The zither music was ethereal, but that was merely a facade; beneath its ethereal quality lay hidden killing intent, captivating one's soul.
Lin Baichuan swept his gaze across the other people in the room, each with varying expressions—some excited, some thrilled, some lost in a trance.
It was as if they had fallen into some kind of illusion, their expressions far from normal.
“Audacious demon, how dare you stir up trouble within Cangwu Prefecture City, you seek death…!”
A sharp rebuke, like a thunderclap, instantly completely overwhelmed the eerie zither music, pulling everyone back from the illusion.
Just then, Lin Baichuan, like a fierce tiger, had already rushed out of the room, heading straight for the first-floor hall.
“What the hell is going on…?”
Yang Zhan was the first to regain his senses, his face instantly changing dramatically as he immediately got up and followed.
At this moment!
Lin Baichuan leaped, jumping down from the second floor, his body like a thousand-jin weight, slamming onto the stage in the first-floor hall with a bang.
He raised his right hand, and the battle saber at his waist was already unsheathed, slashing towards a veiled woman in colorful clothes on the stage.
It was this woman who had been playing the zither just now; her music was eerie and contained hidden illusions, clearly a demonic technique.
Now that he was less than ten zhang from the woman, he could even sense a faint, indistinct Evil Qi emanating from her body.
Lin Baichuan was very familiar with this Qi, as he had felt it just yesterday when he completed his assessment.
It was exactly the same as that wolf demon.
This woman was not human; she was a demon.
Clang…
The saber hummed like a clear spring, carrying a chilling coldness and revealing its sharp edge.
Lin Baichuan slashed down, shouting, “Prodigy, how dare you attempt Possession of a Human Race body, you deserve to be executed…!”
A sharp rebuke, like a thunderclap, shook the entire Tianyin Workshop, causing it to hum.
Lin Baichuan’s battle saber flashed, carrying a fierce saber light, and was about to cleave onto the zither-playing woman.
In an instant, the entire Tianyin Workshop directly exploded into chaos.
Sounds of fear and screams were incessant.
“Presumptuous!”
Just then, an angry roar came, and from a room on the second floor, a streak of light immediately flew out.
It was actually a short sword, like a lightning arrow, fiercely colliding with Lin Baichuan’s descending battle saber.
Clang!
Immediately, an incredibly powerful force surged forth, causing Lin Baichuan’s face to change drastically.
The battle saber he had slashed out nearly flew from his grasp, and the powerful force directly knocked the battle saber off course, causing it to slice past the zither-playing woman and strike heavily onto the stage floor.
Accompanying a resounding bang, more than half of the entire stage was split open by Lin Baichuan’s saber.
The zither-playing woman’s face changed dramatically, and she instinctively fled off the stage.
Lin Baichuan felt his Qi and blood surge, his expression grave.
After glancing at the second floor, he took a step forward, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, and with a tiger's leap, he once again blocked the zither-playing woman’s path, raising the battle saber in his hand and pointing it at her.
“Young Master, if you dare to touch Miaoyin, I will take your head.”
From the room on the second floor, a cold voice emerged.
The next moment, a young man stepped out, descending from the second floor like a ghost, blocking the path between Lin Baichuan and the zither-playing woman.
He raised a finger, and the short sword that had knocked Lin Baichuan’s saber off course transformed into a streak of light, hovering before the man.
The sword light was sharp and its edge fully revealed.
“This is a Spiritual Artifact…”
Lin Baichuan’s pupils instantly contracted to a single point, his eyes filled with shock, and his expression gradually became serious.
In this world, weapons also have grades; the lowest are unranked ordinary weapons, above which are Mortal Rank Divine Weapons, divided into High Grade, Middle Grade, and Low Grade.
Above Mortal Rank Divine Weapons are Spirit Rank, also known as Spiritual Artifacts, divided into Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow Ranks, with twelve grades.
Lin Baichuan didn't know what grade this short sword in front of him was, but even if it was the lowest Yellow Rank Low Grade Spiritual Artifact, it would still be priceless, not something an ordinary person could possess.
For this person to have a Spiritual Artifact by his side, his identity was likely either wealthy or noble.
“Hmph… Young Master, you are quite discerning.
My Startling Swan Sword is a Yellow Rank High Grade Spiritual Artifact.” The young man’s expression was arrogant as he glanced at Lin Baichuan and said coldly, “You have quite the nerve to dare to attack Miaoyin.
