Lu Sheng exhaled quietly, the weight heavy in his chest. In this household, the only ones whose well-being truly mattered to him were his father Lu Quanan, Second Mother, and little Qiao.
The rest of the family felt nothing for one another. Even with Lu Qingqing’s fate sealed, no one showed real grief. When even his younger sister, Lu Yingying, could speak with such indifference, it only revealed how cold each of them was at heart.
He had never been close to Lu Qingqing. Yet thinking of Second Mother’s sorrow, and recalling what Yan Kai had said earlier, his once hopeful spirit sank to a chilling depth. Disappointment slowly coiled around his heart.
He remained silent for a long moment before his mood finally steadied again.
Though he was still a mere mortal, he possessed the Modifier. Even if he could not practice the exorcists’ arts, that did not mean he was weaker than them. He refused to believe that he could not stand against the supernatural—be it demons, devils, ghosts, or monsters.
“Regarding Qingqing’s situation, we’ll leave it be for now. When we gain the chance, we’ll find a proper physician to treat her. But there is another matter we cannot delay any further. Taoist Yan Kai mentioned that quite a number of ghosts are still lurking within Nine Links City. We must take proper precautions,” Lu Sheng said, his tone solemn.
“Still quite a number?” Lu Quanan blurted out, and the others’ expressions paled with dread.
They had barely survived by clinging to sheer numbers. And now there were still more of those ghosts?
“This is RIDICULOUS!!!” Fifth Mother shot to her feet, her voice cracking with hysteria.
“SHUT UP!!!” Lu Quanan roared, slamming his palm onto the armrest.
Startled, Fifth Mother shrank back into her seat, trembling.
Lu Sheng’s gaze swept over every face at the table—each one drained of color, like frost-bitten eggplants. Fear and helplessness clouded their eyes, their bodies sagging with despair.
“So, my suggestion is… since it is still safe for now, our Lu Family should leave Nine Links City immediately.”
Lu Quanan shook his head, his expression darkening. “That’s impossible now. The higher-ups issued strict orders—none of the four major families are allowed to leave Nine Links City. At first, I didn’t understand why this order came about. But now… it’s starting to make sense.”
A cold shiver coursed down Lu Sheng’s spine.
Did the authorities plan this from the beginning? Or was it simply a cruel coincidence?
Fourth Mother leaned in, voice barely a whisper. “What if… we left in small groups? Isn’t Big Brother still in town…?”
“No.” Lu Quanan shook his head again. “I went to the city gates earlier. Big Brother didn’t even meet me face-to-face. He only sent a letter. Even the Prefect is forbidden from leaving the city.”
Silence swallowed the room whole. All eyes turned to Lu Sheng—the one who had saved them once, the one who had faced the horrors in the manor without flinching.
Lu Sheng drew a deep breath. “For now… we stay inside the Manor. Stockpile food—grain, dried meat, anything we can store long-term. We must be prepared for the possibility that we’ll be trapped here for a long while.”
“You’re right,” Lu Quanan nodded, a faint glimmer of resolve returning to his eyes.
BOOM!
The entire ground vibrated violently beneath them—an explosive roar ripping through the west side of the city.
Lu Sheng shot upright, spinning toward the disturbance. Scarlet flames surged upward, devouring the distant horizon. A raging inferno rained sparks into the night.
Half of Nine Links City was drenched in the glow of burning crimson.
Through the roaring fire came a chorus of shrieks—wails, cries for help, and terrified screams echoing over the rooftops.
“I’ll go take a look!”
Lu Sheng couldn’t make out the situation from the inner courtyard. He gave a quick word to his father before sprinting toward the Manor gates.
Lu Sheng had barely stepped past the entrance when he ordered the servants to bring his horse forward.
On the street outside Lu Manor, groups of armed men surged toward the inferno raging in the west. They moved with swift, honed precision—clearly no ordinary city folk. What startled Lu Sheng even more was the glint in their eyes. Instead of fear or shock, there was a thin layer of greed… and excitement.
In little more than ten breaths, three waves of these skilled fighters had already hurried past the manor gates—some thundering on horseback, others racing on foot. Men and women, young and old alike.
And from the cut of their robes, the ornaments on their belts, and their polished appearances, it was evident—they were not locals. These people were from the Central Plains.
A trembling servant finally led over the struggling horse, gripping tightly to keep it under control. Lu Sheng placed a firm hand on the beast’s flank to calm it, preparing to mount. But as he glanced at the passing figures again, his expression stiffened.
He recognized two familiar silhouettes.
Duanmu Wan and her ever-present male guard were galloping among the crowd.
Clad in flowing black veils and a conical wicker hat, Duanmu Wan’s graceful figure remained partly visible through the gauzy layers. As she approached the manor, her eyes widened in mild surprise.
“You’re not dead yet?” She slowed her horse slightly, regarding him as if he were some strange rarity.
Lu Sheng’s expression darkened. “What does Miss Duanmu mean by these words?”
“Interesting.” Duanmu Wan’s lips curved slightly. “It seems fate truly enjoys arranging our meetings. I’ll come find you after this.”
Lu Sheng opened his mouth to question her further, but she had already kicked her horse into a faster pace, her guard following close behind. As the man rode past, he cast a stunned look at Lu Sheng.
That expression… It was the look one gave to a dead man walking—impossibly alive when he shouldn’t be.
Lu Sheng swung onto his horse, ready to pursue.
But a firm voice halted him.
“Young Master Sheng, you must not get involved. This has nothing to do with you.”
It was Yan Kai. He, Duan Rongrong, and Zhuan Feng were also rushing toward the rising flames. Seeing Lu Sheng mount up, Yan Kai turned back to warn him.
