Chen Bin followed Chen Chong to the white wall at the side.
A blood-red tiger's head stood out on the wall. It looked so lifelike that it might leap out at any moment, and blood trickled slowly down the surface, staining the ground below a dark red.
"South Mountain Lord," Chen Bin said gravely, looking at the tiger-head mark.
Chen Chong nodded. "That's right."
The two returned to the front courtyard.
As soon as they entered, Chen Bin saw the carnage in the courtyard. His eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of sorrow and anger passing through them.
A family of five had met a gruesome end. Their bodies were scattered throughout the courtyard.
Chen Bin could tell there were five people because he saw five heads hanging from the eaves.
The features on the heads were twisted out of shape, their eyes bulging as if they had suffered a terrible fright before they died.
The wounds at their necks were a bloody mess, with strands of flesh hanging loose.
They had clearly been wrenched off by force. The sight was so horrific it was hard to look at.
The severed limbs strewn across the courtyard had been chewed up and spat out carelessly, leaving a scene of utter chaos.
"How awful!" Chen Bin couldn't help sighing. "It seems this happened because of me."
Chen Chong said nothing, only continuing, "You were just doing your duty. No one wanted this, and no one could have prevented it.
"Besides, the neighbors didn't hear a thing last night."
"By the way, has the case been handed over to the Demon Suppression Division?" Chen Bin asked.
"Not yet. The Captain who came here didn't bring a Demon Sensing Plate, so we can't classify it as a demon case and hand it over," Chen Chong explained.
"Then don't hand it over. I'll help you solve the case!" Chen Bin suddenly said.
"What?" Chen Bin's words had come so abruptly that Chen Chong didn't react at first. He stared at him, stunned.
Chen Bin turned to Chen Chong and said seriously, "I said I'd help you solve the case. How about that as payment for the footwork technique?"
"That'd be great!" Chen Chong immediately smiled, then asked curiously, "But how are you going to solve it?"
Chen Bin looked toward the two demons at the courtyard gate, a sly glint in his eyes. "How else?
"I've heard that killers usually return to the scene to admire their handiwork."
"Is that so?" Chen Chong found the idea hard to believe and almost laughed.
Chen Bin thought for a moment, then asked, "There's something I've always wondered about. How can the Demon Race hide among humans?"
"It's no surprise you don't know. You've only been a full-fledged runner for two days."
"I'm a Demon Suppression Captain now," Chen Bin corrected him.
Chen Chong looked baffled. "You got promoted again?"
"Of course!" Chen Bin saw his surprised expression and only smiled. "Go on, tell me what you were saying."
"This is still the Demon Suppression Division's fault," Chen Chong patiently explained.
"The Demon Race's aura is usually difficult to conceal.
"But five hundred years ago, the Demon Suppression Division simplified the formation used to seal demonic aura. It was called the Minor Demon Sealing Array. They also combined it with the Illusion Array and sealed both into ornaments.
"These ornaments were called Demon Sealing Ornaments.
"When demons wore them, they could seal away all their demonic aura and take on human form, hiding among people in towns and cities.
"Later, the method for making these Demon Sealing Ornaments was sold to the Demon Race.
"You can guess what happened next.
"They must have started making them in huge quantities.
"Moreover, most of the Demon Sealing Ornaments circulating among the Demon Race were supplied directly by the Demon Suppression Division.
"That was the direct cause of the Demon Suppression Division's decline."
"I see!" Chen Bin nodded, suddenly enlightened. "In the end, it was a man-made disaster."
"The Demon Sensing Plate was developed and made because of the Demon Sealing Ornaments."
Chen Bin nodded, beginning to understand.
"Come on, tell me how you're going to solve the case!" Chen Chong was clearly eager to hear Chen Bin's plan.
"Since that Captain from the Demon Suppression Division won't cooperate, tell him to leave first. Then all the credit will go to you!"
"Good!" Chen Chong went to speak with him.
He soon returned. Chen Bin watched as the Captain led his men away.
"What should we do?" Chen Chong asked expectantly.
Chen Bin pointed toward the courtyard gate. "If the people outside want to look, then let them all come in."
Chen Chong looked puzzled and asked him to confirm. After Chen Bin assured him that was what he meant,
Chen Chong immediately ordered, "They're making such a racket outside. If they want to look, let them all come in and get a good look!"
The County Office runners hesitated at the order, but in the end they obeyed.
They rushed out and herded everyone into the courtyard.
Soon, the courtyard was filled with people, including the two Red Name Tiger Demons.
The civilians who hadn't been able to see the carnage clearly before took one look at it upon entering and immediately started vomiting.
Seeing this, Chen Bin promptly ordered the runners to usher out the pale-faced civilians who were still throwing up.
Then, using one excuse after another, he gradually sent the rest of the civilians away, weeding them out until he had the ones he wanted.
At last, only the two Tiger Demons remained in the courtyard.
They stood before Chen Bin, looking uneasy. Under the circumstances, that was only natural.
They wanted to leave too, but Chen Bin had stopped them.
"Your Honor, may I ask what we've done wrong?" one of them asked, feigning composure.
"Is that so?" Chen Bin fixed his gaze on them and said coldly, "You truly don't know?"
The two wore bewildered expressions, as if they really had no idea.
"Chen Bin, what now?" Chen Chong asked, frowning beside him.
"What else?" The corner of Chen Bin's mouth curled into a faint smile.
As he spoke, Chen Bin's hand was already resting on his sword hilt.
Before his words had even faded, Chen Bin's hand flashed like lightning, settling onto the hilt in an instant.
The movement flowed seamlessly, decisive and beyond question.
In that split second, Chen Bin's blade burst from its sheath like a dragon surging out of its lair, its edge flashing coldly.
Chen Chong and the others stared in shock and disbelief.
The blade was black as night, yet faint red patterns shimmered across its shadowy surface, like blood flowing through the dark—mysterious and chilling.
What had happened?
The Tiger Demons' eyes widened in disbelief. They blinked instinctively, then tried to turn and look at each other.
But in that instant, their minds went utterly blank, as if an invisible hand had wiped away every thought.
Brother, why did your head fall off?
Thud!
Two muffled sounds rang out. Their heads dropped to the ground one after the other, rolling a long way across the floor.
As they rolled, the human heads gradually became tiger heads. They grew larger and larger until they were as big as water vats, their savage appearance sending chills down the spine.
Chen Chong froze, rooted to the spot.
Pssht!
In an instant, blood shot into the sky like a fountain, then came pouring down, splattering the ground with bright red blossoms.
Chen Chong watched the two fountain-like jets of blood. Before he could react, they came crashing down over his head, and the world before his eyes turned red.
He was instantly drenched in blood, head to toe.
Before you continue