Jia Kuiren himself did not particularly like this colleague.
The other man's evil deeds were truly too numerous to write down, even on bamboo slips.
On top of that, the man's strength was indeed formidable, and Jia Kuiren had no way to deal with him.
However, now that the man had fallen into Lu Jun's hands, Jia Kuiren had no choice but to strictly follow Lu Jun's orders.
They had said he would be slowly sliced to death. They had said a hundred cuts.
Jia Kuiren delivered all one hundred cuts, not one fewer, and throughout the entire torture, he did his best to keep Zhang San conscious.
Only afterward did he finally allow the man to end his life amid excruciating pain and utter misery.
When it was over, Jia Kuiren bowed deeply to the surrounding onlookers before finally returning to the yamen.
Only after Jia Kuiren and Li Tuo had completely entered the building
did the villagers gathered nearby dare to approach and inspect Zhang San's corpse. Not a single patch of good flesh remained on his body; blood ran everywhere, and he looked downright terrifying. Even so, most people still felt that justice had been served.
The crowd gathered around Zhang San's corpse, continuing to chatter without end.
"Although that Zhang fellow did plenty of wicked things usually, but this... wasn't his death a little too gruesome?"
"Gruesome? You must never have been tormented by Zhang the Skinflayer!"
"Exactly. He got what he deserved!"
"Who do you think that impressive young man was?"
"He was obviously a Demon Slayer Envoy. He was probably a superior sent from above. Didn't you see how even Master Jia was a little afraid of him?"
"That young man's presence was terrifying. When I looked into his eyes, my legs were shaking like reeds..."
"Sigh, I just wonder whether he's another sort like Zhang the Skinflayer..."
Before that person could finish speaking, he was suddenly interrupted by a charming yet somewhat stubborn voice. "He definitely isn't!"
The speaker was the Shen family's young lady, Shen Lingying, whom Lu Jun had rescued just last night.
"Oh? Miss Shen, you know that young man?"
A trace of awkwardness flashed across Shen Lingying's face. "N-no... I don't know him. He's from some great place. How could I know him?"
By the end, Shen Lingying's voice had grown softer and softer.
"Tsk, tsk. I have to say, that lord is far too young, and handsome too. If only he took a liking to my girl..."
"Uncle Zhu, don't joke around here. Your girl was someone Zhang the Skinflayer had wanted to offer to the demons. Even the demon took one look at her and said she was tiresome. If the demon didn't want her, how could a young prodigy like that possibly fancy her?"
The broad and burly middle-aged man known as Uncle Zhu immediately flew into a rage and reached out to hit the speaker. "Nonsense! My daughter is blessed!"
"That's right, blessed, blessed!"
The surrounding crowd continued to tease him.
"If you ask me, only the Shen family's girl is barely worthy of that young man!"
"Exactly! If they're going to match, their looks have to match too!"
"Uncles, aunties... what are you talking about?"
With her face flushed crimson, Shen Lingying ran toward her home.
At that moment, inside the Demon Slaying Division's yamen,
Lu Jun was reclining in a rocking chair with both feet propped on the table. He looked at Jia Kuiren beside him and spoke.
"Tell me carefully. What's the situation in Qingci Town?"
Jia Kuiren let out a sigh.
"Sigh. For some unknown reason, Evil Flood Dragon Ravine in the mountains behind Qingci Town successfully gave birth to a Black Flood Dragon Demon."
"The demon's cultivation and strength are extremely powerful. It is a Demon King."
At this point, Lu Jun turned to ask Li Tuo beside him, "What is a Demon King?"
"..."
Li Tuo froze for a moment before suddenly realizing that Lu Jun had joined the Demon Slaying Division too recently and did not know basic common knowledge.
He hurriedly explained, "Demon King is one of the classifications we use for demon strength."
"It is like the realms of us Law Seekers: the first realm, Realm of Pervaded Acupoints; the second realm, Realm of Heavenly Cycle; the third realm, Realm of Spirit Sea; the fourth realm, Realm of Dharma Aspect; the fifth realm, Realm of Spirit Roaming; and the sixth realm, Realm of Heaven and Man."
"The corresponding demon realms are the first realm, Lesser Demon; the second realm, Greater Demon; the third realm, Demon General; the fourth realm, Demon King; the fifth realm, Demon Venerable; and the sixth realm, Demon Emperor."
"A Demon King is equivalent to our Realm of Dharma Aspect, with strength roughly on par with a Golden Robe Envoy..." Li Tuo explained.
"Demons have realms too..." Lu Jun was instead a little surprised.
No one had previously told him about these clearly defined demon realms.
Besides, killing demons had always been a matter of one slash for him, so he had never distinguished between the strengths of those demons.
