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Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Linguan City, Empress of Great Chu
Over the next two days, the caravan’s pace noticeably quickened.
This journey didn’t encounter major disruptions, with the caravan only facing two small waves of Demon Beast attacks.
They had already reached the outskirts of the Running Horse Plain, where the Demon Beasts were ordinary and easily repelled by the caravan.
Early on the third day, the caravan finally left the Running Horse Plain, and signs of human habitation began to appear along the way.
Seeing that his cultivation had hit a bottleneck, Luo Cheng decided to speed up and keep pace with the caravan.
The Ling Family was exceedingly warm and grateful in their response to this.
Everyone was acutely aware that without Luo Cheng’s intervention, the entire caravan would have fallen prey to the malicious hands of the Lin Brothers.
With such a young genius accompanying the caravan, everyone felt a new sense of ease and security.
Even Ling Xuan, who came forward to strike up a conversation, spoke in soft, gentle tones—completely unlike her previous demeanor.
Luo Cheng rode alongside Guo Qing and the others.
"Luo Cheng, you’ve probably just recently joined the Xuanyuan Sect, right?" Guo Qing, being quite talkative, engaged Luo Cheng in casual conversation.
Ji Rou also curiously studied Luo Cheng.
Luo Cheng smiled and asked, "What makes you say that?"
Guo Qing’s bright eyes sparkled, and she chuckled upon hearing his response. "With cultivation only at the Fifth Layer of Transcendence Realm while your Sword Dao Realm has reached the high level of Sword Heart, allowing you to effortlessly cut down even top-tier Sixth Layer Transcendence Realm experts—such talent is a rarity even among the Three Great Sects. It’s impossible we wouldn’t have heard your name."
Luo Cheng smiled, replying, "You flatter me."
Guo Qing shook her head and responded with a dazzling smile, "There’s no need to be modest. With your talent, your name will surely reverberate throughout the Great Yue Dynasty in the future!"
Luo Cheng gave a faint smile and cast his gaze into the distance.
Reverberate throughout the Great Yue Dynasty?
His ambitions extended far beyond that.
Merely gaining fame in the Great Yue Dynasty would not be enough to confront the Ji Family, let alone to seek justice for himself and his parents!
As they turned past a hillside, Luo Cheng’s brow furrowed slightly, catching the unmistakable stench of decay.
Before long, the caravan came to a halt.
Ahead, nestled within the forested hills, lay a village that had been concealed from view.
The dilapidated village was strewn with scattered corpses—men, women, the elderly, and children alike.
Dozens of bodies were sprawled messily across the ground, their flesh beginning to rot. Several jackals were gnawing on the decaying corpses, creating a horrifying scene.
Luo Cheng’s gaze landed on two corpses at the entrance of the village.
A woman was cradling a little girl in her arms.
It appeared that the two had tried to flee the village, only to be struck down from behind; their chests pierced through by a single claw, their hearts removed, leaving behind gaping, bowl-sized holes in their torsos.
"How cruel! The entire village was slaughtered! They didn’t even spare the elderly and children."
Guo Qing furrowed her delicate brows.
Although she had witnessed her share of life-and-death scenarios, the sight before her still made her uncomfortable.
Ji Rou’s face had turned pale.
Ling Xuan frowned and said, "I’ve heard my father mention that recently, a band of horse bandits has appeared around Linguan City. They’ve been killing indiscriminately, massacring several villages. Even many disciples from the Three Great Sects have perished..."
Ji Rou seemed to recall something and furrowed her brows. "So, it’s them! Senior Sister Han went missing after taking on this mission."
The mission to eradicate the horse bandits near Linguan City had already cost the Three Great Sects some of their disciples, including a few Sixth Layer Transcendence Realm experts.
As such, many Outer Disciples of the Three Great Sects were well aware of this mission.
Looking at the horrific scene in the village, Guo Qing said furiously, "Who are these people? To be so cruel, it’s as if they kill simply for the sake of killing!"
Such a remote mountain village couldn’t possibly contain any valuable treasures, and logically speaking, wouldn’t be a target for bandits or horse thieves.
Moreover, the village’s belongings were completely untouched—it was clear that the attackers hadn’t come for wealth.
