Fang Yang's voice came to an abrupt halt.
He stood there, stunned, as he looked down at the knife that had pierced through his chest.
He had already resolved to follow Liang Hu and leave, but despite knowing the dangers of Linjiang Square, he had taken the risk to turn back, all because he had caught a glimpse of that Flag Commander Wu Chang.
He believed his opportunity for achieving merit had arrived and wanted these three to help him secure evidence of Wu Chang abandoning his post.
He hadn't expected that this prime opportunity to achieve merit would instead turn into a deadly disaster.
His gaze grew dim, and he lifted his head, somewhat in disbelief.
Why, when he had presented them an opportunity to earn merit, did they not only fail to appreciate it but also stab him with this knife?
"Have you ever seen someone fleeing from battle turn towards the most dangerous place and charge at it with a knife?"
Xiaohui spoke icily as he slowly said, "He may have abandoned his post, but he returned to aid Linjiang Square, drawing his knife against the evil..."
He slowly twisted the blade and said gravely, "Liang Hu abandoned Linjiang Square, but this newly appointed Flag Commander wanted to save the lives of everyone in Linjiang Square!"
With a soft 'puth,' the middle-aged man stepped forward, then suddenly plunged another knife into Fang Yang's abdomen.
"Xiaohui is right..."
Then, this middle-aged man with a missing ear, along with the youth named Xiaohui, both turned towards the other person.
The youth named Zheng Liu seemed to understand something and stepped forward, severing Fang Yang's head.
"This newly appointed Flag Commander dared to face the bear demon; he truly seems to be stronger than Liang Hu."
Zheng Liu spoke solemnly, "As long as he is still alive tomorrow, sitting in the position of Flag Commander, Liang Hu will have lost any connection to Linjiang Square."
He kicked Fang Yang's head away and then said, "Now we three brothers are in the same boat."
"But the master of this boat is that Fifth Master, after all."
The middle-aged man with a missing ear spoke gravely, "It's not yet certain if we can climb aboard his boat."
"Previously, we were already prepared to face death; now that we see a chance at life, what is there to fear?"
Xiaohui pulled out his knife, kicked over Fang Yang's corpse, and said, "If the Fifth Master is willing to accept us, we are in luck! If he doesn't want us, could it be worse than death?"
After speaking, he started toward the street where the bear demon lay.
The other two exchanged glances and followed swiftly behind him.
They hadn't reached the street yet.
When they saw a giant head rolling out onto the ground.
Covered in black fur, with blood-red eyes that still held traces of fear and disbelief.
It was the head of the giant bear!
The three men were shaken to the core, followed the bloody trail made by the bear's head, and looked slowly in its direction.
They saw a body covered in black fur, standing tall like an iron tower in the middle of the street.
Despite being headless, it still projected a presence so imposing that it made their hearts tremble.
The powerful Qi Mechanism and the overwhelming aura rendered the three men momentarily rigid, their eyes filled with shock and awe.
With a loud thud!
The body fell backward, shaking half the street for a moment as if it quivered.
During this night, it was like a clap of thunder!
Jolting the three men back to reality!
"Pretty impressive," remarked a loud voice from behind the three men at that moment: "He beheaded that bear demon with a single slash..."
The three men felt a chill in their hearts and turned to look.
They saw a simple-looking man, gazing down at the bear demon's head.
Not far away, an old man leaning on a cane, with the assistance of a young girl, was slowly making his way over.
"Mr. Lu."
The simple-looking man looked up, his voice filled with admiration: "Such a quick blade, decisively clean... and he moved like the wind; he chopped off the bear's head and vanished before the body even fell."
Mr. Lu approached slowly, scrutinizing for a moment.
"Didn't you get a clear look at his face just now?"
"..." The simple-looking man was taken aback at first, then said in a low voice: "Mr. Lu, do you think I should have recognized him?"
"That man should be nine feet tall, with a body strong as a bear, muscles knotted and burly, a full face of stubble, shouldn't he?"
"Seems like it."
The simple-looking man scratched his head, then turned to the other three flags and asked, "What do you think?"
