Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 25: Interrogation

“Zhang Wanlong, die!”

Rage.

A rage that soared into the heavens!

Grief, regret, unwillingness, hatred all turned into a searing blaze.

He was filled with remorse.

Why had he been afraid back then?

If he had risked death to kill Zhang Wanlong that day, none of this would have happened.

He hated Zhang Wanlong, but he hated himself even more.

If he hadn’t investigated this matter, would things have turned out differently?

No medicine to cure regret.

If he didn’t seek justice for his friend, he would no longer be Li Qingfeng.

Using human beings as ingredients, an unforgivable sin!

And yet, it was only because he lacked the strength to resist that tragedy struck.

Li Qingfeng surged with spiritual power as he stormed into the main hall of the governor’s manor.

Over a hundred soldiers in black armor stood at the ready.

All raised their powerful crossbows.

The moment they saw Li Qingfeng, Zhang Wanlong’s eyes turned bloodshot, his face twisted with rage.

He roared furiously.

“Kill!”

“Kill him!”

When enemies meet, their hatred burns brighter.

Both men had ample reason to want the other dead.

The crossbows fired.

A hundred arrows shot forth like a storm, as if a net was being cast to engulf Li Qingfeng.

These were no ordinary bows, their force was unmatched.

Even the possession of a single part of such a weapon by a commoner would be considered treason.

Their killing power was immense.

A single graze could be fatal.

Even masters of the martial world would fall under such a barrage.

Although Li Qingfeng was a cultivator, he was only at the first layer of Qi Refining.

If his body were struck by this volley, he too would perish.

But Li Qingfeng no longer held back. His three-foot Banner of Revered Souls grew to over ten feet, the fabric snapping in the air.

He swung it forcefully, its broad face unfurled before him.

A superior-grade magical tool could never be pierced by mortal arrows.

It didn’t need to block every arrow, just the ones aimed at him.

The volley failed.

The black-armored soldiers stood in disarray.

In their eyes, this was the power of an immortal master.

They were fighting an immortal master.

With despair came collapsing morale.

Protected by the soul banner, Li Qingfeng remained unscathed. He waved it again and a red-haired demon ghost emerged from within.

The ghost stood over seven feet tall.

Towering over the strongest of soldiers.

Its red hair hung loose, and two small protrusions bulged above its brow, like fleshy horns.

Green-black muscles knotted tightly over a massive frame.

A dark face, solemn expression, no fangs in sight.

Its crimson eyes swept over the soldiers, emanating a savage, oppressive aura.

The mere sight of this ghost sent the soldiers into a panic.

The moment Tu Shanjun stepped out of the banner, he charged directly at Zhang Wanlong.

Time was short. He had to end it in one strike.

Zhang Wanlong sprang to his feet, drawing the sword at his waist, eyes resolute.

“Whoever kills this man will be promoted and rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver!”

“I’ll adopt him as my son and give him all my wealth!”

Money moves hearts.

Generous rewards breed bravery.

Zhang Wanlong had only one son, who was now dead. To promise all his wealth to a new heir was a powerful incentive.

Immediately, the black-armored troops reignited their fighting spirit.

They formed into formation, shields overlapping, creating a wall of flesh and steel.

Tu Shanjun strode forward in great strides, sweeping his arm in a wide arc.

Boom!

The blow landed like a siege ram, slamming into the formation.

Over a dozen soldiers in the front row died instantly.

Those in the middle vomited blood and collapsed.

Even those at the back staggered from the force.

Breaking through the wall, Tu Shanjun’s ghostly claws reached for Zhang Wanlong’s head.

Clang!

A blackwood sword blocked the strike.

Tu Shanjun staggered back two steps, he had lost his chance.

Letting out a piercing ghostly wail, his hidden fangs curved like barbed hooks were revealed.

Roar!

He lunged forward and bit down.

Bang. His jaws closed on the young immortal master’s arm.

The cultivator’s robe was shredded, blood spurting out.

But the bite didn’t break bone, only tore through flesh.

A flash of spiritual light, clearly the protection of a talisman.

An unknown charm had absorbed most of the damage.

Tu Shanjun fumed. Even with his fifth-layer Qi Refining strength, he hadn’t broken the arm.

