Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 44 A brutal beating in front of the yamen (Please continue reading)

Xu Qidong (Xu Jingli) gritted his teeth...

Suddenly, he pulled a dagger from his boot, stood up, rushed forward, and stabbed Liu Sheng in the lower back.

His three older brothers, nicknamed "Tiger, Wolf, and Snake," were all from the same family and had extensive connections.

They're all the city's elite, living a life of luxury!
Even though Xu Qidong was uneducated and a gambler, he could still manage to become a clerk in the Demon Suppression Division, living a comfortable life on the government's salary.

I have never been treated with such rudeness.

As long as no one dies on the spot...

His three older brothers can cover for him!

This stab won't kill you, but it can completely ruin your kidneys, leaving you unable to get an erection for life and bedridden for years.

It can be described as extremely vicious.

Liu Sheng narrowed his eyes, but kept walking, seemingly unaware of what was happening.

"careful-!"

It wasn't until Old Man He heard the noise behind him and spoke up to warn him that it was too late.

Xu Qidong had already stabbed Liu Sheng in the waist with a dagger, his face full of ferocity.

"clang!"

The next moment, a sharp clang of metal clashing rang out, as if the tip of the dagger had pierced through iron armor!

The immense recoil force instantly shattered his finger bones and wrist, the white bone fragments piercing his flesh, drawing blood.

"what--"

"You son of a bitch, you dare to try and assassinate me with a dagger!"

Liu Sheng was "enraged" and slapped Xu Qidong on the forehead with his backhand.

"Oh!"

Even though he held back ninety percent of his strength, this palm strike still made his opponent see stars and his mind go blank.

Liu Sheng kicked him away, then stepped forward, grabbed him, and cursed him:

"I came to the Demon Suppression Division with good intentions, and in accordance with the rules, I killed a wild horse demon, only seeking the status of a beast hunter. Have I offended you in the slightest?"

As he spoke, he punched Xu Qidong in the face, so hard that the man's brow bone split open, his eyeballs bulged out, blood gushed out, and his mouth looked like a sauce shop had opened...

Salty, sour, bitter, and spicy—all five flavors surged up.

Xu Qidong struggled fiercely but could not break free, so he shouted:
"Good for you! Go ahead and kill me if you dare!"

"You scoundrel, how dare you talk back!"

Liu Sheng cursed and then punched him twice more, causing him excruciating chest pain and breaking countless bones...

He convulsed uncontrollably, as if he were being electrocuted.

Such a commotion naturally attracted many people, and seeing how fierce Liu Sheng was, everyone was horrified and dared not offer any advice.

"Bitter!"

Old Man He turned pale with fright and quickly stepped forward to grab Liu Sheng:
"Brother Liu, stop right now! Someone's going to die!"

Xu Qidong's vision was blurry. Seeing Liu Sheng raise his fist to strike again, he dared not be stubborn any longer and quickly begged for mercy.
"I was wrong, I was wrong, please spare me..."

Seeing that blood was seeping from his seven orifices and his chest and abdomen were also covered in blood, Liu Sheng realized that he would probably be bedridden for at least a year or two. So he withdrew his fist and threw him down the steps of the Demon Suppression Bureau's gate.
"You damned bastard, I'll spare your life for Old Master He's sake!"

On the steps, the two guards immediately became alert, no longer displaying their previous nonchalant attitude.

"Brother Liu, what's wrong with you...?"

Old Man He sighed, half reproachfully, half moved:

"Why bother to vent your anger for my sake?"

"Old He is joking. It was this scoundrel who stabbed me with a dagger first, and I fought back afterward."

Liu Sheng shook his head, insisting:
"I didn't report him to the authorities because of you."

Old Man He took a deep breath, his chest seemingly filled with a thousand words, yet they choked in his throat, unable to be expressed. Finally, he turned his head away:
"Now that you have injured Xu Qidong, you will inevitably make enemies with his brothers, and you probably won't be able to stay in Shanyang County anymore."

I have connections in the county government next door. If I pull some strings, I might be able to get you a government job.

With this identity, the Xu brothers can no longer easily manipulate you…

Flee to the next county?

