Killing Intent in the Dark Night

Thirty to forty years flew by.

The demon scourge in Ping'an County grew increasingly severe.

Especially during the twenty years Cao De served as the Centurion of the Jinyiwei Baihu Office in Ping'an County, the situation in Ping'an County took a sharp downturn. The Jinyiwei were so suppressed by the demons and devils that they were confined to the city, afraid to venture out.

The demons and devils multiplied, eventually occupying Black Mountain and becoming a rampant disaster. Now, the entire city of Ping'an County has been silently taken over by them.

They control officials and prey on the common people, draining them dry. How terrifying is this?

Fortunately, with the appearance of Lu Xuenning and Chen Fan, Huang Chengyue saw hope for peace and stability to return to Ping'an County.

"Godfather, don't worry. As long as Chen Fan and I are here, Ping'an County will definitely get better and better."

Lu Xuenning glanced at Huang Chengyue and spoke.

"Godfather?"

Chen Fan was stunned by the remark, then his eyes widened as he shifted his gaze between Huang Chengyue and Lu Xuenning.

He never imagined that Lu Xuenning and Huang Chengyue had such a relationship.

"Xuenning's father was also a Jinyiwei, and my friend. He was Lu Fang, the former Jinyiwei Zongqi Officer before Li Mo. He led his Jinyiwei brothers to clear out Black Mountain, but was killed by demons and devils. That's why Li Mo took over as the new Jinyiwei Baihu Office Zongqi Officer for Ping'an County."

"I have strong reason to suspect that Cao De colluded with the Black Mountain demons and devils to kill Brother Lu, aiming to eliminate rivals and promote his confidant, Li Mo, to power."

"Xuenning was only one year old when Brother Lu died. Upon hearing the news, Xuenning's mother was heartbroken and passed away not long after."

"Later, my wife and I adopted Xuenning. When she was thirteen, I sent her to Longyuan Prefecture to study under a master. She only recently returned as Ping'an County's ninth-rank Black-Robed Head Catcher."

Huang Chengyue spoke with deep emotion.

Watching his dear friend's daughter grow up and surpass him in strength, he was immensely pleased.

He had finally lived up to his promise!

It was also thanks to Huang Chengyue's help that Lu Xuenning had the conditions for medicinal baths to temper her bones and muscles from a young age. Her physique developed by thirteen, and through Huang Chengyue's connections, she began martial arts training under a renowned master. Ultimately, she reached the peak of the Spirit Concealment Realm at a young age, with breaking through to the Spirit Aperture Realm just around the corner.

"No wonder you were so certain that Commander Huang was upright and a good person, and wouldn't collude with demons and devils. And the information you have about them must have come from Commander Huang, right?"

Chen Fan glanced at Lu Xuenning and asked.

"Congratulations, you're correct, but there's no prize."

"It's getting late. We've been busy all day. Everyone should go back and rest early."

"Also, arrange for personnel to patrol in three shifts to ensure the safety of Ping'an County at night."

"Before, everyone said that the daytime in Ping'an County belonged to humans, and the night belonged to demons and devils. From today onwards, whether it's day or night, Ping'an County will forever belong to us humans!"

Lu Xuenning addressed the constables accompanying her.

Seeing that there was nothing more for him, Chen Fan returned to the Jinyiwei barracks.

As night fell, the Jinyiwei barracks became deserted again. He encountered a few brothers on duty, who greeted Chen Fan proactively.

Among them were those who had followed Li Mo to intercept him today, but they had no choice. They dared not offend Chen Fan, and even less so Li Mo and Centurion Cao!

Just as Chen Fan returned to the Jinyiwei barracks, a figure quietly slipped away and headed towards the county town.

The south gate of the county town had long been closed, but their Jinyiwei Baihu Office was in the eastern suburbs. For convenience, they had opened a small door next to the east gate.

This door was guarded by Jinyiwei personnel and only allowed one person to pass. Chen Fan used this door to enter and exit the Jinyiwei barracks from the county town.

