The Ape Demon Comes Knocking!

Xiangyun County, Yang Xiao's home.

Yang Xiao lay in a bamboo chair in the courtyard, both hands pillowing his head as he gazed at the white clouds drifting across the sky, looking utterly at ease.

"The Demon Suppression Division will arrive tomorrow."

He silently calculated the time.

"My strength should be enough by now."

With his Qi Gathering Seven Apertures cultivation, along with numerous perfected martial arts and title bonuses, even if he encountered an opponent at the Qi Gathering Nine Apertures, he would still have the strength to fight.

For the Demon Suppression Division's assessment, this level of strength should be more than sufficient.

"If this drags on any longer, I'll have killed every demon around Xiangyun County."

The corners of Yang Xiao's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a helpless smile.

The Rat Calamity at Liu Family Village, the Dog Demon at Wang Village, the Pig Demon at Li Family Hamlet...

In just a few short days, he had slain countless demons.

If things continued like this, Xiangyun County was liable to become a pure land.

"But that's fine too."

Yang Xiao closed his eyes, feeling the abundant spiritual energy within his body.

"Once the Demon Suppression Division arrives, I can travel with them to the provincial capital. Perhaps I'll meet some formidable opponents unlike any I've seen before."

A gentle breeze swept past, carrying the warmth of early summer.

Yang Xiao simply lay there, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

Until dusk.

"Constable Yang... Constable Yang..."

A trembling voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

Yang Xiao opened his eyes, his brows drawing together slightly.

He rose and walked to the courtyard gate. When he opened it, he saw a young Yamen Runner standing outside.

He was an ordinary Yamen Runner from the County Yamen. Yang Xiao remembered that his name was Little Liu.

At that moment, Little Liu's face was pale, his whole body trembling, fine beads of sweat beading on his forehead, and his eyes filled with terror.

"Constable Yang, Constable Zhang... Constable Zhang wants to discuss something with you. Please hurry to the County Yamen."

Yang Xiao's gaze fell on Little Liu, and wariness stirred in his heart.

"Constable Zhang wants to see me?"

"Yes." Little Liu's voice was still trembling. "Constable Zhang said... said it was urgent. He asked you to come over no matter what."

Yang Xiao did not answer immediately. Instead, he carefully studied Little Liu.

Although this Yamen Runner was usually timid, he should not have been terrified to this extent.

His eyes darted about, as if he were desperately trying to conceal something.

"What happened?"

Yang Xiao's voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable pressure.

Little Liu's whole body shuddered. His lips trembled, but he could not get a word out.

The wariness in Yang Xiao's heart deepened.

"Lead the way."

He said it briefly, then followed Little Liu toward the County Yamen.

Along the way, Little Liu kept walking ahead, his steps hurried, yet he did not dare look back at Yang Xiao even once.

Yang Xiao's gaze swept across the street. He found it unusually deserted today, with few pedestrians, as if something were brewing.

Soon, the County Yamen's main gate appeared before them.

Yang Xiao's footsteps paused slightly.

The County Yamen's gate stood wide open, with no guards anywhere in sight. On ordinary days, that would have been impossible.

"Go in, Constable Yang."

Little Liu's trembling voice came from ahead.

Yang Xiao said nothing and stepped through the County Yamen's gate.

The moment he entered, a thick stench of blood rushed toward him.

Yang Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.

His gaze swept across the County Yamen courtyard. The ground was covered in traces of battle—broken weapons, shattered stones, deep and shallow blade marks, and...

Large patches of blood.

Yang Xiao stopped, his gaze falling upon the center of the courtyard.

Zhang Hu lay in a pool of blood, both arms twisted at an exaggerated angle. A savage fist-shaped imprint marred his chest, with stark white bone jutting through it as blood continued to gush out.

His breathing was faint. Clearly, he was already on the verge of death.

"Constable Zhang!"

Yang Xiao hurried forward, but stopped several paces away from Zhang Hu.

Because he had seen Zhang Hu's eyes.

Those eyes had once been sharp and resolute, yet carried a deep warmth. Now they were filled with despair, terror, and hatred.

