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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 67: The True Kong Qi
In the inner court of Qingyang City, the Tenth Prince hurriedly made his way to a separate residence, followed by several rugged-looking soldiers. Suddenly, a City Guard caught up from behind, reporting, "Your Highness, urgent news has come from the city—another Green Demon Eagle has appeared!"
The Tenth Prince looked somewhat anxious and ordered, "Instruct them to forcibly drive away the Green Demon Eagle. No matter what happens, I do not want to be disturbed before Ming Taiyang rises."
The City Guard was taken aback. Seeing the prince's urgency, he couldn't help but wonder what could be more pressing than the matter of the Green Demon Eagle. However, he dared not contradict the prince and replied, "Yes."
The Tenth Prince led his guards swiftly toward the separate residence, muttering in frustration, "In the dead of night, they won't let anyone rest. One after another, they just keep causing me trouble."
He quickened his pace and arrived at his study. Noticing that there was light inside, he hesitated for a moment about whether to enter. But this was something he could no longer avoid. Turning to his guards behind him, he instructed, "You all wait outside and do not let anyone approach the study."
Suppressing his nervousness, the Tenth Prince pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Inside were ten people, some sitting and some standing. They all looked formidable, with double axes strapped to their backs and eyes like copper bells. Sitting on the couch was none other than Mad Bull. With a large knife resting on the tea table beside him, Mad Bull fixed his heavy gaze on the Tenth Prince, making him feel somewhat terrified.
In a deep voice, Mad Bull said with a smirk, "The prince has arrived; forgive my intrusion."
Though he spoke as if apologizing, his demeanor was exceptionally arrogant.
The Tenth Prince forced a stiff smile and replied, "No need for such words, my good brother; what is mine is yours."
Mad Bull burst into hearty laughter. "That's what I love to hear!" He picked up a jade cup from the tea table and took a sip of wine. "Good wine! Your Highness has gained quite a bit in Qingyang City, hasn't he?"
The Tenth Prince shivered slightly and steeled himself to say, "Did you not promise me that you would never come to Qingyang City again?"
With a grin, Mad Bull replied, "Promise? We are Sand Bandits, not pampered princes. There’s plenty of profit here; how could I bear to miss out?"
He glanced at the other Sand Bandits in the room, who laughed heartily without regard for the prince.
Gritting his teeth, the Tenth Prince glared at Mad Bull, remaining silent.
Mad Bull slowly approached Tenth Prince from behind, placing a heavy hand on his shoulder. Tenth Prince's knee buckled as if a hundred-pound stone had been placed upon it. Mad Bull spoke in a low voice, "Don't be so distant. We are good brothers. I handled the Kong Family's affairs for you, allowing you to smoothly take over Qingyang City. You wouldn't want to bite the hand that feeds you, would you?"
Tenth Prince bit his lip tightly, his face pale as beads of sweat rolled down. He gradually straightened his knee, resisting Mad Bull's immense strength. Mad Bull smiled and nodded, his face filled with admiration, seemingly surprised that Tenth Prince had such resilience.
Mad Bull released his grip, and Tenth Prince, heart racing, asked, "How much do you want this time?"
A cold smile crept across Mad Bull's lips. "Your Highness, you've misunderstood me. What’s yours is mine; I'm not here to ask for money. I just haven't seen you in a while and wanted to check in."
Tenth Prince wore a sorrowful expression. "I heard you all left Qingyang City."
Mad Bull laughed heartily. "We did leave, but we came back. Why aren't you welcoming me?"
Tenth Prince's sweat continued to fall. "That's not what I meant."
Mad Bull waved his hand and picked up a large knife, signaling the other Sand Bandits to prepare to leave. He walked to the door and said, "Your Highness, my brother is getting married next month; don’t forget to send your gift on time."
With that, Mad Bull turned without looking back and left the inner court with the remaining Sand Bandits. One of the Yellow Sand Bandits remarked, "Boss, we've completed our business at the Doomed Court. Are we returning to Qingyang City for the pearls?"
Mad Bull chuckled darkly. "Of course; we must take what is ours."
He looked up at the Green Demon Eagle flying overhead and mused, "There are corpses in the city again; I wonder who has died this time?"
---
Prince Huixin leaped several times until he reached a shadowy corner opposite Tenth Prince's study. He gazed at the Green Demon Eagle flying above. "Those filthy birds always fly overhead; it really gives me the creeps."
Prince Huixin glanced outside the study door and saw several guards standing watch. He could see Tenth Prince inside the study. Drawing his dagger, he fixed his gaze on Tenth Prince like a predator stalking its prey and sighed inwardly, "Tomorrow will change everything!"
As Lin Chuyu saw the Green Demon Eagle circling above her head, she dared not linger any longer. She took a glance at the barely conscious Kong Qi and was contemplating how to persuade Shilan to leave with her when Shilan, with tear-filled eyes, pleaded, "Please help me lift my sister. We need to find a doctor."
Although Kong Qi had transformed into human form, Lin Chuyu had seen the monstrous appearance of Kong Qi before. The thought of helping her made her feel uneasy. However, the number of Green Demon Eagles overhead was increasing, and seeing Shilan cry pitifully made Lin Chuyu grit her teeth. No matter what, they needed to leave this place first.
Suppressing her fear, Lin Chuyu joined Shilan in supporting Kong Qi as they made their way out of Qingyang Manor. It was a struggle for Lin Chuyu to help Kong Qi out, and just as the three of them reached the vicinity of the city gate, night had fallen deep. With the disturbance from the Green Demon Eagles, the city gate was tightly shut, but there was a small door.
