When Mi Lu finally realized the presence of the dense fog, it had already condensed into a tangible force, wrapping around his feet.

Mi Lu instantly sensed something was wrong. He lifted his foot to move forward, but the fog acted faster, climbing up like a vine, reaching his knees in the blink of an eye.

The fog transformed into an icy liquid, seeping into Mi Lu’s clothing and pants, like a finely woven net clinging tightly to his skin, even trying to penetrate deeper. It felt as if countless ants were gnawing at his flesh.

Mi Lu clenched his teeth, instinctively attempting to mobilize his spiritual energy, only to be shocked as he realized that something seemed to bind his power. His spiritual energy was completely immobile, as still as a stagnant pool.

Damn it…

This thing actually had the effect of sealing spiritual energy!

Mi Lu immediately thought of the Wenren family.

Only people with the surname Wenren would love using such insidious objects, hiding in the shadows like rats in sewers, scheming from unseen places. Absolutely disgusting!

Mi Lu couldn’t understand why people from the Wenren family would go through so much trouble to target a small-time underling like him, but his immediate priority was to get out of the carriage.

Thinking this, he summoned the Bi You Sword from his storage pouch.

He slashed the sword toward the tangible fog at his feet. Instantly, the fog split in two, and a dark red glow lingered where the blade met the fog. The fog seemed terrified of the glow on the Bi You Sword, retreating like a receding tide from Mi Lu’s legs. The biting pain disappeared in an instant.

Seeing this, Mi Lu was momentarily stunned, but inside, he sneered.

It seemed the Wenren family hadn’t expected the flame curse on his Bi You Sword, which just so happened to be the nemesis of Wenren’s puppet techniques.

“Wenren Zheng, you’re still as cowardly as ever. Aside from sneaking attacks from behind, you’ve got no other skill. No wonder your son’s just as much of a sewer rat,” Mi Lu mocked mercilessly.

The fog, failing its sneak attack, tried to seep out of the carriage. Hearing Mi Lu’s words, however, it paused visibly.

So it was indeed him.

Wenren Zheng.

The look of disdain in Mi Lu’s eyes deepened. He laughed, saying, “No wonder Hulü Wan didn’t choose you. If I were her, I wouldn’t want someone who’s so spineless, someone who only schemes in the shadows and is a double-dealer.”

His words seemed to enrage the fog, which twisted into various shapes and attempted to wrap around Mi Lu’s feet once more.

Fortunately, Mi Lu was prepared. His eyes darkened, and he infused spiritual energy into the Bi You Sword, swiftly slashing at the fog. The fog was sliced in two, and immediately, a pungent scent of blood filled the air, with blood seeping from the fissure in the fog.

Without hesitation, Mi Lu swung his sword again, cutting at the other half of the fog. His moves were swift, precise, and merciless, giving Wenren Zheng no chance to react.

Wenren Zheng never imagined in his wildest dreams that Mi Lu’s sword carried the flame curse, something that greatly restrained his puppet technique. Even a slight touch would injure his vitality, causing the backlash of spiritual energy, a torment he could not bear.

A raging flame seemed to shoot up to his crown, and the foreign agony felt like a massive, powerful hand tearing his chest open. He groaned, the intense taste of blood filling his throat, his brows knit tightly in pain.

Beside him, Wenren Xiao, sensing something amiss, quickly stepped forward to support Wenren Zheng. “Father!”

Wenren Zheng abruptly opened his eyes and coughed out a mouthful of blood.

“Father!” Wenren Xiao’s voice trembled, his tone anxious. “Are you okay?”

With his blood boiling and spiritual energy rampaging inside, it felt like countless sharp blades were tearing his flesh. His limbs trembled, his body convulsing with pain.

“Quick… remove the talisman…” Wenren Zheng managed to gasp.

“What?”

“He has… the flame curse…”

Wenren Xiao’s face paled. Without a word, he took the bright yellow talisman, soaking in a basin of black ink.

Meanwhile, in the carriage, just as Mi Lu was about to deliver the final blow, he saw the fog rapidly fade, as if diluted by clear water. In no time, it had dissipated entirely, leaving only a bloodstain on the ground as evidence of what had happened.

