You Can't Protect Him

Li Qiming said something that sent shockwaves through the room.

"Heralded first on "

The moment he finished speaking, everyone followed the direction of his finger and looked toward the eight surviving women in the corner.

"Are they demons?" Jiang Lianyue asked in confusion.

"Junior Brother, surely not. We examined these women carefully, and there wasn't a trace of demonic aura on them!"

Shen Changsheng frowned as he explained.

Li Qiming nodded. These women had hidden themselves well. And the Soul-Devouring Rat's true body was concealed inside a person's brain, merging with them. It was hard to tell whether someone was human or demon. Before the Soul-Devouring Rat made its move, its demonic aura was indeed difficult to detect!

But.

His Demon Subduing Eye saw everything clearly.

In Li Qiming's eyes, white-haired rats were lurking inside the women's heads!

How could he be wrong?

"Mm. They just hid themselves well," Li Qiming explained.

As soon as he finished speaking,

"Ha ha ha! What utter nonsense! A pack of lies!"

A gruff voice rang out from the doorway. Two figures then walked in. One was Clerk Wang, a burly man in the early Organ Refining realm.

Clerk Wang entered and glared at Li Qiming. "Kid, you're just a Filth Worker. The Rat Catcher Squad is on the job. You don't get to tell us what to do!"

"Brother Qiming, Clerk Wang is the deputy captain of the Rat Catcher Squad. He's second only to Lady Jiang Lianyue."

Luo Wen discreetly reminded Li Qiming.

Li Qiming nodded. Clerk Wang was an Organ Refining martial artist, no weaker than Jiang Lianyue, so it made sense that he was the deputy captain.

But.

Li Qiming looked at Clerk Wang, the man with a thick beard covering his jaw. Old Yuan had warned him about this man before: he held a high position in the Yamen, second only to the county magistrate.

Old Yuan had also warned him never to cross Clerk Wang. Otherwise, he'd be violating the Great Yan Statutes.

The consequences could be severe: the authorities might target him and issue a warrant for his arrest.

Even so, Li Qiming wasn't the least bit afraid. He said gravely, "But they really are Rat Demons."

"You... You're slandering us!" one of the women glared at Li Qiming and cursed.

"Heavens above! Open your eyes and look at this young man! He's framing innocent commoners!"

"Squire Li has been as kind to us as a second father. How could we be demons?!"

"You Ink Robe brat, you'd better explain yourself, or we'll never let this go!"

"Clerk, you must give us justice!"

It was as if Li Qiming had made himself the target of everyone's rage.

He watched the women cry out in protest, his expression cold.

He couldn't help marveling at how well demons controlled people. Their performance was impassioned and vivid, full of life.

They were just like True People, flawless in every way.

If he hadn't had the Demon Subduing Eye, he wouldn't have been able to tell the truth from a lie.

It was as unbelievable as AI developing human emotions.

"Heh." Clerk Wang gave a cold laugh.

He raised a hand, and everyone fell silent.

"Kid, whether they're demons isn't for either you or me to decide."

As he spoke, Clerk Wang stepped aside, revealing a tender-looking youth dressed in white behind him.

"Though the Great Arcanist is badly wounded and can't take action, I specifically sent someone to the Demon Suppression Division to invite an Arcanist Apprentice!"

"This apprentice's master has reached Entry Level in the Qi Gazing Technique. Let him use it to investigate. Whether these women are demons or human will be clear at a glance!"

"Arcanist, please."

The green young Arcanist Apprentice nodded, and a faint azure glow appeared in his eyes.

After a moment, the glow faded.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the young Arcanist slowly shook his head. "They're human, not demons."

"Kid! You heard what the Arcanist said, didn't you? Now get lost and go haul your corpses!"

Clerk Wang glared at him with bulging eyes and barked.

Before Li Qiming could say anything, Shen Changsheng stepped forward and said coldly,

"Clerk Wang, Li Qiming is the Dragon Roar Martial Hall's chief disciple. He came here to subdue demons, too!"

"Mm? Heh, but he's also a Filth Worker for the Yamen now. I haven't said a word against the Dragon Roar Martial Hall. Aren't you being a little too sensitive?"

Clerk Wang chuckled, his expression turning cold.

"Clerk Wang, I'm the captain. You've said more than enough today."

Jiang Lianyue shot him a displeased look.

Clerk Wang's face turned ashen. He cupped his fists toward Jiang Lianyue.

"Lady Jiang is right, but I'm only thinking of the safety of the innocent!"

"The Arcanist just said these women aren't demons, but human!"

"Yet Li Qiming calls them demons? What exactly is his motive? If he can't explain himself... I suspect Li Qiming is the demon!"

Li Qiming shook his head. The man was getting more and more absurd.

"Actually, it's simple... When a demon dies, its true body will be exposed!"

As he spoke, Li Qiming kicked forward.

Several egg-sized stones embedded in the cobbled ground shot toward the women with a whoosh!

They were about to hit the women between the brows.

Clang!

Clerk Wang suddenly drew his saber and swung, easily deflecting every stone.

"Kid, you dare wantonly attack innocent people? I'm arresting you!"

"Heh. Who dares lay a hand on my junior brother?"

Shen Changsheng's sword rang like a dragon's cry as he stepped in front of Li Qiming to protect him.

"Kid, keep defending him like that, and I'll arrest you, too!" Clerk Wang threatened.

"Hmph." Shen Changsheng wasn't afraid in the least. Holding his sword in one hand, he looked toward the women. "I believe my junior brother. These women are too strange. Why did everyone in the estate die, while only these few survived?"

"Heh, what? You want to wantonly attack innocent people, too?" Clerk Wang narrowed his eyes, seeming ready to strike like a bolt of lightning at any moment.

"If I wanted to kill you, you couldn't protect them," Shen Changsheng said coldly.

"Then you can try. Maybe I can't protect them, but can the Great Yan Dynasty behind me not protect them?" Clerk Wang sneered.

Just as a fight seemed about to break out,

"Actually, you can't protect them, even without my senior brother stepping in," Li Qiming suddenly said.

"Kid, what are you, to dare—" Clerk Wang hadn't finished speaking when

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!

The eight women's heads suddenly exploded!

Everyone's heart jolted.

They all turned to Li Qiming in astonishment.

They saw the faint, deep-blue glow in Li Qiming's eyes slowly fade away.

"Kid, so you really are a demon!" Clerk Wang roared with fury, swinging his saber at Li Qiming.

Clang!

Jiang Lianyue drew her sword and knocked his strike aside.

"Clerk Wang, look," she said, pointing at the women's corpses.

Everyone looked closely.

Eight white-furred rat heads lay inside the women's exploded skulls!

The evidence was conclusive!

"Hiss! Those women really were demons!"

"Clerk Wang, it seems you really were wrong! Those demons fooled you, too!"

"Thank goodness Li Qiming stepped in. Otherwise, those demons would've had us all dancing in the palm of their hands!"

Everyone looked at Li Qiming with undisguised admiration.