Li Baotian cupped his hands and said, "This humble one doesn't know."
Having failed to learn Su Ye's whereabouts, the two immediately began examining the numerous demonic corpses strewn across the ground. After carefully identifying them, the older yamen runner fell silent for a long while before saying, "Lu You, what do you think?"
The younger yamen runner replied, "These demonic beasts all died beneath a blade. However, the weapon that caused all this is truly somewhat exaggerated."
"Take this Tiger Demon, for example. Its injury is on the chest, yet its entire torso is practically filled with wounds."
"This Lord Su's strength is extraordinary, and the weapon he uses is extremely rare as well. We must report this matter to the County Lieutenant when we return."
The conversation between the two yamen runners fell into Su Ye's ears word for word. Seeing them enter the town office, Su Ye only then left the side alley.
"Boss, I'm afraid their coming to Kaoshan Town is part of a scheme by some major figure in the county city," Big Black speculated.
"It probably is."
"These two clearly know some secrets. Otherwise, they wouldn't have hidden outside the town to observe the situation within. Only after confirming that everything was fine did they dare enter."
"It should be related to that magistrate. He had just reached an agreement with the demonic beasts, and now, yamen runners appeared around the town that very night."
"How about we kill these two first?" Big Black suggested.
Su Ye gently shook his head. "There's no rush. Let's first see what medicine they're selling in their gourd."
With that, he lifted his leg and headed toward the town office. When the farmers saw him, they all called out at once.
"My lord, you're back."
"This humble one will arrange for water to be boiled and food prepared at once. I'll bring it to you shortly."
After nodding to everyone in acknowledgment, Su Ye entered the town office directly.
The two yamen runners in the main hall had just sat down when they heard the commotion outside. They exchanged a glance and hurriedly rose to their feet.
In the corridor of the town office, the older yamen runner saw the newcomer. His figure was tall and slender, differing slightly from his memory, so he couldn't help asking, "Could you be Su Ye, Lord Su?"
"You recognize me? How should I address the two of you?" Su Ye asked coldly.
The older yamen runner hurriedly said, "I am Song Ren, and this is Lu You. When we were serving in the yamen, we were fortunate enough to meet Constable Su once."
"What business brings you here?" Su Ye asked.
The three entered the main hall together, and Song Ren continued, "Lord Su, we came here under the orders of the County Lord to invite all the officials stationed outside to return to the county city for a discussion."
"What are we discussing?"
"How would lowly clerks like us know about such matters?" Song Ren hurriedly replied.
Su Ye took a sip of tea and pondered briefly. "From what you're saying, everyone stationed outside has to return?"
"Yes, yes. The yamen runners stationed in all eighteen towns within Linshan County are returning to the county office for a discussion," Song Ren said solemnly.
Su Ye's gaze narrowed slightly. What trick is that old magistrate up to? He tacitly allowed the demonic beasts to slaughter the towns at will, and now he's summoning the yamen constables stationed everywhere back.
Could it be that he failed to obtain the blood-and-flesh elixir from the demonic beasts and wants to refine it himself? And what exactly is this elixir used for? Could the Corpse Demon Cult be directing things from the shadows?
It was said that the members of this cult needed vast amounts of blood and flesh to nourish themselves whenever they refined zombies or cultivated.
Judging from the information he had obtained, the appearance of members of the Corpse Demon Cult in the city was certainly inseparable from Magistrate Chen.
Since Big Black could discover traces of the Corpse Demon Cult, there was no reason the Demon Suppression Division couldn't notice them as well. Or could it be that the Demon Suppression Division was fishing for a bigger catch?
Inside the hall, Su Ye summoned Liu Baotian and gave him a few instructions. He then turned and returned to his bedroom. Big Black stood on the armrest of a wooden chair and asked in confusion, "Boss, are we really going back to the county city?"
"We are. Before we go, investigate the Qin family and the Black Tiger Gang."
He continued, "Big Black, your task this time is important. First, see whether there are any traces of the Demon Suppression Division in the city. As for the Corpse Demon Cult, pay special attention to it."
