The group returned to the wooden building and waited for a long time. Seeing no unusual signs around, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Although the windows and doors of the building were shattered, making it incomplete, and a portion of the inscribed sage's text was missing, it still retained some of its power and could provide a degree of protection.
Upon returning to the wooden building and seeing that nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Ji Yuan immediately took out several bottles of pills. After swallowing one himself, he tossed them to Xu Qiqi and the middle-aged guard.
After taking the pills, the three of them sat cross-legged on the ground, beginning to refine the medicinal power to recover their exhaustion and injuries.
The previous two battles had been more perilous than the last, with everyone teetering on the brink of death multiple times, depleting not only their physical strength but also their spiritual energy.
If they did not recover in time, it would likely have some impact on their future cultivation.
Seeing the three meditating and refining the medicinal power, Jiang He exchanged glances with the four guards and then began to take up defensive positions.
Besides Jiang He, who stayed by the side of the three, the others positioned themselves near the windows and doors, their gazes constantly sweeping the surroundings, wary of any sudden changes.
An hour later, as the sky began to show a hint of white light, the three inside the wooden building gradually woke up.
"How do you feel?"
Upon seeing this, Jiang He immediately asked with concern.
Their expressions varied, but their complexions were no longer as pale, having regained some color. It seemed their condition was relatively stable.
"I'm not fully recovered, but at least I've regained some strength. I can't fight, but I can move."
Xu Qiqi shook her head. Her current state was only slightly better than an hour ago.
Ji Yuan was in a similar condition. Despite the help of the pills, he could barely move. If he encountered danger, his only recourse would be his talismans and the little white creature in his Zifu to defend himself.
The middle-aged guard, however, was in the best state. He had not suffered any severe internal injuries, and his external wounds had largely healed. Coupled with his martial physique, he retained most of his combat strength.
"Prepare to leave this place. We are likely still within the range of that old locust tree's roots."
Ji Yuan glanced out the window. Seeing that everything was calm, he said in a deep voice.
Although they had the wooden building for protection now, they couldn't be sure how much of the damaged sage's text would function. If the old locust tree made a move, they wouldn't be able to hold out for long.
"But if we leave the wooden building, we'll have no support. What if they come after us?"
The middle-aged guard frowned. "Besides, there are still seven or eight women upstairs. We can't just let them die here."
If only a few of them were leaving, there would be nothing to say. After all, they were all cultivators, whether martial artists or sorcerers, their physiques far superior to ordinary people.
But if they were to bring the frail women with them, let alone whether they would become a burden in times of danger, their speed alone would be difficult to maintain.
If the old locust tree suddenly changed its mind and didn't want them to leave alive, with such speed, there would be no way to escape safely in time.
Furthermore, with their current limited self-preservation capabilities, losing the protection of the wooden building and then bringing a group of women…
The middle-aged guard sighed, not saying what was on his mind, but his demeanor spoke volumes.
He had even prepared himself to stay in the wooden building and guard these women. If they could all escape safely, that would be for the best, but if disaster struck in the end, he would use his life to make amends for what they owed.
All the guards, including himself, felt they owed these people, not just the cold corpses outside the wooden building, but also the desperate women upstairs.
This was also why those people, knowing they were walking into a certain death, had fearlessly charged forward before.
"Even if we might encounter danger, we must leave this place."
Ji Yuan looked at him deeply. "We have to take these women with us. If we leave them here, they will surely die. As for whether we live or die on the road, that will depend on our individual fortunes."
Although the situation appeared calm now, it was merely a superficial facade. The old locust tree could strike at any moment, whether it was seeking sacrifices for possession or eliminating witnesses after a successful possession.
Only by leaving with them did they have a sliver of hope for survival.
"Ask them. If they're willing, we'll take them. If not, we can't force them."
After thinking about it, Ji Yuan couldn't help but sigh.
In the end, only one woman was willing to leave with them. The other seven women chose to stay in the wooden building, seemingly finding a sliver of security in doing so in their despair.
