Preparing to Leave Qingxi County! Hu Family's Banquet! A Feast at Hongmen?

The next morning, at dawn.

The morning alley was still shrouded in thin mist when the scent of cooking fires had already begun to drift through the air.

As usual, Mu Yang changed into a set of deep-black fitted clothes and strode out the door.

On the way, he casually bought a stack of freshly baked flatbreads, eating as he listened to the gossip of the street vendors.

"Have you heard? The Wang Family was raided last night! Even that old bastard, the Wang Family patriarch, died!"

"Is that true? That was the Wang Family, one of the Three Great Families. Just like that, they're gone?"

"How could it be false? My brother's relative's cousin works at the County Office. He saw it with his own eyes last night. They said the Wang Family patriarch turned into a giant monster over ten feet tall right in the street, his demonic aura soaring to the heavens. It was terrifying! Luckily, our Head Constable Mu was mighty beyond compare. They say when he swung his blade, it shone like a river of stars, dimming even the moon by three parts. In no time at all, he slew that old monster!"

"As expected of Head Constable Mu! He's so formidable at such a young age. Qingxi County will be peaceful from now on!"

The discussions rose and fell one after another. Most people applauded the Wang Family's downfall, and they praised Mu Yang to the skies.

As for why Mu Yang had attacked the Wang Family?

They did not care. The Wang Family had never been anything good anyway.

Listening to the idle chatter by the street, Mu Yang did not slow his pace. Just as he finished the flatbread in his hand, he arrived at the County Office gates on time.

The moment he entered the Constabulary, he saw a broad-shouldered, burly figure coming toward him.

"Brother Mu, good morning!"

Wu Cai laughed as he walked over and patted Mu Yang on the shoulder. "You were truly magnificent last night! You stormed the Wang Family alone and cut down that old bastard Wang Rudong with a single strike. The whole of Qingxi County is talking about it now. You're the guardian deity of our county!"

"Brother Wu flatters me. Qingxi County's peace is not the work of one man alone."

Mu Yang smiled faintly.

"As expected of Brother Mu—neither arrogant nor impetuous, with such steady bearing!"

Wu Cai sighed in admiration, then said, "Oh, right. County Commandant Zhou asked me to tell you that if you have time this morning, go see him. He has something to discuss with you."

"Mm."

Mu Yang nodded and soon arrived at Zhou Heng's office.

At that moment, Zhou Heng was standing by the window, gazing blankly at the paulownia tree in the courtyard beneath the rising sun. Only when he heard footsteps did he come back to himself.

When he saw Mu Yang, a warm smile immediately spread across his face. "Head Constable Mu is here. Quickly, have a seat!"

As he spoke, he took out a heavy cloth sack from beneath the desk and set it on the table before Mu Yang with a dull thud.

A clattering sound came from inside the sack, as though gold and silver were knocking together.

"Lord Zhou, this is?" Mu Yang asked.

"This is the reward for all the head constables and constables after the Wang Family's assets were confiscated yesterday. Everyone has one. The others have already collected theirs; this is your share," Zhou Heng explained.

Hearing that, Mu Yang accepted the cloth sack. "Thank you, Lord Zhou."

"No need to be polite. This is what you deserve." Zhou Heng smiled, then continued, "By the way, do you remember what I told you before about the Demon Slayer Bureau?"

"I remember. Has something gone wrong?" Mu Yang asked.

Zhou Heng shook his head. "It is not a major problem. It seems the Prefecture City has been occupied with something lately, so they may not be able to spare anyone to come to Qingxi County anytime soon. We can only go to the Prefecture City ourselves."

Mu Yang understood.

Zhou Heng had previously said that when recruiting new members in a small place like Qingxi County, they would generally write a recommendation letter to the Demon Slayer Bureau in the Prefecture City, and the Demon Slayer Bureau would send someone to inspect the place.

On one hand, they would recruit new people; on the other, they could conveniently check whether the county had suffered any monster disasters.

Since the Demon Slayer Bureau had no time, he could simply go there himself. There were neither any martial arts manuals worth taking in the county nor any monsters for him to kill.

If he went to the Prefecture City sooner, not only could he gain access to more profound martial arts, he might even encounter more monsters to aid his cultivation.

"When do we leave?" Mu Yang asked.

