The Name of Eternals

Chapter 61: The Black Wind Mountains

"The full regional intelligence can only be accessed by a Demon-Slaying Master," Cui Fan said.

A Demon-Slaying Envoy could lead a team to slay demons but was only responsible for small towns and villages.

However, he wasn't rejecting Li Hao; he continued with a smile, "But since you've come from afar and are eager to slay demons, I can't refuse your request. Please follow me."

He led Li Hao and the others to a side room within the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

This room was guarded, and Cui Fan, being familiar with the personnel, exchanged greetings and then led the group inside.

In the room, a map of Cangyu City's territory hung on the wall, covering the surrounding dozen or so towns and numerous villages.

Cui Fan pulled out a ledger from the shelf and handed it to Li Hao.

"This is the demon-slaying record for the past six months around Cangyu City. Take your time to read it. After lunch, I'll take you on a patrol..." Cui Fan said with a smile.

Li Hao opened the ledger and began to read it carefully.

Li Yuanzhao also curiously leaned in, reading it attentively with him.

...

...

In a luxurious mansion on the outskirts of the city.

"Yanshi, ten strings of copper coins."

"Zhangshi, eight strings of copper coins."

A plump, young, and beautiful woman reclined on a soft couch, slowly flipping through the account book and said to the accountant beside her: "This year, with the frequent demon disasters, the tenant farmers' harvests are poor. Let the master exempt them from some taxes. They have it tough..."

The accountant was startled and bowed his head, "Madam, you are kind. But this year, the various businesses are also struggling. If we reduce taxes further, the mansion's income will shrink."

"We can be more frugal. Let the farmers have a good New Year." The beautiful woman spoke softly and gently.

The accountant nodded and said, "I will discuss it with the master later."

"Madam, you are with child and have been looking at the accounts all morning. You should rest now."

A beautiful maid beside her said with concern.

The beautiful woman gently stroked her rounded belly, her eyes filled with tender love. She closed the account book and, with the maid's help, slowly stood up and returned to her bedroom.

"I'll go to the kitchen to bring you some snacks." The maid, after helping her lie down, said sweetly.

The beautiful woman nodded gently.

As the maid left and closed the door, the woman stroked her belly and softly murmured, "Child, the New Year is almost here. Mother will see you soon."

Her eyes were soft and filled with anticipation.

"Hehehe, do you really want to see me?"

Suddenly, a strange, sharp child's voice echoed in the quiet room.

The woman, pulled from her thoughts, widened her eyes in surprise and looked at her belly.

She was certain the voice came from her eight-month pregnant belly.

"You..."

Before she could figure out what was happening, her belly suddenly bulged, growing larger and larger. Intense pain followed, like her body was being torn apart.

With a pop, her belly split open at the navel, but instead of blood, it deflated like a balloon.

A thin, bloody head emerged from her belly, followed by a snake-like tail. It was a horrifying creature, part snake, part centipede.

Seeing this terrifying scene, the woman, despite her years of managing the household with composure, screamed in fear and fainted.

"You hypocrite, the child is out, and you don't want to see it anymore."

The creature laughed eerily, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

It slithered onto the woman's upper body and bit her head off, swallowing her entire upper body, making its thin body swell.

"Evil beast!!"

Suddenly, an angry voice rang out.

Golden light flashed, and a slender figure dashed through the wall into the room. It was Song Yueyao, her movements graceful and swift.

"Hmm?"

The creature was startled, its face changing. It quickly spat out the half-eaten woman and tried to escape through the window.

"Golden Lock Trapping Dragon!"

Song Yueyao, her face cold, quickly formed a hand seal.

The spirit, though unable to harm the physical body, could perform magical arts to counteract demonic techniques. The Golden Lock Trapping Dragon was a sealing technique from the Spirit Wanderer Realm.

Golden light enveloped the snake-like creature, trapping it and preventing its escape.

Soon, hurried footsteps approached. Song Yueyao's physical body arrived outside the window, leapt down, and slashed at the creature with her sword.

"Spare me..." The creature pleaded in panic.

But the sword light was merciless, decapitating it and sending its head rolling.

