Chapter 43: The Old Demon Arrives
Chapter 43: The Old Demon Arrives
Demons were naturally fierce, cruel creatures. Some were huge and strong. Some had sharp claws or strange, evil magic. For ordinary people, meeting them meant certain death—no fighting back. But these Academy Disciples were Qi Refiners. They had powerful skills too. Meng Zhixue, Nie Quan, Meng Qing’er, He Zhenzhang, and Yu Qingli, the backbone of the Nanshan Alliance, stood out even among Academy Disciples. They were either the Elder Mentor’s personal students or the Instructor’s top geniuses.
With these five guarding the village, fighting these demons was no problem at all.
After fighting for a while, the demons saw how strong their opponents were. They realized these weren’t just ordinary Disciples. They were rare, strong fighters from the Academy. As their own numbers dwindled, the demons’ rage faded. Fear took over. Some stopped trying to fight and looked for chances to run.
“The demons want to escape! Don’t let them!”
An Academy Disciple yelled sharply, seeing their plan.
“As long as green hills remain…”
Hearing this, the demons wanted to run even more. Suddenly, they shrieked and scattered in all directions.
“Think escaping is that easy?”
But the Academy Disciples now had the numbers. Spread out around the village, they chased the fleeing demons. Running was hard for the demons, especially after losing courage. They weren’t match for the Disciples now. One by one, they fell. Their terrible battle cries turned into death screams…
“Qi Refiners, Qi Refiners! Won’t you even leave us any escape?”
In the chaos, an old demon cried out in fury. He was one of the mightiest among the demons. Nie Quan and Yu Qingli had fought him together but couldn’t kill him. Seeing everything lost, the old demon lost heart. Suddenly, he roared to the sky. He grabbed a small demon nearby and darted outwards.
“Stop him!”
Nie Quan and Yu Qingli both attacked instantly, but he was too quick. Dodging Nie Quan’s spear and Yu Qingli’s unseen energy, he twisted away as other Disciples shouted and tried to block him. Slippery as an eel, he ducked left, spun right, evading every strike until he reached the village entrance.
“Huh?”
Seeing him almost escaped, Meng Zhixue—who’d just rescued villagers—frowned. Her fingers flicked. Her deep blue Flying Sword shot like light across half the village, nearly one hundred yards, striking the old demon’s back.
The demon grunted at the hit but didn’t look back. He vanished into the night.
Before the Disciples could chase him, he was gone.
“Deep mountains… Don’t chase!” Yu Qingli yelled sharply, stopping the others. They turned and finished off the last demons.
Against the Academy now, escape was hopeless. All remaining demons died fast.
“Thank you, young immortals, for saving us…”
The villagers witnessed how these Academy Disciples flew down and quickly wiped out the demons terrorizing them. Hope stirred in them. Led by elders, trembling folk carried children forward and knelt in their path. They kowtowed hard, thanking the Minor Qi Practitioners for saving them. Voices of thanks filled the whole village.
“Hah, killing demons and protecting mortals is what we Qi Refiners do. Stand up, no need to thank us!”
Standing in the kneeling crowd, the Disciples felt proud, ordering them coolly to rise.
Eyeing piled demon corpses, one Disciple smiled. “We came to investigate disappearances in Elm Coin Town, but this is unexpected! Wiping out demons too? The Academy will call it a great deed!”
Others laughed. “Exactly! Investigation is just talk. Killing these demons ends the problem!”
A cautious Disciple asked villagers, “You’re near Elm Coin Town. Know what troubles struck them?”
The villagers sobbed. “Demons attacked? Not just Elm Coin Town! Every mountain village suffered.”
The Disciple He Zhenzhang frowned. “This is grave. Think. Really. Remember anything?”
The villagers answered, “We remember! Our village has someone—a survivor from Elm Coin Town…”
“What?”
The Disciples gasped. “Where is he?”
Villagers quickly brought back a filthy, shaking man from a ramshackle woodshed. He struggled wildly when pulled out. Two strong villagers held him tight. He shrieked, “Murder! The Fox Demon did it! They’ll get revenge! They kill everyone! Kill…”
His voice faded weakly. He looked inches from death.
“What’s wrong?”
Meng Zhixue’s eyes narrowed.
“He’s scared insane…”
Someone said. “Hunters found him after Elm Coin Town happened—brought him here. But his mind was broken. Just babbled these words. No eating, no drinking… starving himself to death…”
Meng Zhixue frowned. “Then why wasn’t he taken into the city? To report?”
“The… the lords in the city? Would they care?”
Village folk started crying. “Besides, foxes threatened us! Said they’d slaughter us if anyone reported. Yet… we didn’t report, and they still came to kill…”
Hearing this, disciples burned with anger. “Those evil demons deserve being minced!”
Seeing the anger, Meng Zhixue recalled Fang Cun’s strange look earlier. She hesitated briefly, then hurried to check the man. Her brow furrowed heavily. “He hasn’t eaten or drunk for seven days. His soul has shattered; he’s dying in moments. Elixirs won’t save him. Too late for the Academy… We must find a way—ask him now!”
The others stared. The man was raving mad. How ask?
