Two Hundred-Household Officers stepped forward to report on the results of the operation.
"About one month ago," one began, "members of the Witch God Sect infiltrated Poyang County and coerced the abbot of Golden Bell Temple into hiding their identities. As for their true objective, that remains unclear for now."
He continued, "My lord, during this extermination, we killed a total of 28 Witch God Sect members—6 at the tempering bone stage and 15 at the tempering blood stage. In terms of numbers, it's about the same as the last purge.
"As for the pilgrims and townsfolk on the mountain, they were all interrogated one by one and only released after verification. Anyone whose identity couldn't be confirmed on the spot has been taken to the county jail for further questioning."
Hundred-Household Officer Liu Jinkui cupped his fists. "In theory, my lord, it's nearly impossible for anyone to have escaped."
"Nearly?"
Xiang Tingchun's hawk-like eyes locked onto them. "So you're saying someone did escape?"
"My lord, please forgive us!"
Liu Jinkui dropped to one knee. "The Witch God Sect are cunning and ruthless. They used civilians as human shields, and the situation descended into chaos. Even so, at most, one or two low-level grunts might have slipped away. They'll never dare stir up trouble again!"
There were things Xiang Tingchun couldn't say aloud.
He stood silent for a long moment before speaking again, his tone heavy. "Empty out Golden Bell Temple. I want every Witch God Sect member—dead or alive—gathered together. I'll personally count them myself."
"Yes, my lord!"
The bloody battle had finally ended.
But most of the blood spilled belonged to common folk.
By a rough count, at least 40 to 50 civilians had died.
"What a sin," Xu Wencai muttered on their way down the mountain. "If I were in command, I'd never have let so many innocent people die for nothing."
"Yeah, right," Zhu Tong snapped, equally dissatisfied. "That bastard Xiang Tingchun—thought he was some noble officer, but he's just another dog who'll do anything to get what he wants!"
"You two—do you not want your tongues anymore?"
Sub-Flag Officer Fang glared sharply at them.
"My lord, I was only joking!" Xu Wencai quickly changed his tune, forcing a smile. "Lord Xiang's strategy was… masterful!"
Zhu Tong only snorted coldly and said nothing more.
"Forget it," Fang sighed, shaking his head. "At least the Witch God Sect's been wiped out. There won't be more deaths now."
Recently, people around Poyang County had been disappearing for no reason.
Chen Sanshi walked silently alongside them.
In a feudal empire like the Great Sheng Dynasty, what were commoners to men like Xiang Tingchun?
Just NPCs—numbers in a simulation, producing value for others to exploit.
As long as an official stood to gain, how many lives were lost didn't matter. To them, casualties were just statistics.
'Serves him right if he came away empty-handed,' Chen Sanshi thought.
Besides, Xiang Tingchun couldn't even bring the matter into the open. Everything he'd done had been in secret, behind the court's back.
'The jade box, the key—both are mine now.'
He quickened his pace slightly. 'I want to see what exactly is inside this thing that made them fight like rabid dogs.'
…
With one order, all 80-plus monks of Golden Bell Temple were thrown into prison. The temple itself was sealed off, with no one allowed up the mountain without permission.
Inside the Grand Buddha Hall, more than 20 Witch God Sect corpses were laid neatly beneath the towering golden statue of the Buddha.
Xiang Tingchun held a short knife, slicing open their chests one after another. Blood and entrails spilled freely across the floor, staining the sacred hall crimson.
'Where is it?!'
The Branch Master was dead. The rest had been captured.
Xiang Tingchun had even suffered injuries himself—and still, the item was nowhere to be found.
He'd searched every inch of Golden Bell Temple, top to bottom, but there was nothing.
Footsteps echoed from outside.
Hundred-Household Officer Luo Dongquan stepped into the hall. Seeing the mess on the floor, he unconsciously took half a step back before clasping his hands. "My lord, I've returned."
Xiang Tingchun hurled the bloodstained knife aside, voice low and furious. "At today's banquet, did any of the martial hall masters leave early?"
"To answer my lord," Luo Dongquan said, "the four martial hall masters—Tianyuan, Tailei, Zhao's, and Yunhe—remained at the Eight Treasures Restaurant the entire time. Hundred-Household Officer Wang and I watched them personally."
