The county magistrate was his immediate superior. If something went wrong, he would certainly be in trouble—the punching bag, the scapegoat, and the target for everyone's anger, it would all fall on his shoulders.
Ma Yong asked in shock and doubt, "Are you really sure you can tell the true from the false?"
"100 percent sure," Yun Que said.
Ma Yong gritted his teeth and ordered, "All of you out! Men, all of you wait outside!"
The bailiffs of the three divisions walked out in disappointment. Wu Dachuan kept looking back, wearing a look of utter reluctance.
Even Niu Bucai, the master of records, went outside, and the main doors of the grand hall were closed.
Inside the room, there were only the two Xiaocuis, Magistrate Ma Yong, Yun Que, and Mu Qingyao.
Since Mu Qingyao was a woman, there was no need for her to avoid this sort of matter.
Ma Yong asked suspiciously, "Why must we inspect her left hip in particular?"
Yun Que said:
"The day before yesterday when Xiaocui was bathing, she bumped into the corner of a table. There is a bruise on her left hip. She might not even know it herself."
"So that's how it is... Then how did you know?" Ma Yong asked in surprise.
"I saw it by accident," Yun Que said without blushing or his heart beating faster.
Mu Qingyao, standing nearby, was left between tears and laughter by what she heard.
With no other choice, Ma Yong motioned for Yun Que to begin the inspection.
Yun Que pointed at the Xiaocui on the left and said, "Let's start with you."
That Xiaocui looked ashamed and annoyed, yet utterly helpless. With no other option, she turned around, faced away from the others, loosened her belt, and slowly revealed the area Yun Que needed to inspect.
After a glance, Yun Que immediately concluded:
"There is no bruise on her body. The other one doesn't need to be checked—you're the fake."
"I am not!" Xiaocui cried out: "Mine is real! Dad! Take a good look at me, I'm your daughter!"
With that, she lunged forward, but Yun Que blocked her with his scabbard.
"The real Xiaocui can go out now. You'd better not make any rash moves, or I'll hack you to death right now."
The ice-cold scabbard filled the Xiaocui who had just been inspected with grief and indignation. She collapsed onto the ground, weeping and wailing.
The Xiaocui sitting on the right hurriedly fled the grand hall and returned to the back courtyard under the escort of several bailiffs.
Shortly after, Niu Bucai, Wu Dachuan, and the other bailiffs rushed in, swords, spears, staffs, and clubs all pointing together at the fake Xiaocui, who was crying like a rain-soaked blossom.
"You damned demon spirit! How dare you come to the yamen to make trouble! Today you're dead for sure!"
"In broad daylight and under a clear sky, this is the very time to slay demons. Prepare to meet your doom!"
The crowd of bailiffs shouted to the heavens, yet none of them actually moved, and they all stood behind Yun Que.
Wu Dachuan, being somewhat bolder, gripped his saber and said cautiously, "Brother Yun, make your move quickly! I'll cover you—don't let this demon spirit escape!"
Just as everyone assumed Yun Que was going to slay the demon on the spot, he actually lowered his scabbard and sat down to the side.
Seeing this action, everyone was deeply baffled.
To lower one's guard in front of a demon spirit—the creature might very well seize the opportunity to counterattack!
Mu Qingyao said softly, "This Xiaocui is the real one. The one just now was the fake."
Her words enlightened the bewildered crowd.
Only then did everyone realize that Yun Que had used the tactic of "withdrawing to advance later" to first keep the demon spirit steady.
Niu Bucai gave a thumbs-up and said, "As expected of Brother Yun! If we had made a move here just now, not to mention Xiaocui's safety, even Your Honor might have been caught in the crossfire! Now that the demon spirit has fled back to the back courtyard, Brother Yun can act freely without any reservations!"
Wu Dachuan and the group of bailiffs revealed looks of admiration, holding their thumbs high.
The Xiaocui collapsed on the ground snapped out of her daze, and in a mix of sorrow and joy, she simply passed out cold.
Niu Bucai hurriedly called for maids and matrons to take Xiaocui to a safe place.
Yun Que grinned and said to Mu Qingyao, "You guessed right. If you want to know the result, come with me to exterminate the demon."
Mu Qingyao gazed into Yun Que's pupils, which were as clear as an ancient well, fell silent for a brief moment, and shook her head. "I am not going. I will wait here; I only want to know the truth."
