The events unfolding in the sky had ended in mere moments, lasting no more than four breaths. As the remaining figure, Li Dao, fled in the opposite direction, he did not escape as Ma Xiao had hoped. Instead, he knelt in terror, watching the gruesome spectacle in the air, trembling in fear, awaiting his own death. Surrounded by thousands of spiritual needles, he could only cry out, "Immortal! Spare me! It wasn't my fault, I was just following orders! Please! It's not my fault!" His voice was desperate, and his body quivered, completely devoid of any will to resist.
"Spare you?" A cold, ice-like voice responded from the shadows. A faint smile appeared on the otherwise emotionless face of Yan Huo. It was a smile devoid of warmth, an expression that chilled to the bone.
Meanwhile, at the Yan City's Liu Family mansion, within the Fengyuan Escort Bureau, Liu Yiqing had risen earlier than usual that day. Ever since Yan Huo and his companions had left, he had not been able to sleep in peace. Four days had passed, and even this seasoned strategist could not shake off a feeling of unease. The real question was: when would their enemies strike? Would it be before Yan Huo's return, or after? What was their ultimate goal? Were they after the treasure and the artifacts, or was there something deeper at play, such as an ambition to eradicate the four great families? These questions kept him on edge.
Despite his concerns, Liu Yiqing didn't believe the treasure Yan Huo had found would be of great use. If it had such immense value, then Emperor Chen Yuan wouldn't have remained indifferent. What truly mattered was Yan Huo's return. If the enemy attacked while he was present, the Escort Bureau would stand a chance. Liu Yiqing was confident his men could handle regular foes. However, if Yan Huo returned, things would be different. If the cultivators backing Yan Huo were involved, the situation would shift in their favor.
Liu Yiqing had already anticipated the arrival of trouble. He had ordered his sons to gather key figures from the Escort Bureau, planning to discuss further deployments. Though he had already contacted the local governor, Liu Junsheng, to ensure that the Bureau's operations were not disturbed, Liu Yiqing did not trust mere diplomatic solutions. Even if they were ostensibly gathering men under the guise of a birthday celebration for Liu Yiqing, it was better to be prepared.
The thousands of Bureau personnel scattered across Yan City were organized in groups of five hundred, ensuring that they would remain inconspicuous, avoiding any potential disturbances. Liu Yiqing had issued strict orders to keep their movements under wraps.
After offering a prayer and a bow to the ancestral tablets of the Liu family, Liu Yiqing exhaled deeply. His heart was heavy, as he was well aware of the danger looming over the family. As he stepped out of the prayer room, he was about to enter the inner hall when urgent footsteps echoed down the corridor.
"Father!!!" His usually composed son, Liu Zheng, came rushing towards him, his face pale with shock.
"What's going on?" Liu Yiqing asked, his expression shifting with worry. He could tell from his son's demeanor that something serious had occurred.
"Father!" Liu Zheng panted, still trying to catch his breath. "The men we've stationed at ten locations around the city…"
At that moment, Liu Zheng hesitated, his eyes filled with dread. Liu Yiqing, sensing that the situation was dire, pressed, "What happened to them?!"
Liu Zheng took a deep breath and continued, "Six of the ten locations... they've disappeared! All of them!"
Liu Yiqing's eyes widened in disbelief, his body going rigid with shock. "Disappeared? What do you mean by disappeared?"
"All the locations... they were empty. There were no signs of a struggle, no traces of blood. I personally inspected each one, and not a single soul remains," Liu Zheng reported, his voice trembling.
Liu Yiqing's mind raced as a chilling realization swept over him. The disappearance of six out of ten forces could not be a coincidence. It was not an attack that left physical traces; no blood, no bodies. It was as if these men had vanished into thin air.**Liu Zheng spoke:** "...!"
Liu Yiqing, after hearing this, felt darkness cloud his vision and nearly lost his balance. Fortunately, he managed to lean on the wall for support.
"Father!!!" Liu Zheng anxiously grabbed hold of him.
"I... I'm fine." Liu Yiqing forced a bitter smile. "Who would have thought... who would have thought. A soldier has not even left to battle, yet the death has come first. I never imagined that my thousands of men would be lost like this, without even seeing the shadow of the enemy. It seems that fate has decided to wipe out my Liu family!"
To Liu Yiqing, his men were his foundation, his guarantee. And now, that foundation, painstakingly built over the years, had been easily destroyed. How could he not feel heartbroken?
"Gather the remaining forces here immediately. We can't afford to lose a single soldier more. Also, send people to monitor Prefect Liu Junsheng and Military Commander Lu Fei. The disappearance of our thousands of men has to be connected with them." Liu Yiqing knew that, even if the military was not directly involved, these officials were definitely not on his side. Though several thousand men might seem like a drop in the ocean compared to the millions in Yancheng, they were still thousands of people, not just ants. How could their disappearance go unnoticed by the authorities without any trace?
Liu Yiqing thought to himself, "I never imagined things would fall apart so quickly. I hope they don't blatantly mobilize the army. After all, our Liu family hasn't committed any crimes against the state or caused harm to the people." What Liu Yiqing did not know was that two days prior, Prefect Liu Junsheng and Military Commander Lu Fei had been secretly transferred out of Yancheng, and they had not even had the chance to inform Liu Yiqing.
"Zheng'er, the situation is becoming increasingly unfavorable for us. With our current strength, it seems impossible to confront the 'court' directly! At the same time, send word through carrier pigeons to the men stationed in the other two cities. Let them evacuate as many people as they can. Prepare yourself, and be ready to leave at any moment, taking your mother and sisters with you."
"I never thought things would escalate like this before you and Liu De could even leave Yancheng. The forces in those two cities, and the Fang and Yang families, are also at risk."
"Father! What about you?" Liu Zheng asked, concerned.
"I will not leave." Liu Yiqing said firmly. "I cannot let the family's legacy be destroyed on my watch. Even if I die, I will die here. Moreover…" Liu Yiqing couldn't continue, his words faltering as he looked at his son. In his heart, he thought: "And, no matter how vast the world is, there is no place for us to hide. Unless Yan Huo returns, bringing with him the treasure. If that happens…"
For his family, Liu Yiqing was willing to beg, even surrender, and now he didn't care about the legacy of the late emperor, the eunuchs, or even seeking revenge for the Wang family.
"As long as there's the slightest hope, I will not give up."
"Father! I will not leave either. Our escort agency still has many skilled fighters left. If we concentrate our forces, we may still be able to fight them."