Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

Shui Miaozheng arrived in Yan City ahead of schedule.

The city, having only just emerged from the throes of war and rebellion, was now shrouded in bleak desolation.

Broken walls and crumbling ruins were a common sight.

The common folk on the streets were few and far between. Most hurried along, their faces sallow from poor nutrition.

Besides these civilians, the streets were filled with even more figures: cultivators from the Demon-slaying Bureau branches across the Great Qing.

Shui Miaozheng stared at the street before her, her gaze distant.

After a moment, she lowered her head and opened her palm.

Gazing at the slightly damaged Compass in her hand, she let out a soft sigh. "Cosmic opportunities... Perhaps... this is simply fate."

Though she tried to console herself with such words, the bitterness and shame in her heart were not so easily erased.

For more than thirty years, she had cherished her chastity and always carried herself with propriety and self-restraint.

She never imagined that one day, she would find herself in such a degrading situation.

For any woman, it was undoubtedly a memory too shameful to speak of.

Just as she was lost in a daze, a clear voice called out:

"Water Director!"

She turned to see Ming Cuicui, Zhu Chang, and the others.

Behind them followed a mere dozen or so survivors, each one injured and wearing a sorrowful expression.

Some in their party were even being carried on makeshift stretchers, barely breathing.

Shui Miaozheng froze, her heart sinking.

’These were the elite hall members Tang Guixin brought from Yunzhou City. How did they end up like this?’

She strode forward, her gaze sweeping over the familiar yet grief-stricken faces, and asked in a rapid, urgent tone, "How did you all get like this? Where are the others? Where is Master Tang?"

She had previously received a message sent by courier bird from Tang Guixin at White Deer Peak.

The message briefly explained their encounter with the Zombie Queen and the help they received from Jiang Mu. It also stated they would head directly to Yan City to regroup.

Just then, she had sensed the aura of the "divine object" her Compass was pointing to nearby. Figuring that Tang Guixin was powerful and already out of danger, she hadn’t given it a second thought and had gone to pursue the fortuitous opportunity.

But she never imagined that upon seeing them again, one of her most capable halls would be in such a shattered state.

When Ming Cuicui saw Shui Miaozheng, it was as if she’d found her pillar of strength. The tears she had been desperately holding back finally burst forth. She lunged forward, grabbed Shui Miaozheng’s arm, and began to wail.

Shui Miaozheng’s heart dropped, and a sense of foreboding welled up inside her.

"What in the world happened? Speak!"

Zhu Chang, who stood to the side, also had red-rimmed eyes. Suppressing his grief, he recounted everything that had happened in a halting voice.

When she heard the four words, "Sister Tang is dead," Shui Miaozheng felt the world spin around her. She swayed, nearly collapsing, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelieving shock.

Years ago, when she first arrived in Yunzhou City, her position was precarious, and she was ostracized.

It was Tang Guixin, that generous and righteous woman, who had stood by her side without hesitation and supported her.

The two were nominally superior and subordinate, but in reality, they were as close as sisters.

Shui Miaozheng had even been thinking that when she had a chance to visit the Celestial Blade Sect in the future, she would prepare a generous dowry for Tang Guixin’s daughter.

’But now... she’s gone?’

A wave of heart-wrenching regret and self-blame washed over her.

’If only I hadn’t coveted that divine object... if I hadn’t wasted that time and had gone straight to White Deer Peak to back them up...’

’Perhaps Gui Xin wouldn’t have died.’

’It was all my fault!’

’I was the one blinded by a so-called ’fortuitous opportunity,’ ignoring the safety of my comrades.’

"Are you sure that Du Yuanfei is a traitor?"

Shui Miaozheng asked coldly.

Ming Cuicui wiped away her tears, hesitated for a moment, but still said:

"We didn’t see it with our own eyes. Lord Jiang, the one who saved us, told us. He’s the Hall Master of the Eighth Hall in Hu State, and he was the one who killed those demons and saved us."

"Lord Jiang?"

Shui Miaozheng frowned, then pressed on, "Where is he?"

"Lord Jiang is still behind us. He said he was going to—"

Before Ming Cuicui could finish, a cheerful male voice suddenly rang out, "Water Director! At last, you’ve arrived!"

A burly, middle-aged man was seen striding over.

He had sharp, defined brows, eyes as bright as stars, and a resolute profile, all clad in a dark purple brocade robe.

He was none other than the new Director of the Yan City Demon-slaying Bureau, Yan Wu. Years ago, he had been one of Shui Miaozheng’s many suitors.

"Director Yan."

Shui Miaozheng gave a slight nod, her voice cold.

Yan Wu was somewhat surprised.

The Shui Miaozheng he remembered was always gentle as water, treating everyone with a warmth that felt like a spring breeze. Why was she as cold as ice today?

Upon closer inspection, he saw a shadow of melancholy hanging over her features, and her face looked quite haggard.

A flash of concern appeared in Yan Wu’s eyes. "Water Director, are you feeling unwell?"

Shui Miaozheng was in no mood for pleasantries and asked him directly, "Director Yan, in your bureau, is there a Hall Master named Du Yuanfei?"

Yan Wu was taken aback, then nodded and said:

"Yes, there is. Master Du is the Hall Master of our Yan City’s Second Hall. He is exceptionally capable and earned many merits during the suppression of the rebellion. Why does the Water Director suddenly ask about him?"

Shui Miaozheng continued to question him:

"Where is he now? I have some matters I wish to ask him in person."

Yan Wu’s brow furrowed slightly as he answered truthfully:

"The patrol brothers found him in the wilderness outside the city last night. He was seriously injured and brought back for treatment. He’s still unconscious and has yet to wake up."

"Unconscious?"

Shui Miaozheng didn’t beat around the bush and directly gave him a brief summary of the events as described by Ming Cuicui and the others.

Finally, her voice laced with cold, she said,

"Now, we have strong reason to suspect that this Hall Master Du Yuanfei deliberately set a trap, betrayed his comrades, and caused the near total annihilation of Master Tang Guixin of my Yunzhou City and her subordinates!"

Shui Miaozheng’s voice drew sidelong glances from some of the people nearby.

"That’s impossible!"

Yan Wu’s expression changed drastically as he flatly denied it.