nyslfriends 031 A storm is brewing
031 A storm is brewing
With the Yang family matter resolved, a major earthquake struck Yugu County.
The local gentry, who had been wielding power and influence by supporting evil spirits, were horrified to realize that the government was truly taking action.
The homes of the Ding, Zhu, and Lin families were always bustling with visitors, and the ironwood thresholds were worn smooth with countless shoe prints.
Compared to the panic of the smaller families, the three major clans remained oblivious to their own debauchery, and I remained unmoved.
We've weathered hundreds of years of storms, so what's this?
It's just a bit more severe frost and snow.
In the northeastern corner of Yugu County, near Kunze Lake, at the Ding family manor, guards dressed in black armor and carrying long spears patrolled back and forth, their steps perfectly synchronized.
The scantily clad maids moved between the main hall and the kitchen.
Holding a golden plate and silver cup, on which were displayed tender and delicious fruits and vegetables.
Inside the grand banquet hall filled with joy, Ding Yuan, the "Sickly Dragon," sat in the main seat, Lin Wenlong, the "Protector of Difficulty," was seated first on the left, and Zhu Shi, the "Earth-Shaking God," was seated first on the right.
The other guests were unrestrained, baring their breasts, roaming over the bodies of the beautiful waitresses with one hand, and grabbing dishes with the other and devouring them like pigs and dogs.
His thick, bushy beard was covered in grease and bits of meat residue.
I don't know how those beautiful maids could suppress their disgust and fawn over him like they were serving a hero.
"Hahaha! The county is so prosperous, unlike my godforsaken Demon Turtle Island, where we eat salted fish every day and sleep with rough women every day!"
"Yeah, brother, why don't we skip going back to Demon Turtle Island? It's so much more fun here!"
"Brother is right. To hell with Demon Turtle Island! I think this house is a perfect match for a hero like you!"
Ding Yuan watched this scene with a smile on his old face, but the light in his eyes, hidden beneath his drooping eyelids, gradually turned cold.
A bunch of defeated bandits, hiding and running around, wouldn't even have been able to get into the Ding family's house if they weren't still somewhat useful.
He raised his cup to the bandit leader "One-Eyed Python" and said, "Chief Chang, it's settled then. In three days, the Demon Turtle Island will land from the direction of Kunze Lake, burn, kill, and plunder. All the spoils will belong to the Demon Turtle Island."
Afterwards, the government will fabricate new identities for you all.
Now that they're free from being wanted, they can finally enjoy the prosperity of Yugu County.
"Good! Master Ding is righteous!"
"Thank you, Master Ding, Master Lin, and Master Zhu!"
"We brothers will slaughter his mother until blood flows like a river, and turn this county upside down!"
The nine leaders of Demon Turtle Island stood up in unison, clasped their hands in greeting, their faces filled with undisguised greed and murderous intent.
"Hehe, that's very good, very good."
This old man is too old to hold his liquor, so I must leave now. Gentlemen, please enjoy the night and drink to your hearts' content!
Lin Wenlong and Zhu Shi also stood up and left their seats, just like Ding Yuan.
With the main hall doors tightly shut, only nine ruthless bandits, who had killed without hesitation, and dozens of beautiful and delicate young maids remained inside.
All sorts of astonishing scenes were projected onto the paper doors and windows by candlelight; they were truly bizarre and astonishing.
I never expected that these thieves, who live a life of hardship, would have so many trendy tricks up their sleeves.
Summer nights are hot and humid, and the Ding family's villa is built by the water, so mosquitoes should be everywhere.
No one knows what methods the Ding family used, but apart from the appropriate croaking of frogs and chirping of cicadas, there wasn't a single flying insect in the courtyard.
A light mist and a gentle breeze drifted around, making this place cool and pleasant.
At this moment, four figures hidden in cloaks stood with their hands behind their backs inside the tallest building in the Ding family's villa, the "Tide-Watching Tower".
He looked down at this ugly scene with disdain.
Ding Yuan, Lin Wenlong, and Zhu Shi approached via the stairs and immediately bowed to the four of them.