Yun Que nodded, cradling his saber, and strode toward the back courtyard.
Niu Bucai, Wu Dachuan, and the rest of the bailiffs hurriedly followed behind, though none dared to get too close, keeping a wide berth for fear of being caught in the crossfire.
In the grand hall.
Mu Qingyao sat quietly to the side like a delicate, gentle flower, but a layer of unseen gloom persistently lingered within her bright, spirited eyes.
Ma Yong grew more relaxed.
He paced slowly back and forth across the grand hall, his footsteps falling heavily.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
After pacing a dozen steps, Ma Yong came to a stop behind Mu Qingyao.
The footsteps ceased right there.
"The Princess should have followed along just now. Staying here is likely even more dangerous."
Ma Yong's figure melted into the shadows, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward.
Whoosh!
A gust of violent wind swept through.
The originally wide-open doors slammed shut with a crash.
The light inside the room instantly dimmed.
"A dangerous place is sometimes the safest place."
Mu Qingyao did not turn her head as she softly said, "I have never been to Cangshi Town before. Since you recognize me, you shouldn't be the magistrate."
"The Princess is very clever. That being the case, you ought not to have stayed even more, because staying means only one path to death! Hehehe!"
Amidst a ferocious laugh, Magistrate Ma Yong's figure began to swell and distort within the shadows.
A stench of decay assailed Mu Qingyao from behind.
Mu Qingyao's eyes flickered, and she slowly stood up, saying:
"I cannot see the truth of the twin strange cases, but I can see that this is a trap—a trap set specifically for me. I want to know who ordered you to kill me."
She turned around.
Before Mu Qingyao stood no longer Magistrate Ma Yong, but a humanoid monster with a tiger's head!
Its tiger jaws were like a blood basin, and human speech issued from between its snapping, razor-sharp fangs.
"Go ask King Yama down in the netherworld; perhaps he'll tell you if he's in a good mood. As for now—become my blood meal!"
The tiger-headed monster lunged forward, its foul-smelling maw biting toward Mu Qingyao's fair throat.
Mu Qingyao remained standing in place from beginning to end.
She knew she couldn't possibly escape.
She also knew someone would come to her rescue.
Clack!!!
Just as the tiger-headed monster was about to sink its teeth into her, a black figure smashed through the door.
It was a saber!
A long saber, pitch-black from hilt to tip!
The black saber slashed directly across the tiger's head, cleaving the massive skull cleanly in two!
Bang!
The doors blew open, and Yun Que's figure returned as swiftly as he had left, his black attire as chilling as the wind.
The monster's tiger head, along with half of its body, had been split open as it crashed to the ground. Yet, bizarrely, no blood flowed from the wound; the severed cross-section was nothing more than a layer of rock, looking exceedingly strange.
On the split tiger head, two eyeballs stared fixedly at Yun Que.
Both halves of the tiger's jaws opened and closed simultaneously, emitting a hoarse, deep voice.
"As expected of the strongest demon hunter in Zhiyuan County. How did you figure it out? My demonic aura was restrained to the absolute limit; you shouldn't have been able to sense it."
Yun Que chuckled softly, eyeing the tiger demon. "A small-footed horse wearing oversized boots—how could such a glaring flaw go unnoticed? I'm not blind. If you've got the guts, come with your true body next time, and see if I don't strip that tiger skin off your back."
"Hehehe... Next time will be your doomsday!"
The two halves of the tiger head stopped moving, gradually hardening into stone before Yun Que crushed them to pieces with a single stomp of his foot.
Mu Qingyao's calm expression finally softened, and she let out a light breath.
"Your psychic talent—could it be that you can also see through puppet avatars?" Yun Que put away his saber.
"I couldn't tell; I could only see the ghost of someone killed by a tiger on the fake Xiaocui. But you provided two clues."
Mu Qingyao said softly, "First, the magistrate is nicknamed 'Ma the Small-Footed,' yet today he wore a pair of oversized boots, which was obviously problematic. Second, when you invited me to go slay the demon, you phrased it as 'follow me if you want to know the result,' but what I wanted to know was not the result, but the truth."
"You're very smart, and you've got guts. But people who are both smart and bold usually don't live long," Yun Que said, cradling his saber. "If I hadn't come back just now, you would have died miserably."
Mu Qingyao said softly, "I knew you would definitely come back, because you wanted to know the truth as well."
