Red Heart Patrols the Sky

Xiaolin Town is located to the northeast of Fenglin City, with Qingshan Town lying between them. In terms of straight-line distance, it is the town furthest away from the main city within the Maple Forest City Region.

A group of people, led by Wei Yan, traveled incessantly, passing through Qingshan Town without stopping, and arrived just outside Xiaolin Town in half a day's time.

Despite its name, Qingshan Town is devoid of green mountains—an appellation perhaps passed down from many years ago or one that existed before the landscape transformed over time.

However, there indeed exists a small forest of Moon Cypress trees outside Xiaolin Town, but its scale is very limited, and it's possible to see the entire extent at a glance. Moon Cypress is known for its calming properties, and furniture made from its wood is highly sought after.

It is said that this forest used to span a much larger area, but because of the high value of the Moon Cypress trees, many townsfolk engaged in illegal logging, gradually leading to the forest's shrinkage. If it hadn't been for Fenglin City's express mandate against unauthorized felling, this small woodland might have disappeared years ago.

The constables brought in from Qingshan Town were stationed within the forest, lying down or sitting around quite carelessly. Only upon hearing the continuous sound of hooves did they gather to meet the newcomers.

These constables were merely ordinary mortals in terms of martial strength, and they dared not venture into the town to investigate under the current circumstances; they were only stationed to observe and give warning.

Wei Yan halted his horse at the edge of the forest and casually glanced over these people before asking, "What's the situation in Xiaolin Town?"

The leading arrest officer from Qingshan Town, a broad-faced man in his forties, responded, "Fog began to envelop the outskirts of Xiaolin Town five days ago. At that time, we didn't pay much attention, thinking it was a mere weather change. Back then, we could still see the outline of Xiaolin Town and the faint shadows of people. We from Qingshan Town even had folks going over to visit relatives. It was starting from yesterday that we received the order to set up a blockade here for observation, but we have seen no one coming out,—the fog has only become denser, and now, we can't make out anything at all."

Jiang Wang craned his neck among the disciples from the Dao Institute to look at Xiaolin Town. Fenglin City Region was his homeland where he grew up, and though he was raised in Fengxi Town, Xiaolin Town was not unfamiliar to him.

He once single-handedly, with only his Longsword, defeated the Western Mountain Thieves who were entrenched ten miles north of Xiaolin Town in the Western Mountains.

In the past, Xiaolin Town would be visible from the Moon Cypress forest, a town not wealthy but peaceful and harmonious. Looking out now, there was only a haze of fog.

It was then that Wei Yan's voice rang out, "Ordered to keep watch over Xiaolin Town, you've all been lax and undisciplined. What's worse, some have seized the opportunity to illegally fell Moon Cypress trees. Are you here on official duty, or are you conspiring for your own benefit?"

The faces of the constables from Qingshan Town turned pale, and the head officer immediately made several bows, attempting to explain something.

But Wei Yan's judgment had already been pronounced, "The already felled Moon Cypress trees shall be sent to the City Guard Army camp. In addition, all of your salaries shall be docked for one year, and as the officer in charge, you're dismissed from your position!"

The broad-faced man's expression turned ashen, yet he dared not protest and could only sadly step back.

Only after hearing Wei Yan's judgment did Jiang Wang notice the few Moon Cypress trees that had been cut down.

Wei Yan had taken in every detail upon arrival.

Jiang Wang sighed at Wei Yan's sharpness while also feeling that this man was truly stern.

Xiaolin Town had fallen, and this patch of Moon Cypress forest was temporarily without an owner. These constables, risking their lives to set up an outpost and observe Xiaolin Town, had merely chopped a few trees to supplement their own needs; although negligent, it was somewhat understandable.

Qingshan Town wasn't rich, and docking a year's salary meant that these constables would find their living conditions suddenly become straitened. Particularly for this middle-aged man in his forties,—assuming the position of the arrest officer might have been the pinnacle of his life's endeavors. However, with just a single sentence from Wei Yan, he was back to square one.

This mission was almost a military expedition, with Wei Yan leading the team, acting as the commander. His commands were tantamount to military orders—no one dared to defy them.

Having dealt with the matter, Wei Yan tugged at the reins and took the lead, galloping swiftly towards Xiaolin Town.

The horses were warhorses from the military camp, and the knights were cultivators from the Dao Institute. Although there were only just over thirty of them, their discipline was strict and their movements as fast as lightning,—they possessed the momentum of a mighty army.

