Chapter 233: Rat Demon
The grand mansion of the Zhen family in Chazhou City was a property they had purchased after moving to Chazhou a few years ago. Although adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, it was far less luxurious than their mansion in Zhuzhou.
The Zhen family patriarch was in the main hall, engaged in a private discussion with two younger family members and several families closely connected to Chazhou.
Sensing danger, the Zhen patriarch had been the first to flee. The others weren’t foolish enough to stay behind either; seeing the Dragon Lady severely injured, they all made a hasty escape.
They knew nothing about Yu Guang, the fearsome figure who had suddenly appeared. Curious and alarmed, a few families with close ties to the Zhen family had gathered to inquire about Yu Guang’s origins.
Before they could say much, a servant the Zhen patriarch had stationed by the Ling River rushed into the hall to report:
“Terrible news! That Yu Guang—he killed the Dragon Lady!”
The crowd in the hall erupted in shock. Even though they had suspected the Dragon Lady might not be able to defeat Yu Guang, they hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. That enormous and terrifying creature was dead already?
“Are you certain?” someone asked.
“I wouldn’t dare lie. The Dragon Lady’s corpse has washed ashore. Her head was smashed, and there’s blood everywhere,” the servant replied.
A heavy silence fell over the hall before a young man finally broke it, saying, “Actually, this isn’t such a bad thing. That Dragon Lady was insatiable, demanding both money and people as sacrifices. Now that she’s dead, we don’t have to serve her anymore.”
“Exactly! And let’s not forget, that gold mine in Hui Lian Mountain—now we can all take a share of it.”
The Zhen patriarch glanced at the few short-sighted fools speaking, his gaze sweeping over the clan leaders of the families present in the hall.
These families had become the Zhen family’s allies after their move to Chazhou, bound together through shared interests and marriage ties.
If not for the fact that they were all in the same boat, the Zhen patriarch might have lashed out at them in anger.
“You’re all being far too optimistic! Do you think Yu Guang, who killed the Dragon Lady, is any easier to deal with?!” the Zhen patriarch exclaimed, slapping his thigh in frustration.
The Huang family patriarch spoke up, “No matter how formidable Yu Guang is, he’s still just a man. We couldn’t handle a monster, but surely we can deal with a person, can’t we?”
The Zhen patriarch’s face darkened even further. A few years ago, he had thought the same—and paid a heavy price for it.
Yu Guang was unlike anyone he had ever encountered.
“If Yu Guang decides to deal with Chazhou the same way he dealt with Zhuzhou, we’ll all be in his crosshairs. Forget our family fortunes—even our lives might not be spared.”
“This man calls himself righteous and has zero tolerance for corruption. Worse still, he actually cares about those lowly commoners. My second son was executed by him simply for trampling a commoner to death with his horse and taking a farmer’s daughter as a slave!”
“Everyone in my household—whether family members or stewards—who committed crimes like murder or land seizure was taken away by him and either executed or imprisoned. As for me, if I hadn’t fled Zhuzhou in time, I would’ve been dealt with by him as well.”
The Zhen patriarch’s words finally made the others realize just how ruthless and uncompromising Yu Guang was. A deep sense of crisis settled over them.
“Wouldn’t it work to bribe him with power or wealth?” someone asked.
“If he were the type to be swayed by such things, my family wouldn’t have ended up in this predicament,” the Zhen patriarch replied bitterly.
“Then what should we do?” another asked, unease creeping into their voice.
The Zhen patriarch’s expression shifted, a mixture of hesitation and grim resolve flashing across his face before it hardened into ruthless determination.
“If he doesn’t come looking for trouble, we’ll endure him for now. But if he refuses to let us go, then we’ll have no choice but to find a way to kill him!”
The Zhen family had already been uprooted once and had struggled to establish themselves in Chazhou again. No matter what, the Zhen patriarch was unwilling to live like a defeated dog, tail tucked between his legs, fleeing for his life yet again.
“But if he could kill even the Dragon Lady, how could we possibly kill him?” someone asked, their voice trembling with doubt.
“The demons and evil spirits couldn’t kill him, but no matter how high his cultivation is, he’s still just a human. Human strength always has its limits…” The Zhen patriarch’s voice trailed off into a whisper.
Beneath the stone tiles underfoot, hidden in a secret earthen tunnel, a few gray-furred rats tilted their heads upward, as though eavesdropping on the clandestine meeting above. Their whiskers twitched with nervous energy.
…
Far to the east of the city, in the Fang family estate, an old man named Lu Gong, who carried himself like an enlightened sage, slowly opened his eyes and stroked his beard.
Seated before him were the leaders of Chazhou’s most influential families, led by the Fang family. They had just received news from the Ling River, and none of them looked pleased.
“Lu Gong, now that the Dragon Lady has been killed, what do you suggest?” The Fang patriarch’s tone lacked the deference it once held, though he maintained a facade of politeness.