"Trying to psychoanalyze people is no fun. Nobody likes having their thoughts seen through by others," Yun Que said.
"It's not psychoanalysis, it's a meeting of minds," Mu Qingyao said.
"You must be an educated person; you certainly speak prettily. It's a pity the tiger demon used a puppet avatar, so we won't be able to pry the truth out of it," Yun Que said.
"Although I am still unclear about the mastermind behind the tiger demon, one thing is certain: its target is me." Mu Qingyao's voice lowered slightly, and the layer of gloom in her eyes deepened a fraction.
"I was wondering why this old demon came looking for my trouble; normally we mind our own business. This fellow is very formidable, and fighting it would easily put me at a disadvantage. Let's part ways here and now; from here on, the great road stretches to the sky and we each walk our own side." Yun Que said.
"You know the tiger demon's background?" Mu Qingyao asked with a hint of interest.
"Pingshan Jun, an old demon of Floating Duckweed Mountain." Yun Que paused for a moment before adding in a deep voice, "Rank Seven."
The two words "Rank Seven" instantly wiped the curiosity from Mu Qingyao's face, replacing it with a layer of chill.
Chapter 5: A Martial Artist for Life
There are demons in this world, and there are also cultivators who can contend against those demon spirits.
Cultivators are myriad and varied, primarily divided into five paths: Martial, Daoist, Confucian, Buddhist, and Sorcerer.
Martial artists, Daoist priests, Confucian scholars, the Buddhist sect, and shamanic sorcerers.
Martial artists forge their blood-qi and specialize in cultivating their physical bodies. Because they are unable to commune with the breath of heaven and earth, they are looked down upon by the other cultivation systems, viewed as the lowest-tier cultivators in the world, and often branded with derogatory terms like reckless, foolish, thick-headed, and stupid.
Daoists cultivate their primordial spirit, comprehend the mysteries of heaven, borrow the power of the five elements to execute spells and sword techniques, fly on swords, move mountains and fill seas, and those who achieve Mahayana ascend to the heavens on the spot.
The Buddhist sect cultivates the true heart, comprehends Buddhist Dharma, and propagates teachings. The stronger the Buddhist Dharma, the stronger the cultivator themselves. Cultivating to the peak allows one to attain Buddhahood in the flesh, becoming immortal and indestructible.
Confucian scholars cultivate destiny and fortune, nurturing a breath of righteous energy, accumulating thickness to burst forth, and cultivating themselves to establish their destiny. Great Confucians of the world walk the earth, capable of altering the fortunes of imperial dynasties.
Sorcerers cultivate the path of gu, raising and feeding venomous insects, casting curses, entering dreams, calling the wind and summoning rain, summoning spirits and commanding ghosts, and taking human lives from thousands of miles away.
All five cultivation systems in the world share a fixed tier classification, ranging from Rank Nine to Rank One.
Rank Nine is the lowest, and Rank One is the highest.
Corresponding to the human race, the demon clan also has fixed ranks, ranging from Rank Nine to Rank One.
A Rank Seven demon clan member is equivalent to a Rank Seven human cultivator.
The grey-haired old man who was swallowed and killed by the three-eyed blood wolf back at Green Fox Mountain was a Rank Eight Daoist cultivator in the Kaiguang Realm.
And to contend against a Rank Seven demon, one needs a cultivator of the Rank Seven Inanition Realm!
A bitter taste welled up in the corners of Mu Qingyao's mouth.
This long journey had been fraught with crises at every turn right from the start. By the time they reached Green Fox Mountain, her entire entourage had been wiped out leaving her the sole survivor.
Mu Qingyao had already sensed that that three-eyed blood wolf was coming straight for her.
Following her encounter with the tiger demon at the Cangshi Town yamen today, she was even more certain that someone did not want her to return alive to the Imperial City of Tianqi.
Taking a deep breath, the young princess looked toward the black-clad youth opposite her.
"Yun Que, are you very short on money?"
Mu Qingyao's voice was very soft, carrying a thick strand of hopeful expectation in her gaze.
Hearing the words "short on money," Yun Que's lazy expression instantly turned guarded.
It didn't matter whose mouth such words came from, whether it was a naturally stunning young maiden or a leering middle-aged uncle.
The underlying implication was always the same.
Are you short on money?
Would you like a piece of candy?
Is there any difference?
None at all.
