But now, it’s unclear whether this thing is dangerous or not. This puts us in a real bind!

"For now, let’s just keep it under surveillance and see if there are any other changes... We’ll head back first. This is a matter for the Magistrate to decide."

Hearing this, Zhou Xing nodded.

’That’s about what I was thinking...’

’This matter... only the Magistrate can figure out how to handle it.’

"Speaking of which, didn’t the Magistrate say he was going to ask someone from the Sacrificial Hall to come and eliminate the Demon? It’s been months, hasn’t it? Hasn’t the Sacrificial Hall replied yet?"

A constable captain frowned, clearly displeased.

"I hear that Sacrificial Hall has a transcendent status. They do whatever they please... It’s really hard to say when they’ll actually come."

Another constable captain said, shaking his head.

Hearing this, a heavy feeling settled over everyone.

...The recent events in True Martial County had put everyone under immense pressure.

Especially the Demon...

It had already had a huge impact on the lives of Ordinary People.

But they were powerless to deal with it and could only wait for someone from the Sacrificial Hall to arrive.

This passive waiting, with no end in sight... it was sheer torture.

As they talked, they arranged for some constables to guard the scene. They then returned to the Government Office to report the situation to the Magistrate.

As the forensic doctor, Zhou Xing naturally followed them.

...

"How could it be dead?!"

Outside, the constable captains had left. Inside a secret room in Ganlu Hall, a pair of unnerving eyes glinted with fury.

"It died on the spot. I found this at the scene."

A deep voice finished speaking and produced an object.

Under the dim yellow candlelight, it was revealed... to be a sharp spike glowing with a blue light.

The spike was straight, about three inches long, and its end was wrapped in cowhide.

"Is this... an Exotic Treasure?"

The first voice asked gravely.

"It doesn’t qualify as an Exotic Treasure. It’s unrefined... Most likely, it’s a raw material from some kind of Exotic Species."

"Hm? Raw material from an Exotic Species?... Did it come from the cave?"

"Hard to say, but probably not. The spike itself is nothing special, but the poison is extremely potent. An ordinary Huajin practitioner probably couldn’t withstand it... The Holy Seed was likely killed by this poison."

"Dammit!"

The first voice seethed.

The second voice continued calmly, "I also discovered this."

He took out two more items... They were two Iron Nails!

"The Iron Nails are also contaminated with this poison... It’s from the same source. It must have been harvested from some kind of highly venomous Exotic Species."

The first voice stared for a long time before asking in a low tone, "Was the target Wang Hu?"

"Hard to say."

"Hm?"

"This poison is no ordinary substance. It was enough to kill a Holy Seed... It would be very difficult for Ordinary People to acquire. Such a precious poison... It’s unlikely it would be used against a common Anjin Martial Artist."

"Then... are they after us?" The first voice was horrified.

"Unclear."

The first voice fell silent.

"What do we do now?"

The second voice asked.

The first voice was silent for a long time, then said powerlessly, "What can we do? Just report it as it is. We’ve alerted the Government Office now, and who knows when the Sacrificial Hall will show up..."

"Mm." The second voice paused. "Should we investigate this person, then?"

"How?" the first voice asked.

"Someone who uses Iron Nails to injure people is an Expert in Hidden Weapons. There can’t be many Experts in Hidden Weapons in True Martial County," the second voice said after a moment’s thought.

"Then investigate!"

The first voice said decisively.

But then he paused again, adding gravely, "But just investigate for now. Don’t alert the enemy... I’m afraid they might be trying to lure us out into the open."

"Mm," the second voice replied.

...

It was well past midnight when Zhou Xing finally got home.

"Senior Brother?"

Qin Fang had been waiting in the courtyard. When he saw Zhou Xing push the door open, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Qin Fang there, Zhou Xing also let out a breath of relief.

He walked over.

"I just came from Ganlu Hall... What exactly is the situation?"

Zhou Xing asked.

After all, Qin Fang was the first person on the scene and would know the details more clearly.

Qin Fang naturally knew what he was asking. He shook his head and said, "I’m not too clear on it myself..."

He recounted everything that had happened from start to finish.

Zhou Xing listened attentively without interrupting.

It was basically consistent with what he had heard from the witnesses... just more detailed.

Then Qin Fang asked in a low voice, "So... was it really a Demon?"

"Impossible to determine," Zhou Xing said, shaking his head.

"What do you mean?" Qin Fang was puzzled.

"We’ve never seen a Demon either. We can only judge by its appearance... Since it defies common sense, it must be a Demon."

Zhou Xing sighed. "I’ve already informed the Magistrate. He said he would report it immediately... But as for when we’ll get a conclusion, it’s hard to say right now."

Qin Fang fell silent, then complained, "Is the Government Office always this inefficient? This Demon problem has been going on for months..."

Zhou Xing was left speechless.

’...Because he wanted to complain just as much!’

"Alright, we’ve been busy all night. This is the situation for now. Let’s get some sleep. We’ll deal with it tomorrow," Zhou Xing said finally, rubbing his forehead.

Qin Fang nodded.

He ended up sleeping at Zhou Xing’s place that night.

The next day, before dawn, Qin Fang woke up naturally and began warming up in the courtyard.

He could now do a Russian push-up with a single finger. After doing two hundred of them, Qin Fang stood up and began his Standing Pile practice.

He swallowed a Qi Blood Pill, and soon the sounds of the Skin Membrane Drum Sound and Muscle-Bone Thunder Sound filled the courtyard.

Zhou Xing, still half-asleep, was startled awake by the noise. He sat up, stunned for a moment, and saw his junior brother already in the courtyard, practicing Standing Pile.

He was stunned for a moment, then, after a long while, let out a deep breath.

His expression was complicated.

’...My junior brother’s Talent is absolutely monstrous. How long has it been? He’s already at the Mid-Mingjin Stage, and not even far from the Late Stage!’