Chapter 649: The Killing Demon (11/20, Autumn Subscription)

While Fang Yue and the young mistress were enjoying their peace.

The storm of the 【Killing Demon】 murders had just begun to rage in 【Chunuan City】.

【Chunuan City】 had not seen such a brutal case in a long time, especially when it involved a 【Fourth-Rank Blue Guard】 and a 【Green Clothing】; both the 【Green Office】 and the 【Blue Orchid】 were startled and dispatched personnel to investigate.

The entire incident spread like wildfire through 【Chunuan City】.

In a single night, two merchant caravans were completely annihilated—with near-total slaughter!

This modus operandi rivals the strange case previously seen in 【Dayang Fu】.

Personnel were quickly dispatched in layers to carry out investigations, evidence collection, and other procedures.

The vile impact forged the 【Killing Demon】's fearsome reputation.

Through the gossip of curious citizens in 【Chunuan City】, the 【Killing Demon】 became a vivid figure—a mad demon who killed anyone he saw, and every strike ended in total massacre, leaving not a single survivor.

No one dared provoke such a fierce person.

Those who had already provoked him were now corpses.

During the investigation, both the 【Green Office】 and the 【Blue Orchid】 zeroed in on 【Dayang Fu】, where Fang Yue resided.

But such internal feuds among merchant caravans within the 【Heavenly Merchant Alliance】 were nothing new to either the 【Green Office】 or the 【Blue Orchid】.

They followed procedure, and as expected, the accused denied everything—even with irrefutable evidence, they still lied with open eyes.

But this time, a 【Green Clothing】 and a 【Fourth-Rank Blue Guard】 were dead—these were government personnel, and the nature of the case was entirely different.

Otherwise, they would turn a blind eye; without external pressure, the 【Green Office】 and the 【Blue Orchid】 usually treated such matters as none of their business, refusing to investigate further.

Because behind such incidents often lay complex relationships and power struggles.

In this territory dominated by the 【Heavenly Merchant Alliance】, the 【Green Office】 and the 【Blue Orchid】 merely swept their own doorsteps clean.

If the incident occurred during the day, it fell within their duties—they stood on the same side as the 【Heavenly Merchant Alliance】, so they could investigate strictly, even detain and execute suspects on the street, all perfectly acceptable.

But if the incident occurred at night, and they came to settle accounts later, there was an unwritten rule: unless someone pursued it or there was a special reason, they generally did not press charges further.

But now the 【Green Office】 and the 【Blue Orchid】 had lost key personnel—right in the middle of a special reason—and this touched their authority, so the case must be investigated thoroughly.

"You want a thorough investigation? Fine. I killed them. When they killed my father and destroyed 【Dayang Fu】, you didn't lift a finger. Now I've taken revenge myself—and succeeded. Are you going to arrest me for it? If this gets publicized, you won't be able to justify it. Besides, 【Qing Guo】 supports blood revenge!"

The young mistress faced the 【Green Clothing Green Guard】 and the 【Fourth-Rank Blue Guard】 without fear or flattery.

"... Yang Hongxia, no one stops you from seeking blood revenge, but you caused the deaths of two government personnel—what punishment do you deserve?"

"They were trying to protect those two merchant caravans and kill me. Was I supposed to stand there and let them kill me? Naturally, I eliminated them first."

"Very well. Since you admit your crimes, come with us."

The young mistress frowned, about to speak, when a Green Guard violently seized her wrist.

"Young mistress?!"

The servants cried out and rushed forward, when a gust of green wind swept past.

"Let her go!"

The next instant, the Green Guard screamed in pain and released the young mistress's wrist.

At the same time, a figure stood before them all.

Everyone stared—and it was unmistakably the 【Killing Demon】, Ye Niuniu!

The Green Clothing Green Guard's expression brightened.

"The 【Killing Demon】 finally showed himself! We knew all along you were the killer—Yang Hongxia couldn't possibly have done it!"

"Ye Niuniu, the 【Killing Demon】, surrender at once! Confess voluntarily, and we may reduce your sentence and spare the entire 【Dayang Fu】!"

Fang Yue raised an eyebrow: "Fine. I don't change my name or my ways—I am the 【Killing Demon】, Ye Niuniu. You may call me Lord Niu Niu."

The young mistress's face changed; she pulled Fang Yue behind her and whispered urgently: "Lord Ye, don't confess! If you admit guilt, you can never clear your name. I have the blood-revenge exemption law—you have nothing. You'll be locked up for real! Once inside the prison, it's their domain—they control everything!"

The young mistress probably wanted to mention forced confessions through torture, but in truth, Fang Yue understood the 【Green Office】's procedures better than she did.

Because he was born into the 【Green Office】, and even now, he still held the rank of White Robe!

"Don't panic. Leave it to me."

Hearing Fang Yue say this, remembering his reliable conduct throughout their journey, the young mistress felt slightly reassured.

As long as she claimed blood revenge, the worst they could do was detain her for a while—they couldn't truly harm her!

But if Fang Yue went in, he was finished. The 【Green Office】 and the 【Blue Orchid】 would devise ten thousand ways to make him truly confess and execute him publicly.

The young mistress would not allow that to happen, but she had no good solution—she could only offer to take the blame herself.

She watched Fang Yue's back curiously, wondering how he would resolve this.

Yet what she hadn't anticipated was...

"You're right. I alone killed the 【Wolf Green Clothing】 and the 【Fourth-Rank Blue Guard】. 【Dayang Fu】 has nothing to do with it."

What?!

After a moment of shock, the young mistress moved to speak—but Fang Yue silenced her with a single glance.

Could he... have some way to turn this around?

To openly admit killing the 【Wolf Green Clothing】 and the 【Fourth-Rank Blue Guard】 meant angering both major government factions—how could he possibly recover?

"Good! You're a man. Put on the iron shackles yourself and come with us."

"Don't worry. Killing our officials, we'll give you a quick death. As for 【Dayang Fu】 and your beloved, they won't be touched."

Beloved?

Though inappropriate, the young mistress's heart pounded at the word. She nervously glanced at Fang Yue—but he showed no reaction, merely gazing calmly at the Green Guards and Blue Guards.

"Wait. I did kill the 【Wolf Green Clothing】 and the 【Fourth-Rank Blue Guard】, but do you know why?"

"That's simple—you killed them for your young mistress, lost your head over her."

"Even the fiercest demon falls for beauty. 【Killing Demon】, even if you're monstrous, this weakness makes you harmless."

The Green Guards and Blue Guards sneered or mocked—but the young mistress felt a strange flutter in her chest; somehow, these fearsome monsters seemed... almost endearing?

Fang Yue had no idea he was about to engage in a battle of wits, while the young lady behind him was playing the naive innocent.

Fang Yue spoke in a low voice: "I killed Lang Qingyi because Lang Qingyi is a mole planted by the Phoenix Organization within the Blue Corps! I killed the Fourth-Rank Blue Guard because the Fourth-Rank Blue Guard embezzled, took bribes, and abused his authority!"

Both are corrupt elements within the Blue Corps and Blue Shan—I have rid the Blue Corps and Blue Shan of vermin; I should not be punished, but rewarded!"

(End of Chapter)