Anger

Exterminate all nine clans!

Show no mercy whatsoever!

Though Shen Changqing's words were not heavy, paired with the mountain of corpses and sea of blood before them, they were more effective than any harsh rebuke.

Very soon.

The constables began moving, loading all the Zhao Family corpses onto the prepared carriages and transporting them out of the city.

On the other side.

Shen Changqing first returned to the yamen to change out of his official robes, then headed toward Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop.

The moment he saw Situ Bei.

He got straight to the point.

"Last night, the Eternal Life Alliance sent two fiends to attack the yamen. They could not possibly have dispatched fiends here out of nowhere. There must be an Eternal Life Alliance stronghold in Lin'an City. I can overlook your failure this time. But I want the Skywatch Guard to find that stronghold within two days.

"If you cannot find it, then replace every Skywatch Guard in Lin'an City with a new batch!"

Shen Changqing's face was icy, devoid of his usual amiability.

"Yes!"

Seeing his expression, Situ Bei felt a chill in his heart.

The Skywatch Guard had also received news of the battle at the yamen last night. However, the Skywatch Guard specialized in gathering intelligence, and their combat ability was truly mediocre, so he had not sent anyone to assist.

Now that Shen Changqing had come personally to demand an explanation, he could only take it.

It was plain to see.

What had happened last night had truly enraged Shen Changqing.

"Is there any news of the fiend that attacked the village before? If there is still no news at all by now, then I have reason to question whether the Skywatch Guard is actually capable of doing its job."

Suppressing his fury over last night's ambush, Shen Changqing changed the subject.

From beginning to end, his tone did not soften in the slightest.

This time.

Shen Changqing had truly come with the attitude of demanding accountability.

The fiends' assault on the yamen had been such a major matter, yet the Skywatch Guard had received no warning whatsoever beforehand.

He did not know whether the entire Skywatch Guard was this incompetent, or whether Situ Bei had grown complacent after too long in comfort.

If the other man could not give him a satisfactory answer.

Shen Changqing would not spare a thought for their meager friendship of the past.

"There is already news!"

Without hesitation, Situ Bei hurriedly replied, "The Skywatch Guard searched the entire area within fifty li and discovered that the final traces of that fiend pointed directly toward Lin'an City.

"Therefore, I suspect that one of the two fiends that attacked the yamen last night was the same fiend that slaughtered the village.

"After all, Lin'an City is only a small city. Though demon blood essence is important, it does not hold much appeal for powerful fiends.

"Counting the fiend from Ancient Moon Village, the Eternal Life Alliance has deployed three fiends in this area. That is already about enough."

After saying that.

Situ Bei paused.

"May I ask, my lord, did those two fiends escape?"

"I killed one. The other escaped," Shen Changqing replied blandly.

One killed.

One escaped.

Situ Bei drew in a quiet breath. Shen Changqing's strength rose to another level in his estimation.

After his brief shock, he quickly recovered and analyzed the matter calmly.

"My lord killed one fiend, so the Eternal Life Alliance will have some estimate of your strength. Right now, the Demon Suppression Bureau is being tied down by fiends, and likewise, the fiends' side has also had much of its strength tied down.

"In my view, the fiends will not commit too much force around Lin'an City.

"Over the coming days, the Skywatch Guard will strictly patrol the city. The instant there is any movement, we will notify you at once, my lord."

"That would be for the best."

The coldness on Shen Changqing's face eased somewhat, though his expression remained far from pleasant. "As the eyes and ears of the Demon Suppression Bureau, the Skywatch Guard should never have made so many blunders. Brother Situ, it is time you woke up.

"This time, it happened while I was here. But if the Skywatch Guard runs into further problems in the future, perhaps the head rolling off the execution platform tomorrow will be yours."

"Lord Shen's lesson is correct!"

Situ Bei nodded obediently, his heart secretly trembling.

He understood that Shen Changqing's words were not merely meant to frighten him.

Though the Skywatch Guard appeared not to need to personally fight demons and destroy fiends, their responsibilities were not light in the slightest.

If intelligence truly went wrong and caused the Demon Suppression Bureau severe losses.

Then when the time came.

Forget beheading one man—even exterminating all nine clans would not be impossible.

"I have said all there is to say, so I will not waste more words on this. It is enough if Brother Situ understands." Shen Changqing did not intend to dwell on the matter. "Is there any definite news on exactly when the demon blood essence will emerge?

"And where it might be located?"

Everyone said that the demon blood essence would emerge around Lin'an City.

But while Lin'an City was not large, neither was it small. There had to be a precise location.

Moreover.

The time when the demon blood essence emerged was tied to how long he would need to remain stationed in Lin'an City.

His battle with that Resentful-level wraith last night had made Shen Changqing understand that, even though he had broken through to the Innate realm, he still did not have the qualifications to sweep through Lin'an City unchecked.

It was only because the other fiend had been too weak, merely at the Ghost-level.

Otherwise.

If two Resentful-level wraiths joined forces, Shen Changqing was not confident he could handle them.

Thus, all he hoped for now was that the demon blood essence would emerge as quickly as possible.

