So it turns out I'm the demon!

Starting from Tanzhou City, it would take at least two days to reach the Yancheng area, even if one traveled without stopping.

Considering that Bai Xiang was an ordinary person, Jiang Mu didn't want her to suffer too much.

So as evening approached, he stopped the carriage and found a secluded grove of trees by the roadside to rest.

Xun Xiaomo didn't say much, dismounted, and went to tie up the horse and feed it.

As usual, Jiang Mu brought back two wild rabbits.

He was skilled at gutting and skinning the animals, and after cleaning them, he handed them to Bai Xiang, who was sitting by the campfire.

With the little cook around, he doesn't need to bake anymore.

Bai Xiang sat on a wooden stake, turning a branch in his hand. The rabbit meat, roasted by the flames, gradually released golden oil that dripped onto the charcoal, igniting a tempting aroma.

"Lord Xun, I remember you mentioned before that Yan Zixiao is not in Yancheng City, but is hiding in a nearby town, right?" Jiang Mu asked Xun Xiaozhi, who was sitting opposite him, while idly poking at the fire.

Xun Xiaozhang nodded:

"That's right. After extensive investigation, our internal security agents finally pinpointed his location to a place called 'Xiaohe Town.' That town happens to be under the jurisdiction of Yancheng."

"Xiaohe Town?"

Jiang Mu paused slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

He had actually been to that place.

On their way to Yancheng to provide support, he and Tang Guixin encountered a horse demon uprising, resulting in the loss of all their horses and the incapacitated wounded. Left with no other option, he took the Zhang brothers to the nearest town, Xiahe, to purchase vehicles.

It was discovered that the town's demon-slaying officer was secretly colluding with the snake demon and exploiting the people.

There, by a twist of fate, he encountered the female snake demon who had escaped from Ling Ye's grasp, and even killed a ghost cultivator skilled in illusion magic. It was precisely because of that little incident that his journey was delayed, which prevented him from rescuing Tang Guixin in time.

This matter remains a thorn in Jiang Mu's side to this day.

Thinking of this, Jiang Mu collected his thoughts and looked directly at Xun Xiaozhang, saying:

"You promised me before that once you find Yan Zixiao, you would only take the information you need and would never harm his life. I hope Lord Xun can keep his word."

Xun Xiaozhang smiled slightly:

"Lord Jiang, please rest assured. Although our Imperial Guard has a bad reputation, we still follow the rules."

Our purpose in coming here is merely to use the magical artifact in his possession to sense the exact whereabouts of Lady Yang Feifei. Once we obtain the clues we need, we will leave without causing him any trouble.

Bai Xiang took the roasted rabbit meat off the fire.

She asked Jiang Mu for a knife, cut the food into several pieces, and handed one piece to each of Jiang Mu and Yuan Aqing.

As for Xun Xiaomo, Bai Xiang completely ignored him.

The henchmen of the dog emperor are not worthy of eating the meat she roasts.

Xun Xiaomo didn't seem offended.

What kind of cold faces hasn't she seen, given her experience navigating the vortex of power?

She took out some dry rations from her bag and started eating.

The woman's gaze shifted to Yuan Aqing, who was munching on rabbit meat, and her tone changed to one of appreciation for her talent:

"Lord Jiang, have you considered sending this Miss A-Qing to our Inner Guard for training?"

Jiang Mu took a bite of the rabbit leg without saying a word.

It has to be said that the little cook is indeed a little cook. In the desolate wilderness with only a pinch of salt, the food she roasted was more than ten times tastier than what he had messed around with before.

Xun Xiaozhang continued:

"Miss Aqing is exceptionally talented and possesses a legitimate star position. It would be a waste to keep her as a servant. Our Inner Guard has its own armory and alchemy room, and cultivation resources are allocated to core disciples. A promising talent like her at her age will be able to stand on her own within three years in the Inner Guard, and her future is limitless."

Such a stroke of good fortune, something others would kill for, why doesn't Lord Jiang grant this girl her bright future?

"Not interested."

Jiang Mu uttered three words.

Xun Xiaomo sighed softly and said quietly, "That's such a pity."

Although he expressed his regret, Xun Xiaozhang had already made up his mind.

Once the mission was over and she returned to the capital, she immediately reported Yuan Aqing's situation to the Commander of the Imperial Guard.

If Your Excellency deems it valuable, then His Majesty can issue a decree in person.

In her view, no matter how high Jiang Mu's cultivation level was or how unruly his temper was, he was ultimately just a subject on the chopping block of the Daqing court, a servant of His Majesty.

With an imperial edict issued, taking a little girl from his hands would be an easy task.

Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king.

After eating, Jiang Mu extinguished the campfire.

Preventing forest fires is everyone's responsibility.

As they prepared to depart, Jiang Mu glanced at the shimmering pool of water in the moonlight not far away. Considering Bai Xiang's somewhat obsessive-compulsive disorder and her dusty appearance after a long day's journey, she turned to Bai Xiang and said:

"There's a pool over there, would you like to take a bath? Don't worry, I'll be watching over you from outside."

Bai Xiang stared at him with a strange look in her eyes.

"What kind of look is that?"

Jiang Mu said with an upright expression, "I really won't peek! I, Jiang, always keep my word. If I say I'll guard you, I will. In this desolate wilderness, if a wild boar suddenly jumps out, I can at least stop it for you, right?"

Bai Xiang rolled her eyes playfully and shook her head, indicating her refusal.

"Then forget it."

Jiang Mu sighed with some regret, then led the two women into the car and continued on their way.

Xun Xiaomo mounted the demon horse and continued to lead the way.

Inside the train carriage.

As if by magic, Jiang Mu pulled out a copper basin and placed it inside the carriage.

Then he took out a kettle, poured spring water into the basin, and secretly used his spiritual power to heat it.

Before long, wisps of steam rose from the water in the basin.

"Come on, since you're not going to take a bath, how about you soak your feet?"

Jiang Mu pushed the basin in front of Bai Xiang.

"After being cooped up in this carriage all day, a foot bath will help you relax. I'm taking pity on you today and will personally serve you." Bai Xiang looked at Jiang Mu speechlessly.

This guy, does he really have to make me wash something today?

"Master, let me wash Sister Xiang."

Hearing that the master was going to wash someone else's feet, Yuan Aqing felt a pang of heartache and immediately volunteered to take over this menial task. "Get out of the way, this is none of your business."

Jiang Mu shoved the girl away and grabbed Bai Xiang's slender ankle without saying a word, placing her leg on his knee.

Bai Xiang's body stiffened slightly, and after hesitating for a moment, she ultimately did not struggle.

Jiang Mu untied the shoelaces.

He gently took off his light blue embroidered shoes and placed them aside.

Then came stockings.

He hooked his fingertips around the edge of the sock and slowly rolled it down along the curve of his ankle.

The moment the white socks were removed, a jade-white foot slid out from the layers of restraints, like the tenderest part of a bamboo shoot revealed after peeling its outer skin, tempting and delicious.

Inside the carriage, the oil lamps were bright.

The skin on the back of the foot was thin and transparent under the light, and the pale blue veins underneath were faintly visible.

Unlike Ji Hongyuan's toenails, which were coated with cardamom-colored oil, Bai Xiang's toenails had a healthy sheen and, when slightly curled, resembled a row of shy seashells. A graceful arc curved at the arch of her foot.

Shallow, like the silver hook drawn on the water's surface when the crescent moon rises.

A little more and it's full; a little less and it's lacking.

Jiang Mu gently pressed her feet, which looked like they were carved from mutton fat jade, into the warm water, and her movements slowed down.

He gently rubbed the woman's instep with his thumb, then carefully placed it in the basin. He then removed the other shoe and sock in the same way, immersing the other equally delicate foot in the hot water.

Bai Xiang felt her feet getting slightly hot from being soaked in hot water.

Let me know if it's hot.

Jiang Mu brought his large hands up from underwater and said softly.

The calloused skin of the man's palm brushed against the delicate instep, sending a sensation—a mixture of itch and tingling—upwards along Bai Xiang's calf. It reached her knee, her thigh, and finally, her heart…

She bit her rosy lower lip, and out of the corner of her eye, she inadvertently glanced at Yuan Aqing, who was staring longingly in her direction.

A mischievous glint of amusement suddenly rose in Bai Xiang's heart.

She reached out and patted Yuan Aqing's shoulder, pointed to the basin of water, and gestured in sign language:

"Ah Qing, the water temperature is just right, let's take a shower together."

Yuan Aqing shook her head repeatedly and said timidly, "No need, Sister Xiang, you go first, I'll wash myself later."

"No, we have to go together."

Bai Xiang raised her phoenix eyes slightly and gestured, "Since your master is going to help serve you anyway, let's wash together."

She turned to look at Jiang Mu, pointed at Yuan Aqing, and then pulled her feet out of the basin.

The woman put her knees together and gestured:

"Since Ah Qing won't wash, I'll do it myself. I wouldn't dare trouble you, sir."

What kind of trouble is this woman causing?

