Chapter 219: Chaos in Anshi, A Sinister Ambush
The constables were surprisingly polite and respectful, not resorting to violence or intimidation.
Of course, they weren’t blind.
They had witnessed Hua Shuya’s extraordinary martial arts skills, her cultivation clearly surpassing theirs. If a fight broke out, they would be the ones suffering, and they weren’t willing to risk their lives.
Lin Tianlu smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, officers. I don’t hold this against you. It’s understandable to use necessary measures when apprehending a suspect.”
His words calmed the constables, who were relieved to avoid a conflict.
Hua Shuya sheathed her sword and stood silently beside Lin Tianlu.
The middle-aged constable looked at the scene, surprised by the dynamics between this man and woman, then said cautiously, “Since you understand, Sir, and Madam, perhaps you could hand over that demoness behind you…”
“May I ask why you’re arresting this young lady?”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious. “And it seems you’ve been chasing her for a while. You call her a demoness, so you must know what she’s done.”
Hu Siqi, hiding behind Lin Tianlu, clenched her fists, her expression complex.
The middle-aged constable’s face darkened. “It seems you’ve just arrived in Anshi County, Sir, and Madam. You don’t know about the tragic events that have been plaguing our town.”
“Please enlighten us.”
“About a month ago, a series of mysterious murders began occurring in Anshi County.”
The constable’s voice was low and grim as he recounted the events. “At first, it was just in the surrounding villages and towns. People would report that their family members had been attacked and killed. The causes of death varied, but they were all gruesome. And according to the coroner, the wounds weren’t caused by ordinary weapons or even fists and feet. They were…
…something we couldn’t explain or understand. It wasn’t something ordinary bandits or criminals could do.”
The constables’ faces were filled with disgust and revulsion.
“Magistrate Hua suspected something was amiss. He had just gotten married, but he immediately returned to take charge of the investigation, increasing patrols and gathering evidence, hoping to find the culprit behind these murders.”
Lin Tianlu frowned. “I overheard something about Magistrate Hua at the restaurant earlier…”
“Yes. He was assassinated. His death was equally gruesome.”
The middle-aged constable lowered his head and sighed. “We don’t know what happened. The constables who were with him were also killed, their bodies left exposed in the wilderness. If it weren’t for a farmer who reported it, we wouldn’t have even found his body.”
So the rumors were true.
For them to even target a government official… these criminals were truly audacious.
Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment, then asked, “What happened next?”
“Chaos descended upon Anshi County. Aside from the elderly and incompetent county governor, Magistrate Hua was the only capable official. With him gone, everything fell apart.”
The constable sighed, as if recalling a painful memory. “The people were terrified, and the murders continued. Even we, the constables and guards, were afraid to patrol the streets, fearing we would be next. If this had continued, the entire county would have collapsed.”
Even his brief account revealed the fear and desperation that had gripped the town.
It was impossible for ordinary people to live peacefully in such an environment.
“Then why are you arresting this young lady now?”
“A new magistrate arrived, surnamed Ma. Although he’s not as kind and gentle as Magistrate Hua, he’s decisive and efficient. Under his leadership, we’ve started to regain control, recruiting new officers and even enlisting the help of skilled martial artists.”
The constable’s face lit up with admiration. “In just half a month, we’ve not only captured many criminals, but we’ve even encountered… unclean things!”
“Unclean things?”
Lin Tianlu and Hua Shuya’s expressions changed. “You know about demons and ghosts?”
“Yes. Magistrate Ma informed us and even taught us some techniques. Under his guidance, we’ve been able to fight against them, even eliminate some.”
The constable pointed at Hu Siqi. “This woman possesses unnatural powers, connected to those demons and ghosts. She’s even suspected of being involved in Magistrate Hua’s assassination. We’re taking her back to the county office for questioning, on Magistrate Ma’s orders.”
“I-I didn’t!”
Hu Siqi’s face paled, and she shook her head frantically. “I don’t know anything about Magistrate Hua! I have nothing to do with it!”
“Don’t lie!”
The constable glared at her menacingly. “You’re going with us! Or we’ll kill you right here!”
“N-no! I… I might have stolen a few things, but I’ve never harmed anyone! I don’t know anything about the magistrate’s death!”
“Enough with your lies! We’ll break your limbs, so you can’t run away!”
“Wait.”
Lin Tianlu stepped forward, a smile on his face. “Your courage is admirable, officer. You must have faced many dangers these past few weeks. But it’s best to gather evidence before arresting someone. There might be a misunderstanding.”
The constable’s voice turned serious. “Don’t be fooled, Sir! This demoness is trying to deceive you! Many demons and ghosts use such tactics to gain sympathy. If you believe her lies, you’ll—”
“I understand.”
Lin Tianlu bowed slightly. “But this young lady isn’t guilty of such a crime. Her hands aren’t stained with blood. Breaking her limbs is too cruel.”
“You…”
Hu Siqi stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise.
She bit her lip, a pang of guilt and regret stabbing at her heart.
Just moments ago, she had been gloating, thinking about how she would exploit this gullible scholar.