"My lords, everything has been arranged. In three days, when the bandits attack and plunder the city, we will move the garrison soldiers aside in advance to clear the city gates."
When the bandits storm the city, burning, killing, raping, and looting, Yun Changsong and Li Qijue will be exhausted from stopping them. At that time, I would like to ask you gentlemen to take advantage of the chaos to intervene.
A figure in the cloak twirled two golden orbs with one hand, speaking in a high-pitched, monkey-like voice in a strange tone: "Just do your own thing. In three days, this farce of the Exorcism Order should come to an end."
"Hehe, my insects have been eroding quite a few mortals these past few days. If I don't act soon, they'll devour all their life force and energy, and I'll have to find new hosts to parasitize. What a hassle~"
"My Mirror of Radiance and memorials have been prepared in advance. I believe the nobles in Jade Capital will enjoy this riot."
"Hmph, those are all underhanded tricks. If you ask me, we should just kill those surnamed Yun and Li."
"If that Wang fellow dares to send anyone again, keep killing! Kill until no one in the court dares to talk about reform, hahaha!"
The four men spoke with a deep hatred for the "Evil Exorcism Order." The reason their power could dominate an entire state or even a region was entirely due to the strength of the evil spirits they worshipped.
If the "Evil Exorcism Order" truly takes hold, what will they rely on to remain aloof from worldly affairs?
They couldn't really raise the flag and rebel, could they? Although the Song Dynasty was poor and weak in foreign affairs and had been paying tribute to the emperor for many years, it had never suffered a defeat internally.
The South was in such a mess that the Pure Lotus Sect took advantage of the floods to incite the people to rebel, amassing two million followers. Yet, they were suppressed just like that.
The situation in Shandong was also very heated. The vast expanse of waterways was almost like a country within a country, but it was still torn apart by a few imperial edicts of amnesty.
When a dynasty's fate is not yet exhausted, no truly long-standing family will openly oppose it.
This is the experience that has been passed down for so long.
------
The long night was unbearably hot, and even the cicadas that clung to the branches and howled seemed listless.
Ning Kui sat in his courtyard, crushing a Qi and Blood Pill, feeding the white-spotted ghost fish swimming in the pond, while pondering his next move.
Today he has killed three evil spirits in succession.
Apart from the hanged ghost from the Yang family that was not absorbed, the other two were all beheaded and offered as sacrifices to the Temple of Consciousness.
A ghost under the bed at the "Qi-Eating Realm" and a ghost in the well at the "Dao-Building Realm" provided him with a total of 300 Yin Qi points.
Furthermore, the [Water Prison Technique] of the Well Demon is highly overlapping with the [Water Control] technique, resulting in a direct fusion of its characteristics and providing 200 progress points to the [Water Control] technique.
As for the ghost under the bed, it's utterly useless; it has no value other than providing yin energy points when killed.
Xiao Niang, Xia Chan, and Yun Mengling have all fallen asleep.
Yun Mengling, who had initially agreed to stay for only one night, unexpectedly found herself getting along well with the young lady.
We've been living together for the past few days, and our relationship is as close as that of a biological daughter.
After feeding the fish, Ning Kui stood up, and the large tendons in his body emitted a deep dragon roar as his limbs stretched.
"Time for bed, there are still several evil spirits waiting to be dealt with tomorrow."
As he turned to go back to his room, he suddenly noticed a colorful golden beetle, unlike any he had ever seen before, fluttering its wings and landing on the stone table in the pavilion.
The insect had six legs covered in barbs, and its two forearms at the front resembled blades, much like those of a mantis.
Most strangely, the insect had eight bright green eyes on its forehead, which it haphazardly surveyed the surrounding scenery.
As Ning Kui frowned and watched, eight eyes suddenly turned to him in unison.
Then, with lightning speed, it transformed into a golden light and rushed towards his face.
"Buzz!!"
The sound of flapping wings had barely reached his ears when the two knife-like forearms slashed fiercely into Ning Kui's skin.
With a single strike, a huge gash was torn into the skin of a dragon of the same level!