Fox Corpse! Manager! Gold!

[Equippable Item: Fox Demon Corpse (Intact)]

[Rank: Second Rank]

[Equipment Effects: ① Sturdy Physique (White): Slightly enhances the physique (physical strength, total stamina, and reaction speed are improved across the board).

② Qi-Blood Abundance (White): Slightly increases total Blood Qi.

③ Charm Fragrance Resistance (Blue): Can greatly reduce the effects of Charm Fragrance at Second Rank and below.]

[Permanent Solidification Condition: Equip this item for ten full days, or while it is equipped, slay any demonic beast of Second Rank or above.]

Mu Yang glanced at the Fox Demon Corpse, which had already turned into a fox-headed, human-bodied form.

Its effects were much the same as yesterday's Rat Demon Corpse. Both had attributes that increased strength and Blood Qi, but this one also had an additional attribute for resisting Charm Fragrance.

Mu Yang guessed that it might be related to the fragrance she had released just now.

After thinking it over, Mu Yang did not rush to equip the Fox Demon Corpse. Instead, he casually grabbed the Feather-Command Broadblade at his side, then lifted the Fox Demon Corpse and kicked the door open.

Bang!

The doorframe exploded, and the Fragrant Pavilion, which had been filled with song and dance moments ago, fell silent at once.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned toward him.

They saw a valiant young man holding a blade in one hand and carrying a Fox Demon Corpse as tall as a person as he emerged from the room.

"Who has such nerve as to cause trouble at the Hu Family's Fragrant Pavilion?"

"Looks like the new head constable who came with Constable Wu. Did he drink too much?"

"Wait, look at what he's holding!"

"Th-this... is that a Fox Demon?"

Some of those who had been slightly tipsy from drinking were instantly startled sober after seeing the Fox Demon Corpse in Mu Yang's hand.

Wu Cai, who had just walked out with two girls in his arms and was preparing to head to the private room next door, was equally dumbfounded.

He stared blankly at the Fox Demon Corpse in Mu Yang's hand.

No, what was going on?

What had just happened?

Wasn't Brother Mu drinking with Hu Mei?

Where had this Fox Demon's corpse come from?

While everyone was still in shock, the madam of the Fragrant Pavilion had already come over with seven or eight attendants wielding clubs.

"Who is it that dares cause trouble in our Fragrant Pavilion?" The madam's voice was shrill as she tried to seize the initiative.

But the next moment, she fell silent.

Because Mu Yang was already carrying the Fox Demon Corpse, walking step by step until he stood before her.

In theory, the Fragrant Pavilion, backed by the Hu Family—one of Qingxi County's Three Great Families—should not have feared a mere constable.

Yet for some reason, beneath Mu Yang's icy gaze, the madam was like a chicken with its throat gripped. She could not force out a single word.

With the madam silent, the attendants around her did not dare make any rash moves either.

They were only hired hands and had never practiced martial arts. How could they dare cross Mu Yang, who held a blade in one hand and a demon's corpse in the other?

Their silence did not mean Mu Yang would remain silent.

He looked down at the madam and spoke each word with ringing force. "The Fragrant Pavilion harbored a demon, treated human lives like grass, and even attempted to assassinate this constable. What crime should that be!"

His resounding words, bolstered by his vigorous Blood Qi, spread throughout the entire Fragrant Pavilion.

The madam closest to Mu Yang was so shaken that her head buzzed. Unable to keep her footing, she crumpled to the ground with a thud.

"A misunderstanding, Head Constable Mu! It's all a misunderstanding!"

Just as the atmosphere inside the building grew tense, a middle-aged man in fine robes came running over.

Hu Deshui, a collateral member of the Hu Family and also the manager of the Fragrant Pavilion.

"Manager Hu, I brought my brother here to enjoy ourselves, and this is how you treat us? Does your Fragrant Pavilion even want to stay in business?"

Wu Cai seemed to have finally come back to his senses. He immediately strode forward, looking furious.

Tonight, he had originally intended to treat Mu Yang well and use the chance to draw closer to him.

Who would have thought that disaster would nearly come knocking instead?

In his rage, his words were exceptionally sharp.