But now, she was…
…indebted to him.
“What guarantee do you have, Sir?” The constable’s voice broke the silence.
Lin Tianlu smiled gently. “I don’t have any guarantees. But I’m willing to accompany this young lady to the county office, to verify her identity. And I’d also like to meet this ‘Magistrate Ma’ you mentioned.
To be able to restore order to this town, to even teach you how to fight against demons and ghosts… I admire such a capable official.”
“This…”
The constable was taken aback.
He hadn’t expected this scholar to make such a request.
Most people would avoid contact with officials, but this man actually wanted to meet the magistrate?
He pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
“I’m sorry, Sir, but Magistrate Ma is very busy. He doesn’t have time to meet with outsiders. And he prefers to avoid unnecessary social interactions. Your request is impossible.”
“I understand.”
Lin Tianlu nodded slightly.
It was normal for government officials to refuse to meet with ordinary citizens.
But…
“Your actions have been noticed by those criminals. I thought I should warn you.”
“What do you mean?”
The constable was confused.
Their actions had been noticed?
What did that even mean?
But in the next moment, he understood.
“Hehehe…”
A low, sinister chuckle echoed through the hallway, a chilling wind blowing through the room, like a winter draft. “You have sharp senses, scholar, to have noticed the anomaly in this inn.”
The constable’s face paled, and he drew his sword, looking around nervously. “There’s a demon here! Everyone, be on guard!”
The other constables also drew their swords, their expressions tense.
“A-a demon?!” Hu Siqi, who had been feeling guilty, now cowered behind Lin Tianlu, her body trembling uncontrollably.
This sudden surge of terrifying energy was overwhelming, far more powerful than anything she had felt from the constables.
“I just wanted to lure you here, using this girl as bait. But I didn’t expect… to attract such capable individuals as well.”
A faint mist appeared in the hallway, obscuring the moonlight streaming through the window, the air growing colder.
“Why don’t I just eliminate you all now, to avoid future trouble?”
The androgynous voice, raspy and chilling, echoed through the room, invading their minds, making the constables’ faces pale, their hands gripping their swords tightly.
“Show yourself, coward!”
The middle-aged constable roared, his aura surging, his body and sword radiating Pure Yang energy.
“Why should I listen to you?”
The mocking laughter echoed again. “And the lives of dozens of guests in this inn are in my hands. Do you truly dare to act recklessly? With a single thought, I can drain their life force, turning them into withered husks… Do you have the courage to risk so many lives, constables?”
A shadowy figure, its features indistinct, materialized in the hallway outside.
He raised his hand, his voice cold and menacing. “You’ll all die here tonight.”
Bang!
The door slammed shut, and a thick black mist seeped through the cracks.
Hu Siqi whimpered, her body trembling as she huddled behind Lin Tianlu.
The constables’ faces paled, and they rushed towards the door, trying to break it down.
But their kicks were met with an unyielding resistance, as if the door was made of solid iron. Their legs went numb.
“Damn it! This demon has trapped us! We can’t break through!”
The middle-aged constable’s expression changed, and he turned to Hua Shuya. “Madam, can you help us—”
Clang!
A flash of silver light, a blur of motion too fast for the eye to follow. The closed door was split in two, wood splintering and flying through the air, revealing the demon standing outside, his face filled with shock.
Clang!
Another flash of silver, and the demon’s body was cleaved in two before he could even react, the force of the attack splitting the wall behind him, almost cutting the entire inn in half.
“…”
The constables and Hu Siqi stared at the scene, their mouths agape, their minds reeling.
They hadn’t expected such power from a mere human…
Was this truly possible with just a sword?
Hua Shuya calmly sheathed her sword and watched as the demon’s body dissolved into black mist.
“Incredible! Such power… and a hint of Yin energy? You’re not an ordinary mortal!”
The demon’s voice, filled with shock and disbelief, echoed through the air.
“Dispel this Yin technique, and I’ll spare your life.”
Hua Shuya’s voice was cold and calm, her sword gleaming with a faint, ethereal light.
“Spare my life?”
The demon’s voice faltered.
Then he burst out laughing. “Ridiculous! Even with your strength, you’re trapped! This entire inn is enveloped in my formation. Even a Crimson Demon couldn’t escape so easily. I have plenty of time to kill everyone inside. Do you dare to challenge me again?!”
“And—”
The demon’s voice turned sinister. “I found something interesting in the next room. A glowing fox. Perhaps you know her?”
A giant hand, formed from black mist, reached towards Yun Yue’s room.
Hua Shuya’s eyes narrowed, and she was about to give chase.
But she stopped.
A slender hand emerged from behind the door of the next room, its fingers tracing a pattern in the air. A ripple of moonlight spread outwards, instantly dispelling the black mist.
“Wh-what—”
The demon stumbled out of the shadows, his back against the wall, his face filled with shock and confusion. “What happened?!”
“It means you’re surrounded.”
A hand landed on his shoulder, and the male demon jumped in fright, turning to see…
Lin Tianlu’s gentle smile, his thumb raised playfully. “I believe I heard you say something about no one escaping this inn.”
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