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

Several days later, within the territory of Jiashui County.

A dilapidated post station.

The scholar was squatting by the fire roasting a pheasant when he cursed.

"Are these Japanese pirates really that bad? Everyone's fled from this remote post station."

Since entering Jiashui County, the population has become increasingly sparse, and now even this official post station is deserted.

Zhang Shan spat: "It's good enough if you can escape. What's worse is not even having a chance to escape."

"Hey, scholar, look at the map. Where are we now? How far are we from Beiyun City?"

The scholar didn't even look up: "I checked it a long time ago. If I'm not mistaken, this post station should be Yuntong Post Station. If we continue at our current speed, we should be able to reach Beiyun City in three days."

Zhang Shan looked at Shen Qing: "Shen Qing, Bei Yun is in a real mess right now. Where should we start killing them?"

Shen Qing took a bite of the roasted chicken leg in his mouth: "Simple, kill whoever shows their face. There should already be some people who can't wait to show their faces."

Suddenly, a shout rang out outside the post station, and all the Imperial Guards stood up abruptly, drawing their long swords.

"Run! Don't stop, keep running!"

"We can't stop even when we're exhausted, the Japanese pirates are coming soon!"

It seemed that Japanese pirates were chasing them, and Zhang Shan frowned.

"Why does this voice sound so familiar? Have I heard it somewhere before?"

Shen Qing also felt a sense of familiarity.

The sound rang out again.

"Keep running! Keep running! Run towards Yongning County! A ruthless man named Shen Qing, the Yama of the World, has recently come there! The Japanese pirates dare not go there!"

The scholar raised an eyebrow: "Boss, your reputation has spread all the way to Jia Shui County!"

Shen Qing shook his head and smiled; he already recognized the voice.

"It didn't spread that fast. Zhang Shan is right, it is indeed an acquaintance."

"Let's go take a look."

A forest path.

Several villagers ran past, all of them with little cultivation, including a few old men and women. Judging from their clothes, they were probably ordinary farmers in the village.

At the very back of the procession was Zhang Mo, the heir apparent of the Prince of Dongling.

After being taught a lesson by Shen Qing that day, he also saw through the true colors of his companions. So after leaving Luoshui City, he withdrew from the Six Doors and wandered alone to Jiashui County, where he became a wandering knight, specializing in blocking Japanese pirates and protecting the people.

At this moment, he held a dark-colored longsword in his hand, but several nicks could be clearly seen on the sword. He also had a palm-sized scar on his face and several bloodstains on his clothes, indicating that he had experienced continuous high-intensity battles.

Zhang Mo helped an old man up: "Why did you stop? Come on, keep running!"

The old man shakily got up: "This old man really can't move. Hey, you'd better run. You can't escape with us."

"You've been very kind to us these past two days, but we can't run fast with you. Those Japanese pirates will catch up soon."

Before Zhang Mo could say anything, a mocking voice rang out from the woods.

"Oh, nobody wants to leave? Then stay!"

Zhang Mo suddenly turned around, flicked his longsword, and a sharp, dark sword aura shot straight towards the treetops.

A violent explosion rang out, and the entire tree was split in two by the sword energy, releasing a huge cloud of smoke and dust.

However, Zhang Mo's face showed no sign of relaxation.

Sure enough, the voice rang out again in the forest the next moment.

"Not bad, but too bad, I'm tired of it. You can all just die now."

The next moment, several kunai flew out swiftly from the forest, carrying a dark purple light.

Zhang Mo raised his sword to defend, and a crisp sound was heard.

The already battered, dark longsword was broken in two by the kunai, which then plunged deep into Zhang Mo's chest.

Zhang Mo stumbled back two steps and fell to the ground. He was already at his limit, and now that his weapon was broken, he was completely powerless to resist.

A pale-skinned man slowly emerged from the woods and approached Zhang Mo.

"So you are the prodigy of the Great Wu? You are very strong. You are actually able to fight me at the peak of the Innate Realm. But unfortunately, I didn't even use a third of my strength."