"My apologies, my apologies, Head Constable Wu, Head Constable Mu. This Fox Demon was absolutely not deliberately hidden by the Hu Family. It is only that this lowly one does not understand martial arts and was bewitched by the Fox Demon. I ask the two of you to forgive me."

As he spoke, Hu Deshui took out two sizable gold ingots from his robes and stuffed them into Mu Yang and Wu Cai's hands with a flattering smile.

"Two head constables, I am truly terribly sorry. Everything the two of you spent today will be on the house!"

After speaking, he looked toward the crowd inside the building, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "A demon suddenly appeared in our Fragrant Pavilion today. Fortunately, Head Constable Mu and Head Constable Wu acted generously and subdued this demon, averting disaster before anything happened. Still, your refined enjoyment has been disturbed. I will make the decision: all of your expenses tonight will be on the house!"

Thus, beneath Hu De's humble apologies and generous offer of free drinks, the crowd's earlier shock and suspicion quickly subsided.

Many people even took advantage of the free bill to order several more jars of wine.

Hu Deshui did not mind. Though the free bill pained his heart somewhat, compared with preserving the Fragrant Pavilion's business, these losses were worth it.

"Two head constables, Hu once again offers his apologies. So long as the two of you are willing to honor us by visiting the Fragrant Pavilion in the future, we will not charge a single coin!" Hu Deshui said sincerely.

Seeing this, Wu Cai had lost his initial anger. He merely turned to look at Mu Yang.

"I don't get the final say today. I'll listen to my brother."

"Manager Hu, when hiring people in the future, remember to keep your eyes peeled."

With things having reached this point, Mu Yang naturally would not continue pressing the matter.

For one thing, Hu Deshui's apology had been sincere, and he had even offered a large gold ingot in compensation.

For another, the Fragrant Pavilion was, after all, a Hu Family business. The Hu Family stood alongside the Wang Family as one of the Three Great Families, and with Mu Yang's current strength, it was unwise to make things bigger.

Most importantly, after the incidents involving Huang Laodeng and the Rat Demon, he did not believe Hu Deshui's claim that this had been an oversight.

If the Wang Family could collude with Rat Demons, why couldn't the Hu Family consort with Fox Demons!

If his strength had not still been so low, he would have wanted to charge straight into the Hu Family and force out the location of the Fox Demons' lair.

"Head Constable Mu is right. Hu will certainly keep his eyes peeled from now on!" Hu Deshui said with a placating smile.

"Brother Wu, let's go."

Mu Yang lifted the Fox Demon Corpse one-handedly and headed outside.

Hu Deshui seemed to want to raise a hand and say something, but as he watched Mu Yang and Wu Cai's retreating backs, he ultimately did not dare utter a word.

"Ah, these are truly troubled times. I only hope the Fragrant Pavilion's business will not be affected."

Hu Deshui rubbed his brow in distress.

Who knew what madness had possessed the family head, insisting that Hu Mei, this Fox Demon, stay at the Fragrant Pavilion.

He was only an ordinary man who had yet to enter a realm. Facing Hu Mei, this Fox Demon, every day left him walking on eggshells, terrified that something might go wrong.

Had he not reacted quickly enough today and been willing to bleed a little, the Fragrant Pavilion's business would likely have taken a tremendous blow.

"Maybe I should pack my belongings and head for the Prefecture City. Earning less doesn't matter; at least it'll be safer..." Hu Deshui muttered softly.

Mu Yang had no idea what Hu Deshui was muttering about.

After politely declining Wu Cai's invitation for a late-night meal, Mu Yang eagerly carried the Fox Demon Corpse back to the courtyard the old constable had left for him.

It was in a small alley near the city wall. Though the location was somewhat remote, it was cheap and came with a small courtyard.

Given the old constable's financial means, buying this place had already been no easy feat.

Mu Yang tossed the Fox Demon Corpse onto the ground, then drew his blade and beheaded it, wrapping the Fox Demon's head in a burlap sack.

Exchanging for merit points required a demon's head, so naturally he had to preserve it properly.

Once everything was ready, he immediately went to the headless fox corpse and thought to himself.

Let me see just how different the bonuses from a Second Rank demon corpse are from those of a First Rank demon corpse!

"Equip, Fox Demon Corpse!"