The sooner he completed the mission, the sooner he could return.

A minor Innate martial artist like himself truly was not suited to staying here.

At that.

Situ Bei pondered for a moment. "According to the intelligence, the demon blood essence should emerge within a month. As for where it might be, we cannot be one hundred percent certain.

"After that expert slew the demon, he was already grievously wounded and passed away not long afterward.

"At present, the Skywatch Guard has several suspected locations. The most likely is the mass graveyard east of the city. It was once one of the sites of the great battle, and the other locations are not far from it.

"But the sealing methods of such an expert were not as simple as burying something deep underground. For now, we can only wait for the seal's power to shatter before learning the exact situation."

"Good. Notify me immediately when there is news."

Shen Changqing rose and left.

He did not remain at Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop for long.

He was now the magistrate of Lin'an City. Though he did not need to handle many affairs, it was still necessary for him to remain at the yamen during ordinary days.

By the time he returned to the yamen.

It was already evening.

Shen Changqing sat in the inner hall, where the meal had long since been prepared.

After eating and drinking his fill.

Shi Qingsheng had someone clear away the dishes before reporting the day's events.

"According to your orders, my lord, all the Zhao Family corpses have been buried at the mass graveyard."

"Good."

Shen Changqing nodded, then asked, "How many men does the yamen have left now?"

"If you mean constables, only eleven remain!"

Shi Qingsheng answered with some embarrassment.

Originally, there had been around twenty constables altogether. But the fiends had killed a group of them last night, leaving more than half dead.

The remaining eleven were already all the living strength the yamen could muster.

"Eleven men!"

Shen Changqing shook his head. "For such a large yamen, eleven men is far too few. Find time to issue a notice and recruit some constables to strengthen the yamen's forces. Also, Hong Cheng is dead. Which constable has the most seniority now?"

"The most senior one should be Zhang Yue!"

"Have him come see me tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Shi Qingsheng nodded. Seeing Shen Changqing's expression, he wisely withdrew.

Rising to his feet.

Shen Changqing left the inner hall. Looking at the pitch-black sky outside, he returned to his bedroom and began another round of cultivation.

He had already cultivated Heavenly Martial Astral Qi to the eleventh level, but there was still a twelfth level above it.

Slaughter Value was precious.

If he could cultivate it through painstaking practice himself, he would undoubtedly save himself considerable trouble.

In these troubled times, there were plenty of fiends, but the risks were also immense. Slaying a fiend rashly was no easy matter.

The night passed without incident.

The next day.

Shen Changqing rose early and absorbed the first wisp of violet qi between heaven and earth.

Although the Pure Yang Art had been completely discarded, the violet qi of heaven and earth could still increase his cultivation.

Though Heavenly Martial Astral Qi did not benefit from absorbing violet qi as greatly as the Pure Yang Art had, even a little improvement was still improvement.

After washing up simply and eating breakfast.

Shen Changqing sat in the inner hall, reading the official documents Shi Qingsheng had delivered.

They recorded various matters that had occurred within the territory under his jurisdiction.

Some were important, while others were not.

Though Shen Changqing was only acting as magistrate, he still needed to review them. As for how they would ultimately be handled, he tossed all of it to Shi Qingsheng.

Just then.

A broad, powerfully built middle-aged constable with a solemn face entered from outside, a saber hanging at his waist.

"This subordinate, Zhang Yue, greets you, my lord!"

The instant he saw Shen Changqing, he bowed in salute, his words ringing like stones striking the ground.

"You may rise."

"Thank you, my lord!"

Only then did Zhang Yue straighten, his gaze fixed forward.

Shen Changqing set down the document in his hand and carefully examined Zhang Yue, secretly nodding to himself.

Strong bones.

Abundant blood and qi.

These were unmistakable signs that he had entered the Body Tempering realm. Though his strength might not surpass the deceased Hong Cheng by much, he had the advantage of youth.

The Body Tempering realm differed from other realms.

The younger one was, the more abundant one's blood and qi. Middle age was the peak of the Body Tempering realm. Once one passed that period, blood and qi would gradually decline and sink into stillness step by step, leaving no possibility of further breakthrough.

After examining him.

Shen Changqing withdrew his gaze and casually lifted the teacup from the table.

"I heard Shi Qingsheng say that you are the most senior constable currently in the yamen?"

"In reply to my lord, I am!"

"Good."

Shen Changqing nodded. "Fiends attacked the yamen last night. I believe you are aware that Constable Chief Hong Cheng died at the fiends' hands last night. The constables are now like a flock of dragons without a head, so I am appointing you as Constable Chief."

"Thank you for your recognition, my lord. This subordinate will absolutely not disgrace your trust!"

At last, a change came over Zhang Yue's face. He clasped his fists and replied with a trace of excitement.

Shen Changqing waved a hand. "You may leave. From today onward, the yamen's constables will follow your command. You must ensure the yamen's security, and report any abnormal situation immediately."

"This subordinate understands!"

Zhang Yue nodded, then bowed and withdrew.

As he withdrew, Shi Qingsheng entered from outside as well.

"My lord, someone outside the yamen requests an audience!"