Chapter 261
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Chapter 261: Mu Lin: Ping An Ancient Town, Who Said You Can’t Be Without Them?
Watching the cultivators of Yin Eight Sect exploit the spiritual veins of Ping An Ancient County to raise zombies, nurture ghosts, craft paper figures, nourish coffins, forge magical artifacts, and cultivate spirit herbs… Mu Lin felt his heart bleeding.
He already considered all cultivation resources in Ping An Ancient County as his own property. Thus, seeing Yin Eight Sect plunder these treasures pained him deeply.
“No matter what,” he swore, “I’ll drag you evil factions to justice!”
…
Within the City God Realm, Mu Lin worked on two fronts—summoning spirits through Communicating with Spirits to build his Phantom Army while plotting how to reclaim his stolen cultivation resources.
Meanwhile, the workers and managers of Ping An Ancient Street returned to their territory. They immediately sought out their leaders: Young Master Bai Qi, Third Master, and others.
The one called Young Master Bai Qi wasn’t elderly but a plain-looking middle-aged man wearing burial garments. His residence wasn’t lavish—he dwelled in a coffin shop.
Though the shop was modest, ordinary folk avoided it entirely. Respect and fear kept them away.
But today, a horde of battered men—some missing limbs—crashed into the courtyard, filling it completely.
Upon finding Young Master Bai Qi, these workers spilled their grievances like children tattling to a parent, recounting every detail of the Demon Exorcism Division incident.
“Master Qi! A madman from the Demon Exorcism Division’s slaughtering everyone!”
“Your grandson’s on death’s door, Master Qi!”
“Save us, Master Qi!”
After their tearful outcries, the furious crowd clamored for retaliation.
“That brute ignored your grandson’s life and attacked us!” one shouted. “This isn’t just about us—he spat on your face, Master Qi!”
“Damn bastard acts like Ping An Ancient Street has no backbone!”
“If we let this slide, every flea-ridden mongrel will trample us!”
A plump man wailed, “Father! My son Shan’er was beaten and captured! We must strike back!”
…
Amid the chaos, Young Master Bai Qi narrowed his eyes but remained still. He first gestured to his subordinates—one to investigate, others to summon the street’s remaining managers.
Only then did he address the panicked crowd. His voice chilled the air.
“Cease this undignified racket.”
“But Father! That scum hurt Shan’er—”
“Silence!”
The fat man shriveled under Young Master Bai Qi’s glacial stare. Scanning the room, the leader repeated coldly, “I said: wait.”
“I avoid conflict but fear none. If this fool truly wronged us without cause…” His fingers tapped the coffin wood. “He’ll learn regret carved into his bones.”
Young Master Bai Qi’s voice turned bone-chilling as he spoke, making listeners shiver. Yet the crowd packed in the small courtyard didn’t feel fear – they collectively sighed in relief instead.
"With Young Master Bai Qi handling this, that bastard Lin Qiu is dead for sure!"
…
Young Master Bai Qi’s subordinates acted swiftly. Within less than an hour of meditation, all leaders of Ping An Ancient Street had gathered. Their scouts returned too, delivering gathered intelligence directly to the leaders.
By this time, Young Master Bai Qi and the other leaders had moved from the small courtyard to a secret chamber.
After hearing the reports, Young Master Bai Qi’s face remained impassive. But the suffocating atmosphere thickening around them revealed his simmering rage.
"We’ve been too discreet," he said coldly. "How dare that upstart insult us like this? What utter contempt he must hold for us!"
The other leaders shared his fury. Whether humiliated themselves or having grandsons crippled by Lin Qiu’s hands, their hatred burned equally fierce.
A corpse-pale man resembling a zombie spoke first. "Master Qi, let’s have him assassinated tonight. Qianmian here specializes in such work."
The shadowy figure called Qianmian shook his head. "Death’s too merciful. Let’s turn his corpse into a zombie and trap his soul as a tortured ghost. Zombie King Wu excels at such punishments."
Another rasped, "His family and friends must pay too. Before confronting Lin Qiu, our youths quarreled with free cultivators from the Demon Exorcism Division. I’ll slaughter those wandering cultivators myself – brutally."
Though all in the chamber demanded blood, any observer would notice none volunteered personally. Each schemed to push others into action.
Young Master Bai Qi slammed the table. "Enough! Stop this charade. You’re all too scared to kill Lin Qiu yourselves."
He spoke truth. The leaders’ reluctance stemmed from Lin Qiu’s baffling boldness. Only two explanations existed: either the Demon Exorcist was a suicidal fool – unlikely given his survival and silver rank – or he came from untouchable aristocracy.
"Aristocratic children always travel with Protectors," someone muttered. "That explains his recklessness."
This logical conclusion troubled them deeply. While desperate to save face and avenge insults, they knew their Yin Eight Sect remained second-rate without unified leadership. Provoking powerful clans meant annihilation.
Thus they schemed, each trying to manipulate others into striking first. But every leader present was a veteran survivor of Ping An Ancient Street’s intrigues – old foxes all, too cunning to be tricked.
After Young Master Bai Qi exposed their scheme, everyone in the room stared at each other blankly. They weren’t embarrassed about being caught, but genuinely puzzled about how to handle Lin Qiu.
Third Master broke the silence first. "We can’t let Lin Qiu get away with this. If some youngster slaps our faces and walks free, our authority will crumble."
"Without authority, our followers will scatter like rats. We’ll lose control."
This threat to their power worried them far more than their grandsons’ beatings. Yet when considering retaliation, they faced the same dilemma: "Who’ll do the dirty work?"
The secret chamber fell silent again until Young Master Bai Qi sighed. "We’ll act together. But until we investigate that little brat’s backers, we’ll just give him a warning. Let him know Ping An Ancient Street isn’t to be messed with."
Third Master frowned. "That’s all?"
"Of course not." Young Master Bai Qi’s eyes turned vicious. "While we can’t touch the brat himself yet, his allies are fair game."
"Third Master, weren’t there others who clashed with our grandsons earlier? Send men to eliminate them first."
"Don’t spare anyone from the Demon Exorcism Division either."
The pale funeral-robed man then turned to Zombie King Wu and Qianmian. "Don’t you keep villains with monstrous sins under your command? The ones craving human flesh and souls to boost their power through blood sacrifice? Tell them I authorize it."
"Let them run wild in Ping An Ancient Town."
Young Master Bai Qi’s voice dropped to a murderous whisper. "I want rivers of blood flowing through these streets within days. Let the Demon Exorcism Division learn who truly maintains peace here."
Chilling Jijiji laughter filled the chamber.
"Should’ve done this sooner!"
"Perfect timing – I’ve got a treasure needing blood sacrifice."
"That brat will learn Ping An Ancient Town can’t survive without us!"
The conspirators grinned cruelly – some imagining Lin Qiu’s despair, others anticipating slaughter and plunder.
Their planning was interrupted by frantic pounding on the door. A subordinate’s panicked shout pierced through:
"Young Master! Qianmian! Disaster! That bastard’s leading troops to attack us!"
"What?!"
