Chapter 65: The First Encounter – Black Waters Beneath the Cauldron

Han Chong wound his way through twists and turns, heading into a secluded alley, then stopped and turned. Several shadowy figures in black darted out. One was a Bronze Guard, accompanied by four Iron Guards. At his signal, the four Iron Guards lunged at Han Chong with their swords.

Han Chong merely flicked his fingers; four slashing sword energies flashed, felling the Iron Guards before they could even approach him.

"You brat, you court death!" The Bronze Guard's arms transformed into beast claws, poised like a tiger ready to pounce, and behind him a black whip tail twisted and lashed.

Han Chong spat out a sword pellet of blue light, which rang softly and transformed into the Pure Sword, thrusting toward the guard's chest. The guard's massive black-scaled claws struck out, and the clashing sounds echoed loudly.

The Bronze Guard was terrified, his claws bloodied, retreating swiftly. Just as Han Chong pressed forward to kill him, several sharp wind-cutting sounds shot down from the side and rear.

Han Chong immediately swung his sword back, managing to slash three silver blades, each over two feet long, but the force left his palms numb, forcing him to retreat two steps.

A chilling laugh echoed. "Impressive, you actually blocked my three Moonshadow Blades. Who are you, what are you plotting by hiding in the Prefect’s residence, and was that old Daoist Mystic Immortal killed by your hand?"

Han Chong looked up. Somehow, a woman was standing atop the eaves, clad in a brocade robe of golden threads and silver moons, her face hidden behind a silver mask.

Though she spoke lightly, her voice carried a coldness devoid of any emotion.

"Yes, the old Daoist did die by my hand. I am merely a wandering cultivator, serving as a physician in the Prefect’s house. And who are you?"

She paused, pondering whether he truly was there by happenstance.

"If you won’t speak honestly, then die."

She drew a silver double-edged curved blade from her waist and hurled it at Han Chong, spinning like a windmill, thunder and wind roaring in its wake.

Han Chong’s eyes flashed brightly. He swung his sword, sending out several waves of Pure Sword energy, but as the curved blade spun, it easily shattered his attacks, filling him with foreboding.

Her casual attacks had left his palms numb, and the blade’s assault was ferocious—he could not withstand it head-on.

Han Chong’s left hand glowed with white light as he grabbed an Iron Guard’s corpse, hurling it at the spinning blade. Then, gathering all his speed, he darted toward the Bronze Guard who had been watching from the side.

The corpse was instantly severed in two by the curved blade, while Han Chong’s speed surged like lightning. Before the Bronze Guard could raise his claws, the Pure Sword pierced his chest, killing him instantly.

The masked woman was furious, leaping down after him, her blade slashing at Han Chong, her speed nearly twice his own.

—

Suddenly, Han Chong stomped his foot and vanished into the ground.

The woman, startled and enraged, unleashed her full strength, slashing the blade down onto the earth.

With a loud crack, the blade carved a fissure a yard long into the ground.

Below, Han Chong realized trouble was brewing. Days earlier, he had been struck by Mystic Immortal’s black pellet and now, as he tunneled underground, he was wary. He hurriedly turned, using the Pure Sword to defend.

A silver flash streaked several yards deep into the earth, smashing into the Pure Sword with a sharp crack, nearly breaking it. The sword reverted to a pellet and merged into Han Chong’s body.

Han Chong was struck by the aftershock, his tendons snapping and bones fracturing, fleeing deeper underground, leaving no trace.

The masked woman straightened, thinking Han Chong had taken her full-strength strike—if not dead, he must be crippled. She spat a silver flame, burning the corpses, then departed swiftly.

Han Chong hid for a long time. When all was quiet above, he tunneled toward the Prefecture, seeking out Captain Ning and the others.

"Captain Han, you’re injured?" The group was shocked. Who could have wounded Han Chong so badly? It was terrifying.

"It was the leader of the Bronze Guards. Her attacks are fierce—it's impossible to confront her directly. Even late-stage Qi Refining experts would struggle."

Han Chong sat clutching his chest, his wounds healing slowly with medical arts, while the Pure Sword pellet rested in his core for nurture.

Everyone gasped, exchanging fearful glances. Could that woman have reached the peak of Qi Refining and Divine Transformation?

"Captain Han, what should we do now?" Captain Wu asked.

"The plan is already set. We must wait and see. If all goes well, there should be no major problems."

Han Chong spent two days recuperating in a quiet room, avoiding the Prefect’s house. The masked woman’s motives were unknown—it was best if she believed him dead.

Yet he still felt uneasy, as if some unknown danger lingered, though he couldn’t pinpoint it.

Underestimating the enemy often leads to defeat. He had already uncovered the schemes involving the Bloodthirsty Black Mosquitoes and the Mad Pestilence Rats.

But the true strength of the Black Scarf Army remained unclear. For half a month, Yunzou City had been closed off from the outside world, with no news at all.

Only by knowing oneself and the enemy could one remain undefeated.

—

That night, Han Chong flew on sword-light to a remote area, heading south toward the counties.

He had checked the map: the Black Mist Demon Mother, one of the Four Great Grievance Commanders, had claimed to dwell in Ji-Dang Mountain, a perilous place within Yunzou, at the border between Ji County and Dang County.

He landed outside Dang County, concealed himself, and entered the county seat. The city was in chaos, famine victims littering the streets.

Crowds of Black Scarf Army soldiers stormed into shops and mansions, looting gold, silver, food, and clothing.

Anyone who resisted was slaughtered on the spot. Many young men, seeing no other choice, joined the Black Scarf Army. This single county seat now boasted more than twenty thousand Black Scarf soldiers.

Han Chong noticed something odd: these Black Scarf soldiers had once been ordinary civilians, kind by nature, but now they all appeared vicious and ferocious, like hardened bandits. It was truly strange.

If all eight counties were this fierce, there would be three or four hundred thousand soldiers. Han Chong’s plan to trap them would be hard to execute; even the strong defenses of Yunzou City might not withstand them.

A squad of Black Scarf soldiers dragged a group of young men away. Han Chong followed them into the county magistrate’s office, where he saw a huge cauldron being boiled. Soldiers forced everyone to drink a cup from it in public.

Getting closer, he saw that the cauldron contained a black broth—not pungent, but oddly fragrant and sweet.

After drinking it, the young men’s faces turned savage, wholly changed from before. Even Black Scarf soldiers queued to drink.

Han Chong waited until the black broth was nearly finished. Two Iron Guards brought out a five-patterned earthen jar and poured its contents into the cauldron.

This time, Han Chong saw clearly: the jar did not contain herbs, but several black beetles, each about an inch long with blood-red eyes, three or four in number and all alive, savagely biting each other in the jar.

Seizing his chance, Han Chong caught one and went to a secluded place to examine it.

The beetle bit into the flesh of his palm, and almost immediately he felt a surge of negative emotions, an urge to fight and brawl.

The power of virtue flowed on its own, dissipating these feelings.