A life of idleness in the world of demons

Chapter 10.10. In order to tank
Xinghe County, suburbs
The evening wind howled coldly.

The trees in the suburbs swayed in the wind, their shadows flickering and howling like ghosts.

The lanterns were also being blown by the wind.
Lanterns at the mortuary.
The lanterns swayed with a scarlet light.

Under the red light, rows of straw mats were neatly laid out, upon which lay the recently transported corpses—twenty-eight corpses.

But the corpses were all in a terrible state, with only bones left between their legs and waists, their bellies cut open and their internal organs completely gone. Even their faces were pitted and scarred. If it weren't for the personal ornaments that these corpses still had, which could prove their identities, no one would have been able to tell who these corpses were from their appearance.

At this moment, the county magistrate of Xinghe County was looking at the corpses with a solemn expression.

Although the coroner was still examining the bodies, there was really no need to examine them, because these corpses had all died at the hands of wild beasts.

Just then, another constable hurriedly delivered some information. These were missing persons reports sent by Chenxiang Pavilion a few days ago, detailing each person's physical characteristics, clothing, and personal belongings.
Her appearance doesn't match, but her accessories are alright.

The county constable of Xinghe County squatted down slightly, comparing documents while scanning the corpses.

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from the front gate of the mortuary.

The county constable of Xinghe County turned his head and saw an old man with a kind face but sharp eyes stepping in.

"Old Han." The county magistrate of Xinghe County bowed from afar.

The visitor was none other than "Eight-Armed Old Man" Han Ba.

The county magistrate said, "Of the ten people who went missing from Chenxiang Pavilion, seven are here, and the other three are presumably lost without a trace."

Han Badao said, "The rest should be the woodcutter, hunter, traveler, and oh, Old Ma who recently went missing in your county. It's spring, and he often went to the mountains to pick flowers to sell in the county town for a little money. I never expected him to die too."

The county constable said, "You seem to know it very well."

Han Ba ​​said, "I'm just like you; I've spent my whole life observing this county town. How could I not know who comes and goes in the town on a daily basis?"

The county constable snorted, but didn't dwell on it. Instead, he said, "I listened to you before and kept the missing persons cases under wraps, but I can't keep them under wraps anymore today."

Not far from the county gate, two hunters' bodies were seen by a group of people.

The people in the county aren't stupid; once they saw it, they immediately understood what had happened to the previously missing people.

Han Ba ​​asked, "Where was the body found?"

The county constable took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over.

Han Ba ​​opened it and saw that it was marked with small red circles, each circle containing a serial number corresponding to the order in which the bodies were found. The time of death, as determined by the coroner, was also noted in the lower left corner.

Han Bayue's gaze grew increasingly serious.

The county constable glanced at the many people in the mortuary, then looked sideways at the door and said, "Old Han, why don't you go for a walk?"

Han Ba ​​nodded.

Once outside, the two walked under the eerie old locust grove of the mortuary, where dense shadows hung down, adding to the chilling atmosphere.

The county constable frowned and said, "Your actions are so different from Master Ning's style. Master Ning is a great philanthropist in the surrounding area. Even I admire him greatly."

But you, ever since the first body was discovered, have been asking us to keep it a secret, to indulge us, and to wait for more bodies to appear.

"I know you want to have a more precise grasp of the beasts' whereabouts, but these are living, breathing people."

Han Ba ​​said, "I will remember the person. The Ning family will help their family members, and they will have no problems making a living."

The county magistrate frowned even more deeply and asked, "Did Master Ning teach you this?"

Han Ba ​​shook his head and said, "Master Ning would never do such a thing."

Then he added, "You say I concealed information and caused the deaths of many people. But do you know that we also had to risk our lives? How many of my brothers, even myself, actually came back alive?"

Gathering as much information as possible about them will increase our chances of success. If we fail, the entire county will fall. Then it won't be me facing them, but you.

As he spoke, Han Ba ​​slammed the "map marked with the order of death" heavily into the county magistrate's arms, and then let out a long sigh.

The county constable fell silent, his gaze fixed intently on the distance. He asked, "Where did they come from?"

Han Ba ​​said, "This matter should be asked of a truly skilled geomancer or yin-yang master. I don't know anything about it."

The county constable sighed, "We're entirely thanks to Master Ning. If it weren't for him, we probably wouldn't have realized what was happening so late; who knows how many more people would have died. Old Han, why do you think they were eating people on the left and right sides of the perimeter?"

Han Ba ​​said, "If I want to attack a village or town, I must first send someone to test the village or town's strength and see if there are any experts there."

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

Someone died, so we need to send in some experts, right?

"Wouldn't this test prove whether we can attack this village or town? Sir, don't you agree?"

The county constable said, "Do these freaks even have brains?"

Han Badao: "Yes."

As he spoke, he sighed and said, "You've heard the idiom 'the donkey of Guizhou has exhausted its tricks,' right? Although they are fierce tigers, Master Ning said they are newcomers and don't know the situation, so they are trying."

The county constable asked, "Is it over once we kill them?"

Han Ba ​​suddenly laughed, bouncing with laughter, pointing at the county magistrate and saying, "Sir, haven't you heard of the missing persons cases, natural disasters, and man-made calamities in the prefecture and even in other places? Master Ning said that everything has only just begun."

The county magistrate lowered his eyes, a thoughtful expression on his face, then asked curiously, "So how did you fight them?"

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

The county constable nodded, then shook the "death order map" and asked, "Have you noticed anything?"

Han Ba ​​said, “There is a strange place. People have died all around, but nothing has happened in that particular area.”

