Chapter 10: 10 For the Sake of Slacking Off

Chapter 10: For the Sake of Slacking Off

Xinghe County, outskirts.

The evening wind whistled, bone-chillingly cold.

The trees in the suburbs swayed in the wind, casting flickering, ghostly shadows that seemed to wail like spirits.

Also swaying in the wind were the lanterns.

The lanterns of the Yizhuang (corpse collection house).

The lanterns flickered with a scarlet light.

Under the red glow, rows of straw mats were laid out neatly, holding the bodies recently transported here—twenty-eight corpses in total.

Each of these bodies was in a miserable state. Their waists and legs were reduced to mere bone, their chests and abdomens ripped open, their organs entirely missing. Even their faces were pitted and scarred. If not for the personal ornaments still on them that served to identify them, no one would have been able to tell who these people were from their appearance alone.

At this moment, the Xinghe County Magistrate was looking at these corpses with a grave expression.

Although the coroner was still examining them, there was actually no need; these bodies had clearly died at the hands of wild beasts.

Just then, a yamen runner hurriedly handed over some information. It was the missing persons report for the staff from the Chenxiang Pavilion who had gone missing a few days ago, detailing each person’s facial features, clothing, and personal ornaments.

The faces were no longer recognizable, but the ornaments could still be matched.

The Magistrate crouched down slightly, comparing the documents while scanning the corpses.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the front gate of the Yizhuang.

The Magistrate turned his head to see an old man with a benevolent face but sharp, piercing eyes stepping inside.

"Old Han." The Magistrate cupped his hands from a distance.

The man was none other than "Eight-Armed Elder" Han Ba.

The Magistrate said, "Of the ten missing people from Chenxiang Pavilion, seven are here. The other three, I suppose, have been left with no bones remaining."

Han Ba replied, "The rest must be the woodcutters, hunters, and travelers who have gone missing in the county recently. Oh, and Old Man Dan. It’s spring, and he often goes into the mountains to pick wildflowers to sell in the county for a bit of pocket money. Who would have thought he’d die too."

The Magistrate said, "You’re quite familiar with this."

Han Ba replied, "Like you, I’ve spent my whole life observing this county. How could I not know who comes and goes in the city every day?"

The Magistrate snorted but didn't dwell on it. Instead, he said, "I listened to you before and suppressed the news of the missing persons cases, but today, I can't keep a lid on it anymore.

Not far from the county gate, two hunters' bodies were spotted by people—a whole group of them.

The people in the county aren't stupid. Once they saw that, how could they not understand what happened to the others who went missing?"

Han Ba asked, "Where were the bodies found?"

The Magistrate pulled a piece of paper from his robe and handed it over.

Han Ba unfolded it to see small red circles marked with numbers, corresponding to the order in which the bodies were discovered. In the bottom left corner, there were notes on the time of death determined by the coroner.

The more Han Ba looked, the more solemn his expression became.

The Magistrate scanned the people in the Yizhuang, then glanced outside the door. "Old Han, shall we go for a walk?"

Han Ba nodded.

The two went outside, walking under the eerie, ancient locust trees of the Yizhuang. Dense shadows hung from above, adding a chilling coldness to the air.

The Magistrate frowned. "Your way of handling this is too different from Master Ning’s style, isn't it? Master Ning is a great philanthropist for miles around; even I admire him to the point of prostration.

But you... ever since the first body was found, you’ve insisted we hide it, indulge it, and wait for more bodies to appear.

I know you hope to get a more precise grasp on the movements of those fierce beasts, but these are living, breathing people."

Han Ba said, "I will record their names. The Ning Estate will help their families; their livelihoods will not be an issue."

The Magistrate’s brow furrowed deeper. "Did Master Ning teach you this?"

Han Ba shook his head. "Master Ning never does such things."

He continued, "You say I hid information and caused many deaths. But do you know that we are also risking our lives? How many of me, or even my brothers, will be able to return alive?