"It seems that the geniuses of the Great Wu Kingdom are ultimately no match for the geniuses of our empire!"

"We will conquer this land sooner or later, and you will be the first Great Martial Prodigy I slay!"

Zhang Mo raised his head: "What are you pretending for? You think you're so great?"

"Have you ever seen a true prodigy? If you really think you are a prodigy, then continue along this road and go directly to Luoshui City in Yongning County. Go to the West City and find the Jinyiwei Hundred Household Office. There is a man there named Shen Qing, the World-Crossing Yama."

"Go find him! See if you can force him to use even a fraction of his strength!"

"If he punches you three times, you'll be past the seventh day after his death!"

The man chuckled: "Oh, Shen Qing, the Yama of Salvation? I'll remember that name."

"I'm going to find him and kill him!"

Suddenly, the wind in the forest seemed to stop.

The man's body suddenly stiffened.

He suddenly threw a powerful punch at his back, but it was caught by a slender, fair hand.

"I heard you wanted to see me?"

The man's forehead was covered in sweat as he tried to pull his fist back, but no matter how hard he tried, his fist wouldn't budge, as if it were being clamped by iron pincers.

Under the moonlight, Shen Qing's cold and stern face was revealed, along with a faint, almost imperceptible sneer at the corner of his mouth.

"This is the pride of the Japanese pirates? I can't even force him to use three-tenths of my strength."

The man roared, "How is this possible..."

bang

With a crisp sound, the man's head was sent flying by Shen Qing's palm strike, and the incredulous expression on his face froze.

Zhang Mo raised his head and looked at the man who resembled Yama, the King of Hell.

He also imagined that someone would fall from the sky to save him.

It could be his own father, or even someone from the Six Doors (a government agency).

But he never imagined that the person who saved him would be this man who was like a nightmare to him.

Shen Qing reached out and pulled Zhang Mo up.

"That's a mess."

Zhang Mo was stunned. Had Shen Qing just pulled him up?

At this moment, Zhang Shan popped his head out from the side: "Hey, isn't this Zhang Mo? You look so miserable after just a few days?"

Zhang Mo didn't hear him speak, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

Did I say anything wrong?

I was praising him.

Correct!

I didn't say anything wrong!

Pan Ruhai also came out: "Young Master Zhang? What are you doing here? Why are you fighting with the Japanese pirates?"

Zhang Mo snapped out of his daze, glanced cautiously at Shen Qing, and then very honestly recounted the whole story.

There was a group of Japanese pirates who were arrogant and roamed around Jiashui County on weekdays. They didn't need to lead troops; they just hunted lone Innate Realm and Grandmaster Realm cultivators.

They also kill for fun.

Yesterday at noon, Zhang Mo encountered several Japanese pirates attacking the villagers. Zhang Mo's blood boiled and he immediately fought with the pirates. After all, he was the heir of the Dongling King and had some skills. He fought five pirates at the Innate Realm and killed them all.

Later, this led to the discovery of a Grandmaster-level Japanese pirate who chased Zhang Mo all the way here, like a cat playing with a mouse.

Suddenly, Zhang Mo thought of something, got up and ran to Shen Qing.

"Lord Shen! About an incense stick's time ago, some of my companions led some villagers in another direction. There was more than one Japanese pirate chasing us, but only one came to us."

"The others must have gone after them."

"Lord Shen! I know we have a conflict. I was wrong before, and I know I was wrong."

"But my companions are innocent; they were also protecting the people of Dawu."

"I, Zhang Mo, admit my mistake! I'll accept whatever punishment or scolding you give me."

"But I implore Lord Shen to save their lives!"

After saying that, Zhang Mo bowed deeply to Shen Qing, keeping his head very low and not daring to look at Shen Qing at all.

Shen Qing patted Zhang Mo on the shoulder: "If you had known how to talk back then, I would never have hit you."

"Tell me, which direction is the person in?"