Chapter 61: Black Wind Mountain Range

"Full regional intelligence? Only a Demon Suppression Master can access it," Cui Fan said.

While Demon Suppression Officers could lead demon-slaying missions independently, their duties were limited to rural towns and villages.

But his intention wasn't refusal. With a smile, he added, "Still, you've traveled far, eager to hunt demons. I can't deny such a request. Please follow me."

He led Li Hao and the others into a side chamber within the Demon-Subduing Bureau.

Inside, guards were present—Cui Fan greeted them warmly, then ushered a small group deeper into the room.

There hung a large map: the Cangyu City Realm Boundary Survey, encompassing dozens of nearby towns and countless villages.

Cui Fan retrieved a thick ledger from a shelf and turned to hand it to Li Hao.

"This is our demon-slaying record from the past half-year in the Cangyu region. Take your time reading it. After lunch, I’ll personally escort you on a patrol tour."

He smiled.

Li Hao opened the ledger and began reading with intense focus. Li Yuanzhao leaned in beside him, equally curious, scanning the entries with keen interest.

...

In the outskirts of the city, nestled within a wealthy estate, a plump, elegant young woman reclined on a soft couch, slowly flipping through a ledger.

"Yan Lady, ten copper coins," she murmured.

"Zhang Lady, eight copper coins."

Her voice was soft, her gaze gentle as she scanned the accounts.

"Spring Spirit Beast disturbances have been frequent this year," she said to the steward beside her. "The farmers’ harvests have been poor. Let’s ease their taxes—this hardship is too much..."

The steward blinked, hesitating. "Lady, your kindness is admirable... but the household income is already strained. If we reduce taxes further, our budget will shrink dangerously."

"We’ll tighten our own spending," she replied softly. "Let the farmers have a decent year."

The steward nodded. "I’ll speak to the master about it."

"Your Highness, you’ve been poring over ledgers all morning. You must be weary. It’s time to rest."

A young, bright-eyed maid stepped forward, her voice laced with concern.

The woman gently stroked her swollen belly, her eyes softening with maternal warmth. She closed the ledger, then slowly rose with the maid’s help, returning to her private chamber.

"I’ll go fetch some snacks for you," the maid said, helping her settle into bed.

The woman nodded faintly.

As the maid left, the door clicked shut behind her.

Alone, she placed a hand on her belly, whispering tenderly, "My child… the New Year’s approaching. Mother will soon hold you in her arms."

Her eyes shimmered with quiet longing.

"Ah, you’re eager to meet me, aren’t you?"

Suddenly, a strange, high-pitched child’s voice echoed through the silent room—sharp, unnatural.

She snapped back to awareness, eyes widening in shock, staring down at her belly.

She had heard it clearly—the voice had come from within her womb, from her eighth month of pregnancy.

"You..."

Before she could process it, her stomach bulged violently, swelling rapidly. A searing, tearing pain ripped through her.

Pfft.

With a wet pop, her navel split open—not blood, but a burst of Qi, like a ruptured spirit pouch, instantly deflating.

A gaunt, damp head, slick with blood, slowly emerged from her abdomen. Behind it, a long, serpentine limb—twisting and writhing, neither snake nor centipede, but something far more grotesque.

Even with years of managing a great household, the woman’s composure shattered. She screamed, collapsing unconscious.

"Such hypocrisy," the creature chuckled, its mouth splitting wide—rows of jagged teeth glinting in the dim light.

Its body slithered up her torso, then lunged forward, biting deep into her skull. It swallowed her entire upper half in one gulp, its body swelling grotesquely.

"Monstrous beast!!"

A furious voice thundered through the air.

Golden light flashed—like a streak of lightning—and a slender figure pierced through the wall, landing in the room with effortless grace. It was Song Yueyao.

"Huh?"

The creature paused, its expression shifting instantly to fear. It spat out the half-eaten body, then darted like a viper toward the window, scrambling to escape.

"Golden Lock Dragon Restraint!" Song Yueyao’s voice was ice.

She snapped her fingers, invoking a forbidden technique—one of the Spirit-Wandering Arts. Though the spirit soul couldn’t wound the flesh directly, it could unravel the very essence of demonic beings.

Golden light surged, sealing the creature in a radiant cage. It writhed, trapped, unable to move.

Moments later, footsteps pounded in. Song Yueyao’s true body burst through the window, leaping down and slashing with her sword—cutting the creature’s head clean off in a single stroke.

Two more swift cuts severed the body entirely.

She moved swiftly to the bed.

What she saw made her blood run cold.

The woman’s face was a ruin—flesh torn and rotting. Her abdomen was hollow, emptied of all organs.

Too late…

Her face darkened. Despite her years of demon-slaying, a pang of fury and sorrow gripped her. She had failed.

At that moment, servants and maids flooded in, followed by the estate’s master—a middle-aged merchant in his forties.

Song Yueyao immediately ordered her team to seal the room, preventing any civilians from seeing the horror.

"You’re from the Demon-Subduing Bureau?!" The man recognized the official robes of Tian Congzhi, his face paling. "Where’s Lian’er? What happened to her?!"

