Exterminating the Demon (End)

Time seemed to freeze for an instant.

The massive body of the Dog Demon Leader stiffened in place, its ferocious expression locked in a grimace.

The next moment, a thin line of blood appeared across its neck, then rapidly widened.

"Gurgle... hrrk..."

Frothy blood gushed from the severed windpipe.

The gargantuan head slid slowly off, hitting the filthy ground with a dull thud, its emerald eyes rapidly losing their luster.

The headless demon corpse swayed for a moment before crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The remaining elite dog demons, who had been locked in combat with Qian Zhong, Liu Qian, and the others, let out terrified wails at the sight. Their fighting spirit vanished instantly, and they were either cut down or scattered by the Patrolmen who seized the opportunity.

The alley fell silent, save for the crackling of torches and the heavy, ragged breathing of the men.

Yang Ning slowly sheathed his blade, the steel not stained by a single drop of blood.

His face beneath the White Jade Mask remained calm and rippleless, though deep within his eyes, a flicker of scorching heat slowly subsided.

He was now capable of dealing with a demon that had just broken through to the Hidden Force.

"Clean up the battlefield, confirm there are no stragglers, and keep the head of the Dog Demon Leader."

"Yes! Patrol Chief Yang!"

Qian Zhong, Liu Qian, and the others looked at Yang Ning, filled with shock and awe.

Having participated in the fight themselves, they knew better than anyone how terrifying the Dog Demon Leader was, yet Yang Ning had managed to slay it so cleanly and decisively!

The strength of this man was likely even more unfathomable than they had imagined!

Outside the alley.

Time crawled by in the oppressive silence.

It wasn't just the representatives sent by various families, shop managers, and the many onlookers who had arrived after hearing the news; the area outside Duck Dung Alley was packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.

Qin Yurong and Qin Yuhui had also arrived by carriage, standing at the forefront of the Qin Family contingent.

Qin Yurong's slender hands gripped her sleeves tightly, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on the alley entrance.

Qin Yuhui stood on her tiptoes, her small face full of tension and curiosity.

Ning Yuan and the other young masters and ladies who had feasted at the Kuotian Chamber that day arrived one after another, exchanging meaningful glances.

At first, there was only deathly silence within the alley.

Suddenly.

"ROAR--!!!"

An inhuman, violently savage roar erupted from the depths of the alley.

Even outside the alley, it was enough to make people's eardrums ache and their hearts race.

Immediately following, the sounds of combat, the clashing of blades, shrieks, canine howls, and the crackling of flames...

All merged into a heart-stopping cacophony.

The battle had begun!

And the intensity was far beyond what anyone had imagined!

Everyone's heart tightened instantly.

The firelight illuminated faces that were tense, solemn, or excited.

"Listening to that commotion... the demon is truly ferocious!"

Yuan Qi tilted his head to listen, whispering.

Ning Yuan's brows were locked in a deep frown:

"I fear the men from the Patrol Bureau are caught in a bitter struggle."

Qin Yurong's fingertips pinched even tighter, her face turning slightly pale.

Shen Lian squeezed through the crowd, listening to those terrifying sounds, a long-lost sense of pleasure rippling through his heart.

Fight! The more brutal the fight, the better!

It would be best if both sides were crippled, leaving that damned Yang Ning...

The intense sounds continued for about a quarter of an hour, keeping the people waiting outside on edge.

However, just as everyone thought the battle would continue.

All sound was cut off as if by a single blade, vanishing abruptly.

Dead silence.

A silence more thorough and oppressive than before once again shrouded Duck Dung Alley.

Only the night wind blew past the alley entrance, carrying a wailing echo.

"Why is it quiet now?"

Someone asked with a trembling voice.

"Is it over?"

"Who won? Or did they... perish together?"

An unknown silence is often more terrifying than clamor.

The fact that there were sounds just moments ago at least meant the people inside were still resisting.

Now that everything was deathly silent, it only fueled wild speculation.

Had they all been wiped out?

Or... was the demon lurking in the darkness, licking its wounds, or preparing to charge out of the alley?

Uneasy whispers spread through the crowd, and some of the timid ones had already begun to shrink back.

Shen Lian, however, could barely conceal the delight on his face.

No sound? Perfect!

That Yang Ning must have overestimated himself and ended up in the demon's belly!

He couldn't wait to clear his throat and "lament" loudly:

"Sigh, Patrol Chief Yang was young and impetuous, refusing to listen to advice.

How could this demon be easily dealt with?

With Patrol Commander Gong away, to launch a rash assault—it's a pity for the lives of those patrolmen from the Patrol Bureau."

His schadenfreude was practically overflowing.

