In the following days, the Southern Army’s Talisman Division launched operations everywhere, with numerous military reports and requests for assistance pouring into the command headquarters.
"Report—!"
Deputy Mo, holding a dossier, reported loudly to Lu Xuan: "Commander, the tomb of a former dynasty empress has been discovered in Fengluo Town, Southern County. The feng shui configuration is extremely malicious, and three Taoist priests along with a thousand elite soldiers from the Talisman Division have been dispatched to handle it.
"Beyu County’s Wild Wolf Gorge reports a suspected beast with spiritual powers, ferocious and bloodthirsty, having already claimed the lives of dozens.
Five hundred talisman soldiers have gone to clear it, discovering a nest filled with ancient remains and burial jade artifacts, suspected to be related to a thousand-year-old tomb."
"The prominent Zhou Family in Ceng County perished overnight, their deaths tragic, resentment reaching the sky, and have transformed into vengeful ghosts occupying the residence, also starting to attack the neighbors."
"Three hundred talisman soldiers have already gone, preparing to forcibly eliminate them."
"In the depths of the Giant Stone Mountains in P’an County, the harmful energy from the tomb of the first prime minister of the former dynasty is leaking, causing celestial anomalies,
Judging from the Feng Shui Master’s analysis, the tomb is arranged in the ’Reversed Dragon Ascension’ formation, with the tomb owner attempting Corpse Dissolution Immortality.
I’ve dispatched an additional fifteen hundred from the Talisman Division, carrying the Commander’s personally bestowed ’Demon-Breaking Talisman’ to suppress it."
"In the Black Stone County’s Black River Basin, a water ghost spirit has become formidable. After slaughtering Huangshi Village, it is spreading along the river to other towns.
Two thousand talisman soldiers have arrived, requisitioning thirty civilian boats, preparing for a dragnet-style extermination."
Lu Xuan stood with arms behind his back before the gigantic Qingzhou map, gaze sweeping over the marked locations, nodding slightly.
"Issue orders to all units: Conquer demons upon encountering demons, exterminate devils upon encountering devils."
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, in Fengluo Town, Southern County.
Atop the isolated mountain deemed forbidden by locals, it was now filled with soldiers from the Southern Army’s Talisman Division.
Leading them were three Taoist priests employed by the military and a squad captain, all looking solemnly down at the valley below veiled in dark aura.
"Masters, what’s the configuration of this tomb? Has the entrance been found?" the captain asked in a heavy tone, resting his hand on the pistol at his waist.
"The Commander has ordered; our Talisman Division’s duty is to exterminate all demons and prevent any malignant forces from harming the people,"
Among the three Taoist priests, the elder with a white beard held a Compass, its needle spinning wildly.
He pointed to an unremarkable pile of rocks in the valley where faint black mist was seeping.
"Found it. This is the ’Yin Spring Seepage’ phenomenon, where the tomb owner is selfishly nurturing themselves with underground yin veins, attempting resurrection," the old Taoist said sternly.
"The entrance is beneath those rocks, but it’s heavily contaminated with corpse miasma; feared to have developed into guardian cadavers."
"No matter." Upon hearing this, rather than being intimidated, the captain turned up a cold smirk.
He gestured, and behind him, soldiers simultaneously chamber their bullets, the talismans attached to the firearms glinting crimson under the dim sky.
The three Taoist priests simultaneously reached into their robes, each taking out a stack of crimson-red ’Evil-Banishing Talismans’.
These were necessities for everyone in the Southern Army, the demon-banishing weapons personally imparted by Commander Lu.
"Let’s go in," the captain commanded.
"Exterminate evil, break the curse, today is the day!"
The soldiers formed a combat formation, paving the way with talisman-covered muzzles, boldly stepping into the deathly ground that the locals feared.
......
Ceng County’s urban area, the prosperous east side.
The streets once bustling with carriages and horses were now barren, doors shut tight, only the autumn wind twirling fallen leaves on the cobblestones.
At the heart of it all was the most magnificent estate in the street—the mansion of the Zhou family, the richest in Ceng County.
In just one night, over twenty members of the Zhou Family perished tragically.
Afterwards, eerie wailing and unexplained noises haunted the nights, terrifying nearby elite households who fled the chaotic place with their families.
Just then, the street’s dead silence was broken by a heavy, orderly marching sound.
A battalion of approximately three hundred soldiers arrived, their bearing solemn, equipment refined.
Most noticeable were the faint red talismans visible on their rifles.
Leading them was a stern-faced officer.
Two local folksy figures had been waiting at the street’s entrance for some time, and upon seeing these troops their faces lit up with relief, running forward to greet them.
"Captain Yi! You’ve finally arrived!"
One pudgy man wiped cold sweat from his forehead, pointing to the grim Zhou mansion, speaking with a lingering fear, "This is the place! Now the entire street, no, the whole Ceng County, is counting on the Commander’s troops!
Fortunately, we have Commander Lu in Qingzhou, with the Southern Army around, we common folk can rest at ease and sleep at night!"
Captain Yi gave a slight nod, scanning over the fateful Zhou mansion walls unaffectionately.
"You two aren’t needed here, you may leave."
He was about thirty-five or six years old, his face unwavering and determined—a seasoned veteran from the killing field.
Towards what most dread, specters and phantoms, his face showed no trace of fear, only resolute adherence to orders.
In the next moment, he signaled, and three soldiers immediately stepped forward, kicking with force!
With a loud "bang", the vermillion painted door, sealed with governmental white crosses symbolizing ill-omen and taboos, flung open!
Three hundred soldiers promptly entered in combat formation, swiftly securing all pivotal points in the front courtyard.
The courtyard was dead silent, only the last tinge of twilight lingered over the bloody ground.
Wherever the eye landed, dried, dark bloodstains were scattered over cobblestones, rock gardens, columns, and walls, as though witnessing a brutal massacre.