"Inside is a spirit beast," Tian Congzhi said, his voice grim. "Do not enter."

"Impossible! There’s no spirit beast in my home! You must be mistaken—let me see her!" The man shoved Tian Congzhi, teeth clenched.

Song Yueyao stepped out, her sword sheathed. She glanced at the man, her expression unreadable.

"Your wife is dead. She was killed by a spirit beast. I’ve already slain it. You may give her a proper burial."

"Dead? She’s… dead?" The man froze, then erupted into rage, shoving past Tian Congzhi, desperate to rush inside.

Tian Congzhi couldn’t strike a civilian. He held back, blocking the way.

Song Yueyao gave him a subtle shake of the head—let him go.

He had to see it. He had to accept it.

The man stumbled into the room.

The sight struck him like lightning—his world shattered.

He stood frozen, eyes wide, mouth open, utterly broken.

Song Yueyao turned to Tian Congzhi. "Stay and handle the aftermath. I’m going to report to the City Guardian."

"Understood."

Before she could leave, the man grabbed her arm, his eyes bloodshot, voice raw with grief.

"Why? Why didn’t you come sooner?! Why?!"

"Give me back my Lian’er! Give her back!"

Song Yueyao flinched, instinctively pulling away. With a flick of her wrist, she sent him sprawling to the ground.

He landed hard, but didn’t rise. He just sank to his knees, clutching his head, sobbing uncontrollably.

"She said… she said this was her first time as a mother. She even picked a name for him… Why… why would you do this to Lian’er? Heaven, you’re unfair!!"

His wail echoed through the courtyard. The servants and maids outside, trapped behind the sealed door, heard every word—each one trembling with shock.

A flicker of guilt passed through Song Yueyao’s heart. She looked at the broken man—his mind shattered, his soul broken.

There was no reasoning with him now.

She tightened her grip on her sword, turned, and walked away swiftly.

Why couldn’t we have come sooner… she thought, biting her lip.

...

In the city governor’s mansion, Song Yueyao arrived in an instant—lightning-fast, precise.

"Master Yue, you summoned me?" she asked, seeing the City Guardian.

Yue Shuhong, a man in his forties with an air of refined grace, looked up from his seat. In his eyes, a deep flicker of admiration.

A prodigy at twenty, already nearing the Perfection Realm—this was the chasm between genius and ordinary.

"Song Circuit Inspector," he said, smiling gently. "You’ve only just arrived, yet already you’ve saved a town from disaster. Thank you."

Song Yueyao, still shaken from the estate, gave a curt nod. "Slaying demons is our duty. No need for thanks. Why did you call me?"

Yue Shuhong, seasoned in reading people, saw no flattery in her tone. He liked that. His expression grew solemn.

"You’ve surely seen our recent demon-slaying records. For half a year, spirit beasts have been appearing with increasing frequency. And about two weeks ago, reports emerged from the Black Wind Mountain Range—over a hundred miles east of the city. Spirit beasts have been gathering there. Caravan escorts passing through have all vanished without a trace."

He spread a comprehensive terrain map across the table, pointing to a jagged mountain range in the east.

"I sent scouts. Four Demon Suppression Masters died… only then did we learn the truth."

He looked directly at Song Yueyao, his voice grave.

"One of them is a Great Demon. It seeks to unify the lesser beasts in the region and conquer the entire Cangyu City."

Li Hao’s eyes narrowed.

Cangyu City—home to millions. Conquer it all? This wasn’t just a raid. This was an annihilation.

Even on the frontier, such a threat was rare.

"Did you inform the Xia Family?" Song Yueyao asked sharply.

The Xia Family—among the Four Divine Generals, guarding the great province of Qizhou.

Yue Shuhong sighed. "I did. But they’re engaged in another war. They said to wait until the beast actually attacks before sending reinforcements. Said not to panic over rumors."

Song Yueyao’s eyes flashed with anger—but she held her tongue. The residence of a Divine General was not a place for criticism. One careless word, if leaked, could harm Tancheng Palace.

"So… is this information real?" she asked.

Yue Shuhong’s face hardened. "It’s true."

He paused, then added, "But I can’t guarantee one hundred percent. So… if possible, could you—Song Circuit Inspector—go request their aid?"

Song Yueyao frowned. She didn’t know Yue Shuhong well. She wasn’t eager to be used as a pawn.

After a moment, she said, "I only hold the rank of Circuit Inspector. I may not even be able to convince them. Let me first go verify the truth myself."

Yue Shuhong seemed to expect this. He nodded. "Very well. But the Black Wind Mountain Range is dangerous. If you go, let me accompany you."

"No need," she replied. "I’ll only scout the outskirts."

She bowed slightly, then left.

As she vanished through the door, Yue Shuhong stared after her, silent for a long time.

Then, with a soft sigh, he whispered, "A true warrior… but so young."

...

Elsewhere—within the Demon-Subduing Bureau.

Li Hao had finished reading the recent demon-slaying records.

He also discovered scattered intelligence on other spirit beast sightings.

"Black Wind Mountain Range… spirit beasts gathering…"

His eyes narrowed, a spark of determination flaring.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end