Human Clan Defender
Chapter 49: Eternal Alliance Stronghold (Extra for Alliance Hierarch "Zhuang Shu")

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Eternal Alliance Stronghold (Extra for Alliance Hierarch "Zhuang Shu")

He ended his cultivation. Shi Qingsheng came from outside.

"Lord Shen," Shi Qingsheng said, "someone has delivered a letter; it was specifically meant for you."

"A letter for me?" Shen Changqing’s eyebrows raised slightly as he took the envelope and waved Shi Qingsheng away. He opened the envelope. Inside, he found a white piece of paper, devoid of any marks.

Shen Changqing stood up, fetched a bottle of white wine, mixed it with tea, and slowly rubbed the mixture onto the white paper. Soon after, he took it outside, directly into the sunlight. After a few breaths, black characters suddenly appeared on the previously blank paper.

As expected! A smile touched Shen Changqing’s lips. Upon receiving the white paper, he had immediately thought of the Heavenly Inspection Guard’s coded messages and, drawing on his memory, deciphered the concealed writing. Just as he anticipated, the secret message’s content appeared on the paper.

Returning to the inner hall, Shen Changqing carefully read the secret letter’s contents and then used his True Qi to incinerate it. The letter was from the Heavenly Inspection Guard. He hadn’t visited the Yongfu Pawnshop in several days, and its staff, finding it inconvenient to come to the Yamen personally, had sent their findings via this secret missive.

The secret letter detailed the location of the Eternal Alliance stronghold in Lin’an City, along with other intelligence.

The Zhang Family! Shen Changqing’s finger tapped lightly, his eyes turning cold.

The Zhang Family was considered quite prestigious in Lin’an City. The previous County Magistrate, before Zhao Fang assumed the post, had been from their family. However, since the Zhao Family’s rise, the Zhang Family had maintained a much lower profile.

According to intelligence from the Heavenly Inspection Guard, the Zhang Family was the Eternal Alliance’s stronghold in Lin’an City. Furthermore, people had frequently disappeared in Lin’an City over the past one or two years. Investigations by the Heavenly Inspection Guard invariably led back to the Zhang Family.

The number of missing persons in Lin’an City over the last year or two is significant, yet there’s been no public outcry. Zhao Fang must have suppressed it. Without Demon Evil openly showing their hand, the Heavenly Inspection Guard wouldn’t actively investigate. Years of peace have made the local Heavenly Inspection Guard complacent. If not for this specific inquiry, the Zhang Family’s involvement wouldn’t have been discovered.

Shen Changqing understood the underlying issues but could do little about the Heavenly Inspection Guard’s complacency. The Heavenly Inspection Guard operated throughout Great Qin. Some regions constantly battled Demon Evils, while others remained peaceful, or if Demon Evils did cause trouble, it was minor and insignificant. Consequently, a dichotomy had emerged: in more dangerous areas, Heavenly Inspection Guard members were rotated frequently, and their vigilance was highest; in safer areas, long-serving members naturally grew complacent.

Shen Changqing, merely a Yellow Rank Demon Hunter, couldn’t interfere much in these matters. Fortunately, Situ Bei had provided him with the information he needed this time.

According to the Heavenly Inspection Guard’s information, the Zhang Family’s problems began roughly a decade ago. They served two purposes: to act as a lookout for the Eternal Alliance stronghold and to secretly cultivate Demon Evils for the Alliance. The letter even suspected that the Demon Evil from Guyue Village had been nurtured and strengthened by the Zhang Family.

If the Guyue Village Demon Evil was indeed cultivated by the Zhang Family, then the Demon Evil that attacked the Yamen and escaped earlier is likely hidden at the Zhang residence too. Perhaps they’re hiding more than just one.

However, the more Demon Evils, the better. A minor family like the Zhangs probably doesn’t harbor a Resentment Level entity. The Resentment Level Strange Monster from the other night was most likely sent directly by the Eternal Alliance.

Combining this with the Heavenly Inspection Guard’s information, Shen Changqing could roughly gauge the Zhang Family’s strength. Even knowing they were an Eternal Alliance stronghold, he wouldn’t attack rashly without a better understanding of the situation.

Comparing it to his own capabilities, Shen Changqing felt he could handle one Resentment Level Strange Monster. Two would be uncertain. Moreover, if a single Resentment Level Strange Monster was powerful enough to be on the verge of advancing to Fiend Level, he would have to retreat.

"Attendant!" Shen Changqing called.

"What are your orders, Lord Shen?" A Government Official waiting outside the inner hall immediately strode in.

"Have Zhang Yue come see me."

"Yes, milord!"

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Zhang Yue entered and bowed. "Greetings, Lord Shen!"

"Take this list and invite everyone on it. Tell them I have urgent matters to discuss," Shen Changqing said, handing Zhang Yue a piece of paper.

Zhang Yue accepted it with both hands. After carefully reading the information, he cupped his fists. "Rest assured, Lord Shen, I will see to it at once!"

"Go," Shen Changqing waved his hand. Zhang Yue bowed and retreated.

