Demoness Beheaded, Demon Spirit Refined

Seeing Cui Lang charge at her with his blade raised, Xiao Yu stumbled back in panic. "Stop! If you draw other people here, Magistrate Zheng will never spare you!"

Cui Lang seemed utterly unconcerned about the commotion. His saber strikes came faster and faster, each one embodying the forceful, unyielding intent of relentless advancement.

In the blink of an eye, several wounds had appeared on Xiao Yu's body.

None of the wounds were fatal, but each carried a thread of Blazing Sun true essence, searing Xiao Yu's body and causing her unbearable agony.

Yet she realized that despite such a huge commotion, Wang Hanzong had not come over. Could Cui Lang have killed Wang Hanzong first?

Cui Lang also sensed that something was off. After taking so many blows, Xiao Yu had not shed a single drop of blood due to her peculiar nature, and she could still keep dodging.

But if she knew she was no match for him, why had Xiao Yu not fled?

His gaze suddenly fell on the painting hanging on the wall, and Xiao Yu's expression changed drastically.

"Xiao Yu, you have survived by dwelling within this painting. So what if the painting is destroyed?"

"No! I'll fight you to the death!" Xiao Yu screamed as she lunged at Cui Lang.

But Cui Lang had already swung first, slicing the painting on the wall cleanly in two.

The Blazing Sun true essence clinging to his blade instantly set the painting ablaze. Xiao Yu let out a pained, miserable howl.

Cui Lang rushed forward and slashed at Xiao Yu like lightning.

Xiao Yu's body blurred into nothingness, turning into a wisp of green smoke.

Cui Lang suddenly discovered that the little pot in his mind had moved. Its lid opened, and all the green smoke Xiao Yu had become was sucked inside.

The lid closed again, and the little pot became motionless, as though nothing had happened.

"Hm? Demon spirits can be refined too? What will they become after refinement?"

An expectant look appeared on Cui Lang's face.

After seeing the painting Xiao Yu had possessed burn to ashes, with even the ashes scattered by the wind, Cui Lang swiftly left Wang Hanzong's home.

Half an hour later, Wang Hanzong, who had been lying in the courtyard, slowly woke up and rubbed his neck.

Just now, he had felt a sudden heavy blow to the back of his head, and then he had known nothing.

When he saw firelight coming from the rear courtyard, his face changed dramatically. He ran madly toward it. "Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu! I'm coming to save you!"

Even though the raging flames had already set the house ablaze, Wang Hanzong still charged inside without hesitation.

Zheng Fengyun was sitting in his office, quietly cultivating, when Constable Li hurried in.

"Magistrate Zheng, something has happened."

"Just after the city gates opened this morning, Wang Hanzong's old servant ran over to report the crime. He said someone had set fire to the house, and Wang Hanzong was burned to death."

"I immediately rode over on a fast horse. Wang Hanzong's house had indeed caught fire, and Wang Hanzong was indeed burned to death, but the painting was gone."

Zheng Fengyun abruptly opened his eyes. "What did you say? The painting is gone? Did she escape?"

That was another demon gone who could provide Blood Pills. When would he ever break through?

But why would Xiao Yu run away? Wasn't it good for her to cooperate with them in Cloud Mountain County?

Constable Li shook his head and pulled two scorched Blood Pills from his robes. "Please look, Magistrate Zheng. If she had escaped, she could not possibly have left behind the Blood Pills she painstakingly refined. I fear she is already dead."

Zheng Fengyun narrowed his eyes. "Dead? Who did it?!"

Without his permission, which blind fool had gone and randomly slain demons again?

But that should not have been possible. The county's martial arts schools were all filled with mediocre Essence Refining realm fighters. Even if ten of them attacked together, they would not have been Xiao Yu's match.

Without true essence, they could not have harmed Xiao Yu in the slightest.

"I don't know."

That was what troubled Constable Li. Xiao Yu was dead, yet they did not know who had done it.

If it had been a passing martial artist, that would have been one thing. But if it had been someone from the prefectural yamen, or some great figure taking action, then matters would become serious.

"Useless!" Zheng Fengyun flew into a rage. "You couldn't even keep an eye on one demon."

"I'm giving you one day. You must find out exactly who did this. This matter must also be kept strictly confidential. If it reaches the county magistrate's ears, neither of us will have a good ending."

After sending Constable Li away, Zheng Fengyun had no mood to cultivate. After calming his emotions, he headed toward the county magistrate's office.

He had to probe whether the county magistrate knew about this matter.

Constable Li returned to the constables' quarters with an equally grim expression.

Xiao Yu's matter had been extremely secretive. How had she suddenly died?

Cui Lang knew about Xiao Yu. Could it have been him?

A quarter of an hour later, Cui Lang was summoned before Constable Li.

"Constable Li, what are your orders? I guarantee I'll carry them out." Cui Lang stood before Constable Li with an utterly loyal expression.

Constable Li asked with a genial smile, "Cui Lang, yesterday was payday. You didn't go fool around with the others, did you?"

"No. I just bought some wine and food, then went to Brother Zhao's home and drank with him for half the night to thank him." Cui Lang scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Did you smell the stale sweat on me, Constable Li? I drank a little too much yesterday, so I slept at Brother Zhao's place. I came straight here for roll call this morning and didn't have time to wash up or change."

"Rest assured, Constable Li. You told us that lust is a blade hanging over one's head. I have kept that in mind. Once I break through to the Essence Gathering realm, I'll find myself a wife."

Constable Li looked satisfied. "It's good that you remember. Have you told anyone about us leaving the city to intimidate demons?"

Cui Lang hurriedly shook his head. "Absolutely not. I didn't even tell my younger sister."

Constable Li grunted. "Nothing else. Go home and change your clothes first. That smell is really something."

Not long after Cui Lang left, Zhao Changshan came before Constable Li.

"Constable Li, you summoned me?"

"Zhao Changshan, did you drink with Cui Lang last night? Did he stay at your home?" Constable Li asked directly.

Zhao Changshan nodded. "That's right. That kid bought two jars of wine, but he was done for after drinking only half of one. I figured he might never have drunk before."

"He wasn't even well-behaved in his sleep. In the middle of the night, he nearly squeezed me right off the bed..."

Constable Li cut off Zhao Changshan's rambling. "Enough. As long as you didn't take Cui Lang to a brothel. You don't train properly yourself, so don't lead others astray. Get out."

Someone like Zhao Changshan would never help Cui Lang deceive him. That meant Cui Lang had not left at all last night, so he could not have killed Xiao Yu.

He also felt that he had suspected the wrong person. What level of strength did Cui Lang have? How could he possibly have killed Xiao Yu?

"If it wasn't Cui Lang, who else could it have been?"

Zheng Fengyun had given him one day to investigate the matter, but he had no leads at all. He could only hope that some expert had happened to pass by and casually disposed of Xiao Yu.

Cui Lang returned home and, after closing the door, let out a sigh of relief. No one had followed him.

When Constable Li had summoned him for questioning just now, he had seemed concerned for Cui Lang, but in truth, he had been asking what Cui Lang had done last night.

That meant Constable Li already knew about Xiao Yu's death and had become suspicious of him.

Fortunately, he had planned well and had Zhao Changshan serve as his witness. That should be enough to deceive Constable Li.

He carefully recalled his performance just now as well. There should not have been any flaws.

He drew a bucket of water and gave himself a quick wash. Just as he changed into fresh clothes, Cui Lang suddenly noticed that the little pot in his mind had moved.

A pale green mist poured out from the pot's spout.