Chapter 21: Protective Qi

Guided by the light of their torches, several bailiffs could clearly see the object rolling on the ground: it was a human head.

Though the head was covered in bloodstains and coated in dust from its tumble, they could still recognize it as Zhang Long's head.

Zhang Long was dead!

And the one who killed him was Shen Changqing, standing right before them!

In an instant, the atmosphere grew heavy.

Though shock and anger flickered across the bailiffs' faces, none dared to act on their own. They knew all too well that the methods of someone from the Demon Suppression Division were far beyond their ability to contend with.

Furthermore, Zhang Long's strength was among the elite in Lin'an City. Within the yamen itself, even if all the bailiffs joined forces, they could not compare to him.

If someone as powerful as Zhang Long could die at Shen Changqing's hands, then approaching him would be nothing more than a death sentence.

It was only because they wore the official uniform and ate from the government's granary that these bailiffs were not easily intimidated into retreating.

Stepping forward slowly, Shen Changqing looked at the retreating bailiffs and spoke in a detached voice, "Zhao Fang and Zhang Long conspired with evil spirits to massacre over a thousand lives in Guyue Village. Now that Zhang Long has been executed, Zhao Fang remains at large. I am here solely to take Zhao Fang's life. All others must withdraw immediately, or do not blame me for showing no mercy!"

Hearing this, the bailiffs' expressions shifted once more.

*Zhao Fang and Zhang Long conspired with evil spirits to massacre over a thousand lives in Guyue Village!*

The moment Shen Changqing spoke, their instinct was to disbelieve him.

However—once they saw that Shen Changqing was wearing the attire of the Demon Suppression Division and held the rank of Demon Suppressor, their convictions began to waver.

At that moment, led by one of the bailiffs, Zhao Fang and Zhuang Mingyuan arrived.

"What is happening here!"

Zhao Fang spoke with an air of authority. After surveying the surroundings, his pupils constricted when he saw Shen Changqing standing there, and his face twitched violently upon seeing Zhang Long's head on the ground.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the scene fell into a deathly silence.

None of the bailiffs replied; instead, they looked at the arriving Zhao Fang with complex expressions. Some even took imperceptible steps backward.

Seeing this, Zhao Fang's heart sank, but he maintained a calm exterior and cupped his hands toward Shen Changqing.

"Lord Shen, I do not know what has transpired, nor why Head Bailiff Zhang has met his end here."

At this, a subtle smile curled the corner of Shen Changqing's mouth. "Zhang Long conspired with evil spirits to slaughter over a thousand innocent people in Guyue Village. I have already slain him. My purpose in coming here is to execute the other traitor who has betrayed humanity."

As he finished speaking, the smile vanished, replaced by a frost-like coldness. A furious roar shook the night sky.

"Zhao Fang! You conspired with evil spirits and betrayed humanity! Do you plead guilty!"

The voice was massive, echoing not just through the yamen but audible even outside its walls.

Immediately, Zhao Fang's expression turned unsightly. "Lord Shen, one may eat anything, but one must not speak recklessly. I have served as the County Magistrate of Lin'an for twenty years, working diligently for the people without a single error. Now you claim I conspired with evil spirits to massacre the people of Guyue Village? Do you have any concrete evidence? You should know that even for someone from the Demon Suppression Division, slandering a government official is a significant offense!"

"Evidence?"

Shen Changqing stepped forward. The long saber at his waist slid silently from its sheath, its pristine white blade gleaming with a terrifying light in the darkness.

"My words *are* the evidence!"

As the words fell, the blade struck!

Pure Yang True Qi erupted. The moment the saber slashed through the air, a sound like rolling thunder exploded, nearly deafening those present.

Facing this strike, Zhao Fang was struck with absolute terror. Although he had conspired with evil spirits, he was essentially an ordinary man with no martial arts cultivation; he had no way to defend himself.

Just then, Zhuang Mingyuan, who was standing beside Zhao Fang, moved abruptly.

*Bang—*

A scream rang out, accompanied by a spray of pitch-black blood that corroded a large pit into the ground.

Zhuang Mingyuan retreated violently. He had completely transformed; his body was covered in scales and countless black patterns, emitting a chilling, sinister aura.

Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that his right arm hung down, the scales charred and crumbling, with black blood flowing from the wound.

This sudden turn of events terrified everyone. By the time they reacted, they saw Zhuang Mingyuan's grotesque state.

"An... an evil spirit!"

Some of the more knowledgeable bailiffs turned pale at the sight of the scaled arm.

Zhuang Mingyuan's exposure made them believe Shen Changqing's words completely. Since Zhuang Mingyuan had come out alongside Zhao Fang, if he was an evil spirit, then Zhao Fang was almost certainly complicit.

As the bailiffs retreated, Zhao Fang's face grew as dark as water. He understood that Zhuang Mingyuan's exposure had completely blocked his path of retreat.

However, even now, Zhao Fang could not understand why Shen Changqing had not died, while Zhang Long had.

"Why aren't you dead!" he spat through gritted teeth.

Shen Changqing's hand trembled slightly, causing the black blood on the blade to splatter onto the ground. The once-white blade was now pitted and scarred.

"It seems I was not mistaken; you truly have conspired with evil spirits. As for why Zhang Long died, it is simply because he was too weak. Similarly, you will die next, because your strength is also far too meager!"

As his voice fell, the long saber slashed out once more.

But this time, his target was not Zhao Fang, but Zhuang Mingyuan.

It was clear that Zhao Fang possessed no cultivation, whereas Zhuang Mingyuan posed a significant threat. However, since breaking through to the Xiantian realm, Shen Changqing no longer viewed the man as a serious opponent.

The saber cut through the air with the speed of a lightning strike.

A twisted smile appeared on Zhuang Mingyuan's face, and his figure suddenly vanished from his original position. When the saber descended, it struck only empty air.

Simultaneously, a gust of bone-chilling wind attacked from behind.

Without even looking, Shen Changqing swung his blade backward in an underarm strike.

*Puchi!*

The sound of the blade piercing flesh rang out, followed immediately by a powerful force slamming into his back.

The clothing on his back shredded. Just as his skin was about to tear, a layer of scorching energy rose up, actually forcing the attacker back.

Withdrawing his blade and stepping back a short distance, Shen Changqing turned around and looked indifferently at Zhuang Mingyuan, who was clutching his shoulder.

Zhuang Mingyuan's face was now filled with disbelief.

"Protective Qi... You are a Xiantian martial artist? No, impossible! How can a trainee Demon Suppressor be a Xiantian expert!"

No matter how much he refused to believe it, the scene he had just witnessed proved it was indeed Protective Qi. The man before him was no mere trainee, but a powerful Demon Suppressor with Xiantian cultivation.

Realizing this, Zhuang Mingyuan dared not linger for a second and fled directly toward the exit of the yamen.