Immediately kneel down and kowtow to Miaoyin to apologize.
This Young Master might just spare your dog life…”
“Lu Changkong, what are you being so arrogant about…?”
Just then, a sharp rebuke came, it was Yang Zhan’s voice.
He had already arrived in the first-floor hall, accompanied by several other new Demon Slayer Guards.
They leaped onto the dilapidated stage with Yang Zhan, standing beside Lin Baichuan and looking at the young man opposite them.
Yang Zhan continued coldly, “Relying on your family’s legacy, you got a Spiritual Artifact and now you’re flaunting it everywhere.
The Lu family’s reputation has been completely ruined by you.”
“Yang Zhan, so it’s you, fellow.
Do you really think entering the Demon Suppression Division means a black chicken can become a Phoenix?”
The young man was clearly acquainted with Yang Zhan, and they obviously didn’t get along.
He looked at Yang Zhan with cold eyes, full of disdain.
“You…”
Yang Zhan immediately became furious and was about to retort.
Just then, Lin Baichuan raised a hand, pressing on Yang Zhan’s shoulder, then stepped forward, looking directly at the young man Lu Changkong opposite him, and said coldly, “The Demon Suppression Division is handling official business, apprehending demons.
Those who obstruct will be treated as rebels and killed without mercy!”
As he spoke, Lin Baichuan’s right hand was already pressing on the saber hilt, and a chilling Evil Qi surged out, like a bloodthirsty fierce tiger staring at Lu Changkong opposite him.
In an instant, the surrounding air seemed to solidify, and the temperature instantly dropped by more than ten degrees, making people feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.
That imposing aura immediately caused everyone’s faces to change, especially Lu Changkong, who bore the brunt of it, feeling an immense pressure, as if his Qi and blood were about to solidify and freeze.
“What a joke! You actually claim Miaoyin is a demon.
You must have lost your mind.
Miaoyin is the courtesan queen of Tianyin Workshop; who in the entire Cangwu Prefecture City doesn’t know this?
How dare you slander her…?”
Lu Changkong’s face was ashen, and he roared in anger.
“Whether it’s slander or not, we’ll know once we apprehend and investigate.” Lin Baichuan said coldly, “I’ll give you one more chance.
The Demon Suppression Division is handling official business, apprehending demons.
Unrelated persons, immediately step aside, otherwise you will be treated as rebels and killed without mercy!”
Lu Changkong’s expression grew even more somber, and killing intent was fully revealed in his eyes.
But he didn’t dare to move.
Because at this moment, Lin Baichuan represented the Demon Suppression Division.
He had dared to intervene and block Lin Baichuan’s attack earlier because Lin Baichuan had not revealed his identity; if it were to be truly investigated, he could completely claim ignorance.
But now it was different; Lin Baichuan had directly revealed his identity.
If he dared to continue obstructing, it wouldn’t be obstructing Lin Baichuan, but obstructing the Demon Suppression Division, an act of provocation against the Demon Suppression Division.
In the Great Xia Dynasty, there were really very few who dared to provoke the Demon Suppression Division.
At least, he, Lu Changkong, didn’t have that courage.
“This Sir, this humble woman is just an ordinary zither player.
How could I be a demon?
You must have made a mistake.”
At this moment, Miaoyin, the zither-playing woman hiding behind Lu Changkong, suddenly spoke, appearing delicate and frail, truly pitiable.
Any man who saw her would feel heartache.
Even Yang Zhan, standing beside Lin Baichuan, couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Lin Baichuan, you didn’t make a mistake, did you?
Is Miaoyin really a demon? She looks like…”
“She’s been Possessed.
I sensed the demonic Qi within her body; there’s absolutely no mistake.”
Lin Baichuan waved his hand, interrupting Yang Zhan, and then stepped forward abruptly, his voice as cold as frost: “The Demon Suppression Division is handling official business, apprehending demons.
Those who dare to obstruct will be treated as rebels and killed without mercy…”
“Young Master Lu, please save this humble woman.
This Sir from the Demon Suppression Division must have misunderstood and is slandering me as a demon.
This humble woman is alone and helpless, with no way to defend myself… I’ve long heard of Young Master Lu’s uprightness and righteousness.
Now, only you can help this humble woman…”
Miaoyin’s expression was tragic, tears streaming down her face like a spring, her face innocent and terrified as she clutched Lu Changkong’s sleeve.
Her helpless appearance instantly made Lu Changkong’s heart melt.