So-called Trustworthiness, All Chips of Betrayal

"That day will come," Lu Yang said in a deep voice.

Then he fixed his gaze on Niu Hanshan.

"The Demon Race may make a comeback. Niushi Town is no longer a place to linger. Brother Niu, what are your plans from here?"

Niu Hanshan said, "I plan to take the remaining villagers to Han Family Village, thirty li to the east, and take shelter there for a month. The town chief there, Han Qi, is an old friend of mine of many years."

"The mountain roads are dangerous. I'll see you all part of the way," Lu Yang said.

"That would be excellent." Niu Hanshan brightened with joy.

On the mountain road, members of the Demon Race appeared from time to time. Earlier, Niu Hanshan had used the power of his bloodline to activate the treasured bow, and for the moment he was still in a weakened state.

Without Lu Yang escorting them, if they ran into the Demon Race, he truly would not know how to respond.

In just one short hour, the surviving villagers had already collected the bodies of their dead kin. Such was the world; there was no time for grief. Carrying dry rations and money, they hurried onto the road.

Fortunately, though there were scares, there was no danger. No Demon Race appeared along the way, and when the sky was just beginning to brighten, the group arrived safely at Han Family Village.

Recently, Demonic Calamities had been breaking out frequently. Many villages and towns outside Black Mountain County had formed Night Patrol Squads, and the moment the group entered the town, they were stopped.

Fortunately, Niu Hanshan still had some reputation across the surrounding villages. Someone soon recognized him, and after the town chief, Han Qi, was invited over, the two men exchanged a few brief words. Han Qi readily agreed to their request to stay temporarily in Han Family Village.

"During this period, Demonic Calamities have been raging, and quite a few of our young and strong men here have also been lost. Settle down with peace of mind. Our two families can join hands to form a Night Patrol Squad and resist the Demon Race together. We'll be able to sleep soundly for a few days too!" Han Qi said.

"Hahaha, true feelings show in adversity. Old Qi, you really are a proper brother!" Niu Hanshan laughed in a ringing voice.

At the banquet, the two men passed cups back and forth, talking at length about old stories from the days when they had sneaked into the mountains and forests together to hunt demons. The atmosphere was extremely harmonious.

Only after three rounds of wine did Han Qi's gaze finally fall on Lu Yang.

"This young brother looks unfamiliar. Old Niu, aren't you going to introduce him?" Han Qi said.

Niu Hanshan smiled. "This Brother Lu Yang is my lifesaver. If not for him, last night in Niushi Town, I'm afraid everyone would have been eaten by those demon brats!"

"Hahaha, in that case, Brother Lu Yang truly is young and promising!" Han Qi laughed. "In my life, I, Han Qi, have always valued heroes most. Brother Lu Yang, I toast you!"

A graceful young girl of seventeen or eighteen immediately walked over from behind Han Qi, holding a wine pot as she filled Lu Yang's cup to the brim.

"Hahaha, that girl Ling'er really is growing prettier and prettier!" Niu Hanshan picked up a mouthful of food and teased, "As the saying goes, 'a beauty matches a hero.' Old Qi, why not betroth your niece to Brother Lu Yang? I guarantee you won't regret it!"

"Hahaha, if that girl is willing, I have no objections!" Han Qi said with a laugh.

"Father!"

"Uncle Niu!"

The girl's pretty face flushed scarlet. Not daring to look Lu Yang in the eye, she turned and hid in the inner room.

Lu Yang stared at the wine swaying in his cup. After a slight hesitation, he still raised the cup and drained it in one gulp.

Very soon, Niu Hanshan could not hold his liquor and fell asleep sprawled on the table.

Before long, Lu Yang and Han Qi also sank into deep sleep.

Roughly another half an incense stick of time passed. Han Qi, who had originally "fallen asleep," suddenly opened his eyes and stood up from the wine table strewn with cups and plates.

He gently clapped his hands. Outside, a burly young man whose face resembled Han Qi's by seventy to eighty percent pushed the door open and walked in.

It was Han Qi's son, Han Bao.

