Husky Falls into the Wolf Den

Chapter 17: A Husky That Fell Into a Wolf's Den

Liangzhou Prefecture, Demon Suppression Bureau.

The Commandery Government Office sat in the northern part of the city, with black tiles and high walls, brass wind chimes hanging from the eaves.

Year-round sandstorms blew through, making the chimes ring with a dull tone.

Liangzhou Prefecture Demon Suppression Commandery

Rear Hall.

A massive sand table occupied most of the hall's space, meticulously depicting the mountains and rivers of the entire Longyou Circuit.

Wei He stood before the sand table with his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.

Within the hall, several men in black robes with red patterns stood, all holding real power in the Demon Suppression Bureau, their faces solemn.

"The garrison at Yumen Pass said they saw a mountain come to life and grow legs to run away on its own."

A lang general with a short beard spoke in a deep voice, his tone tinged with absurdity.

Another man frowned and said, "A mountain grew legs and ran? Could the sandstorm have been so bad they saw things?"

Wei He didn't look up, his voice flat. "What else?"

The short-bearded lang general continued, "Also, over in Zhangye, the Black River flowed backward for three days. The river was filled with dead fish, their stench spreading for a hundred li."

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.

In this era, with demons and monsters running rampant and strange occurrences frequent, it was nothing out of the ordinary.

But lately, something felt subtly off.

Finally, someone couldn't hold back and steered the conversation toward another matter.

"Great General, regarding Captain Xu..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

Xu Nian, a martial artist at the Bone Resonance Realm, was considered a skilled hand in a place like Longyou.

Yet just a few days ago, a man of his caliber had been carried back.

"He won't die."

Wei He finally looked up, his face still expressionless. "But his meridians are severed, his qi and blood are withered. Even if he can be saved, his cultivation is ruined."

"Hiss—"

A sharp intake of breath echoed through the hall.

A Bone Resonance Realm expert, just like that, was finished?

"Is that demon really that formidable?"

The lang general with the short beard sighed. "Demons with supernatural abilities are indeed troublesome. Back then, that demon in Hexi could speak human language and manipulate illusions, costing our Demon Suppression Bureau fifteen captains and over three hundred brothers."

"The demon in Jincheng County could control blood mist and turn it to its own use. Such a power is unheard of. Captain Xu's defeat was no disgrace."

"If not for..."

Halfway through the sentence, everyone seemed to think of the same thing, their gazes converging on a pale-faced young man in the corner.

Liu Chen.

He had also sustained serious injuries in that bloody battle, and standing here now, his body swayed slightly.

Wei He's gaze also fell on him.

"Liu Chen, there was a woman who returned with you, wasn't there?"

Liu Chen's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed. "Yes, Great General."

"Tell me again, in detail, how that boar demon died."

Liu Chen took a deep breath, as if recalling the scene that had overturned his understanding, a trace of lingering shock still in his eyes.

"Reporting to the Great General... Your subordinate... Your subordinate doesn't know what that technique was either."

His voice was a bit hoarse.

"When that woman struck, her blade came out like a tiger, with a blood-colored phantom shadow following behind her. Her saber technique was extremely fierce, but even so, it only wounded the boar demon."

"What truly killed it... was her final move..."

Liu Chen's Adam's apple bobbed as he searched for the right words.

"In the end, crimson tiger stripes appeared on her body, her black hair all turned blood-red, and her pupils... her pupils became vertical slits... Her baleful aura was even more intense than the boar demon's!"

"One punch."

"Just one punch, and it pierced straight through the boar demon's chest."

"..."

When these words came out, everyone's expressions were a sight to behold.

"Unheard of! What kind of evil technique is this?!"

"Could it be a demon in disguise?" another immediately chimed in. "If she had such power, why didn't she act sooner? Why wait until Captain Xu and the others had fought to the point of exhaustion?"

For a moment, the hall buzzed with discussion and wild guesses.

Liu Chen opened his mouth, wanting to defend himself a few words, yet he didn't know where to start.

Yes, why?

He too had been frozen by that fierce, murderous aura back then.

But later, the woman collapsed from exhaustion, and they brought her back to Liangzhou Prefecture. Throughout the treatment, she was clearly human—her qi and blood were weak and floating, but there was not a trace of demonic aura.

"Enough."

Wei He's voice rang out again, and the hall fell silent instantly.

He didn't press further, only ordered, "Issue the order: the matter of Jincheng County ends here. All Imperial Guards sent to investigate are to withdraw immediately."

"Grand General?!"

The crowd was shocked.

"That woman's identity has yet to be uncovered..."

"I have my own decision."

Wei He waved a hand, not giving anyone a chance to question further.

"All of you, withdraw."

The crowd exchanged glances, but ultimately dared not defy him. They bowed in salute and filed out.

Soon, only Wei He remained in the rear hall.

He stared at the sand table, silent for a long time.

"The Jiang Family..."

The medicine was very bitter.

Jiang Yuechu's face was scrunched up, feeling like she had never drunk anything so awful in her life.

"Good medicine tastes bitter."

A soft laugh came from beside her. Wei Qing wiped the medicine stains from the corner of her mouth with a silk handkerchief, her movements gentle.

"This was brewed with Snow Ginseng and century-old Polygonatum. Your qi and blood are too depleted; ordinary herbs are useless."

Snow Ginseng? Polygonatum?

Jiang Yuechu's heart skipped a beat.

Just hearing those names sounded expensive.

Even if she had merits for slaying demons, was this really necessary generosity?

Or...

Did the Demon Suppression Bureau have money to burn?

She discreetly sized up the woman before her.

Wei Qing appeared to be about twenty-three or twenty-four, dressed in a simple, elegant white gown. Her features were gentle, and she carried a faint scent of medicinal herbs.

"Miss Wei, I forgot to ask... where exactly is this place?"

Wei Qing blinked and smiled. "Naturally, it's the rear courtyard of the Demon Suppression Bureau."

Jiang Yuechu sucked in a sharp breath.

She had only survived this long by killing someone from the Demon Suppression Bureau, and now she was in the heart of their headquarters—what difference was there between this and a husky falling into a wolf den?

If she were exposed, she'd probably be made into Snow Ginseng and Polygonatum stewed husky on the spot.

"Thank you for telling me, miss."

She forced a smile. "May I ask... where are the adults who saved me now? This... little woman has yet to thank them for their life-saving grace."

Wei Qing smiled. "They have official duties to attend to; you need not worry. Just rest and recover. My elder brother instructed me to take good care of you."

Elder brother?

Jiang Yuechu keenly caught that word.

She was about to probe discreetly about who this elder brother was.

Creak—

A middle-aged man in dark casual robes walked in.

He wasn't particularly burly, with a refined face, but the aura he carried was impossible to dismiss lightly.

Wei Qing stood up and bowed gracefully to the newcomer.

"Elder brother."

Wei He's gaze didn't linger on his sister; instead, it fell directly on the pale face on the bed.

He didn't speak, just stared.

Jiang Yuechu felt her skin crawl under his gaze, her scalp tingling.

It felt like being stripped naked, seen through inside and out.

After a long pause.

Wei He finally spoke slowly. "Jiang Xun's daughter, Jiang Yuechu?"