Lin Chuyu knocked urgently on the door, and soon a drunken guard opened it. Seeing that all three were women, he leered and said, "Ladies, it's dangerous to be out at this hour. You want to enter the city? Come on, let me check you for any dangerous items."
Feeling humiliated by the guard's teasing, Lin Chuyu's face flushed with anger as she retorted, "How dare you be rude to us!"
The guard stepped outside and grabbed Lin Chuyu's wrist with a sly grin. "If you resist, you know what will happen."
Lin Chuyu felt her face burning as she struggled to break free. "Let go of my hand!" she shouted.
The guard's expression turned sinister as he kicked Lin Chuyu down to the ground. "Wild girl!"
With Lin Chuyu falling down, both Shilan and Kong Qi collapsed as well. The guard glanced at Shilan and noticed her delicate nose and rosy lips; she was indeed a rare beauty. He leered again, "This one is a beauty too."
Shilan felt both embarrassed and angry as the guard moved closer and picked her up. She screamed in shock just then when two more drunken guards emerged from inside the gate and threw someone out.
The guard holding Shilan was startled. "Who is it?"
At that moment, Meng Hai and Ji Zichen stepped out from outside the gate. Lin Chuyu's eyes lit up. "Brother Ji..."
Ji Zichen glared at the guard. "Let her go."
The guard, now sobered by fear, quickly released Shilan and fled towards the trees outside the city.
Seeing someone come to their rescue, Shilan looked at Ji Zichen with curiosity and bowed gratefully. "Thank you for saving us."
Ji Zichen did not glance at Shilan even once. He looked at Lin Chuyu, who was slumped on the ground, his eyes filled with a hint of reproach. Yet, seeing her being bullied also stirred some pity within him. Ji Zichen said, "Get up already."
Lin Chuyu quickly smiled and said, "Uncle Meng, you’re here too!"
Meng Hai smiled slightly. "You really made us search for you."
A blush crossed Lin Chuyu's face as she blinked and said shyly, "I’m sorry to have worried you."
Suddenly, Ji Zichen drew the Demon-Slaying Sword and pointed it at Shilan. He spoke sternly, "Kong Qi! We meet again!"
Lin Chuyu was taken aback and hurriedly stepped in front of Shilan. She looked at the cold tip of the sword and said in confusion, "Brother Ji, you’ve misunderstood. She is Shilan." Lin Chuyu pointed at the unconscious Kong Qi lying nearby. "She is Kong Qi; Shilan is her maid."
Ji Zichen's sharp eyes narrowed as he sneered, "Step aside! You’ve been deceived. I won’t mistake her; I can sense the stench of rotting flesh coming from her. It’s the same as that Green Demon Eagle. This woman is the Green Demon Eagle you encountered that day with that boy!"
Seeing Ji Zichen ’s conviction, Lin Chuyu turned back to look at the stunned Shilan, thinking it couldn’t be her. She had witnessed Kong Qi transform into the Green Demon Eagle with her own eyes. Lin Chuyu insisted, "She is not Kong Qi, Brother Ji; you’re mistaken this time."
Lin Chuyu pointed at the fallen Kong Qi. "She is the real Green Demon Eagle; I saw it with my own eyes."
Ji Zichen replied, "Take a good look at her; how could she be the Green Demon Eagle?"
Lin Chuyu glanced at the lying Kong Qi and noticed that her face had somehow changed to resemble Shilan's. Lin Chuyu gasped, "Her face..."
When she turned back to look at Shilan, she found that Shilan's appearance had transformed into that of Kong Qi.
Lin Chuyu's mind buzzed in confusion. "What is happening?"
Ji Zichen no longer wished to explain further. He said, "Step aside; I will show you her true form."
"Yo yo yo, what’s going on here? Why are all the guards absent?"
Meng Hai noticed someone inside the city gate and exchanged a glance with Ji Zichen. They turned around to see Mad Bull leading a group of Sand Bandits coming out from within.
Both sides were momentarily stunned upon seeing each other, but after a brief pause, Mad Bull laughed, "It's you again! What a coincidence!"
Lin Chuyu's anger flared as she spotted Mad Bull, instantly forgetting about Kong Qi. She glared at him furiously, "It's you!"
Seeing Lin Chuyu's furious glare, Mad Bull chuckled, "That look again. Are you looking for a fight?"
Shilan's expression twisted in horror as she recognized Mad Bull, her mind struck by a thunderous realization. "He... he is..."
"Ah~~~ ah~"
Suddenly, Shilan covered her head and dropped to her knees, screaming in anguish. Her face contorted in pain as if she were going berserk, dark mist swirling around her. Lin Chuyu stepped back in fright until she was beside Ji Zichen. "Shilan...!"
After a moment of agonizing screams on the ground, Shilan suddenly bowed her head, surrounded by the black mist. Her body trembled as she let out a twisted laugh. "I remember now! I finally remember who I am!"
Lin Chuyu looked at Shilan in terror and asked, "Shilan, what’s wrong with you?!"
Shilan's skin seemed to peel away, revealing the monstrous face of a Green Demon Eagle. Mad Bull broke into a cold sweat. "What? What's happening to this woman?"
Shilan's clothes ripped apart as her body swelled dramatically. A massive Green Demon Eagle appeared before everyone. Shilan let out an eerie chant before raising her voice high, "I finally remember who I am!"
Ji Zichen felt an overwhelming sense of danger and shouted, "Heart!"
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