Lin Xue was both shocked and furious.
That damned fat black guy was definitely pretending to be unconscious just now!
When she had been fighting the female demon lord, this guy didn’t help at all; he hid inside his Wind Shield, watching with folded arms.
After learning from the female demon lord that she was a Demon Snake, he used the opportunity of the demon lord’s ghostly howl to feign fainting.
Now that she had killed the female demon lord, the bastard immediately jumped out to pick the fruit.
It was utterly despicable and shameless!
He should have broken his shield right then, snatched all his things, and stabbed him to death!
She frantically tried to circulate the demonic power inside her body, wanting to stand up, break free from this net, and stab the Blood Fiend Thorn in her hand into that hateful fat face.
But this net possessed some unknown magic; it restrained all her strength.
She couldn’t exert a single ounce of power; even with all her might, she could only barely twitch a finger.
She could only watch helplessly as that short, fat captain swaggered over, standing before her and looking down condescendingly, as if appraising his spoils.
“Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder you’re a demon—you’re actually quite beautiful,” Yang Yuhai said, greed flashing in his piggy eyes as he stared at Lin Xue’s furious face.
His gaze traced along Lin Xue’s delicate face, down her slender neck, lingering around the open collar of her Daoist Robe, circling back and forth with obvious fondness before moving down to her slender waist and long, straight legs, finally settling on her bare jade feet.
Glug.
Lin Xue heard the sound of the fat man swallowing his saliva.
“Beautiful, truly beautiful!” Yang Yuhai’s eyes burned with desire, drool dripping down as he said, “You female demons take on such lovely forms, surely to seduce men everywhere, drain their yang energy, and wreak havoc! Today, this captain will uphold justice—exorcise demons, protect the people, and punish you female demons!”
Saying that, he crouched down and stretched out his fat hand with a lecherous smile, grabbing one of Lin Xue’s beautiful feet.
Lin Xue shivered all over, goosebumps rising on her skin.
She really wanted to kick that damn fat man away, but she had no strength at all—completely powerless to resist.
All she could do was watch that fat man cup her exquisite foot and bring his nose close to her instep, inhaling deeply.
“Truly fragrant.” Yang Yuhai’s fat face showed an expression of intoxication.
Then, he surprisingly stuck out his tongue and began licking her toes.
Lin Xue instantly felt nauseous and repulsed, as if she had swallowed a fly, almost vomiting.
But above all, she felt terrified.
What else would that damn fat man do to her next? She didn’t need to imagine to know.
Just thinking of that filthy and disgusting scene about to happen to her filled her with horror.
She had barely managed to transmigrate here and become a Demon Snake—now she was about to be violated by some fat, ugly man?
At that moment, she thought it would have been better to just die at the hands of the female demon lord!
What should she do now?
Was she really going to just lie there and let that bastard humiliate her?
In her utter despair, she suddenly saw Zhang Zongnian staggering toward the shrine entrance, leaning against the wall for support, holding another flying sword wielded by a middle-aged cultivator as a cane.
It was like grasping at a lifeline.
Save me!
She cast a pleading look at Zhang Zongnian.
……
Zhang Zongnian leaned against the wall, watching the beautiful figure turn back and smile sweetly at him before turning away.
A trace of reluctance stirred in his heart.
After fifteen years devoted to sword cultivation, it was the first time he felt such a flutter inside.
Unfortunately, she was a demon.
He sighed inwardly. If only she were human.
But then he thought, even if she were human, someone like him—a lowly, powerless officer with no background—would never stand a chance.
Moreover, his right arm was now broken—almost useless.
His position as a Demon Slaying Division Officer was likely lost.
He didn’t know how he would live from now on.
Without income, how would he support his elderly mother?
He leaned against the wall, sinking into sorrow.
As he was wallowing in self-pity, he suddenly heard the voice of Captain Yang Yuhai outside.
Yang Yuhai had actually used the Fuyao Wang to capture that female demon.
Zhang Zongnian was stunned.
Yang Yuhai had no real skills; he only held the captain position because he was a direct descendant of the Yang Family of Qinghe.
This man usually led a dissolute life, obsessed with women, and had ruined countless families’ daughters under the protection of his family’s power.
If the female demon fell into his hands, what good could come of it?
He grew frantic with worry, struggling to stand while leaning on the wall.
He pulled out one of the flying swords that had flown into the shrine during the fight, using it as a crutch, and hobbled toward the entrance.
As he reached the door, he saw the female demon lying in the net, her beautiful face full of fear and humiliation, casting a pleading look at him.
He also saw Yang Yuhai crouched in front of her, holding her jade feet, kissing and licking them shamelessly.
An inexplicable anger surged in Zhang Zongnian’s heart.
She was such a fine girl—she did not deserve this humiliation!
He planted the sword firmly on the ground, biting back the pain from his wound, and raised his voice:
“Captain Yang, in front of the people, please maintain the dignity of our Demon Slaying Division!”
