novelapdf Chapter 140 Don't look at it, don't look at it.
Chapter 140 Don't look at it, don't look at it.
Jiang Mu, heartbroken at losing her first kiss, returned to her post somewhat dejectedly.
Upon entering the courtyard, they discovered that Shui Miaozheng had already led some people to clear out the remaining demon nests nearby.
Only a few of Tang Guixin's former subordinates, such as Ming Cuicui and Zhu Chang, stayed in the courtyard to wait.
"Master Jiang, you're back."
Upon seeing Jiang Mu arrive, Ming Cuicui greeted him cheerfully with a smile on her face.
"The Master instructed that once you arrive, I will take you there to meet her. Oh, by the way, the Master has already sent someone to your original residence in the city to retrieve your luggage, and it should be delivered later."
Jiang Mu nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."
Just as he was about to ask for the specific route, his gaze inadvertently swept across a corner of the yard and he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.
The man stood by the pillar, leaning on an ebony cane, his face grim.
Several subordinates surrounded him, protecting him in the middle.
It was Yang Tianci, whose leg had been broken by Jiang Mu at Bailu Peak.
Although his legs were wrapped in thick bandages, his arrogance as a scion of a noble family remained undiminished.
Jiang Mu paused for a moment, then a playful smile appeared on her lips. Without any attempt to hide it, she walked straight over.
Upon seeing this, the expressions of the few trusted men who were originally protecting Yang Tianci changed drastically. As if they had seen a plague god, they subconsciously took a step back and placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.
But no one dared to draw their swords, and the atmosphere became extremely tense.
Yang Tianci himself, though trying his best to maintain an arrogant and indifferent demeanor with his chin slightly raised, was actually revealing his inner weakness as his eyelids twitched wildly.
"Oh, isn't this Young Master Yang?"
Jiang Mu smiled and looked at his injured leg. "Long time no see. You look great. This style is quite unique."
Yang Tianci's face was ashen, and he forced out a cold voice through clenched teeth:
"Jiang Mu, don't be so smug. I've already sent a letter to my father, and he'll be arriving in Yancheng soon. I hope you can still be as assertive as before then!"
Calling someone "daddy" when you can't beat them is typical behavior for spoiled brats.
Jiang Mu said "Oh".
Then he suddenly raised his foot and kicked it forward casually.
"Snapped!"
The cane in Yang Tianci's hand flew out with a sound, drew an arc in the air, and landed on the ground a few steps away with a "thud".
"You one!"
Yang Tianci exclaimed in surprise, his body swaying.
After all, he was a person who cared about his image. Although he had lost a leg, he still managed to stand firmly on one leg in a standard "golden rooster standing on one leg" posture, trying his best to maintain the last bit of dignity.
"Then I'll wait."
Jiang Mu casually tossed out a sentence, not even glancing at him again, and turned to call Ming Cuicui and the others to leave.
Only after Jiang Mu and the others disappeared from sight did Yang Tianci let out a long sigh of relief, gritting his teeth and muttering hatefully:
"A scoundrel becomes arrogant when he gains power."
"Just you wait!"
Stepping out of the courtyard, Jiang Mu sighed softly:
"I really want to punch him to death. How can someone look so smug? That's a skill in itself."
Ming Cuicui and Zhu Chang, who were behind them, felt their hearts skip a beat.
If someone else had said this, they might have just been venting their frustrations.
But given Jiang Mu's personality, if he says he wants to kill the other person, it means he is seriously considering the feasibility of committing the crime.
Ming Cuicui quickly stepped forward and whispered her advice:
"Master Jiang, please calm down. Yang Tianci is certainly despicable, but his father is, after all, the Deputy Commander of the Inner Guard, a man of high rank and immense power. It's not worth risking our lives for such a scoundrel."
Zhu Chang, standing to the side, nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Master Jiang, Cui Cui is right. That kid is just a spoiled brat who relies on his father. You don't need to lower yourself to his level. We should focus on dealing with the demons."
Jiang Mu smiled but didn't say anything more, though she secretly became wary.
Yang Tianci is nothing to fear, but if his father, who is the deputy commander, is truly a biased and unruly person, coming to Yancheng to stand up for his son would be a problem.
However, Jiang Mu was not someone to be trifled with.
If the other party dares to disregard face and break the rules to mess with him, he naturally won't obediently stick his neck out and be slaughtered.
We must retaliate.
As for how to retaliate?
Very simple.
Jiang Mu is no nobody in the Demon Slayer Division these days; his value speaks for itself.
Although Tian Wenjing is sometimes old-fashioned, he is definitely protective of his subordinates and would never stand by and watch outsiders bully his subordinates.
