CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: ENTERING THE VILLAGE, FOX GIRL

The silhouette gradually became clearer.

An elder stood at the entrance of the village, leaning on a cane, followed by dozens of villagers.

"What brings you gentlemen here?"

He went straight to the point.

Qin An squinted his eyes, staying silent.

There was hostility.

The villagers’ gazes were filled with a sense of enmity, as if they deeply disliked their arrival.

Nie Hu waved his hand and said, "A demon is causing trouble. I am here with my people to quell the chaos. Who are you?"

The elder clasped his hands in salute: "I am the head of Kao Mountain Village, and my surname is Yang."

"There are no demons in the village, only countless old and young. Please, gentlemen, show mercy."

Nie Hu’s eyes turned cold: "Enter the village."

He said no more.

Having held the position of Tongzhou Defender for many years, he was experienced and could see at a glance that the situation was unusual.

The Fox Girl was adept at beguiling, and these villagers were likely already entangled with her, influenced by her charm.

The Evil Extermination Bureau always handled cases swiftly and decisively.

If they were not allowed entry, they would simply bind these people first.

Once the Fox Girl was dealt with, the predicament would naturally be resolved.

Mr. Yang’s eyes flickered with a hint of gloom as he trembled and stepped aside.

The villagers behind him stood firmly, fists clenched, glaring angrily at the Evil Extermination Bureau and others.

"Move aside!"

Mr. Yang stomped his cane down forcefully.

The villagers gritted their teeth and glared, but they moved aside to create a path.

Nie Hu waved his hand and led the state officials of the Evil Extermination Bureau into the village.

Qin An turned his head and said, "Wasn’t it said the village was slaughtered? If we enter so openly, if the Fox Girl escapes, wouldn’t it be a waste of effort?"

Ma Rou explained, "There is no absolutely reliable intelligence; mishaps are common."

"The Fox Girl won’t flee easily. This village has already absorbed some of her essence; she’s spent considerable effort building this setup—not something she’d abandon easily."

"If she truly abandons it, we can only return to report. This mission requires enough manpower, but having too many people makes it impossible to conceal our presence."

"There is no perfect solution in this world."

Qin An understood.

Nie Hu’s actions were not off the mark.

If the Fox Girl fled, they could only return to report.

If she was unwilling to forsake the essence, she would definitely make a move.

Nie Hu overheard their whispers and said coldly, "You have much to learn. It’s best to read more in the Confidential Library after returning; otherwise, you might lose your life someday and not know why."

He disliked Qin An, thinking that if he hadn’t piqued Cheng Sufeng’s interest, Qin An wouldn’t even qualify to be with him.

He even vaguely suspected that Qin An approached deliberately after learning Cheng Sufeng’s identity.

The Evil Extermination Bureau was half a bureaucracy, and such things had happened before, but those people died.

Only by being exceptionally powerful can one survive long.

The methods of officialdom are somewhat useful in the Evil Extermination Bureau, but not greatly varied.

Qin An raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Since joining the Evil Extermination Bureau, he found that these people had an inherent indifference most of the time.

There was even an air of superiority.

Perhaps it was due to too many brushes with death, or perhaps it was the status they held.

None of this mattered; he was only after the Cultivation Technique and Blood Crystal.

Upon entering the village, Qin An smelled a faint fragrance.

The villagers stood in front of their houses, all gazing at them with cold and resistant eyes.

"Search."

Nie Hu waved his hand.

The state officials of the Evil Extermination Bureau dispersed and began to search the houses.

Only Qin An, Nie Hu, and Ma Rou, the three Tongzhou Defenders, remained in their spots.

Feeling the villagers’ eyes on her, Ma Rou reached out a fair hand to gently touch her forehead.

"I fear there’ll be plenty to write when we go back."

The Evil Extermination Bureau is not afraid of slaying demons and exterminating devils, but fears the common people.

