Something's wrong with this demon.

Outside the window, night was deepening.

Luo Qingchen walked slowly down the second-floor corridor, pondering things in her mind.

As they reached the door of the last private room, Qingmei appeared alluringly, draped in a pink veil. She beckoned to him with a finger and said in a seductive tone, "Guard Luo, want to come in and have some fun? It's free. If you're a virgin, I'll even pay you."

After saying that, he started laughing to himself.

Luo Qingchen ignored her and turned to walk out of the corridor.

Qingmei stopped laughing and cursed from inside the room, "What are you pretending for? You're probably just a eunuch!"

Luo Qingchen patrolled the second floor once, then went to the lobby on the first floor.

After standing in the shadows of the corner for a while, he went back up to the second floor and came to the door of the first room.

Zhao Yun has finished bathing.

At this moment, she was wearing a light blue veil and sitting quietly in front of her dressing table, combing her long, beautiful hair.

Luo Qingchen stood at the door, speechless for a moment.

Zhao Yun seemed to see him in the mirror, turned her head and said in surprise, "Brother Chen, what are you doing standing at the door? If you want to talk to me, come in."

Luo Qingchen simply looked at her without going in.

The room was still filled with the steam from a shower and a slightly pungent floral scent.

The girl sat at the table, her long hair loose and her shoulders exposed, her eyes full of smiles as she looked at him: "Brother Chen, I'm not your childhood sweetheart, I won't eat you up, come in."

Luo Qingchen then entered the room.

However, he only stopped at the entrance and did not go any further inside.

Zhao Yun's smile faded slightly, and she said softly, "Brother Chen, are you also wary of me?"

Luo Qingchen paused for a moment, then said, "A-Yun..."

"I know that in a place like this, you have to be wary of everyone."

Zhao Yun slowly lowered her head, a bitter look on her face.

"Brother Chen, it's not just you, it's me too, it's everyone in this building. This is a dog-eat-dog place; one wrong step and you're doomed."

Luo Qingchen looked at her with complicated emotions: "Ayun, haven't you ever thought about leaving here? No matter how hard it is outside, it's still better than here, right?"

Zhao Yun remained silent for a long time, then raised her head and looked at him sadly: "Brother Chen, it's too late...it's already too late..."

Just as Luo Qingchen was about to say something more, a series of noisy footsteps suddenly came from downstairs.

Then Zhou Qingyang's voice came: "Surround this building inside and out! The outer walls, windows, outhouse, wine cellar—don't miss a single one! Not even a fly can get out!"

"Sister Sun, immediately have all the girls, guests, maids, and servants in the building come out! All girls and guests, stand at your respective room doors; all maids and servants, come to the main hall. Not a single one can be missing!"

Sun Ping's trembling voice rang out: "Yes!"

The quiet in the building was instantly shattered, with hurried footsteps and the girl's questions echoing everywhere.

Luo Qingchen stood in the room, seemingly oblivious to the commotion outside.

Zhao Yun stood up from the dressing table and said softly, "Brother Chen, come downstairs quickly, it seems something has happened again in the building."

Luo Qingchen glanced at her again and nodded silently.

As he walked out of the room with his head down, Zhao Yun suddenly said again, "Brother Chen, live well."

Luo Qingchen stopped outside the door and turned to look at her.

The girl's eyes were full of tenderness, and a smile bloomed on her face.

In a daze, Luo Qingchen seemed to see that summer again, a group of friends holding paper windmills, playing and running together on Wind Chime Street, with a bright smile on her face.

"Brother Luo! Brother Luo!"

Just then, Zhang Jiu's voice suddenly came from downstairs.

Luo Qingchen snapped out of her reverie, withdrew her gaze, and left.

When he came downstairs, the lobby was already full of people.

The maids, servants, and even the cooks from the kitchen all gathered here, their faces filled with panic and their eyes still sleepy.

"Brother Luo, come here!"

Zhang Jiu waved from a corner to the side.

There were many people from the town's garrison standing there, including Zhou Qingyang.

Luo Qingchen walked over.

Zhang Jiu quickly asked, "Has anything happened in the building? Is everyone in every room? Have you noticed anything unusual?"

Luo Qingchen replied, "No."

Zhang Jiu whispered, "That heart-ripping monster should be in our Bai Xiang Lou. We followed the trail of blood here. That beast is very cunning; it circled the black forest outside before returning."

Luo Qingchen said, "Weren't all the people in the building checked before?"

Zhang Jiu snorted coldly and said, "That beast hid very well before, I don't know what method it used to deceive us. But tonight, it's seriously injured, it definitely can't escape!"

At this moment, Zhou Qingyang turned to him and said, "Boss Zhang, tell us about those people again, and we'll check them one by one carefully."

Zhang Jiu's expression changed instantly, and he quickly whispered, "Captain Zhou, didn't we just agree not to tell? I..."

"It has to be said!"

Zhou Qingyang stared at him with an unquestionable gaze and said in a low voice, "Only by saying it in public will that demon lose its composure and reveal a flaw! Boss Zhang, everyone knows this, so what's there to be afraid to say? Besides, I've already assured you that I won't pursue any of your past actions!"

Zhang Jiu stammered, his face still showing a troubled expression.

Zhou Qingyang's face darkened, and his tone turned cold: "Chief Zhang, if we delay any longer, once that monster recovers, we won't protect you anymore!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiu trembled and hurriedly said, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

He gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and pointed at a young maid in the crowd, saying, "On her very first night here, I... I raped her, and threatened her with her younger brother, telling her not to talk nonsense. Then I lied to her, saying I would find a way to take her brother up first... In the end, her brother died..."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

The maid named Xiaohong was stunned at first, then her eyes reddened and she collapsed to the ground.

Zhou Qingyang immediately stepped forward and stared at her, saying, "In that case, this little maid must harbor great resentment. If that demon wanted to possess her, it would only need to tempt her in her dreams."

He immediately waved his hand and said, "Guards! This maid is highly suspicious. Strip her naked immediately and examine her carefully!"

"yes!"

Two officers from the town's garrison immediately stepped forward.

"Sizzle!"

The two men immediately tore the maid's clothes to shreds.

The little maid screamed and burst into tears.

Zhou Qingyang immediately drew his knife from his waist, ready for battle.

Everyone else in the hall who witnessed this scene trembled with fear and fell silent.

Sun Ping remained silent.

She was just a lowly maidservant, no different from livestock, and no one would care.

The two quickly completed the examination and found no wounds.

At this moment, Zhou Qingyang took out the Demon-Detecting Stone, walked over, and placed it on the trembling maid's body. After carefully examining her again, he coldly ordered, "Take her aside and keep a close watch on her. Don't let your guard down for now!"

"yes!"

The two men immediately dragged the maid to a corner, regardless of whether she was dressed or not.

The young maidservant huddled there naked, sobbing softly and trembling with fear.

Zhou Qingyang then looked at Zhang Jiu and said, "Zhang, next!"

Amidst the various emotions on everyone's faces, Zhang Jiu steeled himself and stepped forward, pointing to a figure in the crowd.

She was a woman who did manual labor.

Zhang Jiu said, "I sold her son to the brothel in the mine. Her son was killed by those miners..."

The Qinghualou was full of male prostitutes.

At this moment, the girls upstairs all came to the second-floor railing upon hearing the noise, looking down at the scene with varying expressions.

"I never expected that this Guard Zhang would be such a wolf in sheep's clothing..."

A girl was muttering curses under her breath.

Luo Qingchen raised her head and looked up at the building.