Traces of the Blood Demon

"Blood Demon Sect?"

Zhou Muyun looked utterly baffled. There were actually sects in this world? This was the first time he had heard of them.

What kind of sect was this Blood Demon Sect, to make a group of government constables so grave?

One had to know that constables were martial artists too!

"Brother Zhou, you've never heard of the Blood Demon Sect?" Lu Ming asked when he saw Zhou Muyun's confused expression.

"My knowledge is limited. Please enlighten me, Brother Lu."

Zhou Muyun cupped his hands slightly and gave a wry smile.

"The Blood Demon Sect was the largest Devil Dao Sect within the Great Xia Dynasty." Lu Ming's tone grew noticeably more solemn as he spoke.

"Its demonic arts relied on drinking blood to cultivate and were exceedingly sinister. Twenty years ago, it was infamous for countless bloody massacres.

"Later, the reigning emperor led the Great Xia Guard and joined forces with the sects throughout the realm to raze its mountain gate and kill the Blood Demon Sect Master.

"From then on, the sect vanished without a trace, gradually buried by time."

When Lu Ming mentioned the reigning emperor, genuine admiration filled his voice.

Demonic sects, martial sects, the imperial court... This world was clearly not as simple as he had imagined.

Zhou Muyun listened while quietly pondering to himself.

"Then, Brother Lu, if the Blood Demon Sect was already destroyed, how did you learn that it had reappeared?"

Zhou Muyun was puzzled. Could it be that the Great Xia emperor had failed to eliminate the roots back then? That was far too careless!

"Two dried corpses were found near the western gate last night. Every drop of blood had been drained from them. The County Lieutenant personally confirmed it—it was the Blood Demon Sect's demonic art!"

"This... What did the County Lieutenant say?"

"The County Lieutenant told everyone to stay alert for the time being. Street patrols have been expanded from groups of two to groups of four, but each patrol will now last three shichen."

Increasing their numbers was to prevent anything from happening when there were too few people, but extending the hours meant more work for less pay, didn't it?

Just as Zhou Muyun was about to ask Lu Ming, Lu Ming spoke first. "Don't worry, Brother Zhou. The County Lieutenant said that extra shichen will double our monthly pay.

"And since this is a serious matter, we must keep it confidential from outsiders to avoid causing unnecessary panic!"

The moment Zhou Muyun heard that his monthly pay would double, his sense of imbalance instantly disappeared. You should have said it was double pay sooner!

"Rest assured, Brother Lu. Since it is the County Lieutenant's order, I will naturally abide by it," Zhou Muyun said calmly.

"Well, perhaps it's just some Rogue Cultivator practicing the Blood Demon Sect's techniques.

"But this matter is of great importance. The County Lieutenant has already written to the imperial court and the major sects. We just need to be careful. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

Lu Ming was comforting Zhou Muyun, but also himself.

Zhou Muyun nodded, yet continued thinking to himself.

No matter what the truth was, the Blood Demon Sect was a hidden danger. Even people in the inner city had fallen victim to it. Wouldn't the outer city be even more dangerous?

He needed to improve his strength as quickly as possible during this period. Ideally, he would move the Household into the inner city, where his mother and sister would be safer.

Zhou Muyun had already made his decision. For the next while, he would only maintain the minimum amount of sleep and spend all his remaining time training.

After finishing his street patrol with Lu Ming, Zhou Muyun returned to Greenwood Martial Hall.

On the training grounds, his fellow disciples were gathered in small groups, discussing something. Some looked terrified, while others appeared completely unconcerned.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you're back from patrol?" Mo Qi called out to Zhou Muyun.

"Yes, Senior Brother Mo. Why isn't everyone training? What are they discussing?"

Mo Qi's expression changed. He stepped close to Zhou Muyun and lowered his voice. "The brothers serving posts under the imperial court all received word. The Blood Demon Sect has risen from the ashes! Everyone's talking about it!"

"I heard about it too. Is the Blood Demon Sect really that terrifying? Even the County Lieutenant's office seems extremely nervous."

"Terrifying? Junior Brother Zhou, you don't know the full story. Back then, the Blood Demon Sect sacrificed several entire counties just to refine Blood Pills!

"That was over a million lives. Tell me, isn't that terrifying?" A trace of fear flashed across Mo Qi's face.

It seemed that the Blood Demon Sect's deeds were common knowledge among martial artists. Everyone knew about them.

