Chapter Thirty: The Fifth Watch, Unleashing the Slaughter

Song of Nine Chapters · Demon Verse: Calamity is born of heaven, malice from earth, and darkness from the human heart, easily nourishing evil and demons. Demons come in many forms: inner demons, celestial demons, and monstrous demons. Of these, inner demons are most closely tied to mankind; the heart's fall from grace transforms one into a wraith, a beast, a ravenous wolf, worshipping evil without feeling or compassion, utterly devoid of humanity. Celestial demons are external, roaming beyond the boundaries of heaven and earth, yet able to manifest within the sea of the mind, skilled in seduction, luring living souls into the endless abyss, never to reincarnate. Monstrous demons are those tainted by demonic energy, their hearts corrupted, addicted to killing and feasting upon blood, offering all living things as sacrifice.

...

Night descended, lights flickered to life.

The city was far more bustling and lively than Nanshan Town.

Crowds surged back and forth, aromas of food and wine mingled in the air, laughter and curses echoed, repeating the thousand-year-old tapestry of mortal life.

Yang Fan strode onto the busiest street, swaggering openly, making no attempt to conceal himself, yet his earth sense was constantly activated.

He noticed many people secretly searching the street.

He paid them no mind.

After feasting until he was full, he wrapped up two roast chickens and bought some fruit, carrying them as he slipped away into the crowd.

With earth sense in his heart, he could easily avoid all surveillance.

He returned again to the Yang estate.

No lights, no sound.

He lifted his gaze; the night was vast, stars scattered across the sky.

He looked around, shadows shifting, still unaccustomed to the darkness, feeling inexplicably as if hidden eyes watched him.

It made him uneasy.

"Night vision, enhance!"

Now that he had ample earth energy, Yang Fan no longer hesitated, directly awakening the ability of night vision. In an instant, he felt two streams of warmth flow into his eyes, branching into countless rivulets that filled every corner of his vision, even trickling into his mind.

Yang Fan sensed the change.

The environment before him shifted rapidly, from near-invisible darkness, to blurry, to clear, as bright as day, and he could see much farther, two or three times his previous range.

Like an eagle's eye.

The change was swift.

Night vision, achieved.

He could now see in the dark as if it were daylight.

From this moment, no night would ever blind his eyes.

His personal information had changed as well.

[Seal Holder: Yang Fan]
[Fate: Mountain Ranger]
[Awakening: 20%]
[Awakened Divine Powers: Qi Consumption, Earth Sense, Intimidation, Qi Lock, Swift Movement, Earth Surge, Night Vision]
[Earth Energy: 7.3]
[Level: Martial Path, Eighth Grade]

Yang Fan was about to begin cultivation when he heard footsteps outside. Activating earth sense, he detected several figures approaching, vaulting over the wall.

He took his food, quickly tidied up any traces, and hid in a corner.

"Have they discovered my trail, or are they just thieves?"

Yang Fan couldn't tell, but watched closely.

Three people entered, making no effort to conceal themselves.

One muttered, "Boss, this place was seized by the official—no way that kid would hide here, right?"

"What if he pulls a trick, hiding right under our noses? Enough chatter, look around, check if anyone's here."

"Alright, boss, what exactly is going on to make both the underworld and law in the city mobilize, just to hunt down some youngster? I can't believe it!"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't!"

"But it's just the three of us! Boss, is it true that kid stole the official's concubine? I heard his concubines are real beauties..."

Slap—

A palm struck, sending the talkative youth stumbling.

"If you babble any more, I'll cut out your tongue. Damn it, even if my mortal enemy doesn't kill me, I'll die from your nonsense sooner or later. If not for your sister, I'd have dealt with you already."

Yang Fan couldn't help but chuckle.

He easily slipped past their search, watching them leave before stepping out from the darkness.

Standing beneath the shadows of the trees, he listened intently.

Earth sense activated, he scanned his surroundings again. Finding no danger, he drew his Black Cloud Blade and began practicing the Cloak Blade Technique and Gale Slash.

He even attempted to train the Wind-Chasing Step.

Compared to the blade techniques, Wind-Chasing Step was much more difficult.

Dong~ dong dong...

The night watchman's wooden clapper sounded, one fast, two slow, repeating incessantly.

"Midnight, all is well!"

The hoarse voice carried far through the silent street.

Yang Fan paused, catching his breath.

"Midnight, that's eleven at night."

Calculating the time, Yang Fan took out his food, eating one roast chicken.

He finished most of the fruit.

Bones and scraps were tossed into the well; he cleaned up traces, then leapt onto a tree, resting upon a sturdy branch.

He needed to restore his energy.

The Liu estate.

"It's midnight—still no sign of him, and he hasn't come to us!"

Liu Kaizong stood in the courtyard with hands behind his back, his massive frame radiating an endless aura of menace. He glanced at the coffin nearby.