Song Yueyao struck twice more, cutting its body into pieces. She then hurried inside to the woman's bed, only to see her face already rotting.

Looking at her empty belly, it was clear her organs had been eaten.

Too late... Her face turned grim. Despite her experience, she felt a surge of anger.

By now, the household servants and maids had arrived, including the master, a middle-aged merchant in his forties.

Song Yueyao quickly instructed her team to seal the room, preventing the common folk from seeing the horror.

"Are you from the Demon-Slaying Bureau?!"

The master, knowledgeable, recognized the uniform on Tian Congzhi, his face changing as he asked anxiously, "What about Lian'er? What happened to her?"

"There's a demon inside. Please don't approach."

Tian Congzhi, a Black Hall disciple assisting Song Yueyao, had already seen the gruesome scene inside and spoke solemnly.

"How could there be a demon in my house? This must be a mistake. Let me see Lian'er!" The master pushed against Tian Congzhi, his teeth clenched.

Song Yueyao stepped out, having sheathed her sword. She glanced at the middle-aged man and said, "Your wife is dead, killed by a demon. I've slain the demon. You should prepare to bury her."

"Dead?"

The master was stunned, then rushed inside frantically.

Tian Congzhi, unwilling to harm a civilian, tried to hold him back, but Song Yueyao signaled him to let go. The man had to see it, as they would need to bury her later.

The man rushed in and saw the horrific scene, struck by a thunderbolt, standing still.

Song Yueyao instructed Tian Congzhi, "You stay and handle the aftermath. I need to go to the City Guard."

"Alright."

Tian Congzhi agreed.

As Song Yueyao was about to leave, the middle-aged man grabbed her arm, his eyes red and shouting angrily, "Why? Why didn't you come sooner? Why?!"

"Give me back my Lian'er! Give her back!!"

Song Yueyao's face changed. She instinctively broke free, pushing him down.

He fell to the ground, sitting there, pulling his hair and crying hysterically, "She said it was her first time being a mother, even thought of the child's name. Why, why did this happen to her? Heaven is unjust!!"

His cries echoed through the courtyard, shaking the servants and maids outside.

Song Yueyao felt a pang of guilt, looking at the near-mad man. She knew he wouldn't listen to reason now. Tightening her grip on her sword, she silently turned and left.

Yes, why couldn't I be faster... She bit her lip lightly.

...

At the City Lord's Mansion.

Song Yueyao arrived swiftly, moving with agility.

"Mr. Yue, you wanted to see me?"

She saw the city guard in charge of Cangyu City's security.

Yue Shuhong, in his forties, had a scholarly air. He looked at the approaching young woman with a hint of admiration.

Reaching the Spirit Wanderer Realm at just over twenty and nearing perfection—this was the gap between top prodigies and himself.

"Inspector Song, you've worked hard. You just arrived yesterday and already slew a demon, saving a town from disaster." Yue Shuhong smiled.

Song Yueyao, fresh from the mansion, was in a bad mood. She said sternly, "Slaying demons is our duty. What's the matter, Mr. Yue?"

Yue Shuhong, experienced and well-versed in human nature, sensed she wasn't one for flattery and felt a surge of respect. He grew serious: "Inspector Song, you've seen our city's demon-slaying records. In the past six months, demon activity has surged. Recently, about half a month ago, many demons gathered in the Black Wind Mountains, a hundred miles east of the city. Passing merchant caravans have met with disaster."

He spread a full map of the region on the table, pointing to the eastern mountains. "I sent people to investigate. Four demon-slaying masters were lost, but we learned a bit."

Looking at Song Yueyao, his gaze was grave. "Among these demons is a great demon planning to lead nearby lesser demons to overrun Cangyu City!"

Song Yueyao was shocked. Cangyu City had millions of people. Overrun? Did they intend to massacre the city?

Such events were rare, even on the borders.

"Did you notify the Xia family?" she asked immediately.

The Xia family was one of the four Divine Generals, responsible for guarding Qizhou.

Yue Shuhong smiled bitterly. "I did, but they seem occupied on another front. They said they'd send help if the demon attacked, and told us not to panic."