Collecting as much information as possible increases the chances of success. If we fail, the entire county will fall. When that happens, it won't be me—it will be you who has to face them."

With that, Han Ba pressed the "map marked with the order of deaths" firmly into the Magistrate’s chest and let out a long sigh.

The Magistrate stopped speaking, looking into the distance with a heavy gaze. "Where on earth did they come from?"

Han Ba said, "You’d have to ask a truly capable geomancer or yin-yang master about that. I don't know."

The Magistrate sighed. "We rely entirely on Master Ning. If not for him, we would have been oblivious, and who knows how many more would have died by then. Old Han, why do you think they are eating one person here and one person there on the outskirts?"

Han Ba replied, "If I were to attack a village or town, I would first have to send people to test its strength and see if there are any experts.

First, send people to scout. Second, kill a few people on the outskirts to lure the villagers out.

If people die, they have to send experts, right?

Doesn't that test whether or not they can attack the town? Magistrate, wouldn't you agree?"

The Magistrate said, "These monsters have brains?"

Han Ba replied, "They do."

He sighed again. "You’ve heard the idiom 'the donkey of Guizhou has exhausted its tricks,' right? Even though they are fierce tigers, Master Ning said they are newcomers who don't understand the situation, so... they are testing."

The Magistrate asked, "Does it end once we kill them?"

Han Ba suddenly laughed, a jerky, trembling laugh. He pointed at the Magistrate. "Hasn't the Magistrate heard of the missing persons cases in the provincial capital and elsewhere, the natural and man-made disasters? Master Ning said, everything has only just begun."

The Magistrate lowered his eyes, lost in thought, then asked curiously, "Then how do you intend to fight them?"

Han Ba said, "Don't ask what you shouldn't."

The Magistrate nodded, then shook the "death order map." "Did you notice anything?"

Han Ba said, "There is one place that is very strange. People have died all around it, but that specific area has had no incidents.

Although it is quite deep, there should be herb gatherers or the like who go there.

The fact that nothing happened means that place is extraordinary. Rest assured, Magistrate, once reinforcements arrive, we will go and investigate. With this map, we have a certain understanding of their movements. It is time to strike."

The Magistrate looked curious.

Han Ba patted his shoulder. "Get closer to the Ning family, and you will know more."

With that, he turned and left, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

The sky...

Was beginning to brighten.

A carriage stopped near the city gate.

Inside, Xiaojie pleaded, "Young Master, no matter where you're going, please don't go.

People have died—so many people have died.

Young Master, if I hadn't listened to you and helped you hide it, you wouldn't have been able to get out at all.

The First Madam still thinks you've been playing in those other places..."

Ning Xuan grabbed the bundle stuffed with gold, silver, and valuables and pressed it onto Xiaojie’s fair, long legs. "Everything is packed, what are you afraid of?"

Xiaojie lifted her legs, clamping his hand between her smooth thighs to keep him from pulling away. She bit her lip, looking at him, and said softly, "I have some new tricks, they're very fun. How about..."

"Tonight." Ning Xuan pulled his hand away and added, "Don't worry."

After saying that, he got out of the carriage and left the city.

Ning Xuan didn't actually want to go.

But he knew that the deaths were highly likely related to the "Mountain-Crashing Bear Demon."

The "Mountain-Crashing Bear Demon" was nearby, which gave him a great sense of crisis.

He had to figure it out to better understand the [Heavenly Demon Record], otherwise, the next time he encountered one, he would still be clueless.

Slacking off was not the same as waiting for death.

He wanted to slack off, but he didn't want to wait for death.

Therefore, he had to know what kind of environment and what kind of world he was living in.

He skillfully invoked the Heavenly Demon Record, took his Beast-Slaying Blade, and dashed toward his usual training spot.

Just as he was about to reach the waterfall, Ning Xuan suddenly frowned.

He stopped in his tracks.

