When Li Hao hurried back to the skies above Cangyu City, he saw dark clouds of demons rolling in from the north. However, instead of heading straight there, he first went to the city lord's mansion to gather information. What he found during his search was quite shocking.
"Zhenyao Division?!"
At the same time, Yue Shuhong and a big man with a broad face noticed Li Hao's dark uniform and were momentarily stunned. Although it was the Zhenyao Division, he looked like just an ordinary demon slayer. But from Li Hao's presence, it was clear he was not just any ordinary slayer.
"You are…"
Yue Shuhong frowned. He couldn’t recall any young strong warriors in the Zhenyao Division within the city.
Li Hao ignored the city guard and turned to the broad-faced man. "Are you Tiger Robe? Are you the Tiger Robe Immortal?"
The big man grinned, revealing a fierce smile. "That's right, it's me, Tiger Master. You actually know my name. It seems I'm somewhat famous outside Cangyu City."
Li Hao tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, feeling it slowly bend under his pressure. He took a deep breath and said, "Seven years ago, you ambushed a lieutenant on the road in Qizhou. Do you remember?"
"Hmm?"
The broad-faced man raised an eyebrow, a hint of coldness appearing in his eyes. "Are you talking about someone from the Yanbei army? What’s your connection to the Li family?!"
Seeing the other party acknowledge it, Li Hao's killing intent could no longer be contained. "My surname is Li!"
Tiger Robe's pupils constricted slightly, and his aura suddenly intensified. He looked past Li Hao, coldly addressing Yue Shuhong. "Yue, it seems this kid just overheard our conversation. What should we do now?"
"You have been exposed for colluding with our demon kin. Even if you manage to escape today, your reputation will be ruined. You should know the laws of Dayu regarding colluding with demons, right?"
His eyes turned fierce. "Or, you could kill this kid, and I’ll forgive you for your earlier lapse in judgment."
Yue Shuhong’s expression grew serious as he stared at Li Hao's back. But after a moment, he shook his head slightly and sneered. "Tiger Robe, if I keep listening to you, I really will be foolish. Today, it’s either you die or I die. We agreed when we became friends that we would die together!"
"Pah, fool!"
Tiger Robe spat out a foul mouthful, grinning menacingly. "You short-lived humans think you can die alongside me?!"
As he spoke, he suddenly lunged at Li Hao, his tiger spirit roaring like thunder, enough to stun anyone in the vicinity. But this fierce roar only slightly disturbed Li Hao's hair.
His eyes were dark and deep, as if they could absorb all light. Just as Tiger Robe's massive body lunged forward, Li Hao raised his hand sharply.
With a loud bang, he pressed his palm against Tiger Robe's forehead and forcefully pushed down, smashing it into the solid stone floor, cracking it.
The fight happened in an instant. Before Yue Shuhong could draw his sword to help, he froze with one foot raised in the air.
Li Hao turned the demon-slaying knife upside down and stabbed it hard into the side of Tiger Robe's neck.
Tiger Robe was shocked, unable to believe what was happening. This immense strength, this skill—how could it be?!
But what he faced was a pair of extremely cold eyes.
"I won't let you die so easily."
Li Hao's voice was low and calm. As he spoke, he proved his words with action. The blade sliced through the flesh along the side of Tiger Robe's neck, tearing away his shoulder and back skin.
It was a cooking technique, skinning for soup!
This common method was executed with such skill it was almost like art!
The sudden tearing of flesh made Tiger Robe let out a painful roar. His throat emitted a tiger's roar, and his skin split open, revealing black and yellow fur as he transformed back to his true form.
As his true form emerged, the space felt cramped. The massive tiger spirit behind him roared at Li Hao, but Li Hao's own spirit appeared behind him.
It was similar in size to Li Hao, and with a simple raised hand, it crushed the tiger spirit's head.
The violent wind from the strike sent the tiger spirit reeling back. By the time its head reformed, it was much weaker, its eyes filled with horror and fear.
Unmatched!
"How did you kill Uncle Lin back then? Today, I will make you pay for it slowly," Li Hao said, word by word.
