The Matter Settled!

The woman was stunned by the blow. Clutching her face, she stared at Wang Lang in disbelief, forgetting to cry out for a moment.

The surrounding villagers, Patrolman Li, Daoist Xuan Cheng, and even the Little White Fox dangling from Wang Lang's hand were all dumbstruck!

The villagers had been thoroughly intimidated. They thought Young Master Wang appeared to possess an air of refined elegance,

yet when he acted, he was so decisive and ruthless. He truly was not someone to be trifled with!

The families of several other victims, who had originally wanted to rush out and curse as well, saw this scene

and immediately became like ducks with their necks gripped, forcibly swallowing back the words that had reached their lips.

Then they shrank back into the crowd, not daring to make another sound.

Patrolman Li stood there agape, wondering how Young Master Wang's conduct could differ so vastly from Old Master Wang's.

The Little White Fox's lively eyes were filled with shock and a trace of... indescribably complicated emotion.

Someone from the human race had actually punished members of his own kind for the sake of an outcast, a demon like it? How was this different from what Mother had said?

Meanwhile, Daoist Xuan Cheng's evaluation of Wang Lang rose once again.

"This child has benevolence and righteousness in his heart, yet will not suffer insult. He appears steady, but hides an edge within!

He is fine material, though this temperament of his... is perhaps a little too unyielding."

Wang Lang shook out his hand and fixed a cold gaze upon the dazed woman.

"Why don't you first ask what exactly your good child did to bring about this calamity that cost him his life?

Furthermore, how I conduct myself is not for you to criticize, much less for you to heap filthy insults upon me.

That slap was to teach you how to speak properly."

Having said that, he ignored the woman and turned toward the Little White Fox hanging in his hand, which was now exceptionally quiet.

"Continue. Why did you kill those people? Also, you seemed to be heading for the village chief's home just now. Was Shi Jun your final target?"

The Little White Fox seemed not to have fully recovered from the shock of that overwhelming presence.

Hearing Wang Lang's question, it nodded its little head instinctively, its voice dropping several degrees.

"Y-yes. At the beginning of the month, I passed through the Back Mountain here and encountered a woman's soul beneath a cliff.

Her resentment was incredibly heavy, and she could not leave that place. Then she wept as she told me what had happened to her..."

"She said her name was Lin Xiu'er, and she was from a neighboring village. A month ago, while passing through Creek Stone Village's Back Mountain alone, she unfortunately ran into more than a dozen hooligans led by Shi Jun...

Those bastards were seized by lust at the sight of her and dragged her into the woods to violate her.

Afterward, fearing their shameful deed would be exposed, they went all the way and cruelly pushed her off the cliff!"

"Lin Xiu'er died with her eyes unclosed, and her resentment gathered without dispersing... After hearing what had happened to her, I was filled with indignation and decided to avenge her!"

"Every person I killed deserved to die! I ate their organs both to vent my anger and because...

because it is a cultivation method of our Snow Shadow Spirit Fox clan. We can refine the essence of evil thoughts within them. Tonight, I came to kill Shi Jun, the final mastermind!"

After speaking, the Little White Fox turned a sharp gaze toward Shi Jun, who was currently hiding behind the village chief.

When Shi Jun saw everyone's eyes focus on him—especially Wang Lang's calm yet overwhelmingly oppressive gaze—

his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, shouting incoherently.

"N-no! It wasn't me! It's lying! That woman slipped and fell on her own! It has nothing to do with me!"

"You wicked creature! You still dare to quibble!" The old village chief was already weeping bitterly, his face filled with shame and despair.

He raised his walking stick and viciously struck Shi Jun.

"I... I had long heard that you ran wild outside, but I only thought you were young and ignorant. Time and again, you refused to listen to discipline. I never imagined you would dare commit something so cruel and inhuman, worse than a pig or dog!

It was I... I who failed to teach my son properly. I have shamed our ancestors and all the people of this village!"

Patrolman Li stepped forward at this moment and announced loudly, "Fellow villagers, bind this beast first. Later, I will hand him over to the City Lord's Mansion in nearby Black Stone City to be dealt with according to the law!"

The villagers were now boiling with righteous indignation. Most of their fear toward the white fox had transformed into fury toward Shi Jun and his accomplices.

Several sturdy young men immediately stepped forward and used coarse hemp rope to bind the immobile Shi Jun tightly and securely.

The old village chief gave everyone a deep bow, his voice hoarse and grief-stricken. "Fellow villagers, Shi Jun, this beast, has committed such a grave crime. Patrolman Li and I will personally escort him to the nearby City Lord's Mansion and ask the City Lord to punish him severely according to the law!

And from this day onward, I, Shi Jian, no longer have the face to serve as the village chief of Creek Stone Village. Please choose another worthy person!"

After saying this, he seemed to age ten years in an instant. Bent over, he said nothing more.

With matters having reached this point, the truth was fully revealed.

Still holding the Little White Fox, Wang Lang walked to one side and looked at Li Si.

"Patrolman Li, how does your Demon Subduing Division intend to deal with this white fox?"

Patrolman Li looked troubled. Choosing his words carefully, he said,

"Young Master Wang, according to the laws of the Limitless Dynasty and the Demon Subduing Division's rules, this fox demon...

regardless of its motives, did kill more than ten people. Though they were evil men, it still violated the law.

By procedure, I must escort it to the Yuan Province government office for my superiors to decide."

Wang Lang stared at him and pressed, "I am asking how you usually deal with one like it."

Before Patrolman Li could answer, the Little White Fox in Wang Lang's hand had already shrieked, its voice filled with terror.