Cultivators’ spiritual power was inherently counter to ghosts and spirits.

Though a banner soul's main soul, Tu Shanjun was still of the ghost kind.

The talisman had blocked him, hurting the youth at all was already an achievement.

Zhang Wanlong, protected behind the cultivator, didn’t feel the thrill of survival.

Only deep, bitter hatred.

He wasn’t afraid of death.

Even in the face of a terrifying ghost, he felt no fear.

There was nothing left in this world that could scare him.

Though furious, Zhang Wanlong didn’t lose his mind.

Strike the leader to defeat the enemy.

If they could kill the man in black, the ghost would vanish.

He once again ordered the soldiers to charge Li Qingfeng.

The young immortal master’s right arm hung limp, blood dripping to the floor.

His face was pale, yet his eyes remained steadfast. He raised his sword in his left hand.

He was grateful for the life-saving talisman but shock filled his heart.

The last time they met, this ghost had vanished under his sword.

Yet now, it had pierced even the Five Directions Golden Talisman.

The Five Directions Golden Talisman could withstand a full-powered strike from a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Very few at that level could shatter it, this ghost’s power was truly staggering.

That made it all the more urgent not to let this demonic cultivator escape.

If he fled into the masses, finding him again would be near impossible.

Letting the tiger return to the mountain would bring disaster.

Today, he would eliminate the evil!

If he could just wear down the demonic cultivator’s energy, victory would be his.

Resolved, the youth bit the tip of his tongue.

He spat a mouthful of blood onto the blackwood sword.

The sword flared with brilliance.

“Ghost, die!”

Tu Shanjun burned with rage as well. He had to finish this young immortal master quickly.

If Li Qingfeng ran out of spiritual power, they’d be lambs to the slaughter.

Even if wounded, he had to carve out a path.

“Roar.”

Demon Ape Focus Fist, Old Ape Hangs the Seal.

He launched forward.

Man and ghost tangled in fierce battle.

Swordlight and energy flashed.

Wounds opened across Tu Shanjun’s body.

But he drew closer with each strike.

“Five Directions Sword Qi!”

One-armed, the youth’s defenses faltered.

Tu Shanjun struck with his Old Ape Hangs the Seal, hitting the youth in the chest.

He gritted his teeth, but blood spurted from his mouth, his body glowing golden like gilded dust.

The youth’s blood splattered across Tu Shanjun, sizzling on contact.

Tu Shanjun wasn’t unscathed, his eye had been pierced by the sword qi.

Black blood oozed from the corner of his eye.

It only enraged him further.

He dove again, drawing closer like a shadow.

Both arms rose like a worshiper reaching toward the moon and then exploded forward with crushing force.

Bang!

He struck the youth’s jaw, sending him flying.

“The spiritual power… is fading.”

Before Tu Shanjun could press the attack, he felt his energy ebb.

He looked back, Li Qingfeng was surrounded, barely holding on.

Wounds covered his body, but he remained silent, never once summoning Tu Shanjun back.

Tu Shanjun charged into the soldiers.

Like a tiger among sheep, each strike brought death.

He shielded Li Qingfeng at his side.

Left arm blocking, right arm slashing.

The young immortal master had recovered slightly. Zhang Wanlong remained untouched behind him.

Blood gushed from Li Qingfeng’s wounds, his vision blurring.

“Why?!”

He shouted, voice hoarse.

“Why do you protect him?”

“Zhang Wanlong used humans as ingredients to heal his son’s foundation!”

“Such demonic acts and you still protect him?!”

The shrill cry made the young immortal master pause.

He turned, hesitating, eyes flicking to the blood-red gaze of Zhang Wanlong.

His lips remained sealed.

A long silence.

At last, the youth’s eyes steadied. He spoke:

“I am here only to protect Eight Directions City.”

Li Qingfeng’s consciousness waned, he was about to collapse.

Even so, he clutched a spirit stone tightly, feeding the Soul Banner with all his remaining strength.

Tu Shanjun scooped him up, turning his head slightly.

Only one ghostly eye remained.

A one-eyed ghost, fierce and merciless like a wounded savage beast.

Without a word, he leapt into the night and vanished into the endless darkness.

(Chapter End)