A dozen iron-clad men knelt on one knee on the official road.

Jiang Yuechu stood still, silent.

Go?

Or not go?

Does she even need to think about it?

Only a madwoman would go!

She could barely take care of herself.

The people of Shangpan Village were indeed miserable.

But in these times, who isn't?

If she died just like that, who would pity her?

Moreover, she knew nothing about the strength of those wolf demons.

Even with a golden finger, the best plan would be to start with the weakest targets.

Find a deserted place to secretly level up, growing stronger step by step—this is the survival path for a transmigrator!

Rushing in blindly, the risks are too high and the rewards too low.

Only a fool would do that.

With her current intimidating appearance, she could easily brush this off with excuses like "official duties" or "another urgent case."

These people, even if they were unwilling, wouldn't dare to utter a word in front of the Demon-Suppressing Bureau.

But just as she was about to speak, she saw Chen Qingyuan kneeling before her, his eyes gradually dimming.

The men behind him were the same.

Jiang Yuechu's silence, in their eyes, was an unspoken refusal.

Indeed.

What is the Demon-Suppressing Bureau?

A few mountain demons slaughtering a village wouldn't even make it to their records.

In the end, he was asking for too much.

Chen Qingyuan slowly lowered his head, his voice full of bitterness.

"It was... presumptuous of me."

Behind him, a chorus of suppressed sighs echoed.

The night wind blew, stirring up the dust on the ground.

Fuck.

This rotten world.

A nameless fire surged from the depths of Jiang Yuechu's heart.

Annoying.

Fing hell, it's annoying.

She wasn't a saint, nor did she want to be a hero.

But looking at these people, she felt an inexplicable irritation.

She exhaled slowly, suppressing her voice, "Tell me the situation."

Those four simple words made the previously despairing Chen Qingyuan suddenly freeze.

"My lord... my lord, you... you agreed?!"

Jiang Yuechu turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

"Why so much nonsense?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Chen Qingyuan, overwhelmed with excitement, hurriedly got up from the ground and bowed deeply to Jiang Yuechu.

"Thank you, my lord! Thank you for saving the hundreds of people in Shangpan Village!"

The dozen men behind him also stood up.

"Thank you, my lord!"

It's not that they were truly so chivalrous, willing to risk their lives for unrelated villagers.

Guangwu County governed four villages: Shang, Zhong, Xia, and Dapan.

In these ten miles of villages, everyone was interconnected, and who didn't have some relatives or connections?

In the end, they were saving their own people.

A young man with a youthful face reacted the fastest, quickly leading over a majestic horse and respectfully handing the reins to Jiang Yuechu.

"My lord, please."

Jiang Yuechu didn't stand on ceremony and mounted the horse.

In her previous life, she had occasionally ridden horses. Though not entirely at ease, she managed well enough not to show any weakness.

Without further delay, the group turned their horses and galloped back along the official road.

The night wind howled past their ears.

Chen Qingyuan rode alongside her, explaining the situation in detail as they traveled.

"That group of wolf demons, there are about seven or eight of them. The leader is a giant wolf with entirely Green fur, capable of speech."

"It calls itself the Green-faced Gentleman, agile and strong, with incredibly sharp claws and teeth. Ordinary weapons can't harm it. Two of our sect's skilled swordsmen were torn apart by it in an instant."

"I fought it with all my might and only managed to leave a cut under its ribs... This beast has likely reached the String-Attuned Stage."

Chen Qingyuan's tone was full of apprehension.

String-Attuned?

Again with the String-Attuned?

Jiang Yuechu's grip on the reins tightened slightly.

She knew nothing about the world's cultivation stages.

But she had a comparison in mind.

That tiger demon was also at the String-Attuned Stage.

If they were of the same level...

With her current twenty-five years of cultivation and the complete mastery of the Fierce Tiger Quick Blade, she might not be unable to fight.

Understanding this, her heart settled.

Chen Qingyuan continued, "As for the other wolves, they're just minor demons who recently gained intelligence. Though fierce, they're not as troublesome as the Green-faced Wolf Demon. Our Soaring Eagle Sect can barely handle them together."

