In just a moment, Qin Yun arrived outside the walls of a wealthy merchant''s mansion, dragging the cat demon girl whose demonic energy had been sealed. They hid in the shadows near the courtyard wall.
“This is the place. My leader resides here,” the cat demon girl whispered cautiously.
Qin Yun activated his mystical eye, allowing him to peer through the walls and examine the mansion inside.
“No monsters?” Qin Yun felt puzzled. Within his range of observation, the mansion appeared to be an ordinary wealthy household, without the slightest trace of demonic energy.
“Are you certain your leader is here?” Qin Yun cast a sealing barrier around himself and the cat demon girl, ensuring no sound would escape.
The cat demon girl nodded repeatedly. “I’m sure! This mansion seems normal, even housing a merchant’s family to maintain appearances. But in reality, the mansion has inner and outer sections. My leader and his followers live in the inner courtyard, and beneath it lies an expansive underground palace where my leader resides long-term.”
“An underground palace?” Qin Yun was startled. “Building such a luxurious palace underground without attracting government attention must have taken more than a few years. It seems your leader has been entrenched in Guangling County for quite some time.”
“It has been several decades,” the cat demon girl admitted obediently.
Deep beneath the mansion, in the hidden underground palace, a rotund man in a yellow robe sat on an opulent throne, smiling. A woman in a pink robe leaned against him, feeding him pastries.
Seated to his left and right were seven individuals of extraordinary bearing—men and women, young and old—all enjoying fine food and wine while watching a dance performance.
At the edges of the hall, musicians played instruments. The music alternated between grandeur and light-hearted joy.
The dancers moved in harmony with the music, their performances shifting between solemnity, playful agility, and seductive allure.
“Excellent,” the yellow-robed man and his seven subordinates remarked in appreciation.
“My lord, try this. I made it myself,” the pink-robed woman said, offering a pastry.
The yellow-robed man’s attention, however, shifted to a black-robed elder who had just entered the hall through a side door.
“Doesn’t it taste good?” the woman pouted.
“It’s delicious, my dear. What you make is always delicious. Your lips are even sweeter,” the man said, kissing her lightly, eliciting a giggle.
“Everyone, leave,” he ordered suddenly.
“Yes, my lord.”
The musicians and dancers ceased their performance, bowed, and departed. They had long lost hope; since arriving at this underground palace, they had never seen daylight. They lived in constant fear of the monsters’ cruelty.
The black-robed elder approached, carrying a wooden box. He bowed respectfully. “Leader Chu, the star-patterned steel you requested has finally been obtained after eight years. There are 83 pounds in total.”If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Star-patterned steel?” The yellow-robed man’s figure blurred, leaving afterimages as he crossed over thirty feet in an instant.
In a flash, he stood before the elder.
The elder trembled inwardly. So fast! He could kill me with a single move. But it’s not just him—any of his seven subordinates could easily take my life.
The yellow-robed man grabbed the wooden box, opened it swiftly, and gazed at the silver-white metal blocks with intricate patterns inside. His eyes lit up as he laughed wickedly. “Star-patterned steel is a forbidden material by the imperial court. If found in private hands, it would lead to the extermination of entire families.”
“That’s why it’s so difficult to obtain,” the elder explained. “Over eight years, we’ve tried every method, losing many brothers, to secure this batch. The moment we got it, I brought it straight to you.”
“Rest assured, your loyalty won’t go unrewarded. With me backing you, no one can touch your position as leader. For the next ten years, your gang is exempt from tribute,” the yellow-robed man declared generously.
The elder was overjoyed. With the monster leader’s support, his position was secure. Exemption from tribute? That meant more wealth for himself.
“Thank you, Leader Chu,” the elder said obsequiously.
The yellow-robed man picked up a block of star-patterned steel and bit into it. His ordinary-looking teeth transformed into serrated edges, grinding the steel into pieces before he swallowed it. His teeth returned to normal.
I’m one of the top three experts in my gang, and even with an axe, I can barely scratch this steel. He just chewed through it! The elder was horrified.
The yellow-robed man’s body shimmered faintly with silver threads flowing beneath his skin after consuming the steel.
“Congratulations, Leader!”
“With this star-patterned steel, your strength will surely soar.”
The seven subordinates rose to congratulate him. Materials like this were treasures reserved for celestial beings, gods, and monsters. The monster leader could consume it directly to enhance his powers.
“Ha ha ha...” The yellow-robed man laughed heartily, his voice shaking the hall.
Suddenly, a black-clothed young man walked in through the side door, casually dragging a frail girl. It was Qin Yun, with the cat demon girl in tow.
The hall fell silent as everyone turned to the unexpected guest.
The yellow-robed man’s expression shifted but quickly relaxed. Leaning back on his throne, he asked, “My palace is protected by seven layers of defenses, complete with traps. I didn’t expect someone to arrive here unnoticed with one of my subordinates in tow. I, Chu Yong, am impressed. May I ask, where are you from, and what brings you here?”
Ignoring the leader, Qin Yun turned to the cat demon girl. “Is this your leader? The one who ordered you to target Qin An?”
“Yes,” she whispered, head bowed.
“Are you here for Qin An?” Chu Yong asked in a booming voice.
“Yes, Qin An,” Qin Yun replied, turning his gaze to the monster leader. “Why did you target him and attempt to control him?”
Chu Yong laughed. “Qin An’s father is Qin Lietu, one of Guangling County’s three silver-badge constables. While a single constable is no threat to me, the imperial court’s forces and their weapons are troublesome. I sought to use his son to negotiate with him. But since you’ve intervened, I’m willing to let the matter go. May I ask where you hail from? A figure like you doesn’t seem to belong to Guangling.”
“Oh? You think I’m not from Guangling?” Qin Yun asked.
“Ha! I, Chu Yong, have been here for sixty-eight years. Be it humans or monsters, I know all the powerful ones.”
“Is that so?” Qin Yun smirked.
He tossed the cat demon girl aside, her frail body hitting the ground. She scrambled up, pleading, “I’ve brought you here. Please keep your promise and spare me.”
I must escape while they’re distracted, she thought.
Suddenly, her body trembled. The sealing energy in her heart shattered it instantly.
“You... you broke your...” she gasped, her eyes filled with anger and despair before collapsing, her body reverting to a black cat’s corpse.
Qin Yun looked at her coldly. “Promises should be honored, even at the cost of one’s life—when made to the deserving. But with monsters, keeping promises is foolish. If I were that naive, I’d have been dead many times over.”
The atmosphere in the hall grew tense.
“You’ve dealt with many monsters before?” Chu Yong muttered, his pupils contracting. “Friend, can we let this matter rest? You’ve already killed one of mine.”
“No,” Qin Yun replied flatly.
Chu Yong’s eyes flashed with ferocity. “Kill him!” he roared.
The hall erupted into chaos as his seven subordinates lunged at Qin Yun. One transformed into mist, while another vanished entirely.
“Invisibility?” Qin Yun mused, a hint of surprise in his eyes.