Jiang Mu glanced at Yuan Aqing, who looked completely bewildered, then at Bai Xiang, who had a firm attitude, and said helplessly to Yuan Aqing:

"Listen to your Aunt Xiang. Anyway, this basin is big enough, let's wash them all together."

As he spoke, he decisively kicked off his boots and slammed his big feet into the basin with a splash.

It occupies the most spacious position in the very center.

Yuan Aqing said "Oh" and then obediently took off her stockings.

The girl's little feet were not as slender and bony as Bai Xiang's, but they exuded a kind of charming innocence and delicacy.

The insteps are soft and pink, like freshly steamed glutinous rice balls.

The five toes were round and plump, with a faint pinkish sheen on the nails.

She dipped her feet into the water, afraid of taking up space from the master and Sister Xiang, and timidly curled up her ten toes, carefully pressing them against the corner of the copper basin's edge.

Upon seeing this, Bai Xiang's lips curled into a mischievous smile.

She put her feet back into the basin, stepping directly on Jiang Mu's insteps, and deliberately scraped his ankles lightly with her toes. Then, pointing at A Qing, she gestured in sign language:

"Please wash Ah Qing first, sir."

"Hey, you're starting to boss me around, aren't you?"

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow, slightly lifted her legs underwater, and pulled her two large feet out from under Bai Xiang's feet, turning them over and pressing them onto Bai Xiang's tender white insteps, pinning Bai Xiang's feet to the bottom of the basin:

"Wash your master first, don't you know the rules?"

Bai Xiang raised her eyebrows slightly, unwilling to suffer this loss, and with a twist of her ankle, she broke free from Jiang Mu's feet.

Then, with lightning speed, use your toes to pinch a small piece of skin on the other person's instep and twist it gently.

Jiang Mu hissed, "Ha, so you've got that kind of skill."

He continued to step on her with his foot.

Bai Xiang deftly dodged, her toes circling underwater to sneak up behind his ankles and attack his calves.

The two men kicked each other, neither giving an inch.

They started playing a childish game of "you step on me, I step on you".

The water in the basin was stirred up with a loud splashing sound, and the splashing water soaked the floor of the carriage and even the soft cushions next to it.

Yuan Aqing curled up in a corner of the basin, trying to minimize her presence.

The two tiny feet were tucked together into a fist-sized ball, as if afraid of being accidentally hurt by the two great immortals who were fighting fiercely.

The toes were curled up tightly due to tension.

But the basin was only so big, and in the end, he couldn't escape it. Bai Xiang pushed him, and his foot slid into the battle.

Soon, six feet of different sizes were squeezed into a basin of hot water, a chaotic mess, making it impossible to tell who was stepping on whom.

The girl gradually let go of her timidity.

All the fatigue from the long journey was crushed in this basin of water.

It is said that men remain boys until death, but isn't the same true for women?

Even the most aloof and cold woman, once she sheds her disguise, will eventually reveal a charming and innocent side to her.

Time flies like sand, and when we look back many years later, many of our memories may have become blurred.

But this moment of intimacy and tenderness is destined to add a warm touch to someone's memory, making it unforgettable.

Three days later, the carriage slowly drove into a market town by the water.

It is Xiahe Town, which belongs to the territory of Yancheng.

Jiang Mu lifted the curtains and looked around.

The town can't compare to the bustling and grand city, but the streets are full of people and the lively atmosphere of everyday life.

However, what puzzled Jiang Mu was that almost every household had a bright yellow paper lantern hanging above their door.

The lantern has a large character "安" (peace/safety) written on it.

In addition, Jiang Mu also spotted the hidden spies scattered in various concealed corners.

These are clearly the eyes and ears of the Imperial Guards.

"Where can we look?"

Jiang Mu asked Xun Xiaozhang.

Xun Xiaomo led Jiang Mu to an old locust tree at the entrance of town, pointed to a clover-like mark on the bark, and said:

"Our investigation revealed that after Yan Zixiao arrived in Xiahe Town, she had close ties with the Demon Slayer Society."

This pattern is a special symbol they use for communication and directions.

Following this marker, we located their meeting point in the town to a coffin shop.

Xun Xiaomo led Jiang Mu to the street corner and pointed to a coffin shop in the distance:

"That's it. Our men have been staking out the area for a long time, but we haven't seen Yan Zixiao. However, we're certain that he's still hiding in this town."

However, it is inconvenient for us to show up ourselves, since we are all strangers to them. If we rashly go to their door, we will inevitably alert them and may even cause them to destroy the clues. That is why we asked Lord Jiang to step in.

You know Yan Zixiao; perhaps you can gain unexpected insights by investigating her.

"A Demon-Slaying Gathering?"

