The Pig Demon of Three-Demon Mountain

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

A dark figure slipped soundlessly through the trees and stopped before a hidden cave.

"Come out. I have something to discuss with you."

As soon as he spoke, heavy footsteps sounded inside the cave.

A massive 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.

"Head Constable Li. What brings you here so late?"

The Pig Demon's voice was low and hoarse, with an air of indifference.

Li Tie took a deep breath. "Brother Pig, something happened to your children."

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

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

The Pig Demon lowered its gaze. A terrifying aura erupted from its body.

"What did you say? They were killed?"

Its voice turned low and dangerous, anger barely held in check. 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 starting to wonder if you've changed sides."

Li Tie looked pained. "I still work at the County Yamen. I couldn't make a move in front of everyone..."

The Pig Demon cut him off with a cold laugh. "Leave an opening tonight. I'm entering 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 glanced down at Li Tie. As it spoke, one thick foreleg lashed out.

An irresistible force struck Li Tie's chest. Veins bulged on his forehead as he flew backward, stopping only after he smashed through a large tree.

"I'll let it pass because you've been useful. Consider this a small lesson." The Pig Demon approached with a grin, baring yellowish tusks. "The toys you found for my Second Brother are in the usual place, I take it? I'll bring them along tonight."

"They're... they're all in the wasteland outside the village."

Li Tie kept his head down, his teeth clenched. 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 would like one too."

"Condensed Essence Fruit..."

A humanlike look of covetousness crossed the Pig Demon's face, only to give way to deep apprehension. It waved a hand irritably.

"Eldest Brother decides who gets those. Ask him."

"All right."

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

There were three great Qi Condensation Demons on the Back Mountain behind Li Family Hamlet, which was why it was called Three-Demon Mountain: the Eldest Bull Demon, the Second Ape Demon, and the Third Pig Demon.

Even the Pig Demon, lowest in rank, had reached at least Qi Gathering Three Apertures. No one knew the Bull Demon's cultivation. It had remained deep in the mountains for countless years, guarding a Condensed Essence Fruit Tree.

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 could only be higher.

Li Tie had understood as soon as he arrived at Li Family Hamlet that survival meant attaching himself to them, even if he had to make 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 Old Dog in Wang Village, nearly dead of old age, was enough to deter the entire Xiangyun County Yamen. Here, there were three great Qi Gathering Demons in their prime.

Fight back, his ass!

Thank goodness Three-Demon Mountain had abundant resources and these great Demons had no plans to come down for a feast. Otherwise, Xiangyun County would have been gone long ago!

"I'll be off, then. I hope you'll put in a good word for me, Brother Pig."

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

Late that night.

Yang Xiao suddenly frowned. Within the ten-mile reach of his Spiritual Olfaction, a familiar scent drifted from the edge of the village.

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

That Demonic Qi was identical in kind to what he had smelled from the young Pig Demons in the pigpen, but far stronger.

"Head Constable Yang, what's wrong?"

Zhao Tieniu came out of the house. Seeing Yang Xiao's expression, he looked puzzled.

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

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

"Is Li Family Hamlet the Demons' backyard? We only just dealt with a whole litter, and now another's here."

Zhao Tieniu's expression turned grim.

"What do we do?"

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

"Right." Zhao Tieniu turned and went inside.

Soon, all four Yamen Runners had gathered in the courtyard.

"Notify the other Yamen Runners," Yang Xiao said. "Tell them to patrol more closely and watch for movement around the village."

"What about you?" Sun Ming asked.

"I'm going to investigate."

"Head Constable Yang, that's too dangerous!" Sun Ming said urgently. "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 when they saw the resolve in Yang Xiao's eyes, they could only nod.

"Then we'll go."

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

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

Yang Xiao followed the village road, carefully tracking the Demonic Qi. Before long, he reached the edge of the village.

A grove of low trees lay ahead. Beyond it was the Back Mountain.

Yang Xiao stopped rather than rushing in and narrowed his eyes at the grove.

A cloud of black mist swept into the trees, carrying several villagers within it.

Yang Xiao gave chase without hesitation.

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

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

He soon caught up.

The black mist seemed to sense his pursuit and stopped.

Then it dispersed, revealing the figures inside.

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

Beside it lay five or six unconscious men and women.

The Pig Demon looked at Yang Xiao and sniffed. Surprise flashed through 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 sons. I was just about to come settle the score with you."

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

"You were the one raising those Pig Demons in the village."

"Of course."

The Pig Demon looked Yang Xiao up and down without restraint, greed gradually spreading across its face. "Human flesh is a fine tonic. A martial artist in the Qi Gathering Realm like you is even tastier!"

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

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 stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, dares say he'll kill me?"

The Pig Demon's voice dripped with disdain.

"I was planning to catch a few more people tonight and enjoy a proper dinner."

"Now that you've shown up, you've saved me a lot of trouble."

The Pig Demon eyed Yang Xiao greedily.

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