Chapter 29: Demon Slaying Division

"Demon Slaying Division investigating a case!"

"Those who obstruct, behead!"

The two sword-wielding men pushed the door and entered, staring coldly at Lao San, just like two tigers staring at their prey.

Almost instantly, Li Xiang, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, opened his eyes. He felt a strong threat.

Looking up, pale golden Haoran Righteous Qi flowed in his eyes.

The two Demon Slaying Division officials quickly became transparent in his eyes, their meridians were clear at a glance, and their cultivation was all in his eyes.

Confucian Dao Second-Rank Divine Ability 【Breaking Delusion and Preserving Truth】!

In front of the wooden door, the two were exuding a strong blood aura.

More than a dozen strands of essence blood were crisscrossing in their meridians, like two furnaces.

Martial Dao Eighth-Rank, blood and Qi full!

So strong!

These two Demon Slaying Division officials had such strong

This was not the ordinary eighth-rank type like the black bear.

These two fellows had already condensed at least nearly a hundred strands of essence blood, and their Qi and blood were incomparably full!

Their blood Qi was so vigorous that it was almost about to condense into form, reinforcing their entire bodies.

These were martial artists who were only half a step away from entering the seventh rank; they were simply invincible existences within the eighth rank.

They were almost identical to Li Xiang wearing the Kasaya!

And because of their combat experience, they might even be stronger.

"Are you Li Ping'an?"

The two looked at Lao San, their eyes slightly unkind.

Shen Lian even had his left hand already resting on his scabbard.

"I... I am."

Being stared at by these two, Lao San also felt his scalp tingle.

"By order of Garrison Commander Lu, we are thoroughly investigating the case of the shattered Demon Suppression Bell in Shihe Village."

"Li Ping'an, I will ask, and you will answer."

"If there is a single lie, you will be executed on the spot."

Shen Lian drew his sword, the gleaming Xiuchun Blade hurting people's eyes.

Execute first and report later—what an overbearing Demon Slaying Division!

"Yesterday at the third quarter of the Mao hour, demons gathered to attack the village, and the Demon Suppression Bell rang three times before shattering. Where were you at that time?"

Shen Lian's gaze was cold, his eyes scanning Lao San's body repeatedly, as if trying to see through every flaw.

"Reporting to the lord, yesterday at the Mao hour, I was driving a cart on the official road back to the village."

"Do you have any witnesses?"

"Reporting to the lord, the mountain road is steep and sparsely populated; there was only myself and a donkey on the road. My lord, does... does a donkey count?"

"Presumptuous!"

The long sword shook the air, and a wave of energy shattered the wooden table nearby.

"Dare to speak nonsense again, and you will be executed on the spot!"

Hee-haw~ hee-haw~

The donkey at the door was frightened and began to bray in panic.

Shen Lian frowned.

"Village Chief Zhang Wuyan, the day before yesterday, you traveled with Yan Xiu to Chiyang County. You should have returned the same day, yet only Yan Xiu returned when it was dark."

"I ask you, why did you enter the city, and for what purpose? And why did you travel with Yan Xiu?"

"Reporting to the lord, the baby was sick, so I went to the city to buy some medicine for the child."

Hmph!

Shen Lian glanced at the dilapidated thatched cottage and sneered.

"Medicine?"

"Full of lies, you are truly courting death!"

"According to the Demon Slaying Division records, after you entered the city, you went to the Silver Shop in the south of the city, and subsequently to the Tongxing Rice Shop, the Maochen Medicine Shop, and a General Store, purchasing a large amount of rice and flour, some medicine to nourish Qi and blood, and a set of Four Treasures of the Study worth three hundred big coins."

"You are destitute; where did you get so much money to buy these things!"

Cold light flickered in Shen Lian's eyes, and the Xiuchun Blade in his hand was ready to see blood at any moment.

Instantly!

Two sharp glints flashed in Li Xiang's eyes; if there was the slightest carelessness, he was prepared to strike.

Although these two were eighth-rank martial artists, if he could seize the initiative and kill one of them first, there might be a chance of winning.

"What a fierce brat!"

As if sensing Li Xiang's gaze, Shen Lian looked over abruptly.

Their gazes locked, and the cold light in Shen Lian's eyes deepened.

"My lord!"

"My lord! It is this humble commoner, this humble commoner lied!"

