The Imperial Guards, like Yama, slaughtered until the Empress cried out for help.

The man with the gun strode forward; he too had noticed something was wrong.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was the White Dragon Cult's most hated enemy. After all, ever since the first emperor of the Great Wu Dynasty, Emperor Wu, established the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they had been hunting down members of the White Dragon Cult.

Similarly, the White Dragon Cult also had a thorough understanding of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

They all knew that no matter what the task was, the centurion's office or the banner office always required someone to stay and guard it.

But today is unusually quiet.

"Number Five, have you heard anything? I've searched several houses, but I haven't seen a single person, not even a hair."

When the White Dragon Cult goes on missions, they use nicknames. Number Five is the man who uses a sword, Number Four is the man who uses a gun, and Number Nine is the man who uses fists.

A voice came from behind: "No, I saw it too."

Number Four didn't turn around, but felt the voice was a bit strange, though he didn't think much of it.

The voice behind him continued, "Hey, do you have the poison Bai Li used to poison Shen Qing today?"

Number Four seemed to have thought of something, and a mocking smile appeared on his face: "How could that be? There aren't many of those things in the sect. I heard that Bai Li specially asked someone to buy them for Shen Qing, spending several thousand taels of silver. He really went all out."

"Hey, why are you asking this? You're acting strange today, even your voice sounds different."

As he spoke, he turned around, but he regretted it as soon as he turned around. He saw the most terrifying scene of his life.

Behind him, Number Five's limbs were twisted in a bizarre posture, and his mouth was tightly covered by a hand, so he couldn't make a sound. His pupils were filled with struggle and wailing.

As the moonlight shone down, Number Four could finally see Shen Qing's cold and stern face.

Shen Qing snorted and looked at Number Four with some disappointment.

"If you don't even have poison, then why are you coming to me?"

Shen Qing still couldn't forget about that poison.

Number Four took two steps back, his voice trembling: "Shen Qing, you didn't take poison?"

With a gentle flick of his hand, Shen Qing removed Number Five's head and tossed it aside, then slowly walked toward Number Four.

"I ate it, but it didn't taste like much. It was like plain water. If you want to eat it, it's best to mix it with porridge or wine."

Number Four was surprised to find that he could sweat like this for the first time in his life. Sweat was pouring out of his forehead like crazy, almost like a fountain.

He turned to run, but as a peak expert of the Innate Realm, he was so frightened by Shen Qing's domineering true energy that his legs went weak and he fell to the ground.

Number Four watched as Shen Qing drew closer and closer, using his hands to brace himself against the floor as he backed away. Suddenly, his hand seemed to touch something. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a round object—Number Nine's head.

Number Nine's head had been removed by Shen Qing at some point.

Number Four's face turned deathly pale: "Shen Qing, Shen Qing, didn't you want to know what this poison was? I know who sold this poison to Bai Li..."

With a bang, Number Four's voice came to an abrupt halt as his head was blasted apart by the domineering true energy.

"Shouldn't you offer something decent when you beg for mercy?"

This poison isn't all that great; if it were offered to your face and you just casually took it, then it would be alright—just something to add to your good fortune.

But if you only know the whereabouts, you still have to go and retrieve it yourself. Even if the person delivers it in person, it will still take a month or two. In that case, it's all for nothing.

After all, nothing beats convenience.

Shen Qing walked up to Number Four, took a hidden arrow from Number Four's wrist, and then shot a streak of crimson smoke into the sky.

The conflict began.

......

At this moment, people from every corner of Luoshui City were constantly looking towards the west city, including members of the White Dragon Cult, members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and soldiers guarding the city.

As the crimson fireworks exploded, undercurrents began to stir in Luoshui City.

Outside the South City Hundred Household Office, several White Dragon Cult members wearing white masks emerged from a dark corner, and the leader murmured.

"They should have succeeded on the fourth side; Shen Qing is dead!"

"Prepare to move in; take Nanbaihu Office in half an hour!"

Inside the South Hundred Household Office, Zhang Shan sat in the courtyard, gripping a long-handled broadsword, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"The fireworks have gone off. Shen Qing's situation is settled. Now it's our turn. We'll take down the traitor who stormed the Hundred Household Office in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

"We will win tonight!"

Separated by only a wall, both sides were prepared for a fight to the death.

At the same time, on the bustling streets of Luoshui City, several yamen runners rode out on fine horses, carrying torches and shouting loudly.

"Everyone! Find the nearest house to hide!"

"Everyone! Find the nearest house and take shelter! Immediately! Right now!"

The people on the street were momentarily stunned, but without thinking twice, they rushed into any open doors they saw.

The White Dragon Cult's targets, besides the Embroidered Uniform Guard, also include all the money shops and treasure houses in the city.

Before the constables had left, members of the White Dragon Cult emerged from all directions. Of course, since the Garrison Command knew about the situation, they would not let it go unchecked. Constables, city guards, and Imperial Guards came out from all sides and, without saying a word, started fighting the White Dragon Cult members.

As the saying goes, enemies are especially hostile when they meet. The two sides had been at odds for a long time, and they quickly became enraged when the fight broke out, with casualties on both sides rising sharply.

On Tianshui Street, Ding Yi stood in front of a money exchange, holding a long black iron spear. The constables who were with him had already been wounded and taken inside the money exchange.

The western city government office was not clean, and all the yamen runners had been replaced. The new ones were not experienced enough, and soon they were injured and sent to the money exchange behind the city.

Now, only Ding Yi remains outside the money exchange, while the White Dragon Cult still has at least two hands' worth of followers.

Ding Yi took three steps back, panting heavily. Although he could hold his own for a short time, he was ultimately running out of stamina.

The voice of a black-clad member of the White Dragon Cult was full of mockery.

"When did such a ruthless character like you arrive at the West City government office?"

"But if you ask me, what are you risking your life for a few taels of silver a month?"

"You'd better get out of the way now. The money exchange behind you is full of silver. If you move aside, we might even give you a few taels later."

Ding Yi scoffed, "Little brat? When I was dealing with money, you were still breastfeeding."

"Grandpa only has one thing to say: if you want to enter this door today, you'd better kneel down and lick the soles of my feet clean first!"

The voices of the black-clad White Dragon cult members turned cold: "So this is the kind of person who won't listen to reason but will instead drink the penalty cup. Let's teach him a lesson."

As soon as he finished speaking, the White Dragon Cult members swarmed forward. Ding Yi, wielding his spear, charged forward, but his energy couldn't keep up. A spiked hammer came crashing down on Ding Yi's face.

Unable to dodge in time, Ding Yi had no choice but to raise his arm to take the blow head-on. A sound of bones cracking was heard as the bones in Ding Yi's arm were smashed open, and he was slammed against the wall, losing his ability to fight.

Several people walked over, grabbed Ding Yi's arms, and lifted him up.

The black-clad cult member chuckled and pinched Ding Yi's mouth shut: "Your bones don't seem as hard as your mouth."

Ding Yi spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm directly onto the mask of a cult member: "You're beating people up like you're being coquettish."

The black-clad cult members wiped the blood off their masks and punched Ding Yi in the waist three times in a row. The pain was excruciating, but Ding Yi still endured it. However, he could no longer control the blood, which spilled from his mouth.

"That's tough enough, and you don't even call it tough?" With that, the black-clad cult member raised his fist to continue beating Ding Yi.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by, and Ding Yi seemed to see something. His eyes reddened, and he cried out in a pitiful voice.

"Lord Shen! I will guard the bank and protect the people!"

"But they hit me!"