"Sir."
Li Yuan took a deep breath. Though she wasn't injured, after a series of fierce battles, she was somewhat fatigued.
She looked around and asked, "Where's Li Chichang?"
"He ran away." Chen Mo dispersed his Demon Form and said calmly, "Don't worry, he won't get far."
Hoo—
Song Xuan flew over with his long blade, his robe spattered with blood.
He came up to Chen Mo, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting, sir, we searched the area. Aside from a few hosts controlled by Gu Poison Worms, we didn't find other disciples of the Gu God Sect."
"That means the base isn't here." Chen Mo squinted and said, "Let's go; see if Households Commander Ye has any findings."
"Yes." Li Yuan and Song Xuan nodded in agreement.
As they left, Chen Mo glanced at County Magistrate Ji hiding behind a pillar, tossed over a Communication Talisman, and said, "Leave the aftermath to County Magistrate Ji. If there's an emergency, crush this thing."
"I obey..."
County Magistrate Ji fumbled to catch it.
When he looked up again, the three had vanished.
He now realized that his lack of control by the Gu Poison Worm was likely due to Mr. Chen's protection...
Thinking of his past camaraderie with Li Chichang and the donations he received, County Magistrate Ji felt a chill on his scalp. If scrutinized, wasn't this equivalent to colluding with the Gu God Sect?!
Given the court's attitude to err on the side of caution, his role as County Magistrate might be at its end!
The only one who could prove his innocence now was Mr. Chen; he must cling tightly to this support!
...
...
Soon after, the guests on site gradually awakened, still somewhat bewildered.
To them, it was like having a beautiful dream, but they couldn't vividly recall what they dreamed of.
Once they sobered, they gazed at the surrounding ruins and heaps of corpses, all stunned in place.
"What-what's going on here?!"
"Am I still dreaming?!"
"Everything was fine earlier. How did so many people die in the blink of an eye?!"
As common folks in a small county town, they had never seen such a scene.
Some collapsed to the ground with weak knees, others bent over vomiting to the point of bile, their cries of horror mingling with the children's shrill screams, causing chaos.
Bang—
County Magistrate Ji stood in the courtyard center, raised and smashed a wine jar onto the ground, shouting, "Quiet!"
The atmosphere quieted down, eyes focused on him. Seeing the County Magistrate still present, the crowd's taut nerves relaxed slightly.
"Li Family colluded with the Gu God Sect, set a Gu in the food and drink, attempting to refine all city folk!" County Magistrate Ji said gravely, "Thanks to Mr. Chen's intervention, their plot was thwarted, and tragedy was prevented..."
Hiss?!
The crowd gasped sharply.
So the renowned for chivalry Grandmaster Li was actually a Demon Sect monster?
The man in black also realized the gravity of the situation, said no more, and turned into the cave.
Li Chichang followed closely.
Entering the cave's interior; it expanded into an area comparable to Li Family's mansion.
Pearls embedded in the walls barely illuminated the surroundings; hundreds of sect members sat cross-legged on the ground, bottles and jars before them, containing Gu Poison Worms in cultivation.
There's a chance for failure if Gu Poison Worms attach, and they can't be precisely deployed. To turn nearly ten thousand city folk into sustenance, they'd need to prepare at least twice the Gu Poison Worm numbers.
For this, they've been sleepless for two whole months. If not for their bodies being altered, they couldn't have persisted.
The man in black reached the altar in the mansion's depths, ready to activate the array for contact with headquarters, suddenly sensed something amiss.
"Wait a moment..."
He eyed Li Chichang, hesitating, "If Chen Mo truly was a Grandmaster, how did you survive and return?"
"I..."
Li Chichang was about to speak, suddenly felt a chill down his spine, turned to see two women appearing behind him unknown when.
One wore a purple dress, alluring and bright.
The other looked ordinary yet had an extraordinarily unique presence, with eyes resembling bottomless deep pools.
Xu You surveyed the surroundings, frowned, "I thought there'd be plenty to vent some fury, but only such few people?"
She eyed the man in black, asked, "Have you contacted headquarters? Call for more helpers, this palace needs them urgently."
Man in black: "..."
Li Chichang: "..."

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