Chapter Eleven: The New Magistrate and the Temple of the River Demon

Han Chong glanced at Leng Yue, suspicion flickering in his eyes, but she gave a subtle shake of her head in response.

“Your return is just in time, Sir Sima,” hurriedly interjected Chief Constable Kong, sensing the awkward tension in the room. “Allow me to introduce our new county magistrate, Master Yu Yuan, who just assumed office yesterday.”

He continued, “Master Yu, this is His Excellency from the Demon Slayers’ Bureau, and beside him stands Deputy Chief Constable Han Chong, whom I have mentioned to you before.” He then barked, “Chief Han, present yourself before the magistrate!”

Han Chong clasped his hands before his chest and bowed respectfully, all the while watching Yu Yuan’s expression closely. “Han Chong at your service, Master Yu.”

Yu Yuan gave a small nod. “So you are Chief Han. And who is that man being escorted outside?”

He gestured toward the door, where Ye Santong was being led by Skinny Monkey and the others, a trace of doubt creasing his brow.

“My lord, I assisted Commander Leng in investigating the disturbance in Saltwater Town, and we discovered that Ye Santong had conspired with an old fox demon who had taken on the appearance of the former magistrate, Li Cheng. Under the pretense of offering tribute tea, they controlled Saltwater Town, secretly harmed tea farmers to feed a tree demon, and amassed vast riches. After a fierce battle, Commander Leng and I slew the fox demon and brought Ye Santong here to face your judgment.”

Yu Yuan’s expression softened slightly. “So that’s how it is. You have worked hard, Commander. Please, come inside—your presence is a blessing for the people of Qingqian County!” He then turned coldly to Chief Constable Kong. “Take this villain, who colluded with monsters, and throw him in the dungeon. We’ll interrogate him later.”

The magistrate dismissed Han Chong with barely a glance, his attention quickly shifting to warmly usher Leng Yue inside. Han Chong observed every move, wondering whether the new magistrate was truly human or something else in disguise. To be safe, he called over Skinny Monkey and the others. “You four, escort Ye Santong to the dungeon with Chief Kong. Do not let him out of your sight for even a moment—should anything happen to him, you’ll answer to me.”

“Don’t worry, boss! This is nothing,” said one of his men with a grin.

Chief Kong, boisterous and careless, clapped Han Chong on the shoulder and strode off toward the jail. Han Chong nodded, but unease lingered. Things would not be so simple, he was sure. Since Leng Yue had signaled that the magistrate was human, there was likely no mistake. Han Chong then followed them into the inner hall.

Leng Yue sat at the seat of honor, with the magistrate standing nearby. When Han Chong entered, Yu Yuan’s face soured. “Chief Han, this does not concern you. Return to your duties.”

Han Chong halted and turned to go, but Leng Yue spoke up, “Wait! Chief Han assisted me in slaying demons—he may remain and listen.”

Only then did the magistrate force a smile. “Well, if Commander allows it, you may stay.”

Han Chong bowed his thanks and entered.

“Master Yu,” Leng Yue began calmly, “why do you not interrogate Ye Santong and record his confession immediately? The sooner this case is resolved, the sooner I may continue hunting monsters elsewhere.”

Yu Yuan cleared his throat. “I have only just arrived from Peijun Prefecture and am unfamiliar with the affairs of Qingqian County. I must first investigate the local situation before passing judgment. Such matters of governance need not trouble you, Commander.”

He continued, “In fact, when I took office, Prefect Yin mentioned that the Yichuan County office had recently reported a spate of fishing boats sinking in the Yinchuan River, with over a dozen constables dead or injured—clearly not the work of man, but of monsters. Lord Cai has already notified the local Demon Slayers’ Bureau, and I expect word will soon go out to the nearest commanders. Since our county is closest, Commander Leng, you are surely to be the first called.”

The magistrate’s words left Leng Yue pale with anger. Though a commander of the Demon Slayers’ Bureau outranked a county magistrate by three grades, their authority only extended where monsters were involved. Yu Yuan was clearly pushing Leng Yue to leave and not meddle in the Ye Santong case, even invoking the authority of the bureau itself. What was his true intent?

Just then, Leng Yue suddenly stiffened, glanced westward out the hall as if seeing some signal in the sky, and sighed. “Since there is trouble in Yichuan County, I must depart at once. Farewell.”

“Safe travels, Commander!” Yu Yuan smiled triumphantly, bowing deeply. Before Han Chong could say goodbye, Leng Yue had already leapt to the roof and vanished.

Yu Yuan, left alone, grinned with satisfaction, returned to the main seat, and took a sip of tea.

“Chief Han, you have worked hard lately. Take some time to rest at home. Until I summon you, you are not to enter the yamen. You may go.”

A chill ran through Han Chong. The new magistrate had first contrived to send Leng Yue away, then barred Han from the office. It was clear he intended to indefinitely delay the investigation into the missing county funds and the Ye family case from Saltwater Town.

