Chapter 23: A Hundred Ghosts March in Broad Daylight

Xiaolin Town is located northeast of Fenglin City, separated from Fenglin City by Qingshan Town. In terms of linear distance, it is the farthest town from the main city within the Fenglin City domain.

Led by Wei Yan, the group traveled non-stop, passing through Qingshan Town without stopping, and arrived outside Xiaolin Town in just half a day.

There are no green mountains outside Qingshan Town. It is unknown how long ago this place name was passed down, or perhaps it existed once, but later changed with time.

However, there is indeed a moon cypress forest outside Xiaolin Town, but it is small in scale and can be seen at a glance. Moon cypress has a calming effect, and furniture made of moon cypress wood is very popular.

It is said that the forest used to be very large, but because moon cypress trees are extremely valuable, townspeople often cut them down illegally, and the moon cypress forest became smaller and smaller. If Fenglin City had not specifically ordered a ban on illegal logging, this small forest would have disappeared years ago.

The constables transferred from Qingshan Town were stationed in the forest, either sitting or lying down, quite scattered. Hearing the sound of horses' hooves, they gathered together to greet them.

These constables are just ordinary martial forces and certainly dare not enter the town to investigate in the current situation, only serving as observers and giving warnings.

Wei Yan stopped his horse outside the forest, glanced at these people casually, and asked, "What is the situation in Xiaolin Town?"

The captain of the constables from Qingshan Town, a broad-faced man in his forties, replied, "Fog began to appear outside Xiaolin Town five days ago. We didn't pay much attention to it at the time, only thinking it was a change in the weather. At that time, we could still see the outline of Xiaolin Town and faint figures of people. Some people from Qingshan Town even went to visit relatives. Yesterday, we received orders to come here to set up a checkpoint and observe, but we haven't seen anyone come out. The fog is getting thicker and thicker, and now we can't see anything."

Among the disciples of the Dao Academy, Jiang Wang craned his neck to look at Xiaolin Town. The Fenglin City domain was the hometown where he was born and raised. Although he grew up in Fengxi Town, he was no stranger to Xiaolin Town.

The Xishan bandits, whom he had defeated single-handedly with his sword, were entrenched in the Xishan mountains ten miles north of Xiaolin Town.

In the past, Xiaolin Town could be seen from the moon cypress forest here. The town was not wealthy, but it was peaceful and happy. Now, all that can be seen is a fog.

At this time, Wei Yan's voice sounded: "You were ordered to observe Xiaolin Town here, but you are scattered and undisciplined. Worse, some of you are taking the opportunity to illegally log moon cypress trees. Are you here on official business, or to seek personal gain?"

The faces of the constables from Qingshan Town were already pale, and the leading captain repeatedly bowed, trying to explain something.

But Wei Yan's punishment had already been issued: "The moon cypress trees that have already been cut down will be sent to the city guard army camp. In addition, all of you will have your salaries docked for one year, and the captain is responsible for leadership and will be dismissed!"

The broad-faced man looked ashen, but he didn't even dare to protest, and just retreated in dismay.

Hearing Wei Yan's punishment, Jiang Wang noticed the several moon cypress trees that had been felled.

Wei Yan had already taken everything into account at the first moment he arrived.

Jiang Wang sighed at Wei Yan's keenness, but also felt that this man was truly strict.

Xiaolin Town had fallen, and this moon cypress forest was temporarily ownerless. These constables were only risking their lives to set up a checkpoint outside Xiaolin Town to observe, and they had cut down a few trees to subsidize themselves, which, although derelict in their duties, was actually understandable.

Qingshan Town was not wealthy, and a one-year salary cut meant that these constables' lives would suddenly become tight. Especially for this middle-aged man in his forties, being a captain might have been the pinnacle of his life's efforts. But with one sentence from Wei Yan, he returned to the starting point.

However, this trip was almost like a military march, and Wei Yan led the team like a commander. His orders were military orders, and no one could disobey them.

After Wei Yan finished dealing with the situation, he pulled the reins and took the lead, galloping towards Xiaolin Town.

The horses were all warhorses from the military camp, and the knights were all cultivators from the Dao Academy. Although there were only thirty or so people, they were disciplined and swift, with the momentum of thousands of troops.