The three men looked at each other.
In the end, it was the man with the missing ear, the oldest and most experienced among them, who bowed and said, "What we have seen coincides with what the elderly gentleman has said."
"Everyone go home. There is no need for you here anymore."
Mr. Lu waved his hand and turned to leave, speaking indifferently, "Since the demon bear has already been slain by someone, we should head home as well."
"..."
The man with the missing ear, Xiao Hui, and Zheng Liu exchanged glances.
Then, they heard Xiao Hui whisper, "Is he the old temple priest who came back from Qifeng Prefecture City?"
"I had heard that Mr. Lu was moving to the outer city, but I never expected it to be in Linjiang Square."
Zheng Liu spoke softly, "As the small flag bearers of Linjiang Square, we weren't informed about this beforehand."
"I think even Liang Hu, that fellow, might also be unaware; otherwise, he wouldn't have given up Linjiang Square so readily."
The man with the missing ear said this and then added, "Since Mr. Lu has spoken, then tonight, we did not see Wu Chang, the Flag Commander."
Xiao Hui seemed to understand at that moment, his eyes slightly brightened as he said, "Is Mr. Lu covering for Master Five, hiding his abandonment of his post?"
"So behind Master Five is Mr. Lu?"
A shiver went through Zheng Liu as he spoke in a low voice, "If this is the case, in terms of background, Master Five is even more formidable than Liang Hu!"
"And in terms of strength and courage, Liang Hu feared the demon bear, while Master Five faced it alone with a knife and slashed it on the spot."
"In light of this, wouldn't slaying Liang Hu be but a single knife's work as well for Master Five?"
The three men fell silent for a moment before looking at each other.
A thought crossed their minds.
Where did Liang Hu find the courage to vie for power from Master Five's hands?
"In the daytime, we chose the wrong side."
The man with the missing ear suddenly said, "Tonight might be an opportunity to make amends."
——
On the other end of the street.
The simple and honest man seemed somewhat astonished.
"This giant bear, in its original form, is not weaker than a fierce tiger, and after becoming a demon, it is comparable to the Refining Essence Realm."
"I had thought that in this southern district of the outer city, apart from me, only General Flag Envoy Han Zheng had the capability to slay this demon bear!"
"To think that there is actually someone else who possesses such skill?"
The simple and honest man was somewhat moved as he continued, "Mr. Lu seems to already know who this person is. Why is he covering for him?"
"The tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be destroyed by the wind."
Mr. Lu shook his head and said, "Being too outstanding can lead to disaster."
He recalled the exceptionally gifted individuals he had seen throughout his life.
Not one had ever been so astonishingly talented.
"Mr. Lu thinks that this person is extremely exceptional," the girl suddenly spoke, her voice clear, "Exceptional to the point that… Mr. Lu thinks it would be a great pity if he were to die."
"Such rare talents are seldom seen in the world, even more outstanding than the Li Shen Sect."
Mr. Lu sighed and said, "But not everyone can tolerate the growth of a prodigy who threatens their own status… This is a flaw of the Human Clan!"
"The reason I value Han Zheng is because not only does he not envy the capable, but he also promotes them."
As he said this, Mr. Lu looked ahead, feeling emotional, "The Human Clan… has not had an easy time throughout these long years."
"Tonight's event, grand in scale, with all parties cooperating to defend the city, slay demons, and drive away Evil Spirits, may seem thrilling."
"But in my eyes, it is ultimately somewhat tragic."
With Mr. Lu saying so, the two people beside him stood in silence.
The event of the night, in fact, was to send out incense, asking the Evil to stay away.
It was as if large river pirates were loitering outside one's door.
Yet High Willow City could only prepare a hefty sum, spending money to avert disaster.
"The Human Clan in this world, struggling to survive, is humbly seeking life."
Mr. Lu sighed and said, "That's why having more talented people will mean more hope for future generations."
Looking at the girl beside him, he said, "There was something you said earlier that was wrong."
"It is not that his death would make me feel regretful."
"Rather, I believe that if he were to die, it would be the Human Clan's loss."