So it turns out I'm the demon!

Jiang Mu spent another incense stick's time thoroughly searching the prison area, making sure there were no hidden rooms or doors missed, before returning to the bird demon.

"Okay, I'll take you out. I hope you'll keep your promise."

Jiang Mu severed the iron chains and talismans binding her.

The succubus leaned weakly against the wall, her gaze sweeping over the cages on both sides of the corridor where other demons were imprisoned.

She asked tentatively:

"Sir, there are several living demons imprisoned in this cell. Aren't you going to rescue them as well?"

Jiang Mu said expressionlessly:

"I don't have mind-reading abilities, nor do I have the time to distinguish which of them is a good demon and which is a bad one. I don't reject slaying demons, but I will never abuse my compassion."

"If we carelessly release a vicious demon with blood on its hands, harming innocent people outside, who will be held accountable for this karma?" The bird demon remained silent for a moment, then said nothing more.

Jiang Mu, carrying the female demon, walked out through the passage they had come from.

They didn't encounter any other guards from the Demon Slayer Guild along the way. When they reached the end of the passage, there was a barrier door with a pale yellow glow in front of them.

He grabbed the bird demon's shoulder and crashed into it.

The next moment, everything suddenly opened up before me.

They appeared in a courtyard.

The courtyard was piled high with coffins, some lying horizontally and some vertically; some were already painted, while others were still in their original color.

This is clearly the backyard of the coffin shop.

Jiang Mu looked back at the place she had just come from, and there was a black wooden coffin with its lid open.

"The entrance was hidden inside this coffin."

Jiang Mu suddenly realized.

He walked over to the other open coffins and tried to enter them. Although he could sense the spatial fluctuations, he was unable to do so.

"It seems that specific instructions are required to enter."

Without further delay, Jiang Mu unfurled his Demon Wings and swept the bird demon into the sky.

"Give me directions."

Jiang Mu said coldly in mid-air.

The banshee was startled by Jiang Mu's flying ability and glanced in shock at the pair of black wings emanating demonic energy on his back. Regaining her composure, she quickly pointed out the direction.

About fifteen minutes later, Jiang Mu flew over Xiaohe Town and landed deep in a forest on the north side of the town.

"Is this the lair where your clan hides?"

Jiang Musong released his grip, looked around at the dense trees and thorns covering the ground, and frowned as he asked.

The banshee nodded, dragged her weak body to a rock about half a person's height, and gently patted it twice.

"Boom!"

The ground suddenly trembled, and the fallen leaves bounced up in a rustling sound.

The rock, along with the soil underneath, slowly slid apart to both sides, revealing a stone staircase extending downwards.

An elderly man in white robes, holding a staff, walked up, followed by two guards.

"Grandpa Bai!"

The winged banshee rushed over to the old man with a joyful expression.

"Sparrow?"

The white-robed old man looked at the newcomer with disbelief. "Weren't you captured by those demons from the Demon Slayer Society? How did you escape?" The female demon known as "Sparrow" pointed at Jiang Mu and quickly recounted what had happened in the dungeon.

After hearing this, the old man in white robes showed a look of surprise and doubt in his eyes.

He sized up Jiang Mu, then stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply: "So it was this young master who came to our rescue. On behalf of my entire clan, I, Bai, thank you for saving our lives..."

Jiang Mu waved his hand, about to interrupt the pleasantries and get straight to the point, when a golden streak of light suddenly fell from the sky.

The golden light transformed into a cage in mid-air, enveloping Jiang Mu within it.

Each bar of the cage was formed from beams of light, with dense runes surging between the beams, and faint chanting of Sanskrit humming could be heard.

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow and looked at the white-robed old man who had been full of gratitude just moments before, but now had a gloomy expression:

"Old man Bai, what does this mean?"

The sparrow standing nearby was also bewildered.

She frantically grabbed the old man's sleeve and cried out, "Grandpa Bai, what are you doing? He's my savior!"

"Shut up!"

The old man in white robes flicked his sleeve, shoving the sparrow aside, and looked at Jiang Mu in the cage with a cold smile:

"Silly girl, you've been sold out and you're still helping them count the money. The Demon Slayer Association's prison is incredibly secure, do you think they can rescue you?"

A savior? Hmph! It's nothing more than a ruse, deliberately letting you out to make you willingly become their bait so they can lead this kid to our master's hiding place.

