By now, there were probably two or three hundred taels of silver on the temple floor, mostly official silver. It had all been stolen from this temple, so Lin Jue knew it must have come from the merchants who had lodged here.
"Squeak, squeak..."
The rat soldiers in front, who had been carrying the silver, squeaked.
"That's all of it."
The rat soldier captain looked at Lin Jue, his eyes glinting with unmistakable worry.
"Relax! I keep my word!"
"Many thanks, True Person, many thanks..."
"You might not survive this anyway." Lin Jue wasn't moved by their seemingly harmonious conversation just now, nor would he break his promise because they were Monsters. "Once I step aside, you can start counting."
He watched as they either shook their unconscious companions awake or helped the injured ones to their feet. The Old Woman was personally supported by the rat soldier captain. Everyone grew tense, ready to flee. Lin Jue stepped aside, then began to count.
Inhale...
Exhale...
His breathing was steady, neither hurried nor deliberately slowed.
When the fifth breath ended—
He whipped around. Just in time, he saw the last two Rat Demons huddled by the hole in the corner, scrambling to squeeze inside.
He had calculated the timing. The Rat Demons would only just make it to the hole; if anyone fell behind because of an injury or got caught in a crush, they would have trouble reaching it. And his movements were faster than most ordinary people's, so he was fairly confident he could kill them.
He hadn't expected them to be so united.
Lin Jue charged forward without hesitation.
After a few strides, he reached the temple corner farthest from him. He caught sight of the last Rat Demon slipping into the hole. Without the slightest pause, Lin