Inside a tastefully decorated room.
Warm yellow candlelight spilled over the carved wooden table like a soft veil, lending the space a welcoming yet dignified air.
The table was laden with delicacies, their rich aromas lingering in the air and making mouths water.
Gu Cheng and Tang Lingyu sat side by side, with Third Elder Chu Feng personally attending them across the table—a clear sign of the importance and formality of the banquet.
Chu Feng had spared no effort in hosting the distinguished guests from the Demon Suppression Bureau.
He had not only procured a leg of beef from an Innate Realm cow demon, but had also invited the city's top chefs to prepare it, creating an extravagant feast featuring the entire cow.
The finest ingredients often required only the simplest cooking techniques to become peerless delicacies.
Tang Lingyu delicately lifted her silver chopsticks and placed a glistening piece of beef in her mouth.
In an instant, the juices burst across her palate. The rich, savory flavor swept through her body like a raging flood.
Tang Lingyu's brows lifted ever so slightly, and a flash of amazement crossed her clear, limpid eyes. She couldn't help blurting out:
"This taste... it's incredible!"
Gu Cheng had spoiled her palate, but this was the first time she had tasted cooking that could rival his.
In fact, because the ingredients were so rare, this whole-cow feast tasted even better than Gu Cheng's cooking!
Beside her, Gu Cheng was also eating with gusto, though a faint trace of regret stirred in his heart.
If the meat of an Innate Realm cow demon was this delicious, then wouldn't the meat of an Innate Realm flood dragon be the finest delicacy of all?
Remembering how he had refined the blood and flesh of the two Innate flood dragons, Jiao Wuyan and Jiao Tielin, with his Blood Transformation Divine Ability after killing them, he couldn't help feeling that he had wasted a treasure.
Next time I run into an Innate Great Demon, I'll have to save the choicest cuts.
Gu Cheng swallowed his food, silently turning it over in his mind.
After several rounds of wine and a succession of dishes,
the sumptuous feast gradually came to an end amid good cheer, and the two sides quickly grew closer, their initially formal relationship turning into one that felt like an old friendship.
As the atmosphere warmed, the conversation turned to business.
Gu Cheng set down his chopsticks and asked with a serious expression:
"Elder Feng, has Hundred Beasts Villa managed to get to the bottom of the recent demon trouble in the Crimson Rock Mountain Range?"
Hearing him, Elder Chu Feng nodded, a weighty look between his brows.
"According to the clues we've uncovered, most of these Innate Realm demons came from Chongshan County, which borders Tianshui Prefecture.
"Several months ago, a fearsomely powerful Demon Hunter suddenly appeared in Chongshan County and began hunting Innate Great Demons everywhere. The demons were forced to flee in panic, and, with nowhere else to go, they poured into the Crimson Rock Mountain Range."
"Chongshan County? A Demon Hunter?"
Tang Lingyu's beautiful eyes flickered as a thought seemed to flash through her mind. She blurted out:
"Could the Demon Hunter Elder Feng means be that Blood Kirin who made such a name for himself in Chongshan County?"
"Exactly. It was that Blood Kirin!"
Chu Feng nodded, though a trace of dissatisfaction crept into his voice.
"He's extremely powerful. They say his cultivation has already reached the Spirit Sea Realm. It's just that he acts far too recklessly. If he hadn't turned Chongshan County upside down, the Crimson Rock Mountain Range wouldn't be in this state now."
"..."
Gu Cheng's gaze shifted. He picked up his teacup and took a sip to conceal the awkwardness deep inside.
How do the rumors keep getting more and more outrageous? You'd think I was going out of my way to pick a fight with the Rebirth Sect.
He tilted his head slightly and thought back for a moment.
The first time he had appeared publicly as "Blood Kirin" was in Changle County, where he had disrupted the Rebirth Sect's Corpse King sacrifice.
The second time had been in Liuchun County, where he had killed the Willow God and the Blood Blade Sect's leader, then stolen the Rebirth Sect's "Blood Soul Bead."
As for the third time, it had been in Iron Cloud City, Chongshan County, where he had not only killed a Spirit Sea Corpse King but also formed a blood feud with the Gray-robed Holy Envoy.
Thinking about it, his Blood Kirin identity really did have quite a connection with the Rebirth Sect...
Gu Cheng shook his head helplessly, set down his teacup, and quickly changed the subject.
"If that Blood Kirin can't be relied on, then let's set him aside for now.
