Tie Dan followed the house servant inside, being stared at by the surrounding archers. After passing through over ten high walls with battlements and three or four alleys with side doors, he finally entered the side courtyard. Suddenly, the scene before him changed, becoming bright and clear.
Although it was the severe winter season outside the city, where all things were hibernating and the sun sank below the horizon with a chill in the air, inside the courtyard walls, it was unexpectedly warm. A gentle breeze had been blowing for days, and everywhere you looked, beautiful trees were lush, and exotic flowers bloomed. A stream of clear water flowed from the depths of the flora, cascading through the rocks below.
Taking a few more steps forward, the space opened up, revealing several thatched cottages, surrounded by mulberry, elm, hibiscus, and zhe trees with fresh shoots, forming two rows like green walls. There were plots and fields neatly arranged, likely where the house servants and laborers lived.
Looking further, he saw another belt of an inner wall made of red bricks and green tiles, surrounded by red walls and green trees, a blue stream flowing like jade, and white stone railings. These encircled the pavilions, resembling a fire dragon emerging from the water. From afar, he could vaguely see lofty buildings with carved beams and painted rafters nestled between the mountains and the treetops. That must be where the Shi family's inner residence and the women's quarters were located.
Such a large household with manors and guards at every turn, each gate was guarded by soldiers, every one of them was a martial cultivator trained in body refinement. Even Tie Dan was a bit nervous.
It wasn't that he feared such a dragon's den, but he simply didn't know the way.
It was embarrassing to say, but Tie Dan wasn't a real dog, or one could say he hadn't truly transformed into a canine yet, so he didn't have a dog's nose. In the past, when he commanded the pack, it was the hunting dogs who tracked the path. On the vast plains, things were clear at a glance, and the roadways and pathways were straightforward. Earlier in Liangzhou City, he just headed for the biggest and tallest estate doors he could see.
But once he entered the high-walled courtyard of this Gate Valve, through winding paths and obscure alleys, the estate gates and courtyards blended together, and his view was blocked by the palace walls. The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and human presence, and all the winding paths among artificial mountains and plants made it impossible to tell north from south, east from west. Adding to the distraction was paying attention to the attendants and guards around him, so when he turned back suddenly, he couldn't remember where he came in...
Hmm? That smell is...
The house servant leading the way also kept an eye on Tie Dan, alert the moment he heard footsteps slowing down behind him. But when he turned, following Tie Dan's gaze, he understood what had caught his attention.
Over at the outer courtyard, where the house servants lived, some people were farming. With such a large estate and good fields, planting some immortal vegetables and spirit plants for personal use was only natural.
However, what was being planted at that moment was not vegetables or fruits, but bloodied bones.
Human bones.
Even though the flesh was mangled and every bit of skin and flesh was shaved clean, the size, structure, and smell were unmistakable to Tie Dan.
A few house servants were using carts to transport dismembered human remains from the inner courtyard's red walls. The internal organs had likely been fed to the dogs, while the flesh was shovelled onto the field ditches as fertilizer. The bones, cleaned of flesh, were thrown into a large copper cauldron buried in the ground, open to the sky.
The stench was overwhelming, reeking like a cesspool, but Tie Dan could feel it was a cauldron.
A cauldron for refining elixirs, medicine, and casting swords, capable of refining humans as well—after all, humans are the chief of all beings, the highest quality elixir material. At this time, the bones and blood boiled in the cauldron, transforming into streams of Spiritual Qi, infusing the earth and dispersing the chill from outside the city, making the entire Gate Valve courtyard warm as spring.
The house servant glanced at this 'Government Official', casually explaining,
"Those are all privately owned slaves, violated the family rules, handled by ourselves, doesn't concern the government, right?"
Tie Dan nodded and stopped looking further.
Those who sold themselves into slavery are private property and indeed beyond the government's jurisdiction.
In truth, fleeing slaves fed to dogs in Shuofang or private servants used to grow flowers in Liangzhou, the bones and blood of the lowborn are just the feast for the noble family's table. The world of the Demon Palace is roughly like such a spectacle.
"You wash up here, I'll go fetch the steward."
The house servant wasn't worried, directly leading Tie Dan to the servants' quarters, knowing how many eyes were watching in the side courtyard. If this kid could turn the world upside down, the Shi family wouldn't last in Liangzhou City.
Though the house servant left momentarily, Tie Dan knew that since entering the side courtyard, at least four or five guards were watching the gate, keeping an eye on him.
The role of the colonel was his own fabrication, and once the steward was fetched, the two sides would inevitably expose his lie.
Since pretending was no longer an option, he decided to fight his way through...
"Fire! Fire!"
"What's happening!"
"Fire in the inner courtyard!"