Such a crude trick wouldn't even fool a little kid at the village entrance, and you actually believed it?

He turned to Que'er and scolded her sternly, "Do you know that doing this will kill your master?"

"I...I..."

The sparrow opened its beak, looked at the old man in white robes, then at Jiang Mu in the cage, a hint of hesitation flashing in its eyes.

Jiang Mu chuckled, shook his head, and sighed:

"I just want to know one thing: does your so-called master know Yan Zixiao's whereabouts? Think carefully before you answer, as this concerns your lives."

"Even on the verge of death, he's still being stubborn!"

Seeing Jiang Mu's arrogance despite being trapped, the white-robed elder mocked him:

"My master naturally knows the whereabouts of that sword cultivator, but stop pretending here. Are you thinking of tipping off your accomplices in the Demon Slayer Society?"

Hmph, save your energy. I have already set up a great array to shield divine sense here. Even if your accomplices turn this place upside down, they will not be able to find it!

Moreover, don't waste your efforts trying to escape from this "Immortal Binding Cage." This cage is forged from the Golden Crow True Fire, and once trapped inside, you can only obediently wait to die.

"I'm putting this out there today, you little brat. If you can take even half a step, I'll kneel down right now and acknowledge you as my father!" Looking at the old man's brimming confidence, Jiang Mu found it somewhat amusing: "Your head's shrunk, and sure enough, your IQ has shrunk too." Teleportation!

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

The next moment, he was standing right under the nose of the white-robed old man.

Jiang Mu lowered his head slightly, looking down at the old demon who was completely in a daze, and a kind smile appeared on his lips:

"I'm giving you one last chance. Take me to your master right now."

"You...you..."

Seeing Jiang Mu teleport to his face, the old man's mind went blank, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets, pointing at him but unable to utter a single word. However, being an old demon, he quickly recovered from his shock and roared:

"Do it! Kill him!"

He swung his staff, which whistled through the air as it slammed down on Jiang Mu.

Two guards behind him also wielded large swords and slashed at Jiang Mu.

"I'm giving you face, you'll end up being my insole."

A burst of blazing flames erupted behind Jiang Mu, and a statue of the God of Fire, tens of feet tall, rose from the ground.

The flames surrounding the Dharma Image surged like waves, crashing down on the three of them.

"boom!"

Old Man Bai, along with his two guards, were sent flying like pebbles, crashing through several trees and spitting out blood.

The bird demon named Que'er was terrified and stood there, at a loss for what to do.

Jiang Mu walked calmly down the steps.

"Enemy attack!"

The old man struggled to his feet, slamming his withered wooden staff heavily onto the ground. "Enemy attack! Form ranks!"

The next moment, a monstrous storm erupted in the underground nest.

One after another, bird demons with outstretched wings swarmed towards Jiang Mu, screeching as they attacked.

"Get out of here."

Jiang Mu stomped her foot.

A shockwave rippled outwards from him in all directions.

The bird demons at the forefront seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall, and were sent flying, crashing onto the stone steps with a series of thuds, their feathers falling everywhere.

Jiang Mu walked leisurely forward as if he were in an empty place.

Occasionally, a fearless bird demon would pounce again, which he would casually brush aside.

After turning a corner, the view suddenly opened up before me.

A square underground hall appeared before us.

Jiang Mu stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the main hall, glanced around, and teased:

"You're clearly birds, yet you spend all your time huddled underground, never seeing the light of day. I really don't know if you're birds that have become spirits or mice that have become spirits."

"Surround them! Form a killing formation!"

Old Man Bai, leading dozens of elite bird demons covered in wounds, chased after them menacingly, roaring with murderous intent.

"Wait a minute."

A clear, cold female voice suddenly rang out.

Jiang Mu glanced to the side and saw a pale-faced, delicate-looking woman emerge from a wave-shaped portal of light.

The woman was rather short and looked like a sheltered lady who had been ill for a long time.

Old Man Bai's expression changed drastically. He rushed forward and shielded her with his body, urgently saying:

"Master, why did you come out? This boy is from the Demon-Slaying Society. He deliberately released Que'er to track your whereabouts. You should go back quickly; this old servant will hold the fort here!"

The woman in white gently brushed the old man aside, her gaze falling on Jiang Mu. She said softly, "He's not from the Demon Slayer Society. If he were truly from the Demon Slayer Society, given his cultivation level, none of us would survive here."

"Finally, someone with brains."

