Chapter Nine: Demons in Disarray, Lady White Jade

Just then, a sharp, shrill cry erupted from the rear courtyard of the Ye residence, a sound neither human nor beast, so piercing and strange that Ye Santong sprang to his feet, his expression suddenly transformed. Han Chong turned as well, looking toward the courtyard ahead of Ye Santong, and asked, “What was that noise?”

Ye Santong, startled and suspicious, quickly suppressed his agitation and forced a calm smile. “Ha, just some livestock in the backyard. The servants must have made a racket during slaughter. Nothing to worry about. Chief Han, please continue enjoying your wine. I’ll be back in a moment. Caiyi, make sure you attend to Chief Han properly.”

With that, Ye Santong strode briskly through the corridor, his pace quickening until he vanished from sight. Han Chong’s heart tightened; Yue Lengyue must have been discovered. He was about to chase after Ye Santong when Caiyi clung to him.

“Get out of my way!” Han Chong shoved her aside with a forceful swing of his arm.

She cried out, tumbling to the floor, casting a pitiful gaze at him, tears threatening to spill like petals in the rain. “Chief Han, what are you doing? You hurt me, oh, it hurts!”

She feigned a coy pout, trying to rise and tumble herself into Han Chong’s arms. But Han Chong remained unmoved. “Wicked creature, reveal your true form!” He drew the blade from his waist in a flash, ready to strike.

Caiyi’s face changed dramatically. Her eyes glowed with an eerie green light, piercing into Han Chong’s gaze. He felt his vision blur, his mind fogging as if lulled to sleep, and the woman before him seemed seductively beautiful.

Caiyi summoned her jeweled pipa, which floated gently from the chair into her hands. The strings sang out once again, and Han Chong slumped into the round chair, his mind growing ever more clouded.

No! Such a powerful soul-capturing melody! If he succumbed, she would surely slaughter him. A fleeting clarity flashed through Han Chong’s mind; he bit his tongue hard.

Pain jolted him awake, freeing him from the pipa demon’s spell. He opened his mouth and spat a torrent of blue flames at her.

“Ah!” Caiyi shrieked in terror, unable to dodge as the flames closed in around her. The more she released her demonic aura to resist, the fiercer the fire burned. In the blink of an eye, she was reduced to a charred corpse.

Yet the jeweled pipa remained unscathed, falling to the floor.

[Chime! Congratulations to the host for slaying the Yellow Jade Pipa Spirit! You have entered the third stage of the Early Refined Essence realm. Current essence value: 80 points! Chime! Congratulations to the host for gaining a skill point—choose a new spell or upgrade one!]

So she was a pipa spirit, not strong but skilled in soul-capturing sound, likely on par with the headless ghost. No time to ponder new spells; Han Chong rushed toward the rear courtyard, fending off servants who tried to block his way.

He spat blue and red flames as he ran, terrifying the servants into fleeing in a panic.

At last, he reached the courtyard’s center, where the gate was bolted shut. After driving the servants away, he hacked and kicked at the heavy wooden door, breaking it open after ten breaths.

A suffocating stench of blood hit him, making him retch; he quickly covered his mouth and nose.

He saw a garden enclosed by tall walls, dozens of feet across. At its center stood a two-yard-tall tea tree, its leaves identical to the demon tea served at noon!

Beneath its roots, in a deep pit, several mutilated dried corpses lay, impaled and twisted by countless bronze-colored roots.

The tea tree writhed like a living creature, whipping two branches furiously at Lengyue, who stood at swordpoint, beset in the courtyard.

They were surrounded—not just by the demon tea tree and Ye Santong, but also by a pitch-black cat the size of a leopard and the old fox demon whose forearm Han Chong had severed earlier.

Around them clustered a dozen fierce fox and cat demons, unable to stand upright, snarling and prowling, waiting for an opening.

The garden had become a den of monsters, enough to make one’s skin crawl in terror!

Lengyue, clad in black, was already wounded, her arm and thigh streaked with blood, a crimson pool beneath her. Yet, true to her post as a Demon-Slaying Constable, she moved like a phantom, her swordplay weaving a wall of silver light, impenetrable and dazzling.

This was the strength of a high-level Refined Essence cultivator: robust, enduring energy reserves, able to fight for long periods. Combined with her swift, fierce swordsmanship, she could hold her own against four foes.

Seeing Han Chong arrive, she made no sound, still forcing herself to fight.

Han Chong narrowed his eyes. The situation was dire; at this point, there was nothing for it but to fight—when two tigers meet, the brave one prevails!

“Wicked creatures, your arrogance ends here!”

With a long cry, he joined the fray, his right hand glowing with blue light as he slashed forward.

The old fox shrieked, its red fur bristling in terror—it was the wretched constable who had severed its limb!

The three monsters and two humans stared in horror as Han Chong unleashed a blue blade of light that shot forth like a bolt.

With a sickening splatter, the demon tea tree, as thick as a barrel, was cleaved in two and collapsed with a crash!

Han Chong smiled coldly. The old fox and giant black cat were both speed demons; best to dispatch the slow but tough tea tree demon first.