Malice surged in his heart, murderous intent thickening, chilling the air around him.

"Master, he likely won't appear tonight," the steward said, forcing himself to stay alert. "The city has been searched countless times. If he's here, such commotion would surely alert him—he wouldn't dare break into our estate."

"Keep the inner guard tight, don't relax!" Liu Kaizong ordered, casting another glance at the coffin before returning inside.

He had been tense all day and was now exhausted.

Even in his grief, he knew this: he had to rest now.

Anyone capable of killing Little Black was no ordinary person. He couldn't afford to show weakness, even though he believed he ruled the city with an iron hand.

Sky-Patrol Tower.

"Lier, it's midnight, tonight should be uneventful—go rest!" Han Jinchang put down his book, looking at his son.

"Based on what I know, he should make a move tonight. The longer he waits, the worse his position becomes." Han Li frowned.

"Yes, that's my conclusion as well. He's very likely to strike tonight, and now is the best time. If Liu Kaizong stays vigilant, now is when he's most fatigued; if he's already asleep, now is when he'll be sleeping deepest." Han Jinchang analyzed. "Go rest for a while. I'll wait a bit longer—if nothing happens by the second watch, tonight will pass without incident. Besides, we're not yet certain he's actually in town."

"Alright, Father, I'll go sleep. You should rest soon, too."

"Mm!"

Time flowed quietly.

Dong~ dong dong dong dong...

The night watchman's clapper sounded, one fast, four slow.

The fifth watch.

"Early to bed, early to rise—take care of your health!"

The watchman's voice was even more hoarse, tinged with fatigue.

Yang estate.

Yang Fan opened his eyes.

"Early fifth watch—three in the morning!"

He steadied himself and leaped down from the tree.

He calmly took care of himself.

Practiced two sets of boxing.

Ate the last roast chicken and remaining fruit, drank some water, then strolled around the vast courtyard to digest.

After half an hour, Yang Fan finally exited.

The night was serene, the air crisp.

The streets were empty; occasionally, a stray cat darted through an alley, causing a stir, while a wild dog whimpered in a corner.

He saw a couple of drunkards sleeping soundly atop garbage heaps.

Yang Fan approached the Liu estate. The lanterns here were not increased; the light was dim, but he could still see most of the area.

He was about to proceed when he paused, turning to look elsewhere.

It was a household on the eastern side of the Liu estate. On the wall, a man was perched, bored, staring at the alley ahead.

He held a crossbow in his hand.

Ready to fire at any moment.

"Interesting. As expected of the county constable—knowledgeable in military affairs, strict in defense, cautious and thorough; even a lion uses full strength to hunt a rabbit!"

Yang Fan's eyes gleamed.

With earth sense and night vision, he quickly located several others.

He turned and headed in another direction.

"Best to deal with these men first, so I won't be surrounded when confronting Liu Kaizong."

Yang Fan soon came up behind one man.

This fellow was alert, and upon hearing a faint sound, began to turn, but Yang Fan acted first—one hand covering his mouth, the other twisting his neck.

He didn't even need to use intimidation.

Circling the Liu estate, he dealt with the outer guards.

At the main gate stood only two dozing men.

No one elsewhere.

Inside, however, the defenses were tight, with patrols moving about, but to him, the flaws were obvious.

He slipped inside with ease.

In the garden, a guard hid among the flowers, yawning repeatedly.

Suddenly, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Intimidation unleashed.

One strike, instant defeat.

Yang Fan walked over and snapped his neck.

With each increase in awakening and cultivation, the power of his divine intimidation grew, and he could roughly control its range.

Unfortunately, shrinking the range didn’t increase its potency.

Still, it was useful.

"Now I can confine intimidation to a three-meter radius, covering a thirty-degree arc. Any smaller, and I can't manage it yet!"

With practice, it could improve further.

Yang Fan had a goal: to control intimidation for pinpoint attacks.

Aim, strike.

But for now, it sufficed.

Yang Fan began harvesting the estate's guards, even knocking out the dogs first—silent and swift.

The estate grew quieter.

Central courtyard.

The steward who had been keeping vigil by the coffin was dozing off, but suddenly jolted awake.

Long vigilance told him something was wrong.

But he couldn’t pinpoint it.

He stood, pacing restlessly.

"What exactly is wrong?"

He glanced at the servants dozing nearby, paused, his pupils contracting.

It had been quite a while, with patrols passing through here.

He strained to hear—no footsteps.

His body stiffened, cold sweat soaking his back.

"Enemy attack!"

Panic seized him. He listened again, but still heard nothing, so he shouted, breaking the deep silence of the night.

At that moment, he saw a figure rushing toward him.

Too fast.

He had no time to react.

He watched in horror as the blade pierced his mouth and exited through his skull.