You Are—Lord Shen!

Inside the inner hall.

The lamplight flickered.

"Sacrificing a few villages isn't a problem, but if we do that, this matter can no longer be kept under wraps. The Demon Suppression Bureau might send a Profound Rank Demon Slayer over.

"If we truly encounter a powerful Profound Rank Demon Slayer, then even if Blood Soul advances to the Grievance-Rank, it will be difficult to handle.

"And once it comes to that, my tenure as magistrate of Lin'an City will be over."

Zhao Fang sighed, somewhat unwilling to accept it.

Zhuang Mingyuan, however, was unconcerned.

"Do you think that if you don't sacrifice the villages, the Demon Suppression Bureau won't notice anything just because a trainee Demon Slayer died?"

"This—"

"In fact, from the moment that trainee Demon Slayer died, your days as magistrate of Lin'an City were already numbered. But that's fine. Trading the post of a mere magistrate for the advancement of a Grievance-Rank Specter is not a loss at all.

"You've amassed quite a fortune over the years, enough for you and your Lineage to retreat unscathed.

"Though without your position as magistrate of Lin'an City, your role in the alliance will be somewhat diminished, the Eternal Life Alliance has never mistreated any meritorious contributor."

Zhuang Mingyuan offered a word of reassurance.

Then.

His tone shifted, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"Besides, you needn't worry that the Demon Suppression Bureau will send any powerful experts. I wasn't certain before, but now it seems that the Demon Suppression Bureau truly cannot spare the manpower."

Zhuang Mingyuan rose from his seat and paced to the entrance of the inner hall, gazing at the moonless night sky.

"Some time ago, the demons and fiends dispatched quite a few powerful beings to attack various places throughout Great Qin, launching an all-out war against the Demon Suppression Bureau. That battle cost the demons and fiends dearly, but the Demon Suppression Bureau suffered no small losses as well.

"In the past, whenever a Nether-Rank Specter appeared and trainee Demon Slayers were sent out, there would usually be several traveling together.

"Now only one has come. Clearly, the Demon Suppression Bureau does not have many people it can spare."

"Furthermore, neither side determined a decisive victor in that battle. Demons and evil spirits in various regions are still tying down many of the Demon Suppression Bureau's experts. For a mere Lin'an City, the Demon Suppression Bureau may not invest too much strength.

"After all, there are far too many places more important than Lin'an City.

"Now we only need to wait for Zhang Long to return and report, to see whether Blood Soul has truly advanced."

At last.

Zhuang Mingyuan turned around and looked at Zhao Fang, the expression on his face suddenly turning strange.

"Or perhaps Lord Zhao could make a ruthless move and sacrifice every person in Lin'an City. With the blood sacrifice of Lin'an City's hundred thousand living souls, Blood Soul might even advance to the Baleful-Rank.

"You joined the Eternal Life Alliance many years ago, yet you have never made any great contributions.

"If you contribute a Baleful-Rank Specter, you will certainly alarm those higher-ups. At that time, you will lack none of the things you desire.

"Even I could gain no small benefit from it!"

Zhao Fang was greatly startled by Zhuang Mingyuan's words.

Sacrifice Lin'an City!

He had never dared to imagine such a thing, nor had such a thought ever crossed his mind.

If sacrificing Ancient Moon Village was still something he could accept.

Then sacrificing the entirety of Lin'an City.

Had completely exceeded Zhao Fang's expectations.

One had to know.

Although Lin'an City was merely a small border city of Great Qin, it still had a hundred thousand commoners. He had served as an official for many years; to say he felt no attachment to Lin'an City at all would be impossible.

If he directly sacrificed Lin'an City and turned a blind eye to the lives of a hundred thousand commoners.

Zhao Fang searched his heart.

He found that he could not accept it.

"Lord Zhao, think it over carefully. Of course, if you intend to sacrifice all of Lin'an City, then you must hasten your steps. The news of several villages being sacrificed will certainly reach the Demon Suppression Bureau.

"Whenever a powerful demon or evil spirit emerges anywhere, the Demon Suppression Bureau will never simply stand by.

"Even if the Demon Suppression Bureau is temporarily entangled by demons and evil spirits throughout the land, there will eventually come a time when it can free its hands.

"After all, allowing a powerful demon or evil spirit to grow unchecked is also an enormous threat to the Demon Suppression Bureau. It is merely a question of when that threat reaches a point where it can no longer be ignored."

"I can't be certain about that either."

"Since Lord Zhao has already prepared to flee, why not create a greater merit for the alliance? I believe that a Baleful-Rank Specter, even if you make no further contributions for the rest of your life—

"Would, by this merit alone, be enough to ensure your Lineage endures forever."

Zhuang Mingyuan continued to entice him.

Even if a Baleful-Rank Specter truly came into being, the larger share of the credit would belong to Zhao Fang.

But as Zhao Fang's collaborator, he too would receive considerable benefits.

Therefore.

He especially hoped that Zhao Fang would sacrifice all of Lin'an City.

Having long since thrown in his lot with demons and evil spirits, Zhuang Mingyuan had already separated himself from ordinary people. In his eyes, the lives of common folk were no different from ants.

Zhao Fang lowered his head in contemplation. His expression changed repeatedly as he struggled within himself.

He was considering Zhuang Mingyuan's words.

Though he was human, and the magistrate of Lin'an City, the last shred of conscience in his heart told Zhao Fang that he could not sacrifice Lin'an City.

But.

He had sacrificed Ancient Moon Village, then several other villages. In that case, sacrificing all of Lin'an City seemed to be nothing unacceptable.

It was only that.

Too many people would die, and his heart found it difficult to accept.

However—

If a man does not act for himself, Heaven and Earth will destroy him!

Zhao Fang understood very well what benefits raising a Baleful-Rank Specter would bring him in the Eternal Life Alliance.

Very soon.

The struggling, shifting expression on his face finally calmed.

He raised his head.

The usual kindness on Zhao Fang's face had long vanished without a trace, replaced only by a chilling coldness.

"Brother Zhuang is right. If a man does not act for himself, Heaven and Earth will destroy him. Since this official has joined the Eternal Life Alliance, I should make some contributions to it. For the people of Lin'an City to enable the birth of a Baleful-Rank Specter is their honor."

"Haha—"

Seeing that Zhao Fang had come around, Zhuang Mingyuan threw back his head and laughed.

Just then—

Boom!

The gates of the yamen were struck by a powerful force and exploded into countless pieces.

The tremendous commotion immediately alerted the other constables within the yamen.

It also made Zhao Fang and Zhuang Mingyuan in the inner hall instinctively change expression.

"Who dares cause trouble at the yamen!"

"Quick, quickly report to my lord!"

"Y-you're Lord Shen!"

The sudden turn of events left the several constables stunned. Someone immediately went to report to Zhao Fang, while others, after calming down, instantly recognized who it was that had broken into the yamen at night.

When the constables recognized Shen Changqing.

Shen Changqing recognized them as well. They were precisely the constables who had been standing guard outside Ancient Moon Village during the day.

Seeing them draw their weapons and watch him warily.

Shen Changqing tossed what he was holding forward. It rolled across the ground several times before finally coming to rest at a constable's feet.

"C-Captain Zhang!"