In Han Bao's hands was a large bundle of hemp rope, and the expression on his face was somewhat hesitant.

"Father, are we really going to tie up Uncle Niu too?"

Han Qi said in a deep voice, "Tie him up."

Han Bao frowned and said, "Father, everyone in the surrounding villages knows Uncle Niu and you are brothers who have risked your lives for each other. Isn't doing this wrong?"

"Hmph, what do you understand?" Han Qi said. "Those who accomplish great things do not fuss over trifles."

As he spoke, he took out a portrait from within his robes and handed it to Han Bao.

Han Bao opened the scroll and looked. The person in the painting was none other than Lu Yang, who was fast asleep.

"Hmph, do you see it now? That brat is a criminal wanted by the Black Mountain County Yamen!" Han Qi said. "Take his head, and you can go to the county yamen to exchange it for three thousand taels of silver. That's three thousand taels! Use that money to buy Qi Gathering Powder, and you can become the first Houtian Martial Artist of our Han Family, bringing glory to our ancestors!"

When Han Bao heard this, even his breathing quickened slightly.

When he looked at Lu Yang and Niu Hanshan again, the reluctance in his heart was already gone.

"Father is right. The yamen wouldn't wrong a good person for no reason. Uncle Niu must have been deceived by this brat. Once the people from the yamen arrive, Uncle Niu will definitely understand our painstaking intentions."

As he spoke, he used the hemp rope to bind Lu Yang's and Niu Hanshan's hands and feet separately.

Lu Yang in particular was practically bound up like a rice dumpling. Several iron chains were even added over his hands and feet, leaving only his head exposed outside.

"Do it!" Han Qi handed Han Bao a knife and said coldly, "That brat was capable of slaying demons, so his strength should not be weak. Once he wakes up, these things may not necessarily be able to hold him."

"Heh! You do have some self-awareness!" It was Lu Yang, who had been fast asleep, suddenly opening both eyes.

The sharp light in his eyes seized the soul, frightening Han Bao into thudding back two steps. The light in his eyes carried a trace of shock and uncertainty.

"Impossible!" Han Qi's face jolted in shock, and he frowned. "I added Soul-Confusing Grass powder to the wine. How could you have woken up so quickly?"

Lu Yang sneered. "We constables roam far and wide. If we didn't have even this bit of ability, who knows how many times we'd have died already."

He had sensed something off about the wine earlier. He had only wanted to see what Han Qi was really trying to do, so he had chosen to beat him at his own game.

As for that little bit of Soul-Confusing Grass, before Xiantian True Qi, it had no meaning at all.

"A-Bao, do it!" Han Qi's heart cried that things were bad, and he immediately urged Han Bao to act.

Han Bao gritted his teeth, raised his blade, and chopped down at Lu Yang's head.

"Stubborn to the end!" Lu Yang snorted coldly. As the Returning Origin Art circulated, the iron chains and ropes around him instantly snapped apart.

Bang, bang, bang!

Crack!

A broken length of iron chain shot out and smashed heavily into Han Bao's chest. Several of the latter's ribs were broken, and he spat blood on the spot before fainting.

"A-Bao!"

Han Qi was just about to save him when a powerful hand had already clamped firmly around his throat.

So long as he dared make the slightest unusual move, his head and body would surely part ways.

"Good sir, spare me!" Han Qi could not breathe, his face swelling to a dark purplish red. He could only use the last of his strength to keep begging for mercy.

Lu Yang loosened his grip and threw him to the ground.

"Talk!"

"What's going on with this painted portrait notice?"

"Cough, cough, cough!" Han Qi clutched his chest and coughed violently for a long while before saying in terror, "Black Mountain County sent out a notice: former head constable Lu Yang colluded with the Demon Race, killed people in his residence to feed demons. Anyone who reports him is rewarded five hundred taels of silver; anyone who kills him is rewarded three thousand taels of silver!"

"Me? Killing people?" Lu Yang sneered. "So the County Lieutenant and the County Assistant Magistrate finally stopped pretending?"