67. Follow Me to Slay the Demons
Chapter 67: Follow Me to Slay the Demons
As Li Hao hurried back to the skies above Cang Yu City, he could see the vast demon cloud rolling in from the north. However, instead of heading directly north, he first went to the City Lord's Mansion to understand the situation. With his divine sense, he discovered the scene unfolding inside the mansion.
"Demon Suppression Division?!"
Both Yue Shuhong and the broad-faced man were startled by Li Hao's uniform, which indicated he was from the Demon Suppression Division, though just an ordinary demon slayer. Yet, from Li Hao's dramatic entrance, it was clear he was no ordinary demon slayer.
"Who are you…?" Yue Shuhong frowned, not recalling any young, powerful slayer in the city's division.
Li Hao ignored the city guardian and turned his gaze to the broad-faced man. "You're called Tiger Robe? Are you the so-called Tiger Robe Immortal?"
The broad-faced man grinned fiercely. "Yes, that's me, your Uncle Tiger. Kid, you know my name, so I must be quite famous outside Cang Yu City."
Li Hao's grip tightened around his blade, slowly warping the handle. He took a deep breath and asked, "Seven years ago, did you ambush a captain on the national highway in Qi Prefecture? Do you remember?"
"Hmm?" The broad-faced man, Tiger Robe, raised an eyebrow, his eyes growing cold. "You're talking about the Yanbei military man? What's your connection to the Li family?!"
Upon hearing Tiger Robe's admission, Li Hao's eyes filled with uncontrollable killing intent: "My surname is Li!"
Tiger Robe Immortal's pupils contracted as his aura surged, glancing menacingly past Li Hao at Yue Shuhong. "Brother Yue, it seems this kid overheard our conversation. What should we do now? If your collusion with us demons is exposed, even if you escape from me today, your reputation will be ruined. According to your Dayu laws, do you know the punishment for colluding with demons?"
His gaze turned vicious. "How about you kill this brat, and I'll forgive your momentary lapse?"
Yue Shuhong's expression grew heavy as he eyed Li Hao's back. Yet, after a moment, he shook his head, smirking coldly, "Tiger Robe, if I continue listening to you, I'd truly be a fool. Today, it's either you or me who perishes. When we first became friends, we swore to die in the same year and month!"
"Bah, fool!" Tiger Robe Immortal spat, sneering. "You humans, such short-lived creatures, wanting to share life and death with me, how absurd!"
As he spoke, he lunged at Li Hao, his tiger spirit roaring with thunderous force, enough to render a Soul Merging Realm cultivator unconscious. Yet the thunderous roar only slightly ruffled Li Hao's bangs.
His eyes were dark and deep, as if devoid of light. When Tiger Robe Immortal's massive body pounced near, Li Hao suddenly raised his hand. With a powerful motion, he spread his fingers and slammed Tiger Robe's head onto the sturdy stone slab below, cracking it.
The exchange happened in an instant, so quickly that Yue Shuhong, who had half-raised his foot to assist, froze in place.
The battered blade in Li Hao's hand flipped and plunged into the side of Tiger Robe Immortal's neck. Tiger Robe, shocked and incredulous, looked up. How was this possible, such strength and skill? But he was met with cold, merciless eyes.
"I won't let you die so easily," Li Hao whispered, proving his words with action. The blade sliced through Tiger Robe's neck, shoulder, and back, ripping off his tiger skin in one swift motion. The technique was as precise as that of a master chef, skilled to perfection.
The sudden flaying elicited a pained, savage howl from Tiger Robe Immortal. A tiger's roar erupted from his throat as black and yellow fur burst from his skin, revealing his true form. The transformation made the basement feel cramped.
The massive tiger spirit behind him lunged at Li Hao, but Li Hao's spirit, matching his body in size, emerged. With a casual lift of his hand, he shattered the tiger spirit's head, sending it reeling back. When it reformed, it was thinner and weaker, its eyes filled with horror and fear.
Unmatched!
