NOVPUBWithin the private room, silence reigned like the dead.
All present, apart from the croupiers and maids of the gambling house, were figures of status from Guangping County.
Yet, at this moment, they had all clammed up like cicadas in winter, some even unable to control the trembling of their legs or the chattering of their teeth.
Shi Hongyuan, whose throat Wang Chen was grasping, had by now been rendered unrecognizable.
A grotesque mass of flesh was exerting all its effort to burrow out from beneath the skin, tearing the flesh and thrusting out dark red tendrils that whipped up and down while making a "whoosh whoosh" sound.
Each tentacle was tipped with a tooth-filled mouth-like appendage, a sight that made one’s blood run cold.
Several of the beautiful maids from the gambling house were so frightened they sat paralyzed on the floor, desperately squeezing into corners, their skirts soaking wet beneath them.
It was the first time in their lives these people had witnessed the true face of a demon, and not fainting on the spot was already quite an accomplishment.
The demon that had possessed Shi Hongyuan’s body struggled fiercely while also hissing in a raspy voice, "Let go of me, or death awaits!"
Despite the threatening words, the tone could not conceal the vanity and fear it conveyed.
The spearhead of the Demon-Slaying Spear, embedded in its body, was ceaselessly draining its demonic energy, making it progressively weaker!
This demon felt the terror of impending death!
Outsider Heavenly Demons lack any form of emotion and act purely on instinct, but once they occupy a human body and devour the human’s soul and vitality, they develop all kinds of desires:
Greed, gluttony, lust, cruelty, bloodthirst…
To satisfy these desires, they would devour even more humans!
And with desires, came the fear of death.
"How many of your kind are still out there?"
Wang Chen said, "If you confess all, I might spare your life."
Places like the Top Scholar Tower, a minor den of iniquities, tended to attract demons, and finding one often indicated that there could be a nest.
Demons, similar in some ways to cockroaches!
Wang Chen’s task was to completely unearth this nest of demons, which could very well solve numerous missing person cases.
"Hmm, hmm, hmm!"
Hearing Wang Chen’s offer, the demon’s chest vibrated with a low, chuckling laugh: "We are everywhere!"
"Wrong answer."
Without a second thought, Wang Chen struck its chest with his palm, channeling a powerful burst of Evil Qi.
Boom!
The demon’s body instantly swelled and then burst like a pricked balloon, splattering pieces of flesh and blood across every corner of the room.
Everyone present was drenched in gore, utterly stupefied.
Wang Chen, protected by his Evil Armor, remained completely unsoiled. He grasped the head of the Demon-Slaying Spear and strode over to the window.
In the next moment, Wang Chen flicked out a series of signal fireworks with his hand.
Bang, pop!
The Imperial-specific fireworks exploded into brilliant patterns in the night sky, clearly visible even from tens of miles away.
Wang Chen admired them for a moment before leaping out of the open window.
His body, light as a feather due to the surge of Evil Qi, landed gently, and he quickly moved to the front of the Peony Pavilion.
By this time, some disorder had emerged within the Peony Pavilion, with numerous martial artists in tightfitting outfits running toward the Hundred Victories Gambling House direction.
Wang Chen waited at the front for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, and soon a fully armed troop hurried over, including several Blood Cloak Guards cloaked in capes.
Someone loudly inquired, "What has happened?"
Wang Chen stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice, "Donglu Centurion, Demon-suppressing Colonel Wang Chen is here. Where is the Guard Chief of Guangping?"
The person in charge of the Blood Cloak Guard in the local city was also known as the Guard Chief, typically holding the rank of General Flag.
As soon as Wang Chen finished speaking, a middle-aged man rushed over to him, bowed with his fists clasped and said, "Guangping Guard Chief Duan Yongfeng greets you, my lord. I did not know of your arrival and failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me!"
"No matter!"
Wang Chen showed his Colonel’s Copper Badge for the other to inspect, and said, "I have just captured and killed a demon at the Hundred Victories Gambling House, and I suspect there are other Demons inside. You must immediately take your men and surround Peony Pavilion completely, allowing no one in or out!"
"What?"
Duan Yongfeng couldn’t help but show a troubled expression, "My lord, I arrived hastily and only brought a few men with me. What do you suggest..."
Peony Pavilion was made up of one main and two auxiliary buildings, occupying a large area, and there were hundreds, even thousands of merry-making patrons inside. It could not simply be surrounded!
Moreover, Peony Pavilion had significant backing and influence; its owner was someone even Duan Yongfeng was quite wary of, not daring to provoke lightly.
If Wang Chen had come with a large troop to target Peony Pavilion, then Duan would naturally be bound to join in, even if just to lend his voice in support.
But the problem was that Wang Chen was alone, and even with adding the Blood Cloak Guard from the Defense Area, surrounding and sealing off Peony Pavilion was wishful thinking.
They simply couldn’t control the situation!
"You, hold my command token, and call over the personnel from the Government Office and the Body Protection units."
Wang Chen’s face was expressionless, "Anyone who dares to disobey will be executed without mercy!"
His rank as Demon-suppressing Colonel was not honorary; in any significant Demon-related incident, he had the power to temporarily command the local garrison’s protective and defensive forces.
Naturally, this power was not to be used lightly and carried the burden of full responsibility; a mistake could lead to severe consequences.
Wang Chen naturally was not afraid of consequences.
But some evidently did not see it that way. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"My lord!"
Just then, a corpulent man with a face full of whiskers stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Guangping County Magistrate Hu Mengde at your service. May I ask if there truly are Demons inside Peony Pavilion?"
A cold glint flashed in Wang Chen’s eyes, "Are you questioning my authority?"
The County Magistrate, sharing the position with the County Constable, was an assistant to the lord magistrate, in charge of security and capturing thieves, holding a high authority in the county.
And those capable of holding the position of County Magistrate were not weak.
"I dare not."
Hu Mengde answered unassumingly yet firmly, "But this matter is of great importance. The forces of the Government Office should not be mobilized lightly. I must report to the Lord County Magistrate before making a decision. Please understand, my lord."
Wang Chen coldly said, "With your dithering, what if the Demons escape?"
Hu Mengde hesitated for a moment before stiffly answering, "Peony Pavilion is of significant concern. Please consider carefully, my lord."
"Audacious!"
Wang Chen’s face suddenly darkened, and he shouted angrily, "A mere County Magistrate dares to obstruct me! It seems you are colluding with Demons to have such audacity. Do you really think my Blood Cloak Guard can be bullied and dishonored?"
Hu Mengde was instantly terrified and felt a tremendous fear rising. He hastily backed away, shouting, "My lord..."
"Those who resist will die!"
Accompanied by Wang Chen’s furious shout, a bright blade of the Goose-quill Saber swept across Hu Mengde’s neck.
The head of the County Magistrate flew into the air, and blood spurted from the severed neck.
Everyone present, including Duan Yongfeng, was utterly dumbfounded, hardly believing their eyes.
"What are you still staring at?"
Wang Chen, holding the Goose-quill Saber, sternly said, "Immediately surround Peony Pavilion for me!"
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First update delivered.
