# 1634
Chapter 1628: The Name of That Blade
"Marquis, should we intervene?"
The young scholar in scholarly attire walked to Huo Qubing's side, his expression gradually growing serious.
"This Marquis was entrusted by His Majesty to protect the common people. Whether it be the Xiongnu of the northern frontier or the evil omens within Han lands, they are all enemies of the people. Since we have encountered them here, we cannot stand by and do nothing." Huo Qubing said calmly, "Since heaven has granted us extraordinary power, we should use it for the people, to protect all living beings."
"Hmph."
An indifferent voice came from the corner. The female prisoner coldly laughed, "Protect all living beings? With just you few people, how can you possibly protect everyone in this vast world?"
"Even if we cannot protect all the common people, we should do our utmost, rather than become monsters wreaking havoc upon the world like you!" The lieutenant roared with fury, drawing his curved sword and pointing it at the prisoner's nose.
Huo Qubing stood by the window, glancing back at the female prisoner.
"Upon returning to the capital, I will petition His Majesty to gather extraordinary individuals from across the realm and establish an office specifically dedicated to suppressing evil forces. If our strength alone proves insufficient, then we shall mobilize the strength of the entire world."
The female prisoner snorted coldly and avoided Huo Qubing's gaze.
"Marquis, the evil omens have appeared." The scholar said gravely. "Should we split up to pursue them, or..."
"There's no need for that." Huo Qubing's voice remained perfectly calm. "The entire city lies in darkness, yet only this tavern glows with light. They don't need us to seek them out... they will come to meet their doom on their own."
…
Night deepened.
From the dim city walls came low, guttural growls—sounds like wolf howls, yet carrying an unsettling quality.
In the modest clinic's front room, Lin Qiye, seated cross-legged on the table, gradually opened his eyes.
Faint crimson starlight filtered through the gaps in the tightly shut doors and windows, casting patterns across the floor. Following the old man's counsel, Lin Qiye had refrained from lighting candles—this being his first day in this ancient era, he remained cautious about everything unfamiliar around him.
He silently slipped down from the table and peered through the narrow opening between the closed doors.
In the hazy starlight, he observed shadowy figures leaping across rooftops opposite, hastening toward the only brightly lit tavern in the city. Several broken roof tiles slid down and shattered on the ground, prompting frightened cries from within that were abruptly silenced, as if smothered by an invisible hand.
"These are indeed 'Mysteries'... though this quantity is rather excessive?"
Through the door gap, Lin Qiye caught glimpses of those phantom forms. He had known that ancient Great Xia also harbored "Mysteries," yet he hadn't anticipated them being so bold—darting openly across rooftops. On this single street alone, there were at least four or five of them.
Lin Qiye estimated that within these city walls, no fewer than thirty "Mysteries" lurked. If things stood thus within the city, what must the situation be beyond the walls? No wonder every household sealed their doors and windows early, and pedestrians during daylight hours appeared haggard, their nerves frayed.
Lin Qiye's gaze followed the direction of the "Mysteries'" advance. Above the illuminated tavern, a lone figure nimbly vaulted onto the roof, brandishing a treasured sword, gazing down imperiously at the swarming phantom hordes. The imposing pressure of Klein-realm spiritual power radiated outward.
Lin Qiye had encountered this individual during daylight hours—Huo Qubing's lieutenant. Yet he hadn't anticipated that the man too possessed a Forbidden Ruin. From Lin Qiye's understanding, the Western Han period marked the era when the first Forbidden Ruin wielders emerged, with the most emblematic figure being humanity's first apex, the Marquis of Champions, Huo Qubing. Still, at this time, Forbidden Ruin wielders should have been exceedingly rare.
Could it be that the Bureau of Evil Suppression had already been established?
Lin Qiye cast a glance back at Wu Quan, unconscious upon the sickbed. A flicker of insight crossed his mind.
Wu Quan's injuries would require half a year to heal through ordinary means. However, with a Forbidden Ruin healer present, the situation would differ considerably. If the Bureau of Evil Suppression had indeed been established, skilled healers would certainly be among Huo Qubing's retinue.
With this thought, he retrieved a black robe from the wall and a bamboo hat from beneath the medicine cabinet. Quietly pushing open the clinic's wooden door, he slipped into the shadows, making his way toward the tavern.
…
"One, two, three... thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty." The lieutenant stood atop the rooftop, his gaze sweeping across the approaching shadows. "Exactly forty. We split them evenly."
"Who said anything about even splitting?"
The scholarly-clad young man leisurely climbed to the rooftop, his robes billowing in the wind. "Whoever kills faster, whoever kills more—that's how we settle it."
The lieutenant shot him a surprised look. "Usually you'd find any excuse to slack off on things like this. Why the sudden enthusiasm?"
The scholar offered a mysterious smile. "Just now, the Marquis himself said that upon returning to the capital, he would petition His Majesty to establish an office for extraordinary individuals... The head of this office will undoubtedly be the Marquis. So, who do you suppose will be appointed as the deputy head?"
Hearing this, understanding dawned on the lieutenant. He slapped his thigh. "You Yan Zhong! Trying to compete with me for the deputy position?!"
"Compete? The appointment of the deputy head rests entirely on the Marquis's discretion. I'm simply seizing the opportunity to distinguish myself." The scholarly young man clasped his hands behind his back, white silk fluttering like a scholar-saint, his integrity evident even in the cold wind!
"Pah!"
The lieutenant disdainfully glanced at him. A wave of darkness climbed his curved sword, terrifying destructive force pouring forth.
"By the way, I recently gave my Forbidden Ruin a name. Want to hear it?" The lieutenant gripped his black blade, turning to ask.
"You're just a brute. What kind of impressive name could you possibly come up with?" The scholar raised his chin. "Go ahead, I can help polish it for you."
The lieutenant slowly raised his black curved sword. In his eyes, a brilliant cold light burst forth. His lips curved slightly upward as he spoke, word by word:
"Black... Moon... Sever!!"
Whoosh—!!
A massive black crescent, dozens of meters long, swept across the night sky, instantly slicing three pouncing "Mysteries" into countless fragments. The black light devoured their remains, transforming into a rain of blood that drifted across the illuminated tavern above.
Pffft!
The scholar couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Black Moon Sever? Only someone like you, Zhan Yuwu, could come up with such an awful name!"
The lieutenant gritted his teeth. "Then you come up with one!"
The scholar contemplated briefly, then declared boldly: "The blade resembles a crescent moon, extinguishing all life... How about we call it—【Oblivion Crescent Moon】!"