Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

The two shared a common language regarding swordsmanship, and their relationship grew increasingly harmonious. Li Yuan learned many practical combat techniques from him.

His true cultivation level has now reached the late stage of the Breaking Illusion Realm, but he pretends to be at the early stage of the realm, so as not to reveal his true strength.

Although he was traveling day and night, he was not idle. He silently digested the year's worth of experience in Lock Dragon City while consolidating his magic and steadily improving his strength.

A month later, the group arrived at Wuwei, a major town in the northwest, after a long and arduous journey. It was also the final destination of the rat demon.

Wuwei City was a vital hub connecting the Central Plains and the Western Regions, attracting merchants and travelers from all walks of life, including both Han and non-Han peoples. Although it was bustling and prosperous, it was also a melting pot of all sorts of people.

After entering the city, the streets were filled with all sorts of accents, and people dressed in strange clothes passed by from time to time. The air was filled with the mixed smells of spices, livestock, leather and dust.

According to the plan, they first need to contact the Demon Suppression Division branch in Wuwei City to understand the local situation.

When they arrived at the Demon Suppression Office, they found the atmosphere unusually tense. People were coming and going at the entrance, and groups of people were constantly rushing away into the distance. It seemed that something had happened.

Chen Shuo immediately revealed his identity and was politely led into the inner hall. They were received by a deputy head named Han Chong.

"Captain Chen, you've come at the perfect time!" Han Chong greeted Chen Shuo as if he had seen a savior. He didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point. "These past few days have been quite unsettled, both inside and outside the city. We've received reports of attacks by demonic beasts in many places. The department is short-handed and is in a real bind."

The group exchanged glances, and had no choice but to put their own matters aside for the time being. After all, they were colleagues in the Demon Suppression Division, and they couldn't just stand by and watch someone die.

"Master Han, please feel free to ask. Tell me what you need." Chen Shuo politely cupped his hands in greeting.

"Along the Wushui River, a hundred miles west of the city, three villages have been attacked in recent days, suspected to be caused by demons. Dozens of people have been killed, injured or gone missing."

"Most of our manpower has been transferred to the north to handle another major case. Now the brothers left behind are stretched thin. I was worried about not being able to find people to handle this matter. Fortunately, you all came."

As members of the Demon Suppression Division, slaying demons and protecting the people is their duty, and they naturally feel obligated to do so.

"Master Han, please explain the situation in detail. Now that we are here, we should help you," Chen Shuo said in a deep voice.

Han Chong nodded gratefully and quickly said, "The three villages that were attacked are all located along the Wushui River. According to the villagers who escaped, the attacks mostly occurred at night. Black mist sneaked in, kidnapped the young and strong, and killed the old and weak. There was a strong demonic aura left at the scene."

"We sent two groups of brothers to investigate. The first group only brought back one person, who was seriously injured. He didn't even see who the opponent was. He just kept saying that something was wrong with the villagers. The second group went to Shitan Village, which is further upstream, but we haven't heard from them since."

"Something's wrong with the villagers?" Li Yuan keenly sensed this information.

"Yes, the brother who escaped back is somewhat delirious and keeps repeating this sentence." Deputy Director Han said worriedly, "We suspect that either the villagers have been bewitched and controlled by a demon, or something even more terrifying has infiltrated the village."

"We should not delay, let's go to Shitan Village immediately." Chen Shuo made a quick decision. "Manager Han, please send a brother who is familiar with the local situation to guide us."

Soon, a young demon-hunting guard named Shi Yong was assigned over. He was about twenty years old, with dark skin, a local, and familiar with the terrain around the Wushui River.

Without lingering or taking a break, the group immediately left the city and, led by Shi Yong, galloped towards the Wushui River in the west of the city.

After leaving Wuwei City, the surrounding environment became increasingly desolate, with bare loess, crisscrossing gullies, and only sparse wild grass.

As evening fell, the group finally arrived at Shitan Village on the banks of the Wushui River. The village was small, with only a few dozen households, built along a relatively gentle section of the riverbank, and the houses were mostly made of earth and stone.

It was dinnertime, but the village was eerily quiet; there was no smoke from cooking fires, nor any people or livestock in sight. It was deathly still.

As soon as the group arrived at the village entrance, several villagers dressed in tattered sheepskin coats and carrying farm tools jumped out, looking at them, these strangers, with hostility in their eyes.

"Fellow villagers, we have heard that a monster is causing trouble here. We have been sent by the Demon Suppression Bureau..."

Before he could finish speaking, the villagers brandished their farm tools and shouted as they drove him away.

"Get out! Outsiders aren't welcome in our village!"

"Get out of here! Or we'll get rough with you!"

"There are no monsters here! We don't need your meddling!"

Their eyes were murky, and they stood firmly blocking the village entrance, preventing anyone from taking a single step in. They looked extremely agitated.

Chen Shuo's face darkened; there was indeed something strange about this place.

"Where is your village head? A group of people from the Demon Suppression Division came by earlier, did you see them?" Shi Yong persisted, asking again.

"Get out! We didn't see anything!"

"Get out of here! Or we'll kill you!"

The villagers brandished hoes and carrying poles, glaring fiercely at them.

Fang Yan quietly took out a specially made bronze compass. The pointer slowly rotated in his palm. After a moment, the pointer suddenly trembled and pointed to the northeast corner of the village.

"Boss, there's a demonic aura over there," Fang Yan whispered.

Ignoring the frenzied villagers, the group split into two: one searched for the missing demon-hunting guards, while the other, led by Chen Shuo, stealthily made their way in the direction indicated by Si Nan.

After bypassing the village, they found a dilapidated earth god temple in the northwest corner. The temple door was half-closed, and the inside was dark. The demonic aura was coming from there.

Chen Shuo waved to signal everyone to disperse and lay low. He, along with Li Yuan, Xu Sheng, and Shi Yong, slowly approached the temple gate.

Just as they were about to push the door open, the temple door creaked open from the inside.

A dirty little face peeked out from behind the door. It looked to be only eight or nine years old, thin and bony, and wrapped in a tattered adult dress.

Upon suddenly seeing the group, the child froze in fear, staring blankly at them.

The local temple was not large, consisting of only one room. Looking through the open door, everything was visible except for a dilapidated statue.

In other words, this child was the only one in the temple just now. The way the group looked at the child immediately changed; monsters are good at transforming, and often disguise themselves as children to gain the trust of humans.

Chen Shuo signaled Fang Yan to use the compass again to probe. Fang Yan focused his mind and activated it. After the compass needle approached the child, it only wobbled slightly and then stopped. It did not point violently as before, which showed that the demonic energy had become very thin.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed the child was not a monster in disguise.

"Child, don't be afraid." Li Yuan crouched down, trying to soften his tone. "What's your name? Why are you here alone? Where are your family?"

The child shrank back, fearfully hiding behind the door, looking timidly at the group, not daring to speak at all.

Shi Yong, growing impatient, strode forward and demanded in a gruff voice, "I'm asking you, did anyone come by just now? Speak up!"