I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night

It was deep into the night.

The Qi mechanism of the inner city's magic altar had reached the final moment.

Following the monsters that had attacked like a tide.

The originally silent darkness seemed to be stirred, as more distant evil beings converged and approached.

Perhaps behind them, some entities were aggravating the situation.

Or maybe it was purely the assault on the city by the monsters in front, which caused the ones behind to also rise up with the wicked thought of invading the city to plunder the incense and devour the common people.

Meanwhile, in the southern part of the outer city, at the Observatory Branch.

A young man named Xu Qing had a solemn expression and spoke very quickly.

"The onslaught of the evil spirits is becoming increasingly fierce and turbulent."

"Looking over the entire city, the darkness has extinguished seventy-two Willow Branch Night Lamps, signifying that there are seventy-two spots nearly breached."

"But fortunately, with the additional patrol teams set up, they have been plugging the breaches in groups of six, and now all breaches have been sealed."

"The demons that crossed over the city walls into the city have been cleaned up by the General Flag Envoys of each Observatory Branch."

"As for the defense points in our southern outer city area, six have been breached, but all were promptly sealed, and no demons have broken through, so there is no need for cleanup."

As the young man spoke, Han Commander's face eased slightly.

Then he looked into the distance and frowned, "What about the situation at Linjiang Station?"

He knew that Lin Yan had no small skills, having reached the Inner Strength Realm.

In theory, guarding the city defense with twelve small flags should be largely stable and worry-free.

But earlier this evening, he received news that Lin Yan had dismissed all the twelve small flags originally set up by Liang Hu.

Alone, he guarded a span of three hundred and sixty steps of the city wall!

A Martial Artist who had just entered the Inner Strength Realm simply couldn't hold it!

The situation Lin Yan faced now was something Han Commander had not anticipated.

He had not expected that Lin Yan would clear out the twelve small flags set by Liang Hu before even assembling his own team.

He also had not foreseen that tonight the magic altar within the inner city would suddenly be activated in haste.

At this moment, Han Commander somewhat regretted his earlier advice, thinking to himself, "If I had known about the inner city's magic altar earlier, I should not have instructed him this morning... He is also too straightforward. He should at least have made it through tonight before changing personnel!"

Thinking this, he looked at Xu Qing.

But he saw Xu Qing's face, intricate and peculiar.

"There's been no news from the defensive position at Linjiang Station."

"Hmm?"

Something unsettled stirred in Han Commander's heart, a sense of foreboding, and he asked, "Didn't I already send a letter before nightfall, asking Great Commander Zhao Zhou to provide assistance?"

"Great Commander Zhao Zhou has ordered his adoptive son, Zhao Jing, to help with twenty men, but so far, no message has been sent back."

"What about the patrol teams?"

"The two teams, a total of twelve people, all vanished before they entered the defense perimeter of Linjiang Station."

Was this the ominous consequence of trampling on the rules of darkness?

Han Commander's heart sank, and he then inhaled deeply, "Along Linjiang Square, deploy additional personnel. As for the defense position at Linjiang Station..."

He paused, then said in a deep voice, "In my name, go and ask Mr. Lu."

But Xu Qing hesitated, speaking lowly, "Actually... it doesn't seem to be that bad for the time being."

"Oh?"

"Based on what we have seen so far, the defensive position of Linjiang Station has not been lost. At least, for now, not a single demon or evil spirit has broken into Linjiang Square."

"Not breached?"

Han Commander was momentarily stunned.

For a moment, he felt somewhat bewildered.

But he still found something strange.

"Do we still need to request Mr. Lu's assistance?"

"Focus on monitoring the defense position at Linjiang Station. If there are changes, then request Mr. Lu's assistance."

As Han Commander spoke, his gaze grew more solemn, and he thought to himself, "This lad disbanding the twelve small flags might not be a reckless act... Perhaps, he possesses the ability to guard these three hundred and sixty steps alone?"

——

"That light has gone out!"

After Lin Yan cut down an evil spirit, his heart suddenly shook, and he looked towards a not-too-distant place.

That area wasn't part of his Linjiang Station's defensive range.

But there should have been a Willow Branch Night Lamp there.

However, looking ahead, there was only darkness, no light to be seen.

His expression changed slightly, he stepped forward, and a bloody stench hit him in the face.

He saw a young man dressed in a night patroller's black robe, lying on the ground, his face twisted in horror, blood flowing from all seven orifices.

Half a step further, Lin Yan saw that the young man's chest had been torn open, his organs and entrails eaten clean.

Lin Yan recognized this young man, named Zhou Ji, born in Linjiang Square, lived three alleyways away from his home, and they had played together a few times as children.

