"Miss Shen, were you violated by this beast? Don't be afraid. We'll seek justice for you. We'll clap him in irons and throw him in prison at once, then escort him back to the county yamen for severe punishment!"
Shi Yun did not think too much about it and hurriedly spoke.
Smack!!!
Shen Qingzhu slapped Shi Yun squarely across the face.
"You dared to drug me."
"Once my sentence is over, I will certainly make you repay this debt."
With that, Shen Qingzhu put on the shackles herself and boarded the prison cart.
Bao Tianbao and Bao Dibao stood there with their mouths agape, the documents in their hands dropping to the ground with a clatter.
Shi Yun stood stunned for a long while, opening his mouth.
He looked at Lu Yuan but said nothing more.
He merely gave Bao Tianbao and Bao Dibao each a vicious kick.
"What are you standing around for? Get moving."
After the morning's farcical humiliation.
Coupled with A Xiu's inexplicable disappearance.
The atmosphere within the escort party became exceedingly strange.
Lu Yuan did not mention a single word about being framed, yet Shi Yun found it even harder to settle his mind.
Shen Qingzhu, meanwhile, kept a cold face throughout, sitting in the prison cart with her eyes closed, resting despite her gradually subsiding but still reddened and swollen face.
The group continued along the official road. Half a day later, they entered a mountain valley named Thread-the-Sky Gorge.
The cliffs on either side rose sheer as if carved by blades, while the forest canopy blotted out the sky and sun. Sunlight could scarcely penetrate, and cold, damp mist pervaded the valley.
Lu Yuan, riding his donkey, furrowed his brow.
Earlier, he had vaguely sensed an aura secretly following them.
Now, that feeling had become far more intense.
Stop!!!
Shi Yun also noticed that something was amiss. He reined in his horse, one hand pressing down on the hilt of his saber.
The moment his words fell, a rustling sound that made their teeth ache came from the dense mist ahead.
Then everyone saw two demons covered in black spines like steel needles slowly emerge from the fog.
"This demon's aura seems even stronger than that Yellow Weasel's."
Lu Yuan frowned.
When he had killed the Yellow Weasel in Great River Village before.
It had only been because the other side had let down its guard, while he had struck with all his strength.
Otherwise, it would certainly have been a bloody battle.
After all, he had yet to enter the Entry Realm.
He did not even count as a martial artist. No matter how formidable his martial skills were.
If his fleshly body could not withstand them, they were useless.
"Brother Shi..."
Bao Tianbao and Bao Dibao glanced at Shi Yun.
They seemed to be asking whether this demon had been arranged by him.
"Idiots, it has nothing to do with me."
Shi Yun cursed.
Looking into the thick mist, the figures of the two demons grew increasingly clear.
Leading them was a Hedgehog Demon as large as an ox, walking upright. The spikes on her back gleamed with a dark blue metallic luster, radiating a chillingly fierce presence.
Beside her followed a smaller Hedgehog Demon with grayish spines.
The larger Hedgehog Demon's mung-bean-sized eyes stared fixedly at the demon beast corpse covered with oilcloth on the flatbed cart, grief, fury, and venom flashing through them.
That corpse was her husband!
"Bai Sanniang?"
Once he clearly saw the arriving demon.
Shi Yun's face turned ugly.
At the same time, he shouted, "Didn't you agree with the captain that the corpse would be escorted to the Black Market Shrine in Sea-Gazing County, and that you would come collect it afterward?"
"What is the meaning of this now?"
According to Captain Chen Kuang's arrangements.
If Lu Yun did not die along the way.
Then they would escort Shen Qingzhu to the Sea-Gazing County yamen to complete their assignment.
Afterward, they would find an excuse to have Lu Yuan escort the demon beast corpse alone to the Black Market Shrine.
Then, if something happened to Lu Yuan.
It would have nothing to do with them.
Who would have thought that the White Family's Hedgehog Demon among the Five Demon Families would intercept them midway?
This was absolutely no good omen.
"An agreement? An agreement between humans and demons?"
Bai Sanniang let out a shrill, ear-piercing laugh and spoke in human tongue. "I did make an agreement with Chen Kuang, but he is too greedy. He wants too much."
"If every one of you dies here, I will not have to pay those prices."
"Besides, Chen Kuang lost my husband's corpse. When the time comes, he will have to obediently give me an explanation!"
These words made Shi Yun's face turn iron-blue.
He threatened, "Aren't you afraid that once the captain learns of this, he'll mobilize men and uproot all Five Great Demon Houses?"
"Oh! If Chen Kuang truly had that ability, why would he cooperate with us Five Demon Families at all?"
Bai Sanniang sneered.
Would Chen Kuang dare put this filthy transaction out in the open?
"Besides, if all of you die here, then won't there be no trouble at all?"
Bai Sanniang added.
The moment those words left her mouth.
Shi Yun's heart instantly plunged to the bottom.
He knew that this demon was determined to kill them all and silence them today.
"Bao brothers, what are you still standing around for? Charge up and kill the demon! When this is over, I will certainly claim credit for you."
Shi Yun abruptly turned his head and roared at the two constables.
Bao Tianbao and Bao Dibao exchanged a glance, their legs trembling violently.
They were merely constables, not fools.
That Hedgehog Demon gave off a terrifyingly fierce aura.
Charging forward would be nothing but courting death.
Shi Yun clearly wanted to use the two of them as cannon fodder!
At once, they froze where they stood, not daring to step forward.
"Trash!"
Shi Yun gave each of them a kick.
He sent them flying heavily toward the Hedgehog Demon.
Aah!
The two constables screamed as they flew toward the Hedgehog Demon.
"Courting death."
Bai Sanniang snorted coldly. Her thick hind legs kicked off fiercely, and she turned into an afterimage as she charged forward.
Thud! Thud!!
Two muffled impacts rang out as Bai Sanniang precisely kicked both men in the chest.
Bao Tianbao and Bao Dibao screamed and crashed heavily into the rock wall.
They spat blood.
Had Bai Sanniang not held back.
The two would have died on the spot.
"Trying to run?"
Taking advantage of that opening.
Shi Yun had already turned and sprinted away.
He wanted to escape the valley.
The gates of Sea-Gazing County were not far ahead.
He did not believe Bai Sanniang would dare kill him within the county city.
"You cannot escape."
Bai Sanniang drew in her limbs, becoming like a ball covered in sharp spikes.
With several rolls, she instantly caught up to the fleeing Shi Yun.
"Beast, I'll fight you to the death!"
With nowhere to flee, Shi Yun abruptly turned around and drew the Goose-Plume Saber at his waist.
He was, after all, a First-Rank Lower Martial Adept who had reached Skin Tempering.
As his blood and qi surged, a faint blue sheen appeared over his skin.
It looked as tough as cowhide.
He gripped the Goose-Plume Saber tightly and swung it.
A tearing whistle actually rang through the air.
With an explosive force of a full three hundred jin, the blade light was razor-sharp.
"Die for me!"
Shi Yun roared.
The blade light hacked viciously toward Bai Sanniang's head.
But Bai Sanniang was a First-Order Peak demon beast.
Her strength could rival that of a human First-Rank Upper Martial Adept.
Clang!
The blade light descended.
Bai Sanniang tucked in her head.
Her spikes met the blade light.
With a crisp clang, the blade struck the spikes, scattering a trail of sparks.
The blade light shattered.
The saber's edge was chipped outright.
Immediately afterward, Bai Sanniang swiped with her forepaw.
Those razor-sharp claws instantly tore through Shi Yun's cowhide-like skin.
Before you continue