Centurion Zhao!

The next morning, Listening Waves Mountain Manor.

Wang Lang had given himself a night off and was pondering what to focus on in the next round of cultivation when the manor gates were knocked upon.

The knocking was urgent—three short knocks and one long.

Wang Lang stepped forward and pulled open the bolt.

Two people stood outside. Wang Lang recognized one of them: Patrolman Li from the Demon Subduing Division.

The other wore a dark-blue martial outfit and a black iron waist badge. There was an unmistakable weariness between his brows.

"Young Master Wang!" Upon seeing Wang Lang, Patrolman Li hurriedly cupped his fists in salute and turned sideways to introduce the other man. "This is Centurion Zhao Changyuan of our Yuan Province Demon Subduing Division, Lord Zhao—my superior."

Wang Lang swept his gaze over Centurion Zhao.

The man appeared to be a little over forty, with resolute features. The fluctuations of aura within him were around the sixth level of Qi Drawing, though they seemed somewhat unsteady.

Wang Lang led the two into the reception hall and poured them tea before asking, "Have you come on urgent business?"

Centurion Zhao spoke earnestly. "To be honest, we have indeed come unannounced today because we have an urgent matter to ask of you."

He looked at Patrolman Li. Understanding at once, the latter cleared his throat. "Young Master Wang, something... something terrible has happened in Qinglin City."

"Last night, the four Demon Revealing Mirrors above Qinglin City's gates shattered simultaneously without warning."

"Right after that, all two hundred and seventeen members of Liu Manor were killed in a single night. Not one survived."

"The women of the household were all violated before death, while the men were... were chopped into mincemeat. The scene was thick with demon aura. This was absolutely not the work of human hands."

Wang Lang frowned slightly.

This was the first time he had heard of such a vile incident.

Even when he had traveled far and wide with Old Wang in those days and seen the world, he had never heard of demons daring to charge straight into a city and massacre an entire household.

This was the first case of its kind in Yuan Province in nearly twenty years.

"What demon is so bold?"

A crisp voice suddenly rang out.

At some point, a snow-white little fox had appeared by Wang Lang's feet.

Neither Patrolman Li nor Centurion Zhao was surprised.

Patrolman Li had already reported the matter of Creek Stone Village in detail, so Centurion Zhao naturally knew the origins of this Little White Fox.

Centurion Zhao cupped his fists toward Little White Fox as well and said with a bitter smile, "We have yet to determine exactly what sort of demon it is."

"This... is precisely why we came to seek help. Qinglin City's City Lord's Mansion has issued a bounty, inviting several well-known Qi Refiners within a hundred miles to lend their aid. The reward is five hundred taels in silver notes."

Wang Lang's expression did not change at those words.

Yet Little White Fox Su Yao, standing nearby, had her ears shoot upright.

She remembered her mother saying that human silver was good stuff. It could buy roast chicken, candied hawthorn skewers, osmanthus cakes... so, so many delicious things!

"Langzi, Langzi!" Little White Fox said as she pawed at Wang Lang's trouser leg.

"Five hundred taels! How many roast chickens could that buy?"

Wang Lang ignored her. After pondering for a moment, he looked at Centurion Zhao. "Lord Zhao, have you made any judgment about this demon's strength?"

Centurion Zhao's expression turned grave. "To enter the city while ignoring the Demon Revealing Mirrors, it must be at least early Second-Order."

He sighed. "A Second-Order Demon is equivalent to the human Spirit Condensation Realm."

"Not to mention that Zhao is merely at the sixth level of Qi Drawing—even a Qi Refiner at the ninth level of Qi Drawing would not dare accept this assignment lightly."

"I have already requested aid from the Demon Subduing Division headquarters in Yuan Province, but the whole province has recently descended into chaos, with demon calamities breaking out everywhere. Headquarters is short on manpower and has only told me to handle it myself first."

Having said that, he looked at Wang Lang with expectation in his eyes.

Wang Lang raised his teacup and slowly took a sip.

A Second-Order Demon was equivalent to the Spirit Condensation Realm. In terms of cultivation, he was not at a disadvantage.

Coupled with the Body Refinement strength of his physical body, which far surpassed those of the same rank, so long as he was not facing a Third Rank demon, even a late Second-Order demon would not be able to kill him in an instant.

As long as it could not kill him in an instant... he had a way to take it down.

Wang Lang set down his teacup. "Wang accepts this matter."

Centurion Zhao and Patrolman Li exchanged a glance, then both rose and gave him a deep bow. "Many thanks to Young Master Wang for your righteous aid!"

The two could not help sighing inwardly. They had visited no fewer than three places that morning. Every Qi Refiner they sought out, upon hearing that it involved a Second-Order Demon, either suddenly needed to enter seclusion or claimed an old wound had flared up.

Only this grandson of old Mister Wang Xiaoyao had agreed so readily after learning the situation. He truly had something of his grandfather's bearing.

"When do we leave?" Wang Lang asked.

"As soon as possible!" Centurion Zhao said. "That demon may still be in the city. If we do not deal with it in time, I fear another murder will occur tonight."

