Chapter 187: Simply Killing a County Magistrate

The force was so great that Hong Zhong tumbled twice in the air before slamming into the inn's wall, emitting a dull thud.

He was stunned, feeling the burning, swollen pain on his face, before he finally came to his senses and realized what had just happened.

This Demon Exorcist actually dared to hit him?

A mere Demon Exorcist with an ordinary position at the county-level Demon Suppression Division actually dared to strike him, the master of a county? This was treason! He roared inwardly, wishing he could hack Li Heng to death right now.

Hong Zhong slowly crawled up from the ground and looked at Li Heng with a gloomy expression.

Then he spoke in a deep voice.

"This Demon Exorcist, may I understand this as a moment of agitation on your part?" Unprecedentedly, this County Magistrate Hong actually swallowed his pride and even offered Li Heng a way out.

The patrons nearby were all stunned, not daring to make a sound.

It was the first time they had seen this Master Hong be so patient; after being slapped until one side of his face was as swollen as a pig's, he was actually still offering this Demon Exorcist a way out?

Where was the ruthlessness he showed when ransacking homes and wiping out entire families?

Or could it be that this Demon Exorcist had a significant background?

"No, I just wanted to slap you."

Li Heng shook his head and smiled slightly.

Upon hearing this, Hong Zhong's gloomy expression suddenly turned into a smile.

"Then do you know that according to Great Li Law, attacking a Great Li official without cause is a capital offense? Even as a Demon Exorcist with an official status, not a commoner, the punishment will only be more severe."

"Because your status and mine are not equal."

"I am a County Magistrate, while you are merely an ordinary Demon Exorcist. In terms of the Great Li official hierarchy, you are a subordinate attacking a superior—an act of insubordination, with the crime compounded!"

He pulled his County Magistrate Official Seal from his sleeve.

Then he scanned his surroundings, looked at the patrons who were watching, and laughed aloud. "Everyone here has witnessed this; with both human and material evidence present, my arresting you does not violate Great Li law!"

"For insubordination, according to Great Li Law, Suppress!"

Hong Zhong tossed the Official Seal into the air. The seal grew in the wind, arrived above Li Heng's head, and with a flash of golden Luck, erupted with a powerful suppressing force, intending to suppress the two.

At this moment, he felt somewhat smug.

Although he had been slapped for no reason and the White Wind had proven ineffective, this Demon Exorcist was clearly a greenhorn who didn't understand the hierarchy of official ranks, dared to attack him, and even openly admitted to it?

Then it was perfectly reasonable and justified for him to use the power of the Official Seal to suppress him. Even if that Second Division Chief returned to the Prefecture and wasn't being targeted by Master Jin, she still held a high and powerful position.

But even if she knew about this, she would have nothing to say.

However, if that Second Division Chief was already being targeted by Master Jin and had fallen from power, then once this greenhorn was suppressed by the Official Seal, he would be at his mercy, and his life or death would be decided by him.

Then he would have completed Master Jin's arrangement.

It would count as a great achievement for Master Jin!

At the same time, he wasn't afraid that this greenhorn Demon Exorcist could escape the suppression of the Official Seal; the seal contained the vast Great Li Official Luck, and unless one was in the Innate Realm, it was impossible to escape.

Li Heng felt the suppressing force of the Official Seal and couldn't help but shake his head.

The same old routine.

He had already killed a County Magistrate in Beiguo County. If they wanted to suppress him with just this bit of power, they should bring the Emperor's Seal next time.

He reached out and grabbed the Official Seal, which was exerting its suppressing force in the air, directly in his hand. Sensing something amiss, the Official Seal instinctively began to struggle, trying to break free from Li Heng's palm.

But a touch of Great Sun Divine Intent emerged on Li Heng's hand.

The Official Seal instantly became docile, even trembling slightly.

"I've waited here for so long, listening to you spout so much nonsense, and this is your only trick? You've disappointed me too much."

Li Heng said with a sigh.

He had been waiting for this County Magistrate to show his true colors, to see what hidden trump cards or back-up plans could give this County Magistrate such confidence to recklessly pester him, yet this was all there was.

It was truly like a birthday star eating arsenic—tired of living.

"How is this possible!"

Seeing this, Hong Zhong was greatly shocked, his face filled with terror. This ordinary Demon Exorcist before him had actually held the Official Seal, which was erupting with power, in one hand and calmed it down?

He knew very well that there were only two possibilities for this.

One was that this Demon Exorcist was too powerful and had already reached the Innate Realm, but how could that be? This Demon Exorcist looked so young; even if he were a genius, he would be at most in the True Qi Realm.

Then there was only one possibility.

The person before him was not an ordinary Demon Exorcist; perhaps his official rank was even higher than his own, and the Great Li Official Luck on him was denser, which was why he could easily control the Great Li Official Seal!

Hong Zhong felt some despair; he had been so cautious, yet he still kicked an iron plate? What kind of ghost intelligence was this? Jin Feihai has ruined me!

No! He couldn't die.

He had just taken his ninety-ninth concubine and hadn't reached one hundred yet; how could he die like this? He gritted his teeth, his will to survive incredibly strong, and his shallow internal cultivation began to circulate, his aura becoming imposing. Then... with a thud, he knelt.

He knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Li Heng.

