#65 - A fruitful harvest

【Ding! A change in the plot has been detected!】

【Reward system points: 30】

There was no perilous situation, no desperate reversal.

Without Wei Changtian even needing to intervene again, the rat demon quickly died under the joint attack of Xu Qingwan and Zhou Cheng.

This beast was quite amusing. In its last second before death, it didn't think about counterattacking. Instead, it leaped onto an open box of silver. In the end, it closed its eyes while embracing several silver ingots.

Seeing this scene, Wei Changtian and Zhou Cheng couldn't help but look at Xu Qingwan again. The latter immediately reverted to her silly and innocent appearance, lowering her head in silence with a flushed face.

“Hahahaha!”

Wei Changtian laughed twice, kicked the rat demon's corpse off the silver with one foot, and extracted the demon core with his knife.

The size of a quail egg, entirely black, it indeed had about forty years of cultivation.

This kind of black demon core wasn't very popular. Compared to other demon cores of the same size but different colors, it was three or four times cheaper.

However, this had nothing to do with Wei Changtian and his companions. Anyway, this item would be handed over when they returned, and they wouldn't get a single penny.

“Brother Wei, should we still check the rat demon's lair?”

Zhou Cheng had already opened the treasury door, and the fresh night breeze diluted the bloody smell in the room.

“Let's take a look, just in case it had cubs.”

Wei Changtian nodded and instructed, “Call the Zhang family over and let them check the well themselves. We'll just guard the top.”

“Okay.”

“What is it?”

“……”

Wei Changtian didn't answer, only smiling without saying a word.

Xu Qingwan realized that Wei Changtian didn't want to tell her. After hesitating for a moment, she didn't ask any further, only softly reminding him:

“Then be careful. I'll be guarding outside the door.”

“Call out if you need my help. I'll come in quickly.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Wei Changtian nodded and watched Xu Qingwan walk out of the treasury, also gently closing the door halfway.

She didn't completely close the door, probably thinking that she could rush in at the first sign of trouble.

Not asking what shouldn't be asked, doing what should be done.

Look! This is what an excellent virtuous helper should be like!

Unlike Lu Jingyao, who can't do anything other than argue with me!

Hmm… I can't say that. At least she can organize the manuscripts.

Wei Changtian pondered for a while, then refocused his gaze on the rat demon lying on its back beside him.

Finally, he could experiment with “Devouring Demons”!

Sitting cross-legged, he took a deep breath and slowly began to circulate his supernatural power.

In just a few breaths, something miraculous happened.

The originally lifeless demon corpse suddenly trembled slightly, followed by milky white mist rising from its body, which then enveloped Wei Changtian completely.

These mists seemed to be attracted by something, desperately trying to penetrate Wei Changtian's pores.

But unfortunately, most of them failed to enter. They had no choice but to gather together, eventually compressing into a small, crystalline pearl.

The surroundings quickly returned to normal. The demon corpse was still the same, only slightly more shriveled than before.

“……”

After absorbing, Wei Changtian didn't get up immediately, but meditated for about an incense stick's worth of time before slowly opening his eyes.

Awesome!

Truly awesome!

Just a demon with forty years of cultivation had increased his cultivation by nearly a year, directly leaping from the middle stage of the seventh rank to the late stage of the seventh rank!

At this rate, he estimated that he could completely break through the seventh rank and reach the sixth rank of “releasing internal force” after killing another seven or eight demons!

The image of Xu Qingwan and Zhou Cheng surrounded by saber energy appeared in his mind, and Wei Changtian couldn't help but yearn for it, wishing he could immediately go kill the next demon.

“Snatching demon heads” was really too awesome!

It could quickly improve cultivation, earn system points, and get demon spirit pills… Huh? Where's the demon spirit pill?

Suddenly remembering this, he quickly looked around, and then found the crystal clear pearl at his feet.

It was a little smaller than the two given to Yang Liushi by Xiao Feng, and the cultivation contained within should be less than twenty years.

It was already good. One shouldn't be too greedy.

Happily putting away the demon spirit pill, he got up and walked to the treasury door.

Xu Qingwan was indeed guarding here very seriously, with a worried Zhang Dajin standing beside her.