"I'll make you pay slowly for how you killed Uncle Lin," Li Hao declared, his words deliberate and measured. His battered blade remained sharp under the power of his spirit. Tiger Robe's head was pinned by Li Hao's foot, unable to lift, like a nail driven into his skull!
The demon struggled fiercely, trying to escape from under Li Hao's foot. Then, Li Hao's eyes flashed gold as he unleashed the power of the Go move embedded in his body—Tiger Press!
Tiger Press: Slightly enhances physical strength and intimidates.
Embedded in swordplay, it enhances the power and presence of the technique.
In that moment, Li Hao exuded the majesty of a thousand-year-old tiger king, eyes radiating an icy dominance that commanded all beasts to bow.
Under his foot, Tiger Robe Immortal quivered, his eyes vacant. He felt as if a tiger king were pressing down on him, unable to muster any will to resist.
His body trembled violently, the agony making him too fearful to even show ferocity.
"Spare me, spare my life! I was wrong! I'll do anything you want. I can even be your servant…" Tiger Robe Immortal pleaded, voice trembling.
Li Hao said nothing, only continuing to slice swiftly. He skinned the entire tiger hide from head to tail.
Tiger Robe Immortal, in unimaginable pain, could only lay there shivering, too scared to flee. Nearby, Yue Shuhong was stupefied. Was this really the same Tiger Robe Immortal who had been so arrogant before him for over twenty years?
Skinning, deboning, slicing!
Blood flowed like a river from Tiger Robe's massive body. Despite countless pleas, Li Hao remained unmoved.
Such a brutal, bloody scene deeply shocked Yue Shuhong's mind. He felt chilled to the bone, trembling with fear.
After nearly half an hour of torment, Li Hao finally decapitated Tiger Robe, who was left barely alive. Plunging his broken blade into Tiger Robe's chest, Li Hao lifted the tiger head, its eyes frozen in terror, and coldly asked:
"Seven years ago, did you have a part in the ambush of the Li family's men by this tiger demon?"
Yue Shuhong trembled. Though the young man hadn't turned around, Yue could feel the cold intent surrounding him.
Knowing he couldn't escape death, Yue Shuhong laughed bitterly. "I may be guilty of many crimes, but I've never framed the innocent."
Li Hao spoke coldly. "But colluding with demons, secretly feeding humans to them, that was you, wasn't it?"
Yue Shuhong's face twitched slightly, nodding. "Yes, it was all me. I sent those people to the demons, harming my kind—it was all my doing."
He spoke with self-mockery. "At first, I only gave them death row prisoners, making use of the worthless. But when those ran out and they pressed me harder, I had no choice but to send bandits, even civilians."
"Why?"
Li Hao turned to him, staring.
"Why side with demons?"
Yue Shuhong chuckled bitterly, eyes weary. "When I was first assigned here, I wanted to clear out the demons and bring peace. But I realized that human strength has limits. You can't kill them all. They reproduce too fast, and in great numbers. Dayu is no longer the invincible dynasty it was hundreds of years ago. It's been declining…"
"I asked for aid and troops everywhere, but all my requests went unanswered."
"Who can save Cang Yu City?"
He laughed miserably, looking at Li Hao. "If I didn't offer them people as sacrifices, more would die. I, Yue, am too weak, bearing the sins of the city to protect its people!"
"I know I can't avoid the death penalty today. I don't ask for anything, but if I can be buried here in Cang Yu City, that would be enough. I hope…you'll grant me that."
With that, he lifted his official robe, kneeling, and removed his city guardian's hat, placing it aside.
His disheveled hair hung over his tear-stained cheeks.
Li Hao stood in the warm light of the oil lamp, looking down at the middle-aged man's shadowed face, seeing tears stream down it.
After a moment of silence, Li Hao turned away, saying flatly, "You deserve to die, but your fate will be decided by the court, not me."
"Now that a great demon presses on the city, since you still have strength, then…follow me to slay the demons!"
With those words, he placed the tiger head on a nearby table and turned to leave.