A young man clenched his teeth and shouted furiously, "Since we can't get away, let's fight these Demonic Beasts to the death!"
"Fight with what? Kitchen knives or hoes? We're all skinny and weak. Wouldn't we just be throwing our lives away? Weren't Meng Qi and the others enough?"
Li Baotian barked at the young man to be quiet, then, trembling, stepped out from the crowd and cupped his hands. "My lord, we're all poor folk. Whatever you need, just say the word. We only ask that you spare our lives."
"You old geezer, I didn't realize you were so sensible." The dog demon laughed.
"Ten pairs of virgin boys and girls, and thirty young women and old ladies."
The dog demon counted off on his sharp claws, each word falling into the crowd like an arrow. A chorus of angry curses and arguments immediately erupted.
"Go to hell! Why don't you send your own children?"
Just then, Su Ye abruptly turned at the sound behind him and saw Meng Daniu gasping for breath. "My lord, I finally found you!"
When he reached Su Ye and spotted the crowd and the Wolf Demon not far away, he panicked. "My lord, what's going on?"
"I'll take care of it. Why were you looking for me in the middle of the night?" Su Ye asked curtly.
"My lord, Meng Qi and the others said Demonic Beasts were attacking, so they told us to gather and resist them together."
Su Ye's expression remained calm. He'd only mentioned it in passing earlier. What other people chose to do had nothing to do with him. But helping them was a small thing, so he would if he could.
Meng Daniu suddenly cried out, "My lord, that dog demon's moving!"
"Enough dithering. Since you can't decide, I'll choose for you." The dog demon grinned and launched itself at them.
"Y-Your Lordship—"
Su Ye drove off with both legs and charged straight at the dog demon, aiming a slash at its neck. His blade swept through the air with a mournful whistle, making the demon turn its head toward him.
"You've got guts!"
The dog demon abruptly changed course and raised the wooden club in its hand to block the blow.
The blade came down with tremendous force. The club snapped at once, and blood sprayed across half the dog demon's face as it crumpled to the ground.
"It's Lord Su!"
"My lord has arrived!"
After landing his strike, Su Ye didn't pause for an instant. His gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed on the two dog demons behind the crowd, their faces frozen in astonishment.
The two dog demons flew into a rage. "Where'd this brat come from? How dare he ruin our fun?"
"Second Brother, let's take him down together. And leave none of these morsels alive, lest trouble come of it."
The two dog demons charged without the slightest fear.
"Just what I wanted."
Su Ye remained calm as his long blade gathered momentum. He waited for the demons to throw themselves into his trap.
Closer. Closer.
Now! The blade suddenly unleashed more power than ever before, its speed surging as it swept upward like a crescent moon. With a ripping sound, the first dog demon to attack was hurled dozens of meters, like a torn sack.
"Shouldn't have been so reckless."
The other dog demon clenched its backside in fear. No longer daring to charge so fiercely, it turned and fled.
"Too late to run."
Su Ye pushed off with both legs like a cannonball fired from its barrel and gave chase. Before long, he had slain the last dog demon. Only then did he open his status panel to check what he'd gained.
Slayed [Early Sentience · Dog Demon] and gained 15 Assistance Points Slayed [Early Sentience · Dog Demon] and gained 18 Assistance Points Slayed [Early Sentience · Dog Demon] and gained 19 Assistance Points
The panel's notification put him in an excellent mood. His newly acquired Dragon Tiger Vajra Skill had been starving for nourishment, and now he finally had a way to feed it.
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As he turned to leave, Su Ye noticed a courtyard nearby and couldn't help wondering. Kaoshan Town was nothing but a remote, impoverished place. How could a wealthy family have a home like this?
In the distance stood a courtyard wall of green bricks and black tiles. Its heavy gate was carved with dragons and phoenixes. Even in Linshan County, such a sight was uncommon.
Curious, Su Ye approached the gate, then faintly heard—
"Ah! Ah!"
The cries came from inside the courtyard. Su Ye furrowed his brow. Could there be another Demonic Beast? He vaulted over the wall and followed the sounds. The cries grew clearer with every step.
He peered in through a window as before, only to see a man and a woman on a broad rosewood bed, covered by a quilt and moving about beneath it.
After the man let out a low groan, the woman spoke in a sultry voice. "Young Master Qin, you're so naughty. You've made me sore all over."
The man called Young Master Qin panted heavily and squeezed the woman's chest. "When we get back to the county seat, I'll give you a proper lesson."
Her cheeks flushed. She asked, "We went to so much trouble to get away for a while. Why go back? It's so peaceful here."
"You foolish woman, what do you know?" Young Master Qin stroked her body, looking smug. "My father said things have been unsettled outside these past few days. Demonic Beasts might be on the loose."
"Ah! Young Master, doesn't that mean we're in danger?" the woman cried.
Young Master Qin looked even more pleased with himself. "As long as you stay inside this courtyard, I guarantee you'll be safe."
Hearing that, Su Ye was puzzled. Who was Young Master Qin's father, and how did he know where the Demonic Beasts were headed? How could he dare make such a boast?
Something about this was quite suspicious. He had to get to the bottom of it. With that thought, Su Ye raised his right foot and kicked hard. With a bang, the wooden window flew off its hinges and crashed into the room.
"Who—?!"
The man and woman's relaxed moods instantly tightened with fear. In their panic, they pulled the quilt over themselves. Su Ye jumped into the room and sized them up.
Young Master Qin looked over at him, and when he saw Su Ye in official robes, his confidence returned. He barked, "Who said you could barge in? Don't you know this is my residence? Get out right now!"
Young Master Qin's real name was Qin Hao. As a direct descendant of the Qin Lineage, he had plenty of reason to act arrogant and domineering. The Qin family was among the most powerful and influential in Linshan County.
The family had several Late Body Tempering Martial Artists, as well as a Meridian Mirror expert to guard them. Their businesses reached across brothels and gambling houses, and they even controlled the county seat's salt and iron trade from behind the scenes.
The constables in the local yamen were usually just servants he could order around at will.
Qin Hao saw Su Ye standing unmoved, and his anger flared. "You dog! I told you to get out. Didn't you hear me?"
The woman pointed at Su Ye, her face full of fury. Before she could even speak, a flash of blade light suddenly streaked past. The woman's head rolled onto the silk quilt, leaving a spreading stain of crimson.
"You... You—"
Su Ye held his long blade and looked at the stammering Young Master Qin. Calmly, he said, "Your name. Who's your father? And how did you know the Demonic Beasts were coming? Say one more useless thing, and I'll tear off all four of your limbs."
"You dare, brat? Get Huang Qianqing over here!"
The blade flashed. A spray of blood, along with an arm, fell to the floor.
"Ah... I'll talk... I'll talk." Qin Hao clutched his severed arm and cried out in pain. "My name is Qin Hao. I'm part of the Qin family in the county seat. My father is the Qin family's Second Master, Qin Ganghu. I only heard about the Demonic Beasts from him."
"How did your father learn of the Demonic Beasts' movements? And what's the story with this courtyard?" Su Ye asked.
"My father only told me not to leave this courtyard at night. Even if Demonic Beasts attacked, they'd go around this place."
"As for where the Demonic Beasts are headed, I really don't know," Qin Hao answered quickly.
At that, Su Ye suddenly raised his long blade and brought it down toward Qin Hao's neck.
Qin Hao's soul nearly fled his body. He hurriedly begged for mercy. "It's true! Everything I said is true! You can't kill me!"
"My Qin family has eyes and ears everywhere in Linshan County. If you kill me, you won't get away with it! And—and my uncle is Magistrate Chen, the Magistrate of Linshan County!"
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