Something's wrong with this demon.

Chapter 146 Saving Lives

One more?

Luo Qingchen glanced at the cellar again, then quietly followed the little boy up.

Sixteen villagers gathered in the courtyard outside.

Feeling the sunshine outside, many people wept with joy, murmuring words of gratitude to God.

But soon, they all felt lost.

The village has been destroyed, their relatives have been killed, and they don't know where to go.

"Uncle, what should we do now?"

Among the crowd, a short, thin old man with gray hair seemed to be the oldest.

All the villagers looked at him, hoping he would make a decision.

The old man's name was Sun Liu, and he was indeed the most senior and oldest among the sixteen villagers.

"What can we do? We can't stay here any longer. We have no choice but to go to Qinghe City."

Sun Liu sighed.

A woman said worriedly, "Sixth Uncle, Qinghe City is a long way away, and we still need to cross mountains and valleys. If we encounter those demons on the way, I'm afraid we won't even be able to run away."

At this moment, the short, stocky woman who had just been slapped away by Luo Qingchen suddenly said, "Why don't we go to the Blood Eagle Sect? The Blood Eagle Sect is so close to us, we can ask them to take us in, it's better than being eaten by those monsters on the way."

"Blood Eagle Sect? Aunt Juzi, that's a demonic sect. Their disciples kill without blinking an eye..."

"We can go and be their medicine victims. Old Lady Wang's son from the east end went there to be one. I heard they have food and drink there, and people to protect them. It's better than us crossing mountains and dying out there, isn't it?"

The short, stocky woman known as "Aunt Kiku" seemed to know something about the Blood Eagle Sect.

The group discussed for a while without reaching a conclusion, and finally looked at the old man named Sun Liu and asked him to make the decision.

After listening to everyone's discussion, Sun Liu was also undecided for a moment.

At that moment, his gaze suddenly fell on the boy at the door of the woodshed and the petite figure hiding in the shadows behind him. His eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly went over and cupped his hands, saying, "My two benefactors, where are you two headed? Could you take us to Qinghe City?"

He naturally didn't want to go to the Blood Eagle Sect.

He was quite old, and the remaining villagers were all elderly, weak, sick, or disabled. If they were to become medicine victims for the Blood Eagle Sect, they probably wouldn't live more than a few days. As soon as he asked, the other villagers immediately gathered around, looking at the boy at the door of the woodshed with apprehension and curiosity, and the strangely dressed little girl behind him.

Luo Qingchen did not answer. After carefully observing the fifteen people, he stepped forward and slashed Sun Liu's wrist with a knife.

Sun Liu was startled and hurriedly said, "What...what are you doing?"

The other villagers' expressions also changed.

Seeing the bright red blood flowing from his wound, Luo Qingchen immediately slashed the wrist of a woman behind him with another knife.

The woman screamed and hurriedly backed away.

Luo Qingchen grabbed her and examined her wrist closely. Seeing that the blood flowing out was normal, he then slashed her other wrist. At this moment, the other villagers were terrified.

Some people are already preparing to flee.

Luo Qingchen glanced at him and said, "Anyone who dares to leave, I'll kill them first!"

Having said that, he grabbed the short, stocky woman named Aunt Juzi and slashed her wrist with a knife.

"Murder!"

She immediately started screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

After seeing the normal flow of blood from her wrist, Luo Qingchen slapped her across the face again.

Her howling then came to an abrupt end.

The villagers immediately turned pale, trembled, and dared not move.

Just as Luo Qingchen was about to slash the wrist of the next person, a series of noisy footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. Then, with a "bang," the wooden door was kicked open, and a group of men and women dressed in white, holding swords, rushed in menacingly!

"Where are the monsters?"

"Hey, Senior Sister Yang, these all look like living people!"

This group of men and women in white, numbering over ten, all wielded swords. The five at the front were surrounded by swirling energy, appearing to be disciples at the Strength Realm. The leader, a tall woman, possessed the strongest aura, seemingly already at the peak of the Strength Realm.

On their chests were embroidered two crossed swords.

"We are disciples of the Divine Sword Sect. We heard that demons have appeared here, so we came to exorcise them! Have you seen any demons?"

The tall woman at the head of the group asked in a cold voice.

Her name is Yang Qiuyan, and she is the captain of this team and the strongest among these disciples.

The villagers, upon hearing her words, fell silent, none daring to utter a sound.

Yang Qiuyan's sharp gaze swept over the sixteen villagers before immediately landing on Luo Qingchen, who was holding a horizontal sword.

"Senior Sister Yang, look at those people! Their wrists are cut and bleeding!"

Beside Yang Qiuyan, a long-faced young man quickly spoke up.

Suddenly, a villager cried out, "Esteemed members of the Divine Sword Sect, help! These two men are trying to kill us!"