Zhou Muyun sighed inwardly. He still knew far too little about this world. He would have to find an opportunity to make up for this basic knowledge later.

After speaking with Mo Qi for a while longer, he resumed his training.

No matter what, increasing his strength could never be wrong.

Seeing Zhou Muyun still training so steadfastly, Mo Qi could not help but sigh in admiration. "Junior Brother Zhou truly has a resolute heart!"

That evening, Zhou Muyun returned home. After having an extra meal, he instructed his mother and sister.

"Mother, Sister, I have to train and patrol the streets most days, so I'll be in the inner city most of the time.

"If anything strange happens in the outer city recently, you must tell me. And after shenshi, don't go outside."

Xu Rou and Zhou Tong both nodded to show they understood. Zhou Muyun had already become the pillar of the Household.

"Also, after some time, I'll see whether I can find a way for us to move into the inner city," Zhou Muyun said slowly.

"Wonderful! The inner city is so much better than the outer city." Zhou Tong was simple-hearted and immediately became delighted.

Xu Rou, however, understood how difficult it was to earn money. Worriedly, she said, "Yun'er, won't that be too exhausting for you? Dry Well Alley is quite nice too, and we know all the neighbors..."

"Mother, you don't need to worry. I'm a martial artist now." Zhou Muyun interrupted Xu Rou. "The inner city is safer, and there are no gangs there. You and Sister will be safer too."

Hearing Zhou Muyun's words, Xu Rou nodded in agreement, though she still said with a hint of heartache, "What mother doesn't worry about her own son? As long as you know your limits, Yun'er."

"Mother, I understand. And I'll train at home during this period too."

"You're diligent, Yun'er, but you must pay more attention to your health. Don't push yourself too hard."

Zhou Muyun nodded, then walked into the courtyard and began training.

His body moved like a willow leaf, his feet rooted like tree stumps. The power of his qi and blood flowed through him with every movement. Zhou Muyun knew that his martial path was steadily advancing!

[Heaven rewards diligence; every effort bears fruit. Daily diligence points settlement.]

[Willow Stake, Minor Accomplishment (153/1200)]

[Flurry Fist, Beginner (135/600)]

Late at night, outside the western gate of Yunlin County, within a secluded forest.

A lean man lay sprawled on the ground like an animal.

His nails were crimson and long, his eyes bloodshot. From time to time, low growls escaped his mouth, as though he were guarding against something.

Then, as if he had discovered something, he suddenly lunged toward a nearby tree.

Bang!

The moment he leaped into the air, a burly man dropped from the tree and kicked him to the ground.

The man struggled to his feet and instinctively fled into the distance like a startled wild beast.

"Heh. Even with his mind clouded, he still knows to run. Not bad."

The burly man sneered. His feet flashed as he moved, and within a few breaths, he caught up to the man.

His palm was astonishingly large. Spreading his five fingers like an iron claw, he seized the man's throat in a death grip.

Then he lifted him as easily as one might lift a puppy.

No matter how the man struggled, it was useless. He could not even leave a wound on the burly man's body.

Clearly, the burly man had attained an extremely profound level of body cultivation.

Just as the burly man was about to finish the man off, a black-robed figure whose face was concealed appeared beside him at some unknown moment.

"You cannot kill him. I have a use for him," the black-robed man said in a hoarse voice that made his age impossible to determine.

"He ruined the sect's great plans. What use is such trash?"

"Precisely because of that, he is useful. Who says he must be from the Blood Demon Sect? Couldn't he be a Rogue Cultivator?"

"You want to hand him over to the County Lieutenant's office and make it appear that a Rogue Cultivator stumbled upon demonic arts, resulting in the massacre?"

"That's right."

"Zhang Ming came from the Spiritflame Sect. He is no ordinary man. Do you think he'll believe it?" the burly man questioned.

The black-robed man gave a derisive laugh. "It doesn't matter whether Zhang Ming believes it. As long as we plant this seed, it is enough that someone believes it."

Hearing this, the burly man nodded. "You have thought this through thoroughly. Then I'll leave this man to you. Once the sect's plans succeed, the benefits promised to you will not be lacking."

Turning his palm into a blade, the burly man knocked the man unconscious and handed him to the black-robed man.

"Han Shan, I hope your Blood Demon Sect keeps its word. Otherwise..." The black-robed man gave a chilling smile, then vanished into the forest with the man in tow.

The burly man called Han Shan narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly before vanishing into the night as well.