So it turns out I'm the demon!

When Commander Ran Qingshan rushed into the courtyard with several elite members of the Demon Slayer Division, he was stunned by what he saw.

The courtyard was filled with corpses, and the stench of blood was overwhelming.

The familiar figure sat alone beside the headless corpse, a long sword across his knee, his expression indifferent.

Although Shi Lang had already reported the events to him along the way, Ran Qingshan was still far more shocked to witness this scene in person than when he had heard about it.

Killing a low-level demon was nothing to the demon slayers present.

The problem is, the person who did this was Jiang Chen.

That spoiled, dissolute young master who got in through his father's connections and money.

This stark contrast caused the several veteran members of the Demon Slayer Division who had followed to exchange bewildered glances, their eyes turning strange.

It felt like I was meeting this mascot owner for the first time.

"grown ups."

Upon seeing Ran Qingshan arrive, Jiang Mu stood up and bowed respectfully.

The village head and the pawnshop accountant, who had previously disappeared, also emerged and bowed upon seeing Ran Qingshan arrive.

He just didn't dare get close to Jiang Mu.

Ran Qingshan walked up to Jiang Mu, first glancing down at the corpse of the demon Yuan Laowu. Then he drew Jiang Mu's sword, carefully examining the chipped edges and bloodstains on the blade.

Then, he reached out and pinched several key tendons and bones on Jiang Mu's arm and shoulder, raising an eyebrow.

"When did you break through to the first realm?"

Jiang Mu said calmly, "I broke through to a higher realm by sheer luck today."

A complex look flashed in Ran Qingshan's eyes.

He sheathed the knife: "Tell me the details."

Jiang Mu recounted what had happened, omitting the fact that he had absorbed demonic energy. As for the other ruffians, he only said they had been infected with demonic poison and were all dealt with in one go.

After listening to the report, Ran Qingshan looked at the corpse of Elder Wu on the ground and nodded slightly:

"To remain so calm and even defeat the demon on your first encounter is commendable. This achievement will be credited to your Eighth Division."

"Alright, leave this to us. You should go back and rest. Are you injured?"

"Thank you for your concern, sir. It was just a minor bruise, nothing serious."

Jiang Mu cupped his hands in greeting.

"Okay, go ahead." Ran Qingshan waved his hand.

"Yes."

Knowing that her expertise was insufficient and that she couldn't be of any help by staying, Jiang Mu turned and left.

He had only taken a few steps when he suddenly stopped, turned back, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ran Qingshan, saying:

"My lord, I have another matter to report."

"speak."

Jiang Mu glanced at the dilapidated house and said:

"The fifth elder's family... after this incident, only the elderly, women and children are left in the family, and they are indeed unable to pay the demon tax."

Ran Qingshan was startled.

His gaze swept over the corpses of the ruffians in the courtyard, then over the desolate and barren landscape. He remained silent for a moment, then simply waved his hand without saying anything.

Jiang Mu said no more and walked outside.

Just as he was about to step out of the courtyard gate, Ran Qingshan's voice came from behind him again:

"Tomorrow, go to the 'Merit Office' in the department, find Clerk Zhou to collect your identity token and resources, exchange them for a sword, and choose a set of martial arts techniques that suit you."

"Also... don't come here anymore. I'll hand over the tax collection to someone else. Those who can't pay will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, so you don't need to worry about it. And don't even think about using your own money to do charity; it's useless."

"You should stay home and cultivate your skills. The department will assign you important tasks later."

Ran Qingshan's tone carried a hint of command.

"Yes."

Jiang Mu turned around, bowed, and walked out of the courtyard gate.

At this moment, the village chief approached: "Sir, there were a few hangers-on just now who were actually..."

"They've been poisoned by a demon, haven't they?" Ran Qingshan stared at him.

The village chief was taken aback. Feeling the oppressive aura emanating from Ran Qingshan, cold sweat instantly poured down his back. He nodded repeatedly, like a chicken pecking at rice: "Yes, yes, they have indeed been poisoned by the demon."

Ran Qingshan ignored him, watching Jiang Mu's retreating figure, rubbed his temples, and muttered to himself:

"It's my fault, I shouldn't have let that kid come."

-

Back at the Jiang residence, Jiang Mu changed out of her blood-stained official uniform and instructed Bai Xiang to prepare hot water for a bath.

Soaking in a steaming wooden tub filled with herbs that promote blood circulation, the warm water envelops the tired body, gradually relaxing the tense nerves.

He closed his eyes, but images from the day kept flashing through his mind.

The fifth elder's bloodshot eyes, the old woman's desperate wails, and the fearful and helpless eyes of the siblings... as well as the gray village that seemed to never see the sun.

"Daqing... Daqing..."

Jiang Mu rubbed her face vigorously and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Damn your grandma's legs!

