Chapter 31: Demon Core

Even without his official cap, Magistrate Fang’s temples remained drenched in sweat. His Adam’s apple bobbed rhythmically, yet he could not force a sound from his throat.

He could not help but glance at his own hands—those soft, delicate fingers had once been intertwined with his own. In the past, he had often felt as if he were reuniting with his late wife, but now, those tender memories felt like the flicking tongue of a venomous serpent.

He dared not imagine what would have happened had the Daoist lacked the cultivation to perceive the heavenly secrets early on, or if the Daoist had been cold-hearted enough not to make the journey. For every word Du Yuan had cautioned him with was now etched into his heart—he was the father and mother of an entire county; the lives and well-being of over ten thousand people rested in his hands!

Du Yuan had once asked him if he had truly noticed nothing amiss during their long time together. The answer, in truth, was that he had.

For instance, his mother’s chronic illness had been deemed incurable by many physicians, attributed to the exhaustion and hardship she endured early in life to ensure he could study. Yet, ever since she—no, *it*—arrived, his mother’s condition had not only vastly improved, but her vitality had even surpassed that of her prime. He had noticed the occasional, unnatural flush on her cheeks, but after asking a physician and being told it was nothing, he had delved no deeper.

Or, for example, every night he would find her skin unnaturally cold, sometimes feeling as hard as pig iron. Yet, he had merely listened to her claims that his parents were cruel and had abused her, causing her to fall ill, and had thought no more of it.

Then there was the fact that while she clearly enjoyed wine, she loathed realgar wine as if it were a deadly foe...

The more Magistrate Fang contemplated these things, the more ashamed he felt. There had been so many clues, yet he had never investigated them. This was a betrayal of the people of Qing County and a betrayal of the Emperor!

After another convulsive swallow, Magistrate Fang suddenly recalled the Emperor’s guidance during his audience at the Golden Throne Hall years ago. Looking at Du Yuan, a thought flashed through his mind. If a high-level master like this Daoist could be favored by the Emperor and appointed as the Imperial Preceptor, would it not be a blessing for all under Heaven? By doing so, he would not be failing the Emperor’s vast benevolence.

With this thought, Magistrate Fang knelt before Du Yuan once more. "Daoist, this disgraced official knows his sins are grave, and I intend to imprison myself and head to the capital to confess to His Majesty. But you are different—a master of the Way with great divine powers. I daringly implore you to escort me to the capital. At that time, I wish to petition His Majesty to grant you an audience!"

*Let me go to the capital?*

Although Du Yuan’s ultimate goal was to become widely renowned so he could finally complete his plan to return home, the current situation was filled with demons and monsters at every turn. How could he easily step foot in the capital, a place undoubtedly teeming with countless spirits and demons?

Du Yuan’s nature was to seek stability. Entering the execution ground had been a calculated risk, necessary to leverage the situation once he was already involved. He had tested the blade beforehand, confirming it could not harm him, before proceeding with confidence. But to head to the capital now? Du Yuan was certainly not willing. He could not afford to lose; he did not know if he would ever truly be able to return, but he knew that if he died, everything would be lost. Who would take care of his elderly parents then?

Therefore, Du Yuan shook his head immediately. "That is not my ambition, Magistrate. Do not urge me further."

The Magistrate was desperate. In all his years, Du Yuan was the only true master he had ever encountered. Surely the situation at the Emperor’s side was just as dire; how could he let a master of such profound cultivation and righteous heart leave? "Daoist, please, do it for the sake of all living beings!"

Du Yuan raised his voice. "That is precisely why I am doing this for the sake of all living beings!"

His voice rang out like the cry of a crane piercing the clouds, startling the swallows nesting in the rafters into a panicked flurry. Magistrate Fang was stunned into silence, his face filled with bitterness. *Is it possible that His Majesty truly lacks this affinity?*

"Daoist, will you truly never go to the capital?"

Du Yuan looked at him and said, "Perhaps I will, perhaps I will not. Whether I do or not depends not on me, but on the direction this world's turmoil takes and how it is resolved!"