Jiang Mu chuckled softly.

The woman approached Jiang Mu and bowed slightly: "May I ask your honorable name? What brings you to my Feather Clan?"

"Demon Slayer Division, Jiang Mu."

Jiang Mu remained calm. "I've come to inquire about Yan Zixiao's whereabouts."

Jiang Mu!

Upon hearing the name, both the woman and the old man gasped in shock.

The old man exclaimed in shock, "You're Jiang Mu, the killing god from the Demon Slayer Division of Huzhou?"

The bird demons behind them all looked terrified and instinctively retreated.

After all, the person in front of him was a ruthless man who had slaughtered tens of thousands of demons during two sieges.

The woman's expression changed, her smile stiffened, and a hint of nervousness appeared in her eyes: "I wonder... has Brother Yan committed some crime and is wanted by the Demon Slayer Division?"

Jiang Mu shrugged: "I'm his friend, and I came here specifically to see him."

The woman carefully examined Jiang Mu's expression, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that his eyes were open and honest and that he did not seem to be lying.

Then, her eyes darkened, and she said with a bitter smile:

"Brother Yan was captured by the Demon Slayer Society while trying to save me."

Jiang Mu said, "I know that. That little bird demon named Que'er already told me. I heard he'll be publicly executed tomorrow night at midnight. Since you know that, you know where it will happen, right?"

The woman nodded gently:

"The Demon Slayer Society will execute Brother Yan in public at their headquarters to establish their authority over the believers in the town. And those believers are all ordinary people from this small river town."

"Where is the main headquarters?"

"It's in Xiahe Town. But... we can't get in," the woman said.

Jiang Mu frowned:

"Could it be that the main altar, like the prison cells in the coffin shop, is a hidden spatial realm that requires specific instructions or tokens to open?" The woman shook her head.

"That's not the case. The Demon Slayer Society worships a 'Lamp Fairy,' and at midnight they use the Lamp Fairy's supernatural powers to move all the people in the town who believe in them to the main altar to watch the execution."

All believers, regardless of their location, will be guided there by divine light. Outsiders, without guidance, even with extraordinary abilities, will not be able to find the entrance to the main altar.

That's amazing?

Jiang Mu was somewhat surprised.

This Demon-Slaying Society is even more secretive than the Imperial Guard; they've even created a membership system for this cult.

He said thoughtfully, "Does that mean that to save Yan Zixiao, one must first become a follower of the Demon-Slaying Society?"

"Exactly."

The woman said, "Sir, you should have seen them when you entered the town. Those families with yellow lanterns hanging in front of their doors are believers who have been recognized by the Lantern Fairy. If you want to get this lantern, you must go to the Lantern Fairy Temple to pray and ask for it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu was speechless.

Are you really going to kowtow to some unknown evil god?

If I had known that the pyramid scheme leader was trying to recruit me, I should have just gone along with it and bowed down to him...

Jiang Mu's mind flashed back to the old man pushing wood shavings in the coffin shop.

After hesitating for a moment, he gave up the idea of ​​using torture to force an interrogation.

Since the old man was right there in the open, it was obviously impossible to get anything out of him.

Jiang Mu suddenly rolled her eyes and asked:

"If I conceal my cultivation level and disguise myself as an ordinary mortal, could I possibly obtain one of these lamps?"

The woman sighed and shook her head:

"The lantern spirit is very powerful; it can see right into people's hearts. If your heart is not sincere, you will not only fail to obtain a lantern, but you will also be devoured by evil fire."

However, if Lord Jiang can find a true believer who will voluntarily give you their lantern, you can enter the main altar with that lantern. But remember, it must be a gift from their heart; you must never forcibly take it, nor use supernatural powers to tempt or bewitch them, otherwise the lantern spirit will punish you, and all your efforts will be in vain.

Jiang Mu rubbed her throbbing temples.

That's really troublesome.

Since they are fervent believers, why would they willingly hand over their life-saving faith lantern to someone else?

He glanced sideways at the trembling bird demons around him and casually asked, "Have you all truly been doing good deeds all this time?" The woman gave a self-deprecating smile:

"It's not about doing good deeds or accumulating merit. We simply don't want to have too much to do with humans. Being a demon is our original sin; even hiding underground, we still have to be wary of the knife hanging over our heads. But in this world, we often have no choice..."

Jiang Mu didn't ask any more questions and turned to leave the underground lair.