Jiang Yuechu said nothing, merely nodding silently, committing all the information to memory.

...

The horses galloped through the night without a word.

As dawn broke, Shangpan Village, built against the mountain, came into view, its layout orderly.

A small river meandered in front of the village, making it a place where chickens and dogs could be heard, a peaceful and scenic spot.

The group reined in their horses, slowly stopping at the village entrance.

The stone tablet inscribed with "Shangpan Village" lay broken in two on the ground.

The village path, once filled with children playing, was now deserted, only marked by congealed, darkened bloodstains and scattered tattered clothes.

The most chilling sight was the rows of wooden racks outside every household.

Originally used by villagers to dry clothes and cured meat, they were now adorned with mutilated human remains.

Severed arms, thighs, disemboweled torsos.

Even though Chen Qingyuan had seen it once before, his face was pale, lips trembling, eyes bloodshot.

"My lord... this... is Shangpan Village."

Jiang Yuechu looked at it all expressionlessly.

Her stomach churned, but she forced it down.

Not far from the village entrance, two wolf demons leaned against a mud wall.

They were bare-chested, wearing only tattered shorts, clearly noticing the uninvited guests.

One of them raised its head.

"Awooo—"

Chen Qingyuan and his group looked grave, gripping their weapons tightly.

Soon.

Several figures emerged from the depths of the village path.

The leading wolf demon was different from the rest.

It wore a green robe, stolen from who knows where, with its claws behind its back, imitating a scholar's gait.

But its large frame made the robe tight and awkward, comically out of place.

The Green-Robed Wolf Demon squinted its green eyes, yawning with impatience.

"I thought someone important had come, but it's just you."

"Escaping yesterday was a stroke of luck. What, you dare return today to die?"

A young man behind Chen Qingyuan couldn't hold back, his face flushed red.

"Beast!"

He cursed, "You slaughtered my kin, occupied my village. Today, we'll fight you to the death!"

"......"

Chen Qingyuan grabbed the young man who was about to dismount, but his gaze fell on Jiang Yuechu.

Hearing this, the Green-Robed Wolf Demon grinned, "What, you can eat, but we can't?"

"Humans eat pigs and sheep, wolves eat humans—it's only natural. Your so-called kin are no different from livestock to me."

"Just blood food."

These words made the Soaring Eagle Sect members' eyes bulge with rage, barely able to contain themselves.

At that moment.

A soft sound.

A quick look at "pawread.com" will leave you more fulfilled.

Jiang Yuechu dismounted, her boots landing on the dusty village path.

She said nothing, her hand resting on the hilt at her waist.

Step by step.

She walked towards the Green-Robed Wolf Demon.

The wolf demon, who had been boasting, fell silent.

Its gaze finally shifted from Chen Qingyuan to the slender figure approaching.

When it saw the black uniform with red patterns, it stood straight, lowering the claws it had behind its back.

The footsteps stopped.

Jiang Yuechu stood there, at the boundary between morning light and the village's shadow.

The Green-Robed Wolf Demon's green eyes fixed on her, cautiously asking, "Demon-Suppressing Bureau?"

Jiang Yuechu slowly raised her head.

Her long hair was tied back, revealing a pale, cold face.

"Green-faced Gentleman?"

Instead of answering, she asked in return.

The wolf demon's throat bobbed, instinctively replying, "Yes."

After answering, it realized something was off.

Damn.

Its momentum seemed weaker.

Before it could think further, Jiang Yuechu sneered.

"Good."

"Killing a beast that can speak is worth it."

The Green-Robed Wolf Demon roared in anger, "If you weren't wearing that uniform, I wouldn't bother talking to you!"

It shouted, but felt something was off.

The words were fierce, but sounded like it was mimicking the girl's tone.

Thinking of this, the Green-Robed Wolf Demon grew more agitated.

It said no more, slowly raising a claw, five blade-like nails extending.

"Kill her!"

---

Proofreader: Peter Pan