Magistrate Fang opened and closed his mouth repeatedly. He caught a hint of something in those words—something that filled him with profound terror. It sparked a thought that was utterly treacherous: *Perhaps this world's tribulation is already beyond the control of a mere emperor!?*

Terrified by this thought, he lowered his head, yet he could not stop it from sinking into his heart. After a long silence, Magistrate Fang asked with difficulty, "Daoist, you are a master above the secular world, while I am but a mortal of flesh and blood. I cannot see what you see, nor understand what you say. I only ask: when the time of crisis arrives, could you please save the people?"

Du Yuan smiled faintly and patted his shoulder. "That is why I said you would be a good official."

He then added with great earnestness, "Just remember: never forget the events of today. Otherwise, the calamity will be inescapable!"

"This official will remember it well!"

Du Yuan nodded and continued, "You do not need to imprison yourself. After all, you have learned your lesson, and no one else has come to harm." And he himself had earned a bit of divine power. Seeing that the Magistrate still wished to speak, Du Yuan waved his hand to stop him. "Besides, if you leave, what will happen to Qing County?"

Magistrate Fang had nothing left to say and could only bow repeatedly.

Not long after, a commotion rose from the crowd in the distance. Those who had gone to the mass grave outside the city had returned. They had brought back not only the decapitation blade but also the carcass of the giant python. As it was a demon, its massive size naturally drew the crowd to gather and watch.

When Du Yuan heard the news and arrived, the crowd shouted, "The Daoist is here! Make way for the Daoist!" A path opened instantly through the throng. Du Yuan thanked them and entered.

The python was about twenty-three feet long. It didn't sound like much, but in person, it was truly striking. Fortunately, there were many who had gone to watch, so they had managed to drag it back without much effort. By now, the crowd had surrounded the monster completely, with some of the bolder ones poking the snake’s body with bamboo poles. Magistrate Fang did not approach, as the monster was, after all, somewhat connected to him.

Du Yuan stood before the carcass, examining it with curiosity. Suddenly, he pointed to a spot and said, "Come, cut here!"

A martial retainer from the Qian family stepped forward with a blade, but the waist-sword, forged by experienced craftsmen from fine steel essence, merely skidded across the python’s scales, throwing off sparks. This left the crowd gasping in silence. They looked at the clean, severed neck of the monster, then back at Du Yuan in awe. *The Daoist had managed to decapitate such a monster from a distance so easily!*

Du Yuan smiled and shook his head. "Use that decapitation blade!"

Wu Dadao stepped forward. Five thousand taels was not a small sum, and Qian Youcai naturally didn't have that much on him, so the blade was still in Wu's possession for the time being—though the deposit had been paid. He spat on his palms, let out a shout, and thrust the decapitation blade forward.

Completely different from expectations, the scales that had repelled the fine steel waist-sword were sliced through by the decapitation blade as if it were cutting tofu. Qian Youcai puffed out his chest, satisfied. *It is worthy of being a blade the Daoist praised; this money was well spent!*

Wu Dadao, on the other hand, nearly collapsed onto the monster from the exertion. Stabilizing himself just in time to avoid embarrassment, he gave a sheepish smile, then his eyes lit up. He reached into the incision and pulled out a smooth, clear bead.

As the bead rolled into his palm, everyone craned their necks to see. Even in the light of day, the bead emitted a soft, moon-like luminescence. Unlike the foul-smelling carcass, the bead gave off a refreshing, penetrating fragrance!

After fiddling with it in wonder for a moment, Wu Dadao wiped his hands and the bead, and presented it to Du Yuan with both hands. "Daoist!"

Du Yuan took it, held it up for all to see, and smiled. "It seems this evil creature had cultivated something. Come, everyone, look—this is the monster's妖丹 (demon core)!"

The crowd, already craning to see, surged forward to get a better look. To their surprise, Du Yuan suddenly asked them, "May I ask, who among you could fetch a bowl of clean water for me?"