Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 1153 - 1149: The Assault

Li Hongzhao contemplated: "Why is the Evil Sect offering rewards for their disciples to kill the City Guard?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "I’ve only encountered ordinary evil demons, haven’t reached their higher-ups."

Li Hongzhao said: "You want to figure this out?"

Chu Zhiyuan replied: "The appearance of the Giant Demon and the madness of the evil demons might be coincidences, but they might not be."

"The Sovereign Suppressing Divine Artifact is malfunctioning, isn’t it?" Li Hongzhao said: "I heard Senior Sister Dong say that the Imperial City is guarded by a divine artifact, but with the demons being this rampant, it must be malfunctioning."

Chu Zhiyuan remained silent.

Li Hongzhao gave him a sidelong glance and snorted: "Still trying to hide it from me!"

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: "I knew I couldn’t hide it from you."

He didn’t explain directly, but merely described the arrogance of the Evil Sect. If he hesitated slightly, with Li Hongzhao’s sharp and intelligent mind, she would surely guess.

He wouldn’t be breaking his promise to Prince Zhuang.

"The Giant Demon appears, demons run wild, the divine artifact malfunctions—aren’t the last two not coincidences?" Li Hongzhao asked: "The Evil Sect must have known the artifact was malfunctioning to dare act so boldly?"

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment and shook his head.

Under normal circumstances, that would be the case; the Evil Sect doesn’t want their sect to weaken and would cherish their disciples’ lives, not sending them to die.

But the actions of the Evil Sect defy common logic.

Thus, whether the divine artifact is malfunctioning might not be directly related to the Evil Sect’s bounty.

The disciples of the Evil Sect don’t want to die, but the sect might not mind sending them to their deaths.

"You are hunting demons to force out the top experts of the Evil Sect and understand their intent?"

"Yes."

"So what if you figure it out?" Li Hongzhao asked.

Chu Zhiyuan replied: "Our goal in the Heavenly Sword Sect, aside from demons, includes evil demons. Even if we don’t deal with them, they’ll come for us."

Li Hongzhao slowly nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Once they grow strong, it’ll be trouble for our Heavenly Sword Sect."

Li Hongzhao laughed: "You haven’t even become the Sect Leader, yet you’re thinking like one."

Chu Zhiyuan replied: "Even if I’m not the Sect Leader, I’m a part of the Heavenly Sword Sect and can’t let evil demons grow."

"Alright, you’re destined to worry," Li Hongzhao said: "Then investigate thoroughly; I heard from Senior Sister Dong that some evil skills of the sect are particularly sinister and hard to guard against."

"Which ones?"

"There are ones that can control heart and spirit, make people die from laughter, and ambush invisibly—strange and bizarre."

Chu Zhiyuan solemnly nodded: "I’ll be careful."

Li Hongzhao responded: "Alright, anyway, you’re quite skilled at escaping."

She knew Chu Zhiyuan’s personality very well.

He appeared righteous and willing to take on responsibility, but in fact, he feared death and preferred stability.

Without assurance, he’d never risk it. His willingness to help was definitely because he could protect himself and also to build prestige to aid his bid for Sect Leader.

...

Chu Zhiyuan reappeared outside the Imperial City and found Ding Huanchun.

It was the time of sunset, with few entering the city.

Yet Ding Huanchun and his eighteen City Guards weren’t idle, maintaining readiness to act at any moment.

Their silver armor shone red in the sunset, and their hands never left the long sword’s handle, ready to draw at any time.

The assassinations by demons kept them vigilant.

From afar, seeing Chu Zhiyuan arriving swiftly, they tensed, gripping their sword handles tightly.

Ding Huanchun quickly recognized Chu Zhiyuan and was overjoyed, saluting from afar: "Mr. Chu."

Chu Zhiyuan approached with a smile and saluted with fists cupped: "Brother Ding, any good news?"

Ding Huanchun laughed: "Consider it good news; those guys are driven by the sect’s bounty, which makes them so audacious."

