So it turns out I'm the demon!

Chapter 85 The Monster: He Came to Seek Refuge with Us (4,000 words, seeking first subscription)

After confirming that Jiang Mu was the mole, Yan Fenghuo subconsciously tightened his grip on the hilt of his knife, preparing to arrest him on the spot to prevent him from escaping.

At the same time, Jiang Mu's heart skipped a beat.

"Does this monster recognize me?"

Now he was certain of his guess.

Yan Fenghuo, that old schemer, was indeed testing him!

Jiang Mu cursed under his breath, his star power surging within him. He drew his sword, ready to strike first and kill the wolf demon to silence it.

However, the wolf demon Black Wind's eyes were bloodshot, his ferocious face twisted with deep-seated hatred, and he let out a furious howl: "You little beast surnamed Jiang!"

"I haven't even come looking for you, and you've delivered yourself right to my doorstep!"

"You were the one who seduced my woman back then! Today I'll skin you alive and pull your tendons out!!"

Jiang Mu: "?"

Yan Fenghuo: "?"

No, buddy?

As for Madam Shen's affair, let it go, after all, she still retains her charm.

But you even go after the wolf demon's wife? Isn't that a bit too avant-garde?

Jiang Mu's face turned even greener.

What kind of livestock was it originally?

How can someone be so indiscriminate in their choice between meat and vegetables!

Fortunately, the wolf demon added hatefully, "That slut's eyes are glued to you every time she sees you, pretty boy. If I hadn't found out early and kept a close eye on her, you two would have ended up in bed together sooner or later!"

"Now that slut has been personally slaughtered and stewed into soup by me, it's your turn next. I'll send you two to the underworld to become a pair of doomed lovers!"

As soon as the words were spoken, it dragged its wounded body and pounced fiercely.

Jiang Mu felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders and let out a long sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

It seems that although Young Master Jiang is a scumbag, he still has a bottom line in terms of aesthetics, and he didn't actually have any cross-species communication with the mother wolf.

Damn, that scared the hell out of me.

With the misunderstanding cleared up, Jiang Mu felt much more at ease, and his killing intent vanished without hesitation.

Jiang Mu flicked his wrist, and the horizontal blade emitted a clear, resonant hum, its gleaming light flashing like a bolt of lightning as it met the oncoming black shadow.

Meanwhile, Yan Fenghuo, hidden in the shadows, was experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions.

He sighed and reluctantly loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword: "It seems that Hall Master Jiang and this wolf demon are indeed not in cahoots."

Therefore, the possibility that Jiang Mu is the mole is greatly reduced.

Was I really wrong?

Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered Zhang Si Zai Qingshan's instructions, fearing that the severely injured and berserk fourth-tier wolf king might launch a counterattack before its death and actually kill Jiang Mu, which would be counterproductive.

He quickly slipped out of his hiding place and circled around to the flank.

Pretending to have just caught up, he shouted, "Don't panic, Hall Master Jiang, I'm here to help you!"

However, his voice still lingered in the air!

A crimson arc of light, like a waning moon, flashed across the wolf demon's thick neck.

The wolf's head shot into the sky, bringing with it a spray of hot, bloody rain.

The headless wolf corpse remained in a charging posture, staggered forward two steps, and then fell to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Its head rolled around and landed at Yan Fenghuo's feet.

"I'm sorry you're late."

With his back to the wolf's corpse that had crashed to the ground, Jiang Mu lightly twisted his wrist.

The blood-stained sword traced a cold arc before precisely returning to its sheath with a crisp clang.

His movements were fluid and graceful, exuding an indescribable elegance and efficiency.

Yan Feng remained where he was in the fire.

Jiang Mu dissected the wolf's corpse, took out its demon core, and absorbed all the demonic energy within.

He then stood up, and as he passed Yan Fenghuo, he gently patted the other's shoulder and said earnestly, "As a fifth-level expert, it's really wrong of you to let a fourth-level demon escape so far right under your nose."

"Master Yan, you should write a self-criticism when you get back."

Yan Fenghuo: "————"

He looked down at the wolf's head that had rolled to his feet.

At this moment, all I want to do is curse.

The operation to eliminate the enemy was drawing to a close.

-

With the last monster's head rolling off, the operation to exterminate Black Wind Valley came to an end.

All seventy-three demons were killed.

Only four people sustained minor injuries, one person was seriously injured, and no one was killed.

This demonstrates the elite level of this team.

However, at this moment, most people's gazes, intentionally or unintentionally, drifted towards the person sitting on a towering rock—

The tall, upright figure was slowly and methodically wiping the blade.

After all, the Wolf King Black Wind, a great demon at the fourth level of perfection, was killed single-handedly by this Hall Master Jiang of the Eighth Hall.

This is the greatest achievement of this battle.

Everyone had mixed feelings.

Some were jealous of Jiang Mu's good fortune in getting something for nothing, while others secretly admired his courage to intercept the wolf king alone.