Seeing the Qin sisters nearby, his eyes darted, and he stepped closer, feigning concern as he said to Qin Yurong:

"Sister Yurong, don't worry too much.

Life and death are fated, and Patrol Chief Yang...

Sigh, it's just a pity for your Qin Family, having just recruited a guest advisor only for him to..."

He shook his head and sighed, as if he were truly heartbroken.

Qin Yurong pressed her lips together tightly, refusing to look at him, her gaze fixed firmly on the alley entrance.

Qin Yuhui, on the other hand, was so angry her face turned red, and she glared fiercely at Shen Lian.

Time dragged on in agony for another half-hour.

There was still no movement in the alley, not even a flicker of torchlight.

Shen Lian became increasingly smug, his words growing more reckless as he began to whisper and laugh with a few playboys who were on good terms with him.

Just as more and more people began to lose patience and prepare to head home...

"Step... step... step..."

Steady, clear footsteps echoed from the depths of the dark alley.

All the noise outside the alley ceased instantly, and hundreds of eyes turned in unison toward the dark entrance.

At the edge of the torchlight, a figure as straight as a pine tree was the first to emerge.

His dark martial attire was stained with dust and dark smudges, and the hem of his outer Patrol Chief robe was slightly torn.

On his face, the lustrous and cold White Jade Mask remained perfectly intact.

The eyes behind that mask remained calm and rippleless.

It was Yang Ning.

Following closely behind, Patrol Chiefs Qian Zhong and Liu Qian walked out; although they were wounded and their clothes stained with blood, their steps were steady and their eyes sharp.

Behind them, Wang Biao and the other patrolmen filed out one by one, all of them injured but holding their heads high, dragging several Small Dog Demon bound in iron chains.

And when the object carried out by the last few patrolmen appeared in the torchlight, an uncontrollable gasp erupted from the entire crowd!

It was a massive, hideous canine head!

Its gray-black, coarse hair stood up like steel needles, its fangs were bared, and although its emerald demon eyes had lost their luster, they still retained a heart-stopping, ferocious Sha Qi.

Thick, dark red demon blood still dripped from the severed neck, spreading a small, filthy puddle on the ground.

It was the head of the Hidden Force dog demon!

Yang Ning walked beside those patrolmen, casually holding the hair of the demon head, the dark red blood winding down his well-defined fingers.

Contrasting with the gray-blue Storm Blade in his left hand, it exuded an intense, overwhelming aura of slaughter.

The White Jade Mask was cold and ruthless, the blade of the Storm Blade was chillingly sharp, and the dripping demon head in his hand was a shocking sight.

At this moment, Yang Ning looked more like a god of war strolling out of an Asura Field.

The clamor fell into absolute silence.

Everyone was stunned by this incredibly impactful scene.

Qin Yurong let out a sharp sigh of relief, her body swaying slightly before her younger sister caught her, her eyes already shimmering with tears.

Ning Yuan, Yuan Qi, and the others exchanged glances, all seeing the shock and gravity in each other's eyes.

The shop managers lowered their heads in awe.

And Shen Lian...

The smugness, mockery, and delight on his face froze like a tide caught in a sudden frost, then shattered piece by piece.

He stood with his mouth agape and eyes wide, staring fixedly at the gruesome dog head in Yang Ning's hand, then back at Yang Ning himself, who looked as if he had emerged from a bloodbath.

A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp, and his entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Astonishment, disbelief, and the deepest sense of terror coiled around his heart like a cold viper.

He felt like nothing more than a clumsy clown.

Yang Ning's gaze swept calmly across the silent crowd, and he casually tossed the still-dripping head of the dog demon onto the ground at the mouth of the alley.

"Thud."

The onlookers outside felt their hearts jolt.

He said indifferently:

"Thank you all for your concern today; the monster has been eliminated.

Tomorrow, it will be hung at the entrance of East Fourth Street for three days to reassure the public and serve as a warning to others."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly across the entire scene, imbued with an unquestionable authority.

After speaking to the public, Yang Ning turned back, removed his White Jade Mask, and revealed a handsome, resolute face.

Qin Yurong's eyes grew somewhat dazed.

He gave a slight nod to the Qin sisters, then said to the others:

"I appreciate the efforts of all the shopkeepers and merchants here. I will keep your assistance in mind, and the gold and silver you provided will be used to generously compensate the innocent civilians and the brothers of the Patrol Bureau."

The merchants and family scions bowed in succession:

"A small matter, a small matter."

"Patrol Chief Yang is mighty; our meager help is not worth mentioning."

The way these people looked at Yang Ning had changed; how could they not realize by now:

This Patrol Chief Yang was likely no longer just a "spokesperson" under the wing of Gong Tianyu.

He was now a true "big shot" capable of standing firm on East Street, wielding real power, and commanding fear.