In the past two years, Zhou Ji had entered the south city office, was assigned to Wangjiang Square and became a night patroller, a position of some prominence.

Unexpectedly, he met his end here today.

Lin Yan glanced over and, with a solemn expression, turned his head to see a marten-like creature that had crossed the city wall and entered Linjiang Square.

At least four hundred steps away.

"I can't pursue it!"

Just then, another person hurriedly approached from within the darkness.

This person was clad in armor, walking briskly, and said quickly, "I'll take over this position, you return to your own defense spot."

He relit the Willow Branch Night Lamp and said loudly, "If you chase after it, you would have to abandon your own defense position, not knowing how many more demons would take the opportunity to break in."

"This isn't your defensive area, if demons invade from this spot, even if there's accountability, it's not your responsibility!"

"Someone is responsible for clearing out the demons within the city, return to your post at once, you must not abandon your duty!"

The man hastily responded, his voice grave, "I am here by the Great Commander's order to assist you, and I will not allow any mistakes on your end!"

Lin Yan's face showed no expression, and he did not reply.

The lesser demon had already closed in on the nearest street.

If not pursued, this lesser demon would enter Linjiang Square and undoubtedly wreak havoc and bloodshed.

Of course, as long as it was not his defense position overrun, he would not be held responsible afterward.

But at that moment, whoosh! Lin Yan had already lifted his crossbow!

This special crossbow arrow from Qifeng Prefecture City traveled over four hundred paces and nailed the small beast to the ground.

It was a matter settled by a single arrow!

What was there to talk about regarding abandoning defense for pursuit?

"You..."

Upon seeing this, the man paused in surprise.

He was about to speak further, but then he saw Wu Chang, the Flag Commander, unemotional as ever, turning to leave.

"Secure this position!"

Lin Yan left these words behind and turned to return to his designated defense area.

But at that moment, an unusual noise suddenly rang out from behind him.

It was the sound of a blade cleaving through the night air!

The blade was too quick!

The ferocity of the swing was extreme!

"This is where it ends!"

The person's face was solemn, muscles bulging as he brought the blade down with force!

Considering himself a high-level figure in the Inner Strength Realm, he was confident that this fierce strike would cut any formidable person in two!

Even someone at the pinnacle of the Inner Strength Realm like the Great Commander Zhao Zhou would be split in half if not armored!

But there was only the sound of a clang!

The atmosphere in the arena seemed to fall silent.

The night wind blew past, its chill making people shiver.

When this blade was brought down, one saw Lin Yan, the newly appointed Flag Commander of Linjiang Square, not even turning his head or body.

He merely pushed the scabbard at his waist back with his left hand.

The scabbard he casually pushed behind him...

Then... blocked the incoming blade.

With just a light and effortless move, he stopped that heavy, forceful strike!

"..."

In an instant, Zhao Jing's complexion turned pale as he trembled, "Refining Essence Realm?"

In the blink of an eye, the sword flashed!

His iron armor was as fragile as paper!

Blood splattered, and his entrails spilled out onto the ground!

Suddenly, it was Lin Yan who had counterattacked with a single strike, cleaving him in half at the waist!

Zhao Jing screamed, his upper body clinging to the city wall as he fell down.

His severed lower body tumbled down beneath the walls, swallowed by the darkness.

Lin Yan glanced down, his expression growing even more somber.

He had intended to capture him alive to demand his motives.

But then he remembered something.

So he cut down the man directly.

Because there was no time left to interrogate.

His gaze turned to the direction from which Zhao Jing had come.

The wind carried the scent of blood from that direction as well.

Lin Yan's heart suddenly sank.

It was because he was in the Refining Essence Realm that the attempt on him had failed.

But how many in the Refining Essence Realm had traveled that path?

And how many people had fallen victim?

The positions of those who had died, were surely compromised!

And inside the city was Linjiang Square, where he had grown up, with neighbors and friends, family and loved ones, all living there.

It was also the area he was currently responsible for defending.

He looked back at the direction behind him, the three hundred and sixty paces defended by Linjiang Station were all held down by his twelve paper effigies.

But ahead, there was no knowing how many positions had been lost!

If the range exceeded a thousand paces, even with the physique of someone in the Refining Essence Realm, running back and forth to slay demons and defend the city would likely exhaust his strength and be unsustainable for long!

"Divine Skills! Demon Suppression!"

Lin Yan gripped his blade, moving forward.

Ahead was a vast unknown distance.

All the willow branch Night Lamps along the way were, without exception, extinguished!

Darkness spread like a tidal wave, sweeping over and past the city walls, invading the city!

With just his blade, he walked directly into the darkness!

This journey was to cut off the river flow, quell the chaos, and suppress demons!