Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

He couldn’t just be labeled a traitor.

This was about more than just one person’s innocence. The very honor and stability of the Yan City Demon-slaying Bureau were at stake.

"Go get some rest for now."

A sharp glint flashed in Tian Wenjing’s eyes. "I heard about what happened to Master Tang. If that brat Du Yuanfei was really behind it, I’ll be the first one to make him pay!"

With that, Tian Wenjing led his people away.

Shui Miaozheng remained where she was, gazing at the dilapidated streets and the bustling crowds. A wave of unprecedented exhaustion washed over her, a weariness that settled deep in her heart.

It wasn’t just from the grief and self-reproach of losing a trusted and beloved subordinate.

It was also from the psychological shock and self-doubt of that absurd encounter, and the sense of powerlessness she felt in the face of this complicated situation.

’How did it come to this...’

The Divine Prophet had said that coming to support Yan City would present her with a unique and great opportunity.

It seemed she had indeed received her opportunity.

The [Shuyu] was now in her hands.

But the price she paid... was far too absurd and heavy.

As she recalled that mortifying scene in the ruins of Red Forest Valley, a scalding blush crept up her pale cheeks, spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.

’Good thing that kid’s consciousness was gone at the time. Otherwise, I’d never be able to show my face in public again!’

Shui Miaozheng slapped her forehead, trying to banish the image from her mind.

She really hadn’t been able to move back then, given the situation.

...

...

「Two hours later.」

Tian Wenjing, Shui Miaozheng, and the directors and Hall Masters from various states and commanderies were all gathered in the main hall of the Yan City Demon-slaying Bureau.

The faint smell of blood and dust hung in the air.

Many faces were still etched with fatigue and anger.

"The demon infestation in this Yan City region is too severe. We were ambushed three times before we even got inside the city."

"You’re telling me. There were plenty of Great Demons, too. If I hadn’t run fast enough, I would’ve been a goner back at the Bone Wind River."

"I’m afraid we’ll earn the rewards promised by the General Office but won’t live long enough to spend them!"

The complaints were endless.

This time, the Demon-slaying Bureaus from every state had answered the General Office’s call for reinforcements. Although it was for the greater good, who didn’t have their own agenda?

For one, the General Office had promised generous resource allocations. For another, it was a chance to earn some solid merits.

But no one had expected the situation in Yan City to be ten times worse than the intelligence reports had described.

It left everyone seething with frustration.

In the main seat, Yan Wu’s expression was grave, his eyes betraying a deep-seated weariness.

He coughed lightly to quiet the crowd, then cupped his hands in a fist and said:

"My fellow colleagues, you have suffered. I am ashamed. Although we’ve cleared out most of the city over the past few days, many demons skilled in disguise are still lurking in the shadows. We are currently investigating them one by one. As for outside the city..."

Yan Wu walked over to a massive hanging map and drew several heavy circles on it with his finger.

"Currently, there are three main demon factions that we have identified.

The first is the Demon Army led by the Tier Seven Great Demon, the ’Great Golden Roc King’.

This demon has close ties with the Red Umbrella Sect. He commands a large number of demon soldiers, mostly stationed around Red Forest Valley. He also has two Tier Five Great Perfection Pig Demon brothers as his right-hand men. His strength is not to be underestimated.

The second is the Tiger Vanguard, a Tier Seven Great Demon.

Our colleagues from Hu State should be the most familiar with this demon. It was the vanguard general during the mist demon invasion of Hu State, and is utterly infamous.

It had numerous demons under its command, roughly estimated at over three thousand. However, its forces were scattered after being defeated and retreating from Hu State.

According to the latest intelligence, a remnant force of over five hundred demons, led by a pair of Leopard Demon brothers, was annihilated near Chaotic Stone Slope outside Hu State. This was a heavy blow to the Tiger Vanguard.

Now, it has fewer than four hundred soldiers under its command.

The third..."

Yan Wu’s finger moved to a patch of forest west of the city.

"Is the ’Thousand-Eyed Spider Mother’ entrenched in Thousand Silk Ridge. This demon is at the Tier Eight Great Perfection Cultivation Level. It commands over a thousand demon spiders, is an expert at trapping and killing with its webs, and possesses a virulent poison.

As for the slumbering Demon Dragon at the more distant Fire Dragon Cliff, and the Lost Soul Swamp to the north—a place forbidden to the living—you are all aware of the dangers in these areas. Remember not to venture into them lightly."

With that, Yan Wu waved to a trusted subordinate beside him.

The subordinate understood, took up a stack of copied intelligence booklets, and distributed them to everyone present.

As they read through the intelligence, their expressions grew increasingly grim.

These were just the three factions operating in the open; they worried about what other forces the demons might have hidden.

Xu Fu took a booklet, flipped through it casually, and suddenly spoke up.

"Director Yan, you just said the Great Golden Roc King has two Tier Five Great Perfection Pig Demons under his command, correct?"

Yan Wu nodded. "That’s right. Why?"

Xu Fu said loudly:

"Director Yan, I’m afraid your intelligence is a bit outdated. One of the Great Golden Roc King’s Tier Five Great Perfection Pig Demons has already been slaughtered by our Hu State’s Master Jiang."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Yan Wu froze, his gaze shifting from Xu Fu’s face to Tian Wenjing’s, as if to confirm he hadn’t misheard.

"Was... killed?"

"Which Hall Master did you say it was?"

"Jiang Mu, the Hall Master of our Hu State’s Eighth Hall." Xu Fu puffed out his chest, his voice growing louder.

"Oh, right. And it wasn’t just that Pig Demon. He also took care of three early-stage Tier Five demons at the same time.

And let me add, that Tier Five Horse Demon mentioned in your intelligence report, the one skilled in disguise? Master Jiang chopped its head off in Li family Village."

"What?!"

This time, Yan Wu was truly stunned.

The other officials from the various state cities looked at each other, completely bewildered.

"Jiang Mu? Never heard of him."

"Isn’t Madman Yan the only real fighter in Hu State? When did some badass named Jiang pop up?"