Chapter 118: Brother, You Smell So Good! Still Trying to Spread Demonic Fallacies

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Brother, You Smell So Good! Still Trying to Spread Demonic Fallacies

After hearing Pei Shaoqing’s words, General Li’s eyes darted around. "My Lord, even the Emperor doesn’t send his soldiers into battle hungry."

"Spit it out." Pei Shaoqing knew it had a condition.

General Li giggled, rising up on its hind legs. It rubbed its front paws together in a rather sleazy manner. "I want the Fox Demon Core."

"It has an Inner Core even though it hasn’t achieved Transformation?" Most of Pei Shaoqing’s knowledge on the subject came from the various novels and TV shows he had seen in his past life, so he asked in confusion.

General Li answered, "Of course it does. The greatest difference between a demon and an ordinary beast is that a demon has gained sentience and formed an Inner Core. The Inner Core is the very essence of a demon. It has many benefits—consuming it can strengthen the body, prolong life, enhance one’s beauty..."

It couldn’t continue, because Pei Shaoqing was practically drooling. It looked at Pei Shaoqing with a frightened expression. "My Lord, why are you looking at your humble servant like that?"

"Brother, you smell delicious!" Pei Shaoqing’s gaze burned as he stared at it. "You must have an Inner Core too, right?"

General Li recoiled in terror, retreating a step. "My Lord, what are you thinking?! I see you as my master, and you’re lusting after my body?"

"I’m just kidding. Look how scared you are. The Inner Core is yours," Pei Shaoqing said with a dismissive wave of his hand, his lips twisting into a smirk.

’An Inner Core is definitely more useful to a demon than a human.’

He was more than happy to help General Li increase its strength.

Besides, a demon’s entire body was a treasure trove. Even if the Inner Core went to General Li, he wouldn’t walk away empty-handed.

General Li breathed a sigh of relief and was instantly back to its cheeky self. "Of course I knew you were just joking, My Lord. I was just playing along. How was it? Was my terrified act convincing?"

"Let’s go." Pei Shaoqing gave it a light kick.

General Li scrambled up and followed him.

Meanwhile, Zhou Li was in his office reading through case files.

Just then, the Fast Gunner Commander strode in and reported, "Sir, my men report that the Baron of Pingyang has gone to interrogate Tian Erni again. He brought a cat with him."

"He brought a cat?" Zhou Li looked up.

’What kind of tactic is this?’

The Fast Gunner Commander nodded. "Yes, and I hear the cat is dressed in Golden Armor and a cape. It seems the Baron of Pingyang had someone bring it all the way from Tongzhou."

"What method is he planning to use? Report to me as soon as the Baron of Pingyang comes out," Zhou Li said.

The Jing’an Guard’s prison didn’t usually hold inmates for long.

The Jing’an Guard rarely took prisoners; most were executed on the spot. Even those who were brought back were usually executed collectively the next day or a few days later.

Thus, the Jing’an Guard’s prison was often empty.

The Bazhou Hundred Households had just executed a batch the day before yesterday.

As a result, Tian Erni was the only one currently imprisoned there.

This gave General Li the perfect stage to perform.

After entering the prison, Pei Shaoqing stopped, while General Li swaggered deeper into the cells alone.

"Tian Erni!"

Exhausted in mind and body after being severely tortured, a drowsy Tian Erni heard someone calling her name.

She thought they had come to interrogate her again.

She gave a cold laugh and struggled to open her eyes.

She looked up but saw no one.

"Who is it? Who’s trying to play tricks on me? You think this will scare me? If you’re a man, get out here!"

She said with scorn and disdain in her eyes.

"Insolence! Tian Erni! Look down!"

The sharp rebuke came from below her feet.

Tian Erni instinctively looked down and froze.

Standing before her was a cat far more robust than an ordinary one. It was dressed in golden armor with a red cape, standing upright on its hind legs, looking majestic and imposing.

"Was... was that you talking?" Tian Erni swallowed hard and asked tentatively.

"Insolence! Address me as Lord Cat God!" General Li snapped. "Tian Erni! Do you know your crimes?"

