Chen Bin's figure flashed. He already had his blade in hand and sprang back three nimble steps, his lithe movements deftly avoiding the blood raining down everywhere.
Chen Chong wasn't nearly so lucky. Blood drenched him from head to toe, leaving him in a thoroughly wretched state.
Then the two headless corpses crashed to the ground.
[Killed two Body Tempering Realm Tiger Demons. Gained 17 Merit. Remaining Merit: 461]
In an instant, tufts of fur sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, piercing through their clothes.
The two tiger bodies grew larger, quickly tearing through their garments and revealing their true forms. Each enormous body was a full zhang long.
Two great tigers now lay in the courtyard. Demonic aura surged like a raging tide, sweeping through the grounds and enveloping the entire courtyard.
"Th-this..." Chen Chong was so shocked he couldn't speak. His mouth hung open, his eyes filled with terror.
Chen Bin calmly sheathed the Demon Suppression Blade, his movements steady and practiced. Then he glanced at Chen Chong with a hint of apology and said, "Sorry, I thought you could dodge."
But that wasn't what Chen Chong cared about. He asked urgently, "How did you realize who they were?"
"I'd noticed them earlier. I sensed a trace of demonic aura on them.
"I just didn't know what kind of demons they were or why they'd come here."
Chen Bin sighed softly, then continued, "Once I entered the courtyard and saw the tiger head and the corpses strewn all over the place, I understood. So I killed them."
Chen Chong wiped the blood from his face and forced a smile. "I see!"
As he spoke, he stepped forward and kicked a Tiger Demon's corpse. A flicker of excitement appeared in his eyes. "We're in for a feast. Tiger Demon flesh is a rare delicacy, and it can boost your Qi and Blood.
"Really?" Chen Bin furrowed his brow, his eyes full of doubt.
"Of course!" Chen Chong said with certainty. "But it also carries Killing Intent, especially demons that eat people. They're steeped in even more of it."
Chen Bin grew more curious and pressed him. "If people are willing to buy it, then there must be someone who can deal with that, right?"
"Of course. You know about Blood Vitality Pills, don't you?"
Chen Bin immediately understood. "You mean...?"
Chen Chong didn't elaborate. He merely nodded. That simple hint was enough.
"What else can you do with it?"
"Sell it for money."
"Sell it?"
At that, Chen Bin remembered the tiger head he'd turned in yesterday.
"The tiger head you brought back came from a Jade Marrow Realm Perfection Tiger Demon. I heard the Demon Suppression Division sold it for a thousand taels of silver."
Chen Bin's eyes lit up, and he abruptly turned to Chen Chong.
"How many taels did you get?"
Chen Bin's expression immediately dimmed. "I only got ten taels as a reward."
He regretted it bitterly. What a blunder!
"That's how the government office works." Chen Chong gave a helpless smile.
Then he beckoned to the constables in the courtyard. "Go on. Carry the Tiger Demon outside so the frightened townsfolk can see it and feel reassured.
"Then bring it back to the government office so we can close the case."
"Yes!" The constables who were clearing away the bodies immediately stepped forward. Eight burly men, all diligent in their martial training, worked together to lift a tiger and carried it steadily toward the door.
Chen Bin narrowed his eyes, stepped forward, and bent to pick up the jade pendant that had fallen when they carried off the tiger's corpse.
The pendant felt faintly warm in his hand. He weighed it lightly and felt a strange power slowly seep from his palm into his body, circling through him twice.
Strangely, though, nothing seemed to happen to him.
"Judging by their clothes, they were so poor, yet they had such a fine jade pendant. I suppose this must be that 'Demon Sealing Ornament'?"
Chen Chong walked over, his face still smeared with blood. He glanced at the pendant and said with certainty, "It really is a Demon Sealing Ornament."
Chen Bin looked at the Demon Sealing Ornament, a resolute glint in his eyes. Then he tossed it high into the air.
The Demon Suppression Blade flashed from its sheath once more. With a single slash, it cut the two pendants in the air in half, splitting them into four pieces. They hit the ground with two sharp smacks and shattered into countless fragments.
"Wh-what..." Chen Chong's eyes widened in disbelief. "Chen Bin, that thing's worth quite a bit of money!"
"Is that so?" Chen Bin's lips curved into a faint smile. He sheathed the Demon Suppression Blade and said calmly, "It's something that harms people. If we sell it, it'll only be used to harm more people. What's the point of keeping it?"
If they put this thing on the market, it would only be sold to the Demon Race for dirty money.
Chen Chong pondered his words. After a moment, he seemed to understand something and nodded firmly. "You're right."
Then Chen Chong changed the subject. "We need to close the case on the Tiger Demons' bodies, but I won't let you lose out. I'll report it to the County Magistrate and make sure you get a reward soon."
Chen Bin didn't dwell on it. "Suit yourself. Just remember to give me that footwork technique. I'm eager to start practicing."
"Come on. There's no time like the present. Come back with me now," Chen Chong suggested warmly.
Chen Bin nodded, showing he had no objections.
Once they'd settled things, Chen Chong headed for the well to draw water and wash his face.
He hauled up a bucket of water and was just about to wash when he suddenly roared, flinging the bucket to the ground. "Damn it! There's a head in the water!"
Chen Bin narrowed his eyes and walked over, his expression grave, to look into the bucket.
A newly formed head floated on the surface. It was only the size of a fist, and its features were not yet fully developed. It looked terribly strange.
It was clearly an unborn baby.
Chen Bin drew a deep breath, feeling a nameless rage flare in his heart.
A wave of heat surged through every limb and bone, rushing ceaselessly toward his chest like a roaring tide.
Chen Bin was furious, and he had to calm that rage.
After a while, Chen Bin opened his eyes again. A determined glint flashed in them. "Give the whole family a proper burial."
He paused, then added, "In a while, I'll find some Tiger Demons to sacrifice to them."
"Mm." Chen Chong nodded solemnly.
Although he felt the whole affair was rather inauspicious, his nephew had a point.
Then Chen Chong turned to the constables still gathering the scattered remains and called out, "Search carefully, gather everything together, and bury them all as one.
"I'll take this officer from the Demon Suppression Division back first."
Then, without bothering to wipe the blood from his head, he returned to the government office with Chen Bin.
The footwork technique wasn't at home. It was in the government office's duty room.
After all, it was hardly safe to keep it at home. The government office was a better place for it.
The most important part of the matter was over. They could leave the rest to their subordinates.
The two of them chatted as they walked, and before long, they had arrived at the government office.
Chen Chong went into the duty room, took out a small booklet, and handed it to Chen Bin.
Chen Bin took the booklet without looking at it and put it straight into his robes.
"Come on!" Chen Chong slung an arm warmly around Chen Bin's shoulders. "Your uncle's buying you meat and wine."
Chen Bin didn't refuse.
In the early stages of martial arts training, without spiritual energy from heaven and earth to replenish you, the higher your realm, the greater your consumption.
With someone else footing the bill, he naturally wouldn't hold back.
Before you continue