“What does Taoist-sir mean?” Lu Sheng asked, his gaze sharp.
“That inferno was ignited by a Great Demonic Ghost. The resentment there is overwhelming—any ordinary mortal who approaches will lose control of his mind and risk death,” Yan Kai said gravely. “Even with your impressive martial skill, Young Master Sheng, there is no outcome where you emerge unscathed.”
“But there are so many people charging in that direction…” Lu Sheng’s voice held doubt.
“Then they are seeking death. No one will be able to save them. Besides, it seems someone is intentionally drawing them in.” Yan Kai’s tone remained calm, almost cold.
Lu Sheng fell silent.
A catastrophe unfolding so close to his home, yet he could only stand aside—ignorant and powerless. The bitterness sat heavy on his tongue.
Still, Yan Kai spoke out of genuine concern. Lu Sheng clasped his hands and bowed slightly.
“Thank you for the Taoist-sir’s warning.”
Yan Kai nodded in return before sprinting off with Duan Rongrong and Zhuan Feng, disappearing into the burning horizon.
Watching them go, Lu Sheng’s eyes narrowed. It was now unmistakable—Duan Rongrong and Zhuan Feng were no ordinary individuals. They possessed abilities beyond the mundane.
Or perhaps… they had come to Nine Links City with a hidden purpose long before any of this began.
Having come to that realization, Lu Sheng slid down from the saddle again and called out toward Yan Kai.
“Taoist-sir, Miss Zhuan Feng, allow me to arrange a few horses for you—so you can reach there faster!”
Yan Kai paused for a breath, then understood: Lu Sheng was offering him a favor. Traveling through such chaos, preserving their strength was crucial.
He nodded swiftly. “Then I’ll have to trouble you!”
Lu Sheng turned to summon his men—then abruptly stopped himself.
“No, there’s no need to bring them here. The stable is right over there! Men! Bring Taoist-sir and the others to pick whatever horses they like—no restrictions!”
Yan Kai cupped his fists gratefully. “Young Master Sheng is truly a man of honor!”
With that, he and the others followed a guard toward the stable.
Left standing at the manor entrance with only a few guards—who had no idea what was really happening—Lu Sheng stared out toward the towering blaze in the west.
The inferno roared for what felt like an eternity before the flames finally weakened… then died out.
Lu Sheng remained rooted to that same spot the entire time.
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A jagged streak of blue lightning tore across the sky.
Above, nothing could be seen clearly—thick smoke from the fire mingling with brooding storm clouds. Moments later, the heavens opened. Rain poured down in sheets, drenching the world in a thunderous wash of silver.
Lu Quanan stepped out beside him. Servants rushed forward, holding a canopy to shield them from the downpour.
Raindrops hammered the ground with such force that a misty veil of vapor rose from every splash. The horizon slowly brightened as dawn crept in. A long, exhausting night had slipped away without notice.
Lu Sheng stood unmoving at the gate, lost in his own storm of thoughts.
He could not shake the feeling that the explosion and fire tonight were of immense significance.
And they had erupted right outside his home.
It was just unfortunate that he was still too weak—unable to even set foot near the danger.
He could clearly tell that Yan Kai had spoken the truth. What occurred last night was far beyond what ordinary mortals could handle.
“The fire should have been put out by now. I received word that it started at a fireworks shop in the western district. A huge stockpile detonated… the blaze was overwhelming and many lives were lost…” Lu Quanan murmured with a heavy sigh.
“A fireworks store…” Lu Sheng echoed softly, eyes narrowing as he gazed toward the west.
Morning light crept across the sky, revealing a horizon painted in pale blue and dull white.
Lu Sheng’s hand subconsciously tightened around the hilt of the saber at his waist.
“Dad, I’ll go take a look.”
“Be careful,” Lu Quanan urged, anxiety lacing his voice. He knew nothing of what truly happened—but Nine Links City had been far from peaceful lately.
“I know!”
With that, Lu Sheng stepped out of the manor and made his way toward the west.
At first, nothing appeared out of the ordinary. But the farther he walked, the more the world changed around him. The vibrant city colors dimmed into lifeless shades of ash and charcoal.
Crowds of displaced townsfolk huddled along the roadsides—carrying bundles of luggage, wrapped in blankets, clutching whatever fragments of home they could salvage. Their cries, whispers, and frantic chatter filled the air in an overwhelming cacophony of grief.
Lu Sheng pressed forward.
Soon, even those voices faded. Fewer people remained here. Houses along the street had been reduced to blackened skeletons. Entire roofs had collapsed inward, leaving gaping holes like open wounds.
The ground was littered with fragments of burnt bones and drifting ash—scattered remains of those who perished.
Lu Sheng’s heartbeat quickened. The deeper he ventured, the more alarming the devastation became.
There were countless remains. Who could possibly know how many had died in last night’s explosion and raging inferno?
Before long, Lu Sheng reached the heart of the explosion.
It wasn’t a fireworks shop at all. It was Pearl Manor — a grand estate belonging to the Prefect, Song Duanchi.
Now, it was nothing more than a field of ruin. The entire manor had caved in on itself, reduced to heaps of shattered stone and charred timber. The debris piled up like grotesque tomb mounds across the land.
Lu Sheng quickly noticed he was not alone.
Groups of pugilists roamed the wreckage, each armed with swords and sabers. They moved with purpose, combing through the debris as though searching for something specific.
None of them approached one another—every set of eyes was sharp, guarded, wary. Their bearing made it clear: these were not ordinary fighters from Nine Links City. They came from elsewhere… and they were dangerous.
From time to time, one of them would dig something out from the rubble—an odd scrap, a charred object—then hastily stash it away as if it were treasure.
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