Chapter 313: Chapter 111 Thinking of Countermeasures (Additional Chapter for 18,800 monthly tickets)
"Someone’s coming out!"
Just as Chang Cai and the others were anxiously waiting, someone let out a loud shout. In an instant, everyone turned their gaze in the direction of the voice. Then, following the direction the person was pointing with his right hand, they saw someone walking out of Fengqiu Mountain.
The darkness of night. Without moonlight, ordinary people couldn’t see very far at all. But for martial artists at the Pulse Condensation Realm, seeing at night was still not a problem.
First was a green robe. Then, the puppy lying on his shoulder. Undoubtedly, they were signposts indicating exactly who was coming out.
Chang Cai took the initiative to walk up. "Lord Shen!"
As he spoke, he looked Shen Changqing up and down, trying to see if there were any signs of battle on him. But—there were none. Nothing at all. It was as if he had merely taken a stroll through Fengqiu Mountain and then come out.
Afterward, Chang Cai thought of Shen Changqing’s strength and couldn’t help but ask tentatively, "Has Lord Shen already dealt with all the Demon Evils within Fengqiu Mountain?"
The others also walked up. Upon hearing Chang Cai’s words, their eyes also fell on Shen Changqing.
Had the Demon Evils been dealt with? That’s right. If it were an Earth Rank Demon Hunter, dealing with Demon Evils certainly wouldn’t be much of a problem.
Looking at the crowd’s gaze, Shen Changqing shook his head. "This official has been inside Fengqiu Mountain for a long time and has not found the Demon Evil hiding within. Either the creature has already left, or it sensed the threat and did not dare to show itself easily."
"If that’s the case, then there’s trouble." Chang Cai’s smile disappeared, and his face became troubled again. The Demon Evil leaving was just a guess. Moreover, if the Demon Evil had left Fengqiu Mountain, it would still pose an invisible threat to Qutai County, regardless of where it went. Furthermore, if the Demon Evil had not left but was too afraid to show itself because of Shen Changqing’s strength, that would be even more problematic. Without revealing itself, finding the Demon Evil in the vastness of Fengqiu Mountain was almost impossible. And he also understood that Shen Changqing could not stay in Qutai County forever. If the Demon Evil of Fengqiu Mountain caused trouble again after he had left, it would still be a problem. In short, as long as the Demon Evil in Fengqiu Mountain was not eradicated, Chang Cai would have trouble resting easy.
Shen Changqing said with a grave expression, "I will consider solutions to the Fengqiu Mountain Demon Evil issue. For now, do not allow anyone to enter Fengqiu Mountain. Each person killed by the Demon Evil will strengthen its power."
"There are many people living in the vicinity of Fengqiu Mountain. To truly blockade the mountain, we must report to higher authorities. Otherwise, relying solely on the military force of Qutai County, we simply cannot achieve a blockade of Fengqiu Mountain," Chang Cai sighed.
If it were an ordinary place, then employing Qutai County’s forces to blockade it would naturally not be a big problem. But Fengqiu Mountain was not a small place. The mountain range stretched for hundreds of miles. To genuinely blockade it would require a military force that Qutai County could not afford. Moreover, once the news was reported, the back-and-forth communication meant it would not be an affair solved within a few short days.
Hearing this, Shen Changqing understood the difficulty Qutai County faced. He looked back at Fengqiu Mountain; in the blackness of night, it seemed like a terrifying beast with its jaws wide open, ready to swallow any living creature that entered.
"There’s no need for a real blockade, as that would be too wasteful of manpower and resources. Simply post public notices, clarify the dangers within the mountain, and ask them to refrain from entering temporarily. If they truly do not heed the warning, then they have no one to blame but themselves."
Having said this, Shen Changqing turned back and looked at Chang Cai again. "Leave some people here to keep watch for any unusual occurrences, and let the rest temporarily return to Qutai County."
「Qutai County.」
Upon returning with his men, Chang Cai’s first order of business was to post public notices again, emphasizing the problems with Fengqiu Mountain and strictly forbidding anyone from entering unauthorized. It couldn’t be helped; unable to find the Demon Evil, he could only use public notices as a temporary measure to keep people out of Fengqiu Mountain. The rest would wait until the Demon Evil was resolved.
Within the Yamen.
In the inner hall.
Chang Cai had a respectful expression. "My lord, the public notice has been posted. I believe no one will enter Fengqiu Mountain now."
"Hmm, that’ll do." Shen Changqing nodded, then looked at the somewhat hesitant man in front of him. "Does Lord Chang have something else to say?"
Upon being asked, Chang Cai smiled. "It’s like this: Lord Shen has just arrived, and Qutai County is a small place. I’m afraid the local inns may not be up to your distinguished status. Therefore, I thought that if Lord Shen does not mind, perhaps you might stay within the Yamen. If there is any situation on Fengqiu Mountain, we can report it to you at once."
"Won’t it be any trouble?"
"Not at all, not at all! It would be my honor to have you stay in the Yamen; there’s no question of it being a bother," Chang Cai repeatedly waved his hand.
Trouble? That was out of the question. He was eager for Shen Changqing to stay in the Yamen so that he could get closer to this Heaven Rank Demon Hunter.
