Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

"As for its appearance? It has some dark red markings on its body and two short horns on its head. Oh, and one of the horns looks like it was cut off."

The Blackwater Serpent lost a horn more than a year ago...

These keywords, strung together, struck like a thunderbolt in the minds of Li Yuan and the others.

The creature that attacked the exile group at Poyang Lake and carried off Li Chongwen was a black water snake.

The time, the race, the state of injury—everything matched up perfectly.

"This, how is this possible?" Xu Sheng had participated in the extermination of the Black Water Serpent. "I clearly saw it die with my own eyes, its abdomen was even cut open. How could it possibly survive?"

This enormous mystery remains a complete baffling. Could it be that the Blackwater Serpent didn't die? Did it shed its skin like a cicada? And how did it get from Poyang Lake to this northwestern region?

"Where is the Black Serpent now?" Chen Shuo asked urgently.

"It's at the source of the Wushui River, where there's a spiritual spring suitable for cultivation, but that Xuan Snake has taken it over," the water monster replied resentfully.

The group exchanged glances, all feeling that this black water serpent might be the key to solving the case. It was truly a case of finding something without even trying.

"Let's deal with the weasel demon in the village first, then focus on the black water serpent." Chen Shuo made a quick decision. He looked at the water monster, "You're badly injured. Come back to the village with us first. If what you said is true, after we eliminate the weasel, the Demon Suppression Division can consider a lighter sentence."

The water monster let out a low hiss in response, and Huai Xue burst into tears of joy, thanking it repeatedly.

Without further delay, the group, led by Huai Xue, quietly returned to the village. It was nearly dawn, and the sky was dark.

Guided by Huai Xue, the group silently surrounded the village chief's house, located in the center of the village.

Chen Shuo quickly made arrangements, ordering Fang Yan and Shi Yong to set up guard posts at several intersections on the outskirts to prevent the weasel demon from escaping and to keep an eye on any unusual movements by the villagers.

He himself, along with Li Yuan, Xu Sheng, and two skilled fighters, prepared to sneak into the house and capture the leader of the thieves first.

"That weasel has possessed the village chief's son. Everyone must be careful to prevent it from abandoning its shell and escaping in desperation," Chen Shuo whispered.

Everyone nodded, concealed their presence, scaled the wall, and silently landed in the courtyard.

The lights were still on in the main room of the village chief's house, and faint voices could be heard coming from inside. Li Yuan and Chen Shuo crept to the window and listened intently.

Inside the house, a slightly shrill voice said smugly, "...Old man, don't worry, as long as you make proper offerings to this great immortal, I guarantee your village will have good weather and plenty of food and drink."

"Haha, this time we've shifted the blame eastward, letting the Demon-Suppressing Guards get rid of that annoying water monster. Once my injuries have healed a bit more, we'll join forces and take over this entire hundred-mile stretch of water. Will we still have to worry about food and drink then?"

"At that time, let alone merchants and travelers, we won't be unable to bring a few of the wealthy, delicate-skinned men from the town at the foot of the mountain for a treat!"

Another aged voice immediately followed, its tone extremely obsequious: "Yes, yes, it's all thanks to the Great Immortal's protection. This old man and the whole village will do our utmost to serve the Great Immortal well."

"But these few from the Demon Suppression Division who came this time don't seem so easy to fool. I wonder if they'll leave on their own after they've eliminated the water monster..."

"snort!"

"What's there to be afraid of with just a few lowly soldiers from the Demon Suppression Division? They're probably already that great demon's snack by now," the weasel said disdainfully. "When it's light, take a few more men upstream to check. If there's any wreckage, we can collect it and put it to good use..."

Listening to the two people inside the house plotting so brazenly, Li Yuan's eyes turned cold. Chen Shuo gave Xu Sheng a wink, and the latter understood. He quietly took out an earth-yellow talisman and gently patted it on the bluestone ground in front of the door.

The rune flashed and disappeared into the ground, instantly turning the ground within a radius of several feet as hard as refined iron.

With everything ready, Chen Shuo no longer hesitated and kicked the door open.

"Bang!"

The wooden door was shattered, and inside the brightly lit room, a young man dressed in silk robes sat in the main seat, a wicked smile playing on his lips. Beside him, a gaunt old man was bowing and serving him.

Hearing the door being broken down, the two men were terrified. The village chief, though blustering, shouted sternly, "Who are you?"

But upon seeing the Demon Suppression Bureau uniforms worn by Chen Shuo and the others, his face turned deathly pale. He forced himself to remain calm and stepped forward to block the weasel.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass on private property! Is there no law anymore?! My son is unwell and needs to rest. Get out of here at once!"

He tried to use his identity as the village chief to deceive the authorities and buy time.

Chen Shuo completely ignored him, his gaze sharp as lightning locking onto the young man behind him, and he said coldly, "Monster! Surrender now!"

When the weasel demon realized its identity had been exposed and knew there was no way to resolve the situation peacefully, its eyes flashed with ferocity. It suddenly leaped up from the chair, but instead of attacking the crowd, it swayed and tried to burrow into the ground.

"Thump!"

With a muffled thud, the weasel demon was stunned and felt the ground was harder than iron.

"not good!"

The weasel demon was shocked and immediately changed direction, transforming into a blur as it shot towards the open window at an incredibly fast speed.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Chen Shuo had anticipated this. With a swift movement, he blocked the window and slapped the weasel demon's head hard with his backhand.

The weasel demon was in mid-air and had nowhere to dodge, so it had no choice but to take the blow head-on.

"Bang!"

With a loud bang, the weasel demon screamed as it was slapped back by a palm strike, rolling several times on the ground in a sorry state.

Seeing no hope of escape, a ruthless glint flashed in its eyes. It pounced on the village chief, who was already terrified, and its sharp claws instantly gripped the chief's throat, shielding him in front of it.

"Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I'll kill him!" The weasel demon, holding the village chief hostage, screamed shrilly.

"You have committed unforgivable crimes by indiscriminately killing innocent people. I advise you to surrender as soon as possible to avoid suffering later!" Li Yuan said coldly.

The weasel demon suddenly turned to Li Yuan and shrieked, "I didn't kill innocent people. I was just making a deal with these villagers. I provided them with food, and they voluntarily offered their blood as food."

"Those passersby, and the people from the Demon Suppression Bureau, were all captured and brought to me by them. What does it have to do with me?"

Its face twisted in agony. "As a demon, what's wrong with eating blood? Besides, I didn't go to capture anyone!"

As he spoke, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes: "Let me go! Otherwise, I'll take him down with me!"

The village chief was being strangled until his eyes rolled back, tears streaming down his face, pleading desperately, "Help...help me...sir...save me...I don't want to die..."

Li Yuan watched this scene with a cold eye. Sure enough, these people were selfish. Other people's lives didn't matter, but their own lives were extremely precious.

He stepped forward, a mocking glint in his eyes.

"A transaction? Voluntary?"

"You're all a den of snakes and rats, conspiring together in evil!" Li Yuan sneered. "So, you'll all go to hell together!"

Before he finished speaking, Li Yuan sprang up, his sword suddenly unsheathed, and a blazing blade of light, carrying a resolute killing intent, slashed straight at the weasel demon's head.

This strike was executed without the slightest hesitation, unstoppable!

"you--!"

The weasel demon never expected that this human boy would be so ruthless and decisive, disregarding even the lives of the hostages.