Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

It painted a scene of indescribable solitude.

Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the entrance of the inn.

Ling Ye stood before the door. She turned and said,

"I’ve rambled on a bit tonight. I meant to explain some things to you, but somewhere along the way, I got lost in my own confusion again.

Of course, I just want you to know that I’m not that stodgy or unfeeling. If I really do encounter that ’little sister’ of yours, I’ll make a real effort to discern the truth."

"I’m really worried about you," Jiang Mu said earnestly.

Ling Ye didn’t respond. She simply raised a hand and gently brushed a fallen leaf from Jiang Mu’s shoulder. Her tone reverted to its usual crisp, cool efficiency:

"Like I said before, if you ever want to become a Patrol Envoy, you can come to me anytime. Because I have a feeling that sooner or later, you’ll end up just like me.

I tried to poach you from Ran Qingshan before, but he actually got worked up about it."

The corners of her lips lifted in a slight smile as she added,

"In any case, I’ll always be willing to bend the rules for you, and only for you."

Jiang Mu nodded, a warmth spreading through his chest.

"Thank you, Ling Ye. So... aren’t you going to invite me in?"

"No, thanks."

Ling Ye turned, walked into the courtyard, and shut the gate behind her.

Jiang Mu: "..."

’Why do I get the feeling Ling Ye just leveled up?’

’I thought I had her down to critical HP, but then she suddenly entered her second phase, maxed out her defense, and even learned how to dodge.’

"Crap."

Jiang Mu suddenly slapped his forehead.

"I forgot to ask her why she kicked me under the table during dinner!"

...

...

The crescent moon hung in the sky, and a clear frost dusted the long street.

Jiang Mu walked alone down the street, Ling Ye’s words echoing in his mind.

His own attitude toward Demon Fiends had always been complicated.

It was true that every Demon he’d met so far, aside from Little Demon, had deserved to die.

But that didn’t stop him from wondering from time to time.

If he were to encounter a truly benevolent Demon, should the blade of the Demon-slaying Bureau still fall?

Slaying fiends and vanquishing demons seemed to be a black-and-white affair.

But the world was filled with shades of gray.

Perhaps that was the deeper meaning behind Qiu Yuexin’s parting words as well.

’That girl knew it too. One day, they would be on opposite sides. Better to make a clean break now, to sever any lingering attachments.’

’Then, when they eventually crossed blades, there might be less hesitation.’

Lost in thought, Jiang Mu suddenly stopped.

There, in the middle of the street ahead, stood an imposing figure, built like an iron pagoda.

He was a burly, middle-aged man, his chest and stomach exposed.

He carried a massive, dark-iron hammer on his shoulder, standing brazenly in the center of the road, radiating a fearsome killing intent.

The Evil Qi he emanated seemed to chill the very moonlight.

Jiang Mu narrowed his eyes. With his hands clasped behind his back, he sauntered forward and smiled. "I do hope you haven’t been waiting just for me."

The street was dead silent.

But the moment the words left his mouth, the auras of several Practitioners flared to life.

One was hidden in the shadows beneath the eaves, another stood plainly in the darkness of an alleyway, one crouched atop a wall, and another leaned against a doorpost...

They were men and women, old and young.

There was even a dwarf Cultivator, with the stature of a child, squatting on a stone lion and grinning from ear to ear.

These were clearly all people of the martial world.

Their gazes locked onto Jiang Mu in unison, filled with curiosity, awe, and unconcealed greed and hostility.

"I was indeed waiting for you," the burly man grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth. He slammed the butt of his giant hammer onto the ground, making it tremble.

Jiang Mu glanced around and said nonchalantly,

"I don’t quite understand. If you wanted to ambush me in the wilderness outside the city, I’d get it.

But we’re inside the city walls.

To dare and publicly ambush an official of the Demon-slaying Bureau... do you all have a death wish, or did you just drink some bad liquor last night?"

From the shadows, a hoarse, aged voice drifted out:

"You misunderstand, Lord Jiang. I am not with these other gentlemen. We merely happened upon this scene and came to watch the show."

"That’s right."

"Indeed. I’d rather not be associated with that brainless brute. It would be beneath me."

The others quickly chimed in, eager to distance themselves from him.

"Oh?"

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow.

He carefully observed their positioning and auras.

They were all spaced far apart, their auras distinct and unconnected. Most had a Cultivation Level between the Third and Fourth Realms.

Judging by how they were wary of one another, they certainly weren’t a single group.

’Then...’

Jiang Mu understood.

He looked at the burly man before him and smiled. "You want to take my Star Position?"

"That’s right!"

The burly man gripped his massive hammer, his voice booming like a great bell.

"The name’s Chen Da Chui! I was born with Divine Power! I’m at the late stage of the Fourth Realm now, but when it comes to a real fight, I wouldn’t even flinch at someone at the peak of the Fourth Realm!"

A fanatical gleam lit up his eyes.

"I heard Lord Jiang obtained the orthodox Earth Concealing Star Position, and I’m mighty jealous. If I can take your Star Position, not only will my strength soar, but I’ll have a better shot at vying for a Celestial Spirit Star in the future.

Even if I fail, just getting a taste of what it’s like to be an orthodox Star Official would make my life worthwhile!"

Jiang Mu asked, "Who told you I had an orthodox Star Position?"

’Ling Ye had been clear: to stabilize the situation, Ran Qingshan had made a deal with the Divine Sword Sect to keep his possession of an orthodox Star Position a closely guarded secret.’

’But now, it seemed like every wanderer on the street knew about it.’

’Who leaked the secret?’

’The Divine Sword Sect?’

’They had just been searched, so they shouldn’t dare to stir up trouble at a time like this.’

’But it wasn’t out of the question that they’d want to use someone else to kill me, just to screw with me.’

’Someone inside the Demon-slaying Bureau?’

’Ran Qingshan had ordered it kept secret, but a few of the Hall Masters knew.’

’For example, that bastard Wen He might have pulled some strings behind the scenes.’

Chen Da Chui sneered.

"You don’t need to worry about that. In any case, I’m taking that Star Position of yours! I refuse to believe that a Fourth Realm like me can’t handle a greenhorn brat like you in the Third Realm!"