Mi Lu lowered his gaze, silently staring at the bloodstain, his lips pressed into a line.

He knew Wenren Zheng had managed to escape. Judging by the situation just now, it seemed Wenren Zheng was severely injured.

Mi Lu tightened his grip on the Bi You Sword and headed toward the carriage door.

Opening the door, he saw Zhou Shang standing guard outside with a solemn expression. Hearing movement behind him, Zhou Shang turned to look. “Lord of the City, why did you come out?”

Mi Lu asked, “Where is Hulü Yan?”

Zhou Shang pointed in a direction. “The gang leader is over there.”

Following Zhou Shang’s indication, Mi Lu saw Hulü Yan surrounded by Hulü Xing, Hulü Lan, and a dozen others.

The Hulü family was at a disadvantage; their clothes were stained with blood, and they appeared disheveled, especially Hulü Xing, who was practically a walking blood figure.

Hulü Yan’s tightly bound black hair had come undone, falling over his shoulders. His expression was ice-cold, and he held a long whip, its tip dragging along the ground, leaving a blood trail.

The cold winter wind blew against Hulü Yan’s robes, which outlined his tall, lean, yet powerfully built figure. At that moment, he looked like the very embodiment of the Grim Reaper, wielding a scythe to harvest lives.

Hulü Xing, having lost his entire right arm, could only hold a sword with his left. The excessive blood loss left his face ashen, with panic and fear interwoven in his eyes.

He never imagined Hulü Yan would grow to such an extent.

So terrifying.

So powerful.

So utterly incomprehensible…

This was no longer the child he could toy with five years ago. Every wound he inflicted on him in the past, the young man now demanded repayment, double.

Years later, the familiar emotions resurfaced, filling Hulü Xing’s heart—resentment and hatred towards Hulü Wan. Now he loathed Hulü Wan’s son with equal fervor.

Why…

Why did he lose to Hulü Wan back then, and now, his son had to lose to Hulü Wan’s son? How were they any worse?

Why? Just why!

Not to mention, Hulü Yan possessed a rare medicinal physique. Such a physique was meant to serve as medicine, fulfilling its only purpose. How dare he threaten his son’s position as the successor?

Hulü Xing’s resentment simmered.

The heir of the Hulü family could only be his son, Hulü Lan!

As for Hulü Yan, he should never even dream of it!

Ten years ago, he had the power to push Hulü Wan off the position of successor. Now, he could do the same to kick Hulü Yan out of his way.

“Father, what should we do?” Hulü Lan asked, panting heavily. He had also suffered severe injuries and was barely able to stand by leaning on his sword.

Hulü Lan harbored no less hatred toward Hulü Yan than Hulü Xing did. He wished he could skin Hulü Yan alive on the spot, but since even Hulü Xing couldn’t get close to Hulü Yan, he was powerless.

Hulü Xing asked, “Where is the Wenren family?”

At the mention of the Wenrens, Hulü Lan’s eyes darkened. “I don’t think they have any intention of dealing with Hulü Yan. They’ve already hidden away.”

Hearing this, Hulü Xing’s expression soured.

“Wenren family loves to manipulate from the sidelines so they can sit back and reap the benefits without lifting a finger. Perhaps all our efforts are just making things easier for them.” Hulü Lan said bitterly, “Father, should we keep going?”

Hulü Xing understood this all too well. However, they had no choice. Right now, Hulü Yan was already so strong that their entire group struggled against him. If given more time to grow, no one would be able to control him.

But the Mi family was already under their thumb, the Situ family was choosing to stay neutral, and the Wenren family kept hiding. Of the Four Great Families, only the Hulü family dared to confront Hulü Yan directly, and on their own, they were unable to subdue him.

Any longer, and the father and son would be done for.

After a brief pause, Hulü Xing gritted his teeth and commanded, “Retreat.”

Hulü Lan raised his voice to the others. “Everyone, retreat!”

Before he could finish his sentence, a long whip cracked through the air, wrapping around Hulü Lan’s hand as if it had a life of its own.