Glancing around, trying to recall if any possessed the Scripture of Souls as their Destined Scripture. Several who studied it frowned deeply. The Scripture of Souls held memory-searching magic, but their cultivation was too weak. They hadn’t learned it yet.
Suddenly, Nie Quan spoke. “I don’t know soul-seeking magic… but I learned something from my father—a method Demon Capture Bureau veterans use. Draws reflections from a mind. Might work for this.”
Meng Zhixue thought briefly, then nodded.
Everyone moved back. Watched Nie Quan take a red string and a Bronze Mirror. He tied one end around the mirror’s handle and touched the other tip to the madman’s forehead. Gesturing slowly, pacing deliberate steps to summon Innate Qi, Nie Quan gathered his power. When his energy peaked—he thundered, “SHOW!”
Light flashed! Streaks shot from the madman’s forehead into the mirror.
Nie Quan staggered, nearly fell.
The madman jerked, foamed at the mouth, and stiffened dead.
Rushing over, they asked what happened.
Pale, Nie Quan lifted the mirror. “Good heavens… those foxes were vicious…”
The mirror rippled as water struck. An image appeared: a Fox Demon, crimson eyes blazing, lunging at them through the surface. Everyone jumped back—startled before remembering it was fake: the madman’s final memory, locked inside.
“Well… we have proof now: foxes did kill… ”
Disciples exchanged relieved glances. Solid evidence at last.
They announced: “Behead demon remains! Take heads for Academy credit!”
Younger Disciples rushed to the corpses, chopping demon heads. Taking heads meant great Academy credit. Leftover corpses would stay. After attacks, many villagers died. Selling hides, claws, and teeth in Willow Lake City would mean silver—offsetting losses.
The Nanshan Alliance honored Fang Chi—not only fighting demons but protecting people, too.
“Too bad… two demons escaped. Wipe-out incomplete!”
He Zhenzhang watched head-severing, smiling yet regretful.
Meng Zhixue, wiping blood from her Flying Sword, shook her head gently. “My cultivation… not powerful enough yet. Couldn’t strike farther. Otherwise, those demons wouldn’t have slipped my sword…”
Others laughed warmly. “Senior Sister Meng, modesty! That demon was strong! Even Senior Brother Nie and Brother Yu faced trouble. Yet your blade flew nearly a hundred yards and dealt it a deep wound! Unheard of! That wound? Even escaped, its life won’t last long!”
Though praised, Meng Zhixue still felt disappointed, shaking her head.
Suddenly, she remembered—asking sharply, “Where did that demon flee?”
Silence fell over the group.
Nie Quan paused, face changing: “Ran south… out of the village…”
Reactions rippled. “Then… toward Elm Coin Town?”
“Merciful heavens… Second Young Master Fang’s alone in that village…”
“…”
“…”
Shock at the terrible thought. Meng Zhixue couldn’t waste time. Soaring instantly, she flew toward the ruined shrine.
Even before others grasped the danger, the fleeing old demon—panic-driven—weaved through dense woods. Blood soaked the ground. After miles, its force almost spent. Speed dropped, breathing heavy and ragged. Glancing down at the young demon clutched tight, its gaze grew greedy.
“M-Mr Leopard Cat… you all right?”
The young demon in its arms lifted its head, concerned.
Startled, the old demon snorted, shaking its head: “These Qi Refiners? Killing me no easy thing!”
The young demon whispered “Oh…” After a pause: “Why… why kill village people?”
The old demon stared, snapped: “Humans killed your father! You still ask?”
The small one hesitated: “But… it wasn’t them who killed Father…”
“Humans—all the same! They kill us? So we kill them!”
The old demon replied coldly. Fear silenced the small demon.
The old demon watched that little form, thoughts turning dark: Drinking its blood… healing… Yet it felt troubled. Before deciding, wild neighs shattered the quiet—stolen horses? Smelling blood? Fearful of Demonic Qi? Perfect. Turning soundlessly, the demon crept toward the noise.
Nearing the abandoned shrine, it saw tied horses. Glad, it scanned, ready to grab one. Animals, yes—but drinking their blood, gulping their Innate Qi, would heal his wounds—some.
But sensing something strange, it noticed the empty village. Someone moving? Through tangled weeds?
A boy? White-robed? Had slipped alone into the ramshackle shrine?
Sitting calm near a dying fire, a book rested on his lap.
No weapon at his side… only an Old Umbrella.
Sensing his Qi level, the old demon thrilled wildly.
“Heaven smiled on me tonight! A Minor Qi Practitioner alone for easy prey!”
“He was probably with those Academy youths. Too weak to fight. Kept back guarding horses. Men hold pure Qi—Heaven’s favorites! Pure Innate Qi, more than any beast. A Qi Refiner too! Devouring him would heal my wounds! Enough strength to take Young Master safely away!”
Perfect prey couldn’t escape. Kill now—delay meant danger. Lunging suddenly, the demon charged!
CLATTER!
The broken door flew open, gusting wind swirling the flames. The demon was at the youth in a blur. Mouth gaping—teeth aiming for his neck!
Too fast. Impossible to avoid.
But as the teeth nearly met flesh—
The youth lifted his head gently. Smiled at the demon.
His right hand… already rested firm against the Old Umbrella.