“Move!”

Clerk Liu waved his hand, and the whole procession swept out onto the main street.

“After you, Constable Shen.”

The Gaunt Monk clasped his hands behind his back, smiling pleasantly.

Shen Yi pulled the door shut behind him. Something cold moved through his eyes.

These people had come prepared. Not just the pretext — they’d calculated his capabilities. The constables carried not just sabers but spears over a zhang in length. The garrison soldiers all had heavy crossbows. Neither of those would trouble a demon or a martial practitioner much in isolation — but with the Gaunt Monk available to pin and constrain—

Two Yellow Kings could be laid out flat under those conditions.

“Let’s see what you’re actually planning.” Zhang Tuhu came up dark-faced and took his place behind Shen Yi.

The Gaunt Monk’s expression flickered at that, but he didn’t object — just raised an eyebrow with his smile intact. “Do as you like. I’m only here under orders.”

There was nothing worth saying. The three of them walked in silence, the onlookers on either side watching with unease, as the group headed out through the city gates.

About thirty li outside Baiyun County lay Shiling Village.

Clerk Liu was visibly agitated, face dark, striding ahead and occasionally glancing back at Shen Yi — each look adding another layer to the killing intent in his eyes.

“Is this a demon hunt or an execution?” Even Zhang Dahu had noticed something was wrong, straining against his captor until two spear tips pressed against his throat, drawing thin lines of blood.

“Where exactly are we going?”

The Niu brothers weren’t struggling — just watching in confusion as the group passed Shiling Village entirely without stopping and turned onto a narrow track.

“Past here it’s all wasteland. Aren’t you worried about running into demons?”

The Gaunt Monk’s smile took on a sardonic quality. He slowed to a stop.

Almost simultaneously, everyone halted. The constables and soldiers opened a path — then kicked the captives’ legs out from under them. They went down hard, blades pressing cold against their necks.

A few of the constables looked away.

At the edge of sight, in the dim moonlight, a small thatched shelter stood at the roadside. A tall figure stood at the table in a plain cloth robe, dark fur visible at the wrists, pouring wine into a bowl with careful attention.

The figure seated at the table was smaller, wrapped in a straw rain cape with a broad hat, back to the group — apparently enjoying a late meal.

“This is bad.” Zhang Tuhu looked ahead with a grim expression.

He finally understood why his elder brother hadn’t minded him coming along. There were two Threshold Realm demons ahead.

The seated one carried a restless, volatile quality to its qi — clearly a recent breakthrough — but the density was unmistakable. Threshold Perfection.

The standing one was slightly beneath that, but roughly his own level — even had a similar build. Add his elder brother, plus thirty or forty constables and soldiers—

Zhang Tuhu had enough experience to read the situation in a single breath.

“Go.“

Better to walk away. No sense taking a loss right now.

“I’ve brought him to you.”

Clerk Liu mustered his courage and walked to the shelter, voice straining for steadiness. “Those ape demons weren’t killed by me — I suppressed the news about the children you took, too. I know you wanted him drawn out.” A pause. “Lord Ape — I had a son late in life. Please. Give me back my son.”

“Be quiet.”

The tall ape in the cloth robe set down the wine jar and gave him a flat, cold look.

“Yes — yes, of course.” Clerk Liu hunched forward with an obsequious laugh, and waved a hand behind him.

The garrison soldiers raised their crossbows, trained on Shen Yi. The spears came down from multiple angles, sealing off any retreat.

At the table, the old ape in the rain cape let out a satisfied belch, set down the last of what it had been eating, and stood. It wiped its mouth on its sleeve. In the moonlight, thirteen small skulls were arranged neatly on the table, cleaned to a shine, the empty eye sockets staring outward.

It turned around and nodded with something like courtesy. Its voice was dry and unhurried.

“Thank you.”

Clerk Liu’s expression brightened at the acknowledgment — then his gaze landed on the table. Something nagged at him. He started counting on his fingers.

His face went the color of ash.

His legs gave out. He sank toward the ground in a trembling heap, throat working, no words coming — only a series of hollow, animal sounds forcing their way out.

Zhang Tuhu looked at the skulls and couldn’t keep the expression off his face. He spun on the Gaunt Monk. “You diseased lunatic — have you lost your mind completely?”

“Nothing to do with me.” The Gaunt Monk frowned and spread his hands. “I haven’t done anything. I came tonight under the county magistrate’s orders to accompany Clerk Liu and investigate. If you want to point blame at someone—” the smile returned, eyes moving, “—perhaps ask Constable Shen how he’s been handling his responsibilities.”

“Go to hell with that — four people to cover two hundred thousand lives, while actively helping the demons suppress information — if I were Demon Suppression Division I’d take these people’s heads first—”

Zhang Tuhu was still going when he noticed the space beside him had emptied.

He looked up.

Shen Yi was walking forward in silence, the spears and crossbows apparently unworthy of his attention. He stopped beside Chen Ji, crouched, and drew the saber from Chen Ji’s scabbard.

“Just run — there’ll be other chances—” Chen Ji got that far before someone shoved him back down.

The constable who’d done it stared at Shen Yi’s profile and couldn’t find a single word.

Shen Yi had already reached the shelter.

The two ape demons looked at him without expression. The younger, larger one sneered. “Kneel the way he’s kneeling and you might still get to keep your body in one piece.”

“Kill them! Idiot! You like making a spectacle of yourself — I am ordering you, kill them now!“

Clerk Liu was tearing at his own sleeves, the sound he made barely human.

That particular sound lasted only a moment before it changed — becoming something wet and quiet.

Moonlight on a blade.

The white-haired head dropped.

Shen Yi looked at the two ape demons, using the old man’s blue-green robe to wipe down the borrowed blade while the body was still falling.

Across the road, the constables’ hands went damp around their spear shafts.

The garrison soldiers swallowed. Crossbows had been leveled at that thin silhouette for some time. Arrows were nocked. Nobody had released.

“The audacity—!”

The Gaunt Monk stood frozen for a half-second, then surged forward in fury.

He’d come tonight under orders — not as the primary instrument against Shen Yi, only to protect Clerk Liu and anchor the formation. A supporting role.

He hadn’t expected the madman to stand in front of both demons and cut down the Clerk first. More infuriatingly — the two old apes were simply standing there watching.

To anyone who didn’t know better, it looked like Shen Yi was the one who’d arranged the ambush.

In his furious rush forward, a thick arm swung out and connected with his chest — no restraint behind it.

The Gaunt Monk stumbled back several steps, barely keeping his footing, and roared: “You stupid animal — didn’t you see him kill someone?!”

Zhang Tuhu’s face had gone ugly. He had the slaughter knife out. “Go straight to hell!“

And at that moment.

The two ape demons’ blank eyes finally showed a ripple.

(End of Chapter)