Zhang Ju

In the dead of night, the gates of the Demon Affairs Prefecture were struck by a frantic pounding.

When Lin Jun opened the gate, he found several constables standing outside.

"Lord Lin, by Master Zhang's orders, we have come to ask Lord Lin to slay a demon."

Master Zhang?

The Master Zhang of Green Forest County—wasn't that Zhang Ju?

A Fox Spirit asking me to hunt demons? A thief crying thief?

Was he preparing to make his move?

"My lord need not be puzzled. Lord Zhang He's corpse has gone unburied for days, waiting for Lord Lin to investigate. Please."

Seeing that Lin Jun did not move, the yamen runners hurriedly added:

"My lord, we are merely following orders. Please make haste."

"Lead the way."

At that, the runners let out long breaths of relief. They had truly feared that Lin Jun would refuse to come.

Everyone else in the Demon Affairs Prefecture sensed that something was amiss. Coming to seek someone to slay a demon in the middle of the night—and it was that old fox Zhang Ju. Anyone who said this was not trouble was lying.

With that thought, everyone hastily dressed and followed closely behind the constables.

The constables did not stop them. They merely kept urging them to hurry.

Chen Feng was anxious, yet he had no idea what to do.

If that Fox Demon truly possessed Boundary Breach cultivation, their entire group would not even be enough to fill the gaps between its teeth.

"Senior Li, do you know what that fox is plotting?"

Li Gui rolled his eyes. If he knew, would he not have said so already?

"Still, I do have a guess. Looking through Great Yin's history of demons and monsters, no matter what kind of fiend it is, it cannot escape the instincts of wild beasts. Fox Demons alone are the exception. Compared with demons, they are closer to humans. On a Fox Demon, you can find many of humanity's particular vices."

Greed, jealousy, vanity, cunning.

Fox Demons were like humans magnified. What ordinary demons had so many schemes?

"That Fox Demon probably invited us over to watch a show."

Back then, the Fox Demon of Liu River County had died because of its own vanity. If it had truly hidden itself away, then with a Fox Demon's gifts, the Demon Exorcism Bureau would have found it difficult to discover it in a short time.

Thus, Li Gui guessed that this Fox Demon had most likely fallen into the old habit of the Liu River County Fox Demon.

They always liked burrowing into crowded places, then stirring up some great commotion to draw everyone's eyes.

Sure enough, beasts were beasts; their nature could not be changed.

No one spoke along the way, and the atmosphere was silent.

The place where Zhang He had died was in the inner chambers of the yamen, only a few steps from the Demon Affairs Prefecture.

Lin Jun soon arrived at the yamen. Sitting high above the hall was a thoroughly unfamiliar man.

He had a goatee, a gaunt face, long narrow cheeks, and a waxen complexion. He looked like an old farmer who worked the fields.

"Master, Lord Lin has arrived."

"Mm."

Zhang Ju slowly opened his eyes and looked at Lin Jun, directly ignoring the group following behind him.

Duan Yan and Li Gui wore grim expressions. The worst possible outcome had appeared before them.

They could not see through Zhang Ju's cultivation at all. That could only mean Zhang Ju's cultivation far surpassed theirs.

Boundary-Breach Great Demon.

"Lord Lin, while this old man was away, Green Forest County has had you to thank. Otherwise, in these demon-ravaged times, I fear this official hat of mine would not have remained on my head."

Zhang Ju did not carry the slightest bearing of a superior. He looked like nothing more than an ordinary commoner.

"It is my duty. Is Lord Zhang not also working for the hundreds of thousands of people in Green Forest County?"

Zhang Ju revealed an interested expression.

"Lord Lin seems quite different from the rumors. Hehe, please. Zhang He's body is inside."

At those words, Lin Jun walked directly into the inner chamber.

Zhang Ju stopped the others who were preparing to follow him inside, smiling as he spoke.

"Everyone, please wait."

Zhang Feng tried several times to draw his blade, only for Li Gui to hold him down firmly.

