"Arcanist Apprentice? How did they die?"
Li Qiming asked curiously.
Old Yuan was actually pretty useful. At least, he could answer whatever you asked him. He was practically the Yamen's walking encyclopedia.
Sure enough, Old Yuan said gravely, "Demons have been running rampant lately. These three Arcanist Apprentices encountered a Dog Demon in the mountains. They were rescued, but their injuries were too severe, and they eventually died."
Li Qiming nodded.
A thought struck him, and he fused the three Divine Pupil talents.
Golden Pupil + Black and White Eye + Yin Yang Eye = Demon Subduing Eye.
Li Qiming felt as if his eyes had been washed clean. Everything he looked at appeared exceptionally clear.
He could see the tiniest specks of dust and grit, as well as things a thousand li away, with perfect clarity.
He could even see through walls and watch hearts beating, along with the crimson glow of Blood Qi radiating from martial artists' bodies.
He could also see the shape of people's breaths and the dense footprints covering the ground.
From those footprints alone, he could even "see" their owners' builds, whether they were male or female, tall or short, fat or thin, and even whether they practiced martial arts.
A thought struck him, and he looked at the panel.
[Demon Subduing Eye: Your ability to investigate has increased. Two ghostly blue flames burn within your pupils. When you ignite them, everything within your sight slows down. You can also see through any demon within a thousand li at a glance. Attack: When you activate the Samsara Eye and stare into your opponent's eyes, you can control their mind, making their soul burn and filling them with illusions until they break down. Deals double damage to demons.]
Li Qiming felt that if he learned the Qi Gazing Technique, he would be even more terrifying.
Not bad. This time, he'd come away with a full haul.
On his very first day, he'd obtained Intermediate Root Bone and the Demon Subduing Eye.
But after that, his luck seemed to run out.
Most of the corpses had been dead for over seven days, so he couldn't get any Entries from them.
Seven days passed in a flash.
During that time, Li Qiming showed up for work every day, sometimes even staying late. He was incredibly diligent.
His dedication made Old Yuan and the other Filth Workers uneasy.
They couldn't help feeling that their boss had some strange fixation on corpses.
Otherwise, why did his eyes light up with excitement whenever a new body came in?
After spending these past few days with Li Qiming, the more Old Yuan and the others watched him, the more unnerved they felt.
The dead had never frightened them, but one living man had.
"You lot, come with me to collect the bodies!"
Suddenly, a burly figure charged into the Corpse Inspection Room and boomed, "You're coming with me to collect the bodies!"
"Yes!" Old Yuan and the others answered at once.
"Boss, that's Clerk Wang. In the Yamen's rear hall, nobody dares disobey him. Opposing him means opposing the entire Yamen, and that's a violation of the Great Yan Statutes! You'll end up wanted!"
Old Yuan was afraid Li Qiming would get angry and beat the clerk senseless too. That would be a disaster.
"Mm." Li Qiming nodded. He wasn't an idiot, and he didn't have violent tendencies. Did Old Yuan and the others really think he was scary?
He followed Old Yuan and the others, hurrying out of the Yamen.
Li Qiming was surprised.
He'd thought he would spend all his time in the Corpse Inspection Room. He hadn't expected the job to involve going out as well.
"What happened?" Li Qiming asked curiously.
"Ah, Boss, it's that Squire Li again. Remember how he sent his guards out to kill a Rat Demon last time? Well, before dawn yesterday, several Rat Demons joined forces and went on a rampage. They slaughtered almost his entire family!"
"Everyone in the household—relatives, friends, master and servants—more than seventy people, all dead! Only a few women survived..."
Even Old Yuan, who was used to seeing the dead, couldn't help sighing at the news.
Li Qiming felt a chill run through him too.
So many people had died?
Where had all these demons come from?
Squire Li's residence.
Li Qiming stood before the vermilion gates and could already smell the thick stench of blood wafting toward him.
Once inside, he looked around at the countless corpses covering the ground. The blood had soaked right through the earth in the courtyard.
Several groups of people were already at the scene.
