Chapter Ninety: A Bountiful Harvest

“Die!”

A seventh-rank martial artist hacked down a wild eighth-rank black-furred rat demon, then hurried off toward his next opponent.

Su Yang, meanwhile, rushed over, dodging the flash of blades and swords, scooped up the corpse of the eighth-rank demon, stuffed it into a leather bag, and hastened on to the next body.

He had never imagined that coming to witness the brutality of the battlefield would bring such an unexpected windfall.

He packed every demon corpse he found into the leather sack. Once it was full, he slipped back into the city, found an empty house with no one in it, stored all the corpses inside, and returned to the battlefield once more.

Time passed minute by minute.

The slaughter on the battlefield grew ever bloodier and more savage, while Su Yang’s scavenging became ever more joyous. In the chaos, no one noticed him. With his sixth-rank strength, the battlefield could not hold him at all; he came and went as he pleased.

“Ah, another one...”

“This one’s good. One cut straight through the throat. The growth must not be in that spot...”

“Damn it, this one’s been flattened by a hammer. I’m afraid even the growth inside has been smashed to pieces. What use is it now?”

“Damn, another eighth-rank wild demon corpse. This lord is here...”

Su Yang roamed the battlefield until the sky began to lighten at dawn. Only then did he stuff all the corpses he had stockpiled into ordinary hemp sacks and hurry home.

“Reporting to the general, all spoils have been counted.”

“A total of twenty-three ninth-rank demon corpses, three eighth-rank demon corpses, and no seventh-rank corpses at present,” reported the soldiers responsible for cleaning the battlefield as they entered the military tent.

“What?”

“How can there be so few?”

The young officer who had defended the city the night before frowned in confusion.

“General, could it be that the demons aiding the enemy have mostly died off these past two days, which is why there are fewer corpses?” guessed the soldier in charge of the cleanup.

“Mm. That’s good news for us. We suffered greatly from the demon race today, and many of our brothers fell as well.”

“Looking at it now, the black-furred rat demons must have been reduced in number dramatically, which is why there are so few corpses on the battlefield. Go at once and spread the good news to the brothers. The black-furred rat clan is about to be cut down to the last one.”

The young officer’s face lit up with delight.

...

At the Wang family residence in Yanggu County, Su Yang was likewise full of joy as he arranged the black-furred rat demon corpses neatly and counted them.

Wild ninth-rank demon corpses: thirty-two.

Wild eighth-rank demon corpses: four.

A total of thirty-six corpses. They were all pure windfalls. During these days, the rebels attacked the city often, and every time they did, he made a trip to the battlefield. Without fail, he reaped a great harvest each time.

Thirty-two ninth-rank wild demon corpses were enough for him to recruit ten ninth-rank martial artists to serve him. As for the four eighth-rank wild demon corpses, they were no longer merely corpses. They were now loyal eighth-rank martial artists under his command.

Not long after he finished sorting the bodies, Wang Han’s voice came from outside the door.

“Master, Assistant Magistrate Li has asked for you.”

“Very well, I understand.”

Su Yang stepped out of the room, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and then went to Assistant Magistrate Li’s residence.

Before he had even reached the entrance, he saw Assistant Magistrate Li rushing out with his wife, both of them looking anxious.

“Su Yang, you’re finally here.”

“Sir, Madam, what happened? Why are you both so flustered?” Su Yang asked, wearing an expression of utter bewilderment.

“My daughter. Come quickly and see her with me. Once you see her, you’ll understand what’s going on...” said the magistrate’s wife, her face full of worry. She hurried ahead to lead the way, bringing Su Yang into the residence. Assistant Magistrate Li was a little calmer, though he still looked shaken.

Before they even neared the courtyard, they heard a crackling clatter coming from a small inner yard, along with a woman’s piercing screams.

“Sir, what exactly is going on?” Su Yang asked, his face full of confusion as he listened to the sounds of porcelain being smashed inside the small courtyard.

“Not long after you left last night, Doukou wanted to go looking for you. I told her you would come tomorrow morning.”

“Then first thing this morning, a maid came to report that the young lady was throwing things all over the courtyard. It did no good no matter who came, and nothing anyone said would help. I couldn’t bear to have her tied up with ropes, so I called you here. Go in quickly and talk to her. Perhaps she’ll be all right.”

Assistant Magistrate Li’s face was filled with urgency.

“Rest assured, sir. I’ll go and persuade Miss Doukou right away.”

After saying that, Su Yang walked into the small courtyard. The ground was already strewn with shattered porcelain, flowerpots, furniture, and decorative objects. Li Doukou stood inside the room, disheveled, her face full of tragic beauty, still angrily hurling things to the ground.

When she saw Su Yang, she hurriedly dropped the porcelain in her hand and rushed toward him in quick, tiny steps. Her pale little hand clutched his sleeve tightly, and the crashing and screaming in the courtyard came to an abrupt halt.

“Oh dear...” Mrs. Li let out a long breath, her voice trembling. “My good daughter is finally better.”

The magistrate and his wife went into the courtyard. Su Yang came back out a short while later, only now with a young lady at his side. Li Doukou was gripping the corner of his sleeve with one small hand, unwilling to let go.

“Ah, Scholar Su, thank you,” said Assistant Magistrate Li, a flicker of helplessness in his eyes. His heart was full of misery, and he also felt heartache for his daughter.

Last night, he had sent his officers to investigate Su Yang and the two child brokers. The clues they found matched what Su Yang had said closely enough. The only problem was that Su Yang already had a wife, Wang Chunxiao, and because he had been divided between two households for a time, he was already engaged to Zhang Qingshi. The betrothal gifts had even been delivered.

Though he had no idea what kind of enchantment this boy had used on his daughter, it was plain that she likely could no longer live without him. That thought filled Assistant Magistrate Li with bitterness. He wanted nothing more than to kill Su Yang.

But when he thought of his daughter, the last lifeline in his heart was gone as well. If he did that, she might truly lose her mind.

So he could not.

“Sir, you are far too courteous. This is only what a humble commoner should do,” Su Yang said hurriedly.

“Scholar Su, I have a favor to ask. I wonder if you would be willing to agree?”

“Please, sir, speak.”

“You have seen my daughter for yourself. After the fright she suffered, she seems unable to part from you, and she appears to feel a natural closeness toward you. Would you be able to come here every morning? That would also make it easier for me to explain things to her.”

As he spoke, Assistant Magistrate Li glanced at Li Doukou behind Su Yang and said helplessly, “I won’t keep you long. Half an hour will do.”

“This...” Su Yang frowned, a look of difficulty appearing on his face. In the end, however, he nodded. “Since you have spoken, sir, I will not refuse.”