Kill the Demon

The wolf demon's body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.

At the same time, its frame began to swell rapidly, blurring into a gray-white shape in the blink of an eye, carrying a foul wind and vicious aura as it pounced ferociously.

The four men in front of Chen Bin's faces twisted in shock.

Just as the crisis reached its peak, a ghostly black figure streaked low through the dark alley like lightning.

So swift that one only caught a flash of black before it was already directly before the gray-white shape.

The figure moved like a shooting star, and the blade in its hand was even faster, like a black bolt of lightning tearing across the night sky.

In the darkness, a trace of crimson silently bloomed, accompanied by a "hiss" as blood sprayed forth.

Then, a massive dog's head rolled with a "thud... clatter..." carried by momentum, bouncing a few times on the ground before slowly coming to a stop.

"Pfft..." The headless corpse fell straight to the ground, sliding far along the earth, leaving a shocking trail of blood behind.

[Slain Qi Gathering Realm Wolf Demon: Wolf Watchman, gained Merit: 10, remaining Merit: 447]

"Cough, cough..." Huang Yong and the other three snapped back to reality.

But the moment they came to, they saw the dog head land with a "bang" at their feet, making them flinch and stumble backward in panic.

Only the dog head rolled forlornly on the ground.

The four nearly tripped over their own feet, almost making fools of themselves.

Staring at the head on the ground, they were dazed, their minds blank.

"Why?!" The four were full of confusion, unable to fathom it.

They hadn't even had a chance to draw their blades and defend themselves before the fight was over.

This superior's style was so bold and reckless, as if he cared nothing for his own life.

When they looked up, wanting to ask the reason, they saw that he had already sheathed his blade, the motion fluid and without a hint of hesitation.

Then, Chen Bin lifted his foot and walked toward the alley's mouth, leaving only a silhouette behind.

"Two of you stay—one to guard here, one to report to Liu Wei and have him bring people to handle the corpse."

The voice came from ahead, steady and forceful, brooking no argument.

As he spoke, Chen Bin didn't stop walking; a "crack" sounded as a jade-pendant-like "Demon Sealing Ornament" was crushed underfoot, left on the ground.

The four men's Adam's apples bobbed involuntarily. Huang Yong turned to the other three and asked, "Who's staying?"

Among the four, he was the leader.

The three exchanged glances. Liu Xiaodong spoke first: "Zhiming and I will stay!"

Liu Xiaodong understood clearly that the Huang surname was the core of the team; the two of them, as outsiders, were ultimately more distant.

"Good!" Huang Yong nodded and led Huang Kaisheng as he hurried after.

Behind them, Zhang He's figure trembled slightly.

It turned out Zhang He had been badly frightened by the sudden burst of demonic aura earlier, his mind going blank and his body frozen stiff.

By the time he fully recovered, his legs were already shaking uncontrollably.

Now, he finally understood what the other had meant by "You will die."

Just facing such a demon creature had him trembling all over—if he ever ran into that Mountain Lord of South Mountain, he'd probably be scared to death on the spot.

"Damn it! I have to pull myself together!"

Zhang He roared inwardly, abruptly stood up, and shouted as he chased after the retreating figure.

Just as he brushed past Qin Zhiming, who was about to go report, Qin Zhiming moved swiftly, grabbing him hard and ordering:

"Kid, go report to Captain Liu Wei for me."

Qin Zhiming was a regular Officer, while Zhang He was only a White Officer.

Using him as a runner was the simplest thing.

"Sir!" Zhang He cried out in pain from the grip, "I'm a White Officer under the Colonel—I have to follow him."

"Hmph, the Colonel never once said you were to follow him. You think you can climb the ladder, kid?"

Qin Zhiming said, drawing his blade and pressing it against Zhang He's neck, asking viciously, "Or do you want to disobey orders?"

Without a direct order from the Colonel, a White Officer had no power to resist a regular Officer and could only be pushed around.