Yang Yuhai, mid-lick of Lin Xue’s shining feet, was startled and looked up at him in surprise.
“Zhang Zongnian, you’re not dead yet? How did you lose your arm?”
Zhang Zongnian looked down at his broken arm, his anger and sorrow turning into a bitter smile.
“Thanks to the captain, I’m still alive.”
He pointed toward the distant villagers.
“The people are watching. Captain, please show some restraint.”
Yang Yuhai scoffed disdainfully.
“What use is it if these lowly peasants see? I traveled all this way just to save them—what’s wrong with playing with a female demon? Matters of man and woman—who doesn’t do it? Why can’t this captain?”
Though he spoke arrogantly, he stood up, cradled Lin Xue horizontally using the Fuyao Wang, and walked into the shrine.
He put her down on the floor and looked at her lecherously, grinning:
“My beauty, let’s go inside to play—don’t let those peasants see, or they’ll gossip.”
As he spoke, he reached through the net to untie the sash around Lin Xue’s waist.
Lin Xue was filled with shame, anger, and despair.
She was only wearing this Daoist Robe, nothing underneath.
If this bastard untied her sash, her body would be completely exposed to this lecherous eyes.
Zhang Zongnian looked at Lin Xue’s face full of humiliation and despair, and struggled to persuade Yang Yuhai:
“Captain Yang, although this girl is a demon, she killed those two evil demon cultivators who harmed the villagers, saving the entire village—including our lives. If not for her, we would have been killed by that female demon cultivator. Captain, we cannot repay good with evil.”
Yang Yuhai’s hand was already on her sash when he turned his head at Zhang Zongnian’s words.
The flesh on his face twitched as he glared:
“So, what do you suggest?”
Zhang Zongnian sighed and forced himself to say:
“I believe this demon is not the kind who harms the people. She has saved lives, so she deserves leniency. We can make an exception and let her go, as a repayment of her kindness.”
Yang Yuhai stood and glared with his piggy eyes, his short, thick fingers jabbing at Zhang Zongnian as he scolded:
“Are you crazy? Do you know what you’re saying? Let a demon go? Our Demon Slaying Division catches demons—there is no releasing them! You’ve even forgotten the Division’s rules?”
Zhang Zongnian was momentarily speechless.
After a pause, he said:
“According to the Demon Slaying Division’s law, after catching a demonic beast, it cannot be disposed of privately. It must be handed over to the Division for unified handling. This girl killed demon cultivators and saved villagers; she deserves credit. We should present her merits and let the Division decide whether to give her special treatment. Before the Division’s ruling comes, please do not harm her, Captain.”
The Demon Slaying Division’s rule was that all demonic beasts caught, alive or dead, must be handed over.
Those who hadn’t harmed people or had special merits would be sent to the Beast Taming Sect to be trained as Beast Pets and assigned to those with achievements.
The extremely evil or useless would be executed, and their bodies disassembled for materials.
Zhang Zongnian understood that the best outcome for this female demon, once handed over, would be becoming a Beast Pet for some county noble.
But at least that was better than watching her being violated by this disgusting fat man.
Yang Yuhai looked at him with a mocking expression.
“Everyone knows the entire Demon Slaying Division in Xichuan is run by my Yang Family. How it’s handled is up to us. Handing this demon over? I might just make a call, and she could end up back in my hands, still my plaything beneath me. Why bother with all that? I might as well enjoy her here.”
He emphasized the words “plaything beneath me.”
Anger flickered across Zhang Zongnian’s face.
He gripped his sword tightly and insisted:
“The work must follow procedure. Captain, your actions are against regulations.”
Yang Yuhai laughed heartily:
“Regulations? In Xichuan, my Yang Family is the regulations.”
As he spoke, his hand slid toward Lin Xue again.
Zhang Zongnian took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said:
“The county’s Chief Inspector Zhou is currently inspecting the Demon Slaying Division’s work. When he comes to Xichuan in a few days, Captain, why not say this again in front of him?”
Yang Yuhai’s expression darkened as he glared at Zhang Zongnian.
Zhang Zongnian met his gaze without backing down.
After a moment, Yang Yuhai suddenly laughed uproariously and pointed at Zhang Zongnian.
“Hahaha, Zhang Zongnian, don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to this female demon?”
He leered and patted Lin Xue’s thigh through the net.
“You interested in her? Why didn’t you say so? After I’m done with her, I’ll reward you with some fun too. But don’t be impatient—let me enjoy myself first. You go outside and guard the door—don’t let those peasants come disturb me.”
He reached out to grope Lin Xue again.
Zhang Zongnian’s anger flared.
It was clear there was no reasoning with this lecherous bastard.
He looked at Lin Xue, recalling the help she had given him, her beautiful smile, and now her desperate helplessness.
He gripped his sword tightly.
Enduring the searing pain in his wound, he staggered forward and pressed the blade against Yang Yuhai’s neck, commanding:
“Let her go!”