Chapter 38: The Ape Demon's Revenge

"Move!"

Liu Dianli waved a great hand, and a crowd set off in grand procession down the long street.

"Shen Daoren, after you."

The Thin Head Monk stood with hands clasped behind his back, watching with a smiling squint.

Shen Yi casually closed the door, a cold glint flashing through his eyes.

This group had clearly come prepared — they had not only found a pretext, but even estimated his strength.

Over a dozen constables not only had swords at their waists but also carried zhang-long spears in hand; the remaining soldiers each bore powerful bows and heavy crossbows. Against demons or martial masters these would amount to little, but add the Thin Head Monk holding the line and harrying from the flank…

Even two more yellow weasels would end up lying there.

"I'd like to see what trick you're pulling." Zhang the Butcher strode over, his face dark and grim, and took his place behind Shen Yi.

At the sight, the Thin Head Monk's expression shifted slightly, but he did not stop them — only raised a brow and laughed: "Suit yourself. I'm merely here on orders to accompany you."

When talk doesn't mesh, half a word is too much.

The three walked on in silence, under the startled, suspicious gazes of passersby on the street, heading out of the city.

Once past Boyun County, some thirty li brought one to Shilin Village.

Liu Dianli was clearly frantic with worry, striding along with a sullen face, occasionally glancing back at Shen Yi — and the killing intent in his eyes grew heavier.

"Is this about slaying demons, or about slaying us?"

Even Zhang Dahu sensed something was wrong, and struggled violently twice more.

Immediately two spears shifted in, their sharp tips pressing tight against his neck and scoring two bloody lines.

"No — where are we going?"

The Niu brothers, for their part, did not struggle; they only watched as the crowd passed straight through Shilin Village as if it weren't there, and turned into a side path.

"Ahead is wasteland — aren't you afraid of running into demons?"

At those words, the Thin Head Monk gave a mocking laugh and slowly came to a halt.

Almost at the same instant, everyone stopped. The constables and soldiers parted to open a path, then suddenly kicked the captives in the shins; they stumbled to their knees, and cold blades were pressed against their necks.

A fellow constable sighed and looked away.

At the far edge of sight, under dim moonlight, a small thatched shack had appeared by the roadside.

A tall figure stood beside a table, dressed in cloth, black fur covering his sleeves and arms, carefully pouring wine into a bowl.

The one seated was small and slight, draped in a straw raincoat with a bamboo hat on his head, his back to the crowd, as if taking a late-night snack.

"Bad sign — these ones are tough."

Zhang the Butcher looked over with a solemn expression.

He finally understood why his senior brother hadn't minded him tagging along — what stood before them were two demons of the Initial Realm.

The seated one, whose aura carried a hint of restless heat, had clearly only just broken through, but that thick, heavy presence was unmistakably peak Initial Realm.

The standing one was a touch weaker, but still on par with himself — even their builds were similar… Add to that his senior brother beside him, plus thirty or forty constables and soldiers.

Zhang the Butcher had been around for many years; his experience was vast.

In a single breath he had made his decision: "Run!"

Keep the green hills safe — don't take a loss right under your nose.

"I've brought the man to you."

Liu Dianli stepped forward, summoning the nerve to walk right up beside the shack: "Those few ape-demons weren't killed by me, and the matter of you abducting the children — I suppressed that for you too… I know you're trying to lure him out… Ape-sir, I had a son only in my fifties — give me back my boy…"

"Shut up." The tall cloth-clad ape-demon set down the wine jug and shot him a cold glance.

"Yes, yes, I'll shut up." Liu Dianli bowed with a sycophantic grin, and casually waved back at the men behind him.

The powerful bows in the soldiers' hands instantly leveled on Shen Yi in the crowd.

A dozen spears pressed down at once, cutting off his retreat.

At that moment, the old ape in the straw raincoat let out a satisfied burp, and neatly stacked the things he had gnawed clean beside him.

It rose to its feet, wiped its mouth with a sleeve, and by the moonlight thirteen small skulls on the table could be seen licked to a gleaming shine, their empty eye sockets ghastly to behold.

Wiping its mouth clean, the old ape turned its head to look, nodded with surprising courtesy, and said in a rasping voice: "Thank you."

Pleased by the praise, Liu Dianli's face lit up — then his gaze fell on the table, and with a vague sense that something was off, he began counting on his fingers.

The next instant, his old face went deathly pale.

His body shook like a sieve, his legs gave way, and he sank uncontrollably to his knees on the ground.

Liu Dianli's Adam's apple bobbed; he could not speak, only let out a strange, mute cry:

"Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Looking at that pile of skulls, Zhang the Butcher's face showed a flash of pity; he spun around and glared at the Thin Head Monk: "You scabby-headed freak — have you lost your mind!"

"What has it to do with me." The Thin Head Monk frowned and spread his hands: "I haven't done a thing. I'm merely following the County Magistrate's orders to accompany Liu Dianli here tonight to investigate the matter thoroughly."

"If you really want to get to the bottom of it, shouldn't you be asking Shen Daoren here just how he handles things?"

The Thin Head Monk wore a smile as he turned his gaze on Shen Yi.

"Bite your mother's dog-fart nonsense — only four men given, and you have to look after two hundred thousand people in Boyun County, and on top of that help demons suppress the news. If I were Zhen Mo Si, I'd chop the heads off these beasts first!"

Zhang the Butcher was beside himself with rage and wanted to keep cursing, but realized someone beside him had suddenly vanished.

He looked up.

Shen Yi had silently walked off into the distance, paying no heed to the spears and bows beside him.

He came to Chen Ji's side, bent down, and drew the man's sword from his waist.

"Go now! There'll be plenty of chances!" Before Chen Ji could finish, a man beside him slapped him down.

The constable who had acted stared at Shen Yi's profile, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long moment.

Before long, the young man had walked beneath the shack.

The two ape demons regarded him with indifference. The younger, taller one sneered: "If you kneel like he did right now, you might still have a chance to keep your corpse intact."

"Kill them for me! You idiot! Don't you love to show off — now this official commands you, kill them at once!"

Liu Dianli wildly grabbed his own sleeves, letting out a beast-like howl.

But that wailing lasted only an instant before turning into a gurgling sound of blood welling up.

As the blade-light swept past, the white-haired head thudded to the ground.

Shen Yi stared at the two ape demons. While Liu Dianli's body had not yet fallen, he casually wiped the blade across that blue-green round-collared shirt.

In the distance, the constables' hands gripping their long spears suddenly seeped with sweat.

The soldiers swallowed, their strong bows already aimed at that slender figure, arrows on the string, yet for a long time none dared to loose.

"What insane dog-guts!"

Skinny Toutuo froze for a moment, then flew into a rage, striding forward in great steps.

He had come tonight under orders — not as the main force to ambush Shen Yi, but only to protect Liu Dianli and put on a show of force on the side.

Who could have guessed this madman would actually stand in front of the two demons and cut down the clerk first? Even more infuriating, those two old apes just stood there watching quietly!

If anyone else had seen it, they'd have thought tonight's ambush was targeting Liu Dianli.

Just as he was seized with fury, a thick, large arm lashed out from midair, ruthlessly slamming into his chest.

Skinny Toutuo staggered back several steps, barely steadied himself, and roared: "You stupid dog, didn't you see him kill someone?"

Zhang the Butcher's face twisted savagely. He drew his pig-sticking blade and hacked over: "Go to hell with your mother!"

At the same time.

The indifferent gaze of the two ape demons finally rippled with emotion.

(End of chapter)