Chapter 276: Treating People as Expendable

Chapter 276: Treating People as Expendable

Spirit Guard Xu lifted the Guizhen-stage guard with one hand and lifted his feet off the ground. This would not make the Guizhen-stage guard suffocate to death, but it was embarrassing. The poor guy could only use his hands to swat at the iron fist of the second-rank Spirit Guard, unable to break free.

Du Longtan frowned, suddenly realizing that things were getting out of his control.

Only a Heavenly Being could subdue a Guizhen-stage master with one move.

What kind of background did the Lu family have to hire a Heavenly Being as an escort?

However, Du Longtan did not panic. After all, everything was still negotiable at this stage.

The surrounding guests were also relatively relaxed because there were other guards around. Even if someone powerful decided to stir up trouble, they could call for backup and win the fight by outnumbering the opponent.

Du Longtan stood up slowly, clasped his fists, and said, “Greetings, my friend. It’s best not to cause any fatalities today. Why don’t we each take a step back? I’ll apologize, and you can let the guard go. We’ll all be better off that way.”

Zhang Yuelu slowly walked onto the platform. She did not stop until she reached the relief of the two dragons playing with a pearl. She looked down at the blackened blood flowing between the gaps of the white-jade relief, which was a stark contrast similar to the yin and yang symbol.

“It’s best not to cause any fatalities today, huh?” Zhang Yuelu tapped the tip of her boots. “Then what is this? Isn’t this considered a fatality?”

Du Longtan was rendered speechless.

Zhang Yuelu turned to Spirit Guard Xu. “Don’t kill him.”

Spirit Guard Xu obliged and relaxed his grip slightly.

Zhang Yuelu looked at Du Longtan again. “Perhaps to you, these aren’t fatalities because you don’t consider them human. They are just animals for your entertainment. But you seem to have forgotten whether what you are doing is allowed. The heavens and earth treat all beings as equals, and the enlightened ones treat all people equally. We are all the same, whether you are a court official, a nobleman, or a homeless beggar. There is no difference between you and me. The enlightened ones won’t approve of what you are doing, nor will the people.”

Confucian Sages, the Primordial Daoist Ancestor, the Buddha, the God of the Holy Court, and even emperors could be considered enlightened ones.

All the guests looked at Zhang Yuelu as if she were a fool. Who would come to a place like this to preach morals? This young man was so studious and naive!

However, Du Longtan had already noticed something was wrong. He stared at Zhang Yuelu intently and questioned, “Who the hell are you?”

Zhang Yuelu thought that she had seen enough depravity for the day, so she had no intention of concealing her identity anymore. She declared, “My name is Zhang Yuelu.”

Zhang Yuelu’s great reputation was limited to the Daoist Order and, at most, to certain groups with which she had interacted before. These guests were mostly merchants and scions who came here to have fun, wanting to take a break from their business, wives, concubines, and the many children they had at home. They usually had a full schedule in their mundane lives, so they would not pay attention to a rising star in the Daoist Order.

Even Lei Xiaohuan, a Heavenly Being Wuliang-stage Martial Arts Practitioner, would not have the confidence to defeat Spirit Guard Xu in a fight. This showed just how powerful a high-ranking Spirit Guard was. If Spirit Guard Xu was not that capable, Sage Cihang would not have sent him to protect Zhang Yuelu.

Spirit Guards would have been on equal footing with Daoist priests of the same rank if their cultivation had not come from external sources.

In the meantime, Zhang Yuelu faced off with Du Longtan.

The result was obvious because Du Longtan was no match for Zhang Yuelu, who was about to become a Heavenly Being. Zhang Yuelu defeated him in two to three moves and bound him with a whip transformed from her Amorphous Paper.

Du Longtan could not move, but he was not yet in despair because this manor was the Lingshan Witch Cult’s stronghold. It was also an important source of wealth, so most of their manpower was concentrated here, including a Heavenly Being.

As long as that Heavenly Being brought backup, there would be a chance to turn the tables.

At this moment, a shocking explosion shook the whole building and illuminated the night sky.

One shot of Grade-A Series Seven Phoenix Eye Bomb blasted through the gate of the manor, razing the entire gatehouse and a large section of the courtyard wall to the ground.

The cult demons stationed at the gate had no time to react before turning into mutilated and charred corpses.

Immediately afterward, a battalion of Spirit Guards in black armor marched into the manor, stepping over the rubble and ashes. Their heavy footsteps were uniform and rhythmic.

Behind the Spirit Guards was a group of Daoist priests in black formal attire.

The towering walls that acted as a defense mechanism were now a hindrance to the cult demons trying to flee for their lives. The people in the manor were now caged in.

In an instant, the scene in the manor turned chaotic. The noblemen trapped in the manor were no different from the servants working there. Everyone was helpless, screaming and crying for mercy in the face of these oppressive Spirit Guards.

Not long after, Sun Yongfeng led a team of Spirit Guards to the third floor. “Deputy Hall Master, you are wise to go deep into the cult demon’s lair and capture their leader. The remaining demons have lost their courage and are completely vulnerable.”

Zhang Yuelu glanced at him and instructed, “Don’t kill innocent people indiscriminately. Be sure to screen through them carefully. Understand?”

“Yes, Deputy Hall Master.” Sun Yongfeng responded quickly.

Zhang Yuelu glanced at Spirit Guard Xu. “I’ll leave you to deal with the Heavenly Being here.”

Spirit Guard Xu handed over the captive in his hands to the other Spirit Guards. Then he took off his cloak, exposing the Spirit Guard armor underneath. He also put on his helmet and visor, which he retrieved from his magical receptacle.

He answered solemnly, “I accept your command, Deputy Hall Master.”