Chapter 188: Slaying Demons Is Our Duty

“Slain?”

For a long moment, silence hung heavy in the air.

Even the bloodstained atmosphere above Crow Mountain seemed to grow thicker with suffocating pressure.

The disciples and Elders of the Five Great Sects all widened their eyes, watching Fang Cun step off the demonic dog’s head and slowly sheathe his sword.

Simple words were inadequate to describe everyone’s complicated feelings. Some were stunned by Fang Cun’s utterly calm demeanor. After all, this Demon Hound had terrorized the land for half a year, savage and tyrannical, called Qingjiang Prefecture’s mightiest monster. Its origins were so immense that even the Five Great Sects trembled before it. And such a demon was just… cut down? So easily?

Others were still lost in the scene of Fang Cun unleashing that “Hundred Demon-Slaying Weapons” technique moments before.

They found it utterly baffling. Just how had that divine art been executed?

It seemed undeniably related to the Shoushan Sect’s “Divine and Demonic Body Treasure” Qi Refiner art, but why was its power so utterly terrifying?

…

“Prepare the demon’s corpse. It has its uses.”

Under countless bewildered gazes, Fang Cun gave his order casually. Then, smiling, he bowed respectfully towards the Five Sects’ Elders.

“Honored Elders, this wager… I won, correct?”

“Th-this…”

The Five Sects’ Elders looked at Fang Cun’s face, as nonchalant as if discussing the most trivial matter, their expressions complex and grim.

After a long silence, they finally lifted their hands in return salute, sighing softly, “The Second Young Master Fang has won!”

Their hearts were filled with immense resignation.

Of course you won. At this point, even if you hadn’t won, the Five Sects would have pleaded with you to win…

…

“H-heavens… heavens! That demon is truly dead…”

“Thank you, young Immortal, for saving our lives!”

“Our savior today… upon returning home, we shall carve a sacred prayer tablet, praying for you day and night!”

While Fang Cun spoke cheerfully with the Five Sects’ Elders, someone amidst the rescued common folk finally snapped out of their daze.

Starting with the first excited, tear-filled cry, the crowd of stunned villagers staring at the demon dog’s head suddenly erupted. A wave of joyous shouting and cheering broke out like a tide — the relief seemed too sudden, too overwhelming, and many wept openly.

The surge of jubilant cries seemed to push back even the lingering bloody haze hanging over Crow Mountain.

Hearing them, Fang Cun sighed quietly inside.

Some were weeping with joy, tears flooding their faces.

Some couldn’t believe it, shouting wildly as they rubbed their eyes furiously.

Others had already knelt down, kowtowing to him incessantly, their foreheads bruised and bleeding.

As if anything less powerful couldn’t express their gratitude and elation.

In that moment, Fang Cun seemed to have much to say. But when he spoke, his words were simple:

“Slaying demons and eradicating fiends is the fundamental duty of us Qi Refiners. Why thank me?”

Hearing Fang Cun’s words, the faces of the Five Sects’ Elders grew faintly uneasy. One pursed his lips, trembling slightly, but held back any words.

Watching the scene unfold — the weeping commoners trying to outdo each other in kowtowing their thanks towards Fang Cun and the Shoushan Sect disciples — the disciples of the Five Sects who had followed stood in starker, heavier silence. Their Elders likely pondered deeper implications, but the ordinary disciples were simply moved.

The image of Fang Cun swinging his sword to sever the Demon Hound’s head seemed burned into their very hearts, a deep, indelible mark.

…

“Divine Lord Eclipse of Crow Mountain is dead. Slain by Fang Cun of Willow Lake!”

Precisely when the sounds of weeping gratitude filled Crow Mountain and the Five Sects’ disciples stood silent, amidst the seemingly empty sky laced with wispy clouds and mist, several faint strands of vapor vanished quietly.

This simple message, aided by some secret magical art, instantly reached the hands of many.

…

In Wuhe County, a young man in the pale blue robe of a Prefect received the news. He felt somewhat surprised, but after a moment, chuckled softly. “Quite worthy, indeed, of Immortal Master Fang Chi’s true brother. Ruthlessly efficient! Though the process wasn’t quite as I foresaw, the outcome emerged regardless. Excellent!”

…

Within a black palace resembling a giant tortoise shell, half submerged in a lake, someone received the news and jumped up in fright. “Ai ya! Such a creature of immense significance… died on my territory? And especially… killed by that family?! How… how will I explain this to the Seventh Prince?! Ruined, ruined, ruined! Deadly, just deadly…” His voice seemed ready to weep, “I hid away, staying quiet! Why does trouble still find me?”

…

Eastwards, amidst mountains spanning three thousand leagues, sprawled a vast battlefield consumed by flames. Here, the mountains stood scorched bald, some peaks even burned into smooth, glassy shapes. An endless sea of fire stretched onwards, consuming nothingness yet burning fiercely, seeming to devour the sky itself.