Seeing Wei Changtian come out, he quickly thanked him repeatedly, but his eyes couldn't help but glance into the treasury.

Wei Changtian knew what he was thinking and couldn't help but laugh and say, “Master Zhang, would you like to go in and count the money and belongings?”

“Ah! M-Master, this humble one absolutely doesn't mean that!”

Zhang Dajin waved his hands repeatedly, “The three masters are my life-saving benefactors, even if I were to give…”

“Alright, we didn't take your things.”

Wei Changtian rolled his eyes and interrupted, “We are officials of the Hanging Mirror Division. How could we covet the wealth of the common people?”

“Yes, yes, yes, you are truly high-minded and good officials who wholeheartedly serve the people!”

Zhang Dajin flattered him incessantly, but in his heart, he thought of the three demon cores that Wei Changtian had taken away, and the smile on his face was more unsightly than crying.

Wei Changtian ignored him and looked up at the situation in the courtyard.

The martial artists sent into the well by the Zhang family had just come up, and their expressions were very bad.

Zhang Dajin was the first to run over, anxiously asking, “How is it? Did you find the rat demon's lair?!”

“Master, we found it, less than ten feet above the water surface.”

The martial artist took a deep breath and reported truthfully, “There are no demons inside, but there are…”

“There is what?”

“There are more than a dozen skeletons, and many are scattered at the bottom of the well. The exact number is unclear…”

“……”

As soon as these words came out, the surroundings instantly became silent.

The members of the Zhang family surrounding him all turned pale, and some couldn't help but bend over and retch.

It was normal to have such a reaction, since they were drinking water that had human bones soaking in it every day.

Unlike them, Wei Changtian and his companions exchanged glances, all noticing a hint of something wrong in the martial artist's words.

Zhang Dajin said in the afternoon that only a few servants were missing, but now there were at least a dozen skeletons.

Either the rat demon dragged people from elsewhere to eat, or there was another hidden story.

Xu Qingwan wanted to investigate, but Zhou Cheng suggested not to get involved.

Wei Changtian finally made a more moderate decision—to privately inform the yamen runners who came to clean up the mess.

If they were willing to investigate, they would investigate. If they didn't want to investigate, there was nothing he could do.

Anyway, his job was only to slay demons. Investigating cases was a waste of time and didn't bring much benefit, so he might as well forget about it.

After dealing with this matter, it was already the hour of Zi (11 PM - 1 AM). Refusing Zhang Dajin's warm invitation to stay, the three decided to rest for the night at the official post in Nanling County.

Sitting in the speeding carriage, Wei Changtian smiled and took out the three demon cores that he had “accidentally” put in his arms and began to “divide the spoils.”

He and Zhou Cheng consciously each took a relatively cheap black demon core, and proactively left the red one for Xu Qingwan.

But Little Xu began to struggle at this time.

Just like last time in the Zhang family's treasure vault, she clearly wanted it very much, but felt that it was ill-gotten gains…

After hesitating for a long time, she pulled Wei Changtian's sleeve as if seeking help.

“T-That…”

Hmm? Is she going to launder money again?

Got it!

Wei Changtian understood and immediately grabbed the demon core and stuffed it into Xu Qingwan's arms: “This is… uh, what reason should we find this time?”

“It's a love token you gave me.” Xu Qingwan reminded him softly.

“Oh, right!”

Wei Changtian said seriously, “This is a love token I gave you, you must accept it!”

“Okay!”

Xu Qingwan happily put away the demon core, revealing a contented smile.

Wei Changtian was already used to Xu Qingwan's “unnecessary actions,” but Zhou Cheng saw it for the first time, and was dumbfounded for a moment.

Good heavens!

You two are just passing it from your left hand to your right, I can't think of any other reason besides deliberately showing affection!

This carriage, I'd rather not stay!

“Thump!”

A black shadow suddenly jumped out of the carriage.

Wei Changtian poked his head out of the car window, looked at Zhou Cheng who was running beside the carriage, and asked in confusion: "Brother Zhou, what are you doing?"

“I, I…”

Zhou Cheng answered angrily, out of breath: “I would rather die of exhaustion! I don't want to suffer this humiliation anymore!”

Wrote over 500 words, regret.