Tie Dan wiped off the mud on his face and darted out to take a look. Indeed, on the side of the red walls in the inner courtyard, a column of smoke rose straight to the sky, distinctly visible with entangling fire dragons, especially prominent in the night sky with a sizable blaze.
This season wasn't known for fires, and such a large household should have precautions, indicating help from an elder brother in the shadows...
With an incident at home, the manor guards naturally rushed to fight the fire, but the guards in the side courtyard left one specifically to watch Tie Dan, clearly focused on guarding against him. This showed the noble family's rigid discipline.
Without hesitation, Tie Dan used the same old trick, suddenly splashing the water basin at the guard, then turned and ran! Gaining speed with a run-up, leaping over the wall and stream! Heading straight toward the inner courtyard blocked by the red walls! Climbing over the courtyard wall!
"What! You brat, courting death! Stop!!"
The guards left behind were caught off guard, instinctively dodging the thrown water, never expecting the kid to go mad and intrude on the inner residence! Hastily, they chased after him, gathering energy, and pursued at full speed!
He followed closely, barely over the wall, and not yet steady on his feet when he saw a flash of golden light coming straight at him!
The manor guard, also skilled in martial arts, shouted angrily. With ape-like arms extending, he swung both hands, sending out two streams of cyan energy, striking out with numerous hand winds to counter the incoming money darts!
But in releasing this move, with True Qi depleted, leaving no Inner Breath adjusted, the exposed weakness was seized!
The guard suddenly felt a pain in his back! Aware he had been struck by a finger behind him! Someone had ambushed him, hiding beneath the wall edge for an attack!
Alas, before he could muster energy to counter, a streak of sword energy pierced through his heart and chest, immediately stifling his blood and energy. The shattered money darts, propelled by palm strength, pummeled his face with fragments of gold, silencing him as he fell lifelessly!
Tie Dan dragged the guard's body, hiding it in the bushes, took his hat to cover his face, then picked up the wooden basin, shouting "Firefighting", and continued toward the raging inferno.
Following the panicked house servants and workers through the flower grove, Tie Dan closed in and indeed found a building resembling a library or warehouse engulfed in flames.
The Shi family was in chaos, with maidservants and old women screaming like a gaggle, a complete mess. However, at such a time, the family's rules were evident.
The stewards and tributes guarded vigilantly against any wrongdoing, shielding the household head first, not daring to act rashly. Meanwhile, the house servants organized, relaying water to douse the flames, and the braver ones ventured into the blaze to save people.
Tie Dan took advantage of the dim atmosphere, mixed into the crowd, tears cloth to cover his face, holding a water basin as he rushed into the blaze, observing and seeking his opportunity.
Hey, he really did find it.
In the flames was an object, sparkling gold and radiant, shining with bright light!
An opportunity!
Tie Dan was overjoyed, dodging left and right, agilely evading the falling fire rain, reached the golden light and looked closely, seeing it was a golden wine pot, emitting a drizzle of fine gold foil. It was an excellent and pure Divine Gang True Qi forming a Qi Wall, resisting the surrounding flames. Clearly, it was a magic treasure!
A great treasure! Divine Gang's too! True gold unafraid of fire! Perfect for his use!
Tie Dan reached out to grab the bottle but couldn't pull it away.
Another hand gripped the bottle handle; upon closer inspection, it was a porcelain doll-like child, in embroidered silk robes, likely with some magic treasure protecting him. Though half his body was pinned beneath a beam, he seemed unharmed, merely unconscious.
Tie Dan made a quick decision.
"Sha!"
He spat sword energy, slashing at the child's wrist!
The child abruptly let go!
Hmm? Playing dead?
Tie Dan frowned, without time to ponder, seized the opportunity to snatch the golden pot, stuffed it into his bosom, and turned to leave.
"Thief, stop!"
"Boom!" With a sound, the silken-clad child abruptly opened his eyes! A whirling storm of powerful True Qi exploded around him! Blasting away the beams and tiles pressing him, like a sparrow, soaring through the air, reaching for Tie Dan!
Hmm? What's this one doing? By the looks of him, could he be the noble child of this Gate Valve? But wait, he's pretending? Who sets fire to their own house to play dead? And he can fly!?
At this point, Tie Dan didn't care if he was human or dog, adopting a dog form, sprinting on all fours, leaping into motion, burying himself in the smoke, hiding deep within the blaze!
Tie Dan was at a loss, and the child clearly hadn't expected a house servant to be so ruthless!
What's this! Finding the young master unconscious in the fire, isn't he supposed to quickly carry him out! How dare he cut his hand with sword energy, snatch his treasure... Hmm? Hold on!
"Sword energy!? Scoundrel! Demon Sect evildoer!"
The child shouted angrily, spitting out a goose-egg-sized Fire Pearl aimed straight at Tie Dan!