Chapter Forty-Five: A Secret Plot at Guangwei, Inescapable Guilt

“Lord Resentment King, this is easily done. In my opinion, that young Han is most fond of meddling in others’ affairs. I shall first endure the brewing insurrection and keep my doors shut. Meanwhile, you may command the black fox demon—disguised as the magistrate of Guangwei County, who is nearest—to suppress the rioters. Once I inform the boy, he will surely be lured out. At that moment, you can finish him off with a single hand—swift and silent, without a trace! Heh heh!” Gale Ears’ eyes darted restlessly as he offered his scheme with a respectful bow.

“Excellent. As expected, you have a brilliant plan. That brat will never escape my grasp. Proceed as you suggest!” The man in the bronze mask let out a sinister laugh.

“By the way, have either of you seen Baiyu, that serpent spirit, recently? Where has she gone?”

“Well, ever since Baiyu revealed her true form in my marquisate and escaped into the water, she’s vanished without a trace. I suppose she must have fled to Tiger Fang Mountain,” guessed Marquis Ling Zhen, baring his teeth.

“Hmph! That cowardly wretch, always ruining things and never accomplishing anything. Our plans fail again and again, and now she skulks like a rat in the gutter. I brought her into Pei Jun Prefecture to coordinate, and this is how she repays me. Should I see her again, I’ll carve out her snake gall and use it for my wine!”

“Ha ha, Lord Resentment King, you are truly wise!” the two flatterers replied with sycophantic laughter.

“Enough. You, go select four demon guards to take back with you. I shall drink a few more cups with Marquis Ling Zhen, then set out for Guangwei County at dawn.”

“Your servant obeys!”

[Ding! The system detects the host has uncovered the identity and purpose of the Fourth Resentment King and completed the investigation mission. Permanently gain ten points in Evasion.]

[Ding! The system detects the host has encountered an assassination attempt by the Fourth Resentment King of Pei Jun Prefecture. Bounty mission triggered. Slay this fiend to permanently gain four points in Luck. The higher your Luck, the greater the chance of double attack!]

Having watched the three villains conspire for so long, Han Chong was already seething with rage! Yet his mind raced swiftly.

This Fourth Resentment King was powerful and cunning, far beyond Han’s current abilities. Outside the yamen, an uprising could erupt at any moment, and Lord Magistrate had already set his poisonous scheme in Guangwei County. Though he knew it was a trap, he had no choice but to go—and to go as swiftly as possible!

Thus, he could only turn their ploy against them: eradicate the rebellion quickly, then have the demon-slaying captains follow him to Guangwei County, luring out the man in the bronze mask and encircling him for the kill. That was the surest plan.

With this in mind, Han Chong quietly exited the secret mansion with Gale Ears and hurried back to the division office.

“How did it go, Captain Han? Did you find any evidence?”

It was still before dawn, but no one in the division office could sleep; all waited anxiously in the back hall for Han Chong’s news.

“Everyone, look here!”

He injected his spiritual energy into the image-recording jade pendant at his waist. Instantly, a projection of the bronze-masked man and his co-conspirators, Marquis Ling Zhen and Gale Ears, appeared on the wall.

The crowd stared, dumbfounded: first, shocked that such villains had hidden themselves in Pei Jun Prefecture; second, amazed at Han Chong’s miraculous ability to record images. For a long moment, none could speak.

Han Chong recounted his plan to the others.

“Good. We shall do as Captain Han suggests: seize Lord Magistrate first, then proceed in secret to Guangwei County and surround this mysterious Resentment King!” Captains Wu and Ning exchanged nods.

“But we must not act within the yamen itself—Lord Magistrate now has four demon guards by his side. If we act, we’ll alarm the Fourth Resentment King. Better to wait until he comes to inform us at the division; then we strike!” said one.

Thus, all sat quietly in the division office, conserving their strength until dawn.

Sure enough, just after daybreak, Gale Ears arrived in a panic, leading eight constables to the division office.

“Oh, Captain Han, Captain Ning, Captain Wu—it’s good you’re all here! I have urgent business to discuss!”

“Oh? Lord Magistrate, what matter is so pressing this early in the morning?” Captain Ning asked in puzzlement.

“It’s like this: a major incident has erupted in Guangwei County—rioters are in revolt. Magistrate You had no choice but to order the constables to intervene. Both sides clashed, and over a hundred are dead or wounded already.”

“Oh? And why aren’t you sending your men to suppress them at once? Why come to the Demon-Slaying Division?” Captain Wu glared suspiciously.

“Alas! Staff at the yamen are woefully insufficient. We can only spare four constables—hardly enough to quell the unrest! So I hoped Captain Han might go in person. I’d be deeply grateful!”

“Ha! Lord Magistrate, you forged the prefect’s decree and levied oppressive taxes, provoking the people into revolt. Do you admit your crime?” Han Chong narrowed his eyes, advancing step by step with a chill in his voice.

Instantly, the demon-slaying captains surrounded Gale Ears and the eight constables.

“W-what is the meaning of this, Captain Han? You slander me without evidence! Shouldn’t you fear I’ll report you to the prefect?” Gale Ears’ eyes flickered with panic, though he tried to compose himself.

“So you refuse to see the coffin until you weep. Look at this!” Han Chong projected the recorded image again. Gale Ears nearly popped his eyes out in terror, desperately trying to dart away.

“Seize him!” cried Captain Wu.

Four of the constables collapsed to the ground in fright—they were no match for demon-slaying captains. The other four suddenly flashed a murderous gleam, wiped their faces, and shed their human masks, revealing beast-headed, human-bodied demons.

Before the four demons could even act, Han Chong and his allies cut them down on the spot.

“Get up!” Captain Wu yanked Gale Ears, who was cowering in the corner, to his feet.

“Lord Magistrate, confess and you’ll be treated with leniency; resist and it’ll be severe. Speak—who is the man in the bronze mask, and what are your true intentions?” Han Chong pressed coldly.

“Honored Captains, I truly don’t know! All the demons call him Lord Resentment King. Half a year ago, he arrived with the prefect’s decree and commanded me to obey him. I simply followed orders—he never removed his mask, and I didn’t dare ask. As for his goal, it’s to replace all county magistrates with demons in disguise or my own confidants, then seize all the silver in Pei Jun Prefecture’s coffers and as much tax silver as possible. Why he needs so much, I really don’t know!”

“Again with the prefect’s decree? The one you burned yesterday—did he give you that as well?” The officers exchanged looks, confusion in their hearts.

“Yes, yes, that’s right! He instructed me that if anyone came to check, I must burn the decree at once.” Gale Ears nodded frantically, wondering how Han Chong could have known.

“All right, you keep guard over this traitor and have him rescind all the extra tax orders. I’ll go trace the whereabouts of the Fourth Resentment King. Once he’s gone, we act at once—travel to Guangwei County and surround him!” Han Chong bowed, then concealed his presence and sped toward the yamen, slipping once more into the secret mansion.

There he saw the bronze-masked man giving orders to three demon generals. Afterward, the masked man strode down another passage—this secret mansion must have another exit. Han Chong followed quietly.

For more than twenty miles, they traveled before emerging from the cave.

Looking around, Han Chong realized he was now in the wasteland beyond the city. The masked man raced south at a speed astonishing to behold.