The person who shouted was the short, stocky woman who had been slapped twice by Luo Qingchen and was known as Aunt Juzi.

She immediately ran over and knelt before Yang Qiuyan, crying and begging for help, extending her wrist to show the wound on it. As soon as she spoke, the other villagers rushed over and knelt before Yang Qiuyan and the others.

"Sirs, please save us!"

Yang Qiuyan narrowed her eyes and immediately led four disciples at the Jinli Realm to Luo Qingchen's side. She stared at him for a few moments, then looked at the petite girl behind him who looked like a little girl.

"Which sect are you disciples from? What are you doing here?"

She asked in a cold voice.

At this moment, the four people behind her, holding swords, surrounded Luo Qingchen and her companion.

Luo Qingchen said, "We've come here to slay the demons."

"Oh? What about the demon? Was it killed?"

Yang Qiuyan asked.

Luo Qingchen said, "They have been killed. These villagers were all rescued from the cellar."

Yang Qiuyan's expression shifted, and she turned to look at the villagers, asking, "Is that so?"

The short, stocky woman named Aunt Juzi immediately said, "We didn't see them kill the demon at all. We took a nap, and when we woke up, the demon was gone, and we didn't see its corpse!"

The other villagers hesitated for a moment, but then immediately nodded.

They did not see the boy kill the demon.

Aunt Juzi stretched out her wrist again and cried out, "Gentlemen, look! These two people are cutting our wrists, trying to kill us!" Her face bore red handprints as she glared hatefully at the boy.

Yang Qiuyan's gaze returned to the boy before her, and she asked, "Why did you cut their wrists?"

Luo Qingchen looked at the villagers and said, "I suspect there are demons among them."

Upon hearing this, the villagers' expressions changed immediately. They exchanged glances, their faces filled with surprise and uncertainty.

The old man named Sun Liu immediately said, "Gentlemen, I know all these people. They are all from our village. There are no demons among them." The other villagers immediately echoed his sentiment.

The woman named Aunt Kikuko immediately cried out, "He just wants to kill us! He's deliberately calling us monsters!"

Yang Qiuyan's gaze swept over the villagers again before settling back on the young man before her. She asked in a cold voice, "I just asked you which sect you belong to, and you haven't answered yet."

Luo Qingchen paused for a moment, then said, "The Demon-Suppressing Sect."

"The Demon Control Sect?"

Upon hearing these three words, Yang Qiuyan and her group's expressions all changed.

The villagers seemed to have heard of the Demon-Slaying Sect as well, and they were all startled when they heard this.

"They're demon lords from the Demon-Suppressing Sect! I've heard that the disciples of the Demon-Suppressing Sect enjoy sucking people's blood and skinning them! My lords, these two were definitely planning to kill us all, suck our blood, skin us, and then kill us!"

The woman named Aunt Juzi immediately screamed in terror.

The other villagers also turned pale and started cursing.

"No wonder he cut our wrists; this devil must be checking if our blood is safe to use!"

"They don't even spare the elderly and children! These monsters deserve to be torn to pieces!"

"My lords! Kill these two beasts at once!"

"Those two little beasts must be colluding with those monsters. They must have killed everyone in our village together with those monsters!"

The villagers, who had been afraid and dared not speak, immediately began to chatter amongst themselves upon seeing the disciples of the Divine Sword Sect backing them up. Their words grew increasingly hateful and furious, until finally they gritted their teeth and cursed, as if they had witnessed the two men colluding with the demons. Luo Qingchen, looking at the faces that had suddenly become so ferocious, seemed momentarily stunned before speaking, "We came here only to slay the demons."

"Slay the demons?"

"Two ruthless, bloodthirsty demons have come to slay monsters?"

The disciples of the Divine Sword Sect couldn't help but laugh.

Yang Qiuyan pressed her sword against his throat and said, "You two need to come with us. The truth will be revealed when the time comes."

Then he ordered the person next to him, "Tie these two up!"

Luo Qingchen gripped the knife tightly in her hand.

Yang Qiuyan immediately warned with a cold laugh, "I advise you not to resist, otherwise, don't blame me for being merciless with my sword!"

Luo Qingchen glanced behind her.

The petite figure stood behind him, her dark eyes also looking at him.

Hearing the villagers' incessant curses, he glanced at them again, and thinking that there might be a demon mixed in among them, his eyes flickered, and he slowly sheathed the knife in his hand.

The girl behind him glanced at him, and her tense body slowly relaxed.

"Tie him up!"

Yang Qiuyan shouted.

Two men immediately walked up behind Luo Qingchen and tied his hands tightly behind his back with rope.

Two more women walked up behind Ye Fu and tied her up tightly as well.

"Whoosh!"

