Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 338 348 A Show of Force

"You little rascal, run!"

The sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the jungle, and the frantic breathing sounded like bellows.

Bare feet covered in thick calluses knocked down the upright wild grass, crushing out a juice that mixed the earthy smell with the fresh scent of grass and trees.

The white dog stumbled and fell, the dense thorns constantly scraping and tearing at its coarse linen clothes, from which a faint trace of blood slowly seeped out.

But his dark, youthful face showed no pain, only fear, anger, and sorrow.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but before they could slide down my cheeks, they were shattered by the howling wind.

"grandfather."

Changsong County is a small county under Wenzhou, bordering the continuous Dajian Mountain range.

Bai Gouwa once heard his grandfather say that beyond the Great Sword Mountain lay the prosperous Shu region, a veritable treasure trove.

But this has nothing to do with the woodcutters who work from dawn till dusk to make a living, nor with the unrelated grandfathers and grandsons in the countryside.

What's really relevant is that General Wang Jian of Shu issued an edict before the new year, saying that he wanted to find auspicious omens, such as a three-legged golden toad, a six-legged white sheep, and a multicolored white deer.

Changsong County doesn't have such rare items, but the county magistrate said we couldn't go empty-handed, otherwise General Wang Jian would be in trouble.

Since there were no auspicious omens, they offered gifts.

But when they opened the treasury, oh dear, there wasn't enough money.

Then the only option is to raise taxes.

When the order to increase taxes was issued, every household in Changsong County wept. But the county magistrate had several hundred strong soldiers under his command. What could these ordinary people do but obey?

After a series of devastating events that resulted in the loss of family and loved ones, they finally made it through the winter.

Not long after the start of spring, they heard that the former emperor had abdicated and a new emperor had taken the throne, and that a high-ranking official would be sent to their area.

Like everyone else, Gouwa and his grandson didn't expect some benevolent official to come. They were already happy as long as they weren't forced to fight and taxes weren't increased.

But the high-ranking officials from the imperial court had not yet arrived, and the county magistrate was getting restless.

He said that the imperial court had sent an imperial envoy, and that Changsong County was a small county with a dilapidated town where there was no decent place.

If we give the old houses to the imperial envoy to live in, he will definitely blame us. If he reports this to the emperor, life in Changsong County will become even more difficult. We must renovate the county town.

Is this really the case?

Bai Gouwa had considered this question, but faced with soldiers in leather armor carrying knives and guns, ordinary people like him and his grandson had no choice but to believe them.

But this time, the Bai family could not get through the ordeal safely.

They simply couldn't scrape together that much money.

The grandfather and grandson kowtowed and begged at the entrance of the county government office. Other families in similar circumstances were also moved, and dozens or even hundreds of households rushed into the street together. The cries of the peasants echoed throughout the small Changsong County.

The magistrate indeed turned a blind eye.

He said, "I know that Changsong County has little land and a large population, and it is not easy for the people in the mountains to make a living."

If you can't raise the money and do nothing, it's unfair to those who have already paid.

Those who make a living in the mountains fear most the wrath of the mountain gods and lords.

Since that's the case, then you should go and pray to the mountain gods and ask them to bless our Changsong County. That will count as your contribution.

White Dog was initially very happy, but then became very confused.

In the past, when worshipping the mountain god in Changsong County, offerings of gold and silver were placed at the foot of the mountain, and Taoist priests were invited to chant scriptures and perform rituals.

As soon as the ritual ended, the county magistrate and the local official said that the mountain god had received their wishes, but they had never seen the mountain god show up.

The county magistrate is the God of Literature in the heavens, and the Taoist priest is a celestial being who will ascend to heaven in the future. Neither of them has ever seen the Mountain God. How can a commoner like myself find the Mountain God to plead for mercy?
Upon hearing the news, Old Man Bai tried to escape with his grandson, but they were caught by the soldiers who had been waiting there.

On this day of sacrifice, those fierce-looking soldiers forced those who had previously led the way and knelt in front of the yamen to take pigs and sheep as offerings into the mountains.

But soon the soldiers dared not advance, and instead used crossbows to force them deeper into the mountains and forests. The smell of blood quickly attracted pairs of greedy and cruel eyes.

Bai Gouwa suddenly understood what the magistrate meant.

The other side didn't expect peasants like themselves to find the mountain gods and lords; instead, they wanted to use their lives to fill the bellies of demons.

If the demons are full, won't everyone else be blessed?
"You little rascal, run!"

Grandpa's shrill screams still seemed to echo in his ears. Bai Gouwa felt his vision blurring, and his lungs felt like they were filled with a burning ember.

He had to lean against a nearby tree to try and figure out which way to go.

Just then, a strange roar suddenly came from beside my ear.

Before Gouwa could turn around, a sharp pain shot through his waist, and the wind whistled past his ears.

