter.

And now, all of a sudden, thousands of Embroidered Uniform Guards had appeared, making it impossible not to feel terror.

Fortunately, however, it seemed these Embroidered Uniform Guards were just passing through, with no intention of lingering in the city, which allowed the gangs within Yujiang County Town to heave a long sigh of relief.

The County Magistrate of Yujiang, along with a group of officials, came rushing out anxiously to welcome them. The County Magistrate was so frightened he nearly hanged himself—he had been resting comfortably at home, when suddenly a servant burst in to report that thousands of Embroidered Uniform Guards had appeared, scaring him so badly he didn’t even have time to put on his shoes.

The mighty procession caused utter chaos within the city. As the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s troop advanced into the town, the Hundred Households of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Hundred Households Office in Yujiang hurried over with his men.

This man was originally a guest of Sixth Young Master Mo Beiyan, later reassigned to Yujiang as Hundred Households, and naturally recognized Gu Zhan and Mo Beiyan.

He hurried up to the front of the procession, dismounted, and respectfully saluted.

"Greetings to Gu Qianhu, Sixth Young Master!"

Upon seeing Gu Zhan, this Hundred Households instinctively saluted Gu Zhan first.

In the past within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, if Gu Zhan and Mo Beiyan appeared together, most people would habitually salute Mo Beiyan first. But as time passed, Gu Zhan’s reputation for ruthless ferocity only grew heavier. Even among the high ranks of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, those who could remain composed before Gu Zhan were rare indeed.

Even though Mo Beiyan’s status was higher, over time, everyone had started regarding Gu Zhan as the true master.

Gu Zhan sat on horseback, expression indifferent, and asked, "What is the Five Great Sects’ response?"

"Reporting to my lord," replied the Hundred Households, "After entering Yujiang County, the Five Great Sects have stayed in a Suburban Manor outside the city. They know we Embroidered Uniform Guards are watching them, but they haven’t made any moves."

"Anything unusual?" Gu Zhan asked.

The Hundred Households clasped his fists and replied, "Nothing particularly unusual, but just yesterday, another group arrived at that manor—over a dozen people. They appeared very suddenly; we couldn’t detect them in advance.

They entered the manor quickly, and our men dared not enter to investigate, so we have no way to confirm their identities."

Gu Zhan nodded, lightly flicking his horsewhip,

At once, the Embroidered Uniform Guard troop set out once again.

Riding alongside Gu Zhan, Gu Fengwei suddenly spoke, "After arriving in Yujiang, the Five Great Sects no longer hide themselves. It’s impossible they plan to sit and await death—they must have made preparations. Right now in Pingyang Prefecture, there’s only one place that can protect them."

Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes. "The Beidou Bang Kaiyang Sub-Branch."

Gu Fengwei nodded. "Yujiang is quite close to the Kaiyang Sub-Branch. If I’m not mistaken, those who appeared yesterday are people from the Kaiyang Sub-Branch."

As soon as he finished,

Gu Zhan and Gu Fengwei both shot a peculiar glance at Mo Beiyan.

Mo Beiyan twitched his mouth and said helplessly, "Don’t look at me. The previous Squad Leader Liu of the Kaiyang Sub-Branch was friendly with me, but the new Squad Leader is Liu Ziyuan—from my eldest brother’s maternal clan.

You should know—my mother was originally my father’s official wife, but back then, before my father’s rise in power, in order to gain the Liu Family’s support, he wed Lady Liu, now the great madam of Canglan City. After the Liu matriarch entered the Mo Family, she pushed my mother aside,

So that even when my father became the Nu River Dragon King and was granted the title of City Lord of Canglan City by the Court, my mother never set foot in Canglan City. Because of this, my relationship with the Liu matriarch is extremely strained, and naturally relations with the Liu Family are poor. So, when I asked the Kaiyang Sub-Branch for help before, I was refused."

Gu Zhan chuckled softly and said, "So you and your eldest brother don’t get along?"

Mo Beiyan said, "I don’t get along with any of my brothers. They all have powerful maternal clans backing them. I grew up like a wild child, bullied by them, only saved by Ninth Sister. As for my eldest brother, our relationship is the worst—he’s much older, and I rarely interacted with him, but the Liu matriarch always held me in contempt, always tripping me up. If it weren’t for Ninth Sister’s protection, I’d have died at her hands long ago!"

Gu Zhan nodded. "Then, with the Kaiyang Sub-Branch suddenly appearing here, I bet they have no good intentions!"

...

Very soon, Gu Zhan led the Embroidered Uniform Guard troop to the Suburban Manor.

At that time, a group of people stood at the gate of the manor. When they saw the Embroidered Uniform Guards approach, a young scholar in a long gown smiled, stepped forward and saluted. "Student Liu Xiu greets Sixth Young Master and Lord Gu. Please, Sixth Young Master and Lord Gu, step inside, my lord..."

"Enough."

Gu Zhan sat high on horseback, staring down at Liu Xiu. "Are you one of the Five Great Sects?"

Liu Xiu shook his head. "No, student—"

"Get lost!" Gu Zhan suddenly snapped coldly.

Liu Xiu was stunned, hurriedly said, "Lord Gu, I—"

"Did you not hear me tell you to get lost?"

Gu Zhan slowly lowered his head and fixed Liu Xiu with a deadly stare.

In that instant, Liu Xiu couldn’t stop himself from shuddering—his hair standing on end, as though he’d been targeted by a bloodthirsty beast. Cold sweat drenched him.

He gulped, barely managing to steady himself and, hands cupped, said, "Lord Gu, my master is the Kaiyang Sub-Branch—"

"Crack."

Gu Zhan lashed Liu Xiu with his whip, knocking him straight to the ground. Then Gu Zhan tugged lightly at his reins and spurred his horse forward, trampling straight at Liu Xiu.

The guards beside Liu Xiu, terrified out of their minds, dragged Liu Xiu away to the side in panic.

Gu Zhan’s voice dropped cold. "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is handling a case. Idlers are to keep away. Anyone daring to hinder the investigation shall be executed without mercy. Do you understand?"

Liu Xiu stood to the side, clutching his face, not daring to speak again. The guards, watching Gu Zhan ride past, hastily made way as well.

At the gate, Gu Zhan raised his hand and shouted, "Surround the manor, crossbowmen prepare!"

In the next instant,

Thousands of Embroidered Uniform Guards burst into action—hooves thundering, momentum overwhelming, the earth itself seemed to tremble. A dense, oppressive clatter of mechanisms, as hundreds of Guards with crossbows advanced, aiming at the manor.

Gu Zhan slowly raised his hand,

At that moment, a cold, clear voice drifted from inside the manor: "Lord Gu, wait. I am Liu Ziyuan..."

Gu Zhan waved his hand, his voice cold:

"Fire!"