"What do you mean by this?"
Chen Guan stepped forward to dodge the stones the townspeople were throwing, then shouted his question.
County Lieutenant Li Tong stood atop the city wall, watching him with a sinister smile.
"Chen Guan, you still refuse to confess and submit to the law? We already know you colluded with the demons of Tushan!"
Li Tong's words instantly roused the crowd's anger.
Chen Guan and Qin Yanran exchanged a glance, both at a loss as to where this accusation had come from.
He knew perfectly well that Li Tong was the one colluding with the demons.
And now he was turning the tables and accusing Chen Guan!
"Lord Li, why are you making baseless accusations against Young Master Chen? Please present your evidence!"
Qin Yanran couldn't hold back any longer and challenged him.
But Li Tong merely looked at her smugly. "Miss Qin, don't think I'm unaware. You and Chen Guan colluded with the demons and let them into the city. That demon attack on you earlier was nothing but a ruse to make yourselves look like victims!"
The townspeople clearly believed his words.
Qin Wanshan now appeared beside Li Tong. "Yanran, I never thought that after all the effort I put into raising you, you'd turn out to be this kind of person! I truly misjudged you!"
Chen Guan let out a cold laugh. "You say we colluded with the demons. Can you show us any evidence?"
"That's easy. Didn't you come back from Tushan?"
Li Tong's words made Chen Guan nod. "That's right!"
"Then that's your evidence. Everyone in the city knows how dangerous Tushan is. A hundred-man squad would be marching to its death if it went up that mountain! Yet the two of you came back down alive. If you hadn't colluded with the demons, how else could that have happened?"
Li Tong spoke as if he'd caught Chen Guan by the tail.
His words brimmed with smug satisfaction.
Chen Guan truly had no way to refute him.
If he claimed that he'd escaped Tushan through sheer strength, no one in the city would believe him.
"Seize them! I'll have you arrested and avenge the townspeople who died!"
Li Tong didn't want to waste any more time arguing with him.
At his command, more than a thousand soldiers charged forward, weapons in hand.
Seeing that there was no way to clear their names, Chen Guan quickly led Qin Yanran away.
The two hid in a Broken Temple not far outside the city. The torrential rain outside seemed to be voicing their grievances.
"Young Master, we can't let them slander us like this!"
Qin Yanran looked at him, indignant.
Chen Guan nodded. "Hide here for now. I'll go back to the city and take a look!"
With that, he rose and left the Broken Temple.
On the way, he opened the System Panel.
[Host: Chen Guan] [Lifespan: 4 years] [Demon Lifespan: 190 years] [Martial Art: Pecking Sparrow Strength (Mortal Grade High Rank) Lifespan required to upgrade to the next realm: 0/70 years] [Martial Art: Whirlwind Wind Steps (Mortal Grade High Rank) Lifespan required to upgrade to the next realm: 0/300 years] [Cultivation Method: Dragon Elephant Subduing Demon Art (Mystic Grade Low Rank) Current progress: 3/9, Lifespan required to upgrade to the next realm: 0/800 years]
To keep advancing, he would have to slay more demons.
The Dragon Elephant Subduing Demon Art required eight hundred years of lifespan to advance. The cost was terrifying!
After night fell, the soldiers camped outside the city all returned to their tents.
Using Whirlwind Wind Steps, Chen Guan slipped into the city without a sound.
Now that his Whirlwind Wind Steps had reached the pinnacle, he moved so fast that no one could detect him.
He didn't head to the County Office. Instead, he made his way to the brightly lit Qin Family residence.
"Master, the eldest young miss is hiding outside the city. Our people haven't found her."
At the report from his subordinate, Qin Wanshan furrowed his brows. "Use as many men and resources as it takes to bring her back! She still has that thing on her!"
Their conversation fell clearly on Chen Guan's ears.
His thoughts stirred as he remembered the golden light that had suddenly appeared around Qin Yanran on Tushan.
The reason Qin Yanran had kept getting attacked was probably that very thing!
"Come on. Lord Li has been waiting for us. I hear the county will be completely under our control in just a few days!"
Qin Wanshan spoke with great satisfaction and led his subordinates out of the Qin Family residence.
Chen Guan used Whirlwind Wind Steps to follow close behind.
He followed Qin Wanshan and the others to the County Office—and saw an unbelievable sight!
Dozens of constables had brought hundreds of children from the city and were waiting at the entrance.
"Are all the children ready?"
Qin Wanshan wasn't surprised to see them. Instead, he asked the question.
The leading constable hurriedly nodded. "Rest assured, Mr. Qin. These children were prepared by Lord Li some time ago. We'll send them to the Tushan King in a few days!"
"Keep a close watch on them. Don't let anyone from the Demon Suppressing Division find out!"
Qin Wanshan nodded, gave his instructions, and stepped into the County Office.
Chen Guan was about to follow when he suddenly sensed an extremely powerful presence inside.
It was far stronger than Guo Pin, whom he'd encountered before.
If he went in recklessly, he would surely be discovered.
After thinking it over, he decided not to follow them. Instead, he tailed the constables to see where the children were being held.
"Brother, this Great Demon is outrageous. He needs so many boys and girls!"
The subordinate's words displeased the constable. "This has nothing to do with you or me. We do as our superiors command. How dare you talk about the Great King? Do you want to die?"
His words silenced the subordinate.
The children were being held in a storeroom behind the County Office.
If Chen Guan hadn't followed them, no one might ever have found out!
He considered it, then decided not to act immediately. Instead, he returned to the Broken Temple.
Qin Yanran had already fallen fast asleep. He didn't wake her, but quietly thought through his next move.
He had to save those children.
And with them as evidence, he could clear his name before the townspeople.
Then the collusion between the County Office, the Qin Family, and the demons could no longer be concealed!
Qingshi County would finally be safe.
He spent the night without sleep.
The next morning.
Chen Guan went to a village near the county seat.
Many of the villagers there were frantically searching for their children, their eyes filled with panic.
"It's Chen Guan! Run!"
As soon as the villagers saw him approaching, they tried to flee.
Chen Guan used Whirlwind Wind Steps to appear in front of them.
"Everyone, hear me out. You've all been deceived by that scoundrel Li Tong. They're the ones who took your children!"
Chen Guan cupped his hands and spoke with firm conviction.
The villagers stared at him, their faces full of suspicion.
"I know you don't believe me right now. Tomorrow, I can bring one of the children back and prove it to you!"
His plan was simple.
He wanted all the townspeople to believe him.
Then he could gather their strength to oppose Li Tong. The people's power was boundless.
"Look!"
Before the villagers could decide what to think, someone pointed toward the city.
Everyone looked closely.
A woman was hanging from the city wall, bound hand and foot.
The blazing sun made her scream in agony.
Since Chen Guan had sneaked into the Qin Family residence the previous day, he recognized her at once: she was Qin Yanran's mother.
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