Blood gushed from the exposed flesh, and Gouwa's face turned deathly pale. He saw a one-legged, ape-like monster hanging from a tree with one hand.

In his other hand, he held a piece of dark-skinned flesh and slowly put it into his mouth.

The monster's face was as crimson as his tongue, as if it had been coated with cinnabar. His beastly eyes were filled with mockery and cruelty.

The white dog ignored all that and stumbled as it tried to run down the mountain.

The monster moved.

The wind howled again and again, each time taking away a piece of his flesh, but it deliberately avoided vital organs.

His strength drained away with his blood, and before he could walk a hundred steps, Gouwazi collapsed.

He opened his eyes wide, searching desperately for any sign of life.

But when you look around, all you can see are towering mountains and dense forests, desolate and eerie.

Despite it being broad daylight, there was no clear sky to be seen; only the stench emanating from the demons grew ever stronger.

White Dog closed his eyes helplessly, his clenched fists slowly loosening.

He felt the demon's body was as hot as a furnace, its hair was as sharp as steel needles, and the saliva dripping onto his cheek.

I'm dying.

Grandpa, you're dying in vain too.
puff!

A strange, muffled sound suddenly rang in my ears, followed by the demon's panting breaths. A large amount of foul-smelling liquid surged onto its neck and chest, but the sharp teeth that were expected to tear it apart did not bite down.

White Dog couldn't help but open his eyes, only to see that the ferocious monster that should have ended its own life was now hanging in mid-air like a chick, its neck pierced by a stick.

His lifeless heart began to beat again, and Bai Gouwa's gaze moved toward the source of the stick.

Just as it struggled to its feet, the staff retracted, carrying the monster as it smashed through the tree that had left a hole the size of a bowl when it arrived, and finally ended up in the hands of a young general.

Only then did Bai Gouwa notice that the stick was at least two zhang long, with golden hoops at both ends, and there seemed to be words in the middle of the stick, which were shining brightly.

"Fully red-faced. What kind of mountain demon could grow to the third rank?"

"Brother was right after all; there must be a great demon in the mountains of the southwest."

"Sir."

Bai Gouwa couldn't understand what the young man was saying, but he knew that this person must be very powerful.

"Sir, please save my grandfather! I'll do anything for you, please save my grandfather!"

Before he could finish speaking and even kowtow, Gouwa felt everything go black and his body fell forward uncontrollably.

But then, a strong hand grabbed me, and it felt like a sweet dumpling was stuffed into my mouth. It melted in my mouth, and my stomach felt warm all of a sudden.

A gentle, calm voice sounded in my ear: "You've lost too much blood, don't move around."

"Vanguard Battalion, listen to my command! With your squad leader at the forefront, advance in formation. Rescuing the people is our top priority. No reckless advances are permitted!"

"Here!"

The clanging sound echoed through the mountains and forests, the clatter of armor mingling with the sound of footsteps.

Bai Gouwa had no idea how he got down from the mountain. He just felt like he had been distracted while chopping wood, and when he turned around, he found himself sitting on an oxcart.

Grandpa was lying next to me. He wasn't as badly injured as I was; he had just sprained his ankle. He was staring blankly at his surroundings.

The other civilians who received help felt the same way. They stole glances at the well-armored army and felt as if they were dreaming.

Thieves come like combs, soldiers come like hairpins; the terms "bandits" and "soldiers" are no joke.

Everyone says they're just convicting thieves and soldiers; it's a miracle they don't drive ordinary people to their deaths, let alone save them.

"Sir, if I may be so bold as to ask, where do you all come from?"

"Old man, we come from the capital."

A young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes stepped forward. His armor was stained with blood, but his smile was simple and honest.

"No wonder, we don't have anyone like you here."

Old Man Bai paused halfway through his speech, suddenly finding himself at a loss for words to describe the army before him, despite his lifetime of experience.

Bai Gouwa had regained some of his strength by this time. Being young, he was quick-witted. Upon hearing that these people were from the capital, he immediately realized what was going on:
"I understand! You are the imperial envoys from the capital, and the one leading you is that so-and-so Shi..."

"He is Li Cunxiao, the Prefect of Wenzhou and Fuzhou, Grand Commandant, Grand Master of the Palace, and Inspector of Jiannan Circuit."

The group fell silent instantly, clearly stunned by such a long list of impressive-sounding but unfamiliar titles.

"Wei He, you must have put in a lot of hard work before you left home, huh?"

"Xiao Ye, if you can't even remember official titles, how can you be a good employee?"

The officer with thick eyebrows and big eyes and another handsome man were joking with each other, and they seemed to know each other very well. The soldiers around them were used to it.

The only people Bai Gouwa had ever seen before were the county magistrate's private army, all of whom were fierce and menacing, completely different from the people in front of him.