Just then, a cold glint flashed, and Yang Qiuyan's sword pierced directly into Luo Qingchen's left shoulder, passing through his collarbone, and the sharp tip of the sword emerged from his back!

Then, she drew her sword and thrust it through his right shoulder.

Two streams of blood gushed out rapidly from Luo Qingchen's shoulders.

His body trembled a few times, he gritted his teeth, and remained silent.

"I've experienced the cunning of the Demonic Sect disciples before. So, for our safety and the safety of the villagers, you must shed some blood." After saying this, Yang Qiuyan plunged her sword into Ye Fu's left shoulder blade.

"This little girl looks seriously injured, so one sword will suffice."

She drew her sword, glanced at the two men again, then turned and walked to the villagers. The coldness on her face faded, replaced by a gentle smile. She asked, "Where are you headed? We can escort you there."

Upon hearing this, the villagers were immediately filled with gratitude and their faces lit up with joy.

The old man named Sun Liu quickly cupped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, we wish to go to Qinghe City. Would it be convenient for you?"

"Qinghe City?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Qiuyan nodded without hesitation: "Perfect timing, we were just about to go there too."

Upon hearing this, the villagers were both surprised and delighted, and quickly expressed their gratitude.

"Let's go, it's getting late. We shouldn't stay here any longer; we need to get going as soon as possible."

Yang Qiuyan sheathed her sword and led the way.

The other four disciples at the Strength Realm walked at the very back, guarding Luo Qingchen and the other person.

Other disciples walked on either side of the villagers.

Sixteen villagers were protected in the middle.

"We've long heard that the Divine Sword Sect is a reputable and righteous sect. We're really lucky. If we hadn't run into them, we probably would have been skinned alive by those two demons from the Demon Extermination Sect by now."

"Those two devils are truly treacherous and cunning; they actually pretended to save us, and I almost believed them just now!"

"Our relatives and other villagers must have been killed by those two demons in collusion with monsters!"

As they walked along the road, the villagers discussed the matter and cursed angrily.

The short, stocky woman named Aunt Juzi saw that the boy who had slapped her twice was now tightly bound with ropes, his clothes covered in blood, and unable to resist. She couldn't help but slow her pace, turn around, and spit at him, cursing, "You heartless little devil! Just wait to die! When we get to Qinghe City, I'll cut you into a thousand pieces!"

Blood streamed down Luo Qingchen's shoulder, his hands bound behind his back. He walked silently behind the crowd, neither speaking nor making any other move. Seeing this, the other villagers immediately grew bolder, slowed their pace, and began spitting and cursing at him.

"Damn little beast! So young, what couldn't you do? Go and become a murderous, skinning monster!"

"Confess! Did you collude with the monsters to kill the other villagers?!"

"This little bastard doesn't dare to speak! He's obviously admitting it!!"

Some villagers, not satisfied with spitting, picked up stones, mud, and other objects from the ground and threw them behind them.

Soon, Luo Qingchen's body, face, forehead, hair, and collar were covered in mud, stone chips, and even some weeds and branches.

He remained silent, his gaze constantly observing the sixteen villagers before him.

The four Divine Sword Sect disciples at the very back did not stop them; instead, they all laughed gleefully.

Leaving the village, I stepped onto a desolate path.

After walking for dozens of miles, the villagers immediately felt tired and hungry, and were too exhausted to walk any further.

"Gentlemen, could you please give us a rest and some food? We haven't eaten in ages."

Sun Liu hurriedly stepped forward and said.

Upon hearing this, Yang Qiuyan turned around, a gentle smile on her face, and said, "Let's rest after we cross that hill. I'm worried that it will be dangerous to camp here after dark."

As he spoke, he continued walking forward.

Sun Liu glanced ahead, then turned back to encourage the villagers: "Everyone, hang in there a little longer. Once we get over that hillside, we can rest."

The villagers had no choice but to grit their teeth and persevere.

Finally, as evening approached, the group crossed the hillside and arrived at an open space.

Sun Liu looked around, somewhat puzzled, then walked to Yang Qiuyan's side and said with a forced smile, "My lord, I seem to recall that this isn't the road to Qinghe City."

Yang Qiuyan took out a steamed bun from her storage bag and said, "There were monsters on that road before, and many villagers have died. We can't go any further."

Sun Liu nodded, his gaze falling on the steamed bun in her hand. He immediately swallowed hard and hurriedly said, "Sir, this steamed bun..." Yang Qiuyan smiled and said, "You want to eat a steamed bun?"

Sun Liu nodded hurriedly, his face full of flattery, and said, "This old man has been starving in the cellar for several days. If you have any extra, sir..."

"Whoosh!"

Before he could finish speaking, a flash of sword light appeared, and his head suddenly flew off.