You must know, although members of the Demon-Subduing Division seldom got involved in court affairs, still, across the lands of Great Qin, whether civil or military officials, even those discontent with the Demon-Subduing Division would not express their dissatisfaction openly. Even more so, many people were willing to give face to the Demon-Subduing Division. Developing a good relationship with Shen Changqing was, in essence, a beneficial thing.
Seeing this, Shen Changqing did not refuse. "Then I will trouble Lord Chang."
"Lord Shen overstates the matter!" Seeing Shen Changqing agree, Chang Cai seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Following this, he turned to look at the door of the inner hall and called out loudly, "Someone come!"
The Government Officials, who had long been waiting outside, immediately came in. They first bowed to Shen Changqing, then bowed to Chang Cai and asked, "May I ask what orders you have, my Lord?"
"Immediately prepare an upper room for Lord Shen to rest well. There must be no neglect!"
"This subordinate obeys the order!" The Government Official received the order and withdrew.
Chang Cai then sat back down and looked at Shen Changqing with a smile on his face. "Lord Shen, may I know if you have found anything in Fengqiu Mountain this time?" After all, he was still concerned about the situation in Fengqiu Mountain.
Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing picked up the nearby teacup, took a small sip, and then put it back down. "Indeed, there is something strange in Fengqiu Mountain. Particularly when I ventured deep into the mountain, it seemed as if the birds and beasts had vanished, an occurrence not typical for regular forests. However, Fengqiu Mountain is vast, and my strength alone is ultimately limited. If the Demon Evil is intent on hiding, finding it won’t be easy."
"Troublesome!" Chang Cai sighed once again. He felt as if he had lost a lot of weight recently due to the problems caused by the Demon Evil. "Fengqiu Mountain’s territory spans hundreds of miles, making it quite difficult to search for a concealed Demon Evil. Setting fire to the mountain might offer a slim chance of driving the Demon Evil out, but that is an impossibility."
Setting fire to the mountain was but a thought. The survival of many people was connected to Fengqiu Mountain. If I truly set the mountain on fire, I’d be drowned by the common people’s condemnation even before the issues with the Demon Evil escalated. Chang Cai thought. Therefore, setting fire to the mountain was not an option. Even if it meant leaving the Demon Evil within Fengqiu Mountain unexterminated, such an act could not be committed. Once it was done, his official position would surely be lost.
Shen Changqing said, "Setting fire to the mountain is but a last resort, and fire shows no mercy. Even if it manages to flush out that Demon Evil, the casualties caused by an uncontrollable blaze might be greater than the chaos caused by the Demon Evil. Since I am here, I will not allow that Demon Evil to continue causing harm in Fengqiu Mountain. On this matter, Lord Chang can rest assured."
"With Lord Shen here, I naturally have nothing to worry about!" Chang Cai offered a bit of flattery, neither too lightly nor too heavily.
Then, the atmosphere once again settled into calmness.
The lights in the inner hall were bright. Shen Changqing sat there without speaking further, thinking about how to deal with the Demon Evil in Fengqiu Mountain.
I came here. If I leave without destroying that Demon Evil, it would truly be unacceptable. If that Demon Evil’s power were immense and its defeat proved impossible, well, that would be a different story; at worst, I’d send a message to Mountain-Breaking City and have the Demon-Subduing Division dispatch more people. But the problem now is, I can’t find any trace of the Demon Evil. This feeling of punching the air is very frustrating.
Chang Cai, at his side, could only sit there with him, neither speaking to disturb him nor presuming to leave on his own.
After a long while, Shen Changqing emerged from his deep thoughts.
From the current situation, it can almost be certain that the Demon Evil’s strength is beyond an ordinary Resentment Level, but it definitely cannot have reached Fiend Level. If it had reached Fiend Level, it would not settle for merely staying in Fengqiu Mountain, preying only on those who enter. But if it’s just an ordinary Resentment Level, it might not necessarily detect the threat I pose to it.
The anomalies in the deep parts of Fengqiu Mountain indirectly suggest that it’s unlikely the Demon Evil has left. The only problem now is how to draw it out. As long as it is coaxed out, the rest is no longer a problem.
Whether it’s a Resentment Level Monster or a Fiend Level Monster, as soon as it shows itself, I’m confident I can eliminate it in one fell swoop. With my current strength, monsters are no longer a major concern for me. Only Demon Evils can attract my serious attention.
Chang Cai said, "According to Lord Shen’s words, that Demon Evil remains in Fengqiu Mountain, simply fearing the threat posed by your Lordship and thus dares not show itself. Therefore, as soon as others enter Fengqiu Mountain, that Demon Evil will make a move again."
"Pretty much." Shen Changqing nodded. If I go into Fengqiu Mountain, the Demon Evil won’t come out. If I don’t go into Fengqiu Mountain, and others do, once that Demon Evil makes a move, they’re essentially walking a path to their deaths.
Unless— I can get someone to enter Fengqiu Mountain and lure out the Demon Evil. I would need to detect it immediately and rush over as quickly as possible. Hopefully, I’d arrive before the person is harmed or the Demon Evil flees. Then, finally, I could exterminate it in one fell swoop.
Shen Changqing tapped lightly on the armrest with his finger. All these things are easy to say, but not so simple to achieve.