After washing away her fatigue and changing into clean everyday clothes, Jiang Mu went to the side hall.

Bai Xiang had prepared dinner and was quietly waiting by her side.

Jiang Mu glanced at the table.

Several delicate side dishes were laid out on the table: a plate of glistening braised deer tendons, a bowl of stewed black-boned chicken with codonopsis, a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a plate of appetizing pickled cucumbers.

A pot of fine wine was warming nearby, its aroma rich and mellow.

"Wow, this skill is amazing."

Jiang Mu picked up a piece of deer tendon with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. It was soft, chewy, and had a rich flavor. She couldn't help but exclaim, "If you don't want to stay here anymore, go out and open a restaurant. I guarantee it will be packed with customers."

Bai Xiang's eyebrows curved into a gentle smile.

Today she wore a simple, light purple long dress that accentuated her slender figure.

It exudes a hazy, serene beauty.

Jiang Mu picked up the wine pot, poured himself a full cup, and then took an empty cup and poured one for Bai Xiang as well.

"Come on, have a drink with me."

He raised his glass.

The amber-colored liquor rippled gently in the glass.

Bai Xiang looked at the wine in her glass, her slender eyebrows furrowing slightly as if she hesitated. But seeing Jiang Mu raise his glass in a gesture of respect, she reached out and picked up the glass.

He lightly touched Jiang Mu.

Then he tilted his head back and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

After downing a glass of wine, two rosy blushes rose on the woman's face, like the sunset reflected on white snow in late spring, so beautiful and alluring that Jiang Mu was slightly taken aback.

Jiang Mu picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and casually asked:

"Speaking of which, you said you were from Yancheng, right?"

Bai Xiang nodded gently.

"I recently heard that things are not peaceful in Yancheng. Some people have rioted and even killed government officials and members of the Demon Slayer Bureau. Do you know why?"

Jiang Mu looked at her.

Bai Xiang tilted her head and thought for a moment, then put down her chopsticks and began to gesture with her hands.

She first pointed to her stomach, making a withered gesture, then pointed to the sky, spread her hands, and finally made a throat-cutting motion.

Jiang Mu understood.

Natural disasters and man-made calamities, food shortages, and the inability to survive—that's why people rebel.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Yeah, right. Damn it, if you can survive, who's going to be so bored as to risk their life to rebel?"

His gaze fell on Bai Xiang's quiet face:

"I suppose you were sold because your family couldn't make ends meet back then."

Bai Xiang neither nodded nor shook her head.

She simply picked up her chopsticks and silently began to eat.

"It seems his family is all gone," Jiang Mu sighed inwardly. "He was a pitiful person."

The atmosphere became somewhat heavy for a moment.

After a while, Bai Xiang suddenly put down her chopsticks, got up, picked up the wine pot, filled a cup for Jiang Mu, and then held it with both hands and handed it to him.

Jiang Mu was taken aback for a moment, then took the wine glass and chuckled:

"Why are you suddenly offering me a drink?"

Bai Xiang pointed to the house, then to the food on the table, and finally put her hands together on her chest and bowed to Jiang Muyi.

Jiang Mu understood.

The other person was thanking him for taking her in.

"It's not like you're the one who insisted on staying," Jiang Mu joked, tilting his head back and downing his drink in one gulp.

Immediately, he stood up and returned the toast:

"Thank you for your company these past few days, and for this meal. To be honest, having someone in this big house... it really makes a difference."

Bai Xiang paused for a moment, then smiled broadly.

He took the glass and drank it down heartily.

After a few drinks and some casual conversation, Jiang Mu felt much of the burden in her chest ease and her mood brightened.

During the conversation, he casually asked:

"Tell me, how can we ensure that all the people in the world do not go hungry?"

Bai Xiang's beautiful eyes were serene as she gestured in sign language: "I'm full, so I'm not hungry anymore."

This is nonsense.

Jiang Mu first shook his head and chuckled softly, then burst into laughter.

Bai Xiang smiled as well.

Why are you laughing?

Because in this world, that's really funny.

……

After having dinner and resting for a while, Jiang Mu, as usual, took off his outer garment, leaving only his trousers, and walked into the sandy area of ​​the courtyard to begin his body tempering cultivation.

Qi and blood circulate, muscles and bones resonate...

Sweat quickly soaked his body again.

After Bai Xiang finished cleaning up the dishes, she moved a small stool and sat under the eaves.

She held a book she hadn't finished reading yesterday in her hands, quietly reading it in the dim light, occasionally glancing up at the man sweating profusely in the sand.

As night deepened and the last glimmer of light on the horizon was swallowed by darkness, she finally closed the book.

She didn't go back to her room, but instead looked up, gazing blankly at the night sky.

The pale moon is hazy, and a gentle breeze stirs the sleeves.