"And their disciples?"
"They're all accounted for," Luo replied, bowing lower. "Every disciple above the tempering bone stage was summoned to the restaurant by me. Not a single one missing."
"You're sure of that?!"
Xiang Tingchun's tone grew heavier.
Luo Dongquan lowered his head even further, nearly touching the floor. "I'm certain, my lord!"
"Old Luo, no need to be so nervous. I trust your work."
Xiang Tingchun clasped his hands behind his back and paced slowly around the hall.
His chest was heavy with frustration.
It seemed likely that the treasure had been taken by one of the stragglers who'd escaped the siege.
"My lord," Luo Dongquan asked carefully, "does that mean the immortal treasure wasn't found?"
Xiang Tingchun narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before speaking.
"Old Luo, go inform the four martial halls. Tell them the item is already in my possession."
"If they want it, they'll have to exchange for it."
"First, I want enough medicinal herbs for my garrison—every soldier's supply must be doubled."
"Second, all four martial halls and the local gentry will donate silver and grain to fund my spring campaign next year."
"Third, every martial hall in the city must send me 300 men. At least 3 of them must be at the tempering bone stage."
"If they can fulfill these three conditions, I'll hand the immortal treasure over."
Luo Dongquan looked stunned. "My lord, isn't that... a bit too harsh?"
"Harsh?"
Xiang Tingchun sneered. "Do you know what that old fox Liang told me the night of the incident? He said that with the immortal treasure, I could reach the position of Grand Commander of the Left Army within 20 years. And those four martial halls—Tianyuan, Tailei, Zhao's, and Yunhe—would earn the right to establish branches in the capital, joining the ranks of the top martial halls in the realm.
"Compared to that, spending some silver and shedding a little blood—is that really so unbearable?"
"My lord is wise indeed," Luo Dongquan said. "With money and resources in hand, as soon as the Ministry of War approves your orders, you'll surely make great achievements next year."
"Right, Old Luo."
Xiang Tingchun shifted the topic. "You're close to the tempering organs stage yourself. I recall Liang Feng still has some excellent herbs. Have them delivered as well—and I'll let you keep half."
"Thousand-Household Lord, your generosity humbles me. I will repay your trust with my life!"
Luo Dongquan bowed deeply in gratitude and turned to carry out his orders.
"One more thing."
Xiang Tingchun stopped him. "A new county magistrate will arrive soon, and the officer in charge of elite selection from the Grand Commander's Office is said to be coming early. Make sure everything is arranged properly this time. I don't want another fiasco like last time."
"Understood!"
Luo Dongquan accepted the order and left.
Xiang Tingchun watched him go, his expression dark and unreadable.
The immortal treasure…
Either the Witch God Sect had successfully escaped with it, or it was still hidden somewhere near Golden Bell Temple.
If it was the former, there was nothing he could do. But if it was the latter, he could still search slowly.
For now, he needed to stall the martial halls—bleed them for silver and resources. Time was running out.
'His Majesty plans to raise a new generation of generals in the northern frontier,' he thought. 'If I can lead a single brilliant campaign, I'll be noticed immediately. When the Grand Commander retires, I'll surely be taken under the new one's command.'
The Xiang family had been trapped in Poyang County for three generations.
In this lifetime, Xiang Tingchun would leave this place no matter what.
Even if every person in Poyang had to become his stepping stone, so be it.
…
At the military encampment, Chen Sanshi quickly completed the post-battle headcount, then rushed home.
In his backyard, he dug up the exquisite jade box he had buried earlier, carried it to his room, shut the door tight, and took out the jade key from his chest.
The key was carved entirely from jade—its structure intricate, its veins complex, the front end oddly shaped yet perfectly sized for the keyhole in the box.
Just like the ancient texts had described—each jade key matched a single box. If the key was destroyed, even a god couldn't open it.
He slid the key into the slot and turned.
With a crisp click, the wooden box opened.
Inside lay another box, this one made of iron.
Fortunately, the iron box didn't require another key.
Chen Sanshi lifted the lid.
Inside was a pale yellow substance, soft and greasy to the touch—like animal fat.
"Lamp oil?"