Painted-Skin Demon

Xu Qingshan examined the wooden plaques one by one, his brow furrowing and relaxing in turn. At last, his finger stopped on one of them.

"This one."

"The Painted Skin Case in Heishui County."

Task description: Young women had been disappearing across Heishui County. When their bodies were found, their faces had been peeled off whole. A Painted-Skin Demon was suspected. The Demon Suppression Division had previously sent several Qi Gathering Realm Demon Suppression Guards to investigate, but they had gone missing and had yet to return.

Task reward: 300 base Merit points, with additional bonuses for the lead contributor and support.

Requirements: A team of at least two, including one member in the Liquid Condensation Realm.

When Yang Xiao finished reading, his gaze settled on the words "Demon Suppression Guards gone missing."

The disappearance of Qi Gathering Realm Captains meant their opponent was at least a Qi Gathering Realm Demon, perhaps even one in the Liquid Condensation Realm.

"How long has this task been posted?" Xu Qingshan asked Manager Zhou.

"Half a month." Manager Zhou did not look up. "Since the last Demon Suppression Guard disappeared, no Qi Gathering Realm Captain has dared take it."

Hearing that, Xu Qingshan hesitated, as if he wanted to say something.

Yang Xiao picked up the wooden plaque and handed it to Manager Zhou.

"We'll take it."

Manager Zhou looked up at Yang Xiao, then at Xu Qingshan beside him. In the end, he merely shook his head and recorded their names in the ledger.

After leaving the Task Hall, Yang Xiao and Xu Qingshan walked side by side along the Demon Suppression Division's Bluestone path.

Xu Qingshan's steps were light, and a smile hung on his lips, but a faint, almost imperceptible tension lurked in his eyes.

"Brother Xu, do you have something else in mind for this task?" Yang Xiao asked, having noticed it.

Xu Qingshan faltered for a step, then smiled. "Brother Yang, you're observant."

He did not deny it. Instead, he took a deep breath and set aside his usual smile.

"I won't hide it from you, Brother Yang. I did have a plan when I suggested this task."

Yang Xiao said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

Xu Qingshan lowered his voice. "To break through to the Liquid Condensation Realm, I need to exchange Merit for an internal cultivation technique. You know the Demon Suppression Division's rules by now, Brother Yang. Breakthrough techniques can only be obtained with Merit."

Yang Xiao's brows shifted slightly as he looked at him.

Xu Qingshan raised two fingers. "Complete five ordinary Liquid Condensation Realm tasks, or claim the lead contribution in a single Liquid Condensation Realm task, and you can apply directly to the Merit Hall for an internal cultivation technique to break through to the Liquid Condensation Realm."

"Five ordinary tasks would take at least several months, assuming roughly half a ten-day period for each Liquid Condensation Early Stage task. And every task carries risks."

"Add the travel time for each task and any time spent recovering from injuries, and it would take even longer to get the technique."

"But if I can claim the lead contribution just once..."

Xu Qingshan's expression turned earnest. "I can receive the corresponding internal cultivation technique straightaway!"

Yang Xiao understood. "So that's why you chose the Painted Skin Case."

"Right." Xu Qingshan nodded. "The Heishui County Painted Skin Case is rated a Liquid Condensation Early Stage task. It won't be easy, but we do have a chance."

He turned to Yang Xiao, his gaze solemn.

"Brother Yang, you've reached Twelfth Qi Gathering Orifice Perfection. If we handle this properly, you have every chance of claiming the lead contribution."

"And though I'm only at the Liquid Condensation Early Stage and fighting isn't my strength, I can at least support you. You won't have to fight alone."

It really was convenient to have someone who knew how things worked.

"All right." Yang Xiao nodded. "Then I'll aim for the lead contribution."

"But Brother Yang, Painted-Skin Demons aren't like ordinary Demons. There are some things I need to tell you first."

His tone turned grave.

"A Painted-Skin Demon, as the name suggests, is best at wearing human skin."

"It can peel off a person's face and wear it over its own. It takes on not just the dead person's exact appearance, but can imitate their voice, posture, even the length of their stride."

"Worse, a Painted-Skin Demon can conceal its Demonic Qi. Without a substantial gap in cultivation or some special means, it's hard to tell."

Yang Xiao frowned. If it could conceal its Demonic Qi, wouldn't his Spiritual Olfaction Entry fail?

"But its ability to conceal Demonic Qi isn't perfect."

