So it turns out I'm the demon!

Time flies like an arrow; in the blink of an eye, several more days have passed.

The city of Fazhou appeared calm on the surface these past few days, but the purplish-black cyclone hanging in the sky continued to spin.

Several powerful cultivators' auras also appeared in the city.

It's more like the calm before the storm.

Those powerful cultivators hiding in the shadows were all waiting for the moment when Jiang Chaoxi's opportunity would officially appear.

Jiang Mu and his friends, on the other hand, were living a relatively comfortable life.

Mo Huaisu continued to live in Bai Xiang's small courtyard, meditating and cultivating himself every day.

Occasionally, when Jiang Mu, Chu Lingzhu, and Lan Rou'er were playing mahjong in the house, he would sneak in to observe. This was all for the sake of experiencing the world and tempering his Dao heart.

As for how well her Dao heart has been tempered, it remains unknown.

However, he has become quite skilled at certain methods of "grinding." The nuances of this process are best left unsaid.

In addition, Jiang Mu has already instructed Shui Miaozheng to use the Demon Slayer Bureau's intelligence network to secretly investigate Beitang Batian's whereabouts.

However, several days have passed and there has been no progress yet.

Jiang Mu wasn't in a hurry. Since the other party dared to risk sneaking into Fazhou City, their target must be Jiang Chaoxi's cave dwelling opportunity.

Sooner or later, we'll all meet again.

The sun shone brightly that day, and a gentle breeze blew.

Jiang Mu was shirtless in the yard, helping to tend the vegetable garden.

Bai Xiang was bending down a few steps ahead of him, holding a small shovel, and was righting a leaning vegetable seedling by adding soil. The woman was wearing a plain white blouse today, and her figure was delicate and graceful.

A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the woman's hair and causing her already slightly open neckline to open even wider.

A few strands of dark hair accidentally slipped into her collar.

The contrast between black and snow-white creates a charming and dignified effect.

Jiang Mu's water ladle tilted without her noticing.

My eyes were drawn straight in through the neckline, as if by a magnet.

Just as I was wondering where those few strands of hair could possibly get, I suddenly felt a chill coming from in front of me.

He jolted awake and lifted his eyelids.

But then he saw Bai Xiang staring at him with a half-smile, her phoenix eyes narrowed, revealing a dangerous cold light.

The hairs on Jiang Mu's neck immediately stood on end.

"Cough cough..."

Caught red-handed, the man reluctantly looked away and muttered a sophistry under his breath, "Why be so stingy? I've already touched it, a glance won't hurt me."

Bai Xiang's rosy lips were gently held by her pearly teeth, and she seemed somewhat annoyed.

She casually grabbed half a gourd ladle from the bucket next to her, scooped up a full ladle of cold water, and splashed it directly at Jiang Mu.

"Splash!"

Water splashed everywhere.

Jiang Mu was so startled that she retreated several steps.

Jiang Mu was enraged and filled the wooden ladle in her hand, preparing to retaliate.

Dare to splash me?

Seeing his posture, Bai Xiang slammed the empty melon ladle on the ground, then put her hands on her hips, deliberately puffed out her chest, raised her chin, and looked at the man provocatively with her phoenix eyes.

It had the air of "If you dare to splash it back, I'll make you regret it."

Jiang Mu was genuinely taken aback by her imposing manner.

He glanced down at his wooden ladle, then looked up at the aloof butler across from him, his aura overwhelming. After a fraction of a second of deliberation, he decisively chose to follow his heart. "A good man doesn't argue with a woman. I'm magnanimous; I'll let you have your way."

Jiang Mu said unhappily.

Bai Xiang curled her rosy lips, let out a soft hum, turned around and bent down again to tend to her seedlings.

But the very next second after she turned her back and bent over...

"Snapped!"

A crisp, loud slap suddenly rang out.

Bai Xiangying's plump buttocks received a powerful blow from the Buddha's palm.

The woman froze, completely stunned.

By the time she realized what had happened, the culprit had already slipped away, leaving her with an infuriating smile.

