Yin Mountain County.
After He Fenghua's group arrived, they rested briefly before the Yellow-rank Demon Hunters were assigned to patrol their respective areas to familiarize themselves with the environment.
Gu Qingfeng took Wang Fatty and Xu Daizi directly to Black Water Village.
On the road, Gu Qingfeng rode his horse at the front, with Wang Fatty and Xu Daizi following closely behind on their own horses.
Wang Fatty watched Gu Qingfeng riding ahead, the weapons at his waist jingling and clanking, feeling bewildered in his heart.
"Lord Gu, aren't you tired carrying four weapons?"
Without turning his head, Gu Qingfeng replied, "Aren't you weighed down wearing two sets of armor?"
"Uh..."
Wang Fatty was left speechless, but continued making small talk: "My Lord, we're almost at the outskirts of Black Water Village. Why don't we just circle around the area and head back to report?"
"Enough nonsense. If you don't want to go, you can head back first."
That single sentence silenced Wang Fatty. Though he wasn't one to care about face, deserting a mission was something he couldn't bring himself to do.
Especially fleeing before even encountering any demons - after that, he might as well quit the Demon Suppression Bureau altogether.
He could only steel himself and continue following Gu Qingfeng.
About two hours later, as dusk approached, the light grew dim. Shadows flickered in the surrounding forest, tree leaves swaying in the gentle breeze, as if monsters lurked in the darkness.
Wang Fatty was visibly tense, sweat beading on his forehead despite wearing two layers of armor.
Finally, after passing through the forest, Black Water Village appeared before them.
Unlike the desolate and eerie scene they had imagined, from a distance, the village houses were neatly arranged, with wisps of cooking smoke rising from their roofs. Children could be seen playing in the fields.
The faint sounds of crowing roosters and barking dogs could be heard.
It was a perfectly idyllic and harmonious scene, like a paradise removed from the world.
Gu Qingfeng stared wide-eyed for a good while before saying, "Are there really demons in Black Water Village?"
Wang Fatty also relaxed slightly: "Perhaps the Earth-rank Demon Hunter was right, and the demon moves around to commit its crimes?"
"Let's go take a look first," Gu Qingfeng strode forward leading the way.
The children playing in the fields cast curious glances their way.
After entering Black Water Village, they soon encountered scattered villagers who looked at Gu Qingfeng's group with reverent gazes.
Because they recognized the official uniform Gu Qingfeng wore.
Gu Qingfeng casually asked a villager: "Where can I find your village chief?"
"Sir, you're looking for the village chief? Please wait a moment, I'll go call him for you."
With that, the villager ran off.
Shortly after, an elderly man walking with difficulty and leaning on a cane slowly approached.
"This humble one is Hu Liang, paying respects to the three officials from the Demon Suppression Bureau."
"No need for formalities, elder. I am Yellow-rank Demon Hunter Gu Qingfeng from the Demon Suppression Bureau. From now on, I will be handling all demon-related matters in your Black Water Village."
Gu Qingfeng showed his badge and official documents to confirm his identity.
Village Chief Hu Liang grew even more respectful: "Lord Gu, you've become a Yellow-rank Demon Hunter at such a young age - truly an outstanding youth. Having such a pillar protecting our Black Water Village is truly our village's fortune."
Gu Qingfeng didn't engage in excessive pleasantries, but directly shifted the topic to the demon situation.
Hu Liang naturally told everything he knew as they walked through the village talking.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Gu Qingfeng finally understood the whole story.
It went like this: a month ago, children suddenly started disappearing from Black Water Village. At first, people didn't pay much attention, assuming wild animals had taken them.
But in the following days, more children went missing from the village, some even disappearing from inside their homes. Witnesses claimed they saw a black wind sweep through, making it impossible to keep their eyes open, and when they could see again, the children were gone.
The village chief had traveled far and wide in his youth and had seen demon techniques before. He immediately determined it was the work of demons and quickly reported it to the Yellow-rank Demon Hunter responsible for Black Water Village. After investigating, the Yellow-rank Demon Hunter reported it to Lord Yang, a Mysterious-rank Demon Hunter.
Then came the story of Lord Yang's team being completely wiped out.
According to the village chief, Lord Yang had tracked the demon's trail and determined it was in the Dead Bone Forest behind Black Water Village. He went in, and then died.
Later, when the Earth-rank Demon Hunter came, he searched the Dead Bone Forest for days but returned empty-handed. Not only did he fail to find the demon, but he couldn't even find Lord Yang and his team's bodies.
Strangely though, after Lord Yang's team was wiped out, children stopped disappearing from the village. It seemed as if the demon had truly moved on, just as the Earth-rank Demon Hunter had suggested.
After understanding the course of events, Gu Qingfeng sent Village Chief Hu Liang home for dinner, as he wanted to check out the Dead Bone Forest. Such a place heavy with yin energy wasn't suitable for the elderly to visit.
By now, Wang Fatty had completely relaxed after hearing the village chief's account, even removing one layer of his armor.
"That's wonderful, Lord Gu! There hasn't been any demon activity for many days. It seems the demon really has left. Why don't we head back to report?"
"Shut up. If you want to leave, go by yourself. I'm staying in Black Water Village tonight," Gu Qingfeng said irritably.
For Gu Qingfeng, he wasn't afraid of encountering demons - what he feared most was not finding them.
Demons preferred to act at night, so he decided to stay for one night.
Seeing Gu Qingfeng's anger, Wang Fatty dared not say more.
He still held some reverence for this superior who was only at the fourth level of Qi Gathering.
Because he knew of Gu Qingfeng's battle achievements - defeating those half a step into the Internal Energy realm.
Such strength was far beyond what a mediocre eighth level Qi Gathering practitioner like himself could compare to.
The three wandered through the village, heading toward Dead Bone Forest.
Gu Qingfeng carefully scanned every corner of the village but couldn't spot anything unusual.
"Candied haws! Cheap and delicious candied haws!"
Suddenly, a vendor's call caught Gu Qingfeng's attention.
The vendor stood with his back to the setting sun, his whole body illuminated by the dim light, making his features unclear.
Not far from him, in a corner by the wall, several five or six-year-old children were running and playing.
Gulp.
A swallowing sound came from beside Gu Qingfeng - it was Wang Fatty.
The large, round candied haws coated in sugar looked truly appetizing, appearing golden in the sunset's glow.
"My Lord, would you like one?"
Gu Qingfeng was also tempted and nodded.
Wang Fatty then looked at Xu Daizi: "How about you?"
"The books say that eating sugar..."
"Alright, alright, forget I asked."
Then Wang Fatty walked toward the candied haw vendor.
The vendor seemed to be preparing to pack up and head home for dinner. Being too far away, he hadn't noticed Gu Qingfeng's group, and was busy packing up his stall before turning to leave.
Wang Fatty's hunger got the better of him - he wouldn't be satisfied until he got some candied haws today. He called out while running: "Hey! Wait up, candied haw vendor!"
Whether the vendor was hard of hearing or not, he didn't turn around, instead turning into a small alley.
Though Wang Fatty was fat, he was genuinely at the eighth level of Body Tempering. With one burst of energy, he reached the alley's entrance.
At this moment, the vendor's figure had just turned into the alley, with Wang Fatty following almost immediately behind.
Gu Qingfeng shook his head helplessly: "I didn't expect this fatty to run so fast when food is invol..."
Before Gu Qingfeng could finish speaking, suddenly! A piercing scream came from Wang Fatty in the alley!
Ahhhh!!!
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
