Li Feng is dead?

Li Feng's display completely stunned everyone.

Of the four captains in the Demon Hunting Office, only Chu Jiang was below the Seventh Stage of Body Refinement.

Yet, he had effortlessly defeated Liu Guangwu, who, despite being newly appointed, was the second strongest among the four captains.

Everyone present felt their worldview shattering; a lazy, good-for-nothing scoundrel was actually the strongest of the four captains.

"This..."

Ma Han was the most shocked; he knew his lord's strength better than anyone.

He was in the Blood Refining Stage, and with his minor mastery of the Demon Suppressing Blade, he could fight those in the middle three stages of Body Refinement.

Defeating someone in the latter three stages was almost impossible.

Let alone doing it so easily and casually, with just one finger.

It seemed his lord had been hiding his strength, deliberately posing as weaker.

If Liu Guangwu hadn't gone mad, they probably would never have seen Lord Chu's true power.

"Ah..."

Liu Guangwu cried out in frustration, unable to accept it. Chu Jiang's casual gesture was unbearable for him.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

But then he remembered his sister was still in their hands, and Liu Guangwu's eyes turned red. Even knowing he was outmatched, he desperately swung his fists and charged forward.

Chu Jiang slapped him, sending Liu Guangwu crashing to the ground.

"If you really want to find your sister, what's the point of fighting me here? If I kill you, what happens to your sister, you idiot!"

"You!"

Liu Guangwu froze. He had indeed acted impulsively. Regardless of Chu Jiang's reasons for hiding his strength, if he had truly intended to kill him.

His sister would truly have no hope.

Just then, a bailiff in official uniform hurried in from outside. He stopped before them, first bowed, and then respectfully said, "Lord Liu, Lord Chu, Assistant Magistrate Liu just sent word asking for both of you to come to the county office immediately!"

Liu Guangwu's expression brightened; it seemed his godfather knew about this.

Chu Jiang raised an eyebrow but quickly regained his composure, replying, "Alright, I'll be right there!"

With such a commotion, it was hard not to attract the attention of those in the county office.

The county office had four centers of power.

The County Magistrate, who held supreme military and administrative power over the entire county.

The Assistant Magistrate, who assisted the County Magistrate in managing all county affairs and was in charge of finances and grain.

The Warden, who was responsible for criminal justice and non-demon-related apprehension work.

And the Head of the Demon Hunting Office, who specialized in demon affairs. Although his rank was lower, his actual power was no less than the other three.

Any one of these four could make Baishi County tremble with a mere stomp of their foot.

The two arrived at Assistant Magistrate Liu's location and found two other people already there: the other two captains from the Demon Hunting Office, Li Ding and Sun Dagang.

"Your subordinate greets the Assistant Magistrate!"

Chu Jiang and Liu Guangwu bowed in turn. Due to the special status of the Demon Hunting Office within the county government, they didn't need to kneel even before the County Magistrate; a simple clasp of their hands was sufficient.

"Liu Guangwu, you've got some nerve today, directly beheading a bailiff from the Demon Hunting Office and causing a brawl there. You've completely disgraced the government!"

"Do you think no one can control you just because Li Feng isn't here? Acting so recklessly is simply lawless!" Assistant Magistrate Liu was furious, his face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead, like a righteous and upright official.

"If only you put this much effort into fighting demons, I'd be pleased."

Liu Guangwu immediately became anxious and quickly said, "Assistant Magistrate! It was Chu Jiang who ordered Zhang Liancai to abduct my sister. Otherwise, none of these things would have happened!"

He couldn't understand why. His godfather had always treated him well. He thought that at this moment, his godfather would step forward to reprimand Chu Jiang, but instead, he was being thoroughly scolded. What was the logic behind this?

"Silence!"

"Do you have proof? Did you personally see Captain Chu abduct your sister, or did you personally see Zhang Liancai abduct her?"

"Making baseless accusations and then flying into a rage, killing a government official, is truly foolish!"

"Who gave you the courage, huh..."

Assistant Magistrate Liu erupted in anger again, slamming his teacup heavily onto the ground, splashing everywhere. His usually stern face was now terrifyingly grim.

"The court has its laws. If everyone acted like you, killing people without trial, the world would descend into chaos."

"For killing an official without authorization today, by law, you should be thrown into the prison!"

Liu Guangwu was so berated he didn't dare to breathe, cold sweat pouring down his face. This time, he had truly let his anger get the better of him, without considering the consequences.

Assistant Magistrate Liu suddenly changed the subject, looking at Chu Jiang, "Wouldn't you agree, Captain Chu?"

Chu Jiang smiled, surprised to walk into such a dramatic scene.

Those who can become high-ranking officials in the county office are indeed not simple individuals.

While seemingly scolding Liu Guangwu, he was actually protecting him.

"Captain Liu was also anxious to find his sister, which led him to make such a grave mistake. Sentencing him to prison is a bit too harsh," Chu Jiang said.

"After the Assistant Magistrate's guidance, I'm sure he understands the consequences and the importance of the imperial laws. He certainly won't dare to offend again!"

Assistant Magistrate Liu seemed very pleased with Chu Jiang's response. He smiled at Liu Guangwu and said, "Aren't you going to thank Captain Chu for his leniency? If he weren't so magnanimous and didn't hold a grudge against you, you wouldn't be alive!"

Liu Guangwu didn't understand what was happening with his adoptive father. Why did he sound a bit wary of Chu Jiang? His sister still hadn't been found, and he had to apologize to Chu Jiang.

This made him feel deeply humiliated, but he couldn't disobey his adoptive father.

"Thank you... Brother Chu, for your magnanimity!"

He gritted his teeth with every word, feeling both ashamed and indignant.

After saying those words, he felt his whole body go limp, his spirit flagging slightly.

Liu Ding and Sun Dagang also frowned. The Assistant Magistrate was known for being protective of his own, yet today he was being so pleasant to the instigator, Chu Jiang.

They knew Chu Jiang had a special connection with demons, but compared to the four top officials of the county yamen, he was in a different league.

Who the spokesperson was ultimately a decision made by the Assistant Magistrate and the others.

If they didn't like the spokesperson or if there were signs of backlash, they could just kill him and find another. Why treat him with such courtesy?

Could Chu Jiang have some mysterious identity they didn't know about?

Assistant Magistrate Liu ignored Liu Guangwu's fatigue and continued, "Actually, I've called you here today to announce something important."

"If not for the brawl that happened at the Demon Hunting Office today, I would have announced this first."

"May I ask what the Assistant Magistrate is referring to?" Liu Ding looked at Assistant Magistrate Liu. Summoning the four captains of the Demon Hunting Office, one could guess it was a major event.

"Could it be that the demons are invading in large numbers?"

Li Dagang's face turned pale. If the demons were truly invading, their Demon Hunting Office, with only a hundred or so people, would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Chu Jiang's eyes lit up. If that were the case, he'd be set.

Others feared demons, but he didn't.

Normally, these demons hid in the deep mountains and old forests, only coming out to hunt for food, making them rarely seen.

Every time, it was the demons who sought out the original host, and the original host would lead them to their meal.

"That's not it. If the demons were truly invading in large numbers, the imperial court would definitely send powerful reinforcements, which is something the nearby major demons wouldn't want to see."

Assistant Magistrate Liu paused for a moment before continuing, "Have you noticed that the Head of your Demon Hunting Office, Li Feng, hasn't been seen for some days?"

"It's been almost half a month."

Chu Jiang also sensed something was off. Usually, when Li Feng went out on business, he would return within three days at most. This time was indeed rather unusual.

Assistant Magistrate Liu sighed.

"He's dead!"