Scouting the Path Ahead, Exterminating Demons Imminent

At the Qin Mansion, the twilight deepened.

Qin Yurong slipped back into the estate through the back gate.

Her heart was still pounding from the reckless act she had just committed; she felt a lingering sense of fear, yet also an indescribable thrill and sweetness.

She touched her slightly flushed cheeks and prepared to hurry back to her courtyard, but at the corner of the corridor, she ran straight into her brother, Qin Yuwei, who seemed to be passing by.

"Yurong?"

"Brother."

Qin Yuwei stopped in his tracks, looking at her with a gentle gaze:

"Where are you returning from so late?

You look a bit flustered."

Qin Yurong's heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to remain calm, lowered her eyes, and instinctively offered the excuse she had already prepared:

"I... I went to the embroidery shop on South First Street to pick up some silk thread I ordered. The pattern is complex, and the master said I needed to check the colors in person.

The carriage ride was a bit bumpy on the way back, so...

So, I returned a little late."

She tried to keep her tone as natural as possible, but her eyes darted away, not daring to meet her brother's gaze.

Qin Yuwei watched her quietly for a moment, a knowing smile appearing on his face. He nodded without pressing further, simply saying gently:

"I see, so you went to South Street.

With the end of the year approaching, it is indeed time for some new clothes. Since we are no longer in the Inner City, some of the tailors here are subpar; it's been hard on you, Yurong."

Qin Yurong said softly:

"It's no trouble, Brother. We came to the Outer City under the family's orders to expand our business and secure our roots.

Naturally, we must 'do as the locals do' in some respects.

This minor inconvenience is not worth mentioning."

Qin Yuwei nodded with emotion:

"Yurong has grown up; you are no longer that delicate little girl you once were. It brings me great comfort to see you understand these things.

However, things have not been very peaceful outside lately, especially over in the East Street area. As a young woman, try to avoid going out alone.

Go on and get some rest."

"Yes, Brother."

Feeling as if she had been granted a reprieve, Qin Yurong quickly bowed and hurried away.

Once his sister's figure disappeared behind the moon gate, the smile on Qin Yuwei's face faded slightly.

He then gave a light wave of his right hand.

A shadow-like figure appeared silently at his side and whispered:

"Young Master, the Young Miss went to the East Street Patrol Bureau earlier and met with Patrol Chief Yang Ning.

It seems she privately handed over the intelligence we gathered regarding the connection between the monsters and the Blood Ape Gang."

Qin Yuwei stood with his hands behind his back, looking out into the deepening night in the courtyard, his tone calm and ripple-free:

"Mm, I know."

The shadow hesitated slightly:

"Is the Young Miss's action, perhaps..."

"It does not matter."

Qin Yuwei interrupted him, a meaningful curve appearing at the corner of his mouth:

"Although Yurong is kind-hearted, she is not without her own ideas.

Giving the intelligence we gathered to Yang Ning is harmless, as long as the Qin Family does not openly involve itself.

After all..." He paused, unable to help but speak with arrogance:

"In this vast Kuishan County, no one dares to forcibly implicate the Qin Family in any karma we do not wish to acknowledge.

I brought you out from the main family in the Inner City so that we wouldn't have to be overly cautious about everything. While there are some tricks to this Outer City, it is not as dangerous as the Inner City; there is no need to be so constrained."

"Yes."

"If that Yang Ning truly has the ability to break the situation using this lead, it is his own good fortune.

If he cannot, he has no one else to blame. It can also serve as a way for our family to test the waters."

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:

"After that incident with Yurong, the more I think about it, the more suspicious it becomes.

Does that Blood Ape Gang really think the Four Sects and Seven Gangs are so formidable that they dare to touch a direct descendant of the Qin Family in the Outer City?"

"Our Yu generation is not something those collateral branches in the outer city can compare to. While one could say he is ignorant and ill-informed, the people behind him cannot possibly be unaware."

The shadow added at the opportune moment:

"Several years ago, the Black Wolf Sect that occupied East Street was wiped out overnight for unknown reasons.

The two Hidden Force masters and several Tendon Changing experts within the sect all fell in a single day.

The Blood Ape Gang, which rose to prominence from Hualin Town outside the county, entered the city overnight. With massive financial and material support from behind the scenes, and the formidable personal strength of Wang Han himself, they filled the void left by the Black Wolf Sect.

They became one of the newest seven major factions."

Qin Yuwei stroked his chin.

"Outside the town, eh? At the time, our families and sects were busy fighting amongst ourselves in the inner city, so we didn't pay much attention to these newcomers from outside."