The sound of horses' hooves was like thunder rolling across the ground, but it stopped abruptly!

Those warhorses, long accustomed to battle, reared up and neighed in front of the mist that shrouded the entire Xiaolin Town. No matter how the knights urged them, they refused to go any further.

More than thirty warhorses were terrified and neighed in unison. It was as if there was something in Xiaolin Town that they were extremely afraid of. This scene was frightening.

Even though the knights' strength prevented them from making a fool of themselves by falling off their horses before the battle, their morale had plummeted, and they no longer had the high spirits they had when they left the city.

Even Wang Changxiang, who was usually peaceful and indifferent, had a grave look in his eyes.

Only Wei Yan's expression remained unchanged.

The armor on his body was mottled. The saber at his waist was narrow and straight. The warhorse beneath him was tall and handsome.

Everyone knew that these were Wei Yan's three beloved things.

But he suddenly drew his saber!

It was as if a flash of lightning had passed through the air, and the saber light had already disappeared. The precious horse beneath him stopped neighing, its large head fell off its body, and was sprayed a distance away by the gushing blood from its neck.

The horse's corpse fell to the ground with a crash.

Wei Yan held his saber, looked at the town in the fog, but his voice was cold: "If you are cowardly in the face of battle, what use are you?"

"Good!" The first to respond was Du Yehhu, who was naturally fierce and liked to be straightforward. He immediately smashed his fist down, crushing the horse's head. "Hey Wei, how are we going to charge next?"

Wei Yan slightly raised his right hand, "Listen to my orders, dismount and prepare for battle, form a wedge formation, with me as the arrowhead, and go straight into Xiaolin Town!"

Wei Yan's killing of the horse had made everyone realize that there was no way to retreat. At this time, there was no room for hesitation, and they dismounted together.

Wei Yan said again: "Raise your weapons!"

There was a crisp sound of blades being drawn!

At this time, Wei Yan's ordinary-looking adjutant stood out. He raised his right palm upwards, pinched a magic seal with his left hand, muttered incantations, and finally said: "Sharpness!"

Jiang Wang only felt that the sharpness of the long sword in his hand had suddenly increased. This long sword, which could only be said to be excellent, now gave him the illusion that it could break through anything.

"Attach flames!"

Flames rose above all the weapons! The cultivators held up their swords and sabers, like holding torches, to illuminate the town in the fog before them.

"Solidify!"

Ling He felt that his body had become firm and strong, with a feeling of wanting to punch people. But he just glanced at Du Yehhu next to him, who had hair and beard standing on end, and quietly erased this illusion.

Zhao Rucheng was thinking that group buffing spells were at least C-grade high-quality spells. And Wei Yan's unremarkable adjutant actually cast three spells in a row without changing his expression. The Ministry of War was indeed full of hidden talents.

No matter what the others thought, there could only be one will when marching. With the blessing of the spells, Wei Yan took the lead with his saber and stepped into Xiaolin Town.

The group walked and observed, and the town was so silent that only their footsteps could be heard.

After walking for a while, the fog seemed to be getting thicker.

The fog was so thick that it was almost tangible. People could not be seen beyond three steps, and only the firelight on the weapons could be seen, standing stubbornly in the seemingly endless fog.

They had no choice but to shrink the formation again, reducing the distance between people from five steps to three steps. Any closer would affect the battle.

Jiang Wang and his brothers were in the back of the formation. They had the lowest cultivation level and received tacit protection. There was no need to avoid it, and it was a good tradition of the Dao Academy.

Du Yehhu was clenching his fists, not out of tension, but out of excitement, eager to try.

Jiang Wang had no doubt that even if the nine great demon lords, whose fierce reputation had spread throughout the world, were in front of him, he would dare to punch them without saying a word. Of course, whether he could beat them was another matter.

Just then, a cry of surprise came from the periphery of the formation, "What is that?!"

Another voice dissatisfiedly said: "Just ghosts, what's there to be afraid of?"

But soon there was a change: "So many?!"

Hearing the sound, Wei Yan suddenly turned his head and slashed horizontally!

A huge saber light swept across the sky, cutting through the thick fog around it for a moment!

And in that instant, everyone saw the staggering and gesticulating, dense mass of wandering souls on the entire street!

In broad daylight, a hundred ghosts walking in the daytime!