Shortly after.

At Cao De's residence.

In the courtyard.

Jinyiwei Zongqi Officer Li Mo and several Xiaoqi Officers were present, along with some unfamiliar faces. They were ferocious-looking and enormous, undeniably demons and devils!

"Reporting to the Centurion, Chen Fan has returned to the Jinyiwei barracks!"

A Jinyiwei member, who had sneaked out of the barracks, rushed into Cao De's house and reported.

He was startled to see the more than a dozen demons and devils in Cao De's house.

He had occasionally heard rumors before that their Centurion Cao colluded with demons and devils, but he had dismissed them as mere gossip. Today, he had witnessed it firsthand.

"Everyone, I believe you all know what happened in Ping'an County today."

"Chen Fan, Ping'an County's constable Lu Xuenning, and that old scoundrel Huang Chengyue, along with the constables and yamen runners from the County Yamen, swept through the homes of officials and yamen runners, killing many members of the Demon Race."

"The remaining Demon Race members are gathered here. If you don't act now, they might conduct a carpet search tomorrow, and none of you will survive."

"Furthermore, once the Demon Race in Ping'an County are all killed, it will be tantamount to declaring war on the demons of Black Mountain. With our current strength, even with myself and Commander Li, we are no match for the three demons of Black Mountain."

"Chen Fan and the others have caused a great disaster. If we want to quell the wrath of the Black Mountain demons, protect the people of Ping'an County from being slaughtered, and prevent ourselves from being held accountable by the Black Mountain demons, there is only one path forward."

"That is to kill the culprits: Chen Fan, Lu Xuenning, and Huang Chengyue. Their blood and heads will be used to appease the wrath of the Black Mountain demons."

"I specifically summoned the dozen or so remaining members of the Demon Race in Ping'an County today to invite them to participate in this operation and to bear witness, proving that we have no intention of being enemies with the Black Mountain demons."

"The reason things have turned out this way is entirely due to the personal actions of Chen Fan, Lu Xuenning, and Huang Chengyue. We must continue to uphold our previous agreement, maintain stability and security in Ping'an County, and coexist harmoniously with the Demon Race!"

Cao De spoke with righteous indignation.

Many people were inwardly grumbling, but they also had their own selfish motives. They feared the demons and devils and believed that Chen Fan and the others were no match for the Black Mountain demons.

So, to avoid being torn to shreds by the enraged Black Mountain demon horde, they had no choice but to board Cao De's pirate ship!

"Baihu Master, please give the order!"

"Whomever you order us to kill, we will kill. For the future of Ping'an County, we will not shirk our duty!"

Li Mo said loudly.

"We will not shirk our duty!"

Seeing Li Mo pledge his loyalty, the others also voiced their support, speaking in unison.

"Chen Fan is the biggest variable. Kill him first, and while we're at it, send these dozen or so Demon Race brothers out of the city to report back to Black Mountain. Then we'll double back and kill that old bastard Huang Chengyue."

"Lu Xuenning is his adopted daughter, so she probably lives at Huang Chengyue's mansion too."

"Li Mo, you climbed to power over the corpse of Lu Xuenning's father, Lu Fang. This time, you'll finish Lu Xuenning yourself. A family should be complete, after all."

Cao De looked meaningfully at Li Mo, a devilish smile on his face.

"Enough nonsense!"

"You send us out of the city first. After we leave, we will help you kill Chen Fan, and then we will return to the mountain. We will report your contributions to the three Demon Kings."

A black ape said in a deep voice.

However, a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes as he thought:

"Nearly a third of Black Mountain's Demon Race has been lost in Ping'an County. You still think of maintaining the previous peace? You're dreaming."

"When we return to Black Mountain and report what happened here, the wrath of the three Black Mountain Demon Kings will incinerate this entire county town."

"And all you damned humans will become our blood food!"

"Hmph!"