"A Cat God!" Seeing such an extraordinary talking cat with her own eyes, Tian Erni didn’t have a single doubt. Just as easily as she had believed in the Fox Immortal, she believed in this being. She quickly pleaded her innocence, "Lord Cat, what crime have I committed? I am a servant of the Fox Immortal!"

"Fox Immortal? A Fox Demon, you mean!" General Li’s multicolored whiskers trembled as it spoke in a cold voice. "That Fox Demon has been causing calamities for years. I have been sent by the higher gods to vanquish this evil."

"However, I feared disrupting the mortal realm and could not act personally. So, I secretly guided the Jing’an Guard to uncover the truth of Tian Family Dam and to capture you. Yet you remain deluded, covering for that Fox Demon! Do you not fear being sent to hell?"

"What!" Tian Erni gasped, stammering, "That... that wasn’t a Fox Immortal?"

"True Immortals, like myself, punish evil, eliminate wickedness, and bring fortune to the people. When has a righteous deity ever slaughtered the innocent?" General Li declared with an air of righteousness.

Looking at the dignified General Li, then thinking of the secretive, heart-devouring Fox Immortal, Tian Erni could finally tell the difference. Her face instantly turned deathly pale.

’I’ve been deceived!’

"Immortal, spare me! Spare my life! I was bewitched by that Fox Demon! I didn’t want to harm anyone!"

’If it wasn’t a Fox Immortal, then it certainly has no power to bring people back from the dead. If I die, I’ll really be dead, and I might even be sent to hell to be boiled in oil.’

So, Tian Erni quickly caved.

"Hmph! Considering you were bewitched, I shall give you a chance to repent. I will now send a dream to Pei Shaoqing, telling him to interrogate you again. You must confess the Fox Demon’s whereabouts, or not even an Immortal will be able to save you."

General Li’s eyes were bright as it spoke with firm resolution.

"Yes, yes, yes! I’ll confess everything, I promise!" Overjoyed, Tian Erni nodded her head repeatedly like a chicken pecking at grain. "Thank you, Cat God, for giving me this chance. From now on, I will worship only you."

"See that you do." After a pause, General Li added, "Close your eyes. I am about to use an Immortal Technique to depart. The divine light is so brilliant it may blind you."

Tian Erni obediently closed her eyes.

General Li dropped to all fours, turned, and ran.

When Tian Erni opened her eyes, she found the cat had vanished without a trace. She couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. ’Now *that* is a true divine, Immortal Technique!’

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Pei Shaoqing finally arrived, alone.

"Sir, I’ll talk! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you where the Fox Demon is," Tian Erni said impatiently.

Pei Shaoqing wore a complex expression. "I was just taking a short rest when a Golden Armor Cat God entered my dream and told me to come interrogate you. I thought it was just due to the stress of the case, but I came to try my luck anyway. I never expected it was truly an Immortal visiting my dream."

"Yes, yes, yes! Dressed in Golden Armor, with a red cape, so majestic! It was that very Cat God who enlightened me," Tian Erni said, spittle flying from her mouth.

Pei Shaoqing slowly exhaled. "Then confess everything truthfully. Since the Cat God asked me in my dream to spare your life, I will do so."

"Thank you, Sir! Thank you, Sir!" Tian Erni was ecstatic. She quickly said, "The Fox Demon is hiding in the mountains behind Tian Family Dam. I’m willing to lead you there."

"Good." Pei Shaoqing stepped forward to untie her, then shouted, "Someone, come and treat Tian Erni’s wounds at once."

Zhou Li hurried in with a group of men. Seeing the scene, he quickly asked, "Baron of Pingyang..."

"Tian Erni has agreed to lead us to the Fox Demon," Pei Shaoqing said, knowing what he wanted to ask.

The crowd immediately erupted into a clamor of discussion.

"What? The bitch actually confessed!"

"What method did the Baron of Pingyang use? Tian Erni was being so stubborn just now, refusing to talk no matter what."

"He truly is the Baron of Pingyang! No wonder he has the Emperor’s favor. This level of skill is just astounding."

Liu Yuheng and Gongsun Yi were also astonished.

They had seen with their own eyes the state Tian Erni was in after being tortured, yet she hadn’t said a word then. Now she was willing to lead the way. ’What on earth did the Young Master do?’

