A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 291 Entering Langshan (12)

“Perhaps.” Mu Qingcheng thought for a moment, then denied the answer. “Peach Blossom Spring is a paradise on earth, a secluded paradise, but this place is full of filth and depravity, and does not deserve to be called Peach Blossom Spring.”

Lu Xun seconded, "That's right!"

Song Shuyu glanced at Lu Xun, thinking to himself, "Did I ask you? Is it just because of those two words?" But he only dared to grumble in his heart; this was definitely not a good time to be sarcastic.

The group walked through the trees and flowers, following the safe path cleared by the forest pepper trees, and arrived precisely at the outer square of the Shenmo Village Clan Ancestral Hall!
However, the massive crowd completely surrounded the square, making it impossible for them to hear anything but the sounds of fighting inside and the desperate shouts of condemnation from the onlookers!

"Trespassers, kill!"

"kill him!"

"kill him!"

"..."

Everyone's attention was focused on Lin Jiao, and no one noticed the mantis stalking the cicada behind them!

Song Shuyu quietly gave the order: "Jiang Zhan, Duan Qianzhong, you two take the constables and sneak into the village to find out the terrain of Shenmo Village and whether there are any other ways in and out! Also, find the five girls, including Liao Ruyi!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The two constables received their orders and each led six constables, quickly infiltrating the village!

Song Shuyu continued, "All guards, listen to my command! You shall remain hidden and keep a close watch on Lin Jiao, the man in black, and ensure that he does not escape from Shenmo Village!"

"As you command, Master!" The four guards immediately left.

Song Li asked, puzzled, "Master, wouldn't it be easier for me to just capture Lin Jiao directly?"

"You'll have your turn to contribute later. For now, let Lin Jiao draw the fire and buy us time to find someone." Song Shuyu rolled her eyes at Song Li, thinking that he was so lazy that even his IQ had dropped.

Song Li said "Oh," looked around, and his gaze inadvertently fell on the tower not far away. He then heard Song Shuyu say, "Go."

"Huh?" Song Li was a little confused.

Song Shuyu raised his chin and pointed to the square. "We're not here to massacre the village, and we can't let Lin Jiao die here. We'll go in and stop the fighting. You stay here and keep an eye out, so no one can shoot us in the back."

"My subordinate understands!"

Song Li leaped into the air and flew silently toward the tower.

The remaining three, along with the five guards from the Marquis of Huai'an's residence, were discussed briefly. Song Shuyu said, "To catch the thief, first catch the king. Qingcheng and Lu Xun, the three of us will deal with Lin Jiao, and the five guards will capture the leaders of Shenmo Village, such as the village chief, elders, or clan leaders."

The five guards looked at Lu Xun, who nodded and added, "Since it is a matrilineal clan, the person in power may be a woman. It's better to arrest the wrong person or more people, understand?"

"As Your Highness commands!" The five guards bowed.

Mu Qingcheng picked up the whip, "Let's go!"

Eight figures flew through the throng of people with unstoppable speed and landed in the center of the square!
The people of Shenmo Village, who were engaged in fierce fighting, were suddenly shocked!
"Who goes there?" "Another outsider has broken in!"

"Quick, catch them!"

"..."

Without uttering a single word, the five guards swiftly charged into the encirclement, targeting older, well-dressed men and women with others protecting them!
Song Shuyu and the other two glanced around and quickly got a pretty good grasp of the situation!

To their surprise, Lin Jiao did not go on a killing spree. Although more than a dozen people lay scattered in the square, each with injuries, they were still alive. Lin Jiao held his sword, the blood dripping from the blade. His exposed eyes were filled with murderous intent, yet also with restraint.

The young Wuhuan people, wearing felt hats and carrying various weapons such as swords, knives, spears, and axes, were originally attacking Lin Jiao alone. However, seeing the number of enemies increase, they panicked but did not completely lose their order. Instead, they quickly moved to different positions, seemingly forming a battle formation!
The elderly, women, and children who were watching were thrown into chaos by the five guards, and they screamed and fled in all directions. The five guards had a clear objective: to capture only the king's head!

Song Shuyu's prediction was correct. The Wuhuan people were skilled in riding and archery and possessed basic defensive capabilities. The sound of arrows attacking from the shadows kept piercing the air!

Song Li and his secret guards kept their eyes and ears open, using pebbles to knock down arrows one by one!

"Master Song!"

Lin Jiao pointed his sword at the Wuhuan people, but then said to Song Shuyu with a flourish, "If Lord Song does not wish to see Shenmo Village disappear from the world, then please persuade them to hand over my sister!"

Song Shuyu coldly mocked, "Ha, you're laying your cards on the table now, no more pretending?"

"Lord Song understands, I am not a kind person. If it weren't for my sister, these people..." Lin Jiao's eyes were cold and ruthless, as if they were coated with snake venom, "...would already be corpses!"

However, the people of Shenmo Village, who had already set up their formation, did not give them much time to talk. Various weapons, imbued with murderous intent, trapped the four of them inside!
Mu Qingcheng fought with a whip, throwing the soft sword to Song Shuyu. Lu Xun was also skilled with a sword, and together with Lin Jiao, they fought a chaotic battle without any effort!
Faced with absolute power, a small formation is simply not enough!

Mu Qingcheng's long whip wrapped around a man's neck, flung him into the air, and then slammed him to the ground. The man could no longer get up. Normally, someone would fill the empty spot he left, but today no one was available because the five guards were tied up with the others!
Once the formation is breached, it collapses like a riverbed crumbling, instantly turning into a complete rout!
The battle ended in an overwhelming victory!
The five guards captured three men and two women, brought them to the front, and forced them to kneel before Song Shuyu!

At this point, no one, inside or outside the square, dared to step forward and fight!
The surroundings were quiet, with only the cold wind whistling past my ears.

Mu Qingcheng and Lu Xun exchanged a glance. Their tacit understanding, cultivated since childhood, led them to attack simultaneously, one with a whip and the other with a sword, towards Lin Jiao!

However, Lin Jiao suddenly knelt down, kowtowed, and said with a tragic expression, "Lord Song, all I have done is to ensure the safety of my sister Ruyi! I beg you, Lord Song, to save Ruyi from this hell. I am willing to surrender and plead guilty!"

Song Shuyu nodded and called out loudly, "Song Li!"

A figure flew down from the tower and landed on the square.

Song Shuyu glanced at Lin Jiao, "Lock him up and keep a close watch on him!"

Song Li agreed, but couldn't find a rope or chain, so he simply picked up Lin Jiao and sealed her acupoints.

Song Shuyu's cold eyes swept over the bruised and battered Wuhuan people below, finally settling on the faces of the five older men and women. He returned the sword to Mu Qingcheng, put his hands behind his back, and exuded an air of authority without anger. "I am Song Shuyu, the Prefect of the Capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a third-rank official. Shenmo Village belongs to Yuyang Town and is under my jurisdiction! Tonight, I have led my troops here to track down the women of the Great Zhou Dynasty who have been abducted to Shenmo Village! Their names are Chen Qingqing, Ruan Yue, Zhang Yu, Ji Xiaohua, and Liao Ruyi! But I wonder, who is in charge of Shenmo Village?"

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(End of this chapter)