Yan Fenghuo was the most depressed.

This achievement should have been his!

If it weren't for deliberately going easy on him for that damn "testing plan," how could this kid have gotten to show off?

I really lost my wife and broke down!

"Hall Master Jiang,"

Yan Fenghuo walked over and asked knowingly, "I think that wolf demon said something to you before it died?"

Jiang Mu slowly wiped the blade with a cloth and said calmly, "Oh, it says I seduced its wife. Hall Master Yan, do you think I'm that kind of person?"

do not you?

Who in the entire city of Huzhou doesn't know about your romantic escapades, Young Master Jiang?

Yan Fenghuo secretly curled his lip, but said seriously, "I see. This beast had been lurking in the city before the Mist Demons invaded, harming many brothers. I thought it had long since escaped, but I didn't expect it to be hiding here. It's truly a case of the darkest place being under the lamp."

Jiang Mu did not respond.

At this moment, his attention was entirely focused on the magic gauge in his sea of ​​consciousness.

The demonic energy of the more than seventy demons had been completely absorbed, and after replenishing the two demonic shadows with energy, the health bar of the demonic energy bar rose a bit.

However, it still needs about forty or fifty more monsters to reach the next upgrade.

Jiang Mu sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Pity.

If only there were another nest of monsters nearby —

Just as everyone was cleaning up the battlefield and collecting their spoils, a patrolman suddenly stumbled over.

His face was deathly pale, he was panting heavily, and his eyes were filled with fear: "Second Master, there's an urgent report!"

"What is it?"

Yan Fenghuo frowned.

The patrolmen urgently reported, "The second patrol team has sent a message: signs of large-scale monster activity have been discovered on a rocky slope about two miles to the northeast. Preliminary investigation suggests it's a remnant force under the Black Tiger Demon!"

"What?!"

Yan Fenghuo's expression changed drastically. "Are you sure they're Black Tiger Demon's followers?"

"Absolutely true!"

The patrolmen nodded vigorously.

Yan Fenghuo took a deep breath, turned to Jiang Mu, and said in a deep voice, "Hall Master Jiang, this Black Tiger Demon was once the vanguard general of that Mist Demon. When Huzhou City fell, it was the first to charge in, and its fearsome reputation earned it the title 'Tiger Vanguard'! Its followers were all fierce demons as well."

Tiger Vanguard?

Jiang Mu's eyes brightened slightly.

This guy sounds like a seasoned, elite mini-boss; he must be very wealthy!

"Let's go take a look!"

Jiang Mu made a decisive decision.

A moment later, the group arrived at a secluded mountain hollow.

The second patrol team is here.

The messenger who delivered the intelligence was an old demon slayer in his fifties, with a cultivation level of the third realm. He was sitting on a rock, his arm wound bandaged by his companion, which was stained with blood.

"Master Yan!"

Upon seeing Yan Fenghuo, the old Demon Slayer's eyes blazed with intense light.

The infamous "Desperate Yama" was widely known in the lower levels of the Demon Slayer Division and was deeply revered and worshipped by everyone.

"To make a long story short," Yan Fenghuo said solemnly.

The old demon slayer pointed to a distant, undulating mountain range and said, "I risked my life to scout it out and have a basic understanding of the situation. Hidden there are the main remnants of the Black Tiger Demons' last defeat—approximately five hundred strong!"

"five hundred?!"

Yan Fenghuo and his subordinates behind him all gasped in shock.

This number is already equivalent to a small demon army.

The old demon slayer nodded: "However, the tiger vanguard is not here; its whereabouts are unknown. Perhaps it went to search for other remaining subordinates. Currently, the situation is being managed by a pair of leopard demon brothers under its command, both of whom have fourth-level cultivation."

In addition, there were more than thirty third-tier demons, and the rest were all first- or second-tier minor demons.

In my humble opinion, these demons have been separated from the main force since their last defeat and are temporarily hiding in that place.

However, as I was preparing to send a message during the evacuation, they had already begun packing their belongings, showing signs of a possible retreat, probably having received some orders.

Yan Fenghuo's brows furrowed into a deep knot.

More than five hundred demons!

Even without the Tiger Vanguard in command, this is still an extremely terrifying force.

And now, all they have, including Jiang Mu, is less than twenty people.

What's worse, everyone had just gone through a fierce battle, their star power was greatly depleted, and they were exhausted.

After all, monks are not perpetual motion machines.

Once the energy expenditure is too high, rest or elixirs will be needed to sustain it.

However, elixirs can only provide temporary relief and cannot last long.

He, a cultivator at the fifth realm, was the same.

Although he was confident that he could fight his way in and out of the demon horde with his fifth-level cultivation, the idea of ​​annihilating all five hundred demons was nothing short of a pipe dream, and he would eventually be worn down to death.

It's like a big man fighting a hundred children; eventually, the big man will get tired and collapse.

Moreover, if they are truly provoked, those demons will inevitably retaliate.

