Celestial Demon Starting from Attribute Points-Chapter 46: Turning the Clouds

On that day, Li Xuan bid farewell to his parents, Rose, and others, then set off with Wei Yao on horseback, leaving through the east gate.

Heading east from Xiongshan County, after about three or four days, one would reach Hanshui County, another major county, and further east lies the coast.

After traveling for a day, Wei Yao suddenly halted, then slipped into the dense forest, slightly altering her makeup, smudged some ash, and stuck on a few "beards," then returned.

Meanwhile, Li Xuan simply transformed his appearance with his Illusion Skill, and swaggered back to Xiongshan County, heading straight for the Hundred Flowers Mansion.

Riding swiftly day and night, while keeping an eye out for travelers on the road, he hadn’t encountered Su Cangyuan.

Two days later, at noon, Li Xuan arrived at the Hundred Flowers Mansion.

This time entering the Hundred Flowers Mansion, it was impossible for anyone to recognize him.

He originally had a handsome and suave appearance, but now he used the demon monkey Illusion Skill to transform into an unremarkable man with a facial scar, claiming to be a wanderer named Zhang San.

Who would associate this wandering man named Zhang San with the illustrious Master Li of Xiongshan County?

Upon entering the city, Li Xuan immediately sensed the bustling scene.

He followed the sound, and upon seeing the source, realized it originated from the marketplace.

Outside, a crowd had already gathered.

Inside, however, executions were taking place.

Dozens of burly men, their hair disheveled and faces covered in blood, bowed their heads, each with a wooden sign on their backs bearing their names.

Sitting high on the platform was none other than Prefect Cao Shuda of the Hundred Flowers Mansion.

Under the scorching sun, the burly men suddenly lifted their heads, glaring at Cao Shuda with extreme hatred, mouths open in silent cries, spewing blood, clearly having had their tongues cut out.

Cao Shuda sneered, "Colluding with demons, framing the General, such disloyal and unworthy people, execute immediately!"

With that, he raised a vermilion brush, made a stroke on the execution sign, and threw it down.

The executioner, holding a broadsword, took a swig of strong wine, and swung the blade with a slash.

In an instant, heads rolled with a thud.

Li Xuan, paying closer attention, noticed that there were even guards maintaining order around.

With his good memory, a quick glance revealed that all the commanding officers had been replaced.

It was evident that Cao Shuda had used methods to eliminate those loyal to General Yuan from the guards, inserting his own people.

Most people actually joined the army for money, to feed their families; even if they felt indignation, who would dare to rebel?

Besides, Cao Shuda would certainly put on a full show, and wouldn’t lack proof.

As for General Yuan... he’s just dead.

’Probably a General with no background; otherwise, Cao Shuda wouldn’t have killed so decisively,’ Li Xuan thought to himself.

In his past life, "Journey to the West" already taught him that those with connections wouldn’t die, and those without... once killed, they’re just killed. Afterward, just casually cover up with a fig leaf, and no one would care if you didn’t.

...

...

Li Xuan strolled around, bypassing the marketplace, and arrived at a tavern outside the city.

This tavern was quite bustling with guests of all sorts, a noisy mix, and in both decor and atmosphere, it couldn’t compare at all with the previous Yulan Hall.

Seeing such lively surroundings, he walked in, sat down at a table with a swagger, slapped the table, and shouted, "Waiter, bring the wine and dishes."

Soon, a waiter came running.

The waiter saw Li Xuan’s fierce demeanor and grand exuberance, so he smiled warmly, nodding and bowing, asking, "What dishes would you like, sir?"

Li Xuan rummaged through his pockets at his waist for quite a while before taking out a dozen copper coins, then counted and laid them out one by one on the table, saying, "Serve whatever you see fit, and make sure it’s filling!"

The waiter’s smile took on a different nuance, his enthusiasm slightly dimmed, as he simply took the money and went to make arrangements.

As for the few who were watching Li Xuan when he first entered, they also averted their gaze.

A fierce-looking yet poor fellow, what’s there to watch?

Soon, the waiter brought a plate of steamed buns, a jug of watered-down wine, and a small dish of side vegetables to the table.

Li Xuan devoured the food ravenously.

Thanks to his keen senses, he could hear the entire tavern’s sounds if he so wished.

"Recently, demons are rampant; fortunately, the Prefect is astutely discerning."

"Astutely discerning my foot!"

"Oh, don’t talk nonsense; I saw the demons with my own eyes. Those things wouldn’t die even when chopped into pieces. Each piece of flesh would crawl together in the street, impervious to blades and spears, but only feared fire.

