Chapter 84: The Art of Bewitchment, Forced Confession

In the eyes of Zhang Ke and his companions, Helian Quan’s assignment contained a fatal flaw. To put Xu Wen, the youngest among them, fully in charge of the city’s defense? Though Xu Wen seemed skilled in necromantic knowledge, entrusting the lives of over two thousand souls to a mere stripling was something Zhang Ke could never feel at ease about.

He paid no heed to Helian Quan’s orders, instead repeatedly calling to the city guards around him, urging them to keep a close watch on every movement beneath the walls and to remain alert. He occasionally hinted to Xu Wen that if the pressure became overwhelming, the old uncle here could take command of the whole operation!

Yet…

Xu Wen was even less inclined to let such a reckless character guard him, and he ignored Zhang Ke’s hints entirely. He ordered the city guards to light torches atop the walls, then had the piled corpses arranged in a line below, setting them alight across the whole front.

Within a hundred meters inside the city, every detail was revealed in the flickering light.

The soldiers split into two shifts, taking turns watching the base of the wall, ready to leap into battle at a moment’s notice.

Outside the walls, over ten thousand civilians huddled closely below, following the instructions of the soldiers above, arranging burnable corpses and items in a circle, illuminating the perimeter, eyes wide as they watched for any sign of danger.

Xu Wen had instantly transformed the eastern gate into a makeshift quarantine zone, where any living corpse or person approaching would be discovered immediately.

The soldiers and strong men guarded in sections, and even Zhang Ke gradually fell silent, letting Xu Wen issue order after order as he watched the quarantine ring take shape—clear, effective, and vastly safer.

Once all preparations were complete, a safe zone of one hundred and fifty paces was established outside the quarantine, forming a firepower area. Even if the living dead attacked en masse, the city guards could defend swiftly and efficiently with their crossbows.

As for the necromancers, there was no need to worry. Unless they dared approach, Xu Wen assured he would immediately command the guards to pour all their firepower on them.

Still, Xu Wen was not entirely at ease. He assigned the city’s sole alchemist, He Chen, a task—alchemy.

He was to prepare “fire phosphorus powder.”

Though He Chen grumbled at being given such a menial, low-level task, idleness was even worse. He obediently took out his cauldron and asked offhandedly, “And what are you going to do?”

“All the trivial matters are handled by you. Naturally, I must seek something important to do.” The reply left He Chen rolling his eyes, but when he saw Xu Wen draw a dagger and stride toward the necromancer curled motionless at the base of the wall, he suddenly remembered this unstable element atop the battlements.

“No one is to approach!” Xu Wen ordered.

…

The necromancer sensed someone approaching and looked up, finding a youthful face. A flicker of deeply hidden delight flashed in his eyes, but he feigned fear, shrinking back from the gleaming dagger.

“No need to play so poorly. You weren’t afraid when Uncle Helian wanted to kill you—do you really fear this little blade?” Xu Wen’s voice was scornful, exposing the deception. Ignoring the necromancer’s startled gaze, Xu Wen drew out a pitch-black ring and from it, a black bottle.

“Forbidden powder. You enjoyed using it, didn’t you?” Xu Wen smiled faintly as he spoke.

The necromancer’s gaze flickered. Only now did he realize this youth was not so simple—no interrogation, no torture, only strange words.

Forbidden powder? Did he know the bottle contained berserk powder?

The necromancer remained silent, only watching Xu Wen.

“I don’t want to force out everything you know, but I hope you can tell me something else,” Xu Wen said, fixing his gaze on the necromancer, speaking slowly, his voice rising and falling, guiding the man’s thoughts and attention. Gradually, the necromancer’s eyes grew unfocused, his gaze losing its clarity.

“Dean Harman of the Fire Magic Division at Azure Cloud Academy—do you know this person…” Xu Wen asked.

The necromancer nodded stiffly. “I… do.” His voice was wooden, but Xu Wen understood—the question had not crossed the necromancer’s threshold of resistance.

“Is he still alive?”

The necromancer slowly shook his head. Had Xu Wen not prepared in advance, the spell of enchantment would have collapsed, freeing the necromancer.

“Harman is dead. You didn’t summon him as an undead guardian?”

“I… can’t.” The necromancer replied hazily, “My skill… too low… Harman is the prey of His Lordship, the Soul Reaper.”

“Soul Reaper is more powerful than you?”

Xu Wen continued, his voice gentle and strange, eyes locking the necromancer’s, guiding his thoughts.

“Of course… His Lordship, the Soul Reaper, is a Nine-Star Necromancer.”

“He is now in the Dark Empire?”

“No, His Lordship… has come to Azure Cloud Empire… together with His Lordship, the Soul Destroyer.”

Xu Wen stilled the waves in his heart, knowing the conversation was reaching its core.

“Why did they come to Azure Cloud Empire?”

“On orders… to deal with the rulers of Azure Cloud Empire… incite the Eight Great Houses… to mutual slaughter.”

“Why did you not follow His Lordship?”

Xu Wen’s question was skillful.

As expected, the necromancer answered without hesitation, revealing the information Xu Wen sought.

“I… was ordered… with four other colleagues… to hold Mousse City… block all Azure Cloud forces headed to the capital.”

“Where are they?”

“At the gates.”

At that moment, the necromancer’s mind suddenly convulsed in pain. His eyes snapped open, and he finally broke free of Xu Wen’s spell. Seeing Xu Wen’s calm eyes and recalling his own trance, he exclaimed, “You…” Shocked, the necromancer realized what had happened and opened his mouth to expose Xu Wen’s identity, but his throat convulsed. The words would not come. Blood gushed from his throat as he watched the youth calmly wipe the bloody dagger on his robes, then rise and leave in silence.

His tightly bound body finally collapsed, dying with bitter hatred.

“The second one,” Xu Wen murmured, walking to the edge of the battlements, facing inward. He drew a deep breath, gazing at Mousse City, now plunged into the darkness of night and teeming with concealed dangers.

“The ‘Soul Reaper’ of the Dark Empire possesses the rank of Grandmaster Mage. With my current strength, I cannot yet avenge you, Master. But the remaining four—at least I can send them to accompany you…”