Demon Core

With a flick of his warblade, Lin Baichuan cut open the Blood Demon's corpse and picked out a thumb-sized bead. Crimson as blood, demonic qi billowed from it, its chill biting to the bone, while an overwhelmingly rich stench of blood wafted out.

This was a Demon Core, just like a Demon Core—it was the essence of the Blood Demon's entire body condensed into one.

In this world, demons and monsters were merely a collective term. More specifically, they were divided into races such as demons, devils, spirits, monsters, ghosts, and the like. Blood Demons belonged to the earth demon lineage and generally lived within the Underground Abyss, rarely appearing on the surface.

That was because the passages leading from the Underground Abyss to the surface had all been sealed, with great armies stationed there as guards.

The earth demons within the Underground Abyss simply could not get out. For that very reason, earth demon Demon Cores were exceedingly precious, worth even more than Demon Cores of the same tier.

This Soldier Tier 3 Demon Core could be exchanged for at least 350 Contribution Points in the Demon Suppression Division, making it considerably more valuable than the Mountain Fiend's Demon Core from before.

After picking out the Demon Core, Lin Baichuan immediately used his warblade to carve out a piece of stone. Once he had fashioned a simple stone bottle, he placed the Demon Core inside, made a feint, and slipped it into his Space Ring.

"Lin Baichuan, you're ruthless... This won't be the end of it. I'll report this to Captain Song. You'd better watch yourself."

Li Da glared viciously at Lin Baichuan, his face full of resentment.

Especially after seeing Lin Baichuan pocket the Blood Demon's Demon Core as well, his expression turned even uglier.

This time, he had suffered a devastating loss. Niu Zhenye and the other two were dead, and his own foundation had been damaged. His path forward might even be severed in the future. Yet Lin Baichuan had made a killing—a Soldier Tier 3 Demon Core and a Soldier Tier 3 Demon Core, worth six or seven hundred Contribution Points combined. That was more than he had earned from over half a year of missions before.

"Captain, it's truly regrettable that you would say something like that."

Lin Baichuan glanced at Li Da and gave a cold laugh. "I originally thought you were a smart man. Now it seems you're nothing much after all."

"You..."

Li Da's expression darkened further, his face flushing crimson as his teeth ground together. He wanted nothing more than to swallow Lin Baichuan alive.

"Enough. This isn't the time for infighting. We should return to Yunshan County first!"

With a wave of her hand, Qin Qing interrupted the confrontation between Li Da and Lin Baichuan. "This Demon Calamity in Yunshan County should have been caused by these two demons. But... there was a ninety-percent chance that the Blood Demon had been raised by someone. We need to drag out the person behind it..."

Li Da was unwilling, but he also knew that he could do nothing to Lin Baichuan now. Moreover, he was severely injured and urgently needed to return for treatment. Otherwise, it would no longer be as simple as damage to his foundation—his life could be at risk.

As for Lin Baichuan, there would be plenty of chances in the future.

Does he really think that having a little talent means he can do whatever he wants? I'll make him understand that in the Demon Suppression Division, talent alone isn't enough.

Li Da gritted his teeth, secretly swearing that he would find an opportunity to kill Lin Baichuan. Otherwise, he could never soothe the hatred in his heart.

After casting Li Da an impassive glance, Lin Baichuan turned to Qin Qing and asked, "Young Miss Qin, who do you think raised this Blood Demon?"

"I don't know!"

Qin Qing shook her head, then sneered. "But I believe County Magistrate Liang Youtian must know."

"You want to go straight to Liang Youtian? What if he refuses to admit it?" Lin Baichuan frowned slightly.

"Then it won't be up to him."

Qin Qing snorted coldly, her expression icy and her face filled with murderous intent.

At that moment, after the Blood Demon had been slain by Lin Baichuan, the rolling dense fog began to disperse bit by bit. About the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the fog had completely vanished, revealing the village's original appearance.

After Lin Baichuan and the other two cremated the bodies of Niu Zhenye and the others, they hastily made three urns from wood and carried them back to Yunshan County together.

Seven had come, but only three returned.

Three were dead, one was gravely wounded, and one had vanished.

Ying Que's body had not been found, so Lin Baichuan and the others were uncertain whether he was dead or alive. Qin Qing and Li Da believed Ying Que was certainly dead, but Lin Baichuan did not think so. He knew that Ying Que had concealed his strength. That sly fox was powerful, at the very least no weaker than Li Da or Qin Qing.

For that very reason, Lin Baichuan became much more vigilant.

An Intelligence Officer concealing such strength was abnormal in itself. Lin Baichuan suspected that there was something wrong with Ying Que, but lacking evidence, he could not expose it. He merely remained watchful in secret, waiting for the future.

After the three of them returned silently to Yunshan County, Li Da immediately announced that he was entering seclusion.

His injuries were severe; he was barely hanging on to half his life. If he did not seek treatment now, he would surely be left with lasting damage. That was not something he wished to see.

He had fallen this time, but that did not mean he lacked the means to rise again.

Only after recovering from his injuries would he have the strength and energy to properly contend with Lin Baichuan.

Meanwhile!

Lin Baichuan turned his gaze toward Qin Qing and asked in a deep voice, "Young Miss Qin, what do you plan to do?"

"What else can we do? Naturally, we'll go straight to the county office."

Qin Qing was briefly taken aback, then immediately shook her head. "We'll find Liang Youtian and question him face-to-face. Let's see how he explains himself."

"Now?"

Lin Baichuan was stunned for a moment, then nodded slightly. Qin Qing had said before that she would go directly to Liang Youtian, so he was not surprised that she intended to charge over now. But he also knew that if the Blood Demon truly was connected to Liang Youtian, that old man would certainly refuse to admit it.

If Qin Qing meant to use force, then a fierce battle was likely unavoidable.

"Let's go..."

Qin Qing looked at Lin Baichuan and said in a deep voice, "If this matter truly has anything to do with Liang Youtian, there may be another battle tonight. Be careful later."

"Understood!"

Lin Baichuan nodded slightly. Naturally, he knew the gravity of the situation.

Then the two of them left the courtyard once more and headed straight for the county office.

But to Lin Baichuan and Qin Qing's surprise, the county yamen was actually brightly lit at this hour. Rather than entering through the main gate, they vaulted over the side wall and headed straight for the rear courtyard where Liang Youtian lived.

Their path was completely unimpeded. The yamen's constables were all ordinary people; ninety-nine percent of them had not even entered the martial ranks. With such strength, they naturally had no way of detecting Lin Baichuan and Qin Qing's tracks.

Thus, as though strolling through their own back garden, they quickly reached the rear courtyard.

Yet what the two of them never expected was that Liang Youtian seemed to know they were coming. He was actually waiting for them in the main hall of the rear courtyard.

"Since you have come, why not enter and have a chat?"

Liang Youtian's expression was calm as he looked at Lin Baichuan and Qin Qing outside the hall. In a low voice, he said, "Liang has been awaiting you for quite some time..."

Lin Baichuan and Qin Qing exchanged an impassive glance. Their gazes sharpened, a flash of brilliance glinting in their pupils, and they walked into the hall almost at the same time. They intended to see just what medicine Liang Youtian was selling in his gourd.