Chapter Sixty-One: Defending Yan Prefecture

Yang Ridan fought desperately against the locusts, but after cutting down only three, his strength was completely spent.

Yet he did not retreat.

He recalled the first time he met his master. He and his family had been traveling by boat, only to be scattered by a hurricane. Left alone in a solitary vessel, he even encountered pirates.

The band of pirates was slaughtering many innocents. When they saw him, they surrounded him, leaving him with no choice but to flee, flee, and flee. When escape was no longer possible, he brandished the short dagger in his hand, and when the pirates underestimated him, he slew their pirate king!

Just as the remaining pirates charged at him in fury, his master appeared and granted him new life.

His master once said that when the world closes one door, it often opens another for us.

So, though he was utterly exhausted, he refused to give up!

At that very moment, a brilliant light flashed between heaven and earth, and a heavenly scripture wreathed in flames descended from the sky, instantly scattering all the locusts and opening a path ahead.

Yang Ridan was overjoyed and cried out repeatedly, “Master! Master!” In that moment, all his usual composure vanished, replaced by fiery excitement.

Yan Yunfei laughed heartily. “That’s the City God’s Heavenly Tome! Yan Prefecture truly breeds heroes—I never imagined even the City God would possess such talent!”

Second Lady immediately used her Flying Crane Needle to carve open a path, and the three of them broke through the encirclement and rushed back to Yan Prefecture before midnight.

Seeing the southern part of Yan Prefecture City still intact, all three breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Yet, as they recalled the heavenly scripture that had just burned to ashes, a strong curiosity arose in their hearts. The City God was but a minor deity—how could he possess such talent, enabling the City God’s Tome to carry such powerful literary force?

Heroes across the land should never be underestimated. How they longed to meet this hidden City God, a dragon still lurking in the depths.

Just then, as noon struck, Second Lady and Yan Yunfei felt a sudden warmth throughout their bodies, and the cursed treasures they carried were once again replenished with the world’s spiritual energy.

But almost at the same instant, thunder and wind raged in the distance, and the skies over Yan Prefecture grew dark and gray.

A massive gray cloud loomed ever closer.

“This is bad!” Yan Yunfei and Second Lady’s faces changed at the same time, for it was not a cloud, but a swarm of countless locusts.

At that moment, the locusts swept over the land, reducing everything to ruins. The golden-armored locusts led the way, draining even the lakes dry as they passed.

From afar, the furious cry of the locust demon could be faintly heard: “A mere City God dares snatch away my prize! Today I’ll slaughter all of Yan Prefecture, wipe out every City God temple to its roots!”

In less than half an hour, despite the distance of dozens of miles, the locusts descended.

Their eyes gleamed red with hunger as they surged toward the city walls of Yan Prefecture.

But atop those walls, a weathered aura of slaughter began to flow forth, and countless talismans shimmered within the stone, making it as firm as metal.

These were the protective talismans left by generations of Daoists on Yan Prefecture’s walls, intermingled with the blood and spirit of countless soldiers who had perished defending the city. Because of this strength, no bandits had ever dared attack Yan Prefecture.

For a moment, the locusts were held at bay, as if an invisible barrier kept them from advancing.

Atop the city wall stood the Prefect of Yan Prefecture, and behind him, many soldiers wore expressions of unwavering resolve. Even in the face of so many locusts, they showed no fear.

All the soldiers brandished their swords and shouted as one, their voices like clashing metal and jade: “Defend the walls! Defend Yan Prefecture!”

Their shouts merged into an invisible force, vast and mighty. At the same time, beams of Daoist light shot from the walls—these were the city’s Daoists, who, though lacking cursed treasures, were pouring all their strength into defending the city.

These combined powers strengthened the talismanic defenses, striking back at the locusts.

Many locusts burst apart, and even the golden-armored ones were wounded and forced to retreat.

But then, in the distance, the woman riding an old donkey appeared—none other than the locust demon. With a flick of her finger, a massive blood-red eye snapped open where heaven and earth met.

It was as if an invisible black hole was forming, the blood-red eye devouring everything before it. Unlike the day before, it now lurked in darkness, summoning winds and wails of ghosts and gods, eclipsing sun and moon, then unleashing a crimson beam toward the city wall.

The moment the red beam struck, the city wall shuddered violently, all the talismans shattered.

Countless soldiers felt as if their chests had been struck by a hammer, coughed up blood, and collapsed, unable to rise.

The Daoists, wracked with pain and gasping for breath under the crushing force, felt their bodies would break if they tried to cast another spell.

The massive city wall began to crack, its surface splitting inch by inch.

Everyone stared, speechless in shock. The enemy’s single blow was so overwhelmingly powerful!

Almost simultaneously, Yan Yunfei and Second Lady unleashed their cursed treasures—Flying Crane Needle and Dragon-Serpent Sword—pouring in all their strength to barely fend off the crimson eye’s beam.

Only then did the locusts pause in midair, halting their assault for the moment.

But many hearts were close to collapse. If the enemy’s first strike was so strong, what would happen when the demon recovered and attacked again? Would Yan Prefecture City still stand? Did it still have the power to defy fate?

Suddenly, Yan Yunfei roared, “Death is all that awaits us—what’s there to fear!” Lifting the Dragon-Serpent Sword high, he pointed it at the distant locusts. “Yan Prefecture is the key stronghold of the south. Even when the nine outer fortresses rebelled and shook the court, Yan Prefecture stood unbowed. Will a few mere locusts really shake its foundations? To live in these times and die in this moment—what is there to fear?”

The soldiers’ blood surged at his words; they raised their swords high, and morale soared.

*****

At nearly the same moment, an official rushed into the great hall, his face pale. “Reporting to the gods—the locust demon has reached Yan Prefecture! With a single blow she has cracked the city wall!”

The God of Guan Yu and the other deities drew sharp breaths. How could the locust demon be so powerful?

For a moment, all were silent.

They turned their gaze to Chu Youcai, sighing inwardly. Chu Youcai was a man of such talent, able to compose the “Disciple’s Rules,” yet now he was trapped in Yan Prefecture, perhaps doomed to die here—what a pity!

Just then, Chu Youcai cupped his hands to the God of Guan Yu. “Divine Lord Guan, please allow me to return to my mortal body.”

Guan Yu shook his head. “If you remain here, we can still protect you for a time. If you return to your body, and the city falls, Yan Prefecture will be thrown into chaos, and disaster will swiftly follow.”

Chu Youcai’s eyes were clear. “I do not seek to escape.”