Jiang Mu asked curiously, "What kind of organization is this?"

Xun Xiaozhang explained:

"This is an underground gang similar to a civilian version of the Demon Slayer Bureau. Their only goal is to slay demons."

Regardless of the reason or whether it is good or evil, if it is a demon, it must be killed upon encounter.

In their view, demons are formed from the impure energy of heaven and earth, and are inherently a source of calamity; if demons do not die, humanity will not find peace.

She pointed to the yellow lanterns lining both sides of the street and continued:

"You saw those lanterns, right? They're said to be warding off evil spirits and being distributed to the people. They're said to drive away demons when lit."

Since the last major upheaval in Yancheng, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of many civilians, the Demon Slayer Society took the opportunity to infiltrate the city and spread its teachings in various places, quickly gaining considerable influence.

"As for Yan Zixiao..."

Xun Xiaomo paused, waved to one of the guards in the shadows, and then continued...

"After he was expelled from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, he joined the Demon Slaying Society for a period of time. But later, it seems that due to ideological differences, he felt that these people were too extreme in their actions, so he took the initiative to leave."

I don't know why they've come knocking on our door again this time.

"No wonder..."

Jiang Mu suddenly realized.

Recalling his first encounter with Yan Zixiao in the wilderness, he realized that the guy was obsessed with eliminating demons and upholding justice, possessing an unyielding and righteous spirit. So that's where the root of the problem lies.

It could be said that the Demon Slayer Society has half-brainwashed me.

Fortunately, it wasn't completely washed, so I still retained some of my own judgment.

Jiang Mu left Yuan Aqing and Bai Xiang in the carriage, instructing Yuan Aqing to stay by Bai Xiang's side at all times, before heading alone towards the coffin shop. The coffin shop was dimly lit.

The air was filled with the smell of raw lacquer and the astringent fragrance of wood chips.

A dozen or so coffins of varying craftsmanship were piled up on both sides of the shop, adding to the eerie and chilly atmosphere.

On the other side of the shop, there was only an old man with gray hair and a hunched back.

He was bending over, planing a fine piece of coffin wood.

As the plane passed, thin shavings curled down, piling up like waves.

"Is the customer ordering a coffin?"

The old man asked as he pushed the plane.

Jiang Mu looked around and then scanned the old man with his divine sense, finding that there was no fluctuation of energy in the old man's body, and he was just an ordinary mortal.

"My name is Jiang Mu. I'm a friend of Yan Zixiao. I'm here to see him."

Jiang Mu spoke softly.

"What's this?"

The old man stopped using his plane and looked over with a puzzled expression.

"Young master, have you come to the wrong place? This is a coffin shop, dealing in the dead. I've never heard of the person you're looking for." Jiang Mu smiled and sat down on the chair next to him.

I picked up the teapot that was warming on the small stove, poured myself a cup of tea, leisurely blew on the tea leaves, and took a sip:

"Go and inform your superiors. Tell them I'll wait for him here."

He trusted the intelligence network of the inner guards.

Since Xun Xiaomo has so confidently confirmed that this is a stronghold, then this old man must be pretending.

Seeing that the young man was refusing to leave, the old man tried to persuade him a few more times.

Seeing that Jiang Mu ignored him completely, the old man could only shake his head and pick up his tools again to continue his carpentry work. For a moment, only the sound of wood shavings flying everywhere could be heard in the shop.

Jiang Mu wasn't in a hurry and just sat there.

Time passed by, second by second.

After more than an hour, a gray carrier pigeon suddenly flew in from outside the door and landed on the lid of a coffin.

The old man put down his plane, walked over, picked up the carrier pigeon, and pulled a slip of paper from the bamboo tube on its leg.

After glancing at it, the old man walked up to Jiang Mu and asked:

"Young master, are you a government official? If you are a lackey of the imperial court, then I'm sorry, this old man's place is too small to accommodate you!"

Jiang Mu put down her teacup and said:

"Yes, I'm from the government. I'm the deputy head of the Demon Slaying Division in Yunzhou City. Oh, by the way, I also brought some Imperial Guards with me, they're waiting outside right now."

Jiang Mu's main focus is sincerity.

The old man was stunned for a moment.

He clearly hadn't expected Jiang Mu to be so candid.

The old man gave Jiang Mu a deep look, said nothing more, turned around and released the pigeon out the window, then sat back down on the wooden stake and continued to plan his wood.

Another incense stick's worth of time passed.

Suddenly, the curtain in the inner room was lifted, and a burly man walked out.

The burly man walked straight up to Jiang Mu, threw a thick black strip of cloth at him, and said coldly:

"Blindfold it!"