"Feels good!"

"asshole"

Bai Xiang gritted her teeth.

She subconsciously turned her head and glanced at the room where Mo Huaisu was meditating. She then extended her divine sense and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that Mo Huaisu had not sensed what had just happened.

Immediately, she rubbed the still-numb area angrily and muttered under her breath:

"Looks like I've been giving this bastard too much credit lately. Don't even think about coming into my room to cuddle with me again!"

Having gotten away with the good deal, Jiang Mu scurried away faster than a rabbit, humming a little tune as she leisurely strolled back to her courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, Yuan Aqing was instructing Chu Lingzhu and Lan Rou'er on swordsmanship.

Don't let her gentle and mild-mannered nature fool you; when it comes to practicing and teaching swordsmanship, she becomes a completely different person—exceptionally focused and strict. She won't tolerate any form of disrespect for swordsmanship.

If Chu Lingzhu or Lan Rou'er makes even the slightest mistake, she will point it out sternly, showing no mercy whatsoever.

He looked exactly like a strict young master.

Watching the two usually delicate and beautiful women being scolded by this little girl until they were drenched in sweat, complaining incessantly, yet only able to grit their teeth and endure it, Jiang Mu watched with great interest.

"It seems that Ah Qing has the demeanor of a sword master from the bottom of her heart."

Jiang Mu nodded secretly.

As my gaze shifted, I suddenly noticed that in the corner of the courtyard, Duanmu Li was leaning against the wall, holding the tomb knife, all alone.

The girl was dressed in a neat black outfit, with her ponytail tied high behind her head.

Her delicate and aloof face lacked its usual energy; her lips were slightly pouting, and her eyelids drooped.

He looked a little sullen.

Jiang Mu walked over and tugged at the girl's high ponytail, teasingly asking, "Who's upset our cold-blooded swordsman again?"

Duanmu Li slapped Jiang Mu's hand away in dissatisfaction and said sullenly, "It's nothing."

Jiang Mu plopped down on the stone stool next to her, following her gaze to the old tree outside the courtyard wall rustling in the wind, and casually said, "You're probably missing your dad, aren't you? Maybe your dad will come to join in the fun this time Jiang Chaoxi has this opportunity. Perhaps you two will bump into each other on the street in a few days."

Duanmu Li turned her head and quietly looked at the man's handsome profile.

After watching for a while, she finally looked away, hugged her knees with both hands, rested her chin on them, and said in a sweet voice:

"I wasn't thinking about him. I was just wondering... if there are any powerful magical artifacts or rare treasures in this world that could make me grow bigger quickly."

"Want to grow up?"

Jiang Mu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

He ruffled the girl's hair and said, "Why do you want to grow up so fast? Isn't it better to be a carefree girl?"

"not good."

Duanmu Li stubbornly shook her head.

"Because only when I'm truly grown up will I be able to openly do many of the things I like to do."

Jiang Mu smiled and said:

"When you grow up, you'll want to be a child again. That's how people are. When they're young, they long to grow up, but when they grow up, they're unhappy, so they start to miss the good old days."

"You're being too absolute in your statement."

Duanmu Li, however, did not agree with Jiang Mu's sentiments.

She straightened her back and retorted:

"Happiness shouldn't be judged by age, but rather by the moment. Growing up certainly brings worries, but one shouldn't always focus on the pain."

Like those flowers, although they will eventually wither and fall into the soil, that cannot be a reason for them to refuse to bloom.

If a plant doesn't bloom for fear of withering, wouldn't it never experience even that fleeting moment of beauty and fragrance in its entire life? That would be truly tragic!

Jiang Mu was taken aback for a moment, then looked at her suspiciously:

"Where did you get all this from, this whole story? You little brats are just so sentimental, always having nothing better to do than ponder these useless sentimentalities about spring and autumn."

"Can't I figure it out myself?!"

Duanmu Li glared at him defiantly.

The girl suddenly reached out and grabbed Jiang Mu's hand, pressing it against her chest, and looked up at him, asking:

"What did you feel?"