After Jiang Mu left, the old man leaned close to the woman and whispered, "Master, why didn't you tell him about the Wanjian Sect's treasure? If he had been the one to make the move..."

The woman shook her head:

"The secret treasure left behind by the Ten Thousand Swords Sect is our only hope for rescuing Brother Yan."

Although Jiang Mu is renowned, he is, after all, a high-ranking official in the Demon Slayer Bureau. You can't judge a book by its cover; I absolutely cannot place all my bets on a mere lackey of the imperial court.

Inside a teahouse in Xiahe Town.

Jiang Mu and Xun Xiaozhang sat facing each other.

"How is it? Have you found Yan Zixiao?" Xun Xiao asked impatiently.

Jiang Mu briefly recounted the information provided by the bird demon woman, saying:

"The current deadlock is that only believers carrying lanterns can enter the main altar at midnight. We either need to get our hands on a lantern, or we can only watch helplessly as Yan Zixiao is executed."

Xun Xiaomo's eyes hardened, and she said coldly:

"Or, should I mobilize the Imperial Guards and just raze that coffin shop to the ground?"

Jiang Mu looked at her as if she were an idiot:

"Don't underestimate this Demon Slayer Association. Since they dare to openly set up their coffin shop on the street, they're not afraid of you tearing it down at all."

Besides, tomorrow night is midnight. Given the time, if we alert them and they move the execution time forward, we won't even be able to find the opera singers. My suggestion is that you find a few people without any spiritual cultivation and try your luck at the Lantern Fairy Temple to see if you can obtain a lantern through sheer luck.”

"it is good."

Xun Xiao decisively got up and left to make arrangements.

Jiang Mu finished her tea, glanced at the eerie coffin shop on the street corner, and decided to go back to the carriage to check on Bai Xiang and A Qing. Halfway there, a timid voice suddenly called from behind:

"Sir...sir?"

Jiang Mu stopped and turned around.

There stood a young woman dressed in coarse linen clothes on the side of the street.

The woman had a sallow complexion and a thin figure, and she was holding an infant in her arms. The child was about one or two years old, with a round face, and was sleeping soundly in her arms.

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow: "You called me?"

The woman's face showed excitement and gratitude, and she said in a trembling voice:

"Sir, it really is you! Don't you remember me? A few months ago outside Xiahe Town, it was you and the other two officers who saved my son's life."

Jiang Mu was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized.

When he and the Zhang brothers came to this small town to find a horse-drawn carriage to transport the wounded, they had just entered the town when they encountered a procession carrying wooden boxes as a funeral procession. Inside were live infants to be sacrificed to the snake demon.

I saved the child on a whim.

Jiang Mu smiled and said, "It's you. You have a good memory."

The woman's eyes reddened, and she repeatedly bowed, saying, "Your Excellency's immense kindness is something that this woman and this child will never forget. How could we ever forget it?"

Jiang Mu's heart suddenly stirred.

He looked around and asked in a low voice, "Are you a follower of the Demon-Slaying Society?"

The woman nodded: "Yes, sir."

Very good!

Jiang Mu was immediately overjoyed.

What is meant by a serendipitous encounter, what is meant by an unintentional act, and what is meant by good deeds being rewarded?

The seed planted casually back then has unexpectedly borne fruit at this crucial juncture.

Jiang Mu suppressed her joy and said gently, "Big sister, would it be convenient for me to come to your house for a while? I have some questions for you."

The woman was flattered and nodded hurriedly:

"Convenient! Of course it's convenient!"

Jiang Mu followed the woman through a narrow alley and arrived at a dilapidated courtyard.

Sure enough, a yellow paper lantern was hanging high on the door frame.

The yard was small, with some firewood and miscellaneous items piled up in the corner, and several patched-up clothes hanging on the clothesline.

Although simple, it was kept clean.

The room also had almost no decent furniture.

The woman put down the child in her arms, turned around and took out a small earthenware jar from the low cabinet. She carefully scooped out a pinch of tea leaves, poured a bowl of water into a rough porcelain bowl, and handed it over with both hands, saying hastily:

"My family is poor and doesn't have much good tea, please forgive us, sir..."

Jiang Mu looked around and, seeing no signs of a man in the room, casually asked, "Where's your husband?"

He died of illness.

The woman sat down opposite him, picked up the child and gently patted and comforted him, "He passed away last year. He had a fever for several days, but we didn't have money to buy medicine, so he didn't make it."

