Chapter Fifty-Two: Master Chu

The suppression of the blood energy yielded unsatisfactory feedback. Yet, it managed to spark Bai Li Fei Hong’s curiosity.

In Chu Village, every household kept their doors tightly shut. No one dared to step outside, cowering within the small plot of land that was their home. Home felt like a safe harbor. But in the presence of this monster who could crush a kappa with a single punch, the so-called harbor offered no refuge.

Creak!

Chu Xiao Yong opened the door, his legs trembling, mustering all his courage to throw out the gold coins he had received. In the next instant, he fled back inside like a startled rabbit.

Bai Li Fei Hong watched all of this quietly, making no move. Yet his violent aura enveloped the village. With his current martial prowess at the level of organ refinement, augmented by extraordinary blood and bone cultivation, he would not lose even against a first-class demon-suppressing official like Zheng Yi Shan. Over a thousand skill points layered upon his foundation had granted Bai Li Fei Hong monstrous strength.

More and more villagers emerged, tossing his belongings onto the ground, careful not to approach the village entrance. In the end, Bai Li Fei Hong’s gaze was fixed solely upon the house not far from the entrance—the residence of the great-grandmother of Chu Village.

There was no movement inside now, but Bai Li Fei Hong knew she was not dead. The faint blood aura upon her was perceptible to him. The demonic energy she could no longer conceal was equally obvious.

An evil cultivator? Highly likely.

Bai Li Fei Hong’s experience with demons was still limited, but it did not hinder his control over the situation.

“Where is my Black Soul Jade?” he asked coldly, staring into the house.

There was no response from within. The villagers hiding inside grew anxious. The great-grandmother was the village healer and priestess, holding the utmost prestige and position. They feared the young, formidable stranger would harm her.

“So, you truly intend to resist to the death,” Bai Li Fei Hong continued. “Have the villagers you deceived ever realized that the greatest demon in Chu Village is hidden among them? Or do you hope to survive this calamity by chance?”

Blood energy surged, held in check. Bai Li Fei Hong was growing ever more adept at wielding its subtleties.

“Young man, I am old and hard of hearing; I cannot make out your words. But do not speak nonsense and tarnish my reputation,” the great-grandmother finally spoke from within.

Bai Li Fei Hong stepped forward to the Demon-Fixing Compass, bent down, and picked it up.

“Old woman, do you know what this compass is called?”

“Please enlighten me,” she replied.

“This is a magical instrument crafted by the Divine Inspectorate for the Demon-Suppressing Bureau, known as the Demon-Fixing Compass.”

Bai Li Fei Hong pointed at the compass’s needle. “Its needle points directly at you.”

“If you say so,” she responded.

“Yes, I say so, and so it is.”

Suddenly, Bai Li Fei Hong threw a punch at the house. The force of his fist was vast as a hurricane, like a typhoon of the highest order, tearing the house apart. Yet his control was so precise that the contents inside remained untouched.

The old woman clutched her silver cane tightly, sweat pouring from her brow, her eyes shining with an unnatural green light as she stared at the young man.

“Are you really from the Demon-Suppressing Bureau?”

“Genuine,” Bai Li Fei Hong replied, surveying his surroundings.

“In truth, I have always wondered at this: Chu Village is deep in the mountains, yet every home is grand, every villager ruddy and carefree, never troubled by hardship. Where does all this wealth come from?”

The elderly woman’s green glow faded from her eyes, returning to a milky whiteness. Under the moonlight, her silhouette seemed especially lonely and helpless.

The villagers were anxious, but the terror instilled by the Demon-Suppressing Bureau kept them from advancing.

In her heart, the great-grandmother cursed herself; her warnings of the bureau’s fearsome power had, in the end, harmed her. Without the villagers’ protection, the young demon-suppressing official acted without restraint.

“Life is hard; we must seek a way forward. Do all officials care so much about money?”

“Indeed—who does not love wealth?”

As Bai Li Fei Hong spoke, his face was filled with a radiant smile. Hearing this, the entire village breathed a collective sigh of relief, relaxing visibly.

So, he was just another greedy official after all—no different from any other demon-suppressing agent.

But the great-grandmother’s heart sank. A sense of foreboding rose within her, yet she had no chance to speak. A wave of blood energy locked onto her, forcing her to desperately marshal her internal power to resist it. She had no wish to use her strength, but if she suffered further harm from the blood energy, her death would soon follow.

Creak!

“Hurry, hurry!”

The gates of the most luxurious house in the village swung open. The elderly Chu patriarch seen at dusk commanded his servants, who carried boxes hurriedly to the village entrance.

“Sir, sir, I was blind and failed to recognize your true identity. Please do not be offended,” the steward pleaded.

“Who are you?” Bai Li Fei Hong asked with a smiling face.

“I am Chu Feng, the chief manager of the Chu manor.”

Chu Feng was presumably a villager himself.

“Why does Master Chu not come out to meet me?”

Chu Feng hesitated. “Master has caught a chill recently and is not fit to see guests. Please forgive him, Master Bai Li.”

“Bring the goods forward.”

“Sir, this is a token of my master’s gratitude for ridding Chu Village of the demon’s scourge. This modest reward is for your troubles, and Master requests your residence so the Chu clan may send this amount every year.”

Eight large chests of gold coins gleamed brilliantly in the torchlight. Even with the generous gift he had received from Ji Xiao Qian, Bai Li Fei Hong’s wealth paled in comparison to what lay before him—and this was only the first installment. The annual tribute would always match this sum.

“Who would have thought that such a wealthy man was hidden here in the wilds, and yet I’ve never heard your master’s name in Dongbin City,” Bai Li Fei Hong commented, his gaze greedy as he surveyed the riches before him. With a mere nod, he could have power and fortune at his fingertips.

“Sir, you flatter us. We never flaunt our wealth. Master worked tirelessly overseas most of his life, leading the Chu clan to prosperity. The ancestral rules of Chu Village dictate discretion, so we do not display wealth in Dongbin City.”

“To walk clad in fine robes at night is to avoid disaster—your ancestral wisdom is admirable,” Bai Li Fei Hong praised genuinely.

“But you still have not answered my question. I once worked in river transport, yet never heard of the wealthy Chu family. Taking this money leaves me uneasy.”

Chu Feng hesitated.

“Sir, some things are better left unsaid.”

“I want to hear it,” Bai Li Fei Hong replied, his smile growing ever brighter.

Overseas ventures? It seemed he had found the right place.

The residents of Gongping Town had all their lives devoured by the ancient Ice Maiden Han Su. The police and demon-suppressing bureau had been ordered to investigate and clear the scene. They discovered many ledgers, each containing vast information, but none revealed the identities of those recorded.

For instance, the ledger of the opium den listed: “Chu, takes forty percent of profits.” The same note appeared in the records of brothels, pawnshops, and gambling houses.

Bai Li Fei Hong had examined these ledgers thoroughly, investigating the name, but found no corresponding individual.

Now, it was clear.

Chu referred to Master Chu.