"They'll kill me! They definitely will! You important humans won't care whether the people I killed were good or evil!

All they'll see is that I'm a demon! They'll even skin me and turn my fur into a gorgeous scarf or a Magic Tool!"

Wang Lang looked at Patrolman Li. "Is that truly so?"

Sweat appeared on Patrolman Li's brow. He hemmed and hawed before finally nodding with a bitter smile, speaking in a low voice.

"Young Master Wang is perceptive... This... this is indeed possible.

Whether it is a good demon or an evil demon, and how it will ultimately be handled, is not for a minor patrolman like me to decide.

The prefect, or those important figures in the Thousand-Household Office... if they take an interest in this little fox's spiritual peculiarities,

or its rare snowy-white fur... then the outcome will likely... sigh."

He sighed helplessly. In this world where the strong were revered, the law often served the strong.

At that moment, Daoist Xuan Cheng intoned a Taoist invocation.

"Boundless Heavenly Worthy One! Every grievance has its debtor, every debt has its creditor. Since the truth is clear, Miss Lin Xiu'er's soul still needs to be delivered from suffering. I shall first head to the Back Mountain cliff, so that she may soon pass on and escape the sea of bitterness."

Having said this, he gave Wang Lang and Patrolman Li a Taoist salute. With a flicker of his figure, he drifted away like a clear breeze.

It was obvious that he did not wish to involve himself in the matter of how the little fox would be handled.

Wang Lang looked at the Little White Fox trembling faintly from fear in his hand, then at Patrolman Li's troubled expression. His decision was already made.

He lifted the little fox in his hand, which had begun struggling again, and said to Patrolman Li,

"Everyone it killed deserved death. It did not harm any innocent person. Therefore, I, Wang, will protect this little thing.

Patrolman Li, report the entire matter, along with my position on it."

With that, Wang Lang no longer suppressed his aura. The majestic aura of the Ninth Layer of Qi Drawing, mixed with powerful blood and vitality, erupted with a thunderous boom.

This imposing force far surpassed the Sixth Layer of Qi Drawing he had displayed before. It was even several times stronger than the Seventh Layer of Qi Drawing aura Daoist Xuan Cheng had revealed!

The still-nearby Daoist Xuan Cheng turned back in horror, his heart violently shaken.

"The Ninth Layer of Qi Drawing?! And his blood and vitality are so vast! This child... this child had hidden himself so deeply!"

Patrolman Li was struck by the force until his blood and vitality churned. He staggered back three steps before barely managing to steady himself.

His heart pounded wildly as he thought, The Ninth Layer of Qi Drawing?! And that bodily blood and vitality... Young Master Wang, didn't you say before that you were only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Drawing?!

He hurriedly steadied his mind. His face instantly filled with reverence, and his tone became incomparably respectful.

"Young... Young Master Wang! Since... since you intend to protect this demon... no, this Snow Shadow Spirit Fox, then naturally... naturally, there is no issue!"

"As for the imperial court and the Demon Subduing Division, this subordinate will report the circumstances in full and explain the pros and cons.

Surely my superiors will understand Young Master Wang's benevolent heart, as well as... the special reasons behind this matter."

Patrolman Li bowed as he spoke, his tone utterly certain. Even the way he referred to himself had changed from Li to this subordinate.

In this world, strength was privilege!

Within the Demon Subduing Division, strength was revered even more.

The Ninth Layer of Qi Drawing already placed one among the finest in the Demon Subduing Division, with even the qualifications to compete for the post of Thousand-Household Commander!

Would they offend such a young, boundlessly promising Ninth Layer Qi Drawing cultivator

over a fox demon that had killed a few evildoers?

As long as his superior was not a fool, he would never do such a thing!

Besides, Wang Lang was Old Master Wang Xiaoyao's grandson.

Before his death, Old Master Wang had often shown kindness and offered help to lower-ranking cultivators of the Demon Subduing Division like them.

By sentiment and by reason, they had to grant this favor, and they had to do it properly!

If he offended Young Master Wang in this matter today, leaving aside that he would offend a young expert with limitless potential,

the label of ingratitude alone, once spread, would make it impossible for him to move an inch within the Demon Subduing Division.

On the other hand, if he fulfilled Young Master Wang's wishes, he could both befriend a powerful expert and preserve the bond with Old Master Wang. It was killing two birds with one stone!

Once his superior learned of it, he would only praise Li Si for understanding the times and handling matters smoothly!

Wang Lang was not surprised by Patrolman Li's change in attitude. He nodded, and the powerful aura around him slowly receded.

He protected this little fox partly because it was spirited and adorable, fitting his tastes. More importantly, it was because of its character.

A demon that would uphold justice on Heaven's behalf, possessing its own principles and sense of righteousness,

was, in his view, far more adorable and precious than many hypocritical, greedy humans.

These days, things with a spirit of chivalry were rare, whether human or demon!

As for exposing his true strength because of this, he was not worried in the slightest.

He concealed his strength to reduce trouble, but if concealing it made him betray his true heart and act timidly, then his state of mind would instead become obstructed.

He firmly believed that with the Innate Qi and Ageless and Undying traits, he possessed all the confidence and capital he needed.

Wang Lang lowered his head and looked at the Little White Fox in his hand, which seemed not to have reacted yet and was staring with wide, suspicious eyes.

"Did you hear that? From today onward, you are under my protection."

Little White Fox: "...???"

It blinked, looked at Wang Lang, then at Patrolman Li beside him, who was respectful to the point of nearly being humble,

and then realized... it seemed it would not be made into a scarf after all.