Chapter 73: The Serpent’s Scheme and the Foolish Magistrate

Xuange chuckled, then turned and pointed towards Moonfall Town nestled below the mountain.

“Look.”

“Where are all those humans now?”

The two demons followed his gaze.

From the four directions outside the city, plumes of smoke rose continuously, and throngs of people gathered.

“They’re all outside the city.” Xuange’s voice was tinged with triumph.

“It’s because I’ve been relentlessly sending minor demons to harass them, to die. Those thoughtless human cultivators, caught up in the thrill of the kill, came to believe that demons were nothing more than this.

“Furthermore, that idiotic magistrate, for the sake of supposed peace within the city, drove all the refugees out to be settled beyond its walls.”

Xuange turned fully, his eerie green eyes gleaming with cunning.

“This is my plan.”

“Why did I wait for you? Because only by feigning weakness, only by constantly sacrificing my own, would they lower their guard. Only then would they deliver these hundreds of human shields right to our jaws!”

Lieshan furrowed his brow, a hint of confusion in his expression.

“How can you be so certain they’ll remain outside the city? What if they retreat behind the walls and defend to the death?”

Xuange’s smile widened, radiating an absolute confidence that spoke of complete control.

“Because that magistrate is an incompetent fool.”

“And even more so…”

He lowered his voice, as if sharing a monumental secret.

“The advisor by his side is one of mine.”

She Man gasped.

A sharp intake of breath escaped She Man.

‘This wolf demon possesses truly profound cunning!’

‘To have even planted a mole within the human government!’

“So now,” She Man’s tone softened slightly, “what do you intend to do with these hundreds of refugees? Eat them?”

“Eat them? That would be a dreadful waste.”

Xuange shook his head, a cruel crimson glint flashing in his eyes.

“When the time comes, I’ll have the inconspicuous minor demons each seize a refugee.

“They will be forced to walk at the forefront, to scale the walls, and to open the gates of the inner city.

“I’d like to see if those human cultivators on the city walls, who pride themselves on their righteousness, will choose to slay demons or slaughter their own kind!”

‘What a venomous tactic!’

Lieshan and She Man exchanged glances, both seeing the same apprehension reflected in the other’s eyes.

‘This is no mere wolf.’

‘This is clearly a cunning fox demon, cloaked in a wolf’s hide!’

“But…”

Lieshan still hesitated. “If we proceed this way, the karmic debt will be too immense for the demon race. The backlash of destiny will surely follow…”

In the cultivation world, both humans and demons adhere to the principles of karma.

While killing itself carries karma, using unarmed mortals as human shields generates a karmic debt so profound it could shatter one’s soul during tribulation, leaving them utterly annihilated by the heavens.

This was precisely why the Demon Emperor had commanded them to devour their own kind to bolster their strength for a direct assault, rather than resorting to such despicable tactics.

The smile vanished from Xuange’s face.

He abruptly raised his hand, swiftly forming several strange incantations with his fingertips.

A surge of black and crimson aura erupted from his body, shooting straight into the sky.

“By the heavens above!”

Xuange’s voice, hoarse and resolute, echoed between the mountain cliffs.

“In this battle, all bloodshed, all karma, shall be borne by me, Xuange!”

“It shall concern no one else!”

A rumble!

In the night sky, a faint, muffled thunderclap resounded.

The black and crimson aura swirled once in the air, finally transforming into a blood-red rune that sank into Xuange’s glabella.

‘This is a Blood Oath!’

‘Witnessed by the Heavenly Dao!’

She Man and Lieshan were utterly stunned.

‘Xuange, to conquer this small city, would actually bear such a heavy karmic burden?’

‘What could he possibly be after?’

“Enough.”

Xuange lowered his hand. A vertical blood-red mark now adorned his glabella, making him appear even more demonic and terrifying.

He looked at the two demons, his voice eerily calm.

“Now, I have taken on the karma.”

“I have prepared the human shields.”

“Do either of you, or your subordinates, still have anything you dare not kill?”

The apprehension in She Man’s eyes dissipated, replaced by a surge of frenzied greed and murderous intent.

‘With someone else bearing the karma, what the hell is there to fear?!’

“Heheheh…”

She offered a charming, seductive smile, her laughter carrying far on the night wind.

“Brother Xuange truly possesses remarkable courage.”

“Since that is the case, this humble one would be remiss to refuse.”

Lieshan, too, bared his wide mouth, revealing a set of gleaming white fangs.