"Don't waste your strength."

Several days had passed since Zhang He's death. The weather was scorching now, so by all reason, the body should have rotted and begun to stink long ago.

Yet Zhang He's body inside was remarkably intact.

It was a desiccated corpse like withered wood, without a trace of moisture inside. If it encountered an open flame, it could even be easily set alight.

The disbelief on Zhang He's face was still visible. When Lin Jun knocked on his body, it gave off dull bang-bang sounds.

Zhang He had been sucked dry.

Lin Jun searched Zhang He's body and spotted a white hair in a rather conspicuous place.

If nothing unexpected had happened, it should have been fox fur—and fur deliberately left behind.

Just like with the Snake Demon last time.

"Lord Lin, do you know what demon harmed County Commandant Zhang?"

Zhang Ju slowly walked in, wearing a smile no human should have been capable of making.

The corners of his mouth had nearly split all the way to his ears, exposing the teeth within.

Fangs.

"Fox Spirit."

As though he had not seen Zhang Ju's expression, Lin Jun spoke to himself.

"Oh, Lord Lin is indeed formidable. Do you think you can handle this Fox Spirit?"

The smile on Zhang Ju's face deepened. His eyes had already turned dark blue, and fur was even growing from his palms.

Song Qing, the registrar who had been following at his side, watched his nose, his nose watched his heart, and turned his gaze out the window.

"I don't know. I'll only know after we fight."

Lin Jun suddenly turned around and met Zhang Ju's gaze head-on.

Zhang Ju's mouth closed, and his eyes returned to normal. In an instant, he became an old farmer again.

"Hahaha, I believe Lord Lin will have the chance."

"By the way, Lord Lin, I heard you will be returning to the Demon Exorcism Bureau in a few days?"

Zhang Ju rubbed his chin. After Lin Jun nodded, he continued:

"Lord Lin, I hear you are not particularly welcome over at the Demon Exorcism Bureau. Why not stay? Green Forest County happens to lack a county commandant. What do you say?"

Lin Jun looked at Zhang He's corpse, then at the demon aura Zhang Ju made no effort to conceal, and instantly understood Zhang Ju's intentions.

This was Zhang Ju trying to put him in his place.

"No need. Court officials should be appointed by the court. Lord Zhang, you have crossed the boundary."

Zhang Ju slowly closed his eyes.

"In that case, Lord Lin, please return. This county commandant's position will always be kept for Lord Lin. I trust Lord Lin will change his mind."

"I only hope Lord Lin does not regret it. The next time we meet, I will not be so polite."

Not a shred of threat could be heard in Zhang Ju's words, yet Song Qing beside him was already drenched in sweat.

"Thank you for Lord Zhang's kind regard. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

"Hehe, no rush, no rush. Oh, right. I heard Lord Lin recently made a trip to Phoenix Forest Mountain. Did you happen to see my godson?"

In an instant, Zhang Ju looked like an old father, worried as he said:

"Ah, my godson usually enjoys writing and drawing, and he also likes making sculptures. He recently held an exhibition at Phoenix Forest Mountain. Did Lord Lin go and visit as well?"

Zhang Ju sat atop Zhang He's corpse. The already brittle remains instantly crumbled into powder.

Yet not the slightest hint of unease appeared on Zhang Ju's face.

"I visited. I even bought a few things."

"Oh? What did Lord Lin buy? Could it have been one of my son's creations?"

Zhang Ju became interested.

"A fox pelt."

Lin Jun took out the fox hide from his small banner and tossed it onto the table.

Fresh bloodstains could still be seen on the fur. The entire room was immediately filled with the peculiar rank stench of a fox.

"Unfortunately, it was not finished well. I was planning to find a tailor to tidy it up. Does Lord Zhang have any recommendations?"

Song Qing's face beside them was nearly white. The owner of this fox pelt had beaten him only a few days ago. How long had it been, and all that remained was its hide?

The atmosphere in the room instantly grew heavy, and a suffocating presence filled every corner.