Lu Gong had made a name for himself in Chazhou even before the Dragon Lady’s rise. The Fang patriarch still harbored some respect for his supposed ability to glimpse the will of heaven.
Lu Gong chuckled lightly. “What do all of you think?”
One person spoke up, “Of course, we should try to recruit Yu Guang. With his strength on our side, what would we have to fear?”
Lu Gong shook his head. “In my opinion, it’s better to wait and observe. The Zhen family already bears a grudge against Yu Guang. I’ve discovered they are planning to deal with him.”
“If they succeed, Yu Guang won’t be a threat anymore. If they fail, then you can step forward, expose the Zhen family’s actions, and use the opportunity to build a favorable relationship with Yu Guang. There’s no rush.”
As Lu Gong spoke with confidence, the tension in the room eased, and the assembled leaders began to nod in agreement.
Though Lu Gong outwardly advocated for befriending Yu Guang, he harbored a deep hatred for the man.
Lu Gong, like the serpent-faced demon, was also a demon, though his origins were humbler—rooted in the form of a rat. Unlike the powerful serpent-faced demon, Lu Gong relied on the countless rats scattered throughout the city to gather intelligence. This knowledge was his key to ingratiating himself with Chazhou’s elite families.
Riding the momentum of the “Dragon Lady’s” rise had been no easy feat, but the fleeting glory was quickly shattered by Yu Guang.
Since the Zhen family wanted to kill Yu Guang, Lu Gong was determined to lend them a hand.
*
Meanwhile, Yu Guang and his two companions were traveling from the banks of the Ling River toward Chazhou City. However, before they could even reach the city, an unexpected incident occurred.
Yu Yin, who had consumed a demon, suddenly fell unconscious.
Yu Guang helped him sit upright on the horse and realized that the sleep was a result of his body processing the absorbed power.
Initially planning to resolve the Dragon Lady’s calamity in one swift stroke, Yu Guang reconsidered and decided to alter his plans. Instead, he found an inn outside the city where Yu Yin could rest.
The spies the Zhen family had stationed outside the city spotted them and hurriedly reported back.
“Yu Guang didn’t enter the city. It seems he’s cautious and dares not act as he did in Zhuzhou.”
“In that case, should we even bother trying to deal with him?”
The Zhen patriarch cursed their stupidity. “Stick to the plan! Handle it tonight, and move quickly!”
As Yu Guang and his companions stayed temporarily at the inn outside Chazhou, others were also making their way toward the city. Ming Yu and Mu Yi, who were supposed to be stationed at Du Village, were traveling through the night to Chazhou.
A day earlier, when Yu Guang’s group had learned about the Dragon Lady, a relatively minor incident had occurred in Du Village.
As part of a long-standing tradition, the young people of Du Village would venture out together each year to train and hunt down nearby evil spirits.
That day, after being gone for over a month, a group of a dozen young villagers returned to the village.
Du Renchuan’s elder brother and sister were among those returning. Over the past two days, Mu Yi, who had quickly grown close to Du Renchuan, finally had the chance to meet the siblings he’d heard so much about from his new friend.
The siblings were indeed outstanding young individuals and doted on Du Renchuan. Despite the long journey home, they didn’t forget to bring him gifts.
Mu Yi crouched beside Du Renchuan, the two of them huddled in a corner, munching on sweets together.
Hearing the admiration in Du Renchuan’s voice for his elder siblings, Mu Yi nudged his arm and asked, “Do you want to be a cultivator like them?”
Du Renchuan shook his head. “I don’t think I can. I’m not as talented as they are. I’ll probably just stay home, farm the fields, and take care of Dad, Mom, and Grandpa.”
But you will become a remarkable cultivator, far surpassing your brother and sister. However, the turning point that makes you powerful will also take away your family and home.
“Du Renchuan, you’re not any less than them,” Mu Yi said earnestly. “You could even become stronger than they are.”
Du Renchuan hesitated for a while, then smiled bashfully.
His elder brother, Du Linshui, came out of their grandfather’s room and noticed the two crouched in the corner. Walking over, he playfully pinched his younger brother’s chubby cheeks and teased, “Made a new friend? You’re not trailing after your brother and sister this time?”
Du Renchuan wriggled free from his brother’s grip, rubbing his face as he replied, “Brother, did something go wrong this time? What were you and Sister talking to Grandpa about?”
A trace of worry crossed Du Linshui’s face, but he didn’t explain. “It’s nothing serious. Even if there is something, your sister and I will handle it. You just play with your friend and stop overthinking.”
Du Renchuan, obedient as ever, simply nodded. “Okay.”
Mu Yi, however, sensed something was off. Pulling the little chubby boy to his feet, he declared, “There’s definitely something going on. Let’s go find out what it is.”
It didn’t take long for Mu Yi to uncover the truth, as it wasn’t a closely guarded secret. Du Linshui and the others had brought back a demon when they returned to the village.