Although it's quite deep there, people like herb gatherers probably go there too.

The fact that nothing happened means that this place is extraordinary. Rest assured, Your Excellency, we will investigate once our reinforcements arrive. With this map, we have a better understanding of their movements, and it's time to make our move.”

The county constable looked on with curiosity.

Han Ba ​​patted him on the shoulder and said, "Get closer to the Ning family, and you'll learn more."

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

sky.
It was dawn.

A carriage stopped near the city gate.

Inside the car, Xiao Jie pleaded, "Young Master, wherever you're going, please don't go."

People are dead. So many people are dead.

Young master, if I hadn't listened to you and covered for you, you wouldn't have been able to get out at all.

The First Madam always thought you were playing in those places in the past.

Ning Xuan grabbed the bundle stuffed with gold, silver, and valuables and pressed it down on Xiao Jie's long, white legs, saying, "You brought everything, what are you afraid of?"

Xiao Jie lifted her legs and used her smooth thighs to clamp his hand, preventing him from breaking free. Then, biting her lip, she looked at him and said softly, "I have a new trick, it's so much fun, how about..." "Tonight," Ning Xuan said, pulling his hand away and adding, "Don't worry."

After saying that, he got off the car and left the city.

Ning Xuan didn't actually want to go.

But he knew that the deaths were very likely related to the "mountain-collision bear demon".

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

He needs to figure it out in order to better understand the [Heavenly Demon Talisman], otherwise he'll still be completely clueless the next time he encounters it.

Giving up is not the same as waiting to die.

He wants to give up, he doesn't want to wait to die.

Therefore, he must know exactly what kind of environment and world he lives in.

He readily obtained the Heavenly Demon Talisman and the Beast-Slaying Blade, then sped towards his usual training ground.

Just as they were about to reach the waterfall, Ning Xuan suddenly frowned.

He stopped.

He felt his territory being invaded, like a wild beast.

"It feels human. No, it means outsiders have come."

Ning Xuan was very familiar with this terrain. He made a few turns and climbed to a high ground covered by lush foliage. The high ground was very steep and difficult to climb, but it offered a panoramic view of the entire waterfall cliff area.

He climbed to a high place, hid behind the leaves, and with a quick glance, he saw dozens of people standing in front of the mountain wall where he practiced every morning. They were fully armed, wearing armor, holding crossbows, and carrying swords.

He squinted, because he recognized some of these people.

They were the guards of Ningjia Manor, and also that "eight-armed old man" Han Ba.

He didn't recognize the rest.

But since he's involved with Han Ba, they must be in cahoots.

"They're not enemies, but we can't go there either."

Ning Xuan didn't want to be discovered.

He decided to go somewhere else.

The terrifying claw-like pits spread upwards, densely covering the hard stone walls, appearing everywhere.

Everyone standing at the foot of the cliff felt a strong sense of suffocation.

Many people's breathing became heavy and rapid, and their faces were either deathly pale or blood red, filled with fear and a sense of facing death.

This claw mark
This density.
The opponent's physique had reached a level they could not even imagine.

Han Ba ​​looked at a Taoist priest in a yellow robe in the center.

The Taoist priest in the yellow robe looked calm and composed, with two young Taoist boys beside him.

Han Ba ​​looked around and shouted in a low voice, "Spread out, expand the area, and protect the True Person!"

Immediately, the group of people spread out and moved further outwards.

The yellow-robed Taoist was staring at the claw-shaped pit when he finally said, "This beast is extremely powerful. Elder Han, this battle is likely to be a bloody one with a slim chance of survival."

Ning Xuan was on his way.

He's moved to a different place.

But as he ran, he suddenly heard strange footsteps.

The footsteps were quickly fading away from him.

Ning Xuan frowned, quickly realizing that someone had discovered him.

A thought struck him, and he turned and followed the sound of footsteps.

The pace quickened.

His speed also increased.

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.

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

He sensed something and heard suppressed, low breathing, as if someone was panting heavily.

Curious, he walked over and stopped behind a hanging vine. He stood sideways beside the cave, avoiding a direct view, and then slowly lifted the vine "curtain" with his beast-slaying knife.

The curtain was slightly lifted, and a whirlwind rose from within, accompanied by a desperate roar.

A dark shadow rushed out, accompanied by a foul stench, pulverizing the vines into pieces.

laugh!
Bang!
The black, bloody wind was pierced through both ends by the sword, and then Ning Xuan casually grabbed it with one hand, pinning it to the cliff rock.

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

"Ow!"

"Ouch!"

The black bear's eyes flashed with a human-like fear as it roared furiously. Its mouthful of tiny teeth wasn't too dense, and its body wasn't as terrifying as the bear demon in the nightmare.

Ning Xuan examined it for a long time and confirmed that it was indeed the Mountain-Collision Bear, but it seemed to be a minor demon.

The [Heavenly Demon Talisman] has indeed come true, but what comes is most likely not just a mountain-ramming bear, but a whole nest, or even an entire mountain, or an entire race.

he does not know.

Ning Xuan stared at it for a moment, then suddenly drew his beast-slaying sword.

The little demon was taken aback.

Ning Xuan stabbed him twice more.

The little demon let out a wail of confusion and pain. Just as it leaned against the stone wall, preparing to await its death, the terrifying human suddenly sheathed his knife, turned around and left without saying a word.

The little demon hurriedly covered her wound and scrambled towards a narrow passage.

Ning Xuan followed.

He didn't even notice the little demon, but the little demon was able to escape in advance, which means that it is very likely that the demon also has demonic techniques.

(End of this chapter)