Demon Calamity

The hall was silent.

Only the Han Family Head's words echoed through it.

Perhaps because they had been warned beforehand, none of the other Han family members said a word. They all cast strange looks at the group from the Qin family.

Lady Li's brows drew together slightly.

Qin Jiu listened without expression and showed no intention of speaking. He knew the other man hadn't finished. Pointing out the crisis facing the Qin family was nothing more than an attempt to gain leverage.

At that moment,

Wang Yue, who had been following the two of them with his back slightly bent, stepped forward.

"This humble servant is the steward of the Qin Mansion. I pay my respects to the Han Family Head."

"This old servant came here with Old Madam and the young master, and shouldn't have spoken out of turn. But I just heard the Han Family Head say that something went wrong during your cultivation. I'm afraid that may not be the case. The demonic aura on you is completely undisguised, and it's quite similar to that of the demon that attacked my master that day."

Wang Yue spoke listlessly.

He had come along only to ensure Qin Jiu and Old Madam's safety. He shouldn't have interfered in anything.

Yet the moment he entered the hall, his heightened senses detected a bone-chilling aura.

It was identical to the aura of the demon that had ambushed Qin Guihong.

However, warriors at the Three Refinements stage or below could hardly sense this aura. So as he spoke, he also meant to warn Old Madam and Qin Jiu.

The Han Family Head, seated in the place of honor,

had been holding up his teacup, about to take a sip. At Wang Yue's words, his hand froze. Then he fixed a sharp, piercing stare on Wang Yue.

"You sick tiger. I can't believe you came along too."

The Han Family Head's expression darkened.

He hadn't noticed the figure following the two of them all this time, and had taken him for an ordinary servant.

Meanwhile,

both Qin Jiu and Lady Li

wore grim expressions.

"Han Family Head, please explain."

"Your Qin family certainly has some nerve, bringing the only Internal Strengthening warrior in your household out with you. Aren't you afraid someone will take advantage of the empty nest?"

The Han Family Head sighed. "I—Han Zongyuan, no, the Han family—actually suffered the same thing as the Qin Mansion a few days ago. A demon attacked us suddenly in the night. If Zong Yuan hadn't risked his life to save me, I'd have died on the spot."

At his words,

a look of shock immediately appeared on Lady Li's face.

Qin Jiu spoke in a low voice. "Han Family Head, this matter concerns my family's blood feud. You can't simply clear yourself of the reason for the demonic aura on you with a single sentence. Uncle Wang..."

As he spoke, he turned to Wang Yue beside him.

The latter nodded.

He immediately drew a gleaming long saber from the waist of one of the accompanying guards.

"Vmmm."

The saber trembled.

A terrifying aura

surged from Wang Yue, making everyone's blood run cold. His aged bearing vanished, his back straightened in an instant, and he strode toward the center of the hall.

"Wait."

The Han Family Head's brow twitched violently. "I can prove whether this is true."

"Someone, bring in the coffins."

He instructed a servant beside him.

Seeing this, Qin Jiu also signaled Wang Yue to stop.

Before long,

eight dark-red coffins were carried into the hall. The Han Family Head then ordered the servants to open them.

"Family Head, Zong Yuan's body is not yet cold. How can we disturb his rest..."

"Silence."

The Han Family Head shot a cold glance at the person who had spoken.

Then he walked to the coffin in the very center and struck the lid aside with one hand, revealing a disfigured corpse with bluish-green skin.

"The eight people in these coffins were all pillars of the Han family. They died when demons attacked that night. Nephew, Old Madam, if you don't believe me, you can look at the bodies in the other coffins. The aura of that demon still lingers on them."

"If I've offended you, please forgive me, Uncle Han."

Qin Jiu didn't stand on ceremony.

He immediately had the accompanying guards open the coffins one by one.

Whether or not he offended the Han family wasn't even a consideration. After all, if the Han family really had something to do with the demon that had ambushed Qin Guihong, there would be no peaceful resolution today.

Once the remaining coffins were opened,

every corpse inside was disfigured and bluish-green.

"Uncle Wang."

Qin Jiu turned to Wang Yue.

He couldn't sense any demonic aura, so he could only leave the assessment to Wang Yue.

"They did indeed die at the hands of a demon."

Wang Yue nodded. "And it was the same demon that attacked the master back then. That chilling aura is exactly the same as the one that lingered inside you before. Young master, you'll know if you touch these bodies."

At Wang Yue's words, Qin Jiu's heart sank.

Whether or not Qin Guihong and his predecessor had been deliberately targeted by demons, the devastation that had befallen the Han family made the matter all the more serious. A demon was slaughtering people in the Inner City, and no one could subdue it...

He took a deep breath and looked at the Han Family Head.

"Uncle Han, then why is there still a demonic aura on you..."

"Rip!"

Before he could finish speaking,

the Han Family Head grabbed his own left shoulder and violently tore open his brocade robe, revealing a vicious claw mark.

"This is what I suffered while fighting the demon."

"Do you still have any doubts, nephew?"

The Han Family Head said expressionlessly.

Qin Jiu bowed solemnly to him. "The Han family has suffered this calamity. The Qin family shouldn't have reopened your wounds like this. But since it concerns my father's blood feud, I had no choice but to be cautious. I've offended you greatly. Please forgive me, Uncle Han."

At this, the Han Family Head's expression softened somewhat.

"I ask that the Qin family keep this matter from the outside world. As for the marriage..." He glanced at Wang Yue. "The Han family has suffered a calamity. Even if we proceed with the marriage, my daughter and nephew won't be able to wed until three months from now."

"I understand."

Qin Jiu nodded. His gaze flickered as he said, "But Uncle Han, may I ask which of your daughters you intend to betroth to me?"

The Han Family Head had two sons and three daughters.

As for the marriage, according to their agreement from back then, it should have been with his eldest daughter.

He asked simply to gauge the Han Family Head's attitude.

The Han family was much like the Qin family. Each had two publicly known Internal Strengthening warriors. One of them was Han Zongyuan, now lying in a coffin, while the other seemed to have suffered a severe injury...

As Qin Jiu considered this,

his gaze met the Han Family Head's.

The other man's pupils contracted slightly. Then, without changing his expression, he looked toward the servant beside him.

"Go call the eldest miss over."

"Yes."

The servant bowed and left.

The hall soon fell into an eerie silence.

Lady Li lowered her eyelids, seeming to rest with her eyes closed. She appeared as though everything that had just happened had nothing to do with her, but her mind was far from calm.

Not long after,

a slender figure in a pale-blue martial outfit entered the hall.

She was tall, with delicate, fair features.

She came before Lady Li and bowed with effortless grace. "Qingyue pays her respects to Old Madam and Young Master Qin."

"Rise, rise."

Lady Li looked Han Qingyue over and nodded slightly.

But after completing her greeting,

she didn't linger.

She walked straight to the Han Family Head and knelt before him.

"Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. I should naturally obey all of Father's arrangements. But I'm devoted to the martial path, and a sect steward has already recommended me. Once spring comes next year, I'll be able to take the sect's entrance examination. I beg Father to withdraw his decision."