Among them were Senior Brother Shen Changsheng from Dragon Roar Martial Hall, accompanied by a group of black-robed Elite Disciples.
There was also Silver Badge Demon Catcher Jiang Lianyue, with seven or eight Demon Catchers accompanying her.
And there were Yamen Constable Yan Wu and Luo Wen, with around thirty other constables nearby.
They all seemed to be examining the scene.
In all three hundred years of Dragon Spring City's history, there had never been a massacre on this scale!
"Boss!" The black-robed Elite Disciples spotted Li Qiming and immediately greeted him with respect.
That instantly made Li Qiming the center of attention.
Old Yuan and the other Filth Workers were stunned. They'd never imagined that these lofty disciples from Dragon Roar Martial Hall would call Li Qiming their boss!
"Mm." Li Qiming nodded, then turned to Shen Changsheng. "Greetings, Senior Brother."
He looked toward the Silver Badge Demon Catcher. Her beautiful eyes were studying him, and Li Qiming nodded. "Greetings, Senior Jiang."
Jiang Lianyue was an Organ Refining martial artist. She was young, but calling her Senior was perfectly appropriate.
Jiang Lianyue gave a slight nod. "I didn't expect you to improve so quickly. Congratulations on breaking through to Bone Refining."
"Junior Brother, you've reached Bone Refining? How did I not know?"
Shen Changsheng asked in surprise.
"Mm, it only happened in the last few days..."
Li Qiming brushed it off.
"Congratulations, Brother Qiming, on entering the Bone Refining Realm!"
Constable Yan Wu, a tall man, stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.
Behind him, Luo Wen nodded to the young man in the Ink Robe, still astonished. His mind was a little scrambled; he hadn't expected Li Qiming to progress so quickly.
"Mm..." Li Qiming looked at Yan Wu and Luo Wen, a little confused. Had he met these two before?
"When I visited the Martial Hall last time, I was fortunate enough to witness you kill a Bone Refining martial artist with a single punch. I've admired you ever since!"
Yan Wu cupped his hands as he spoke.
"Boss, this is Constable Yan Wu, and the one behind him is Luo Wen, the Yamen's most promising young constable."
Old Yuan took the opportunity to explain. He was also deeply shaken. He'd never imagined that Constable Yan, usually so stern and taciturn, would be so warm and friendly in front of Boss Li Qiming.
And Luo Wen, who was always so proud around everyone, now looked like a sheep facing a wolf.
"Greetings, Brother Yan, Brother Luo."
Li Qiming nodded to the two men, cupping his hands.
"With Brother Qiming joining the 'Rat Catcher Squad,' we'll be able to wipe out that whole pack of hateful Rat Demons!"
Constable Yan Wu looked around. It was clear he took Li Qiming's arrival very seriously.
"Wait, what 'Rat Catcher Squad'?"
Li Qiming thought the man had misunderstood something. He was only here to collect bodies.
"People from all our factions have joined forces for now to form the 'Rat Catcher Squad.' We're here specifically to kill those rampaging Soul-Devouring Rats!"
Yan Wu explained.
As he spoke, he cupped his hands toward Jiang Lianyue. "The 'Rat Catcher Squad' is entirely under your command, Lady Jiang."
That made sense.
After all, Jiang Lianyue was the highest-ranking martial artist here, an Organ Refining martial artist.
She was also a Silver Badge Demon Catcher, with the highest official rank.
Jiang Lianyue nodded, then looked at Li Qiming and said, "The biggest problem right now is that these Rat Demons are too cunning. The Artificers from the Demon Suppression Division were too badly injured to investigate the ones hiding in the city."
Watching the beautiful Jiang Lianyue earnestly discuss the matter with him, Li Qiming felt a headache coming on. When had he ever said he was joining the Rat Catcher Squad?
Why was everyone acting as if he'd already joined?
You've all got it wrong!
"Actually... aren't they all Rat Demons?"
Li Qiming sighed inwardly. In the end, he raised his hand and pointed toward the corner, where seven or eight female survivors were huddled together.
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