Hulü Lan let out a cry, instinctively trying to pull his hand back, but the barbs on the whip dug deep into his flesh, tearing away a large patch of skin and muscle.

Cold sweat broke out on his face, and he almost fainted from the pain.

“Lan!” Hulü Xing gasped, throwing his sword down to try and free his son’s arm from the whip.

Before he could reach him, he watched as Hulü Lan was yanked into the air by the whip.

Hulü Lan’s body arced through the sky before slamming to the ground with a heavy thud.

As Hulü Xing moved to help, a dark shadow flashed in front of him. Hulü Yan’s laughing voice drifted over with the wind. “Trying to escape?”

As his voice faded, Hulü Yan landed squarely before him, a cold smile on his face devoid of any warmth. He looked down at Hulü Xing, spitting out the next words icily: “Dream on.”

With that, Hulü Yan snapped the whip back and swung it toward Hulü Xing’s neck.

Seeing this, several others charged forward with their swords, aiming to stab Hulü Yan.

Anticipating their move, Hulü Yan threw Hulü Xing toward them using the whip. With his other hand, he grabbed one of them by the head.

The man barely had time to react before he felt his body go limp.

Immediately after, his spiritual energy started to drain away.

“I…” His eyes widened in terror, filling with fear of the unknown. “My spiritual energy…”

Before he could finish speaking, his energy was entirely drained. Hulü Yan’s hand tightened—

There was a sickening pop.

The man’s head exploded like a watermelon.

Silence descended on the scene.

Even Hulü Xing was stunned, staring at Hulü Yan in disbelief. “Lin Chong…”

Hulü Yan… How did he know Lin Chong’s technique?

Meanwhile, Mi Lu and Zhou Shang were still locked in battle with another group.

Those ambushing them had mostly been dealt with, leaving only the soldiers atop the city walls.

The soldiers specialized in ranged attacks with special arrows crafted from unique materials, very different from ordinary arrows. Dodging these arrows while advancing toward the city walls was no easy feat.

The soldiers, relying on their numbers, sent a rain of poison-tipped arrows down, clearly intending to wear them down.

Mi Lu knew this wasn’t sustainable. Rather than focusing on the soldiers, it would be better to breach the city gate directly and force their way in. Once the gate was open, the soldiers’ formations on the wall would naturally crumble.

“Zhou Shang,” Mi Lu called without looking back. “We’re heading for the city gate. I’ll blast it open, and you all can storm in.”

Zhou Shang was right behind him, back-to-back with Mi Lu.

Logically, Zhou Shang should have heard Mi Lu’s words loud and clear, but Mi Lu waited for a response that never came.

“Zhou Shang!” Mi Lu called again.

Still, no response.

He could hear Zhou Shang’s sword slicing through the arrows, but Mi Lu felt something was wrong. In between dodging arrows, he turned to look back.

What he saw sent a chill down his spine.

Though Zhou Shang’s hands wielded the sword, his neck was twisted almost seventy degrees, staring straight at him with an unnaturally eerie expression.

Caught off guard, Mi Lu’s heart nearly stopped.

His whole body was on high alert.

This wasn’t Zhou Shang!

That was his first thought.

But if it wasn’t Zhou Shang, then who?

The figure looked exactly like Zhou Shang, wielding Zhou Shang’s body and face. It had to be him.

Unless someone else had unknowingly taken over Zhou Shang’s body.

One thing was certain—Mi Lu could feel the intense malice radiating from Zhou Shang. He quickly pulled back his sword, determined to get as far away from Zhou Shang as possible.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Shang suddenly reached out and shoved him.

Mi Lu’s expression was frozen in shock as his body tipped forward, pulled down by gravity. Before he could fully process it, an arrow whizzed through the air, piercing straight through his chest—

Time seemed to slow down.

The searing pain in his chest spread like ripples in water, slowly, layer upon layer.

Mi Lu was still in a daze.

Until his body collapsed to the ground, the sharp pain engulfing his entire consciousness, and only then did he truly see Death descending upon him.