It was only after that lunatic young gang leader Wang Teng committed the unpardonable act of surrounding the building that the Qin Family began to pay attention to this new faction.

"There must be someone behind this Blood Ape Gang.

But I didn't expect that the Blood Ape Gang and the forces behind these suddenly appearing monsters would be so interesting; they haven't shown a single decent flaw.

Have you learned to be clever, or is your ambition even greater?"

He looked up toward the direction of the inner city, where the shadows of pavilions loomed and lights shone brilliantly, whispering to himself:

"The inner city hasn't been peaceful lately either...

Could there be a connection between these events that we haven't clearly seen yet?

Are 'you' the ones stirring up trouble behind the scenes?"

The night grew deeper, swallowing his whispers.

Inside the Patrol Bureau office, the lights were blazing.

Yang Ning opened the heavy wooden box containing the intelligence sent by Qin Yurong.

Inside were several rolls of silk stacked neatly, along with a few pages of hard paper with a unique texture.

On the silk, a massive amount of information was recorded, with the threads of logic laid out clearly.

Its professionalism and level of detail were far beyond the fragmented and vague case files of the Patrol Bureau.

The Corpse-Eating Hound pack of East Street resides deep within Duck Dung Alley, at the dilapidated ruins of the former "Alleyway Mortuary."

Leader: One, estimated strength: just breaking the threshold of Hidden Force, intelligence awakened, cunning and bloodthirsty.

Subordinates: At least five to eight partially awakened small dog demons with strength ranging from Body Tempering to Tendon Changing.

Activity patterns: Prefers moonless nights.

Before the fall of the Blood Ape Gang, they relied on regular "blood food offerings" and maintained a long-term "patronage" relationship with the Blood Ape Gang.

The Blood Ape Gang is suspected to have been supported by another secret force...

Leader's abilities:

Extremely keen sense of smell, far exceeding ordinary canines, capable of tracking by blood and qi.

Claws and fangs are poisoned or imbued with demonic Sha, making wounds difficult to heal for those struck, or possessing the talent for short-range burst attacks.

Pack: Collaborative hunting, skilled at harassment.

Weaknesses: Fears fire, fears strong light, fears masculine blood and qi force.

The Qin Family is truly worthy of being one of the four great families that have occupied Kuishan County for years!

Their intelligence-gathering capability left Yang Ning feeling shocked.

This information must be the result of long-term monitoring and infiltration of East Street.

By comparison, the strength of the Patrol Bureau seems so thin in the face of the aristocratic clans.

Composing himself, Yang Ning sent men to summon Liu and Qian.

The two arrived at Yang Ning's location shortly after and began analyzing the Qin Family's intelligence.

"This... what is this?"

Qian Zhong leaned in for a closer look and gasped.

Liu Qian also widened his eyes, his chubby face full of shock:

"So detailed!

There are even speculative maps of the interior of their nest?

This is..."

"Private assistance from Miss Qin."

He gave a brief explanation before immersing himself back into digesting the intelligence.

The Council Hall was deathly silent, save for the faint rustling of paper as Yang Ning flipped through the documents and the slightly heavy breathing of Qian Zhong and Liu Qian.

As the information was absorbed, Yang Ning's eyes grew brighter, yet colder.

A dog demon leader that had just broken through to Hidden Force, accompanied by several accomplices ranging from Body Tempering to Tendon Changing.

A long-established lair, cunning and with clear attack patterns.

This was by no means an opponent to be taken lightly; it was no wonder Zhang Hui's team had been nearly wiped out.

Charging into such a demon den without knowing the details was no different from throwing one's life away.

Time ticked by bit by bit. Yang Ning finally set down the last sheet of cardstock and closed his eyes to contemplate.

Qian Zhong and Liu Qian held their breath, not daring to disturb him. They knew that Patrol Chief Yang was weighing the situation, making a decision.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Yang Ning suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp light gleamed within them, devoid of any further hesitation or confusion.

He looked at Qian Zhong and Liu Qian, his voice steady and resolute:

"Pass the order!"

The two men perked up, straightening their backs.

"Every member of the Patrol Station, excluding those necessary to hold their posts and the wounded, all official patrolmen are to assemble at the Council Hall within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn!"

"Yes!"

Qian Zhong and Liu Qian replied in unison.

Yang Ning stood alone in the hall, his gaze sweeping once more over the spread-out intelligence and maps.

This demon disaster had to be eradicated, and eradicated completely.

He wanted all onlookers to know:

Even if Gong Tian was not here, this East Street Patrol Bureau still possessed a sharp blade, dared to draw it, and was capable of killing demons!