Jiang Mu was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "You've become much more mature."

Duanmu Li blushed, glaring at Jiang Mu with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance: "I'm asking you, haven't you noticed that my heartbeat has slowed down a lot?" "Slowed down a lot?"

Jiang Mu was completely confused. "I didn't notice anything."

Duanmu Li said seriously:

"The book says that if your heart beats slower when the person you like is around, it means that the connection between you is not the kind of flame that burns, but rather like a river that flows slowly but for a long time."

You won't feel your heart race for him anymore, because your heart no longer needs confirmation of his existence...

As she finished speaking, the girl's tone became tinged with a sense of loneliness and melancholy.

Jiang Mu looked at her with a half-smile and flicked her forehead: "Still saying you didn't see it in a book?"

"This is different!"

The girl, exasperated, flung her hand away and turned around, leaving him with only the back of her head and a straight ponytail, and said angrily.

"Forget it, there's no point in talking to you. You don't care about me at all."

Jiang Mu was speechless.

This girl is really maturing earlier and earlier.

He was about to say something to tease her when he suddenly heard the sound of wings flapping overhead.

A flying eagle was seen swooping down from the sky.

It is a messenger eagle used exclusively by the Demon Slayer Division.

Jiang Mu extended her right arm.

The eagle instinctively folded its wings and landed on his arm guard.

Jiang Mu untied the bamboo tube from the eagle's leg, pulled out a letter, glanced at its contents, and frowned slightly.

He then stood up and said to the back of Duanmu Li's head:

"There are signs of demons committing crimes outside the city. Come on, I'll take you to slay the demon and stretch your muscles. You are, after all, one of my demon slayers; it's not good for you to just stay in the courtyard all day eating and drinking for free."

"I'm not going!"

Duanmu Li seemed to still be angry, and bluntly uttered the word "disperse".

"Wow, quite the temper."

Jiang Mu didn't indulge her. He tossed the hawk in his hand into the air, turned around, and walked out of the courtyard. "If you don't want to go, that's fine. I won't force you." Duanmu Li listened to his footsteps getting farther and farther away, her lips pressed tightly together.

After a moment, he finally leaped up from the stone pillar, grabbed the knife, and ran after it.

She ran up to Jiang Mu and took the lead.

"Want to go again?"

Jiang Mu teased.

The girl remained silent, like a little black cat walking proudly ahead of its owner.

Only her ponytail swayed behind her.

Sunlight filtered through the trees lining the road, casting dappled patterns on her black dress, which bounced with her light, quick steps…

Youth is like the tender leaves just sprouting on a branch.

Half an hour later.

Tanzhou City, North Gate.

A team of over twenty demon-slaying soldiers was already waiting there.

The leader of the team was none other than Meng Zhen, the second hall master who had nearly lost his life in the illusion of Shuer Village.

Seeing Jiang Mu approaching with Duanmu Li, Meng Zhen's expression turned solemn, and he quickly stepped forward to respectfully clasp his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

The twenty-odd demon slayers behind him also bowed in unison.

Jiang Mu raised her hand: "Hall Master Meng, how is your injury healing?"

Meng Zhen said with a grateful expression:

"Reporting to the Commander, my injuries have almost fully healed. If you hadn't brought me out of that hellhole in time that day, I would have lost my life long ago."

"My life was given to me by you, sir. From now on, if you ever have any orders, I will gladly die for you..."

Jiang Mu waved her hand, interrupting his rambling:

"Let's put aside the pleasantries for now and talk about the circumstances of this monster's crime."

Meng Zhen's expression turned serious, and he immediately reported to his superior.

"Sir, we received the report this morning at Chenshi (7-9 AM). It says that nine strong young men from Xiaozhu Village and Dachai Village went missing overnight last night, and there is still no sign of them, neither alive nor dead."

Two days before the incident, a woodcutter who went into the mountains to gather firewood reported that he had seen a cat demon at the foot of "Luxiang Mountain" nearby. Therefore, we suspect that these nine villagers were very likely abducted into the mountains by that cat demon and made into food.

