Humiliation Under the City Walls

Shortly after Wang Quan left Madman Xu's foul-smelling courtyard, a commotion erupted outside Anping County. A dense horde of monsters gathered outside the city gates, their forms varied, fangs bared, a foul wind blowing. Terrified, the few civilians outside the city fled back inside, crying and screaming, as the heavy city gates slammed shut with a grating squeal.

The guards on the city wall nervously gripped their spears, watching the snarling horde below. A particularly burly Pig Demon with protruding tusks stepped forward, its voice like a muffled thunderclap. "You on the wall! Hurry and call out your Captain Chen! I have questions!"

A young guard scrambled away to deliver the message. He ran into Wei Dayong, who had heard the commotion. Wei Dayong stopped him, learned the situation, his expression darkened, and he rushed ahead to the city wall.

He suppressed his racing heart, forcing a fawning smile, and cupped his hands towards the crowd below. "Esteemed Monster Lords, please calm your anger! Regarding the matter you wish to inquire about, I know. The esteemed lords who came to collect the Blood Tax last time, we truly don't know where they took the goods! Their status is noble, how could we possibly inquire about their affairs? We already gave two extra Blood Taxes last time, showing our utmost sincerity! You see..."

"Shut up!" the Spirit Enlightenment Realm Pig Demon interrupted impatiently, its small eyes glinting fiercely. "Answer what you're asked! Why so much nonsense! Recently, several youngsters from our four great families have gone missing nearby! Speak! Did you lowly two-legged sheep do something behind our backs, ambushing them? Open the city gates quickly! I want to go in and question your captain myself! If you don't open the gates, don't blame me for smashing this broken gate!"

Just then, a steady voice sounded from behind. "No need to look, I am here."

Captain Chen had, at some unknown time, quietly ascended the city wall. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, his expression calm and unruffled, as if the ferocious monsters below were nothing more than common chickens and dogs. He swept his gaze over the horde and slowly said, "I do not know. It is not yet time for the Blood Tax. As for your people's disappearance, it has nothing to do with us. On the contrary, you have repeatedly attacked our patrol soldiers, and we have not pursued the matter. As per our agreement, you are not to enter the city. Please return. The next Blood Tax will be delivered on time."

The Pig Demon was enraged by this calm yet firm attitude, roaring, "Nonsense! I will enter the city today to search thoroughly! It must be you who harmed them..."

Before it could finish speaking, Captain Chen's right hand, hidden in his sleeve, suddenly shot out! His fingers, like a blade, slashed lightly at the ground in front of the Pig Demon!

An invisible yet incredibly sharp aura shot through the air! The hard-packed earth in front of the city gate instantly cracked open, forming a neat fissure several feet deep and over ten feet long, kicking up dust! The edges of the crack were as smooth as a mirror, emitting a chilling aura.

"Take one more step, and you die," Captain Chen's voice remained level, but carried an undeniable resolve. "I never agreed to that pact, nor was it made between you and me."

The Pig Demon's massive body froze abruptly. Feeling the terrifying residual energy from the crack, its bristles stood on end. It forcibly retracted the front hoof it had stepped forward with, and said in shock and anger, "You... you dare to make a move? Do you want war? Can you represent all of us?"

"You can step forward and try my blade," Captain Chen's gaze was as placid as a deep well.

"Roar!" "Kill this old thing!" "Charge in and eat them all!" The horde behind them erupted, stirring up a commotion.

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The Pig Demon let out a low growl, stopping its agitated companions. It stared intently at Captain Chen, gritting its teeth. "You try? That strike... I can't take it!" It then said sternly to Captain Chen, "Captain Chen! Are you declaring war on my four great demon tribes today? Can you bear the consequences?"

"Take one more step and you die," Captain Chen repeated, his tone without the slightest ripple.

Just as the atmosphere reached a breaking point, a slightly lazy yet imposing voice rang out, "Alright, enough talk from both sides."

General of the Middle Army Li Chongshan, his belly protruding, slowly strode onto the city wall. With each step he took, the solid city wall seemed to tremble slightly. He first glanced indifferently at Captain Chen, then turned to face the crowd below, a smooth smile on his face. "Commander Pig, Captain Chen said he doesn't know, so he truly doesn't know. You need to investigate the disappearance of your tribesmen yourselves. If you have concrete evidence, then we can discuss it. Causing a scene here today is simply unreasonable. Captain Chen, give them five Blood Taxes as compensation, and let this matter be settled. Everyone disperse."

Upon seeing Li Chongshan, the Pig Demon's arrogance diminished somewhat. It grunted, "Lord Li speaks reasonably. Fine, we will give Lord Li face and go back to investigate ourselves! If your people truly played a trick, it won't be this easy next time!" Its eyes darted around, and it then said with a slobbery grin, "But Lord Li, for this Blood Tax, we want something tender. Next time... how about children? The meat is more tender and smooth, hehe..."

Li Chongshan's expression remained unchanged. He waved his hand, "Enough. For the goods next time, pick stronger ones. You know, if it delays the experiments upstairs, and your old ancestor blames you, you won't be able to bear it."

Captain Chen's expression was blank. He ordered Wei Dayong, who stood beside him with clenched fists, his fingernails almost digging into his palms, "Go to the prison and bring five death row inmates to them."

Wei Dayong's chest heaved violently, his teeth clenched. Finally, a single word escaped his throat: "...Yes!" He turned abruptly and strode down the city wall.

Soon, Wei Dayong emerged from the city gates with five prisoners, their faces ashen, wearing shackles. The Pig Demon glanced at them with disdain and shouted, "Hey! We wanted young ones! This kind of goods won't do!"

Wei Dayong stopped, looked at the Pig Demon expressionlessly, his voice hoarse. "Commander Chen said, these are all there are. If you don't want them, there's nothing else."

The Pig Demon was momentarily choked, then flew into a rage. "Fine! Fine! You're ruthless!" It suddenly opened its monstrous maw and, with lightning speed, bit off the head of the prisoner closest to it! With a crisp crunch, blood splattered! The Pig Demon chewed twice, then spat out the minced flesh and bones mixed with blood onto Wei Dayong's face!

"Pah! Tough and fishy! Disgusting! We don't want it!"

The other monsters, seeing this, also grinned menacingly and stepped forward, following suit. Under the gaze of countless eyes on and off the city wall, they bit off the heads of the remaining four prisoners one by one, chewing them wantonly before spitting them onto the ground, as if discarding trash. The thick smell of blood instantly filled the air.

"Let's go!" The Pig Demon roared triumphantly, leading its horde away with swagger amidst bursts of arrogant, strange laughter.

On the city wall, there was silence. Only Wei Dayong stood frozen in place, his face smeared with warm blood and crushed meat. His body trembled slightly from extreme anger and humiliation. The ground beneath his feet was stained dark red with blood. Captain Chen watched it all silently, while Li Chongshan had already quietly departed at some unknown time.

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