"This subordinate had eyes but failed to recognize a superior; this subordinate deserves to die! But please calm your anger, I have an urgent matter to report, a matter of life and death. Within the Prefecture, someone is targeting the Demon Suppression Division's Second Division Chief, Ma Suxuan."

"As long as you don't kill me, I will tell you everything!"

Hong Zhong's words came out like a machine gun, like a pea shooter.

The patrons nearby were dumbfounded, completely stupefied.

What was this? Was this thing kneeling on the ground and kowtowing incessantly really the Master Hong, County Magistrate Hong, who usually threw his weight around and acted so imposingly? It was truly the first time they had seen this.

Li Heng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this; someone was targeting Ma Suxuan?

No wonder Ma Suxuan had complained that no reinforcements had come from the Prefecture; it was likely related to this matter, and he was now caught in the crossfire.

"Then tell me about it."

"But, sir, look..."

Hong Zhong looked around hesitantly, his meaning very clear.

There were so many idle people around; although he had already revealed some information just now, that was in a moment of desperation to save his life, and now, more confidential information was really not suitable to be spoken here.

Li Heng's thoughts stirred slightly, and his Great Sun Divine Intent flashed.

The crowd of drinkers, including the shopkeeper and the waiter, temporarily fell unconscious to the ground.

"Alright, you may speak."

Hong Zhong was startled at the sight; to make so many people unconscious in an instant, could a True Qi Realm cultivator really accomplish this? Could this Demon Exorcist truly be of the first type, perhaps even at the Innate Realm?

Could it be that he only appeared young because he was some old monster who had regained his youth?

However, he also knew that no matter which possibility it was, since he had already spoken these words, it was like an arrow on a bowstring that had to be released. For the sake of his own life, he had to speak.

It was just that...

"My lord, can you guarantee that you will not kill me?"

"Or, could you take an oath? To ensure that you and the young lady beside you will not harm me in any form? Uh, this oath can be temporary; twelve hours would suffice."

He struggled for a long time before finally spitting out these words.

Although these words sounded somewhat offensive, it was a matter of necessity. Having risen from poverty to his current position as an official, he had experienced many storms and naturally understood these nuances.

A verbal guarantee did not count as a guarantee, and some superficial oaths did not count either. For instance, if someone swore not to harm him, they could still let the person beside them do the harming, so he had to block all loopholes!

Otherwise, he might still die even after speaking.

Not only would he have spoken in vain, but he would also have benefited the enemy for no reason.

Li Heng frowned upon hearing this.

"You make things very difficult for me with talk like this."

Hong Zhong felt a panic in his heart upon hearing this, thinking that this man truly had such intentions, otherwise why say it was difficult? He hurriedly spoke, "It's not difficult, it's not difficult at all, it's just a matter of saying a few words."

"Besides, the oath would only be in effect for twelve hours, it would not impose a lifelong restriction on you, my lord. If you are truly unwilling, it can be shortened to six hours."

He tentatively reduced the time.

Six hours would be enough for him to escape and save his life.

"No, no, it's too difficult; you might as well die."

Li Heng shook his head and pointed a finger, releasing a burst of energy.

It instantly pierced through Hong Zhong's head.

Hong Zhong had intended to continue speaking, but he only felt an endless, intense pain assault his head. He froze for a moment, seeing the blood dripping onto his own hands, then looked at Li Heng opposite him.

Why did he attack? They could have talked things out...

Carrying his confusion, he sank into endless darkness.

"You really don't understand the principle of speaking quickly when you have something to say. I originally intended to spare your life, but since you are so troublesome and fussy, then you might as well die." Li Heng added a few words.

Subsequently, Sun True Fire ignited on Hong Zhong's corpse, burning his body and soul until not even ashes remained; he struck again to ensure the kill, cutting off any chance of resurrection, unless someone could fish a person out of the Time-Space River.

He had already killed one County Magistrate before, so he didn't mind one more. In any case, it was hard to extract information from such "smart people," so it was better to just kill him and save the trouble.

He turned again to look at the unconscious drinkers and the others around him.

Although these people had learned some information they shouldn't have, he would not kill them. His moral bottom line might be flexible, but it was a bottom line nonetheless.

These were, after all, innocent people.

Furthermore, what if others learned this information? What if they later saw this County Magistrate Hong mysteriously disappear, vanish into thin air, and then suspected him?

It would have no impact on him whatsoever.

He never intended to hide it; if he was discovered, he was discovered.

Besides, would they really dare to speak?

They knew information they shouldn't have known.

"Let's go, Kong Que, let's go find this White Wind and play."

Li Heng spoke, beckoning for the silent Kong Que to follow.

He wanted to see what the source of this White Wind really was. If he could resolve it, he would do so while he was at it; if not, he would head directly to the Prefecture to see who exactly dared to target him.

According to this "smart guy Hong," the White Wind originated from White Stone Mountain. The two flew in the air and looked; the surrounding terrain was very flat, with only one large mountain standing in the south.

It was clearly White Stone Mountain.

Well, the distance wasn't far, and it was in the direction of the Prefecture.

That was on the way.

Soon, the two flew to the top of White Stone Mountain.

The White Wind howled at the summit, with no other abnormalities. But in Li Heng's Heavenly Eye vision, not far in front of him, a spatial Rift appeared, and the White Wind was blowing out from it.

Before he could think any further.

Suddenly, a ghost crawled out from within, saw Li Heng and his companion, and froze instantly, staring wide-eyed at Li Heng...