The demon was unusual, and they didn’t know how to deal with it, so they decided to bring it back.
When Mu Yi heard the word “demon,” his heart skipped a beat. He immediately thought of the Locust God that would later destroy Du Village. Grabbing Du Renchuan, he sneaked off to take a look.
What they found in the room where the demon was being held wasn’t what Mu Yi had expected.
It was a white, chubby child.
The child in the room wore a small bellyband and tiny shorts, his chubby cheeks puffed out, and his small, darting eyes shifted around restlessly, giving him a sneaky and unsettling aura.
Du Linshui caught the two snooping outside the door and sighed, giving them a helpless warning: “Don’t be fooled by the fact that he’s a child. He’s still a dangerous demon. You can look, but don’t get too close.”
Du Renchuan, ever the obedient one, nodded at everything his brother said without question. Mu Yi, on the other hand, took the initiative to ask, “What kind of demon is he?”
“A rat, I think,” Du Linshui answered, then shooed them further away from the room.
Inside, the child was screaming and yelling, his high-pitched voice sharp and grating: “Let me out! If you don’t let me go, when my grandpa realizes I’m missing and finds me here, he’ll eat all of you!”
“My grandpa is Lu Gong from Chazhou City! He’s super powerful! Everyone listens to him! You stupid humans, I’ll eat you all with my grandpa!”
Lu Gong.
Mu Yi’s expression grew serious. He knew about the demon Lu Gong—a creature as sly and crafty as a rat, skilled in tunneling and scheming. Lu Gong loved to sow discord, set traps, and was notoriously vindictive and small-minded.
After the Locust God devastated Chazhou in his past life, Lu Gong had fled to Zhuzhou, where he began working for the demon Silk Nest.
If, in his previous life, the people of Du Village had captured this rat-child, then it was impossible that Lu Gong would have let it slide.
Was it possible that the Locust God had been drawn to Du Village by Lu Gong as an act of revenge?
Mu Yi thought it was highly likely.
His expression hardened as he looked toward the room where the rat-child was being held. He asked Du Linshui, “This demon has already developed a habit of eating humans. Why didn’t you kill him on the road?”
Du Linshui stammered awkwardly, avoiding the question.
The group of teenagers, all around seventeen or eighteen years old, had hesitated to kill the demon because he looked like a child. They hadn’t had the heart to do it, so they brought him back alive.
Mu Yi immediately understood from Du Linshui’s hesitation. The people of Du Village shared a common virtue: their kind hearts. Unfortunately, that was also their greatest flaw.
With his suspicions confirmed, Mu Yi sought out his teacher, Ming Yu, and convinced him of the potential danger. Ming Yu, in turn, persuaded the village chief to let them take the demon away to deal with it elsewhere.
As Mu Yi rode out of the village with the demon, he turned back to wave at Du Renchuan, who had come to see him off.
This time, he had taken away what he believed to be the seed of Du Village’s eventual destruction. If he could eliminate Lu Gong in advance, the village should remain safe.
And if his guess was wrong, there would still be time to act.
*
At the inn outside Chazhou City, Wu Jin brought in a large bowl of food and set it down in the room.
Yu Guang, sitting by the bed, took it and ate a few bites.
Wu Jin glanced at the person lying on the bed, his face filled with concern. “The little brother’s still not awake. Do you think he’ll sleep for days?”
“He’ll probably need a few more days,” Yu Guang replied. “Once he’s stable, we’ll head back to Du Village. You and the youngest will stay there for now.”
It was unusual for Yu Guang to finish an entire bowl of food without asking for seconds.
Wu Jin took the empty bowl, teasing as he prepared to leave, “Big Brother, you’re really worried about him, huh? Sitting by his side and not daring to leave.”
Yu Guang’s expression turned serious. “In his current state, someone has to keep a close eye on him. I can’t leave.”
Because in this condition, the youngest was extremely dangerous. If Yu Guang wasn’t there, and someone approached, the youngest might devour them without even realizing it.
Wu Jin didn’t grasp the full meaning, only sighing about their close bond before leaving and closing the door, leaving the room quiet.
It didn’t stay quiet for long. Strands of black web-like threads began to seep out of Yu Yin’s body, drawn toward the rich energy emanating from Yu Guang. The threads started wrapping around him, as though weaving a net.
Yu Guang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them. He grabbed the encroaching threads and considered them for a moment. Ultimately, he decided not to rip them apart but instead began carefully untangling them.
Yu Guang finished untangling the threads on his arm, only to move on to the ones wrapped around his leg.
No sooner had he unraveled them than countless more strands of web-like threads crept up again, tangling haphazardly into knots.
Even the most patient person would have been frustrated by now.
Yu Guang flicked his finger against Yu Yin’s forehead. “If you keep this up, Big Brother’s going to tear them off entirely.”
