Chapter 63: Slaying the River Demon

「Ah!!!」

The River God clutched his fatty face, trying to shield himself from the skeptical gazes of the fishermen.

I am a god! I am the River God who walks upon the waves to protect this land!

She let out a piercing shriek; countless water droplets condensed into arrows and fired forward in unison, their roar echoing across the sky!

Shen Yi moved nimbly, staying tightly within a foot of the River God.

His slender fingers struck in arcane patterns, severing meridians wherever they touched, draining all demonic power.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The River God’s once graceful form swelled grotesquely, nearly bursting her blue robe, growing as massive as an ox.

She had already lost most of her essence to the dragon, and defeated two Jade Fluid–realm Captains single-handedly—Li Mujin’s lamp was nearly extinguished, and she herself was deeply drained.

Now, the profound martial art “Severing Meridians and Capturing the Dragon” had sealed all her major channels.

Finally, even the rain of arrows above could no longer be sustained, dissolving silently into the air.

Shen Yi kicked hard, sending her massive body flying like a ruptured sack, smashing through the gilded statue; the temple trembled violently, beams collapsed with a thunderous crash, thick dust spreading everywhere.

He turned slightly, reaching out to catch the falling black blade.

Then he stepped into the River God’s temple, seized the demon’s nape, and slammed her violently onto the altar.

The River Demon trembled violently, gripping the edge of the collapsed altar with both palms, desperately trying to lift her body with arms half-deadened.

Shen Yi planted his foot on her shoulder, pressing her back down onto the table.

Feeling the chilling aura behind her, the River Demon felt her liver and gall nearly shatter:

“You cannot kill me! I carry a dragon embryo within me!”

“I shall be the Dragon Empress of the Yangchun River!”

“I am the River God of Shuiyun Village!!! Save me!!”

Hearing her desperate screams, Li Mujin, already half-unconscious, nearly fainted.

Countless fishermen gathered outside the temple, torches in hand, staring in disbelief at the bloated figure on the altar.

She was the deity their ancestors had worshipped for centuries.

The master who had sent three hundred children into the river to serve her.

Now, she lay helpless beneath a foot, crying out in terror—she said, “Save me.”

“Save the River God! Kill the hawkish dogs!”

The village chief clutched his son’s corpse, tears streaming down his face, eyes filled with hatred.

He had only this one son!

The old man rasped with a hoarse voice: “Kill!!”

His words of resentment tore through the silence of the night.

Immediately, over a dozen strong young men dropped their torches, gripped their fish spears, and charged forward in frenzy.

In the past, they had driven away these Town Demon Suppressors in exactly this manner, again and again.

This was the fury of seventy thousand people of Shuiyun Village.

Before it, even a Jade Fluid–realm Deputy General would halt.

“...”

Shen Yi acted as if he heard nothing, picked up a sharp wooden stake, and without hesitation drove it through the River Demon’s back, pinning her to the altar.

Accompanied by the River Demon’s scream.

He glanced back slightly, extended his left hand, fingers slowly opening—there, trembling in his palm, was a black waist token, the silver-hooked iron-script characters “Town Demon” chillingly stark.

His voice was indifferent: “The Town Demon Suppressors have been ordered to slay demons. All non-essential persons, withdraw.”

The young fishermen, eyes bloodshot, cared nothing for such words—if they charged in, the man would have no choice but to retreat.

Thinking this, their rough hands tightened further on their fish spears: “Kill the hawkish dogs! Save the River God!”

But whether it was illusion or not, under the dim torchlight, they could not find in the young man’s dark robe face... the hesitation once seen in the eyes of past Captains.

Seeing the crowd still charging forward.

Shen Yi said nothing, simply clenched his fingers again.

A streak of red light appeared silently, slicing through the air at invisible speed, piercing the first skull, then the second...

The village chief stared in shock as the dozen men fell one after another, a nameless dread rising in his chest.

This Captain... seems different from before.

Before he could finish the thought, a searing crimson heat stained his vision, and his body grew strangely light.

“...”

Seeing the village chief’s corpse, the remaining fishermen who had not moved felt their skin crawl, stepping back involuntarily half a step.

The fishermen who had controlled the Town Demon Captains also trembled, dropping their fish spears.

Thud! Thud!

Outside the temple, figures gradually knelt in rows, pounding their foreheads to the ground until blood streamed, their wailing continuous: “Mercy, my lord! Spare the River Goddess!”

Shen Yi turned back, fixing his gaze on the River Demon beneath his foot.

The black blade slashed down instantly.

With a dull thud, the head rolled off, transforming into a ten-foot-wide, beardless catfish.

Her blue robe tore open, revealing a slick, fat, green fish body filling half the temple, its tail twitching faintly.

Under the horrified stares of all.

The young man, drenched in blood, stood atop the altar—his expression not cruel, yet unbearable to meet.

Even more terrifying than the statue had been.

He plunged his blade into the fish’s belly, meticulously slicing it open, the tender white flesh unfolding like pages of a book.

He casually took the beast’s core.

Shen Yi cut off a slice of fish meat with his blade, stood with lowered eyes, and placed it in his mouth, chewing slowly.

“...”

The fishermen and villagers no longer bowed their heads; their eyes dimmed, expressions growing numb—they no longer knew what face to wear before this scene.

This monstrous figure, towering and cruel, was feasting on their River God like a demon of chaos.

Moments later, Shen Yi tore off a large chunk of fish meat and stepped out of the temple.

He seized a dazed man.

Under the man’s stunned gaze, he casually shoved the fish meat into his mouth.

“Gah!”

The man instinctively vomited, but Shen Yi’s slender fingers clamped tightly over his mouth.

“Chew it. Swallow it.” The cold voice sent chills through all.

“Then answer me.”

Shen Yi yanked the man upright, expression calm: “How does your River God taste?”

Tears welled in the man’s eyes, his body trembling.

Yet the fresh, succulent flavor bursting between his teeth was a taste he had never known in thirty years by the river.

He swallowed it involuntarily, then immediately felt guilt.

Yet he couldn’t help swallowing another bite.

“Well-fed. Don’t raise them again.”

Shen Yi patted the man’s face, sheathed his black blade, and walked toward a few others nearby.

The madman, having just awakened from unconsciousness, was now covered in mud, crawling and scrambling toward this place.

He saw the horrifying corpses of his fellow villagers, the collapsed temple, his gaze sweeping over the lone upright figure.

Then it fell upon the fat fish, gutted and split open inside the temple.

Instantly, the madman unleashed unprecedented strength, lunging through the crowd, diving into the fish’s belly, tearing and devouring ravenously.

Fish meat mixed with snot and tears gushed into his stomach, as if to purge all the resentment of over a decade.

Seeing this, the others kneeling on the ground stared blankly at him.

The man who had been forced to eat the fish meat now pounded his chest in anguish, yet couldn’t help secretly swallowing saliva.

Beneath the flickering torchlight, the shattered statue’s golden skin peeled away, revealing its original clay body.

(End of Chapter)