Zhang Hu struggled to raise his head. When he saw Yang Xiao enter, terror filled his eyes.

His lips trembled. Summoning the last of his strength, he forced out a single word:

"Go..."

Yang Xiao's brows knitted tightly.

"Go?"

"Quick... go..."

Zhang Hu's voice was faint to the extreme, yet filled with desperate urgency.

His gaze passed over Yang Xiao's shoulder toward the County Yamen's gate, his eyes overflowing with despair.

"Constable Yang, my lord has been waiting for you for quite some time."

A chilling voice came from behind him.

Yang Xiao turned around and saw Li Tie slowly walking out from the County Yamen's main gate.

A malicious, resentful smile twisted his face, while his eyes brimmed with hatred and vengeful delight.

"Constable Yang, please come in."

His voice was dark, carrying a trace of the pleasure of revenge.

"My lord has been waiting for you for a long time."

Yang Xiao's gaze settled on Li Tie. By now, he understood some of what was happening.

"My lord?" His voice was calm, yet laced with coldness. "What lord?"

Li Tie let out a cold laugh without answering. He merely stepped aside, indicating that Yang Xiao should enter the main hall of the County Yamen.

"Go in, Constable Yang."

"You'll find out."

Yang Xiao did not move. Instead, he looked toward Zhang Hu again.

Zhang Hu could no longer speak. He only stared at him with despair in his eyes, his lips still trembling as if silently saying something.

Yang Xiao drew a deep breath and walked toward the County Yamen's main hall. The suffocating anger he had felt in his chest that morning surged up again, impossible to suppress no matter how hard he tried.

"Call a physician."

He paused, then called out toward the outside. Without waiting for Little Liu by the courtyard gate to respond, he pushed open the main hall's doors and stepped inside.

A dense wave of Demonic Qi rushed toward him.

Yang Xiao's gaze fell upon the seat of honor in the main hall.

A hulking Ape Demon sat there, its body covered in black-brown fur. It was far taller than an ordinary person, with a coarse cloth garment hanging over it and covering half its body.

Its exposed arms were thick and powerful, its muscles knotted like twisted roots, and its eyes glowed with bloodthirsty red light.

At its feet lay the bodies of two commoner women who had long since stopped breathing.

The Ape Demon's gaze fell upon Yang Xiao, and a bloodthirsty smile hooked up the corners of its mouth.

"Yang Xiao?"

Its voice was rough, carrying an intense battle intent.

"I've been waiting for you for quite some time."

Yang Xiao stood in the doorway, meeting the Ape Demon's gaze.

He said nothing, merely looking at the Ape Demon calmly.

"You're the human who killed my third brother?"

The aura of the Qi Gathering Five Apertures burst from its body without restraint. The Ape Demon slowly rose to its feet, its body swelling larger as its fists collided with a muffled boom.

"A mere human actually managed to kill Third..."

Excitement flashed through its eyes, revealing a dangerous fanaticism.

"Then I'll see what you're made of!"

Yang Xiao's hand rested on his saber hilt, his expression calm.

"You want to avenge the Pig Demon?"

"Take revenge?"

The Ape Demon threw back its head and laughed, its voice shaking the entire main hall.

"What does Third's life or death have to do with me?"

"I came here only on Big Brother's orders to investigate Third's whereabouts."

Its gaze burned brighter, brimming with battle intent.

"But... since I've found the culprit, I might as well stretch my muscles!"

Yang Xiao's brows drew together slightly.

"Your big brother? The Bull Demon?"

"Clever."

The Ape Demon advanced toward him. Every step made the ground tremble faintly. It bared its teeth, revealing a mouthful of sharp fangs.

"I didn't believe it at first. How could a human possibly kill Third, who was at the Qi Gathering Three Apertures?"

"But now..."

Its gaze settled on Yang Xiao, filled with scrutiny and excitement.

"I'm starting to look forward to this."

"Since you've come..."

Yang Xiao's voice was calm, yet carried a sharp killing intent.

"Then don't bother leaving."