“My lord, I—” Han Chong began, trying to reason with him, but Yu Yuan immediately cut him off.

“Why are you still here?” the magistrate snapped, his face turning cold.

There was no point arguing. Han Chong now truly understood the oppressive weight of official authority—he would not even be allowed to speak. With no choice, he turned and left.

This willful behavior could only mean the magistrate acted on orders from above. The corruption in Peijun Prefecture’s bureaucracy ran deep.

Leaving the office, Han Chong’s mind was in turmoil. Almost unconsciously, he found himself at the gates of the Han residence.

Once a grand estate with vermillion doors, the Han home now lay in ruins. Han Deyuan, childless but for his adopted son Han Chong, had died, and his wife’s passing had been followed by a hasty burial. Han Chong, in the original owner’s memory, had left alone soon after to investigate a case at the Lin family estate outside town, never to return. In just a few days, the mansion’s windows and doors had been stripped and everything within stolen.

Han Chong bought some wine and meat from a nearby tavern and sat on the front steps to eat. He had just taken a bite of beef and two cups of wine when a soft noise made him turn.

There, on the opposite rooftop, stood Leng Yue, arms folded.

“Commander Leng! Weren’t you heading to Yichuan County?” Han Chong stood up in surprise.

“Chief Han, how have you fallen to such straits in just a day?”

Leng Yue floated down lightly to the courtyard.

“It’s merely a brief rest, nothing more,” Han Chong replied. “But you haven’t answered my question.”

“I was on my way, but on second thought, something about that magistrate was suspicious. I came back and found you had already been sent away. I came to invite you to Yichuan County with me.”

“Thank you for your concern, Commander. Very well—wherever there are monsters to hunt, I’ll be there.”

Han Chong pondered a moment. Since he could not resolve matters here, he would have to seek out more monsters to eliminate evil and strengthen himself. When he returned, he would get to the bottom of the new magistrate’s strange behavior.

“Then let’s see who is faster!” Leng Yue smiled, then suddenly turned and leapt away.

She moved with the grace of a swallow, darting over rooftops. Even with Han Chong’s now formidable martial arts, he struggled to keep up. They raced in a blur to a relay station outside the county before she finally stopped.

“Your qinggong isn’t bad. Catch!” she called, tossing something to him.

He caught it—a Black Tiger Token.

“A Black Tiger Token! Do you have the authority to recruit me into the Demon Slayers’ Bureau?” he asked.

“No—I don’t have that much authority. Yours is wooden, but mine is genuine black iron. While I can’t formally induct you, I do have the right to recruit a personal guard. You have helped me slay multiple monsters and are fully qualified to become my personal guard. To join the bureau officially, however, you’ll need the approval of the Peijun Prefecture division’s commandant.”

“I see. Well then, I shall serve as your guard.” Han Chong hung the token at his waist and bowed in thanks.

“From today, you are my subordinate and will obey my every command. Disobey, and I’ll reclaim the token on the spot. Now, let’s buy two horses and ride through the night to Yichuan County!”

Han Chong produced gold and silver, bought two swift horses and plenty of food and wine, and donned a set of black robes.

Yichuan County lay only three hundred li away. Pushing their horses hard, they arrived at dawn by the banks of the Yinchuan River.

The river, some three hundred paces wide, ran white as silver from the pale sand beneath its waters, cutting across Yunzhou from north to south before rushing on to the sea. Yet, as they followed the river northward, not a single fishing boat could be seen by the time the sun was high.

“Commander Leng, do you see that temple standing out there on the dam in the middle of the river?” Han Chong cried, eyes sharp.

“There is indeed a temple—and quite a gathering of people. Let’s go!” Leng Yue spurred her chestnut horse to a gallop.

“People?” Han Chong strained to see, but the distance was too great. His eyesight, though well-trained, was not yet at the level of a true martial master.

As they drew closer, he saw hundreds of commoners kneeling by the shore, tables laden with the heads of pigs, cattle, and sheep, incense burning, and a low, chanting hum rising from their lips. Judging by their clothes, they were all fisherfolk. It seemed the magistrate had spoken true—there was indeed a river demon troubling Yichuan County, destroying fishing boats.

At the riverbank opposite the temple, they observed its old-fashioned design, lit with ever-burning lamps. Candlelight glowed red through a dozen small windows, casting an eerie sheen through the mist rising from the water.

“There is demon energy!” Leng Yue exclaimed, startling the kneeling fishermen.

“Hold your tongue!” barked an old crone, hair wild, face hidden behind a fearsome mask, clad in a black cloak and leaning on a bone staff. “This is the shrine of the River God—if you offend the spirit, can you bear the consequences?”

At once, hundreds of fishermen rose in anger, closing in around Han Chong and Leng Yue.

“Commander Leng, let us withdraw for now,” Han Chong advised. These were not villains to be slain, but innocent townsfolk—victims, merely deceived and manipulated.

But Leng Yue stood her ground, unmoved.