As if sensing his concern, Xu Qingshan added, "According to the Demon Suppression Division's records, a Painted-Skin Demon can't conceal its Demonic Qi while changing skins. If we want to expose it, we'll have to catch it at the right moment."

Xu Qingshan lowered his voice even further.

"Once we reach Heishui County," Xu Qingshan said, enunciating every word, "trust no one easily. Until you've confirmed someone's identity, don't turn your back on them."

Yang Xiao nodded and committed his words to memory.

Heishui County lay southwest of Qingzhou, about three hundred li from Qingzhou City.

The two rode south along the official road, passing through several counties and towns before arriving at dusk the following day.

Yang Xiao reined in his horse and surveyed the county town before him.

Heishui County was slightly smaller than Xiangyun County. Its walls were low and mottled, and only two listless guards stood at the gate.

The streets were still lively at dusk. Vendors called out their wares, and pedestrians came and went. Nothing seemed amiss.

Yang Xiao frowned slightly.

Young women were disappearing here, their faces peeled away, yet the streets were this calm?

Back in Li Family Hamlet, even in daylight, hardly anyone had dared walk the streets.

"Let's go."

Xu Qingshan had also looked around. "We'll head to the County Yamen first," he said quietly.

They rode into town and followed the main street for a quarter of an hour before reaching the Heishui County Yamen.

The yamen was small, with two courtyards. Two stone lions stood before its doors, their paint mostly flaked away.

The Yamen Runner at the entrance saw their Demon Suppression Division uniforms and the long blades at their waists. His expression changed, and he hurried forward.

"Are you sirs from the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division?"

Xu Qingshan showed his badge. "We're Demon Suppression Guards from Qingzhou, here under orders to investigate the Painted Skin Case."

The Yamen Runner looked relieved. "Please come in, sirs! The County Magistrate has been waiting for you!"

He jogged ahead to lead them through the front courtyard and straight into the main hall.

Inside, a middle-aged man in official robes paced back and forth, worry etched across his face.

When he saw them enter, he hurried forward and bowed with utmost respect.

"This humble official is Chen Bonian, County Magistrate of Heishui County. Greetings, sirs! The Demon Suppression Division has finally sent someone. I've waited so long!"

Chen Bonian looked to be in his early forties. His face was gaunt, his eyes sunken, and his temples already flecked with white. Clearly, he had not slept well for days.

"No need for ceremony, County Magistrate Chen." Xu Qingshan returned the greeting. "We're here under orders to investigate the Painted Skin Case. Please tell us everything that's happened."

"Yes, of course. Please, sit." Chen Bonian hastily offered them seats and began recounting the case.

"Sirs, the disappearances in Heishui County began two months ago.

"First, a family's daughter in the east of town went out at night and never returned. Three days later, her body was found on a riverbank outside town. Her face had been peeled off whole. She died horribly."

"After that, a young woman disappeared every seven or eight days, each time in the same manner. After I reported it to Qingzhou Prefecture, the Demon Suppression Division sent two Demon Suppression Guards to investigate."

"Captain Zhou brought his men here and investigated for several days. Then he said he had found a lead and was going out to follow the Demon Traces... He never came back."

Chen Bonian's voice trembled. "Another Demon Suppression Guard came later. After investigating for several days, he also went out to pursue a lead and lost contact."

"The yamen's people are too weak to deal with this. I had no choice but to report it again and beg the Demon Suppression Division to send reinforcements."

Xu Qingshan asked, "Which direction did Captain Zhou go? Did he leave any word behind?"

Chen Bonian shook his head. "Captain Zhou only said he had found some clues. He didn't tell me where he was going or what he had found."

"It was the same with the second guard. He went out alone, and no one heard from him again."

Xu Qingshan and Yang Xiao exchanged a glance. They saw the same thought in each other's eyes.

Both Demon Suppression Guards had disappeared after going out alone.

Either they had discovered something and been ambushed by the Painted-Skin Demon, or... someone had deliberately lured them out.

Yang Xiao spoke. "County Magistrate Chen, has anyone in the County Yamen been behaving strangely lately?"

Chen Bonian froze, then thought for a moment and shook his head. "I haven't noticed anything unusual. Everyone in the yamen has been doing their best to assist the investigation..."

Before he could finish, a Yamen Runner rushed in through the door, drenched in sweat and white as a sheet.

"Sir! Something's happened again by the river west of town! Someone saw traces of the Straw-Cloak Ghost on the riverbank!"