"These steamed buns aren't for feeding dogs."

Yang Qiuyan sheathed her sword, kicked the old man's headless corpse away, and then began to eat her steamed bun.

The other villagers, who had just been swallowing their saliva and looking on with fawning expressions, ready to ask for food, suddenly saw this horrifying scene and screamed in fright, frozen in place.

Just then, a young man who had run ahead to scout the way ran back and said, "Senior Sister Yang, they've arrived."

Footsteps came from the woods ahead.

Soon, a group of men and women dressed in black with the Blood Eagle emblem embroidered on their chests emerged from the woods, their faces filled with menacing intent.

"Sister Yang, it's been a long time!"

The leader was a burly young man who greeted Yang Qiuyan with a big smile and clasped his hands in greeting.

Yang Qiuyan also cupped her hands and smiled, saying, "Brother Wei, it's been a long time!"

The disciples from both sides immediately stepped forward and exchanged pleasantries, seemingly knowing each other.

"Are these the people?"

After speaking with Yang Qiuyan, Wei Peng came to the villagers and looked them over carefully. He was immediately disappointed: "They're either old people or women who have given birth. Sister Yang, this batch of goods is really no good."

Yang Qiuyan smiled and said, "There are two more disciples from the Demon Extermination Sect behind me, I'll sell them to you as well."

"Oh? A disciple of the Demon-Suppressing Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Peng's eyes lit up. He went to the back and carefully examined Luo Qingchen and the other person, saying, "These two are not bad. If their skins were peeled off intact, they could fetch a good price. However, since they are disciples of the Demon Control Sect, it would be a waste to skin them. I'll take them back and sell them to my senior brothers as corpse slaves; I estimate the price will be even higher then."

After saying that, he smelled the blood again, walked to Sun Liu's headless corpse, and asked, "Sister Yang, what happened?"

Yang Qiuyan sneered, "This old geezer is too long-winded. He kept asking me questions the whole way, and just now he even dared to ask me for steamed buns. I doubt he can sell his old hide for much money."

Wei Peng laughed and said, "This one is indeed worthless. Just kill it and we'll drag it back to feed the dogs later."

Yang Qiuyan said with a smile, "Brother Wei, there are seventeen living people and one dead person in total. Name your price."

Wei Peng glanced at the goods again, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Sister Yang, if you're not in a hurry, why don't we skin them first? There's no water here, and these people are all disheveled and dirty, so I really can't see them clearly. I'm afraid if we take them back, skin them, and then can't sell them, wouldn't that be a huge loss?" Yang Qiuyan smiled and said, "Then you skin them first. It's perfect, we can eat something and rest for a while. We can also take a look at your Blood Eagle Sect's skinning techniques."

"Hehe, then Sister Yang can rest for a bit. A dozen or so people should be peeled in about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Wei Peng grinned and immediately waved to his men, saying, "Get ready, start skinning and bloodletting!"

After saying that, he grabbed a woman's hair, dragged her to the front, and punched her in the temple, knocking her unconscious. Then he began to skin her.

Another Blood Eagle Sect disciple brought over a basin, ready to draw blood.

Upon witnessing this scene, the villagers were terrified, their faces turned pale, their bodies trembled, their legs went weak, and they could barely stand.

"Sir! Help! Help!"

Aunt Juzi was terrified when she saw her familiar sister being beaten to death and skinned alive in the blink of an eye. She hurriedly ran to Yang Qiuyan, crying and kneeling down with a thud, kowtowing and begging.

Yang Qiuyan had just sat down and was about to eat the steamed bun in her hand when she saw this. She frowned immediately and slapped her, sending her flying. Seemingly not satisfied, she got up and walked over, stepping on her arm and crushing the bone with a "crack".

"ah"

Aunt Juzi opened her mouth wide and let out an extremely shrill scream before fainting from the pain.

"If you disturb my meal again, I'll slice you in two with my sword!"

Yang Qiuyan snorted coldly, turned around and left. She sat down on the rock she had just been sitting on, eating the steamed bun in her hand while watching the Blood Eagle Sect disciples do their work with great interest.

The remaining villagers were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground, trembling with fear.

"Has that monster already escaped?"

Looking at the villagers in front of her, whose faces were full of fear and whose bodies were trembling, Luo Qingchen secretly wondered.

By this time, night had quietly fallen.

In the mountains and forests, the light had already become dim.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, and the villagers' agonizing screams echoed through the air.

On the ground, mangled corpses writhed and screamed, terrifying the remaining villagers so much that they trembled and begged God for help.

As one villager after another was captured, skinned, and bled, Luo Qingchen's expression grew increasingly grave.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted.

A figure stood up from the crowd and walked towards Yang Qiuyan, who was eating a steamed bun.