A Husky in a Wolf's Den

Liangzhou Prefecture, Demon Suppression Office.

The Directorate headquarters stood in the north of the city, with black-tiled roofs and high walls, brass wind chimes hanging from the eaves.

The year-round wind and sand swept past, making the chimes ring dully.

Liangzhou Prefecture Demon Suppression Directorate

Rear hall.

An enormous sand table occupied most of the hall, meticulously depicting the mountains and terrain of the entire Longyou Circuit.

Wei He stood before the sand table with his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.

Several other men in fitted black uniforms patterned with crimson lines stood in the hall. All were powerful figures within the Demon Suppression Office, their expressions solemn.

"The garrison at Jade Gate Pass reported seeing a mountain come alive and grow legs to run away."

A military officer with short whiskers on his chin spoke in a deep voice, his tone carrying a trace of absurdity.

Another man frowned. "A mountain grew legs and ran away? Could the sandstorm have been too severe, making them see things?"

Wei He did not raise his head. His voice remained calm. "What else?"

The short-whiskered officer continued, "Over in Zhangye, the Black River flowed backward for three days. The river was covered with dead fish, and the stench carried for a hundred li."

The atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat oppressive.

In these times, demons and monsters ran rampant, and strange incidents occurred frequently. That was nothing unusual.

But lately, something seemed faintly amiss.

At last, someone could no longer hold back and turned the topic to another matter.

"General, regarding Captain Xu..."

The moment those words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

Xu Nian was a Bone-Chiming Realm martial artist. In a place like Longyou, he could already be considered a formidable expert.

Yet such a man had been carried back just a few days ago.

"He won't die."

Wei He finally lifted his head, his expression still unchanged. "But his meridians have all been severed, and his blood and vitality are withered. Even if he can be saved, his cultivation is ruined."

"Hiss—"

A chorus of sharp breaths sounded through the hall.

A Bone-Chiming Realm expert had simply been crippled like that?

"Was that demon truly so powerful?"

The officer with short whiskers sighed. "The Demon Race possesses those with divine abilities, and they are indeed difficult to deal with. Back then, that demon in Hexi spoke human speech and wielded illusion arts. It cost our Demon Suppression Office fifteen captains and over three hundred brothers."

"The demon in Jincheng County can control blood mist and turn it to its own use. Such a divine ability is unheard of. Captain Xu did not lose unjustly."

"If not for..."

Halfway through his words, everyone thought of something at once. Their gazes all turned toward a pale young man in the corner.

Liu Chen.

He had also suffered serious injuries in that bloody battle. Even standing there now, his body swayed faintly.

Wei He's gaze fell upon him as well.

"Liu Chen, a woman returned with you?"

Liu Chen's heart tightened, and he hurriedly bowed. "Yes, General."

"Tell me carefully again. How exactly did that pig demon die?"

Liu Chen drew a deep breath, seemingly recalling that scene which had overturned everything he believed. A trace of lingering horror still remained in his eyes.

"Reporting to the General... this subordinate... this subordinate does not know what kind of method that was."

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"When that woman struck, her blade surged forth like a tiger, with a blood-red phantom following behind her. Her saber technique was incomparably fierce, but even so, she only wounded the pig demon."

"The truly fatal blow... was her final..."

Liu Chen's Adam's apple bobbed as though he were searching for the right words.

"At the end, scarlet tiger markings appeared on her body. Her black hair turned entirely blood-red, and her pupils... her pupils became vertical slits... Her Baleful Intent was even greater than the pig demon's!"

"One punch."

"With a single punch, she pierced through the pig demon's chest."

"..."

The moment those words fell, everyone's expressions became exceedingly colorful.

"Unheard of! What kind of evil art is this?!"

"Could she be a demon in disguise?" Another immediately chimed in. "If she possessed such methods, why did she not act sooner? Why wait until Captain Xu and the others had fought until their oil was spent and their lamps ran dry?"

For a time, the hall buzzed with discussion, and speculation sprang up everywhere.

Liu Chen opened his mouth, wanting to offer a few words in her defense, yet he did not know where to begin.

Yes, why?

At the time, he too had been terrified by that Baleful Intent.

But afterward, the woman had collapsed from exhaustion. They had brought her back to Liangzhou Prefecture and treated her along the way. She was clearly human; though her blood and vitality were weak, there was not the slightest trace of demonic aura.

"Enough."

Wei He's voice rang out again, and the hall instantly quieted.

He did not press further, merely instructed, "Pass down the order. The matter of Jincheng County ends here. All mounted investigators sent there are to withdraw immediately."

"General?!"

Everyone was greatly shocked.

"That woman's identity has yet to be determined..."

"I have my own judgment."

Wei He waved a hand, giving them no further opportunity to question him.

"Leave."

The others exchanged looks. In the end, none dared defy him. They bowed in salute and filed out one after another.

Very soon, only Wei He remained in the rear hall.

He looked at the sand table and remained silent for a long time.

"The Jiang Household..."

The medicine was bitter.

Jiang Yuechu scrunched up her face, feeling that she had never drunk anything so awful in her life.

"Good medicine tastes bitter."

A soft laugh came from beside her. Wei Qing used a silk handkerchief to wipe the medicine from the corner of her lips, her movements gentle.

"This was brewed with snow ginseng and hundred-year-old polygonatum. Your blood and vitality have been depleted far too severely. Ordinary medicines would be useless."

Snow ginseng? Polygonatum?

Jiang Yuechu's heart skipped a beat.

They sounded expensive.

Even if she had merit for slaying a demon, was there really any need to be this lavish?

Or was it that...

The Demon Suppression Office simply had too much money?

Without giving anything away, she studied the woman before her.

Wei Qing appeared to be around twenty-three or twenty-four. She wore an elegant white dress, with gentle brows and eyes, and a faint medicinal fragrance clung to her.

"Miss Wei, I forgot to ask—this place is..."

Wei Qing blinked and smiled. "Naturally, the rear courtyard of the Demon Suppression Office."

Jiang Yuechu sucked in a sharp breath.

She had only survived until now after killing someone from the Demon Suppression Office. Now she was in the Demon Suppression Office's very headquarters—how was this any different from a husky falling into a wolf's den?

If she were exposed, would she not be turned on the spot into husky stew with snow ginseng and polygonatum?

"Thank you for telling me, Miss."

She forced out a smile. "May I ask... where are the lords who brought me back? This old man... this little woman has yet to thank them for saving my life."

Wei Qing smiled. "They have official duties to attend to. You need not dwell on it. Just focus on recovering. My brother instructed me to take good care of you."

Brother?

Jiang Yuechu keenly caught that word.

She was just about to probe indirectly into what kind of person her brother was.

Creak—

A middle-aged man dressed in a dark, everyday robe walked in.

He was not particularly burly, and his features were refined, yet the aura around him made him impossible to underestimate.

Wei Qing rose to her feet and gave the newcomer a graceful bow.

"Brother."

Wei He's gaze did not linger on his sister. Instead, it fell directly upon the pale face on the bed.

He said nothing. He merely looked at her.

Jiang Yuechu's hair stood on end beneath his stare, and her scalp tingled.

It felt as if she had been stripped naked and seen through, inside and out.

After a long while.

Wei He slowly spoke. "Jiang Xun's daughter, Jiang Yuechu?"