Slaying the Rat Demon

"Rat demon! Why did you attack Demon Slayer Envoy Wen Xuan?"

"Why waste your breath on a dying demon? I told you it was for survival. Do you believe me?"

"Then what was your reason?"

Looking at the rat demon bound to the execution rack by the Demon Binding Rope, Fang Mu frowned.

This rat demon was a monster captured by Wen Xuan's demon-catching pouch.

The demons inside the demon-catching pouch were far more dangerous than those bound to the execution rack.

After returning to the Demon Slayer Division, Fang Mu had applied for an empty prison cell. Only after obtaining the Demon Binding Rope did he dare release the rat demon.

Yet the rat demon had not attacked him. Instead, it had appeared very calm, as though it were willing to let him butcher it.

Fang Mu used the Demon Binding Rope to tie it to the execution rack, and only then had time to ask a couple of questions out of curiosity.

When he saw that the rat demon truly had no intention of speaking again, Fang Mu skillfully used his long sword to pierce its heart.

Then he severed its feet, skinned it, and drew out its tendons.

After the entire process, the rat demon was long dead, but what surprised Fang Mu was that it had not even groaned once.

In Fang Mu's impression, rats were synonymous with cunning, treachery, and cowardice.

But this rat demon had somewhat overturned his understanding of rats.

When his consciousness could no longer suppress the Demon Slaying Mirror, a golden light burst from his body and enveloped the rat demon that had been skinned and stripped of its tendons.

The rat demon instantly turned into a pool of blood. As the golden light swept over the corpses of several Nether Hounds on the ground, they too were refined into blood.

Fang Mu's consciousness was pulled once again into a space filled with black mist.

This time, he was much calmer as he looked at the golden mirror suspended in the black mist.

Wisps of black mist drifted out of the mirror, coalescing into the forms of the rat demon and Nether Hounds as they pounced at him.

Fang Mu accepted the rat demon's memories and dispelled the Nether Wolf's memories.

By now, he had more or less figured out some of the Demon Slaying Mirror's basic functions.

Within the rat demon's fragments of memory,

he saw its fear of the darkness outside the city and countless demons turning to stone.

The rat demon had done everything it could to sneak into the city, seeking the protection of the Divine Wall to stay alive. At the same time, it seemed to be searching for something.

The memories were rather fragmented, revealing only scattered glimpses.

Low-Grade Essence Blood Pill, refined from a rat demon's essence blood. After consumption, it could strengthen the qi and blood and nourish the body.

Nether Pearl, refined from the eyes of a Nether Hound. Looking through it with the naked eye allowed one to see in the dark.

Essence Blood Pill, refined from the essence blood of a Nether Hound. After consumption, it could strengthen the body and improve health.

Looking at the two Nether Pearls, one Low-Grade Essence Blood Pill, and two Essence Blood Pills that had appeared in his hand,

Fang Mu was somewhat puzzled. Could it be that Nether Hounds were more numerous, so the items refined from them outnumbered those from the rat demon?

He swallowed the Low-Grade Essence Blood Pill. The pill instantly transformed into streams of warmth that flowed into his blood.

This Essence Blood Pill was relatively mild. As it nourished his qi and blood, it also stirred the Demon Core within his body.

The Demon Core was no longer violent. Instead, it released wisps of essence that merged into Fang Mu's qi and blood, strengthening his body.

Fang Mu's cultivation was still at the lowest level, the Martial Artist Ninth Rank Realm, and he possessed only a thin amount of Vital Energy.

But his physical body had long surpassed his cultivation realm, and even he did not know how strong it was now.

Still, judging from the Nether Hound he had encountered before, Fang Mu was confident he could smash it to death with one punch.

Fang Mu felt that this was a good thing. If his cultivation were too strong, it would easily arouse suspicion.

As for his physical body, so long as he did not make a move, it would be difficult for anyone to see through him.

Fang Mu put the items stripped from the rat demon, along with one Nether Pearl, into the metal case.

He stored the remaining Nether Pearls and pills in the storage space of the Demon Slaying Mirror.

The space within the Demon Slaying Mirror was something Fang Mu had discovered by accident over the past two days.

With that miraculous space in the Demon Slaying Mirror, no one would ever be able to discover anything he wanted to hide in the future.

After leaving the Mortal Character Prison, Fang Mu returned to the Demon Slaying Hall.

He discovered that many Demon Slayer Envoys had already completed their respective tasks. They stood in line with their metal cases, waiting for inspection.

The two Demon Slayer Envoys responsible for the inspection this time were both people Fang Mu knew: Wen Xuan and the Spoiled Girl.

"Hey, you dull blockhead, bring your metal case over. I'm going to inspect it."

Just as Fang Mu was distracted, a domineering young girl's voice rang out.

"Damn! You're the blockhead! Your whole family are blockheads!"

Fang Mu realized that the girl was calling to him. After cursing inwardly, he still obediently carried the case over.

"What? You have a problem with me?"

"I wouldn't dare!"

"You wouldn't dare? If you dared, would you still be wearing that black face?"