Wang Lang nodded. Just as he was about to rise, Little White Fox at his feet tugged at his clothes.

"Langzi, I'm not going with you this time. That matter at the Ten Thousand Souls Tomb last time still makes my legs go weak whenever I think about it."

"I'll guard the house properly for you. When you come back, buy me ten roast chickens and twenty candied hawthorn skewers, all right?"

Wang Lang flicked her forehead with a bent finger. "You want to eat without working?"

"I can buy the roast chicken and candied hawthorn skewers, but while I'm gone these next few days, you have to clean the manor inside and out. Otherwise, even if I bring them back, you won't get any."

"Deal!" Little White Fox instantly nodded like a woodpecker pecking grain.

Wang Lang shook his head and rose, heading for the rear courtyard.

A moment later, he emerged carrying a dark-gold tin staff. It was Grandmaster Tianhai's Magic Tool, Mountain Suppressor.

Patrolman Li and Centurion Zhao were both somewhat surprised. How did this Young Master Wang possess a Buddhist Magic Tool?

But the two were sensible enough not to ask.

The three left the manor. Patrolman Li took out a Swift Travel Talisman and handed it to Wang Lang.

Wang Lang accepted the Swift Travel Talisman but did not use it. He merely said, "Let's go."

Centurion Zhao and Patrolman Li exchanged another glance. Though surprised, they each slapped their Swift Travel Talismans onto their legs, and their bodies immediately became much lighter.

The two set off at a rapid pace. When they looked back, they saw Wang Lang following behind them unhurriedly. His steps appeared casual, yet he always remained three feet behind them, his breathing as steady as ever.

After the time it took two sticks of incense to burn, Qinglin City's outline appeared in the distance.

Before the eastern gate, the bronze Demon Revealing Mirror that had once hung high above now had a surface covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

Under the Limitless Dynasty, cities were sanctuaries for ordinary people.

The city walls were mixed with soul-suppressing sand, making them difficult for ordinary ghosts to pass through. Demon Revealing Mirrors hung above the gates, and demons below mid First-Order could not enter at all.

That was why property prices inside the city were outrageously high. A storefront facing the street could be traded for a hundred mu of fertile farmland in the countryside.

City dwellers also considered themselves superior. Even a man who carried night soil thought himself more respectable than some country bumpkin rich man in a town.

Now that the Demon Revealing Mirrors had shattered, that sense of security had vanished into thin air.

Wang Lang and the others entered Qinglin City.

The scene within the city was vastly different from usual.

The sun was already high in the sky, yet the streets had only sparse pedestrians. Every one of them hurried along with panic written across their faces.

The shops on either side had their doors open, but there were few customers. Shopkeepers and clerks clustered at their entrances, whispering among themselves.

Patrolman Li explained in a low voice, "News of Liu Manor has already spread. The city is in a panic now. Those with money are thinking of ways to flee to other cities, while those without can only shut themselves indoors."

Wang Lang nodded, and the three continued toward the City Lord's Mansion in the city center.

The City Lord's Mansion had vermilion gates and high walls, with two majestic stone lions before its entrance.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in official robes paced back and forth before the gates, occasionally lifting his head to look into the distance.

When he saw Centurion Zhao and the others, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over at a jog.

This man was Qinglin City Lord Zhou Wenhuan. He was around fifty, fair-faced and slightly plump, dressed immaculately in brocade official robes.

"Centurion Zhao! Patrolman Li!" City Lord Zhou greeted them warmly, before his gaze fell upon Wang Lang.

"This must be Young Master Wang of Listening Waves Mountain Manor, yes? I have heard so much of you!"

"Zhou has long heard of old Mister Wang Xiaoyao's illustrious name. To meet his grandson today, you are indeed a man of exceptional bearing and extraordinary presence!"

His string of flattery poured forth like beans spilling from a basket, and he completely failed to notice the indifference on Wang Lang's face.

Wang Lang had no favorable impression of this city lord.

Qinglin City's Changle Gang had plagued the city for years, yet this city lord had kept one eye open and one eye shut.

Had Wang Lang not destroyed the Changle Gang, those bastards would likely still be throwing their weight around all over the city.

"City Lord Zhou." Wang Lang gave a faint nod, considering it a greeting.

City Lord Zhou did not mind his indifference in the slightest. He hastily pulled a silver note from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"Young Master Wang, this is a deposit of one hundred taels! Once the demon is executed, another four hundred taels will be offered with both hands!"

Wang Lang accepted it.

The silver note had a deep azure background, gold cloud patterns along its edges, and the vermilion seal of the Limitless Dynasty Ministry of Revenue stamped in its center.

This was an officially issued high-denomination silver note, with unique anti-counterfeiting measures.

Seeing Wang Lang accept the silver note, City Lord Zhou immediately smiled. "To speak frankly, Centurion Zhao has been running about since early morning seeking aid, and this official has not been idle either. I have additionally invited three highly respected experts from nearby to help."

"They are currently discussing matters in the rear courtyard. This way, Young Master Wang."