The Pig Demon of Three-Demon Mountain

Night lay heavy over the dense woods north of Li Family Hamlet.

A shadow slipped silently through the trees and stopped before a hidden cave.

"Come out. I need to speak with you."

As soon as the words fell, heavy footsteps sounded from inside the cave.

A hulking figure emerged from the darkness.

It was a Pig Demon, several times larger than an ordinary wild boar. Black bristles covered its body, and its eyes glowed a dim red.

"So it's Head Constable Li. What brings you here so late?"

The Pig Demon's voice was deep and hoarse, with a hint of indifference.

Li Tie drew a deep breath. "Brother Pig, something happened to your child."

The Pig Demon narrowed its eyes. "What happened?"

"The new head constable from the County Yamen found that pigpen by accident today and killed them on the spot."

The Pig Demon lowered its gaze, and a terrifying aura erupted from its body.

"What did you say? They were killed?"

Its voice turned low and dangerous, anger straining beneath it. The pressure of the Qi Gathering Realm poured out, making sweat bead on Li Tie's forehead.

"You've taken plenty of Vermilion Fruit from Three-Demon Mountain these past few months, haven't you?"

"Head Constable Li, I'm beginning to wonder if you've switched sides."

Li Tie looked bitter. "I still serve at the County Yamen. With everyone watching, I couldn't make a move..."

The Pig Demon cut him off with a cold laugh. "Leave an opening tonight. I'm going into the village."

"You can't!" Li Tie's eyes widened. "That head constable only just arrived. What if you expose yourself?"

"Are you telling me how to do things?"

The Pig Demon cast Li Tie a sidelong glance. As it spoke, its thick forehoof shot out.

An irresistible force struck Li Tie's chest, making the veins on his forehead bulge. He flew backward and did not stop until he snapped a large tree.

"You've handled things briskly enough, so I won't hold this against you. Consider it a small lesson." The Pig Demon came closer with a grin, baring yellowish tusks. "You left the toys you found for my Second Brother in the usual place, didn't you? I'll take them along tonight."

"Th-they're all in the wasteland outside the village."

Li Tie kept his head down and clenched his teeth. When he looked up again, he had forced a smile onto his face. "Brother Pig, how much longer until the Condensed Essence Fruit on the mountain ripens? Your little brother here would like one too."

"The Condensed Essence Fruit..."

A humanlike greed surfaced on the Pig Demon's face, only to be smothered by deep apprehension. It waved a forehoof irritably.

"Eldest Brother decides who gets those. Ask him for one yourself."

"All right."

Li Tie fell silent for a moment, his expression darkening slightly.

Three great demons of the Qi Gathering Realm lived on the Back Mountain of Li Family Hamlet, which was why it was also called Three-Demon Mountain: the Eldest Bull Demon, the Second Ape Demon, and the Third Pig Demon.

Even the Pig Demon, lowest in standing, had reached at least Qi Gathering Three Apertures. No one could say what realm the Bull Demon, who had long remained deep in the mountains, had attained. All anyone knew was that it guarded a Condensed Essence Fruit Tree and had lived for untold years.

Perhaps it had grown weary and let a few Condensed Essence Fruits slip through its fingers, giving rise to the Second Ape Demon and the Third Pig Demon.

Judging by the Pig Demon's apprehension, the Bull Demon's cultivation was likely higher, not lower.

Li Tie had understood as soon as he arrived at Li Family Hamlet that survival meant clinging to them, even if it required sacrifices.

Besides, their long cooperation had brought him plenty of benefits. He was now only one step away from the Qi Gathering Realm.

Why didn't he fight back?

A single Qi Gathering Realm Old Dog on the verge of dying in Wang Village was enough to keep the entire Xiangyun County Yamen in check. Here, there were three great Qi Gathering Realm demons in their prime.

Fight back, my ass!

It was fortunate that Three-Demon Mountain was rich in resources and those great demons had no intention of coming down for a feast. Otherwise, Xiangyun County would have been gone long ago!