"Damn your ancestors!"

Fang Mu cursed inwardly, but in the end, he forced onto his face a smile uglier than crying.

The smug girl's smile made him feel somewhat creeped out.

"You blockhead, you're bold. I told you to slay demons, and you only dug out these worthless scraps? You're doomed. I'm going to punish you."

"Junior Sister, stop fooling around!"

Wen Xuan helplessly stopped the girl, who was deliberately picking a fight. He also did not know why his junior sister insisted on provoking Fang Mu.

"Huh? This thing is pretty good!"

Wen Xuan happened to glance at the Nether Pearl. With a light exclamation, he took it out and examined it.

"Your Excellency has a discerning eye. I found this pearl inside a Nether Hound. Looking through it with the naked eye allows one to see in the dark."

"Oh? It's that miraculous?"

Wen Xuan was half convinced. He brought the pearl before his eyes and examined it carefully. Before long, a smile spread across his face.

"Hmph! So what if he found something good? I suspect he's hiding something. Guards, search his person!"

"Yes!"

As soon as the girl spoke, several constables hurried over and searched Fang Mu.

They found nothing after searching him, which left the girl somewhat displeased.

Fang Mu, however, was furious. Are you sick in the head? Why do you keep giving me trouble? You stole my silver coins, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet.

"Junior Sister Qi Zhu, I'll give you this pearl. Master returned from outside today. Aren't you going to see what gift he brought you?"

"Hmph! I don't care about this pearl!"

Qi Zhu gave a cold snort. Acting against her true feelings, she slipped the pearl into her clothes, glared at Fang Mu, and drifted away.

"Don't take it to heart. Junior Sister doesn't have any bad intentions. I see that your luck is good and that you're an honest person. From now on, you can be my exclusive Demon Slayer Envoy."

"Yes! Thank you, Your Excellency!" Hearing Wen Xuan's words, Fang Mu hurriedly thanked him.

Being an exclusive Demon Slayer Envoy meant that Fang Mu would only need to be responsible for slaying the demons captured by Wen Xuan in the future.

He would not need to slay demons every day like ordinary Demon Slayer Envoys, leaving him with far more freedom and time.

He only needed to handle the demons Wen Xuan captured and kill them. He did not need to concern himself with other demons.

The disadvantage was that regardless of whether the demons Wen Xuan captured were strong or weak, Fang Mu had to carry out the demon-slaying mission.

Just as Fang Mu was distracted, Wen Xuan suddenly said, "I'll reward you with the demon-catching pouch that captured the rat demon this time."

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"

Fang Mu was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Wen Xuan to give him the demon-catching pouch.

Watching Wen Xuan leave, Fang Mu frowned. He did not know whether Wen Xuan was genuinely looking after him or had ulterior motives.

Feeling the envious and jealous gazes around him, Fang Mu hurriedly left the Demon Slaying Hall.

The demon-catching pouch was useless to Fang Mu. He had the mirror space, and nowhere was safer than that. Still, it would be quite useful for misleading outsiders.

After leaving the Demon Slaying Hall, Fang Mu took several twists and turns before arriving outside a small bungalow.

"Brother! You're back!"

After entering the courtyard, Fang Mu saw Fang Jing, whose face was full of delight, run out from the inner room.

Seeing that some of the color had returned to Fang Jing's face, Fang Mu revealed a faint smile.

The Demon Slayer Division generally did not permit members to bring their families. If they insisted on doing so, they had to rent an independent small bungalow inside the County Office.

Their family's food, clothing, and daily expenses also had to come out of their own pockets.

Moreover, family members could not wander about freely. They had to obediently remain in the house, which was no different from being imprisoned.

"Silly girl, you've had it hard!" Fang Mu said guiltily.

"Brother, what are you saying? I'm not suffering. You've been tired all day. Go wash up and eat."

"Not yet! I have something for you. Come with me!"

With Fang Jing's face full of puzzlement, Fang Mu brought her to the inner room, locked the door from inside, and took out an Essence Blood Pill, handing it to her.

Fang Jing was somewhat surprised, but she still accepted the pill and swallowed it without hesitation.

Fang Mu revealed a sincere smile at Fang Jing's trust in him.

Fang Mu had not given her the Low-Grade Essence Blood Pill because he feared its medicinal strength would be too powerful for her to withstand.

In any case, with the Demon Slaying Mirror, Fang Mu could kill demons and obtain Essence Blood Pills at any time.

Fang Jing's originally sickly complexion gained a few touches of color. The Essence Blood Pill seemed to have a marked effect on her illness.

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Mu did not take out the remaining Essence Blood Pills. Fang Jing's body was too weak, so they still needed to proceed gradually.

"Xiao Jing, you don't need to drink that bitter medicine anymore. Your brother will cure your illness. When you have time, you can try cultivating."

Fang Mu took Fang Jing's pulse and found that her breathing was fairly steady, so he gave her some instructions.

"Mm." Fang Jing answered somewhat absentmindedly. She had no interest in cultivation either.

Fang Mu did not mind. He opened the door and took Fang Jing to eat.