Lu Jun suddenly understood. No wonder the Demon Essence he obtained from killing different demons was different. So that was where the distinction lay.
Jia Kuiren's expression turned slightly ugly.
No, big brother, are you saying you don't even know what level of demon a Demon King is?
No wonder you're not panicking at all.
So you really know nothing and are acting like a newborn calf that isn't afraid of tigers?
At that thought, Jia Kuiren raised his eyes toward Li Tuo, his gaze complicated.
Li Tuo also felt awkward under his stare and quietly explained, "Brother Lu only officially became a Bronze Robe Envoy the day before yesterday..."
It's over... It's over...
Jia Kuiren wore an expression of despair.
What on earth were those three Golden Robe Envoys of Yun Province thinking?
Why had they given him a Golden Holder Token?
Lu Jun, however, was completely unconcerned. He said to Jia Kuiren, "Don't stop. Continue."
Jia Kuiren sighed. Thinking of this butcher's methods, he did not dare refuse to answer and could only continue.
"The Black Flood Dragon in Evil Flood Dragon Ravine calls itself Master Chen the Flood Dragon. It established a demon lair there, and nearly all the tens of thousands of demons throughout Yun Province have joined its banner. It also has eight Demon Generals under its command."
"Moreover, all the birds, beasts, insects, and fish in the mountains and forests are under this Evil Flood Dragon's control. Its eyes and ears are spread throughout the entire region, cutting off our escape from Qinghe County and severing our ability to report the situation to the outside world."
"The territory it controls mainly consists of the surrounding Qinghe County. The eight townships under Qinghe County are each ruled by one of Master Chen the Flood Dragon's eight Demon Generals. Qingci Town belongs to Qinghe County and is controlled and enslaved by White Ape General, one of the eight Demon Generals."
At this point, Jia Kuiren let out a hollow sigh. "This White Ape General comes down from the mountains once a month to Qingci Town and holds a grand ritual called the White Ape Sacrifice, making the villagers worship it. It also selects dozens of villagers as blood food and takes them away."
"And this month's White Ape Festival is in two days."
Lu Jun raised his brows. "So that monkey will come down in two days... Convenient. Then I won't have to go up the mountain and look for it myself."
Jia Kuiren was speechless.
That's a Demon General!
Though it can't compare to a Demon King, its strength is still extraordinarily formidable.
What do you mean, you won't have to go looking for it yourself...?
Jia Kuiren sighed inwardly.
He had originally thought that Lu Jun, holding a Golden Holder Token, would at least be a reliable person.
But what had happened? He did not understand basic common sense and acted impulsively...
However, Lu Jun had been sent by those above, and Jia Kuiren was no match for him.
So Jia Kuiren still said, "Lord Lu, before you came this time, I had already made preparations in advance."
"This White Ape General is the most ordinary in strength among Master Chen the Flood Dragon's subordinates, and I no longer wish to remain oppressed like this."
"So over these days, I have gradually contacted some Rogue Cultivator Law Seekers and martial artists in town. I planned to use this White Ape Festival as an opportunity to join forces with the other Rogue Cultivator Law Seekers and kill this old white ape. Then, before Master Chen the Flood Dragon could react, we would quickly flee to the neighboring county."
"First, we would send out information about the situation throughout Qinghe County, striving to get the news into the hands of Yun Province's Demon Slaying Division and seek reinforcements."
Lu Jun frowned. "Have you never considered what would happen to the tens of millions of common people here even if you managed to escape?"
Jia Kuiren said solemnly, "I have. The enraged demons would slaughter them to the last."
"But, as you said, Lord Lu, rather than remain penned-up cattle and sheep for the rest of our lives, it is better to use countless lives to fight for a path to survival and win a future for our descendants."
With that, Jia Kuiren immediately prostrated himself. "Lord Lu, your strength is the greatest among us. I hope that when the time comes, you can do everything in your power to escape this demon lair and report the situation to the Demon Slaying Division!"
"I will use this worthless, sinful life of mine to hold back everything I can for you!"
"This is also the only thing a useless man like me can do."
Lu Jun gazed at the prostrate Jia Kuiren before him for a long while. At last, he rose to his feet.
He tossed out a single, quiet sentence.
"When heaven tilts, there is still a lofty one to hold it up for everyone, bearing it all with a single strength!"
"Today, I am the greatest among everyone. I shall be the one to hold up heaven for all!"
"With me here, no one in this place will die again."
"Since you are an ordinary man, then, like everyone else, quietly watch."
With that, Lu Jun left the room.
Li Tuo hurriedly followed.
Jia Kuiren remained prostrate, forehead to the ground, holding that position for a long time. His head hung low, and his teeth chattered softly.
Before you continue