Why? Because the other had a permanent post, and he was an outsourced hire—that was the gap.

Hearing this, Zhang He's face turned deathly pale. He was momentarily speechless and could only nod obediently, answering, "Yes!"

"Pathetic!" Qin Zhiming kicked Zhang He hard, urging him to hurry and deliver the message.

By now, Chen Bin was completely unaware of this scene unfolding with Zhang He.

One hand firmly pressing on his sword hilt, the other holding the "Demon Sensing Plate," he pretended to rush briskly through the dark streets.

In truth, his map swept across both sides of the road, carefully scanning for any possible Red Name.

Now, at the Half Step Qi Gathering Realm, his map's detection range extended to twenty-five zhang.

Huang Yong and Huang Kaisheng followed closely behind, likewise sprinting at full speed.

Though they didn't understand why Chen Bin was rushing so urgently, their superior was ahead.

They could only follow tightly, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

They were indeed sent by Kang Ronghao, but before Chen Bin, they still didn't measure up.

After tonight's events, this lord truly would draw his blade and cut people down.

Chen Bin finally stopped before an imposing, grand courtyard.

This courtyard's walls stood tall, its vermilion lacquered gates tightly shut, with a gilded plaque hanging high above the door, inscribed with the words "Zheng Mansion," exuding an air of majesty under the dim moonlight.

"Sir, what has happened?" Huang Yong looked up at the plaque on the gate, his heart jolting violently as a foreboding sense surged within him.

"Go!" Chen Bin put on airs, tucking the "Demon Sensing Plate" into his bosom, then commanded, "Tell Liu Wei that a big job has come in."

"Sir, this place won't do!" Huang Yong recalled Kang Ronghao's warning, his heart full of worry—this Zheng Mansion was a place Little Banner Kang had specifically ordered not to investigate.

"Oh?" Chen Bin turned his head, his gaze piercing like a blade as he stared at Huang Yong, "Why won't it do?"

"Little Banner Kang ordered that this place cannot be investigated!" Fine beads of sweat broke out on Huang Yong's forehead as he answered cautiously.

He tried to invoke Kang Ronghao, hoping to awaken the other's scant sense of reverence.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Chen Bin's mouth, "Do you mean to say that Little Banner Kang is colluding with demons?"

"No, no such thing!" Huang Yong was so frightened he broke out in a cold sweat, waving his hands repeatedly.

Wasn't this slandering a superior officer?

Chen Bin's hand pressed lightly on the hilt of his blade, the metal letting out a faint scraping sound, "Then that means you're the ones colluding with demons?"

"Thump!" Huang Yong and Huang Kaisheng were so terrified they dropped straight to their knees, Huang Yong's voice trembling as he said, "I... I haven't!"

"Then prove it to me!" Chen Bin toyed with the blade in his hand, a mocking smile on his lips, "I'll give you a quarter of an hour. If I don't see Liu Wei, I'll take it as you colluding with demons, and I'll cut you down myself!

If the demon escapes, I'll count that as you tipping them off."

"Yes!" Huang Yong's voice trembled violently as he scrambled to his feet, stumbling and sprinting back the way they came.

As for Huang Kaisheng, he remained kneeling in place, his body shaking, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Chen Bin looked down at the map, seeing the Red Names [Tiger Demon] packed densely inside—a full fourteen of them!

Yet the highest Merit among them was only 9 points, not even reaching 10.

Besides that, there were seven Red Name Martial Artists, amounting to roughly forty points of Merit.

Such a large courtyard, yet hiding so many Red Names—this was a textbook case of colluding with demons!

If he didn't cut them down, it would truly be a waste.

He lifted his head again to scrutinize the plaque above the high gate, his gaze resolute, then strode forward without hesitation.

"Sir, what are you going to do?" Huang Kaisheng, still kneeling on the ground, asked in a trembling voice.

The only response he got was two words:

"Slay demons!"