"Short? Of course I'm short on money! If I weren't short on cash, would I bother hunting demons all over the mountains and fields? But I happen to have self-awareness: with the ability to earn a hundred taels of silver, I certainly won't take on a job worth a thousand taels," Yun Que said.
Mu Qingyao glossed over this remark, gently biting her lip as she said:
"I wish to hire you as a temporary bodyguard to escort me back to the Imperial City of Tianqi. The reward is three thousand taels of silver."
Yun Que drew in a sharp breath and, without even thinking, waved his hand in refusal.
Anticipating that he wouldn't agree, Mu Qingyao added with a somewhat solemn tone: "Plus a quota for the Tianqi Academy."
Yun Que's brow suddenly twitched.
The great reputation of the Tianqi Academy was known to everyone under heaven, far and wide.
The Tianqi Academy did not belong to the imperial court, nor did it take orders from the emperor. Although situated within the vital grounds of the Imperial City, it stood aloof from the secular world.
Since its establishment, the Tianqi Academy had a history spanning nearly a thousand years. Having weathered the rise and fall of several dynasties, it was a place where renowned teachers from all sides gathered for scholarly pursuits, viewed by cultivators across the world as a sacred ground of cultivation.
The Tianqi Academy housed twelve halls with a complex categorization of studies, and every single hall had teachers with profound cultivation imparting knowledge.
If one could enter the Tianqi Academy to study, even if they learned not a single skill upon leaving, the mere identity of being an Academy disciple would command deep respect from various factions—it was no different from holding an amulet that granted safe passage across the world.
Those wishing to enter the Tianqi Academy were as numerous as crossing carp in a river. Yet, quotas were limited, and the annual admissions were pitifully few—those admitted were either individuals of exceptional talent or the offspring of famous and powerful clans. For ordinary people to enter the Academy was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
To be able to give away a single Academy quota was something even many imperial relatives could not manage.
Yun Que did not know Mu Qingyao's identity.
Given that the maiden opposite him was not only targeted by a Rank Seven tiger demon but could also hand out an Academy quota, her background was definitely far from simple.
"You don't have to give me your answer now; you can take your time to consider it."
With that, Mu Qingyao looked toward the doorway.
Wu Dachuan and several bailiffs were hurrying over in a fluster.
Upon entering, seeing Yun Que, Wu Dachuan let out a long breath and said, "Brother Yun, where did you disappear to? That demon spirit came out on its own later—it turned out to be a maid from the magistrate's household, not Xiaocui at all! When we asked her what happened, she said she had been in a daze beforehand, her consciousness hazy as if she had just had a dream and had only now woken up."
"She was possessed by a tiger's ghost. Once she wakes up, she'll be fine," Yun Que said.
"So Brother Yun knew it was a maid all along! Where is Magistrate Lord?" Wu Dachuan felt something under his foot, looked down, and asked strangely, "Why is there a pile of crushed stones?"
"That's Magistrate Lord you're stepping on," Yun Que said.
Frightened out of his wits, Wu Dachuan leaped high into the air and exclaimed, "How did Your Honor get smashed to pieces?!"
"That was a fake. A demon spirit impersonated the magistrate. You guys go find the real magistrate—I reckon he's still somewhere in the yamen. Since this matter is settled, I'm heading back."
With that, Yun Que left the yamen along with Mu Qingyao.
Wu Dachuan, Niu Bucai, and the others searched high and low throughout the yamen until they finally discovered Magistrate Ma Yong in the outhouse.
Fortunately, they had arrived in time; any later, and Magistrate Ma the Small-Footed would have drowned.
Though the twin strange cases were concluded, Magistrate Lord henceforth lost interest in all food, feeling a wave of nausea at the mere sight of anything edible.
Returning to Buyi Lane, the sky had already grown dim.
Having missed the chance to cadge a meal at the yamen at noon, Yun Que was already starving.
He got to work as soon as he returned home.
He sliced two catties of fresh pork belly into large pieces, chopped half a cabbage, used scallions, ginger, garlic, and plenty of oil to start the wok, added vermicelli noodles, and began to boil it all. Before long, the house was filled with the fragrance of food.
An entire small basin of braised pork and cabbage with vermicelli noodles was steaming hot.
He also warmed up several large, white-flour steamed buns, and Yun Que ate with ravenous hunger.
