Just shortly after Wang Quan left Madman Xu's bizarre, odor-filled courtyard, a commotion erupted outside the walls of Anping County. A dense crowd of Demonic Beasts gathered outside the city gate, diverse in form and baring savage fangs with a reeking gale blowing against the faces, frightening the sporadic commoners outside the city into crying for their parents as they fled back into the city, and the heavy city gates closed tightly amidst harsh, squeaking sounds.
Guards atop the city wall gripped their long spears nervously, watching the clamoring pack of demons below. At the forefront, a massively built Pig Demon with upturned tusks stepped forward, its voice like rumbling thunder: "You on the wall! Hurry up and call your Captain Chen out! This lord has questions to ask!"
A young guard scrambled away to report the message. Halfway there, he ran right into Wei Dayong, who had rushed over upon hearing the news. Wei Dayong pulled him to a stop to clarify the situation, his expression sinking as he hurried ahead to the city wall.
Suppressing his racing heart, he squeezed out a flattering smile and cupped his fists toward below the city: "Lords of the demons, calm your anger! As for the matters you wish to ask about, this little one knows nothing. Those lords from your esteemed side who came to collect the blood tax last time—where they went with the cargo, we truly do not know! They hold lofty status, and how could their actions be something we dare pry into? Last time we already gave two extra portions of blood tax, showing utter sincerity! As you can see..."
"Shut your mouth!" the Spirit Realm Pig Demon interrupted impatiently, its small eyes baring Fierce Light: "Answer whatever you are asked! Where did all this nonsense come from? Recently, a few juniors from our Four Great Lineages have gone missing nearby! Speak! Was it you vile two-legged sheep who secretly plotted behind the scenes and slaughtered them? Open the city gate quickly! This lord wants to go in personally and ask your captain to make things clear! If you still won't open the gate, don't blame this lord for smashing this broken door of yours!"
At that moment, a steady voice sounded from behind: "No need to look, I am here."
Captain Chen had quietly ascended the city wall at some point, his hands tucked inside his sleeves, his expression calm and unruffled, as if that group of ferocious Demonic Beasts below the city were merely worthless dogs. His gaze swept across the demon pack, and he said slowly: "I do not know. The time for the blood tax has not arrived. As for the disappearance of your people, it has nothing to do with us. On the other hand, you have repeatedly ambushed and killed our city-patrolling soldiers, and we have yet to pursue the matter. There is an agreement beforehand, and you cannot enter the city. Please return. The next blood tax will naturally be delivered on time."
The Pig Demon was provoked by this calm yet hardline attitude, roaring: "Bulls***! This lord is coming into the city today to search and find out clearly! It must be you lot who harmed..."
Before it could finish speaking, Captain Chen's right hand, tucked inside his sleeve, suddenly shot out! With fingers together like a blade, he gently slashed through the air toward the ground in front of the Pig Demon!
An invisible yet incomparably sharp and fierce burst of energy broke through the air! The hard rammed-earth ground before the city gate split open in response, revealing a neat fissure several feet deep and over a zhang long, sending dust flying! The edges of the crack were as smooth as a mirror, radiating a bone-chilling cold.
"Take another step forward, and die." Captain Chen's voice remained flat, yet it carried unquestionable resolve. "I never supported that agreement in the first place, nor was it established between you and me."
The Pig Demon's massive physique stiffened abruptly. Sensing the terrifying lingering aura within that fissure, its bristles stood on end, and it forcibly pulled back the front hoof it had stepped out, alarmed and furious: "You... you dare make a move? Do you want to start a war? Can you represent all of you?"
"You may step forward and test my blade." Captain Chen's gaze was as calm as an ancient well.
"Roar!" "Kill this old thing!" "Rush in and devour them all!" The demon pack behind instantly exploded into a din, clamoring noisily.
The Pig Demon, however, let out a low roar, halting its restless companions. It stared fixedly at Captain Chen, grinding its teeth: "You want me to test it? That blade... this lord cannot block it!" It turned instead and barked harshly at Captain Chen: "Captain Chen! Is what you are doing today meant to start a war with our Four Great Demon Races? Can you bear these consequences?"
"Step forward and die," Captain Chen repeated, his tone devoid of the slightest ripple.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense to the breaking point, a slightly lazy yet imposing voice rang out: "Alright, both of you say a little less."
General of the Middle Army Li Chongshan appeared, protruding his belly as he slowly paced up onto the city wall. With every step he took, the heavy city wall seemed to tremble slightly in unison. He first glanced indifferently at Captain Chen, then turned toward below the city, a smooth smile on his face: "Commander Pig, since Captain Chen says he does not know, then he truly does not know. The disappearance of your clansmen still requires you to investigate carefully yourselves. If you have solid proof, it is not too late to come back and reason. Making a ruckus here today is truly unreasonable. Captain Chen, give them five blood taxes as a token of pacification, let this matter end right here, and everyone disperse."
Seeing Li Chongshan, the Pig Demon's arrogance subsided somewhat, and it grunted: "Lord Li speaks with reason. Very well, we will give Lord Li this face and go back to investigate ourselves! If it truly was you lot playing tricks, next time won't be so cheap!" Its eyes rolled, and it fawned shamelessly: "But Lord Li, this time for the blood tax, we want some tender ones. Next time... how about switching to children? The meat is smoother, hehe..."
Li Chongshan's expression remained unchanged as he waved a hand: "Alright, next time the cargo must also be chosen stronger. You know that if the experiments above are delayed and your Old Ancestor blames you for it, you cannot bear the responsibility."
Captain Chen expressionlessly gave an order to Wei Dayong, who stood beside him with clenched fists and nails digging almost into his palms: "Go to the dungeon, pull out five death-row prisoners, and hand them over."
Wei Dayong's chest heaved violently, his teeth biting down hard until he finally squeezed a single word from his throat: "...Understood!" He turned abruptly, striding heavily down the city wall.
Before long, Wei Dayong emerged from the city gate with five prisoners in shackles and ashen complexions. The Pig Demon glanced over in disgust and shouted: "Hey! We wanted young ones! This kind of trash won't do!"
Wei Dayong stopped in his tracks, looking at the Pig Demon expressionlessly with a hoarse voice: "Commander Chen said, these are all there are. Take them or leave them."
The Pig Demon choked for a moment, growing furious with embarrassment: "Good! Good! You lot are ruthless!" It abruptly opened its blood-fed maw, and with lightning speed, bit off the head of the prisoner closest to it in a single snap! With a crisp crack, blood sprayed everywhere! The Pig Demon chewed twice, then spat the shredded meat and bones mixed with blood straight into Wei Dayong's face!
"Bah! Tough and fishy! Disgusting! We don't want them!"
Seeing this, the remaining demons also grinned hideously as they stepped forward, following suit. Under the gaze of countless eyes atop and below the city wall, they bit off the heads of the remaining four prisoners one by one, chewing wantonly before spitting them onto the ground as if discarding trash. A rich, heavy scent of blood instantly permeated the air.
"Let's go!" The Pig Demon roared victoriously, leading a pack of demons away in a swagger amidst a flurry of frenzied, eccentric laughter.
Up on the city wall, dead silence reigned. Only Wei Dayong stood frozen in place, his face stained with warm gore and shredded flesh, his body trembling slightly from extreme fury and humiliation. The ground beneath his feet had been dyed dark red with blood. Captain Chen watched it all silently, while Li Chongshan had quietly slipped away at some unknown moment.
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