Chapter 93: Jianghu Villains, Kill

“Oh no, the evil figures are burning down the fort to escape…”

Inside the Black Water Fort, fierce battles already raged, everyone killing in chaos.

Outside, who knew how many Qi Refiners who had just arrived were staring fixedly at the Black Water Fort, eager to charge in. Only the City Governor Bai, rushing over in a hurry and raising his Golden Seal to awe the cultivators, managed to barely suppress their agitation. But seeing the fire, they immediately cared for nothing, greed igniting in an instant. Countless figures shouted as they rushed toward the Black Water Fort.

Normally, Rogue Cultivators still held some fear for the City Governor and the Academy. Under regular circumstances, they might not have dared to charge headfirst. But with great chaos now erupting, who cared about fear? Charging into the Black Water Fort to find the Human Elixir was the urgent business…

“Heavens, who set the fire?”

“Run! Quick!”

“Bring that pig with you!”

“Lady Hongtao, flee with me!”

As flames surged into the sky, chaos also consumed the inside of the Black Water Fort.

Many fierce bandits still remained in the fort, some even unaware of what was happening. Seeing their fortress under attack with unstoppable force, their resolve quickly broke. Some drew swords and struck wildly, others cursed furiously, while a few busied themselves looting their own place amidst the disorder. Many more, seeing so many Qi Refiners storming in, abandoned all thought and simply fled headlong…

With such confusion inside the fort, the situation grew even messier. Amid the flickering firelight, who could clearly distinguish one person from another?

The battle became tangled and chaotic in moments, flames enveloping the entire Black Water Fort, turning it into a scene of utter pandemonium.

Not even the City Governor’s Golden Seal could stop the chaos now…

…

“It’s over…”

As chaos surged, majestic auras suddenly approached from both north and south.

Appearing from the north, wearing a jade crown, was Willow Lake City’s City Governor, Bai Huali. Rage filled his features. After raising the Golden Seal, he had still held some hope of controlling the situation, expecting Lao Chao to surrender the Human Elixir. Instead, fire consumed the fort. Witnessing this great disorder turned his face ashen and caused his jaw to clench tightly.

The Divine General of Willow Lake, his Secretary, Demon Capture Bureau soldiers, all rushing behind him, also gazed upon the scene with shock and fury. The Black Water Fort was tearing itself apart. What could they even do?

“City Governor Bai! These fiends sheltered the Human Elixir, a heinous crime! Why do you delay? Await their surrender?”

A thunderous roar came from the south, accompanied by streaks of lit mist and a towering aura. A middle-aged man in loose robes appeared high in the air, flanked by deep and imposing Elder Mentors and Instructors. Behind him strode a green ram.

Leading the shout was Elder Mentor Zhong Yue, accompanied by the white-haired Elder Cang.

“Hmph!”

The City Governor sneered, rage in his voice, coldly eyeing the Mentor.

“Chaos has erupted and cannot be stopped! If the Human Elixir is stolen amid this turmoil, the problem only grows!”

Simultaneously, Academy Head Gongyang Yanqing, brandishing a horsetail whisk, stepped forward through the air and coldly scolded the City Governor.

Filled with indignation, the City Governor took a deep breath and looked toward the Black Water Fort. Seeing no sign of Lao Chao emerging to present the Elixir, he knew it was truly over. Especially feeling the eyes fixed upon him from all sides, he finally lowered his voice: “These rogues, these villainous Jianghu bandits, spurn the King’s laws! They flout the statutes of Great Xia! They wielded evil arts, caused upheaval, hid the Human Elixir… they deserve no mercy!”

He raised his hand slightly, seeming to hesitate, before bringing it down with force. “Arrest them all! Not a single one escapes!”

Whoosh…

Upon his command, Divine Generals, Demon Capture Bureau soldiers, and even his Secretary all surged forth.

On the Academy side, Elder Mentor Zhong Yue and Elder Cang, faces grim, suddenly strode into the Black Water Fort. A burst of dozens of flying pellets erupted around Elder Zhong Yue. Wherever they passed, bloody mist exploded. He cared not who stood before him – Black Water Fort bandits or demonic Jianghu cultivators – killing them all was simplest…

Elder Cang charged deep into the fort fast as a shadow. Turbulent mists swirled around him as he slipped through gaps and corners. Any in his path met a flick of his finger; a sequence of agonized screams sounded, strewing corpses to the ground.

Witnessing the Elder Mentors’ ferocity, the Academy Instructors held back no longer. Surging in, they joined freely in the slaughter…

…

Instantly, the battle erupted tenfold in violence.