"Got it, Boss. I'll go now."
Su Ye nodded slightly, but secretly pondered whether he should kill Song Ren and Lu You. The Ghost Head Saber was too conspicuous. If they told Zhou Tao that he had killed the Qin family's young master, there would be a risk of exposing himself.
When the time came, he would face retaliation from the Qin family. However, too many people had seen this saber, and Su Ye couldn't help shaking his head.
It seems impossible to hide this. After all, I can't kill everyone in Kaoshan Town and Xinghua Town.
However, judging by Zhou Tao's conduct, he was clearly at odds with the magistrate's faction. Perhaps he had also sensed the existence of the Corpse Demon Cult.
One had to understand that the Great Xia court still had some room for tolerance toward demonic beasts. The human and demon races had forged a blood feud since ancient times, but after such a long passage of time, both sides had long grown accustomed to each other's existence.
The Corpse Demon Cult was different, however. The events in Yunhuang Prefecture thirty years ago were still vivid in everyone's minds, and the Demon Extermination Order remained prominently displayed in the capital cities of every prefecture.
That must be it. Otherwise, Zhou Tao wouldn't have taken such a huge risk.
When he met Zhou Tao, perhaps he could obtain the Internal Cultivation method he wanted.
Speaking of cultivation methods, the best solution was to join a sect or the Demon Suppression Division. Not only could he freeload advanced cultivation methods, but he could also obtain pills and guidance from renowned teachers.
If he joined a martial-world faction, he would have to start from the very bottom. To obtain a profound cultivation inheritance, he would need to endure at least a decade or two of hard work.
His heart still leaned toward the Demon Suppression Division. If he joined a sect and hid in the mountains all day, even when there were matters involving slaying demons and eliminating evil, he would be constrained.
According to the previous owner's testing, this body of his had no talent for practicing Martial Arts at all.
As for using Assistance Points to deduce cultivation methods, doing so with Su Ye's current realm was simply not worth it.
His strength was not yet enough to let him rest easy. At most, he only possessed some ability to protect himself within Linshan County. Using all his Assistance Points to improve his strength was the proper course.
It seems joining the Demon Suppression Division is inevitable.
Slaying demonic beasts would earn him Assistance Points as well as merits, which could be exchanged for cultivation methods and pills. With such a virtuous cycle, he would thrive.
Ideally, it would be like the county office, where he could freely select items from a cultivation-method repository or something similar. He only needed one opportunity, and with the system's recording function, he could accomplish everything in one stroke.
How to join was a difficult problem. He didn't even know where the Demon Suppression Division was.
Now that he was returning to the county city to try his luck, finding higher-level cultivation methods and Martial Arts could also ease his predicament.
At that moment, a knock sounded from outside, followed by Song Ren's voice. "Lord Su, are you ready?"
Hearing this, Su Ye pushed open the door and walked out. This man is in quite a hurry. It seems this trip to Linshan County didn't go as smoothly as he hoped.
With his strength, even if trouble arose, he could escape with ease.
"Let's go," Su Ye said indifferently.
The horizon looked as though it had been set ablaze, and the outline of the distant county city was already close at hand. It was noon, and figures darted about at the city gate, making the place exceptionally lively.
At the city gate, several guards welcomed them with broad smiles. The guard at their head said, "Constable Su, it's been many days. You look as dashing as ever."
"Gentlemen, you flatter me."
After exchanging greetings with the guards, they passed through the city gate and entered the city. Among the guards, a young man in his twenties watched Su Ye's departing back, his gaze flickering slightly. He then hurried away.
Su Ye had only just entered the city when the notice posted beside the city gate caught his attention. There were only a few wanted portraits on it.
Though he merely glanced at them, his footsteps soon paused as a familiar face entered his sight.
The words beneath the portrait read:
Zhou Tao, male, thirty-nine years old, formerly the County Lieutenant of Linshan County. He is related to the disappearance case from half a year ago, and conclusive evidence proves that he colluded with demonic beasts. A reward of one thousand taels of silver is now offered. Anyone who provides information will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver.
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