The paper listed the exact addresses where the Jianghu factions, such as the Guiyuan Sword Sect, were staying. Having come to Lin’an City, they wouldn’t be sleeping on the streets. Shen Changqing had already pinpointed their locations through the Heavenly Inspection Guard.

Less than two hours later, Cui Cheng and the others began to arrive. A total of ten people representing five factions were seated in the inner hall.

Belonging to factions from the same Guangyuan Prefecture didn’t mean they were friendly. In fact, most of these groups had friction between them. So, upon meeting, they all minded their own business, sitting silently and still.

Before long, Shen Changqing strode in. Seeing him, everyone rose and cupped their fists. "Lord Shen!"

"You’ve all arrived!" Shen Changqing greeted them with a smile and took his seat at the head of the hall.

Once he was seated, someone immediately cupped their fists and asked, "Lord Shen, may we ask why you’ve suddenly summoned us? What has happened?"

Questioning looks appeared on the others’ faces. They had little interaction with Shen Changqing; his sudden summons surely had a purpose.

To be honest, no one present wished to become too entangled with the Demon-Subduing Division or the Imperial Court. Their previous visits had merely been to clarify certain matters, primarily to avoid direct conflict with the Demon-Subduing Division when competing for Demon Evil’s Essence Blood.

Shen Changqing said, "As I’ve mentioned to you all before, as long as you don’t disturb the peace in Lin’an City, I will not impose many restrictions. However, as Qin People, if Demon Evils bring disaster, we cannot simply stand by and do nothing."

"What do you mean by that, Lord Shen?" Cui Cheng asked, an uneasy premonition stirring within him.

"The Demon-Subduing Division has informed me of a Demon Evil stronghold in Lin’an City," Shen Changqing stated slowly. "As Qin People, it is our duty to eliminate Demon Evils. Therefore, I have decided to destroy this stronghold.

"However, the Government Officials at the Yamen are mostly ordinary people. Even with one or two Body Tempering Realm Martial Artists, they cannot contend with Demon Evils.

"I hope you can lend your assistance to jointly eradicate these Demon Evils."

After he finished speaking, many expressions subtly changed.

"Lord Shen, may I ask what you know about this Demon Evil stronghold?" a man from the Saber Blade Sect inquired gravely.

Though the others were reluctant, none refused outright.

Shen Changqing said, "I suspect the Demon Evil from Guyue Village originated from this stronghold in Lin’an City. Lin’an City is, after all, a small place; while a stronghold exists, its power shouldn’t be overwhelming.

"Frankly, as a member of the Demon-Subduing Division, slaying Demon Evils is my responsibility.

"Thus, I can handle the eradication of the stronghold myself. However, to ensure complete success, I need you to surround the stronghold and prevent any person or Demon Evil from escaping.

"Similarly, if I find myself outmatched, I hope you will provide timely support. After all, if even I cannot deal with the Demon Evil, and it begins to slaughter indiscriminately, none of you could remain unaffected."

Upon hearing this, the representatives from the various factions felt a surge of tension, yet also a strange sense of relief. It’s best if we don’t have to fight directly. If it’s just a support role, there shouldn’t be much danger.

As for Shen Changqing’s strength, those present had their own estimations. If even he couldn’t handle the Demon Evil, they would need to consider temporarily withdrawing from Lin’an City.

Immediately, Cui Cheng cupped his fists. "Since Lord Shen has spoken, the Guiyuan Sword Sect will certainly be the first to offer support!"

"The Saber Blade Sect has no objections!" a representative declared.

"Burning Heaven Villa has no issue either!" another added.

"The Qiyao Sect..." came another voice, clearly indicating agreement.

Everyone responded promptly. Even if they disagreed, they had little choice. They were, after all, in the Yamen, and a request from someone of Shen Changqing’s standing was difficult to refuse. Mishandling this could lead to significant trouble. Besides, merely providing support wasn’t a major undertaking, and no one wanted to offend Shen Changqing—or, more accurately, the Demon-Subduing Division behind him—over such a matter. Of course, Shen Changqing’s demonstrated strength was a major factor in their swift agreement. Had he been a newly advanced Pulse Condensation Martial Artist, even with the Demon-Subduing Division’s authority, these factions would have been far less willing to cooperate.

"Excellent. The factions of Guangyuan Prefecture are indeed public-spirited and dedicated to eliminating Demon Evils," Shen Changqing said, a benign smile on his face. Then, his expression turned solemn.

"Since everyone agrees, I won’t waste any more time. Every day this Demon Evil stronghold remains, more people will suffer. We will uproot it today! Attendant!"

At his loud call, a Government Official entered from outside.

"Have Zhang Yue come to me!"

"Yes, milord!"

Soon, Zhang Yue hurried in.

"What are your orders, Lord Shen?"

"Gather all Government Officials and accompany me to the Zhang Family residence. Ensure the entire area around the Zhang Family estate is completely sealed off. Absolutely no one is to escape," Shen Changqing ordered coldly.

"Understood, milord!" Zhang Yue didn’t dare ask for reasons and simply bowed to accept the command.

Then, Shen Changqing stood up and looked at Cui Cheng and the others. "The Yamen’s manpower is limited. I must ask for your assistance in surrounding the Zhang Family."

"We will certainly do our utmost to assist!" they chorused.