Chapter 144: Seeking Demons, Tracking Traces

The next morning.

Chunyangzi was about to pay his farewell visit when he stepped out of the courtyard and noticed every Captain in the Town Demon General's Mansion was in a hurry.

He wandered around curiously for two laps and finally spotted Xiao Qiangwei—only to realize she was the source of this tense atmosphere.

Orders were relayed down, and Captains and Deputy Commanders immediately turned and left the mansion.

"Station two skilled travelers every two hundred li, alternating day and night to relay messages."

"Tell General You to, if it doesn't compromise the overall situation, get as close to Xitai Mountain as possible."

"If any unexpected situation arises, I will notify the demon hunters with the bell."

Chunyangzi listened, bewildered, and walked over a few steps to ask: "Lady Xiao, has Tingyang County encountered trouble? Do you need this monk's help?"

Logically, martial artists should avoid interfering when the Zhen Mo Si acts, but they had just faced a terrifying great demon together days ago, so asking one more question wasn't out of place.

Xiao Qiangwei waved to dismiss the others, then turned and said: "It's not Tingyang County—it's that we've detected the aura of a Mountain Lord. Lord Shen intends to try killing it before he departs."

Hearing this, Chunyangzi was startled, recalling what he'd just heard: "That tiger, the one at Xitai Mountain with a fully formed Golden Core?"

Last night, Qingjing Daoist had secretly said Qingzhou was about to descend into chaos, and Lord Shen was the secret weapon General Liang had revealed—he hadn't quite believed it, but now it seemed there was some truth to it.

They had just returned from Kong Que Valley, and now they were about to strike another great demon.

The Zhen Mo Si traditionally focused on defense and stability, ensuring demons didn't invade the Twelve Counties; as long as demons retreated quietly, they rarely risked leaving familiar cities to chase them into unfamiliar wilderness.

"Lord Shen means to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, to intimidate all demons," Chunyangzi sighed. They still had to deliver the martial arts back to the monastery; if trouble arose within Tingyang County, they'd act without hesitation—but beyond Tingyang County, they lacked the demon hunters' experience.

Kill a chicken to scare the monkeys… Xiao Qiangwei suddenly realized that, in the eyes of these martial artists, even the fearsome Shan Jun was seen by Lord Shen as nothing more than a "chicken" to be used for intimidation.

She had originally promised him she'd summon the Town Demon General to provide backup.

But in practice, even after using personal connections, all she could manage was to get General You to divert a fraction of his attention, to move closer, and to ensure he could be notified instantly if anything went wrong—that was already her limit.

After all, an ambush against a demon lord could easily trigger a chain reaction, destabilizing the entire Tingyang County.

A Town Demon General who nurtures a Yin Spirit becomes most vulnerable the moment he leaves Qingzhou—that's when he can be killed most easily.

Therefore, this mission must be handled solely by her and Lord Shen, and they must be prepared to bear all consequences; if unexpected danger arises, whether they can hold out until General You arrives will be left to fate.

"I have urgent matters to attend to. The two elders may go about your business."

Xiao Qiangwei nodded politely, then stepped toward the mansion's exit.

Shen Yi stood beside the two demonic horses, heard footsteps, and turned: "You're going too?"

Xiao Qiangwei mounted her horse and replied: "I can't offer much help, but years of tracking demons have given me experience that can save you considerable time. Your formidable concealment technique must be used from the shadows—to strike unexpectedly, kill swiftly, then withdraw immediately."

Here, she recalled how he had "escorted" her to Heishi Pond, and smiled: "You used it quite skillfully back then—just do it the same way."

With Shen Yi's strength, killing the Shan Jun isn't the issue—it's how to kill it, and how long it will take.

Once trapped in that quagmire, extracting yourself becomes difficult.

Shen Yi mounted his demonic horse and said calmly: "I will do my best to protect your life."

Regarding demon tracking, any advice she offers is surely hard-won experience forged from countless lives lost.

"Then thank you in advance, Lord Shen," Xiao Qiangwei tugged the reins; the elegant demonic horse reared its front hooves, hooves clattering sharply, and shot out of Tingyang City.

…

Outside Tingyang County.

A low hill, roughly three hundred li from Xitai Mountain.

The two tied their demonic horses to a tree; the once proud, elegant half-demons now scanned their surroundings warily, restless, pawing the ground.

Xiao Qiangwei pulled out the silver bell and sent a message.

The demon hunters she had summoned earlier quickly replied.

"All set," Xiao Qiangwei glanced at him and asked in detail: "How far can you strike in an instant—with maximum power, so the demon can't react?"

Shen Yi paused, then answered conservatively: "Three hundred zhang."

He didn't fully understand what "an instant" meant, but within this distance, even a fully formed Golden Core demon couldn't evade his Yidao.

Xiao Qiangwei's hand froze slightly as she returned the silver bell, then confirmed she hadn't misheard.

Could a Body Tempering martial artist really have such explosive power?

She calmed her mind and didn't voice doubt—even though this distance concerned her life.

Since they had come out, she must trust her colleague unconditionally.

"Then three hundred zhang—it's perfect. Not so close that you'll expose yourself near me."

Xiao Qiangwei double-checked all her demon-tracking artifacts, then set off running toward Xitai Mountain.

The vast, boundless mountain range, stretching beyond sight, belonged to the tiger—it had remained the Shan Jun here for many years.

Occasionally, a few demon hunters dared trespass, but none even managed to catch its aura before dying pointlessly.

Now, stepping into this place.

Xiao Qiangwei showed no panic—even though the youth's aura had vanished entirely from her perception, she knew he was right behind her; each time she recalled his swift, decisive demon-slaying, her composure grew even calmer.

Dense shade, dark forest.

A tangle of foul odors mixed with rotting leaves.

She kept activating her artifact, discerning traces of the Shan Jun, scanning every detail around her, imprinting them all in her mind.

As time slowly passed, they ventured deeper into Xitai Mountain.

The sun's arc blurred, and a thin gray mist rose over the sky.

Xiao Qiangwei's face finally lit up with relief; she transmitted a voice message through the bell: "It appeared here recently. According to the artifact's guidance, it's roughly seventy li southeast, in the rear mountain's interior… proceed with caution."

She added one last, unnecessary remark by instinct.

Her task was done; following further would only hinder. The silent assassin hidden in the deep mountains needed no extra help that might expose him.

Waiting outside Xitai Mountain for Shen Yi's message was what she should do next.

Silence still surrounded them; only the bell's message announced the youth's departure.

"You've worked hard."

(End of chapter)