Their hooves thundered like rolling thunder across the ground, yet suddenly came to an abrupt halt!

Those warhorses, experienced in battle, reared and neighed long and loud in front of the fog that shrouded Xiaolin Town, refusing to take another step forward regardless of the riders' spurring.

The horses were in a state of panic, all neighing loudly as one. It was as if there was something in Xiaolin Town that frightened them tremendously. The scene was terrifying.

Even though the knights' prowess prevented any accidents of falling from their horses, their morale severely plummeted, a far cry from their confident departure from the city.

Even Wang Changxiang, who was always composed and detached, now had a grave look in his eyes.

Only Wei Yan's expression remained unchanged.

His armor bore many marks of battle. At his waist hung a narrow and straight sword. His mount, tall and majestic.

It was well known that these were Wei Yan's three cherished possessions.

But he suddenly drew his sword!

Like a startling bolt of lightning flashing out of thin air, the blade's gleam vanished. The treasured horse he was riding stopped its whinnying abruptly as its enormous head separated from its body and fell, propelled a distance away by the gushing blood erupting from the severed neck.

The horse's corpse thudded to the ground.

Wei Yan placed his hand on his sword, his gaze fixed on the small town shrouded in mist, but his voice was cold and merciless, "Cowardice in the face of battle, what use is there for you?"

"Well done!" The first to react was Du Yehu, who was naturally fierce and preferred a direct approach. Without hesitation, he smashed the horse's head to pieces with a punch. "Wei Yan, how do we charge next?"

Wei Yan raised his right hand slightly, "On my command, dismount and prepare for battle, form the Arrowhead Formation, with me as the tip, straight into Xiaolin Town!"

Wei Yan killing the horse made everyone realize there was no turning back. There was no room for hesitation anymore, and they all dismounted in unison.

Wei Yan then commanded, "Raise arms!"

A unified swishing sound of blades being drawn!

At this time, Wei Yan's plain-looking adjutant stepped forward. He lifted his right palm upwards, made a hand gesture with his left, muttered words under his breath, and finally declared, "Be sharp!"

Jiang Wang suddenly felt his longsword's sharpness surge. This longsword, which could only be described as fine, now seemed to have the illusion of being able to cut through anything.

"Blaze!"

All the weapons burst into fierce flames! The cultivators, holding their swords and sabres, looked as though they were carrying torches, ready to pierce through the fog that veiled the town before them.

"Fortify!"

Ling He felt his body become tough and resilient, filled with the urge to exchange blows with his fists. However, he merely glanced at Du Yehu, whose beard and hair were bristling in anger, and silently dismissed the thought.

What Zhao Rucheng pondered was that group enhancing Dao Techniques must be at least of upper-grade class C. And yet, Wei Yan's unremarkable deputy had cast three techniques consecutively without changing countenance, truly, the Military Division was a place where hidden dragons lay.

No matter what the others thought, when an army marched, there could only be one will. Under the enhancement of the Dao Techniques, Wei Yan, sword in hand, took the lead and stepped into Xiaolin Town.

As they advanced, they noticed the small town was eerily silent except for their footsteps.

After a while, the fog seemed to become even denser.

This fog was so thick it nearly felt tangible; beyond three steps, they could no longer see each other's figures, only the fire from their weapons defiantly flickering in the seemingly endless dense mist.

Having no choice, they once again closed up the formation, narrowing the space between them from five steps to three steps. Any closer would hinder their combat.

Jiang Wang and his brothers were positioned towards the rear in the middle of the troops. Being the lowest in their realm, they naturally received protection, an unspoken convention that was also a fine tradition of their Taoist institute.

Du Yehu clenched his fists until they cracked. He wasn't nervous, he was excited and itching to fight.

Jiang Wang had no doubt that even if they were to face the now-infamous nine demons of the world, Du Yehu wouldn't hesitate to throw a punch. Whether he could defeat them was another matter.

Just then, a cry of alarm suddenly came from the outskirts of the formation, "What is that?!"

Another voice grumbled discontentedly, "Just ghosts, what's there to fear?"

But the tone quickly changed to shock, "So many?!"

Wei Yan, hearing this, whirled around and slashed with his sword!

A massive arc of sword energy swept across, cleaving the thick fog open for a moment!

And in that moment, everyone could see the dense swarm of staggering, clawing spirits crowding the entire street!

Under the bright azure sky, a multitude of ghosts roamed in the daylight!