As for the woman who decided to leave, she was the newly married concubine of Zhao Wuhen. She had only been married into the Zhao family for less than half a month when this calamity struck.
However, this spirited woman, upon hearing that everyone planned to break out of the Zhao family mansion, decisively tore her skirt and used strips of cloth to tie her sleeves and pant legs.
Soon after, a group of people left the wooden building, crossed the hellish scene surrounding them, and headed towards the nearest courtyard wall.
Before leaving, several guards moved several bookshelves to block the broken doors and windows. Ji Yuan even affixed several talismans, perhaps to increase the chances of survival for the women remaining behind.
However, as they approached the closest outer wall, the surroundings remained eerily calm. The expected events did not occur.
The calmer it was, the more uneasy they felt. Their eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, always feeling that danger might erupt from somewhere at any moment.
Finally, amidst their apprehension and vigilance, they reached a wall. Behind this wall lay the street outside the mansion.
Although reaching the street did not mean they were completely out of danger, in their eyes, it represented a watershed moment.
"Are we... safe?"
As their feet touched the street outside the Zhao family mansion, the spirited woman murmured to herself.
Her expression was somewhat emotional, her eyes inexplicably filled with tears. She instinctively looked back at the tall mansion and felt worried for those who remained in the wooden building.
At the same time, she was also grateful that she had chosen to leave with these people. Otherwise, if she had stayed, even if no one had killed her, she would have likely succumbed to madness.
"Let's go. We're not completely safe yet."
Ji Yuan glanced back, then took the lead, walking along the street.
They didn't walk too fast, at a pace that allowed the woman to keep up with a jog. Aside from a few severely injured individuals, they also intended to conserve their strength, allowing them to fight if danger arose.
However, by the time they had completely exited the district where the Zhao family resided, no danger had yet appeared.
It was as if neither the old locust tree nor the mastermind behind the plot intended to target them further.
This feeling of being forgotten made them somewhat uncomfortable, but it also brought a sense of relief, as they no longer had to worry about ambushes at any moment.
"Are we going to the county yamen now?"
The middle-aged guard looked back with lingering fear, then turned to Ji Yuan and asked.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan shook his head without hesitation. "Let's go to the Xuantian Temple first. Some things have happened in the city these past two days. The county yamen might not even be safe anymore."
The guards exchanged glances. Although they were somewhat puzzled as to what had happened, none questioned Ji Yuan's words.
However, after they had walked only two or three streets, their expressions suddenly changed dramatically. They entered combat readiness at the fastest speed and then looked solemnly towards a corner several feet away.
If one listened carefully, they could hear the sounds of hurried footsteps in the quiet night.
Under normal circumstances, no one would pay attention to such sounds. But having just emerged from a dangerous situation, their nerves were still taut, making them exceptionally sensitive to any noise.
As they waited tensely, several figures finally appeared within their sight. In an instant, they were ready to strike.
"Senior Brother!"
Upon recognizing the approaching figures, Xu Qiqi exclaimed with joy.
Before her shout even faded, a blur of motion flashed past, and Zhao Yuansong's figure appeared before them.
Despite Xu Qiqi's cry, the guards remained on high alert. If the newcomers showed any sign of ill intent, their blades would immediately strike at their vital points.
"You..."
Zhao Yuansong's gaze sharpened. Upon seeing their injuries, a fierce killing intent flashed in his eyes.
However, he had traveled the jianghu enough to know that this was not the time for detailed inquiries. As he had other matters to attend to, he immediately changed the subject. "Let's go back to the Xuantian Temple first."
Ji Yuan and the others nodded, sensing a hint of anxiety and solemnity in his eyes. However, the timing was not right, so they did not immediately ask questions.
As they were speaking, another seven or eight people rushed over – constables from the county yamen.
These constables, usually imposing, were now in a disheveled state. Although not physically wounded, their disheveled hair and dust-covered bodies clearly indicated they had gone through some ordeal.
"Qianyu City... is likely in great peril!"
Zhao Yuansong said in a low voice, then signaled the constables to spread out and guard them, before rushing towards the Xuantian Temple without further ado.
