The next morning, early dawn at Guang’an Prefecture, all was blur between heaven and earth.
Above in the sky, dark clouds densely packed, with Thunder Snakes roaming.
A torrential downpour was falling from the sky.
The air was filled with a repressive and gloomy atmosphere.
In the distance, the towering city walls, stained like ink between heaven and earth, faintly revealed their vague outlines.
A bolt of lightning tore through the gloomy sky, illuminating the top of the West City Gate.
At this moment, on the city tower, a man clad in armor, with a beard on his face and a strong build like a tiger’s back and a bear’s waist, looked somberly into the distant rain-soaked forest.
This person was the local Colonel, Gou Zhi.
Compared to the previous small figure, almost child-like, he was a completely different person.
Or rather, this was the original him.
Ever since his Divine Skills training went awry, his body gradually shrank, almost reverting to a youthful state, accompanied by a great reduction in strength. However, after using a secret technique, he could temporarily return his body to its original form and regain peak strength, but at a great expense. If it lasted too long, he would suffer from backlash from the secret technique.
But now Gou Zhi could no longer care about that.
Ever since he received the message of the blockade from one of the Nine Colonels, Chen Yuan, he ordered the lockdown of Guang’an Prefecture, and sent scouts to investigate, but one report after another made him extremely anxious.
First was Jiang’an, Zhangtian, Gulan counties, the cities broken, demons’ corpses everywhere, a large number of refugees on the roads.
Then, news came that a revolt of demons had erupted in the southwest.
He faintly guessed the intentions of this Nine Colonel, but dared not delve too deep, feeling it a bit absurd.
But the more he thought about it, the more it alarmed him.
Would those five really play such a big game?
Last night, after receiving the news of the demon revolt in the southwest, he had already sent troops out of the city overnight to cover the refugees’ retreat, but up to now, no news had come back!
This made him anxiously worried, always feeling that something big was about to happen.
At this moment, looking at the distant rain curtain, he was in a rather bad mood.
Just then, a subordinate of his, a Colonel, approached,
Gou Zhi immediately tensed up,
"What, is there news from the front?"
But the Colonel said, "General, a Colonel surnamed Liu from the Ninth Mountain requests to see you!"
Upon hearing that it was a Colonel from Ninth Mountain, Gou Zhi didn’t underestimate him. If a mere Colonel was seeking him out, it must be that the Nine Colonel had some information, "Let him in!"
There was a sense of urgency in his tone. Regardless of what the Nine Colonel thought of him, Gou Zhi just wanted to hear news from him, which would give him some peace of mind.
The subordinate Colonel retreated, and after a while, a figure in Green Armor clanking with armor entered the gate tower.
"Subordinate Liu Qing greets Lord Gou!"
"Is there any news from your General?" Gou Zhi didn’t wait for him to continue, stepping forward to ask.
Liu Qing shook his head, "My General hasn’t sent any news yet, but the day before last night, the General dispatched a Contracted Demon to relay a message that there are spies from the Six Mountain Demon Tribe inside Guang’an Prefecture. The General intercepted their message; today in Southern City at the Xiao Mansion, they will be holding a birthday banquet for their youngest daughter, and these demons might seize the opportunity to create chaos. I heard that the Xiao Family has considerable local influence, and the previous Colonel was from this family. May I ask what the General knows about this Xiao Family?"
As Liu Qing talked, his expression became serious. This matter was delegated by the General, so he took it very seriously.
Gou Zhi’s expression slightly changed upon hearing this, then he frowned deeply, piercingly staring at Liu Qing,
"Spies from the Six Mountain Demon Tribe? You’re saying that there are traitors within the Xiao Family?"
"I wouldn’t know; since my General commanded, letting us take over this matter, I can only be more cautious. After all, this time many local powers have been invited to the Xiao Mansion, even the disciples from supporting Sects have received invitations. I heard you also received one and have a good relationship with the Xiao Family, that’s why I came to ask, I hope you understand."
Hearing this, Gou Zhi waved his hand, "The previous Colonel came from the Xiao Family, and I’m somewhat acquainted with their Family Head. However, the Xiao Family has always been supportive of my work. This time with the demons coming fiercely, many fled with their families upon hearing the news, but the Xiao Family has been running about defending the city. Yesterday when they brought the invitation, the Xiao Family Master also invited my General and your General over. I sent them back; they couldn’t possibly have the audacity to collude with demons!"
Gou Zhi’s voice was somewhat heavy and slightly angry.
He was annoyed by the doubts of a mere Leading Military Officer!
And to bring it up at this time, as if he were afraid of him snitching.
"Please do not be angered, my Lord!" Liu Qing, facing the local Colonel’s anger, steadied his hand, his demeanor composed, "This matter was ordered by my General, and with the General’s movements unclear, if there’s chaos in the city at this time, I would be unable to escape blame, naturally I must be cautious."
Gou Zhi, hearing him mention Chen Yuan, thought it over and decided not to take it personally, his eyes shifted downward,
"Fine, tell me, what do you plan to do?"
Meanwhile, in Southern City, on the wide green stone-paved road, it was desolate with only a few hurried pedestrians, donning straw raincoats, splashing the pebbles on the pavement, rushing their way.
At the entrance of a tavern, the droplets from the eaves fell like pearl drops on a plate, pitter-patter, splashing onto the ground, forming small puddles and rippling waves.
A figure hurredly draped in a straw raincoat arrived at the entrance, took off the raincoat, called out for the waiter. A bustling server quickly responded and briskly approached, taking the guest’s raincoat and warmly said, "Sir, please come inside!"
"What can I get you, sir? I’ll bring it to you right away?"
But under the raincoat, was a man with several messy beard hairs, dressed in a blue outfit, wiping the splashed raindrops from his body, "No need, someone is waiting for me."