It was Mu Qingyao's first time witnessing the preparation of such common folk fare. Using two slender fingers, she tore off a small piece of a bun and chewed it in a slow, unhurried manner. Her manner of picking up food was also particular: she took only from the very top, and each portion was just enough for a single small bite. Her table manners were refined and elegant, faintly exuding a sense of nobility.
In stark contrast, Yun Que buried his head and devoured his food with the vigor of a pack of wolves feeding.
A small oil lamp flickered in the room.
Two figures cast their shadows onto the lattice window.
Placed side by side for comparison, the two sides of the small wooden table were simply a beauty and a beast.
Two completely opposing sceneries.
Devouring five steamed buns in one breath, Yun Que let out a satisfying burp.
Opposite him, Mu Qingyao hadn't even finished half a bun.
Seeing that Yun Que had eaten his fill, Mu Qingyao put down her food.
"We poor folk don't have that many rules. Go ahead and eat yours," Yun Que said.
The rules in lofty aristocratic households dictated that once the head of the house finished eating, the others would no longer continue either.
"I'm full," Mu Qingyao said with a faint smile on her face. "Your cooking skills are quite good; it's delicious. I've never eaten this kind of dish in the Prince's estate."
"Ah, so you're a princess of golden branches and jade leaves. No wonder you dared to offer three thousand taels."
Yun Que leaned against the couch, his voice lazy, showing none of the due respect one might expect toward someone of such noble status.
"Wealth is but an external possession. If you feel it's not enough, I can add more. However, a quota for the Tianqi Academy is hard to buy with money alone. How have you considered my proposal?" Mu Qingyao asked softly.
"Tomorrow morning, leave from the south gate of the town. To the left is Wuji Town, to the right is Baiyu City. Both roads lead to Tianqi," Yun Que said listlessly.
"If you're willing to part with two hundred taels of silver, I can escort you to Wuji Town or Baiyu City. After that, you walk your own road. My personal advice is for you to take the road to Baiyu City, because Baiyu City is a major hub for jade and stone trade, with numerous passing merchants and a substantial garrison stationed inside the city. If you reveal your identity, someone will certainly escort you."
Mu Qingyao showed no disappointment, her voice crystal-clear and light.
"With your martial prowess, staying in Cangshi Town will only bury your talent. Gold will shine; but if it is kept hidden from the daylight, no matter how precious the treasure, it cannot display its splendor."
"People who read books certainly know how to speak prettily. Unfortunately, I'm no gold, let alone some treasure. I'm just an ordinary martial artist, hunting small demons when nothing's up, doing corpse inspections for extra cash, scraping by in this world, and muddling through day by day," Yun Que said.
"Since you can contend against a Rank Seven demon, you should be at the Rank Seven realm. If you served the imperial court, you'd at least hold the rank of a garrison general or a guerrilla general. With such prowess, how can you be a mere mortal?" Mu Qingyao asked.
"The Princess's judgment is a bit lacking. How am I anywhere near Rank Seven? I'm just a lowly Eighth Rank Martial Artist," Yun Que said.
Mu Qingyao's steady gaze flickered, and shock rippled through her heart.
She had consistently assumed that the Rank Seven tiger demon disguised as the magistrate was on par with Yun Que in terms of realm.
Moreover, in Mu Qingyao's view, Yun Que's strength should have covertly suppressed that tiger demon by a notch.
This could also be verified from the tone of Pingshan Jun, the tiger demon. Mu Qingyao could tell that the tiger demon held a rather strong sense of dread toward Yun Que.
Had it not been for its fear of Yun Que, the tiger demon Pingshan Jun could easily have come in its true body.
A Rank Seven tiger demon—an Eighth Rank Martial Artist could definitely not have blocked it, in which case she, a princess, would surely have perished.
Yet Pingshan Jun did not come.
It only used a puppet avatar.
When an assassination failed, it immediately fled afar.
If this wasn't obvious dread, what was it?
Mu Qingyao simply could not fathom why Yun Que, possessing merely the cultivation realm of an Eighth Rank Martial Artist, was capable of deterring a powerful Rank Seven tiger demon!
Suppressing the shock and doubt in her heart, Mu Qingyao said in a composed voice:
"The first three tiers of martial arts are the postnatal realms: Rank Nine Body Refining, Rank Eight Bone Refining, and Rank Seven Spirit-Refining. These three postnatal realms are the most resource-intensive, requiring vast amounts of medicinal ingredients that boost blood-qi to temper the physical body."