"A cat demon..."

Jiang Mu seemed to be deep in thought.

Meng Zhen added, "Sir, Mount Lüxiang has a complex terrain, and there have been scattered monsters appearing there in the past. We have sent people to exterminate them several times, but some monsters still exist."

These monsters are very cunning. Every time the brothers follow the demonic aura into the ground, they disappear like loaches into the cracks in the ground.

"After we leave, it will reappear after a few days..."

Jiang Mu nodded and said, "Let's go first, we can talk on the way."

An hour later, the group arrived at the foot of Lüxiang Mountain.

Looking up, the mountains are majestic and the forests are lush.

Jiang Mu spread out his divine sense and thoroughly searched the surrounding area before saying, "There is indeed demonic energy present."

He turned to Meng Zhen and gave the following order:

"Divide the men into three teams of three and send them into the mountains to conduct an outer search. Remember, only search the perimeter. If you find anything unusual, do not rush in; immediately send out a signal flare to report."

"yes!"

Meng Zhen accepted the order and quickly arranged for people to go into the mountains.

Before long, one of the demon slayers who had made the first move rushed back, clasped his hands in greeting, and reported: "My lord, a thick fog has suddenly rolled in over an area ahead, and we can't see anything inside at all."

"Dense fog?"

Jiang Mujian raised an eyebrow. "Let's go, lead the way and take a look."

Soon, the group arrived at the place the demon slayer had described.

Sure enough, an area ahead was completely shrouded in thick fog.

The fog, tinged with a grayish hue, surged incessantly from the depths of the mountains and forests, rolling down in waves.

It even gives people the illusion that it is alive.

"A mist demon?"

The first thing that flashed through Jiang Mu's mind was that great demon who almost destroyed Huzhou City back then.

But then he dismissed the idea.

The Mist Demon's aura was terrifying; its mere pressure was enough to make it hard for people to breathe.

Although the fog in front of us was eerie, it did not have that oppressive feeling that made people tremble with fear.

They are clearly not on the same level.

"This place might be hiding a powerful demon, so be careful when you go in," Jiang Mu instructed in a deep voice.

Meng Zhen felt a little uneasy and suggested:

"Sir, should we use the flying eagle to send a message back to the city and have Chief Water send a few more experts from his branches to provide support?"

"There's no rush yet."

Jiang Mu shook her head. "I know what I'm doing. Once inside, everyone stay close to me and don't get separated. If you see anything suspicious, call me immediately. Don't try to be brave."

After giving his instructions, he walked into the thick fog.

Strangely, everyone else was able to pass through the fog, but Jiang Mu was blocked by an invisible barrier.

Undeterred, he tried several more times, even attempting to teleport directly inside, but the mist barrier repeatedly bounced him back to his original position. "Jiang Mu, could it be that the powerful demon inside sensed your presence and is deliberately preventing you from entering?"

Duanmu Li guessed.

This was the first time Jiang Mu had encountered such a situation.

He frowned, staring at the churning, thick fog before him, and remained silent.

Could it be that the powerful demon inside really knows him and is wary of his strength, so it is using this method to deliberately stop him?

But that doesn't make sense.

If the opponent's cultivation level is truly high enough to set up a formation that even a master cultivator at the eighth realm cannot forcibly break, then there is no need for it to use this method to prevent him from entering.

They can confront each other openly and honestly.

More likely, the other party's cultivation level was not actually that high, and they felt that this killing god would cause trouble if he came up the mountain, so they used a special magic weapon to keep him outside.

Just as Jiang Mu was pondering a way to break the deadlock, the rolling thick fog suddenly spread out.

Jiang Mu felt a tremendous repulsive force crashing into her face.

The next moment, he was sent flying backward.

When he regained his footing, he was already standing at the foot of the mountain. There was nothing in front of him; there was no sign of Duanmu Li or Meng Zhen.

"Grass!"

Even with Jiang Mu's good temper, she couldn't help but swear at this moment.

"Are you that afraid of me? You didn't even dare to fight me, you just chased me all the way down the mountain?"