The system didn’t signal the tea tree demon’s death, though; its lower half continued twitching wildly. Though crippled, it still clung to life.

At that moment, Xia Ruxuan and the giant white goose burst in behind Han Chong. Enemies meeting again only heightened their fury.

Xia Ruxuan brandished her silver spear at Ye Santong, while the white goose honked loudly, charging at the giant black cat.

Lengyue, weakened by blood loss, wavered but pressed her silver teeth together, thrusting her sword at the old fox.

Han Chong rushed to the tea tree demon’s roots, spewing flames to burn it to ashes, then dashed after the smaller demons, fire spraying from his mouth.

[Chime! Congratulations to the host for slaying the Tea Tree Monster!]

Suddenly, a chilling cat’s scream echoed. Han Chong turned to see the giant white goose savagely mauling the black cat demon—despite its agility, the goose dominated it. Within half a stick of incense, the black cat was battered, staggering and near death.

“Cat demon, face your end!”

Han Chong unleashed another demon-slaying blade, finishing the black cat demon before the goose could.

The goose glared at him, honking furiously, seemingly displeased.

[Chime! Congratulations to the host for slaying the Black Cat Demon!]

Just then, atop the three-yard-high wall, a beam of moonlight flashed, and the hiss of a giant snake startled everyone, their hair standing on end.

Looking up, they saw a massive white python, as thick as a barrel, draped over the wall, poised to strike.

“Lady White Jade, you’re finally here—save your loyal servant!” The battered old fox wailed, rushing toward the white python.

“A pack of useless fools! Can’t even handle three humans!” the white python spat, her voice icy and cold, then launched herself at the most wounded, Lengyue!

Danger! Han Chong’s face darkened; if the old fox called her Lady, she must be of a higher rank, and far stronger!

Even if he used his demon-slaying blade, he couldn’t save Lengyue in time!

Han Chong frantically searched his system for a rescue spell.

Transference: Transfers damage from staff or whip attacks onto another object. Level one consumes four essence points per breath.

Relief: Delivers from peril, also called “Relief from eating”—a prayer or chant to dispel calamity and invite blessing. Level one consumes twenty essence points per breath.

Summon: Draws a target or object toward the caster. Level one consumes twelve essence points per breath.

At this critical moment, Summon seemed the most reliable!

Summon! Selected!

Insight flashed through Han Chong’s mind. Both hands radiated a pale glow as he reached forward!

The giant white python lunged at Lengyue, about to devour her—but in a flash of white light, the prey vanished. More than that, Lengyue happened to be standing right beside the wall.

With a thunderous crash, the white python smashed headlong into the stone wall, shrieking in agony, writhing in pain.

Lengyue, whose eyes had been wide with despair, had all but given up. This snake demon was nearly at the peak of Refined Essence, far stronger than herself! Even in full health, she might not escape alive.

The fetid wind and gaping jaws were about to close, so Lengyue raised her arm and shut her eyes—but suddenly, her whole body became weightless, spinning, and she was untouched by the snake’s maw.

Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself staring at a human face, surrounded by warmth, the breath of a man enveloping her.

Looking closer, she realized she was cradled in a man’s arms.

“Ah!” She shrieked, slapping the man’s face.

Han Chong, caught off guard by the spell’s effect, found himself holding soft jade and fragrant warmth. He meant to embrace her with his left hand and strike at the white python with his right, but received a slap instead, dizzying him.

“It’s you! How could I—” Lengyue finally saw it was Han Chong, her face astonished.

“Get out of the way!” Han Chong pushed Lengyue aside, steadying himself.

He slashed again, sending a blue blade toward the white python still writhing in pain against the wall.

The snake sensed the attack, spitting two streams of blue poison at the blade. The venom, tangible as it was, corroded the blade of light, fizzling and burning as the blade’s momentum faltered, dissolving before it reached the snake!

Everyone gasped in shock!

Xia Ruxuan and the white goose joined them, confronting the white python.

Han Chong’s heart pounded—he had fought his way in, slain the tea tree demon, the black cat demon, and numerous lesser monsters; then used Summon to rescue Lengyue, followed by the demon-slaying blade. His essence, once 80, was now down to 12 points!

Despite killing so many demons, the system had not signaled a level-up. If things went on, all three and the goose would perish in the snake’s jaws—a total defeat!

The white python’s scales were scraped, but her strength was undiminished.

Seeing Han Chong hesitate, she realized he must be nearly out of power.

“Hahaha!”

The white python twisted, her upper body transforming into a seductive woman. Her skin gleamed white as jade, with white scales covering her chest. She laughed sharply, circling the three and the goose.

“What’s wrong, boy? Out of tricks? You slew my Black Cat Demon and Tea Tree Demon, gravely wounded my Old Fox Demon—let’s see how arrogant you are now!”

“Hmph! Wicked creature, how about a wager?” Han Chong said quietly.

“Oh? How interesting. What shall we bet?” The White Jade Snake Demon’s slitted pupils flickered with intrigue.

“I bet you won’t kill us today. If I win, you owe me a copper coin.”

“Hahaha! Little constable, you dare bluff me—must be out of your mind! Now die!”