Ye Lin thought for a moment, but shook his head and said:

"It shouldn't be. If they were really here to help, then why did they attack us at the first sight? Being part of the Da Fu Army Guard, what reason do they have to attack us?"

Someone else chimed in:

"Could it be a misunderstanding? Maybe some bandits donned our military uniforms and looted, causing the other party to attack as soon as they met..."

"Impossible! Not to mention we haven't heard any news about this lately, even if someone did steal our uniforms to rob, it wouldn't be the Jinlin Army coming to punish! It would be the local army nearby that would mobilize! The capital is nearly a thousand miles away from us!!"

"..."

A group of people babbled incessantly, turning the City Lord Mansion's hall into chaos.

After quite a while, they still hadn't reached any useful conclusions until someone suddenly said cautiously:

"Could it be...they're actually targeting us?"

Everyone turned to look at him, causing the latter to quickly wave his hands, indicating that he was just speaking off the cuff and shouldn't be taken seriously.

However, Ye Lin walked sternly up to him, asking:

"Zou Zi, you just said...they're targeting us?"

"Ah, Ye... City Lord, I didn't mean it like that. I just spoke casually based on a feeling. Please don't take it seriously... "

Ye Lin ignored his words and continued to ask:

"What is your basis? Why do you have this thought?"

The general surnamed Zou scratched his head helplessly and said:

"City Lord, please don't make things difficult for me. I really just said it offhand... Isn't it because the Jinlin Army's marching style looks too familiar? Back when I was in Nanchuan City with the Nanchuan Army fighting the Southern Barbarians, we used this method... This is not about suppressing bandits, it's clearly showing signs of preparing for war..."

"..."

Ye Lin received that response but was unwilling to believe it.

He stared at Zou Zi, his expression shifting until it became a bittersweet smile.

"Could it be...that the one really intends to do this...? Impossible... The cost is too great..."

A few people around were initially baffled, not knowing what their new City Lord was talking about.

But none present were fools, and with hints from a few colleagues, everyone quickly understood the meaning behind the words.

"How could it be!! Is the Emperor crazy? Does he want to turn against us!!?"

Someone couldn't help but exclaim.

"Why!? It makes no sense! Is it just because we sent an envoy to inform him about the monster incident in the city? Does he really want to kill us all?"

"Then... what should we do? Should we just wait to die? But what if the Jinlin Army is just... passing by...?"

"Nonsense! How could the Imperial City Forbidden Army just happen to pass by here!?"

"..."

"Everyone, stop arguing!!!"

Ye Lin suddenly shouted, interrupting the quarrel.

He took a deep breath to calm his mental state, then continued:

"Lord Bai once told me that Emperor Xuan Yang is an extremely ruthless king; to eliminate the Daoist tradition, he did not hesitate to burn all the books and executed all the Taoists! Such a person, what he might do, don't you all have any idea?"

"The Jinlin Army came here, not passing by, nor suppressing bandits! They're targeting us! More precisely, they're targeting Han Yue City!!"

These words were like thunder falling into deep water, sparking shocked expressions on several faces.

"City, City Lord... are you saying that he isn't hunting us down... but rather... rather... rather..."

The person stammered a few "rather," but never managed to finish his sentence.

Everyone present felt parched, trying to speak but unable to utter those two words.

"He's planning to massacre the city..."

Ye Lin spoke.

"If I'm not mistaken, the Jinlin Army came here to massacre the city..."

Silence, deathly silence.

The City Lord Mansion's hall was quiet enough to hear a pin drop, the generals all dumbfounded.

"Why...?"

After a long pause, someone finally spoke.

"Why would he do such a thing? This involves over a million citizens. Could it be that just because they went through this event, they all must be killed...?"

Ye Lin cast a profound glance at him, then painfully closed his eyes.

"Because...they know too much..."

...

Five days later, within Han Yue City.

At this moment, over half a month had passed since the Blood Silkworm incident, and the city's citizens began to gradually emerge from the terror instilled by monsters.

Initially, although Jiu Jiu had already killed the mastermind behind all this—the Heavenly Blood Worm—the public was unaware of what had transpired over there.

Even later, when the City Lord Mansion posted notices throughout the city declaring the monster had been vanquished, people were still reluctant to leave their homes.

This situation only started to ease after a few days.

After all, there were no more monster attacks in the city, and the streets were patrolled by the City Guard Army.

People gradually became more courageous, starting to believe the monster was truly killed.

Because of this, the City Lord Mansion specifically promoted the events related to the Tianyuan Sect.

And announced that an Immortal Fate Conference would be held within the city.

The Cultivators would select those with excellent Spirit Root qualifications among the populace, granting them immense fortune.

Thus, Han Yue City slowly resumed production, although still far from its former prosperity.

During these days, the most discussed topic in the city shifted from monsters devouring people to the Immortal Fate Conference.

Everyone was extremely enthusiastic about the elusive Immortal Path.

Before the Blood Silkworm Demon appeared, surely no one would have believed in Cultivators.

Everyone avoided the so-called Immortal Path.

After all, His Majesty had long declared that anyone daring to discuss cultivation would face death.

However, having personally experienced the monster slaughter, witnessed the overwhelming thunderclouds above the City Lord Mansion, and the terrifying Blood Sea, no one dared question anymore.

Even the most stubborn old scholars within the city had to admit the existence of monsters and cultivators.

The Emperor was indeed wrong.

On this matter, the entire populace of Han Yue City stood united.

Since legendary Immortals do indeed exist, then stories of immortality cannot be false.

And in this world, who wouldn't be moved by immortality?

When the news of the Immortal Fate Conference spread, and people knew such an opportunity for immortality lay before them, nearly the entire population of Han Yue City became overexcited.

Now, whether on bustling streets or in teahouses and taverns, nearly everywhere one would hear chatter about the Immortal Fate Conference.

According to the latest news released from the City Lord Mansion, this year's Immortal Fate Conference is scheduled for the first day of early December, which is tomorrow.

Currently, the area near the Southern City, where the Immortal Fate Conference will be held, is already crowded.

Originally, it was a large market called Jinli Square, primarily used by foreign merchants for trading.

However, due to the Blood Silkworm incident, Han Yue City closed off, causing many merchants to leave.

Even though it's now recovered, there's little improvement, leaving much vacant space.

This area has been designated as the venue for the Immortal Fate Conference.

And Ye Lin has planned for the future.

This area will be renamed "Immortal Fate Square," designated for hosting the Immortal Fate Conference or establishing a special Cultivation Market.

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