"Elder Feng, how many demons are there in the Crimson Rock Mountain Range, and how strong are they? I've heard the Innate Great Demons there are so powerful that two Innate Realm Elders have fallen to them."
At that, Tang Lingyu's expression turned more solemn.
She had learned while chatting with Chu Yuntian that Hundred Beasts Villa had six Elders in the late Innate Realm. Losing two of them at once was undoubtedly a severe blow!
Chu Feng sighed, his expression darkening.
"That's true. At present, three peak Innate Realm Great Demons are running rampant in the Crimson Rock Mountain Range: a Lion Demon, an Elephant Demon, and a Great Eagle.
"These three are tremendously powerful and each possesses a divine ability. They've become the leaders of the mountain's demons. As long as we can eliminate them, the rest won't be a concern."
"A Lion Demon, an Elephant Demon... and a Great Eagle?"
Gu Cheng nearly lost control of his expression. He couldn't help grumbling inwardly.
A Lion Demon, an Elephant Demon... and a Great Eagle?
Why does that combination sound so familiar?
If these three Great Demons really settled here and swore brotherhood, wouldn't the Crimson Rock Mountain Range end up being renamed Lion Camel Ridge?
"Three peak Innate Realm Great Demons?!"
Tang Lingyu's brows knitted together. The Crimson Rock Mountain Range was far more dangerous than she had expected.
This sort of thorny situation would probably take a grandmaster like Old Master Xu to suppress. Sending just the two of them, a pair of juniors, from the Demon Suppression Bureau seemed almost like a joke.
Noticing Tang Lingyu's concern, Chu Feng reassured her gently:
"You two needn't worry. The demons in the Crimson Rock Mountain Range may be rampant, but Hundred Beasts Villa isn't without a plan.
"We've already devised a thorough strategy. We need only wait another month before launching a full-scale assault and wiping them all out!"
As he spoke, a confident smile appeared on the Third Elder's dark face, like that of an old construction hand. He looked as though everything was under control.
So confident?
Gu Cheng raised an eyebrow, his doubts only growing.
"Elder Feng, if Hundred Beasts Villa already has a good plan, why ask the Demon Suppression Bureau for help?"
"Well..."
Chu Feng looked a little awkward as he explained:
"Little Friend Gu, there's something you don't know. Besides the demons entrenched in the Crimson Rock Mountain Range, some Form-Transformed demons are also lurking inside Crimson Rock City, secretly stirring up trouble and disrupting our arrangements.
"Hundred Beasts Villa has stationed its main forces in the mountain range, leaving the city's defenses thin. Even if we investigate, we're bound to be hampered by 'petty troublemakers,' making it difficult to proceed smoothly."
For some reason, he put particular emphasis on the words "petty troublemakers."
Gu Cheng naturally caught the implication, and a look of understanding flickered across his eyes.
"So, Elder Feng means..."
Chu Feng nodded, looking at Gu Cheng and Tang Lingyu with a particularly earnest expression.
"As members of the Demon Suppression Bureau, you're best at tracking demons and evil cultivators hiding among the people. And having the neutral Demon Suppression Bureau step in will help avoid many complications.
"Therefore, I sincerely ask you to stay in Crimson Rock City for the time being and help us stabilize the situation, preventing petty troublemakers from stirring things up in secret. On behalf of the Elders of Hundred Beasts Villa, I thank you both in advance!"
"So we'll be staying in Crimson Rock City for the whole month?"
Gu Cheng considered this for a moment, then let a faint smile touch his lips and nodded.
"No problem. I'll be counting on Elder Chu to look after us during our stay."
"Haha, that's a small matter, a small matter!"
Seeing that neither of them objected, Chu Feng beamed and swept a broad hand through the air.
"Please, make yourselves at home. If you need anything, just ask. Hundred Beasts Villa will do everything it can to provide it!"
"In that case..."
Gu Cheng set down his teacup and looked at Chu Feng, his gaze faintly amused.
"Elder Feng, I happen to have a small favor to ask of Hundred Beasts Villa."
Chu Feng raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised, but still wore the open, hospitable expression of a gracious host.
"Little Friend Gu, please, speak freely."
Gu Cheng nodded and got straight to the point.
"To be frank, I have a friend who's a descendant of one branch of the Chu family of Hundred Beasts Villa, but for certain special reasons, she's been unable to return to her roots.
"She specifically asked me to come here, hoping she could visit the Chu family's ancestral shrine and offer a stick of incense to her father..."
"Oh? There's such a matter?"
