Snake Demon in the South of the City

"According to the news from the servants in his residence, his daughter's head vanished, while her body was torn to pieces all over the ground. Shopkeeper Qin fainted on the spot from fright. It happened just yesterday."

Lin Jun recounted it slowly.

He had heard all of it along the way, so whether it was true or false was hard to say.

"I need to go take a look. By the way, what did the blacksmith say about my saber?"

"Ah, the blacksmith is still figuring out how to incorporate the tiger fangs into the saber. Don't expect it anytime soon, sir. You'd be better off buying another one."

Buy another?

The sabers in Green Forest County could not even withstand the Heavenly Star Baleful Image, much less the Blood-Tiger Baleful Image.

Left with no choice, Lin Jun bought another passable-looking saber from the blacksmith, strapped it to his waist, and headed toward the south of the city.

What Lin Jun had not expected was that he would actually be stopped halfway there.

The ones who stopped him were martial world guards hired by the wealthy merchants of the south side. Seeing this god of slaughter, they too felt uneasy, but they still blocked Lin Jun's way.

"Sir, you'd better not go in. The people inside do not welcome you. You know that too."

The former Lin Jun had offended nearly every wealthy merchant in Green Forest County, so naturally, no one welcomed him.

Although Lin Jun had exterminated quite a few Demons these past days, only the common people had benefited. These wealthy merchants had martial world guards whenever they went out, and ordinary Demons could do nothing to them.

"Are you obstructing a Demon Exorcist in the execution of his duties?"

Chen Feng released the aura of the Transcendent Realm, and those blocking Lin Jun immediately groaned inwardly.

"Sir, we're only trying to earn a living. The masters inside won't let you enter, and there's nothing we can do. Please show us some mercy and pretend you didn't see us."

Lin Jun pressed down on Chen Feng's sword, which had already been drawn halfway, and said slowly:

"Fine. We're leaving."

"Sir?"

Lin Jun shook his head and said nothing.

Seeing this, Chen Feng could only follow him.

Along the way, Chen Feng could not help wondering why Lin Jun had given up. From what he knew of Lin Jun, if Lin Jun knew there was a Demon before his eyes, he would practically want to wipe out its entire family.

"He's courting death himself. I have no obligation to save them."

Chen Feng did not understand, but he did not think much further about it.

The next day, another death occurred in the home of a wealthy merchant who sold rouge in the south of the city.

It was still a child less than a month old, and the manner of death was exactly the same as before.

On the third day, another child died in the south of the city, in the same manner.

On the fourth day, there was finally a change.

"Sir, those wealthy merchants have invited the Hongyan Sect's senior disciple over."

Even at a time like this, no one remembered that Green Forest County had a Demon Exorcist.

It seemed merchants truly valued profit above all else. Because the former Lin Jun had harmed their interests, they still bore a grudge against him even as their own children died.

These past days, Lin Jun had remained in the blacksmith's shop every day, supervising the blacksmith's progress.

On the fifth day, the tragedies in the south of the city continued.

One child died every day, each meeting a horrific death.

They were all less than a year old. At the moment of death, they could not even make a sound before becoming a pile of severed limbs.

It was utterly vile.

Now all of Green Forest County was in a state of panic. Every household kept its doors tightly shut and would not let their children leave home.

"That senior disciple couldn't suppress the Demon?"

"No one knows. Those wealthy merchants in the south of the city seem to have sealed off all news from inside. Even the servants dare not speak."

On the sixth day, another child died.

This time, the child's death was especially gruesome—so gruesome that it could not possibly be concealed.

It was Shopkeeper Zhou, Zhou Sheng, who dealt in silk in Green Forest County. Shopkeeper Zhou was over sixty, yet had somehow fathered a child in his old age. This morning was the day his eighth concubine was to give birth.

Yet his concubine gave birth to a pile of severed limbs. When pieced together, they formed a headless infant.

Shopkeeper Zhou was frightened to death on the spot.

On the night of the sixth day, Lin Jun walked out of the blacksmith's shop and ran headlong into a haggard old man.

"Lord Lin, this old man is Song Yuan. I live in the south of the city. Lord Lin, you still remember this old man, don't you?"

Lin Jun shook his head. He did not remember this man.

The old man was somewhat embarrassed. He could hardly say that when Lin Jun had first arrived, he had even robbed their home.

Lin Jun said directly:

"Say what you need to say. Don't beat around the bush. I'm in a hurry; there's still a mouth at home waiting for me to feed it."

At that, the old man actually knelt directly before Lin Jun.

"Lord Lin, my grandson turns one month old tomorrow. I... I ask Lord Lin to help this old man. I am willing to give... half my family fortune to you."

"Fine."

The old man froze. He had prepared a great many arguments and had even resigned himself to giving up his entire family fortune.

"Lead the way."

"Ah, yes, yes."

The old man hurriedly rose to his feet, his mind still full of disbelief.

That easy?

Before long, Lin Jun was led to the gates of Song Yuan's residence.

Someone stood before the gates. It was none other than He Jing.

Only, He Jing looked truly miserable. His right leg was completely gone.

When He Jing saw Lin Jun arrive, he silently waved at him, then walked alone into a corner and motioned for him to come speak privately.

Lin Jun exchanged a few words with the old man, then went over to where He Jing stood.

"Leave, now!"

He Jing's eyes were filled with seriousness. Though he had clashed with Lin Jun before, he knew how to distinguish what was important when it came to Demons.

Before Demons, any personal grudge was insignificant.

"This Demon isn't something you can handle. Go find the people from the Demon Exorcism Bureau!"

He Jing pointed at his empty leg. Everything was left unsaid, yet perfectly clear.

"What kind of Demon is it? Did you see it clearly, senior?"

Lin Jun's question immediately made He Jing laugh in anger.

"Didn't you hear what I said? Leave. I can see your talent is not bad. In the future, you'll at least be an official in the Demon Exorcism Bureau. Is dying here worth it?"

"Think it through."

Lin Jun shook his head. By the time he brought people from the Demon Exorcism Bureau here, all the children in Green Forest County would likely be dead.

"Senior, answer my question first."

"You!"

Even after seeing him like this, Lin Jun still was not alarmed?

"Courting death!"

He Jing propped himself up with his sword in one hand and limped back the way he had come.

When he reached the boundary of the south of the city, He Jing stopped.

"Snake Demon."

"Thank you, senior."

"Hmph!"

Lin Jun smiled and shook his head before walking into the residence.

The moment he entered, he heard people arguing.

"Father! How could you bring that Lin fellow here? Isn't that inviting a wolf into the house!"

"Leaving aside whether he can deal with that Demon, even if he can, can our family's money withstand his temperament?"

"You bastard! Is your son's life more important, or is money more important?!"

"At worst, I'll give him my coffin money!"

The arguing men instantly stopped when they saw Lin Jun enter.

Song Yuan forced a smile and came to Lin Jun's side.

"Have you finished speaking with him, sir? Would you like some tea first?"

Lin Jun clapped his hands as though applauding.

"You don't need to put on an act for me. I'm a Demon Exorcist. Exterminating Demons is my duty."

Hearing this, the old man and the young man were both extremely embarrassed.