The City Governor’s forces, the Academy faction, Rogue Cultivators, Black Water Fort bandits… they all became a tangled, deadly mass.

Now, no one could distinguish friend from foe.

Rogue Cultivators from afar were desperate to get into the fort, find traces of the Human Elixir. They only watched for members who looked like leaders, perhaps taking Lao Chao himself. Seeing so many crowding the fort, many simply abandoned the Elixir quest entirely and rushed toward the fort’s treasuries, aiming to snatch what loot they could.

Inside the fort, the intent was flight, not fight. They struggled only to escape outward. City and Academy forces stood vigil at the perimeter, terrified that any escaping slipknot might carry the Elixir away. Holding strict orders, each blocking their assigned lines – any who charged out must be killed.

While Black Water Fort’s defense-collapsing bandits could be dealt with, how were the proud, untamed Rogue Cultivators likely to view this perimeter? Alone, they might have avoided conflict with City Enforcers or Academy disciples. But chaos reigned, and their numbers were large. Who feared whom? It devolved into indiscriminate slaughter…

…

Within this maelstrom, City Governor Bai Huali gritted his teeth. In a flash, he plunged into the burning heart of the Black Water Fort. The blazing inferno could not harm him. His figure sped like lightning, arriving at the main hall. His frantic gaze swept the surroundings—empty.

Simultaneously, the Academy Head landed lightly just behind him.

“Has the traitor fled?”

The Academy Head asked softly, observing the surrounding flames licking the charred, desolate hall.

The City Governor remained silent, his expression cold as ice.

The Academy Head’s expression shifted slightly. After a long pause, he murmured, “Earlier, those youngsters at the Academy suspected a connection between the Devouring Sea Gang and the Human Elixir. They began discreet investigations… I didn’t truly believe. But now the Elixir appears within the Devouring Sea Gang’s fortress. Further, Lao Chao fled with it… it confirms they were right. If Lao Chao was involved… then this Elixir…”

“That man has nothing to do with my Bai Family!”

The City Governor cut him off, voice frosty. “If you seek to sow discord through this, be my guest. But circumstances are dire. You must realize, Headmaster, we have no choice now but to set aside our differences. We must aid each other. Only by overcoming this challenge together do we survive… isn’t that logical?”

The Academy Head remained quiet for a moment, then declared: “But the Human Elixir… cannot be ignored.”

“Not just your Uncle?…”

The City Governor turned to face him fully, eyes cold: “He was your Teacher too!”

…

That night, the Devouring Sea Gang, previously overbearing and dominant, faced annihilation. The Black Water Fort, the symbol of savagery and terror for countless city families and commoners, burned to ruins in barely an hour. Bandits who once strutted with arrogance now lay in chillingly neat rows on the open ground.

Corpses piled like mountains. Swarms of flies buzzed as rivulets of blood snaked across the dirt.

People endured the reeking stench to inspect each bandit’s body methodically – the Human Elixir could lie hidden upon one.

Employing Qi Refiners’ methods, they quickly searched three or four hundred corpses – nearly all Devouring Sea Gang members. Found among them were supposedly the Gang’s Helmsmen and strategists…

Apart from a few clever ones who’d escaped somehow, most lay here.

But among the others, someone critical had also vanished:

Lao Chao!

The Chief of the Devouring Sea Gang wasn’t here. Escaped to who-knows-where.

Just like the Human Elixir itself had disappeared.

…

Somewhere by a remote mountain spring near Willow Lake City, a shadow surfaced from the water. On the bank, bones began shifting with startling cracks! The transformation seemed agonizing. Slowly, the distorted form settled back into a familiar tall silhouette – dripping wet. The figure quietly emerged, casting a complex glance back towards the sky-scorching flames. He didn’t know how he felt.

Fortune remained: an underground pathway remained secret even to the City Governor… Fortune remained: he’d mastered this elusive escape art unbeknownst to others.

“Was this extremity necessary?”

A quiet, grave voice suddenly sounded nearby – as if its owner had been waiting. “Surrendering the Elixir might have spared your life.”

Lao Chao wasn’t startled. He merely turned calmly towards the figure standing patiently on the spring’s edge. Bowing deeply, his voice dropped low: “Master… even though you said I owed you no further service… since the Human Elixir fell into my hands… I could only offer it to you. I know… a chance for a third Elixir… is lost.”

“Now… this Elixir… it is Master’s one remaining hope.”

Deep silence followed. Finally, the shadow lurking within the darkness emitted a faint sigh.