Jiang Mu didn't ask any more questions, picked up the rough bowl and took a sip.

The tea was so weak it tasted like leaves steeped in water, but he swallowed it anyway and got straight to the point:

"Sister, to be honest, I need that yellow lantern hanging at your door. Could you give it to me?"

The woman paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Of course!"

As she spoke, the woman immediately walked to the door, stood on tiptoe, took down the yellow lantern, and handed it to Jiang Mu, smiling as she said:

"Please take it, sir. This is something I obtained from the Temple of the Lantern Fairy; it's incredibly effective. Ever since I hung it up, no evil spirits have dared to approach my house at night."

Jiang Mu accepted the lantern with both hands.

The lantern is very light, with a frame woven from thin bamboo strips. The paper is slightly yellow, and the vermilion character "安" on it has a faint, shimmering luster under the light, as if it is breathing.

He looked down and peered inside.

The wick was not an ordinary candle or oil lamp, but a glowing insect, curled up motionless on the wick holder.

The carapace is covered with fine natural patterns.

"I took your lantern. Can you ask for another one?" Jiang Mu looked up at the woman.

The woman smiled and said:

"It should be fine. I heard that Old Zhang's lantern in town was stolen, but he went to the temple the next day and got another one." Jiang Mu touched the lantern and asked curiously.

"Sister, I see that every household in this town has this lantern hanging up. Why do people trust the Demon-Slaying Association so much?"

When asked this, the woman instinctively glanced down at the child in her arms. After a long silence, she sighed.

"Your Excellency may not know this, but we common folk have long been terrified by those man-eating monsters. We wish that all the monsters in the world would die!"

But the government... can't protect us at all.

Now that the powerful spirits of the Demon-Slaying Association are helping to kill the demons, everyone feels at ease. And this lantern spirit is truly capable; ever since the lanterns were hung up, there haven't been any more monsters harming people in the town.

Jiang Mu said, "When Yancheng was besieged before, didn't a group of bird demons save the people here? Aren't you grateful to them?"

The woman's eyes turned cold, and she said bitterly:

"The great immortals of the Demon-Slaying Association said that those bird demons and man-eating monsters are in cahoots."

They saved us only to keep us as food for themselves. They only pretended to protect us because they were afraid that other monsters would eat us first.

They're all beasts at heart, they all deserve to die!

Jiang Mu looked into the woman's eyes, which were filled with gratitude and piety, and said nothing more.

Brainwashing is easy, but waking up from it is difficult.

The lifeline that ordinary people grasp at in their despair, even if it's poison, they will gladly accept it.

Jiang Mu took out a silver ingot from his storage bag, placed it on the table, finished his water, and then said goodbye and left the courtyard.

By the time they returned to the carriage, it was completely dark.

Jiang Mu said to the two women in the carriage, "Let me take you to an inn in town to stay, take a hot bath, and have a good meal."

Bai Xiang and Yuan Aqing came out.

Jiang Mu stepped forward, embracing Bai Xiang's slender body and lifting her off the carriage shaft, murmuring as he did so:

"I told you to stay home, but you insisted on coming along to join the fun. Now look what happened! You even have to be carried by me to get out of the car." As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Mu slapped Bai Xiang's pert buttocks.

"Snapped!"

The sound was crisp and clear.

After landing, Bai Xiang gritted her teeth and kicked Jiang Mu's shin with her little foot.

That bastard patted my butt several times.

"Wow, she's got quite a temper!"

Jiang Mu rubbed her calves and chuckled as she scolded him.

Then he turned to look at Yuan Aqing in the carriage, opened his arms and said, "Come on, Aqing, let me carry you down so you don't twist your ankle when you jump down."

Yuan Aqing lowered her head shyly and softly wrapped her arms around Jiang Mu's neck.

"This girl, she smells better and better."

Jiang Mu took a sniff and exclaimed in surprise.

"It doesn't smell good..." Yuan Aqing blushed and was about to speak when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head, as if someone had pricked her with a needle. The pain then intensified.

In a daze, I seemed to hear the buzzing of swords in my mind.

The girl instinctively raised her head and looked up at the dark night sky above Xiaohe Town.

In the starlit night sky, a gigantic sword shadow, obscuring the sky and the sun, was clearly visible.

The sword's blade was completely translucent, its sword intent soaring to the heavens!

"That sword looks so familiar..."