Luo Cheng remained emotionless and said coldly, "We’ll find out once we catch them."
Hearing this, Guo Qing’s expression shifted slightly, and she asked in surprise, "Luo Cheng, did you accept this mission?"
"Yes."
Luo Cheng nodded, gazing at the mother and child’s corpses. He exhaled gently, saying, "Let’s lay them to rest."
Ling Xuan ordered her people to gather the bodies and set them ablaze.
As the roaring flames consumed the remains, Luo Cheng’s eyes flickered, and his mind replayed the tragic images of the mother and child’s deaths. His yearning for power grew even more intense.
In this world where strength was the ultimate currency, ordinary lives were as fragile as blades of grass—without dignity, their fates were never in their own hands.
This was why so many people risked their lives, straining to grow stronger.
Only by becoming stronger could one seize control of their destiny!
The caravan resumed its journey.
After passing through two more towns, they finally arrived at their destination at noon on the second day—Linguan City!
As a key border stronghold, Linguan City was fortified with grandeur. Its city gate towered twenty-five meters high, while its walls reached forty-four meters, coiled like a black dragon resting upon the earth! 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
Squads of Essence Qi-infused soldiers patrolled back and forth, their sharp gazes scanning the crowd continuously.
"How strict."
Luo Cheng sighed.
The patrolling soldiers emanated robust Essence Qi and vigorous blood energy, with cultivation levels at least at the Third Layer of the Body Tempering Realm. Their captain, in particular, was a Ninth Layer Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist, one step away from breaking into the Transcendence Realm.
Guo Qing remarked, "It’s probably to guard against war."
War?
Luo Cheng was momentarily stunned.
Ever since the legendary Empress of the Great Chu ascended the throne and single-handedly subdued dozens of nations within the Yunlan Domain Group, no conflict had occurred between the Great Chu Dynasty and the Great Yue Dynasty in nearly a hundred years.
After presenting their Identity Tokens, Luo Cheng and the group smoothly entered the city.
Once inside, Luo Cheng immediately bid farewell.
Guo Qing couldn’t help but ask, "Luo Cheng, are you really planning to handle this mission alone?"
They had learned that Luo Cheng had accepted the mission to eliminate the horse bandits near Linguan City.
Luo Cheng nodded.
Guo Qing hesitated slightly before saying, "Do you want us to help?"
Luo Cheng shook his head and smiled. "I appreciate your kind offer, but I’m used to working alone. Don’t worry, if it gets too dangerous, I won’t risk my life needlessly—I’ll abandon the mission."
Guo Qing thought about it and realized he was right.
If Luo Cheng wasn’t strong enough to confront the bandits, then she and her sister wouldn’t stand a chance either; they’d only become burdens.
"Then be careful. Take care!"
"Farewell."
Luo Cheng turned and walked away.
Yuelai Inn.
This was the largest inn in the western district of Linguan City.
Seated by a window on the second floor of the inn, Luo Cheng had ordered a table full of luxurious dishes and was devouring them ravenously.
Traveling with the caravan over the past days, he had eaten nothing but dry rations and roasted meat, leaving his taste buds utterly deprived.
Moreover, in an inn teeming with all sorts of people from various backgrounds, there was a good chance he could gather some clues about the group of horse bandits he was pursuing.
The inn was packed with martial world wanderers armed with blades and swords, each enthusiastically discussing various topics.
Suddenly, a voice captured Luo Cheng’s attention.
"Do you think the rumors about the Great Chu Dynasty’s legendary Empress disappearing are true?"
Like a stone dropped into still water, this statement prompted an uproar throughout the inn.
"Impossible. That legendary Empress is like a divine dragon above the clouds. Among the dozens of nations in the Yunlan Domain Group, who could possibly lay a hand on her?"
"I doubt these rumors are baseless. Ever since news of the Empress’s disappearance began circulating, Linguan City has gone into lockdown. I’ve heard that border troops are being mobilized, something unprecedented for decades."
"Tsk, tsk. If this is true, it’s monumental! The entire Yunlan Domain Group will be shaken to its core. Perhaps even the entire Eastern Continent will fall into chaos!"