Above this inferno hovered a handsome man clad in white armor, holding a white lantern edged with gold markings. Flicking his sleeve to ward off the flames licking towards him, he looked helplessly towards the fire’s heart. “Phoenix,” he sighed wryly, “what great offense have I committed? You’ve already slain seven of my General Lords, yet you refuse to relent?”

At the fiery center, a tall woman draped in robes the crimson red of blood, patterned with phoenix designs, balanced a flame-shaped bird on her fingertip. She seemed to listen to it, then her brow gradually relaxed. A rare smile touched her lips as she turned back to the white-armored man. “Playing dumb? You know exactly why I deal with your people.”

The white-armored man shook his head in frustration. “I truly bear no ill will towards the Fang Family. Honestly!”

“None? Or just… too intimidated?”

The red-robed woman let out a light laugh. “But it scarcely matters. You just happened to be in the way.”

“So you refuse to yield…”

The white-armored man sighed softly. “Tell me then. How many must die before you stop?”

The red-robed woman laughed coldly. “When I kill, I set no limits. I stop when I am satisfied.”

The white-armored man frowned slightly, falling silent. Then, his voice grew colder. “He’s dead, after all. This wanton slaughter you pursue in his name… don’t you fear drawing more danger to his kin?”

“Danger?”

The red-robed red woman laughed again, but her expression abruptly turned icy. “Back then, precisely because he was too honorable, too compliant, scum like you dared scheme and pressure him relentlessly! That fool constantly urged me to curb my urge to kill, warning against accumulating too much blood-debt, hah! If only he had possessed my resolve to cut down foes without hesitation from the start, creatures like you would never have dared provoke him!”

“I saw through you long ago. You’re nothing but bullies, cowards cowering from true strength…”

“You’ve guessed correctly. I will kill to make this world see! I will carve out a talisman of protection for his family with blood!”

Swish! As her sharp cry faded, divine flames surged forth once more!

…

Not long after the events on Crow Mountain, within an ethereal, cloud-veiled palace like an Immortal Realm, someone hurriedly delivered the news inside its halls. A long, heavy silence immediately fell.

Smash!

The sound of a teacup shattering on the floor echoed. A young prince, face livid, shouted viciously, “He dared kill my dog?!”

The surrounding attendants remained deathly silent. Unmoving. Since the head chamberlain had been banished, no one dared counsel this prince.

The young prince stood silently for a long time. Suddenly, an icy sneer touched his lips. “Since he… knows no restraint…” His voice dropped low again, a whirlwind of schemes seemingly flashing through his mind. But then it seemed he thought deeper… and deeper… and a flicker of fear surfaced in his eyes. “…No… No! He… How could he have such nerve?! And crucially… How could he… possess such power? Does he possess that same level of innate talent as that one? What if… what if he… targets me? What… what do I do?!”

…

While the news of the Demon Hound’s demise at Crow Mountain spread through countless channels, reaching various corners within a mere day or two, the disciples of the Six Great Sects were already returning from Crow Mountain, approaching the massive gates of Great Qingjiang City.

Now, innumerable common folk of Qingjiang City had been waiting impatiently for them.

After all, the Six Great Sects’ demon-slaying expedition had stirred immense commotion. How could anyone ignore when they would return? When figures sighted distant clouds announcing their arrival, shouts of excitement tore through the city. Swarms of commoners abandoned their tasks, scrambling towards the city gates, straining to see…

Soon enough, they saw them. The disciples of the Six Sects riding clouds back through the sky.

Unlike their proud departure, the disciples of the Five Sects now seemed utterly withered, like frostbitten shoots. None of their former vigor remained; they looked utterly low-spirited. Meeting the crowd’s gaze, they even seemed to flinch backward slightly.

In stark contrast stood the Shoushan Sect disciples near the center Dharma Ship.

At their departure, the Shoushan Sect had hoisted a massive banner, flaunting their leadership.

Now, no banner was needed. Their weight and significance among the Six Sects was unmistakable.

But… So…

A hushed stillness fell over the welcoming, cheering crowd.

Had the Demon Hound of Crow Mountain been slain?

Whoosh!

A figure shot hurriedly onto the cloud from the southern sky, waving his arms frantically.

It was the old servant of Old Master Fan, gesturing emphatically for the Six Sects’ disciples to halt outside the city!

Simultaneously, from within Qingjiang City, a flood of Chief Wardens, County Mansion guards, Secretarys, and others rushed out — a chaotic throng who seemed to come to greet them, but their real intention was clearly to intercept these disciples before they entered.

Thunk!

But neither the old servant’s frantic motions nor the rushing officials were heeded.

A streak of dark light shot swiftly from the Dharma Ship. Like lightning, it crossed the void and slammed into the city’s main gate.

Every commoner gasped in shock, turning as one to look.

Then they saw it:

A vicious canine head,

impaled firmly on the city gate

by a long spear.

This was the answer.