The remaining knife in his hand remained sharp under the spirit's influence, and the revealed Tiger Robe was pinned down by Li Hao's foot on his forehead, unable to lift his head, as if nailed to the ground!
He twisted and struggled, trying to break free from Li Hao's foot. At that moment, Li Hao's eyes flashed with golden light as he suddenly unleashed the power of his physical body, Tiger Pressure!
Tiger Pressure: Slightly enhances physical strength and instills fear!
If combined with sword techniques, it would enhance their power and might.
At this moment, as Li Hao released it, he exuded the fierce aura of a thousand-year-old tiger, like the king of the mountains and forests, his eyes radiating a chilling light that made all beasts submit.
Tiger Robe, pinned beneath Li Hao's foot, felt the terrifying aura emanating from him and trembled, his eyes glazed over.
He felt as if he were being pressed down by the Tiger King, unable to muster even a hint of resistance.
His body shook uncontrollably, and the intense pain made him lose all ferocity.
"Spare me, spare me! I was wrong! I’m willing to do anything for you. Let me be your servant…" Tiger Robe pleaded, trembling.
Li Hao remained silent, quickly slicing the complete tiger skin from head to tail.
Tiger Robe was in so much pain he felt worse than dead, yet he only lay on the ground, shivering, too afraid to run.
Nearby, Yue Shuhong watched in shock. Was this really the same Tiger Robe who had always been arrogant in front of him for over twenty years?
Skinning, bone-picking, cutting tendons!
Blood flowed like a river from Tiger Robe's massive body. He uttered countless pleas, but Li Hao remained unmoved.
This bloody and brutal scene deeply impacted Yue Shuhong’s mind, sending chills through his body and making him tremble.
After tormenting him for nearly half an hour, Li Hao finally severed Tiger Robe's head.
He plunged the knife into Tiger Robe's back and chest, lifting the head filled with fear and confusion, coldly asking, "Seven years ago, did you have a hand in the ambush on my Li family?"
Yue Shuhong trembled. Although the young man didn’t turn around, he could feel the chilling aura enveloping him.
At this point, he knew he couldn’t escape death. With a bitter smile, he said, "While I have serious crimes, I would never betray loyal subjects."
Li Hao coldly replied, "So, colluding with demons and secretly sending humans to them as food—that was you?"
Yue Shuhong’s face twitched slightly as he nodded. "Yes, it was all me. Sending humans to these demons, harming my own kind, that was my doing."
He spoke self-deprecatingly, "At first, I only sent them some death row inmates to use as waste. But when the number of death row inmates ran low, they pressured me, and I had no choice but to send them some bandits and even commoners."
"Why?"
Li Hao turned to look at him.
"Why ally with demons?"
Yue Shuhong forced a smile, a hint of regret in his eyes. "When I first arrived, I wanted to clear out the surrounding demons and bring peace. But later, I realized human strength has limits. These demons can’t be wiped out; they reproduce too quickly, and their numbers are vast. The Dayu Dynasty is no longer the invincible empire it was hundreds of years ago. Over the years, it has gradually weakened…"
"I sought external help and requested troops, but all my efforts were in vain."
"Who can save Cangyu City?"
He let out a bitter laugh and looked at Li Hao. "If I don’t send them people for sacrifices, even more will die. I, Yue, have limited power, and the only way to protect the citizens is to bear the sins of the entire city!"
"I know I can't escape death today, and I don't expect anything, but I hope… I can be buried in Cangyu City. That would be enough. I hope… you can grant me this!"
As he said this, he lifted his official robe and knelt down.
At the same time, he removed the city guard hat from his head and placed it aside.
His disheveled hair fell beside his face, tears already staining his temples.
Li Hao stood in the warm light of the oil lamp, looking down at the middle-aged man whose face was not illuminated, seeing the tears streaming down.
He fell silent for a moment, then withdrew his gaze, indifferent as he said, "You indeed deserve to die, but your punishment is for the court to decide, not me."
"Now that the great demon is pressing down, since you still have strength, then… follow me to slay the demons!"
After saying this, he lifted the massive tiger head and placed it on a nearby table before turning to leave.
(End of Chapter)