Demons Besiege the City

Night. The end of the You hour.

The Qian Family.

Faint candlelight cast its glow upon the Qian mansion's plaque. The bluestone long street before the gate, which should have been quiet at this hour, was now bustling with carriages and horses, figures streaming endlessly into the Qian residence.

"Quite the spectacle?"

Qin Jiu looked at the silhouettes before the vermilion gate.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

He had thought that with the Qian Family selling off their inner-city assets, at most only a few major powers would attend the banquet.

He hadn't expected the stream of people to be unending.

Even some minor families from the outer city, and even disciples from martial halls, had all come.

Lost in thought.

Qin Jiu led Wang Yue into the Qian residence. An old servant guided them, passing through the front courtyard until they reached the central courtyard, where they stopped.

"Patriarch Qin has arrived."

Qian Zhijie, the head of the Qian Family, wore an apologetic expression. "There are too many guests in the mansion today. If I have been remiss in any way, I hope Patriarch Qin and Elder Wang will forgive me."

"That's no trouble at all."

Qin Jiu shook his head, then smiled. "With so many people here tonight, your Qian Family might just make a tidy profit before you leave."

His teasing words fell.

Unexpectedly.

Qian Zhijie looked baffled. "Many of these people weren't invited by me."

"Not invited by you?"

"Sigh. What my Qian Family is selling off is just some cloth, a few dye workshops, and some plots of land in the inner city. It's not really that much. Why would it take so many people to swallow it all?"

Qian Zhijie shook his head with a light sigh.

Then, with an apology, he went off to greet the other guests.

"Something's off here."

Qin Jiu frowned.

He was just thinking of discussing with Wang Yue whether they should leave the Qian residence.

Then he heard a call.

He followed the sound and saw Han Zheng waving at him. Beside Han Zheng stood several figures with imposing auras.

Qin Jiu thought for a moment, then led Wang Yue over.

"Uncle Han."

"Nephew, let me introduce you. This is Tang Yu, the master of the Canghai Martial Hall in the inner city. These two are Nan Zhenxiong of the Long Wind Escort Agency, and Jiang Lin, the chief of the Canal Gang. They all broke through to Internal Strengthening in recent days."

Han Zheng introduced the men beside him.

Qin Jiu looked at each of them in turn, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

He knew the master of the inner-city martial hall—also a martial artist at the Internal Strengthening realm. As for the two from the Long Wind Escort Agency and the Canal Gang, if he remembered correctly, their martial realm had originally been at the Three Refinements. He hadn't expected them to have broken through now.

A flicker of wariness rose in his heart.

"I am Nan Zhenxiong. I have long heard of the Qin Family's reputation. Meeting you today, the reputation is well-deserved."

"I am Jiang Lin. An honor."

The two cupped their hands toward Qin Jiu at the same time. But as they spoke, their gazes passed over him and landed on Wang Yue, a strange glint flashing in each of their eyes.

Qin Jiu sensed it but kept his expression unchanged.

He returned their greetings one by one.

But before he could say more.

At that moment, the Qian Family patriarch had already walked to the front of the crowd and spoke in a loud voice: "Everyone, for coming to my Qian residence tonight, I am deeply grateful. If the hospitality is lacking in any way, I ask for your understanding."

"Since you are all here, you must already know the purpose of my Qian Family."

"Then I won't waste words."

"The dye workshop in Sanli Town, outer city's eastern district, along with the land—the base price is three thousand taels of silver. The highest bidder takes it. If you wish to buy, simply name your price!"

Qian Zhijie's tone was excited.

He hadn't expected so many people to show up tonight.

Caught off guard.

He decided to sell directly through an auction format.

That way, he could maximize his profits.

However...

The words fell, yet the courtyard was dead silent.

Qian Zhijie's heart skipped a beat. He called out again, waited another half a cup of tea's time, but still no one answered. Cold sweat instantly streamed down his face.

On the other side.

Qin Jiu frowned and scanned his surroundings.

He noticed that everyone's faces were utterly expressionless.

He turned his head to look at Han Zheng.

The latter was also frowning, as if sensing his gaze, and his lips parted slightly.

"The vast majority of people here."

"Were all ordered to come."

Ordered?

Qin Jiu's pupils sharply contracted. Just as he was about to speak, a voice carrying a peculiar, forceful resonance suddenly rang through the entire courtyard.

"Qian Zhijie, stop shouting."

"Your Qian Family won't leave Songshan County."

"Thud, thud."

As the words fell.

Clear footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Then.

The crowd parted down the middle, revealing a burly figure clad in armor and draped in a dark red cloak.

A blade hung at his waist, his brows carried a murderous aura, and he strode like a dragon or tiger to stand before the crowd.

He first glanced at Qian Zhijie.

Then swept his gaze over the crowd.

"Everyone should be here by now, right?"

"Commander Fu, you..."

Seeing the newcomer, Qian Zhijie's expression shifted drastically, and he spoke hesitantly.

But before he could finish half his sentence.

He instinctively swallowed the rest of his words back down his throat, not daring to continue.

Because that Commander Fu was staring coldly at him.

"It's not your turn to speak yet."

He barked coldly, then looked straight ahead and said, "Tonight, I borrowed the Qian Family's grounds to gather you all for two matters. First, from today onward, Songshan County will be completely sealed. Non-government personnel may enter but not leave. Anyone attempting to force their way out will be killed without mercy!"

"Second, the County Magistrate is establishing the Demon Suppression Bureau."

"All forces within the city, big or small, must follow the County Office's directives and pay additional grain and funds each month to support the Demon Suppression Bureau. Commoners inside and outside the city walls must also pay grain and funds per capita. Furthermore, the Demon Suppression Bureau is newly founded and urgently needs manpower, so martial artists will be drawn from the major factions."

"The details will be explained door-to-door by someone tomorrow."

"I hope you all prepare yourselves accordingly."

As these words fell.

The crowd erupted into an uproar.

Qin Jiu's expression also changed.

"Commander Fu Hanchuan, why has the County Magistrate sealed the city and established the Demon Suppression Bureau? Could you tell us the reason?"

At this.

Han Zheng frowned and cupped his hands toward the man.

"Demons besieging the city."

The latter spat out a few cold words, then strode out of the courtyard without another glance.

The crowd was stunned.

Then.

Another figure stepped to the front of the crowd, cupped his hands, and said, "Please don't take offense, everyone. The commander has urgent business tonight and cannot stay long. If any of you still have questions, this humble one will answer them on his behalf."

"Head Constable Feng..."

It was Qian Zhijie who spoke.

The fat on his face quivered slightly as he asked, "What Commander Fu just said about demons besieging the city—surely he was joking with us, right?"

"This is no joke."

The man's expression was grim. "This matter starts with the Zhao Family's annihilation."

"After both the Qin and Han Families were attacked and killed by demons, the County Magistrate ordered Commander Fu to capture the demon. On the day your Qian Family was attacked, Commander Fu arrived and tried to join forces with your Qian Family's Internal Strengthening experts to suppress it, but in the end, they were outmatched, and the demon escaped."

"That act seemed to enrage the demon."

"Not long after, the demon appeared at the Zhao Family and slaughtered them. The County Magistrate personally intervened to kill it, but when he followed its aura to investigate, he discovered that demons outside the city were forming an encirclement, converging on the county from all directions without end."