"The day before yesterday, I luckily found a few pieces of broken silver in the field, so I thought of taking them to the city to melt them down and buy some food. The harvest this year was not good, and I was afraid the child and his mother would go hungry."

"The child just started school this year, studying under Mr. Su at the Hengqu School in the village, so I bought him a set of the Four Treasures of the Study."

"Found silver?"

"I think it was given by demons!"

Just as Shen Lian's words fell, the other person was already standing behind Lao San, the two completely sealing off any possibility of his escape.

"Do you know that Yan Xiu, who traveled with you, is now dead!"

"The day before yesterday, you two traveled together, yet only Yan Xiu returned. He told everyone that you two encountered demons on the road, that you were abducted by demons, and that he barely escaped with his life. Therefore, the Village Chief took half the men in the village up the mountain the next day to look for you, and ordered Yan Xiu to take the token to Chiyang County to report to the officials."

"However, Yan Xiu acted recklessly with the token, deceived the villagers, and ordered the remaining villagers to continue searching for you on the mountain, causing Shihe Village's defenses to slacken, which the demons took advantage of!"

"Now Yan Xiu is dead, and it has been verified that he was a demon in human form; among the demons attacking the village, his corpse was found!"

"Speak! What kind of deal did you make with the demons!"

The blade light was like snow, biting and cold.

"My lord! My lord, please see the truth!"

"This silver was really found by me! It was in my field; the hole I dug is still there. If you don't believe me, you can go and take a..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Shen Lian.

"Yichuan, examine his body!"

"Right!"

As the words fell, Jin Yichuan took a round copper mirror from his bosom.

This mirror was mysterious, branded with many mysterious runes, and looked like a magic treasure of the Demon Slaying Division.

Supporting the treasure mirror with his right hand, he bit his thumb, and a strand of crimson essence blood seeped from the wound.

The essence blood dripped onto the copper mirror, and the next moment the mirror shone brightly, illuminating the entire room like a small sun.

Jin Yichuan picked up the treasure mirror and shone it toward Lao San.

"Monster! Under the Demon Revealing Mirror, hurry up and reveal your true form!"

Scorching light erupted, as if to suppress all evil.

This was a magic treasure of the Demon Slaying Division, using the most yang and rigid martial blood Qi as a sacrifice to draw out the Great Sun power refined within, breaking through evil disguises and suppressing demons from all directions.

It is rumored that in the Demon Slaying Division of the Great Liang capital, there is a true Demon-Slaying Mirror treasure hanging in front of the Liang Kingdom's royal palace; any passing immortals, Buddhas, demons, or evil spirits have nowhere to hide under this magic treasure.

If any evil spirit dares to sneak into the royal palace, those below the third rank are all suppressed and killed!

Although what Jin Yichuan was holding was only a replica, it was enough to see through the disguises of demons below the sixth rank.

Under the scorching light, Lao San blinked hard.

It seemed the light was too dazzling, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.

But as for other things—no demonic Qi steaming, no evil spirits fleeing—none of that happened at all.

It was as if he were truly just a mortal.

"Huh?"

Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan both frowned.

They had originally thought that this Lao San, like Yan Xiu, was a demon in human form who had sneaked into the village.

Yet they did not expect that this fellow was really just a mortal.

How strange.

"My... my lord?"

"I really didn't lie; that silver was really found in the ground."

The two sheathed their swords and stared at Lao San for a moment.

"Li Ping'an, although you are not a demon."

"But this case is significantly related to you, because searching for you on the mountain left Shihe Village's internal defenses empty, allowing the demons to take advantage of the situation."

"The Demon Suppression Bell of Shihe Village is shattered, and this matter must have an explanation."

"Trouble yourself to come with us, and let Garrison Commander Lu decide."

After saying this, the two did not wait for Lao San to reply and stood on his left and right.

One on each side, they forcibly dragged him toward the outside.

The shattering of Shihe Village's Demon Suppression Bell and the appearance of shadows of a suspected Beast-Making Technique meant the Demon Slaying Division could not afford not to take it seriously.

This case was highly likely to be linked to a heavy treasure stolen from the Nether Sect a hundred years ago; any person or object related to it had to be reported in detail.

Li Ping'an was involved with demons, so he would likely be escorted to the prefecture city and asked a Righteous Scholar above the fifth rank to verify his identity.

On the bed.

Li Xiang watched the two drag his father away, forcing himself not to strike.

He immediately dressed neatly.

He pushed the door open and headed toward the Hengqu School.

(End of chapter)