Chapter 266: Four Chang Ghosts Sacrificed, Chaos Erupts

Upon seeing the person beside her clearly, a rare glimmer of emotion flashed in Qiao Min’s usually calm and indifferent eyes—an after-the-fact realization mixed with surprise. She was just about to call out, “Mr. Gu,” but upon noticing the silent gesture from the other party, she swallowed the words back down.

Although she didn’t know why Mr. Gu was concealing his identity, she believed he must have his own reasons—ones she couldn’t fully comprehend.

Just like back then, when she only realized at the very end that Mr. Gu had gone to great lengths to use intricate methods, allowing her to be “reborn” tens of thousands of times—not just to temper her but also to give her the chance to personally avenge herself…

With Mr. Gu by her side, she suddenly felt a sense of relief. The chang ghosts in Four Corners Town, the Golden Guard carrying the massive bow, and even the master behind the chang ghosts who had yet to appear—none of them seemed to be a real problem anymore…

“Temple Keeper Huang, you’re quite capable.”

As the dust settled, Zhao Li’s figure reappeared in everyone’s sight.

The clash between the two just now had been intense, but Zhao Li didn’t seem to have suffered any serious injury.

However, when a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Zhao Li’s mouth, the crowd realized that the old man in the black robe wasn’t necessarily weaker than the Demon-Slaying Enforcer!

“Let’s see if you can withstand my next arrow…” Zhao Li’s expression was cold as he drew his bow to a full moon once more. The injury he had suffered in their previous exchange had clearly ignited his fury.

Opposite him, Temple Keeper Huang showed no fear. He struck the ground with his staff, and a profound, earthy yellow aura rippled outward.

Immediately after, the ground trembled violently with a deep rumbling, making it difficult for those nearby to keep their footing.

Though Temple Keeper Huang’s techniques were not as direct as Zhao Li’s, they exuded an undeniable sense of danger.

Just as the two seemed on the verge of a deadly confrontation, Gu Ning’an’s voice rang out:

“Chang ghost sacrifices, sinister energy surges!”

Both men instinctively turned their gazes skyward.

Though the day had been overcast, the sun had still been visible—until now.

It hadn’t disappeared. Rather, it had been completely obscured by a dense, overwhelming wave of sinister energy.

Whoosh!

Zhao Li loosed an arrow skyward—a silver, glowing projectile streaking toward the heavens!

Yet, the moment it plunged into the sinister energy, it was as if a pebble had been cast into the sea—without a single ripple.

“Hah! You think you can disperse sinister energy with an arrow?”

“If it were that easy, those four chang ghosts wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to spew it out!”

As he spoke, Temple Keeper Huang ceased his spellcasting and pulled two thick stacks of talisman papers, covered in intricate sigils, from his robes. He handed them to Zhou Zhongtian, his expression solemn.

“Distribute these. Go to the four villages and stick them on the doors of homes where people are still alive. Tell the residents—no matter what happens, no matter what they hear, they must not leave their homes!”

“At this point, how many can be saved is up to fate…”

Though Zhou Zhongtian was still somewhat confused, he refrained from asking further when he saw Temple Keeper Huang sit cross-legged on the ground, chanting incantations.

He divided the talismans among the External Agents—not because he didn’t want to give them to the Golden Guards, but because, by the time he had started distributing them, those men had already quietly distanced themselves.

“Damn these so-called Golden Guards, eating the imperial court’s rations but abandoning their duty!”

“Tch!” Zhou Zhongtian spat on the ground before sprinting toward North Corner Village without looking back.

Feng Wei and the others did the same, rushing toward their assigned areas.

Only Gu Ning’an and Qiao Min remained unmoved.

“West Corner Village is yours. Go post the talismans.”

“I’ll stay here and watch.”

Gu Ning’an handed his talismans to Qiao Min.

Without hesitation, she took them and ran off without a second thought.

Now, only a handful of people remained in the area: the Golden Guards who had chosen to spectate from the sidelines, Gu Ning’an standing still, Temple Keeper Huang chanting in his meditative position, and Zhao Li, bow still raised toward the sky.

“Lord Zhao! Chaos is about to erupt in Four Corners Town, and my brother is still in the chang ghosts’ hands!”

For the sake of his younger brother, Yang Wei had no choice but to go against his usual nature and attempt to talk to Zhao Li at this critical moment.

Zhao Li fell silent for a moment before replying,

“No need to panic. If your brother’s soul is still intact, as long as we find the chang ghost that took it, we can take it back.”

“If he’s gone, going after him now won’t help.”

“But you don’t need to worry too much. This old thing is casting a spell here—those chang ghosts should be coming soon…”

Hearing this, Yang Wei had no choice but to suppress his anxiety and silently pray that his younger brother had a strong enough fate to survive…

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Waves of mystical light rippled out from beside the Temple Keeper Huang, and a spectral image of a yellow weasel slowly emerged in the sky.

“Roar!”

The spectral yellow weasel let out an enraged roar that echoed throughout Four Corners Town!

Immediately afterward, an overwhelming surge of malevolent energy erupted all around, accompanied by countless eerie “clicking” sounds from all directions!

The unsettling noise sent shivers down people’s spines, like the sound of rats gnawing on flesh right next to their ears!

On the dark and eerie streets, countless tightly shut homes and street-side shops were suddenly forced open. From within, one after another, emerged small, jet-black creatures covered in razor-sharp fangs.

“Y-Your Excellency!”

“G-G-Ghosts! They’re all ghosts!”

One of the Golden Guards who had previously tried to flee screamed in horror. If not for the fact that they were already surrounded by these creatures, he would have run without hesitation!

In the blink of an eye, a tide of minor ghosts surged forward, launching a frenzied assault on everyone present!

At this moment, Zhao Li finally understood why the weasel demon in human form had first sent the External Agents away!

It turned out that the spell he was casting could forcibly expel the minor ghosts that had been parasitically residing within the villagers!

Once separated from their hosts, these expelled ghosts would be filled with fury and resentment, fighting to the death to destroy the one responsible!

And those who remained in place—including the Golden Guards—would have to endure the full brunt of the ghosts’ wrath.

In other words, the Temple Keeper Huang’s plan was a double win!

Not only could he save the still-living villagers, but he could also drag the Golden Guards into the fray, forcing them to act as his free enforcers, taking on part of the burden.

“Hmph!”

“A demon is a demon.”

“Even at a time like this, you resort to such despicable tricks!”

While mocking him, Zhao Li fired off a series of rapid arrows!

His sharp, radiant arrows carried an unstoppable force, pushing back the wave of minor ghosts again and again!

Seeing Zhao Li’s formidable strength, the yellow weasel demon subtly adjusted his “Ghost Attraction” technique, shifting its focus toward Zhao Li.

This way, the minor ghosts would become even more convinced that the one who had separated them from their hosts was the bow-wielding man—thus directing their full fury toward him…