"Why is the Evil Sect offering a bounty?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

The Court, indeed, has many extraordinary people; they truly uncovered this.

Ding Huanchun shook his head: "That, I don’t know. In short, they only heed the bounty and ignore others. Previously, few demons dared act, but now they see an opportunity and grow bolder."

Chu Zhiyuan queried: "When was the bounty announced?"

Ding Huanchun replied: "Seems that’s all we could gather."

Extracting information from these demons was incredibly difficult, even getting this much was challenging.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

The timing of the divine artifact’s malfunction, and the bounty’s announcement, which preceded which.

This was significant.

Ding Huanchun laughed: "In the past two days, they’ve quieted down somewhat, not appearing much; Mr. Chu’s previous extermination frightened them."

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow: "It actually worked?"

"Hey, they’re afraid of dying too," Ding Huanchun said: "So many died, they’re scared."

Chu Zhiyuan concluded: "Hopefully so."

Ding Huanchun laughed: "Your achievements have been documented, a total of ten demons, all slain by you."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned at him.

Ding Huanchun said: "We count as supporting contributions."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "Directly credit you all; I’ll return to slay them fiercely this time."

Ten demons earns the Court’s reward; Ding Huanchun and his people were too generous.

This time, the Court’s bounty was hefty, an irresistible temptation for the City Guard.

Ding Huanchun laughed: "We count as supporting contributions; everyone gets rewarded for one demon, we’re already satisfied."

They had guarded the city gates long enough, knowing the situation with Martial Arts Sects.

Chu Zhiyuan’s help was tremendously appreciated and respected.

Of course, they couldn’t greedily claim Chu Zhiyuan’s credit, keeping good relations with the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists: "Thank you."

Ding Huanchun quickly waved his hand: "We should be the one thanking you, Mr. Chu. Where will you start?"

"There they are," Chu Zhiyuan turned to look at a group of people in the distance.

A group of twelve leisurely riding horses, slowly approaching.

Among the riders were young lords and servant guards.

Ding Huanchun curiously observed them and whispered: "Some among them are demons."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "That gray-robed servant should be a demon."

Ding Huanchun turned to two City Guards with Candle Demon Eyes: "Is that one a demon?"

"...Seems to be," two youths hesitated briefly, then nodded.

Though the servant seemed inconspicuous among the group, under the two’s concentrated use of Candle Demon Eyes, they saw a difference.

"He’s quite audacious," Ding Huanchun frowned: "With so few people, he dares try to fish in troubled waters?"

"What’s he actually trying to do?" Chu Zhiyuan asked curiously.

He was puzzled; this was clearly not a situation for deceit and easy exposure.

Why would he still attempt it?

Ding Huanchun replied: "To launch a sneak attack? ...He underestimates us too much?"

The other City Guards were stern-faced, glaring at him resentfully. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The two youths, their eyes flashing golden, scanned the group again, confirming the servant was a demon, and the only one.

The group of twelve slowly approached; when they were tens of meters away, the twelve horses suddenly neighed, eyes turning red, charging madly at the City Guards.

Chu Zhiyuan squinted at the servant, noticing a subtle flick of fingers.

With a light flick, powder flew out, and the twelve horses went berserk.

The City Guards faced with charging wild horses could only evade.

The force of a charging stallion was too much even for them to confront directly.

And the servant’s horse was in the lead, his waist-long sword drawn, transforming into a white streak slashing at Ding Huanchun.

Chu Zhiyuan sidestepped, letting Ding Huanchun and the others face the demon, giving them a chance for merit.

Ding Huanchun drew his blade and engaged the servant, while four other City Guards joined in, surrounding the demon.

The remaining City Guards, two caught those on the panicked horses, and six intercepted the frenzied horses, preventing them from charging into the city.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly said: "Another demon is coming!"

From the distant woods, a group of gray-clad men rushed out, using Qinggong, moving faster than galloping horses.