Chu Feng was deeply puzzled. Only core members of Hundred Beasts Villa had memorial tablets enshrined in the ancestral hall. By rights, their descendants should all be in the city. How could one have ended up living elsewhere?
Then he suddenly thought of something. His expression changed drastically, and he looked at Gu Cheng with a questioning gaze.
Gu Cheng met his eyes and gave a slight nod. Everything was clear without a word.
"Hss—"
Chu Feng drew in a sharp breath. He stared blankly at Gu Cheng, pondering for a long while before finally replying with difficulty:
"Little Friend Gu, this is no small matter. The family ancestral shrine is an important place for the Chu family, and outsiders aren't allowed inside.
"Your 'friend's' identity is also rather... special. Let me discuss it with the First Elder and the others. Within three days, I'll give you a definite answer."
Gu Cheng smiled calmly and nodded.
"No problem. I'll await good news."
By the time they finished the whole-cow feast, it was already afternoon.
The setting sun's afterglow fell like golden threads across the courtyard, gilding the stone path with a soft glow.
At the servants' respectful guidance, Gu Cheng and Tang Lingyu passed through the winding corridors and arrived at their temporary lodgings.
Gu Cheng had only just entered his room when a gentle knock sounded at the door.
He set down the teacup in his hand and looked up. Tang Lingyu stood at the doorway, her brow slightly furrowed, as if something were on her mind.
"Chief Gu,"
Tang Lingyu said quietly. She entered the room and carefully closed the door, her voice tinged with doubt.
"Why do I get the feeling that the Third Elder is hiding a lot from us?"
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
Gu Cheng lifted his teacup, took a small sip, and remained calm.
Tang Lingyu sat beside him and lowered her voice.
"The Third Elder's reaction was far too calm. Hundred Beasts Villa has lost two of its six Elders, yet he doesn't seem worried at all. Instead, he wants to wait a month before launching a full-scale assault. I have no idea what they're preparing.
"And as for asking the Demon Suppression Bureau for help, it seems less about dealing with the demons in the Crimson Rock Mountain Range and more about..."
"More about keeping the unstable elements inside the villa in check, right?"
Gu Cheng set down his teacup and finished her thought.
"Hundred Beasts Villa doesn't need the Demon Suppression Bureau's military aid this time. What they need is the Bureau's 'tiger skin'—something to make the increasingly brazen Demon Transformation Sect behave itself."
Tang Lingyu silently nodded, her emotions churning.
As reinforcements sent by the Demon Suppression Bureau, she and Gu Cheng had naturally intended to help Hundred Beasts Villa.
But the villa's reluctance to explain things clearly, its habit of keeping them in the dark, made them feel like pawns being used. It was hard not to feel wary and uneasy.
Gu Cheng, however, looked as calm as ever. After all, he had the strength and confidence to flip the table whenever he wanted. He patiently talked her through it.
"You've seen for yourself how serious the infighting in Hundred Beasts Villa is. To focus their strength on dealing with outside enemies first, they'd be justified in taking this sort of approach."
Tang Lingyu furrowed her brows and changed the subject.
"Even so, Chief Gu, what do you think the Third Elder and the others are secretly preparing?"
"Well..."
Gu Cheng's gaze shifted. He shook his head without answering.
Based on Chu Yuntian's earlier analysis of the infighting within his family, back in the carriage, Gu Cheng had formed a vague guess.
But he didn't look into it too deeply. Whatever Hundred Beasts Villa was planning, he had already set his sights on the three peak Innate Realm Great Demons in the Crimson Rock Mountain Range.
Cultivating the Four Spirits True Intent and refining demon servants for his Spirit Sea required a great number of high-quality Innate Demon Cores.
How could he let such premium goods, surpassed only by Spirit Sea Demon Cores, fall into someone else's hands?
"Don't overthink it. However much the people of Hundred Beasts Villa fight among themselves, it's their family business. We're here on behalf of the Demon Suppression Bureau. There's no need for us to interfere too much."
Gu Cheng smiled at Tang Lingyu and reassured her gently.
"Besides, they're keeping you well fed and well looked after. They haven't asked you to risk your life in the mountains. Why not just think of it as a chance to relax?"
"Um, Chief Gu does have a point..."
Tang Lingyu paused, then considered it for a moment. Her spirits lifted considerably.
Though it did feel a little like being used, she had a chance to spend time alone with Chief Gu—and there was no certain famous courtesan around to be a third wheel.
For her, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
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