A feeling he had never experienced before welled up inside him. Ignoring his grandfather's panicked expression, he mustered his courage and spoke:

"Then, when Magistrate Li arrives, will he increase taxes and repair the county town?"

"Raise taxes? Renovate the county seat? Who said that?"

"Your Excellency, the county magistrate."

Wei He and Ye Chengxiao exchanged a smile, and the soldiers around them also burst into laughter.

The former walked up to the nervous, flustered, and bewildered white dog and pointed at it.

Looking down, he realized that there were no more trees to provide cover.

At the foot of the mountain, a dense crowd came into view. The outer circle consisted of common people participating in the sacrificial ceremony, while the county magistrate, the local officials, the heads of various wealthy families, and the merchants were on the central high platform.

But these people who were once high and mighty were now all kneeling in a row in front of the offering table, their faces pale and their bodies trembling like leaves.

Beside the offering table, on a chair covered with tiger skin, sat a young general dressed in magnificent armor.

Majestic and dignified, like a heavenly king in a temple, yet possessing an inexplicable charm.

"It's so lively, there are so many people. I didn't expect to receive such a surprise as soon as I arrived in Wenzhou."

"Magistrate Liu, I heard that you went to great lengths to repair the county town to welcome me."

"Even roundworms in the stomach aren't that bad, are they?"

Li Cunxiao smiled as he looked at the middle-aged man in a green official robe kneeling in the center of the line. His tone was gentle, but the man trembled even more violently.

"This humble servant...this humble servant...I was merely thinking that Changsong is a small and impoverished place, and since Your Excellency has come from the capital, I feared that we might not be able to entertain you adequately, so...so."

"So you want the common people to suffer, and for me to bear the blame, is that it?"

Li Cunxiao's smile remained unchanged as he gently waved his hand, amidst the horrified gaze of Magistrate Liu.

The guards who had been waiting nearby immediately stepped forward, gagged him, grabbed him, and dragged him to the edge of the platform, stripping off his official robes and leather belt as if slaughtering a pig.

One man stepped on his back, while another raised his saber and loudly proclaimed to the onlookers:
"The magistrate of Changsong County is greedy and extortionate, harming the people for his own selfish gain. His crimes deserve to be punished!"

"Verify his identity, and carry out the execution immediately!"

Having said that, he raised his hand and brought down the knife, spraying blood like a pillar a distance of ten feet. His disheveled hair was grabbed by the guard, and his head, filled with resentment and fear, swayed with it.

"My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life!"

The others kneeling on the ground were instantly terrified, kowtowing repeatedly, cracking the wooden floorboards, and filled with extreme remorse.

Whether it's increasing taxes or holding sacrifices, it's just a consistent tactic of extortion and suppression, something they've done countless times before.

They weren't unaware that the capital was sending a governor, but to be honest, weren't all officials the same?

We racked our brains to come up with a filial gift for you, shouldn't you be happy?

If you think it's too little, we can just give you our entire 50%.

We're all officials, wouldn't it be better to work together peacefully and exploit the common people?

But to everyone's surprise, the other side immediately sent troops to blockade them. Even with the threat of bringing up the great king Wang Jian, the local bullies were still sealed in their dantian and had their cultivation locked.

Otherwise, how could Magistrate Liu, a dignified martial artist of the Yellow Court, have died like a pig or sheep waiting to be slaughtered?

"What are you doing?" Li Cunxiao asked, somewhat displeased to see everyone kowtowing.

"Adults are like parents. As for the common people, that's one thing, but have none of you ever been to school?"

"Such flattery is an insult to the integrity of a subject and a disgrace to His Majesty!"

"Guards, drag the registrar and the county magistrate over and behead them!"

Immediately, guards stepped forward and dragged away two middle-aged men in blue official robes.

The charges were read aloud, the knife fell swiftly, and blood splattered across the sky.

His movements were practiced and skillful, as if he were doing this for the first time.

The common people didn't actually know what the people on stage were saying, but seeing the corrupt officials and cruel bureaucrats who used to lord it over the people losing their heads one after another, they couldn't help but cheer.

The sounds started sparsely but gradually grew louder, a mix of cheers and sobs. Even though it wasn't the first time they had seen it, it still deeply shocked Wei He and his soldiers.

Seeing this, Li Cunxiao finally smiled.

With a casual gesture, guards seized one or two of the kneeling individuals; these were to be kept to assist in governing Changsong County.

As for the rest...
"I had heard that you people here like to perform sacrifices, so I was planning to invite you all to go inside the belly of the mountain god and mountain lord and say hello for me."

"However, I have been here for so long and have not seen any messengers. Clearly, this mountain lord is also an impolite person."

"The evil god's shrine can be dealt with later."

Everyone's hearts tightened at first, then relaxed, but Li Cunxiao's next words instantly shattered their defenses:

"But the public's reaction is so strong, I don't think we need to wait any longer."

"Gentlemen, let's set off!"

(End of this chapter)