But ordinary fire won’t work; it needs the intense flame with oil, which ordinary families can’t afford. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Besides, how would you recognize who the demon is?"

"Exactly, if it weren’t for Prefect Cao, who knows how many more would have died in this county."

The other day, a demon was just a street away from my second uncle’s home. If Prefect Cao hadn’t quickly dispatched the troops, my second uncle might not have...

In the tavern.

Cao Shuda’s reputation was excellent.

Even if there were a few doubters, their voices were quickly drowned out. Some were skeptical, while others began to lament, "Having a good prefect is truly a blessing."

Li Xuan listened for a while, then suddenly heard another conversation from the other side.

He listened attentively.

"Hey, the Lin family is really unfortunate.

That Second Young Master Lin went out of the city and turned into a demon, and the Eldest Young Master Lin was also revenged by the demon, becoming dull and dazed.

That Eldest Young Master, who was once dashing and elegant, now has lost control over his bowels, even drooling...

"Isn’t that just like becoming an idiot?"

"Exactly."

"However, Prefect Cao has a compassionate heart. Seeing the Lin family of the Twelve Linked Dock lose two sons in a row, he ordered some of the small docks within the docks to be merged into the Lin family.

With this, the Lin family has become the sole shipping faction on the Qing River."

Li Xuan bit into a bun, contemplating the matter.

With a slight deduction, he roughly understood.

He didn’t believe in any demonic revenge.

The one with the most direct interest was Mr. Su, who supported Lin Jieniu, suppressing Lin Jianfeng for so many years. Could Lin Jianfeng not harbor resentment?

Mr. Su did this to avoid trouble, so he turned Lin Jianfeng into a fool.

Why not kill him? Probably because Cao Shuda needed to give an explanation to his subordinates.

The legitimate son of the Lin family, turning into a fool was inconsequential, but they needed to leave some strength for him to continue the lineage.

And after striking with a stick, Cao Shuda immediately gave a date, likely finding a new "ally" in the Lin family this time.

He recalled the boy he first met months ago at Yulan Hall, with his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, heroic and straightforward, greeting from afar, "Brother Li, tomorrow I’ll send a carriage to pick you up," but now...

Li Xuan gently sighed in his heart.

He thought that with Lin Jieniu dead, Lin Jianfeng could finally take charge.

It seemed he was too naive.

In this chaotic world, if you take a wrong step, you’ll end up with nothing left.

Demons are terrifying, but human hearts are even more sinister. Yet he wanted to survive, and for his family to survive.

Li Xuan took big bites of his bun, washing it down with cheap wine.

Once he was full, he got up and left the tavern.

This time, he not only learned some things about the Hundred Flowers Mansion but also understood the reason Su Cangyuan stayed in the Hundred Flowers Mansion.

Firstly, Su Cangyuan wanted to clean up and get rid of trouble; secondly, there really were demons... demons from the Luoshi Sect.

’Demons, huh...’

The young man looked up at the sky, murmuring to himself.

...

...

After midnight, in the wee hours of the morning.

Blind Alley remained shrouded in darkness, with vendors sitting in the half-lit shadows, perhaps nurturing moss nurtured by blood behind the cracks in the blue walls.

A tall, skinny figure with a slight hunchback walked, covering the area below the nose with black cloth; wrapped in a gray cloak, the hood drooped, concealing the forehead while revealing a pair of fierce and violent eyes.

As the tall, skinny figure walked by, some of the "all evil people" vendors shrank away from its sinister aura, curious and watching the tall, skinny figure.

Li Xuan did not stop, directly approaching a vendor selling the "Luoshi Sect’s Iron Cloak", bending over and picking up a book, asking in a hoarse yet amused voice, "How much?"

The vendor surprisingly wasn’t afraid, but instead boasted with a smile, "This is the top cultivation technique of the Luoshi Sect. It only became available because the Luoshi Sect declined. If fewer people had copied it, it wouldn’t be selling for just ten taels of silver."

As he spoke, he shook his hands again, saying, "Just ten taels, very cheap."

The vendor’s words were exactly the same as the last time Li Xuan came.

Li Xuan lowered his voice, hoarse, "What if I help you kill Mr. Su?"

The vendor was taken aback, then a strange smile appeared on his face.

Li Xuan pulled down the black cloth, revealing a demon’s face wrapped in mist patterns, grinning to reveal a mouth full of terrifying sharp teeth.

The vendor’s eyes gradually lit up, letting out a strange laugh, "In that case... naturally, it’s free."