Could it be that the county of Shanyang is surnamed Xu?

Hey, I just don't believe it!

No way! If you anger me, the entire Xu family will be wiped out...

I am now a man protected by three great spirits!

Besides, tomorrow is the deadline for summer tax...

If I don't get an identity, do I really have to pay six hundred taels of silver?

Liu Sheng licked his lips, a thought suddenly struck him, and he pulled Old Man He to the square table:

"Old He, I remember you said that as long as you kill a monster, you can register as a beast hunter..."

In other words, you can give me the status of a beast hunter, right?

"That makes sense, but this identity is easy to obtain but hard to get rid of. Once you become a beast hunter, you will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Demon Suppression Division."

Old Man He understood Liu Sheng's plan, sighed, and reminded him:
"Disobeying orders will result in court-martial..."

The Demon Suppression Division is a semi-military organization that operates under military law, making it easy to enter but difficult to leave.

Especially the lowest-ranking beast hunters, in a sense, are cannon fodder.

"He's just a clerk and a demon hunter; he can't turn the world upside down."

Liu Sheng waved his hand, not taking it to heart.

If the Xu brothers know what's good for them, then so be it; if they don't...

In Black Wind Mountain, there are righteous demons who act on behalf of Heaven and subdue them.

"You... alright, from now on, once you join the Demon Suppression Division, remember to act cautiously and never be as impulsive as you were today..."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade Liu Sheng, Old He sighed, picked up his pen to write, and muttered to himself:

"Taking a step back opens up a whole new world; it may only mean losing face, but it will save your life."

A moment later, after completing all the formalities, Liu Sheng was given a waist tag that read "Demon Hunter Liu Sheng, Shanyang Division, Demon Slayer".

From then on, Liu Sheng became an unofficial member of the Great Yu Demon Suppression Division.

After agreeing to officially begin his duties in three days, Liu Sheng took his leave, eager to return home.
-
late at night.

Yongningfang, the Xu family residence.

"...The left eye and left ear have lost their function, the brow bone is shattered, nine ribs are broken, and the liver, spleen, gallbladder, and lungs are all severely damaged..."

Fortunately, Master Xu's blood and qi were in good condition and he was full of vitality, so his life was not in danger.

"I'll prescribe a medicine; if you take it consistently for six months, you'll be able to get out of bed soon."

After Dr. Guo from Huichuntang finished speaking, he went to the table and wrote down the prescription.

"Thank you for your help, Dr. Guo."

Xu Qichun breathed a sigh of relief, saw Doctor Guo out, and then arranged for a servant to drive him home.

He returned to the room, sat down on the edge of the bed, and looked somber.

He was one of the earliest demon-catching warriors in the Shanyang Division of the Demon-Catching Bureau, and he had connections and strength.

During this major reshuffle of the Demon Suppression Division in Shanyang, he seized the opportunity and got on good terms with the newly arrived Captain Qi Gang.

This Captain Qi has a powerful background; he is from a noble family and has studied martial arts at a major sect in Shu Prefecture, making him far superior to the previous Captain Huang.

Unexpectedly, the fourth brother was severely beaten and injured in public in front of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

If this matter is not handled properly, it will damage the Xu family's prestige and cause them to be looked down upon by all parties.

In particular, Commander Qi is strong-willed and despises cowardly and indecisive people the most...

Therefore, the question now is not "whether to retaliate," but how to use swift and decisive measures to crush those with ill intentions and deter them.

There were two other people beside the bed, who looked about six or seven parts like Xu Qichun, only younger.

It was the second son, Xu Qixia, and the third son, Xu Qiqiu.

One person works as a constable in the county government.

He has been involved in gangs for a long time and is now one of the three hall masters of the Green Snake Gang in the south of the city.

The four Xu brothers are involved in the Demon Suppression Bureau, the county government, and gangs.

Including the eldest sister and youngest sister who got married...

The Xu family's influence in Shanyang County was already deeply entrenched; while not top-tier, it was still considerable.

To manipulate a peasant from the countryside is a piece of cake.

(End of this chapter)