"I'll be going, then. I hope you'll put in a few good words for me, Brother Pig."

Li Tie licked his lips, cupped his hands in farewell, and left.

Late that night.

Yang Xiao's brow suddenly furrowed. Within the ten-mile range covered by his Spiritual Olfaction, a familiar scent had appeared at the edge of the village.

He opened his eyes, a grave look flashing through them.

This Demonic Qi was unmistakably like that of the young Pig Demons he had smelled in the pigpen, but far stronger.

"Head Constable Yang, what's wrong?"

Zhao Tieniu came out of the house and looked at Yang Xiao in confusion.

"There's a demon in the village," Yang Xiao said tersely.

"What?" Zhao Tieniu's expression changed. "Another one?"

"Is Li Family Hamlet the demons' backyard? We only just got rid of one litter, and another has shown up."

Zhao Tieniu's face turned grim.

"What do we do?"

Yang Xiao considered for a moment, then said, "Call Sun Ming, Zhou Qiang, and Zhou Gang over. I have something to tell you all."

"All right." Zhao Tieniu turned and went inside.

Before long, all four Yamen Runners had gathered in the courtyard.

"Go notify the other Yamen Runners," Yang Xiao said. "Tell them to step up their patrols and watch for movement around the village."

"And you?" Sun Ming asked.

"I'll go take a look."

"Head Constable Yang, it's too dangerous!" Sun Ming said hurriedly. "Going alone..."

"Don't worry." Yang Xiao waved a hand, cutting him off. "I know what I'm doing."

The four Yamen Runners wanted to say more, but seeing the resolve in Yang Xiao's eyes, they could only nod.

"Then we'll go."

"Mm. Be careful," Yang Xiao reminded them.

The four Yamen Runners turned and left, soon disappearing into the night in the direction of the Runner Guardroom.

Yang Xiao followed the village road, carefully sensing the direction of the Demonic Qi as he tracked it. He soon reached the edge of the village.

A patch of low woodland lay ahead, with the Back Mountain beyond it.

Yang Xiao stopped instead of rushing in and narrowed his eyes at the scene ahead.

A cloud of black mist drifted swiftly into the low woodland, several villagers' figures wrapped within it.

Yang Xiao did not hesitate. He gave chase.

He used Astonishing Swan Steps, his figure moving like the wind as he sped through the low woodland.

The black mist was fast, but Yang Xiao was faster.

He soon caught up with it.

The black mist seemed to sense his pursuit and stopped.

Then it dispersed, revealing the figures inside.

There stood a huge Pig Demon, several times larger than an ordinary wild boar. Black bristles covered its body, and its eyes glowed a dim red.

Beside the Pig Demon lay five or six unconscious men and women.

The Pig Demon looked at Yang Xiao and sniffed, surprise flickering in its eyes.

"You?"

"You know me?" Surprise showed in Yang Xiao's eyes.

The Pig Demon gave a cold laugh. "How could I not? You killed my children. I was just about to settle that score with you."

"You're the Pig Demon from the Back Mountain?" Yang Xiao realized he had found the one responsible. His tone turned certain.

"You're the one who kept those Pig Demons in the village."

"Of course."

The Pig Demon made no effort to hide its appraisal of Yang Xiao, and greed slowly spread across its face. "Human flesh is wonderfully nourishing. A martial artist like you, who's entered the Qi Gathering Realm, is even more delicious!"

"Boy, I'll admit you have some skill."

The Pig Demon narrowed its eyes, full of contempt.

"But what do you think I am?"

"I'm a great demon of the Qi Gathering Realm. I've lived for hundreds of years. And a brat like you, barely in the early Qi Gathering Realm, dares say you'll kill me?"

Its voice dripped with disdain.

"I'd planned to catch a few more people tonight and enjoy a proper dinner."

"But now that you're here, you've saved me a good deal of trouble."

The Pig Demon looked at Yang Xiao, greed plain in its eyes.

"Your flesh and blood smell far sweeter than an ordinary person's. Eating you should make me a little stronger."