I can run, but what about the other brothers?

This battle is unwinnable.

"Sir, we've been discovered!"

Suddenly, Ma Wenliu exclaimed and pointed to the sky.

Everyone looked up.

Several enormous black-feathered eagles were circling overhead, their wings shrouded in a mysterious aura.

It is a reconnaissance bird commonly used by the demon army.

At the top of the rocky slope, on a huge weathered rock.

Two burly figures stood side by side, gazing into the distance toward the mountain hollow where Yan Fenghuo and the others were hiding.

Both of these monsters had leopard heads and human bodies.

Clad in simple leather armor, his muscles bulged like cast iron, with dark gold patterns flowing between his fur, exuding a fierce aura.

They were Leopard Big and Leopard Two, the personal guards of Tiger Vanguard.

Leopard, carrying two swords on his back, narrowed his eyes and grinned coldly, "Heh, I didn't expect the Demon Slayer Division to have such a keen nose, sniffing out here so quickly. Luckily, only a dozen or so little flies came."

Younger brother Leopard Two, however, was somewhat worried: "Big brother, the scouts have found out that the leader is Yan Fenghuo from the Fourth Hall. That guy's nickname is 'Desperate Yama,' he's a notorious madman. What if he—leads his men to kill us directly?"

-

"Hahaha!"

Leopard laughed loudly upon hearing this, "Second brother, you're overthinking it. If we only had two hundred brothers, that madman might actually dare to come and fight to the death."

But now we have five hundred men!

Even if Yan Fenghuo's brain had been kicked by a donkey or slammed in a door, there was absolutely no way he would try to fight a losing battle with an egg!

He'll definitely send someone back to the city for reinforcements, but we'll ignore them. We'll proceed according to the original plan, pack up, and retreat immediately. By the time their reinforcements arrive, we'll be long gone.

Leopard Two gripped his spiked club tightly, his eyes flashing with ferocity: "Since that's the case, brother, there are only a dozen or so of them anyway. Why don't I lead a squad of brothers down and devour them? Yan Fenghuo's flesh must be quite chewy."

"Nonsense!"

Leopard's face darkened, and he shouted sternly, "Yan Fenghuo is a genuine fifth-realm cultivator. How can he be easily dealt with? Who will kill him?"

How many brothers' lives will be sacrificed to pay for this?

"Don't cause any unnecessary trouble. Let's go our own way. If we wait for their reinforcements, we won't be able to leave even if we want to."

Leopard Two shrank back after being scolded, suppressing his desire for credit.

But he still muttered uneasily, "What if—some reckless fool on their side comes charging in without a second thought?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Leopard raised his head, his face full of arrogance and confidence. "Hmph, if even the 'Desperate King of Hell' doesn't dare to make a move, who else would dare to come and throw their life away?"

Behind the mound of earth in the mountain valley.

"Let's call for help."

Yan Fenghuo took a breath, suppressing his resentment, and ordered his capable subordinate, "Ma Wenliu, return to the city immediately, report to the commander, and request reinforcements! Be quick!"

Ma Wenliu glanced at the jumbled rocks opposite him and frowned, saying, "Master, by the time reinforcements arrive in force, these demons will probably have already fled into the deep mountains and will be impossible to find."

"Then what do you suggest we do?!"

Yan Feng glared at him, his eyes bloodshot, and roared, "I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid! There are only a dozen or so of us. Are we really going to rush up there and become food for those five hundred-plus monsters?!"

Ma Wenliu was speechless.

Everyone fell silent.

Reason told them that seeking help was the only viable option, even though it meant watching the monster escape.

"Your subordinate—I'll go right away."

Ma Wenliu gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

Frustrated, Yan Fenghuo slammed his fist into the ground, creating a crater, and cursed under his breath.

He turned his head to say a few words to Jiang Mu, but when he turned his head, he was stunned.

There was nothing around me.

"Where is Master Jiang?"

Yan Fenghuo asked in astonishment.

Everyone looked around but couldn't find anyone.

One of his subordinates muttered under his breath, "Hearing that there are over five hundred demons on the other side, will Hall Master Jiang be scared and run away first?"

Just then, the old demon slayer suddenly widened his eyes, his finger trembling as he pointed forward, stammering, "He—he—"

Everyone turned to look, and immediately froze, dumbfounded.

All I saw was...

A lone figure, wielding a long sword, charged eagerly towards the demonic aura that filled the mountains and fields!

Their backs turned, showing unwavering resolve.

It even carried a hint of eager joy.

On the opposite rock.

Leopard 1 and Leopard 2, who were urging their men to speed up the evacuation, also saw the figure charging towards them alone.

Both leopard spirits were dumbfounded.

Leopard scratched the back of his furry head, looking puzzled. "What's he trying to do? Is he lost?"

Leopard Two, standing next to him, also looked bewildered.

After hesitating for a moment, he said uncertainly:

-

"Perhaps—he's come to seek refuge with us?"