Liu Yuheng vaguely guessed it had something to do with the cat he brought, but couldn’t figure out the details.

"Quick, take Tian Erni down to be treated," Zhou Li immediately ordered his subordinate to take her away. Then, with a face full of admiration, he said to Pei Shaoqing, "Baron of Pingyang, you’ve truly earned my complete respect! A prodigy who earned his title through merit indeed. You handled Tian Erni as soon as you stepped in."

"It was just a cheap trick," Pei Shaoqing said, not wanting to dwell on the matter. "Hundred Households Commander Zhou, please gather your men. Once Tian Erni’s bleeding is stopped and she’s recovered some strength, we’ll go and meet this Fox Demon."

"I’ll get right on it." Although Zhou Li was itching with curiosity to know what method Pei Shaoqing had used on Tian Erni, he could tell that he didn’t want to share his techniques and could only suppress his curiosity.

About an hour later, Pei Shaoqing and Zhou Li led a grand procession of over a hundred cavalrymen back toward Tian Family Dam.

Among them were a dozen or so members of the Iron Sword Sect.

"HYA! HYA! HYA!"

.........

Arriving at the mountains behind Tian Family Dam, everyone dismounted and proceeded into the mountains on foot, with Tian Erni leading the way at the front.

The group walked for over an hour through the mountains.

’This Fox Demon is really cautious.’

’Living so far from Tian Family Dam.’

Tian Erni suddenly stopped. She instinctively lowered her voice and pointed to a barely visible cave in the distance, "Sir, the Fox Demon is in there."

"Is it usually home at this time?" Pei Shaoqing didn’t act rashly, asking for more information first.

Tian Erni licked her dry lips. "The Fox Demon is naturally timid. Unless it’s following me to eat, it basically never comes out. Even when it does, it’s always at night when there are fewer people. It’s definitely in the cave at this time."

"Hundred Households Commander Zhou, divide our men into four groups. Have them spread out at a distance and surround the cave from four directions. The other three groups will only move in once they see our group make a move." Pei Shaoqing simply laid out the hunting plan for Zhou Li.

"The Baron of Pingyang is as thoughtful as ever," Zhou Li said, offering his habitual praise, before immediately going to make the arrangements.

Soon, the groups were formed. The other three parties began to circle the cave from a distance. Once they were in position, they sent men up trees to signal with flags.

Pei Shaoqing gave the order, "Charge!"

Everyone behind him drew their blades in unison and charged forward.

The groups from all four directions moved at almost the same time.

The Fox Demon inside the cave suddenly snapped its eyes open. Its body shot out of the cave entrance like a wisp of white smoke. Seeing people charging from the front, it turned to flee, but quickly discovered there were people on all sides. In the blink of an eye, it was completely surrounded.

Only then did everyone get a clear look at the Fox Demon.

It was a size larger than an ordinary fox, with pure white fur and no stray markings. Its eyes were as red as blood. It lacked the charming allure of a fox, possessing only a malevolent aura.

"You rotten Tian Erni! How dare you conspire with mortals to try and slay a god! You will surely die a miserable death!"

The Fox Demon smelled a familiar scent from the Jing’an Guard and shrieked in a piercing voice.

Judging by the voice, it was a male fox.

"You Fox Demon, threatening others even when you’re at death’s door," Pei Shaoqing sneered, his voice sharp.

But the Fox Demon wasn’t wrong about one thing.

Tian Erni would indeed not die a good death.

He had no intention of actually letting this accomplice go.

The Fox Demon scanned its surroundings, its gaze landing on the apparent leader, Pei Shaoqing. "Let me go. When the day comes that I achieve enlightenment and Transformation, I will surely reward you handsomely."

’Heh! This fox is trying to string me along with empty promises.’

’If you were female and could transform into a busty, long-legged, white-haired loli on the spot, then I, at the risk of... *certain injuries*... might consider giving you a chance to atone for your crimes through meritorious service. A chance for *great* meritorious service, even without the atoning part.’

’But unfortunately, you’re a male. So you can just die!’

"Still trying to bewitch people with your demonic words! I’m not falling for that!" Pei Shaoqing, filled with righteous fury, glared at the Fox Demon with eyes like torches and roared, waving his hand. "Attack!"