62. One Man Encircles the Demons
Chapter 62: One Man Encircles the Demons
The meals at the Demon-Slaying Bureau were excellent. Apart from Li Hao, even Li Yuanzhao and others who were accustomed to gourmet foods were wolfing down their meals, eating heartily.
As Cui Fan put it, "We demon slayers face life-and-death dangers at any time. We can't die on an empty stomach, can we?" That made sense.
After they had eaten their fill and rested for a quarter of an hour, Cui Fan laid out the areas they needed to patrol in the afternoon, showing them to Li Hao and the others. He then instructed them to prepare and gather outside.
The area to be patrolled had previous demon activity that had already been resolved. This time, they were checking for any missed threats, which was ideal for training newcomers.
When it was time to assemble, Cui Fan saw only Li Yuanzhao and the other three but not Li Hao. He asked, puzzled, "Where's the other one?"
"Brother Hao said he went to the restroom and told us not to wait for him. As for the task evaluation, he said for Master Cui to give it as you see fit," Li Yuanzhao relayed Li Hao's words.
Cui Fan was taken aback but then smiled wryly.
Indeed, the young master from a prestigious family was here just to gain experience and have fun. It was good he hadn't taken it seriously.
In this world, those who take things seriously always lose out.
"Alright then."
Cui Fan didn't say much more. He led the four out, while pondering over what reason he could give to grant the young master a perfect score.
One thing was certain: giving a low score was not an option.
He would rather admit to being negligent than give a low score.
After all, for them, a low score might affect their schooling, but for him, it could mean losing his job.
...
Cangyu City was square-shaped, surrounded by mountains on all sides.
Thirty miles to the east of the city, a mountain range stretched across the river leading to Cangyu City. The mountains spanned dozens of miles, with overlapping peaks and lush trees.
The dense foliage made it hard for sunlight to penetrate, creating a damp, eerie atmosphere even during the day.
Scattered like specks of mud near the mountain range were several villages, each with a few hunter families who lived off the land by hunting.
The saying goes, "The ducks know first when the river warms." The hunters, who frequented the mountains, were the most aware of its dangers.
Since a few bold hunters were found with their limbs mutilated and brought back from the mountains, no one dared venture up there anymore. Even gathering firewood was limited to the foothills.
At this moment, a figure swiftly moved across the sky above the mountain range, flying forward rapidly.
Wearing the black uniform of a Demon-Slaying Envoy, this person was Li Hao.
Going to the restroom was just an excuse. Such patrols didn't require him, and Master Cui wouldn't really take them to slay demons. Even if there were demons, they would be minor ones for practice.
As for the credits, he didn't care. Anything that the Black and White Hall could offer in exchange for credits, the Li family already possessed.
Those top-tier techniques couldn't be exchanged for just a few credits.
He had one goal in coming to the Black Wind Mountain Range: to find the whereabouts of that demon.
The Tiger-Robed Immortal.
...
As he flew, Li Hao noticed numerous demon figures moving below in the forest, with some forest spirits and ghosts lurking around.
But they were all minor demons with faint demonic energy.
Upon reaching the Soul Merging Realm, one could perceive demonic energy.
Through the soul's vision, one could see the energies of the world, which, like accumulating snow, would settle on all things over time, sticking to them.
Bamboo, stones, and animals were all covered in "qi."
This qi was extremely faint and pure, like a colorless, thin mist.
But for martial artists who embarked on the path of cultivation, their qi was like a blazing furnace. Depending on the cultivation technique, the color of the qi would vary. For those at the Spirit Wandering Realm or the Fifteen Mile Realm, their qi was as bright as starlight. If not deliberately restrained, it could be seen from miles away.
The same was true for demons.
However, most accomplished demons would conceal their demonic energy, blending in with the human crowd, making it hard to detect. At this moment, the Black Wind Mountain Range had various mists floating around, varying in depth.
Golden light emanated from Li Hao's head as his soul flew forward to scout.
...
Deep within the mountain range, in front of a rocky cave.
On a large boulder lay a half-man, half-bear demon, standing four to five zhang tall.
Scattered at its feet were white bones, and the relatively flat edge of the boulder it sat on was padded with some tattered, wrinkled human skins, exuding a strong stench.
Around it were other figures in various postures, including a long snake with a seductive woman's upper body, a scrawny-headed reptile, and a creature with a baby's white legs and a centipede-like waist.
"Mighty True God, we've gathered over twenty thousand minor demons, eight hundred spirits, and twenty-five transformed ones in the Black Wind Mountain Range. We're ready to assist Red-Browed Daoist in taking Cangyu City!"
A snake demon with a seductive body and face swayed its head in the air, speaking flirtatiously.
Her eyes were filled with greed, and she flicked her tongue, appearing impatient.
"Once we devour everything, we'll retreat. The path to Wangchuan Mountain is clear, and we can leave anytime," a shriveled old man with sparse hair said with a creepy laugh.
"We need to wait for the right moment."
The bear demon's face was savage, but its voice was calm:
"Wait for Red-Browed Daoist to lead the northern ones first, then we'll act. That guy named Yue secretly sent a message to the Xia family half a month ago, but Red-Browed Daoist has a way. The Xia family won't come for now."
"Finally, a proper feast after so long. Feels great!"
"The quality of the meat sent by that Yue guy has been declining. This time, I must eat him."
"Haha, that won't be your turn. The Tiger-Robed Lord has already claimed him."
The bear demon glanced at the speaking wolf demon coldly, saying, "That Yue is the Tiger-Robed Lord's brother. Only he can have him."
"I was just saying. How could I compete with the Tiger-Robed Lord?" the wolf demon quickly laughed awkwardly.
As they chatted, the bear demon suddenly sensed something and looked towards the forest.
There, a young man in a black uniform with a knife at his waist brushed aside the roadside grass, walking towards the hill occupied by the demons.
At this moment, the other demons also noticed the approaching human. They were shocked that a human had gotten so close without them noticing!
"So many demons..."
Li Hao's gaze swept over the demons one by one.
Their aura was only slightly restrained, not fully concealed, making them stand out like candles in the night.
Seeing the hellish scene, his face changed. It was hard to imagine how many people had been brutally killed here.
"A Demon-Slaying Envoy?"
The demons, seeing Li Hao's attire, were taken aback.
The dragon pattern on his sleeve and the number of patterns on his uniform indicated he was just a Demon-Slaying Envoy.
Yet he dared to come before them?
"Hmm? A meat delivery? But the last delivery was a few days ago, and you have no meat with you."
A tiny old man with a squeaky laugh, as short as a dwarf, hopped towards Li Hao but remained cautious.
Li Hao knew what the demons meant by meat delivery.
Meat delivery? He was startled, realizing the terrifying implications hidden in the words.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind as he scanned the demons, asking, "Who among you is the Tiger-Robed Immortal?"
"Looking for the Tiger-Robed Lord?" The demons were surprised.
The scrawny old man grinned, "Kid, you're quite bold. Aren't you afraid of us?"
"Afraid?"
Li Hao slowly drew his demon-slaying knife from his waist. "You demons are bold too, surrounded by me and still not running."