In such scenarios, they even have to record how each villager died.

This was the higher-ups’ requirement—they couldn’t ignore the people even amid demon slaying.

Shortly afterward, the state officials gradually gathered, all clasping their fists.

"No clues at the moment."

Nie Hu frowned, about to speak.

At this moment, a boy around thirteen or fourteen years old tossed wilted cabbage leaves at Nie Hu’s feet.

Nie Hu turned around to see a middle-aged woman shielding the boy behind her.

The boy’s eyes were filled with disgust, as if he were looking at a mud-covered dog.

"Stay."

Nie Hu ordered, "In a few days, whatever’s left in their bodies will dissipate naturally. If the Fox Girl loves failure, then so be it."

Mr. Yang stepped forward: "Sir, our village doesn’t have many houses; I’m afraid..."

Nie Hu sneered, "Stay, don’t you understand?"

Shivering under Nie Hu’s gaze, Mr. Yang called two villagers to arrange accommodations for the state officials of the Evil Extermination Bureau.

The many officials seemed accustomed to this, following the villagers to settle in.

Qin An lightly brushed the black blade with his hand.

In scenes like this, the people of the Evil Extermination Bureau had experienced many times and should know how to proceed next.

Since Nie Hu didn’t speak, he didn’t ask.

Ma Rou was quick-witted and whispered to Qin An, "Even though we’re dispersed; everyone is arranged to ensure mutual support."

"Once spread out, we can monitor a wider area; if the Fox Girl acts, we’ll catch wind of it swiftly."

"We just need to wait a few days for the Fox Girl’s aura to vanish. The villagers will return to normal, signaling she’s given up on absorbing the essence, allowing us to leave."

The method by which the Fox Girl absorbs the essence is a process of its own.

Qin An didn’t probe further, but he knew the coming days wouldn’t be simple.

If she gave up, it was well; if not, a battle was inevitable.

Nie Hu, together with Qin An and Ma Rou, took up residence in a small house.

As soon as they were seated, Nie Hu began cultivating in meditation.

Ma Rou did the same, finding her own spot and not uttering another word.

Strength is the foundation of the Evil Extermination Bureau, and even while on missions, they didn’t miss a chance to cultivate.

With a part of their mind vigilant while cultivating, it ensured no danger would take them by surprise.

After pondering for a moment, Qin An found a chair to sit on alone, gently wiping the black blade.

Recently, he’d begun the healer profession, leaving no time to reforge the black blade at a blacksmith, planning to do so upon returning.

Seeing this, Nie Hu snorted coldly, "Diligent cultivation is the only way forward; with such laziness, you risk losing your life."

Qin An glanced at Nie Hu: "Hogwash."

Nie Hu was slightly taken aback.

He had intended to mock Qin An a little, thinking Qin An arrogant, emboldened after slaying two Body Storage Realm demons.

He had seen many such people, eventually fading into obscurity.

Little did he expect Qin An to retort back.

As a seasoned Tongzhou Defender, how could he tolerate such disdain?

As Nie Hu was about to speak, Ma Rou intervened to calm the situation.

"We’re all working under Mr. Cheng, harmony breeds success."

Upon hearing Mr. Cheng’s name, Nie Hu recollected Cheng Sufeng’s regard for Qin An. After shooting Qin An one icy glance, he refrained from speaking further.

Qin An remained calm as still water, continuing to wipe the black blade.

...

Time passed, and night had fallen.

In a dense forest not far from Kao Mountain Village.

The dappled moonlight fell upon a seductive fox woman clad only in a thin veil.

Next to the fox woman stood a man with tiger-like stripes all over his body.

"The Evil Extermination Bureau is here. There’s enough fresh cultivator blood that you wanted. I’ll draw away the Tongzhou Defenders; the remaining state officials are left to you."

"If you don’t share the Tiger Race’s hidden treasures with me after acquiring the state officials’ blood, the Fox Mother will take your life."