With half a game of chess, I vanquish all demons!

It's not worth it, why should I get angry with someone like that...

Zhou Quan shook his head vigorously to clear his mind of the images, took a deep breath, and explained:

"As for the demon-infected villagers, I will deal with them according to the usual procedures... that is, take them away, perform an exorcism, and then send them back to their hometowns."

"You should have said that earlier. You acted like you had a mental problem and suddenly attacked me. I almost killed you."

Zhao Yao nodded and looked at the other person with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot.

snort~

Faced with Zhao Yao's words, Zhou Quan scoffed and offered no rebuttal.

After getting dressed, Zhao Yao took out some silver notes and a piece of paper covered in writing from his bundle. He found two large stones next to the square and placed the silver notes next to the Ascension Pool to ensure that they would not get wet from the rain and that the villagers could see them at a glance when they returned to the village.

This money was what he used to exchange for grain and elixirs from the three villages. Of course, he didn't mention the elixirs in the letter.

After doing all that, he straightened up and said to Zhou Quan, who was watching him coldly from the side:

"This money is what I've paid for the food I've been eating from three villages these past few days."

I've released them in all three villages; don't take them.

"Who cares about anything you poor wretch have touched!"

Zhou Quan looked around with disgust, making no attempt to hide his disdain for the place.

"That's good.

I hope you can keep your word.

Zhao Yao nodded and began packing his bags again.

He packed up, took a water bottle out of his bundle, and slung it around his waist.

He had deliberately filled the kettle with water from the Ascension Pool.

The water of the Ascension Pool is like aqua regia to martial artists! He naturally couldn't let such a treasure pass him by.

There is one problem: once the water in the Ascension Pool leaves its original location and is not used for a day, the laws of the two realms contained within it will dissipate.

Fortunately, he has the right to descend to the mortal realm at any time, only needing to use this water once a day. Others don't have this privilege; even using this as aqua regia would be difficult for them.

Under Zhou Quan's indifferent gaze, Zhao Yao took all his belongings, slung a water bottle over his waist, and held a suicide gun in his hand. He glanced back at the mountain demon village and the mountaintop, then, without further hesitation, strode down the mountain path.

As Zhao Yao's figure receded further and further into the distance on the mountain path, Zhou Quan stood at the edge of the plaza, looking down at Zhao Yao on the path, and mocked:

"They didn't even realize they were about to die."

His words faded with the wind, and he turned and walked into the village of mountain demons.

"What?"

On the mountain path, from a distance, Zhao Yao turned his head, frowned, and looked towards the mountain demon village, vaguely hearing that person say something about himself.

"This guy splashed a whole face full of water!"

Zhao Yao remained looking back, clutching the water bottle at his waist, a nameless anger rising within him.

He really wanted to climb back to the mountain demon village right now, beat this man to the ground, and ask him what he had just said.

"Phew~"

He sighed, shook his head, not knowing why he had suddenly acted impulsively, and chuckled at his own sudden impulse.

Before long, he arrived at the foot of the desolate rocky mountain.

Standing at the foot of the mountain, Zhao Yao looked back at the mountain, and many vivid figures flashed through his mind: Brother Su, Yan Rouyun, the Mad Taoist, Wu Wei, Huo Xiaotian, Song Angran, the Lower Realm Demon Fei Shangnian, Wei Ji, Wei Lai, Wei Xiaohua, and many others.

His thoughts were racing, and his emotions were complex.

It's only been a few weeks since I left Wangzhou City, but so much has happened; it feels like a year has passed.

He himself, in particular, has undergone a complete transformation!

"Primordial Qi miniatures, magical talismans, weapons, demon blood... I have so many trump cards to enhance my martial prowess."

This time, they really ate a huge fat man in one bite.

He muttered to himself, then turned to look in the direction of Wangzhou City, silently thinking: Su Shangtao, wait for me, we'll be able to settle the score soon!

……

As Zhao Yao walked back to Wangzhou City, he saw a familiar scene ahead and quickened his pace.

As he approached, large patches of dark brown bloodstains came into view.

Among the several corpses lying on the ground, there was a headless body with familiar clothing, which had been gnawed beyond recognition by some passing small animal.

This is the spot where Brother Su and the other four strongmen were buried.

"Brother Su, we meet again."

Zhao Yao greeted the corpse, looked around, and found a sunken pit.

He took off his clothes and transformed into a six-and-a-half-meter-tall giant. Taking advantage of his body being as strong as cast iron, he used his hands to shovel soil and dig a large pit on the foundation of the sunken pit.

Ignoring the filth, he lifted Brother Su up, placed him in the pit, and buried him head and body.

After Zhao Yao buried Brother Su and finished dressing, he suddenly heard a familiar voice appear nearby.

"Is this Mr. Zhao in person?"

A yamen runner appeared silently behind Zhao Yao and asked a question.

Zhao Yao immediately turned around and saw the familiar face of the person. He raised an eyebrow, wondering how the other person had suddenly appeared there.

He returned the greeting with a cupped hand and nodded curiously in response:

"This student is indeed Zhao Yao. What brings you here to see me?"

Seeing that he had found the right person, the constable breathed a sigh of relief, bowed again, and said:

"The county magistrate ordered me to come and find Mr. Zhao, bringing him a message and a gift."

"Oh, the teacher said there's a gift too?"

Zhao Yao was curious, wondering what message the county magistrate had conveyed.

The constable took a scroll from the bundle behind him and handed it to Zhao Yao, saying:

"The county magistrate asked me to tell you not to return to the city yet. There are important people coming to the city. If you return to the city suddenly, covered in dust, you may offend them."

He doesn't have time to deal with your tasks right now.

This painting is a gift from the county magistrate to you.

They won't let us go back, but there's still a benefactor?

Zhao Yao, momentarily confused, took the painting, casually tucked it into his bundle, and asked tentatively:

"Judging from what the teacher said, this message and drawing are something that all of us students studying away from home are involved in?"

"Zhao Junzi's words hit the nail on the head."

The constable nodded in approval, then looked at the new grave to the side, pointed, and asked curiously:

"Where is the trusted servant that the county magistrate assigned to Zhao Junzi? And this grave..."

"It's in the grave."

Zhao Yao answered honestly.

"Ah, this—"

The yamen runners were dumbfounded.

"Well, it's a long story. Brother Su is a pitiful man, so I won't go into details."

Zhao Yao sighed deeply and let the matter drop.

"I see."

The constable nodded, seemingly understanding something.

He then pointed to the painting in Zhao Yao's bundle and said:

"Won't you open it and take a look, sir?"

"Oh, then let's take a look..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao raised an eyebrow, took the painting out of his bundle again, and was about to examine it...

"Sniff~ Sniff~"

The constable turned around abruptly, sniffed the air, felt a chill run down his spine, and said nervously:

"There's a murderous aura about him!"

Zhao Yao was startled. He put the painting back in his bundle and sniffed around.

"Sniff sniff~"

"Sniff sniff~"

The constable stepped back, sniffed again, and suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Zhao Yao and blurted out his thoughts:

"Thank goodness, they're not here to kill me, they're here to kill you."