Zhou Heng said, "Head Constable Xue will be going to the Prefecture City Office in three days to report on the Wang Family case. If you are free then, you can go with him."

As he spoke, Zhou Heng took out another letter and handed it to Mu Yang. "This is the letter of recommendation I wrote for you. If the Demon Slayer Bureau remains too busy to take you in for the time being, you can use this letter to work at the Prefecture City Constabulary first. At least you will have somewhere to settle."

"Thank you, Lord Zhou."

Mu Yang accepted the letter and thanked him.

"You are too polite. To Zhou, these are no more than a lift of the hand. On the contrary, it is Zhou who should thank Head Constable Mu for wiping out the Wang Family." Zhou Heng smiled.

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"In three days, Head Constable Xue will wait for you at the east gate. You can set off directly then. I will make arrangements for your Fifth Squad."

"Then I'll trouble Lord Zhou."

After their conversation, Mu Yang carried the sack full of gold and silver, along with the envelope, back to the Constabulary.

He had barely reached the Constabulary and put down the sack when Lin Xiaoqi came running over.

"Head Constable, someone outside claims to be the Hu Family's steward. He says he has an important matter and requests an audience with you," Lin Xiaoqi said.

"The Hu Family?"

Mu Yang raised a brow.

He had little contact with the Hu Family. Their only interaction had been a few days ago, when he killed a Fox Demon at the Fragrant Pavilion run by the Hu Family.

So why was the Hu Family looking for him?

Mu Yang did not know. He decided to see what they wanted first. "Let him in."

"Yes, Head Constable!"

Before long, a slightly plump middle-aged man in a brocade robe entered with Lin Xiaoqi. He was Hu Lu, the Hu Family's steward.

"This humble one, Hu Lu, pays respects to Head Constable Mu!"

A smile was piled across his face as he cupped his hands in greeting. His tone was full of respect. "By order of my master, Hu Wanshan, this humble one has come to thank Head Constable Mu for slaying the demon fox at the Fragrant Pavilion some days ago and removing a scourge from the Hu Family!"

As he spoke, he slipped one hand into his sleeve, pulled out an exquisite wooden box inlaid with red jade, and handed it to Mu Yang.

Inside were neatly arranged gold bars and several pieces of lustrous jade of excellent quality.

"This is a small token from my master. We hope Head Constable Mu will accept it with a smile!"

Hu Lu said with a smile, "In addition, my master has prepared a modest banquet and wishes to invite Head Constable Mu to visit the residence at the hour of the Rooster today, so that he may thank you in person!"

Mu Yang glanced at the gold bars and jade in the wooden box, then at Hu Lu's overly enthusiastic attitude.

A gift to thank him, and an invitation into the residence for a banquet?

Was this really right?

Hu Mei had been working at the Fragrant Pavilion. Could the Hu Family truly not know?

Mu Yang did not know whether others believed that, but he certainly did not.

He had reason to suspect that this was no good banquet. It might well be a feast at Hongmen in name and deed!

Of course, it was also possible that because he had destroyed the Wang Family last night, the Hu Family had come early in the morning to seek peace.

Either way, Mu Yang did not care.

If it was the former, he could not have wished for more. He would simply start killing.

Even if it was the latter, he would still start killing.

Why, you ask?

If the Hu Family had not colluded with monsters, why would they seek peace?

Since they were seeking peace, they must have colluded with monsters, and naturally deserved to die!

Besides, if he did not kill the Hu Family, where would his martial arts manuals come from?

Where would his precious medicinal herbs come from?

Where would his monster beast corpses come from?

For the sake of his martial path, the Hu Family could only suffer first!

"Fine, I understand."

The corner of Mu Yang's mouth curled up as he smiled.

He was clearly smiling, yet Hu Lu felt a faint chill creep through his heart, as though he were facing Hu Xin. It was somewhat frightening.

However, since he had become the Hu Family's steward, he naturally would not rashly reveal anything amiss. He maintained his smile and said:

"Thank you, Head Constable Mu, for honoring us with your presence! Then this humble one will not disturb Head Constable Mu's work any longer. I shall take my leave first. At the hour of the Rooster, this humble one will await your esteemed arrival before the residence!"

After speaking, Hu Lu gave Mu Yang another deep bow before slowly withdrawing.

"Hu Family, I hope you do not disappoint me..."

Mu Yang lightly gripped the hilt of his blade and muttered to himself.

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