The Tragic Massacre of the Lincuan Shen Family

Administrative Hall.

"Lord Lu, with this token and seal, you can complete the handover and shift rotation with your colleagues in Linchuan County. Please be sure to keep them safe."

"Also, your official uniform has been finished; it's all here."

The clerk Old Zhou placed an official satchel on the counter.

Lu Yuan took it, opened it to take a look, and then stowed the items away.

Old Zhou's voice sounded in his ears once more.

"Lord Lu, demons have been appearing frequently in Linchuan County lately. Even a veteran Demon Suppression Captain like Zhao Heng is feeling the pressure. If things become impossible, please don't force yourself."

"Alright, I've got it."

Lu Yuan responded with a smile, cupped his hands in a salute, and turned to walk outside.

Old Zhou tidied the counter while keeping his eyes fixed on Lu Yuan's retreating back.

He remembered clearly that on the day he joined, this man was only at the second level of the Mortal Realm.

With that level of cultivation, he wouldn't even rank at the bottom of the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division.

At the time, he had sighed inwardly, fearing the boy wouldn't go very far.

Yet, how many days had passed since then?

He had eliminated a Blood Demon, destroyed a Corpse Demon, beheaded Yan Jiuyuan of the Longevity Cult, and wiped out the Chixia County branch.

And now, just moments ago, he had received the seal and token in that satchel.

Old Zhou had lived for more than half a lifetime, but he had never heard of anything so unrealistic.

Even in the legends told in teahouses, the protagonist had to go through a gradual process.

First, they find a famous master, then they cultivate bitterly for years, occasionally stumble upon a stroke of luck, and endure life-or-death trials.

Even geniuses need time to grow, but Lu Yuan did not.

It was as if something in the dark was pushing him, allowing him to smash through all shackles with unstoppable force.

Old Zhou had spent decades in the Demon Suppression Division; he had seen mediocre talents, true geniuses, flash-in-the-pan wonders, and late bloomers.

But someone like Lu Yuan, who had only reached the foot of the mountain yesterday and was already standing at the peak today?

He had stood above everyone else without a sound, and by the time everyone else reacted, he had already traveled so far that only a blurred silhouette remained.

Old Zhou snapped back to reality; beyond the doors of the Administrative Hall, Lu Yuan's back had already vanished, leaving not even a shadow to be seen.

He looked quietly at Lu Yuan's file.

The entry records, combat assessment, and service history were all written clearly, stroke by stroke, yet he felt these strokes couldn't capture even one ten-thousandth of that young man.

He picked up his brush, held the tip suspended above the paper, and paused for a long time.

A stunning talent!

Indeed, such a thing as a truly stunning talent existed in this world.

A spark of brilliance flashed in Old Zhou's eyes; for the first time, he felt that the stories in those books might not have been fabricated after all.

Outside the Administrative Hall.

Lu Yuan was carrying his satchel and intending to look for Su Ding'an when he saw a figure walking toward him, head bowed, shoulders slumped, and looking utterly dejected.

At this moment, Su Ding'an looked like an eggplant hit by frost.

Lu Yuan stood in front of him, and the latter nearly bumped into him.

Looking up, a smile that looked worse than crying squeezed onto his round face.

"Lord Lu..."

"What's wrong?" Lu Yuan looked him up and down. "Did someone steal your silver?"

"It's worse than losing silver!" Su Ding'an let his face droop, saying listlessly, "Lord Shen has ordered me to go to Linchuan County."

"What's wrong with Linchuan County?"

"What's wrong with it?" Su Ding'an's voice suddenly spiked.

"Don't you know, my lord? Demons have been appearing there constantly lately. Even Zhao Heng couldn't hold on and ran back to Qingzhou to beg for reinforcements, and now they're sending me?"

He pointed a finger at his own nose, becoming more agitated as he spoke.

"What kind of demon could I possibly suppress with my level of cultivation? Isn't that just throwing me into a dragon's den?"

"Even if the demons spare me, I'll surely end up miserable once my colleagues ostracize me and my superiors make things difficult."

Lu Yuan lifted the satchel in his hand and shook it in front of Su Ding'an.

"Seal, token. I'm heading to guard Linchuan County immediately."

Su Ding'an was slightly stunned, his eyes gradually brightening.

"Lord Lu... you... you're going too?"

"Indeed..." Lu Yuan said with a playful tone, "But looking at you, it seems you aren't very keen on going?"

Su Ding'an slapped his thigh, his back suddenly straightening.

"Go! Why wouldn't I go? With you here, sir, what is Linchuan County?"

"Sir, you have no idea, I almost thought the sky was falling! Sending me to Linchuan County alone, how is that any different from sending me to my death?"

"Alright, enough with the chatter. Pack your things quickly; we leave in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

"You got it!"

After leaving Qing City, the scenery on both sides of the imperial road gradually grew desolate.

Su Ding'an rode his Wind-Chasing Horse, one hand gripping the reins while the other fished an oil-paper parcel from his robes, which contained a freshly bought roast chicken.

He tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Lu Yuan, then tore one off for himself, chewing as he spoke.

"Sir, before we set out, I did some digging. Do you know why Zhao Heng came to Qing City to ask for help?"

Lu Yuan pulled on his reins, slowing their pace slightly. "Isn't it because of the frequent appearances of demons and monsters?"

"That's one aspect, but it's not the main reason."

Su Ding'an spat out a chicken bone, wiped the grease from his mouth, and tucked the remaining chicken back into his robes.

"This whole business has to start with the Shen Family in Linchuan County—the same Shen Family of Cold Abyss Sword Shen Huaishan."

"In his younger years, Shen Huaishan was a lay disciple of the Cangwu Sword Pavilion. After completing his training, he made a name for himself in the martial arts world, earning the title Cold Abyss Sword."

"Later, as he grew older, he settled down in Linchuan County, married, had children, and slowly built up the Shen Family estate."

There was a hint of admiration in Su Ding'an's tone.

"According to the intelligence reports, Shen Huaishan is at the late stage of the Initial Realm, making him a powerful figure in Linchuan County."

"He has an only son named Shen Yulou, who was pampered from childhood. He had decent talent, too, reaching the threshold of the Initial Realm in his early twenties."

Su Ding'an sighed. "The problem lies with this Shen Yulou."

"Three months ago, the Shen Family went north for business and accidentally stumbled upon an ancient painting from a previous dynasty—the Painting of a Lady."

"The lady in the painting was as beautiful as a celestial being, absolutely stunning..."

"No, it's not just a matter of whether she was pretty or not; she was the kind of... the very rare kind..."

"Anyway, once you looked at it, you couldn't tear your eyes away... it was unnaturally beautiful."

He gestured for a long time but couldn't explain it clearly, so he simply gave up.

Lu Yuan turned his head to glance at him. "Have you seen it yourself?"

Su Ding'an waved his hands hurriedly. "How could I have seen it? It's all written in the files."

"Anyway, ever since Shen Yulou saw that painting, it was as if his soul had been hooked. He spent all day staring at it, refusing to eat or drink, and no one could talk him out of it."

"When Shen Huaishan found out, he sensed something was wrong with the painting and wanted to take it away. And guess what happened?"

"Shen Yulou turned hostile on the spot, drawing his sword against his own throat in front of the entire family, declaring that if anyone dared to touch the painting, he would die right there."

At this point, Su Ding'an sighed.

"Shen Huaishan doted on his son and didn't force the issue. But that very night, Shen Yulou suddenly went mad, grabbed his sword, and slaughtered all forty-seven members of his own family!"

"After the killing, he hugged the painting and retreated into the Shen Family Sword Hall, and he hasn't come out since."