Like a wild beast, he sensed an intrusion into his territory.

"There's a human scent... no, there are outsiders here."

Ning Xuan was very familiar with this terrain. He took a few turns and climbed onto a high ground hidden by lush branches and leaves. The ground was steep and difficult to climb, but it overlooked the entire waterfall cliff area.

He climbed up, hid behind the leaves, and took a quick scan. He saw dozens of people standing in front of the cliff where he practiced every morning. They were wearing armor, holding heavy crossbows, and equipped with swords—fully armed.

He narrowed his eyes, recognizing some of them.

They were guards from the Ning family estate, along with that "Eight-Armed Elder" Han Ba.

He didn't recognize the others.

But since they were mixed up with Han Ba, he assumed they were all on the same side.

"Not enemies, but... I can't go there anymore."

Ning Xuan didn't want to be discovered.

He decided to find another place.

Terrifying claw marks spread upward, densely covering the hard stone wall.

Everyone standing under the cliff felt a strong sense of suffocation.

Many people’s breathing became heavy and rapid, their faces turning either deathly pale or blood-red, filled with fear and a sense of resignation to death.

These claw marks...

This density...

The opponent’s physique had reached a level they couldn't imagine.

Han Ba looked at a yellow-robed Taoist in the center.

The yellow-robed Taoist looked calm, with two young acolytes by his side.

Han Ba looked around and shouted in a low, stern voice, "Spread out! Expand the perimeter and protect the True Man!"

Immediately, the group distanced themselves and spread further outward.

The yellow-robed Taoist was looking at the claw marks. After a long while, he said, "This beast is extremely strong. Old Han, I fear this will be a bloody battle with a slim chance of survival."

Ning Xuan was on his way.

He was looking for another place.

But as he ran, he suddenly heard strange footsteps.

The footsteps were moving away from him rapidly.

Ning Xuan frowned, realizing someone had discovered him.

His mind stirred, and he turned to follow the direction of the footsteps.

The footsteps grew faster.

His speed increased as well.

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.

Ning Xuan had already chased them to a deep valley covered in vines.

He sensed for a moment and heard suppressed, heavy breathing, as if someone was gasping for air.

Curiously, he walked over, stopped behind a hanging vine, stood to the side of the cave entrance to avoid being directly in front, and then tilted his Beast-Slaying Blade to slowly lift the vine "curtain."

The moment the curtain was lifted, a whirlwind erupted from within, accompanied by a desperate roar.

A black shadow charged out, carrying a foul stench, shattering the vines into pieces.

*Chi!*

*Bang!*

The black, foul-smelling wind was pierced through by the Beast-Slaying Blade, and then Ning Xuan grabbed it casually with one hand, pinning it to the cliff rock.

Ning Xuan tilted his head, looking curiously at the small, weak black bear he had pinned.

"Awoo!"

"Awoo, awoo, awoo!"

The black bear’s eyes flashed with human-like fear, letting out a furious roar. Its teeth weren't very dense, and its body wasn't as terrifying as the bear demon in his nightmares.

Ning Xuan stared for a long time, confirming that this thing was indeed a Mountain-Crashing Bear, but it seemed to be a small demon.

The [Heavenly Demon Record] had truly come true, but it was highly likely that it wasn't just one Mountain-Crashing Bear, but a whole nest, or even a whole mountain, an entire species.

He didn't know.

Ning Xuan stared at it for a moment, then suddenly pulled out the Beast-Slaying Blade.

The little demon was stunned.

Ning Xuan poked it twice more.

The little demon let out a howl of both confusion and pain. Just as it leaned against the stone wall, preparing to die, the terrifying human suddenly put away his blade, turned around, and left without a word.

The little demon hurriedly clutched its wounds and scrambled toward a narrow passage.

Ning Xuan followed.

He hadn't even discovered this little demon, yet it had been able to escape in advance. That meant it was very likely that demons... also had demonic cultivation techniques.

(End of chapter)