“Since that is the case, then let us kill!”

Xuange turned, his gaze once more fixed on the brightly lit Moonfall Town.

The wind whipped his great cloak, making it flap loudly.

No one knew what thoughts occupied his mind.

Nor did anyone comprehend why he had gone to such lengths.

He simply stared at the small city, as one might gaze at already fallen prey.

“Tonight, at midnight.”

“Slaughter the city.”

The vermilion gates of the Magistrate’s Manor remained tightly shut.

Under the cloak of night, two stone lions seemed to bare their fangs and claws, appearing particularly ferocious.

Lu Hongzhuang pushed the wheelchair, not bothering to knock on the brass knocker. Instead, she simply raised her foot. *Kuang!* The thick wooden door let out a mournful groan, the sound of its bolt snapping clearly audible.

The two gatekeepers, startled from their slumber, were about to curse. However, catching sight of the red-clad, formidable Lu Hongzhuang in the lantern light, they swallowed their profanities. Their expressions twisted into smiles uglier than a cry.

“Lady… Lady Lu? What brings you here so late at night…”

“Move.”

Lu Hongzhuang uttered only that single word, then pushed Su Qinghan straight through the entrance.

Su Qinghan’s expression was grim. Her fingers gripped the wheelchair armrests so tightly that her knuckles turned white from the strain.

There was no time to spare.

Every moment of delay brought the hundreds of lives outside the city one step closer to the gates of hell.

They passed through the front courtyard, heading directly for the back hall.

Before they even reached the main house, named the ‘Hall of Integrity’, bursts of coquettish laughter and men’s jovial shouts seeped through the door cracks. In the somber night, these sounds were particularly grating.

“Master~ come catch me~”

“Heheheh, my little beauty, don’t run. Let your master give you a kiss!”

“Oh, Master, you’re so naughty, where are you touching~”

“Caught you! Now where will you run? Is it Lü’er or Hong’er?”

Inside the room, the lights blazed, and a warm, cozy atmosphere prevailed.

A middle-aged man, corpulent as a ball, had his eyes covered by a gaudy, large red silk scarf. He was flailing his arms, stumbling around the room like a headless fly.

Several scantily clad, heavily made-up women waved their handkerchiefs, darting and weaving around him, occasionally emitting bursts of bell-like, flirtatious laughter.

This stout man was none other than Jia Qinglian, the Magistrate of Moonfall Town.

Where was even a shred of tension, with a formidable enemy at their doorstep?

They were utterly oblivious to their impending doom!

Lu Hongzhuang’s fury flared, and she kicked open the room door.

“Bang!”

This tremendous crash was even louder than when she had kicked open the main gates.

The laughter inside abruptly ceased.

The concubines shrieked in fright, huddling together.

Jia Qinglian, who had been lunging in one direction, was so startled by the sudden boom that his corpulent body trembled. His feet slipped, and with a *thump*, he fell face-first onto the floor.

“Who?! Which blind dog dares to ruin this master’s enjoyment!”

He ripped the red silk scarf from his eyes, scrambling to his feet in a fit of rage, his jowly face quivering.

The moment he recognized the two figures standing at the doorway, especially the red-clad woman with a sword and a murderous aura, Jia Qinglian’s arrogant bluster instantly deflated by half.

“Lady… Lady Lu?”

He wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead, forcing out a greasy smile, his tiny, pea-like eyes filled with fawning deference.

“What brings you here so late at night? Is there some urgent matter? Have those demons been causing trouble again?”

Lu Hongzhuang was a master from the Demon Exorcism Division, a living Bodhisattva who could save his life. Even with ten times his courage, he wouldn’t dare offend her.

Lu Hongzhuang ignored him, simply pushing the wheelchair forward a little.

Only then did Jia Qinglian notice Su Qinghan in the wheelchair.

A flicker of disdain crossed his eyes upon seeing the crippled woman, but out of respect for Lu Hongzhuang, he still offered a perfunctory bow.

“This must be… Miss Su, Lady Lu’s dear friend, correct?”

“Su Qinghan,” Su Qinghan stated coldly. Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable chill. “Magistrate Jia certainly has fine tastes. With death looming, you still find pleasure in playing hide-and-seek.”

Jia Qinglian’s face darkened.

No one would be pleased to be told their death was imminent, especially not the head of an entire town.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Ability Inside

AngstBLFriendsToLovers

Read Now →
Not interested