A few government officials, illuminated by the torchlight, could clearly see the thing rolling on the ground—it was a human head.
Although the head was covered in blood and filth, and had picked up plenty of dust as it rolled across the floor,
they could still recognize it: it was Zhang Long's head.
Zhang Long is dead!
The one who killed him is Shen Changqing, standing right before their eyes!
In an instant,
the atmosphere turned heavy and tense.
The faces of the government officials showed shock and anger, but none dared make a move; they all understood well that someone from the Demon-Subduing Division was far beyond their ability to handle.
Besides,
Zhang Long's strength was considered one of the top in all Lin'an City.
Within the yamen, even if every government official joined together, none could hope to match him.
As powerful as Zhang Long was,
he still fell to Shen Changqing's hand.
If they went up now, it'd just be a road to death.
It was only because they wore official uniforms and ate imperial grain that these government officials weren't easily frightened away.
They advanced slowly.
Shen Changqing watched those government officials who edged back with every step, his voice cold: "Zhao Fang and Zhang Long colluded with Demon Evil and murdered over a thousand lives in Guyue Village. Now Zhang Long has met his just end; Zhao Fang alone still roams free.
Tonight, I am only here to take Zhao Fang's life. Any others not involved—leave at once. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
When they heard this,
the government officials' expressions changed again.
Zhao Fang and Zhang Long colluded with Demon Evil and murdered over a thousand lives in Guyue Village!
The moment Shen Changqing spoke, they instinctively didn't believe him.
But—
when several of them saw that Shen Changqing was dressed in the garb of the Demon-Subduing Division, with the badge of a Demon Hunter displayed at his side,
doubt began to take root in their hearts.
Just then,
under the guidance of one government official, Zhao Fang and Zhuang Mingyuan arrived as well.
"What happened here?"
Zhao Fang's expression was stern, his gaze sweeping the assembled men. As soon as he saw Shen Changqing standing there, his pupils shrank; the moment he glimpsed Zhang Long's severed head on the ground, his face twitched violently.
As soon as the words left his mouth,
the scene fell into a deathly silence.
The officials didn't answer; instead, their eyes grew complicated as they looked at the arriving Zhao Fang.
Some of them,
even quietly moved a step farther away.
Seeing this,
a heavy feeling sank into Zhao Fang's heart, but outwardly he kept his composure and saluted Shen Changqing.
"Lord Shen, may I ask what has happened? And why did Constable Zhang die here?"
When he heard this,
Shen Changqing curled his lips into a subtle smile. "Zhang Long colluded with Demon Evil and killed over a thousand innocent people in Guyue Village. I have slain him—and now I am here to make another traitor to the Human Clan pay the price."
Once he finished,
the smile on his face vanished. Fierce cold set in as a thunderous shout pierced the night.
"Zhao Fang—you have betrayed the Human Clan by conspiring with Demon Evil. Do you admit your crime!"
His voice was thunderous.
Not only did it echo throughout the yamen, but even outside people could hear it.
In an instant,
Zhao Fang's face turned ashen. "Lord Shen, you can say what you wish, but words cannot be spoken carelessly. I have served as County Magistrate of Lin'an for twenty years, always working diligently for the people, never daring a single misdeed.
Now you accuse me of colluding with Demon Evil, of harming the citizens of Guyue Village. Have you any real evidence?
Know that even as a man of the Demon-Subduing Division, to slander an imperial official is no minor offense!"
"Evidence?"
Shen Changqing stepped forward; his long blade slid quietly from its sheath, the pristine blade reflecting a chilling light in the night.
"My words are the evidence!"
As soon as he finished speaking,
his sword flashed out!
Pure Yang True Qi exploded forth. As the blade sliced through the air, a burst of thunder rattled the night, nearly deafening those who heard it.
Faced with this strike,
Zhao Fang was utterly terrified.
Though he had colluded with Demon Evil, in truth he was just an ordinary man with no martial skill, absolutely unable to resist.
Just then,
Zhuang Mingyuan, standing at Zhao Fang's side, suddenly moved.
Bam—
A miserable scream rang out, accompanied by an eruption of pitch-black blood that corroded a deep pit in the ground.
Zhuang Mingyuan sprang back in retreat.
He had completely transformed: scale armor now covered parts of his body, and countless black lines spread over his skin, exuding a chilling, evil aura.
If you looked closely,
you'd see he stood unmoving, his right arm dangling, scale armor burnt and shattered, pitch-black blood seeping from the wound.
This sudden turn of events
utterly shocked everyone.
When they finally snapped from their daze, it was to see Zhuang Mingyuan's monstrous state.
"A demon—a Demon Evil!"
Some of the more knowledgeable officials, seeing the arm covered in greenish scales, turned pale on the spot.
Zhuang Mingyuan's reveal
made them believe Shen Changqing's words completely.
Because Zhuang Mingyuan was brought out alongside Zhao Fang—if Zhuang Mingyuan was Demon Evil, then Zhao Fang was surely involved.
As the government officials retreated further,
Zhao Fang's face turned as dark as water.
He understood that Zhuang Mingyuan's exposure had completely cut off his own escape.
Yet even now,
Zhao Fang couldn't understand why Shen Changqing was still alive, while Zhang Long was dead instead.
"Why aren't you dead!"
He practically gnashed his teeth as he spoke.
Shen Changqing's gripping hand trembled slightly, shaking black blood from the blade; the once flawless blade was now pitted and dented.
"Seems I was right after all. You really did collude with Demon Evil. As for why Zhang Long died—he was simply too weak. Likewise, you will die soon, because you are too weak as well!"
As the words fell,
his long blade cleaved out once again.
This time, though, his target was no longer Zhao Fang, but Zhuang Mingyuan, standing to the side.
It was clear to see—
Zhao Fang possessed no cultivation at all, while Zhuang Mingyuan was actually a decent threat. But after breaking through to the Innate, Shen Changqing barely considered him worthy.
The long blade tore through the air with terrifying speed, like thunder.
Zhuang Mingyuan's twisted smile appeared, and his figure suddenly vanished. When the blade fell, it hit nothing but air.
At that instant,
a blast of frigid, lethal wind swept at Shen Changqing from behind.
Without even looking, Shen Changqing swept his blade back through his armpit.
Splurt!
The sound of blade cutting flesh rang out, followed by a massive force slamming into his back.
His clothes at the back were torn to shreds.
Yet as his skin split, a layer of blistering qi rose up, blasting his attacker away instead.
He drew back his blade,
retreated some distance,
then turned back, staring coldly at Zhuang Mingyuan clutching his shoulder.
Now, Zhuang Mingyuan's face was full of disbelief.
"Protective Gang Qi—you're an Innate Martial Artist? No, impossible—a Probationary Demon Hunter couldn't possibly be Innate!"
But no matter how he denied it, everything he'd just witnessed made it very clear—this was indeed Protective Gang Qi.
The man before him,
was no everyday Probationary Demon Hunter, but a powerful hunter with Innate cultivation.
At that thought,
Zhuang Mingyuan dared not linger at all, darting straight for the yamen gates in a desperate flight.