No one spoke on the way. Each was lost in their own thoughts. This night had been difficult for everyone, but fortunately, they had managed to get through it.
As the morning sun slowly rose, the group of over ten people finally arrived at the Xuantian Temple. They walked through the small alley outside and entered the Taoist temple, then sat down on the ground in a side courtyard.
At Ji Yuan's signal, the young guard went to the kitchen to fetch a teapot and some ceramic bowls, pouring the cold tea that had been left out all night for everyone.
As the cold tea went down their throats, the group felt somewhat more comfortable, the heat from their frantic run dispelled.
Moreover, the tea at Xuantian Temple contained a trace of spiritual energy. While it couldn't directly enhance cultivation, it could effectively alleviate the fatigue in their bodies.
"What exactly happened?"
After drinking a bowl of cold tea, Ji Yuan immediately asked, his gaze subtly flicking towards the seven or eight constables, also wondering why Zhao Yuansong had appeared with them.
Hearing this, Zhao Yuansong remained silent for a long moment before recounting the events of the night in detail.
The situation in the city was largely consistent with Ji Yuan's deductions from the night before. Putting aside other matters, the City God's temple, which was supposed to protect the area, had indeed encountered serious problems.
Including the City God himself and his several spirit officials, a total of nine deities enshrined in the City God's temple had been murdered, not only falling into demonic ways but also having their minds controlled.
This was the reason why the city was plagued by evil spirits, yet the City God's temple remained indifferent.
Since even the deities within had been turned into puppets, who could be expected to suppress the rampaging demons and evil spirits?
"I narrowly broke through in the face of death. Relying on some trump cards and temple techniques, I managed to heavily damage the City God's golden body."
Zhao Yuansong said in a deep voice. "Finally, after killing three spirit officials who had been turned into puppets, I seized the opportunity to rush out of the City God's temple, intending to go to the county yamen to see if I could find any help."
This was part of their pre-arranged plan. If the City God's temple indeed encountered trouble, Zhao Yuansong would have to go to the county yamen to seek assistance.
However, this journey was fraught with peril. Although there was no direct evidence, the county yamen was surely infiltrated by now. Whether it was the county magistrate or someone in power who was being controlled, it was impossible to determine.
When Zhao Yuansong arrived at the county yamen, before he could even see the county magistrate Yuan Yongcheng, he was surrounded by a group of constables, led by one of the three chief constables.
These individuals had ferocious expressions, their eyes burning with fierce light, but devoid of any intelligence. Coupled with the pervasive demonic aura, it was clear they had been controlled by demonic means.
"After a confrontation, I found them at the county yamen."
Zhao Yuansong paused, then turned to the constables beside him.
After knocking out the controlled individuals, Zhao Yuansong found several constables bound and gagged in a storeroom.
At that time, the strategist Sun Youfang was using demonic methods to manipulate the minds of these constables, turning them into his puppets.
In fact, under these demonic methods, almost everyone in the county yamen had been controlled. Even the constables who were supposed to be on rotation had been lured by false orders.
"I still don't know if Yuan Yongcheng has been controlled, but I suspect he might have been a pawn of the mastermind from the beginning."
After pondering, he voiced his conjecture.
If County Magistrate Yuan Yongcheng were innocent, it would be impossible for a mere strategist, even if he had reached the second realm of cultivation, to have quietly controlled almost everyone in the county yamen using demonic methods.
Despite his reluctance, Ji Yuan could only temporarily accept Zhao Yuansong's conjecture.
However, he couldn't understand why a beloved official, known for his integrity and benevolence, would be a pawn of the mastermind and commit such slaughter.
According to Zhao Yuansong's description, strategist Sun Youfang had killed all the servants in the county yamen to perform his demonic cultivation, using their blood to control the minds of the constables.
Over twenty lives had been lost on this night that should have been peaceful.
"Wait, where is Liu Hongsheng?"
Ji Yuan blinked slightly and immediately looked up at Zhao Yuansong.