24: Fox Demon

"Yunniang, you're weak, don't cry yourself sick.

There's no need for us to talk about resentment among family!

After using the heart blood of this demon slayer, you'll recover, and you and eldest will have a big, fat boy to carry on the Sun Family line—that's more important than anything!"

The old village chief saw his daughter-in-law crying non-stop and quickly comforted her.

Eldest also looked at his wife with worry and said, "Yunniang, what Dad says is right. It's important to get your health back.

Besides, without your method, we wouldn't have earned so much money before!

You're the family's great hero!"

With that, the Sun Family's eldest picked up a knife and was about to strike at Qin Yue's neck.

The village chief quickly pulled eldest back, "Take him to the kitchen to kill him. Killing him here will get blood all over the house; how can anyone live here!"

Eldest heard this, called out to second brother who was rummaging through a bag, and lifted Qin Yue to head for the kitchen.

Qin Yue felt that he had understood enough by this point. There wouldn't be any more 'entertainment' once he was in the kitchen. He shouldn't wait until then to make his move, or the people in the main hall might hear the commotion and run away.

With a "crack"!

The ropes binding Qin Yue shattered into pieces.

A figure, like a great python turning over, leaped up from the ground. His fist struck eldest's neck with a "thump," and at the same time, he used his leg to kick down second brother behind him.

Qin Yue's movements were fluid and seamless. Before anyone in the house could react, the two strongest young men of the Sun Family had both fallen.

"Have mercy, sir! Our Sun Family only wanted a little heart blood from you to treat illness and save lives. We had no intention of harming you, sir. Please spare our family, old and young!!!"

The village chief was the quickest to react. Seeing Qin Yue break free, he immediately pulled his wife down to her knees to beg for mercy.

The Sun Family's daughter-in-law was also quick to react, immediately kneeling as well. "It's all my fault. Please, sir, don't make things difficult for my father-in-law and mother-in-law. They only tied you up to treat my illness. If you must blame someone, blame me alone, and spare the lives of the Sun Family!!!"

This woman was indeed beautiful; even while crying, she looked like a pear blossom bathed in rain, inspiring pity.

Qin Yue listened to the three of them begging for mercy but didn't state his position. Instead, he walked to the Eight Immortals table in the room, retrieved his black saber, moved a chair, and sat in the center of the main hall.

"It's not impossible to spare you, but first, answer my questions. If your answers satisfy me, I won't pursue today's matter."

"First question: How did the previous demon slayers die? Was it like me today, drugged and killed by you?"

Qin Yue, of course, knew the answer to this question; he just wanted to hear what the village chief would say.

The village chief hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and cried, "We, the Sun Family, killed them, but this old man didn't intend to kill anyone. It was during the blood extraction that the knife accidentally went too deep, and they bled to death."

Hearing this answer, Qin Yue sneered. This answer was truly ridiculous. With current medical conditions, how could someone survive after their heart was pierced? This old man was only saying this to lessen his own guilt.

Qin Yue didn't comment on the answer and continued to ask, "Who told you that a Martial Artist's heart blood could cure illnesses? And where did that anesthetic come from?"

"It was a traveling quack doctor who prescribed a remedy for my illness, saying that a Martial Artist's heart blood was needed as a medicinal primer.

The anesthetic is an old family heirloom used for hunting. It's said that when placed in food, it can drug prey without damaging their fur or flesh."

This time, it was the Sun Family's daughter-in-law who answered. Her voice was soft and weak, but her logic was quite clear.

If Qin Yue hadn't known through his Refining Food into Qi ability that the anesthetic's potency was comparable to Blood Replenishing Powder, he might have believed her.

Blood Replenishing Powder contains the flesh and blood of demons, so what could be in this anesthetic to give it such a powerful effect?

"What's going on with the monster, and is it related to your family?" Qin Yue remained noncommittal and continued to ask.

"This old man swears, that monster absolutely has nothing to do with our family!

Sir, it was this old man who led the villagers to trap that monster with ropes.

Although later, the monster still broke free from the ropes and escaped.

As village chief for so many years, this old man has worked diligently for the village. Our village has never had conflicts over land or water, all because this old man put in the effort. If you don't believe me, sir, go inquire about this old man's reputation.

This time, it was truly because my grandson was confused and bewitched; please, sir, spare the lives of my Sun Family!"

What the village chief said this time should be the truth.

Seeing his earnest words and sincere tears, Qin Yue sighed deeply, stood up from the chair, and with one slash, cut off the village chief's head. With a backhand slash, he slit the throat of the old woman who had raised her head.

Qin Yue was never a soft-hearted person. Since this village chief's family intended to harm him, no matter the reason, they had to bear the consequences of trying to harm him. In fact, the outcome for this family was already sealed the moment Qin Yue broke free from the ropes.

Seeing that he couldn't get anything else out of them, Qin Yue could only send them to where they belonged.

Just as Qin Yue was about to turn around and continue to kill the Sun Family's daughter-in-law, an unexpected event occurred.

A strong gust of wind assailed Qin Yue from behind his head.

Qin Yue didn't turn around but quickly took two steps forward, then slashed backward with his saber.

"Clang!"

A sound of metal clashing rang out. Qin Yue's black saber's slash was blocked by two shiny black claws.

Qin Yue looked closely, and the Sun Family's beautiful daughter-in-law had disappeared, replaced by a monster with a fox head and a human body.

It truly was effortless; Qin Yue had originally thought that after slaughtering this village chief's family, he would have to continue staking out the monster, but he hadn't expected this beautiful young woman to be a fox demon in disguise.

Now many things made sense. The anesthetic must have been the fox demon's trick; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so effective.

As for taking a Martial Artist's heart blood, that was also the fox demon's method for advancement. Qin Yue had never heard of a prescription that used human heart blood as a medicinal primer.

The thoughts were only for an instant. Seeing the fox demon in front of him, Qin Yue had no hesitation. Mad Demon Thirty-Six Slashes was prepared for this very moment.

Qin Yue attacked with saber after saber, and the fox demon parried every move. For a time, the entire room was filled with the glint of saber light and the blur of claws, and the whole room echoed with "ding-ding-dang-dang" sounds.

Long defense leads to eventual loss. Under the prolonged pressure of the saber light, the fox demon finally reacted a split second too late, and a long wound appeared from its left shoulder to its right abdomen.

The fox demon let out an "awoo" from its mouth.

The cry was sharp and piercing, as if it would stab into one's brain. Qin Yue was also frozen by the sound.

After letting out the "awoo," the fox demon's body directly contracted, transforming into a yellow fox as large as a dog.

With a "swoosh," it darted past Qin Yue, intending to escape through the main door.

As the fox was about to dart past him, Qin Yue just happened to regain his senses, raised his black saber, and chopped down at the fox's waist, directly splitting the fox into two sections.