And then there's Aunt Shui. Whether it's out of respect for Tang Guixin or for some other reason, since she's already called her "Aunt" and acknowledged this relationship, she can't just stand by and do nothing.
Moreover, he has Ran Qingshan and Inspector Ling Ye behind him.
These are all his potential powerful backing.
After thinking it over, Jiang Mu felt his erection was incredibly hard, and his sense of security instantly surged.
It seems there aren't many people he wouldn't dare to mess with?
Of course, all of this is predicated on the premise that he himself possesses sufficient value to warrant investment or maintenance from these bigwigs.
The group traveled quickly and arrived at a small village called Jingouzi.
The village is small and built against the mountain, making it quite peaceful.
At the village entrance, one could see Shui Miaozheng and several of her subordinates gathered around a simple map, whispering and discussing something.
"Master Boss."
Jiang Mu stepped forward and bowed respectfully with her hands clasped in a formal manner.
When you're out in public, you should use more formal titles; this is basic workplace etiquette to avoid being gossiped about.
Shui Miaozheng nodded with a smile, her watery eyes lingering on Jiang Mu for a moment before she gave instructions to her subordinates beside her:
"You guys go out and patrol the perimeter first, and leave one team to guard the main road in the village. Remember not to disturb the villagers. The rest of you rest here. We'll go up the mountain to search together later."
"yes!"
The group obeyed and quickly dispersed.
Shui Miaozheng then sent Ming Cuicui, Zhu Chang, and others to assist in the defense, leaving Jiang Mu alone.
She led Jiang Mu to a slightly higher earthen slope at the edge of the village, and pointed to the densely wooded mountains next to it, saying:
"According to the villagers, there is a wolf demon on this mountain that has been ruling the mountain for many years. But strangely, it has never harmed the villagers; on the contrary, it occasionally drives away wild animals."
So the villagers weren't afraid of it and gave it a nickname, "Grandpa Wolf".
Grandpa Wolf?
Jiang Mu's expression was strange. What kind of nickname is this?
Shui Miaozheng continued:
"I've reviewed the previous files of the Yancheng Demon Slayer Division, so I know a bit about this wolf demon. It's quite strong, probably around the fifth rank, and rather cunning. The Yancheng Division has organized several encirclements before, but it always managed to evade them by using its familiarity with the terrain."
Furthermore, since it hadn't actually committed any serious atrocities, and with the internal turmoil in Yan City, it was gradually left alone.
At this point, Shui Miaozheng's tone became somewhat complicated:
"Especially after the rebellion in Yancheng, many ferocious demons roamed the area and frequently attacked the villagers. On the contrary, the wolf demon repeatedly drove away those outside demons and protected the peace of this place."
In the past, I wouldn't tolerate even a speck of dust in my eyes. Whether a demon was benevolent or malevolent, I would kill it with a single sword strike. But later, influenced by Gui Xin, and also due to my advancing age, I found myself hesitant to kill these kind demons who had never harmed anyone and even secretly protected the area.
The woman laughed self-deprecatingly.
Looking at her, Jiang Mu couldn't help but think of Ling Xigua.
The inspector, too, became confused as he slew demons and began to ponder the boundary between demons and humans.
Unlike him, the "mole," who was never confused.
Kill those who should be killed, release those who should be released, lick those who should be licked, and do those who should be done.
The main theme is to do as you please and have a clear mind.
"Let's go, I'll take you somewhere first." Shui Miaozheng composed herself and walked towards the village.
Jiang Mu followed behind.
Shui Miaozheng said in a low voice as she walked:
"However, this time the situation is different. According to the intelligence we intercepted, the Red Umbrella Cult seems to be secretly contacting the wolf king on this mountain, offering it great benefits in an attempt to win it over to cooperate with the demon army that is about to attack the city."
Having another fifth-tier demon familiar with the terrain is a significant asset to the demon army.
Don't be fooled by the demon army's claim of 30,000; their truly elite troops are few and far between. If this Wolf King is truly persuaded and chooses to cooperate with the Red Umbrella Cult... then when the time comes to kill, there must be no hesitation."
Jiang Mu understood Shui Miaozheng's subtext.
The Demon Slayer Division's attitude towards these "neutral" demons is actually quite subtle.
If no trouble is caused, it can be left alone for the time being, and can even be regarded as a buffer zone to some extent.
After all, pushing too hard might push these neutral monsters to the opposing camp, completely uniting the demon race into one force.
If the Wolf King maintains the status quo and does not collude with the Red Umbrella Cult, the Demon Slayer Division will be happy to maintain the status quo, allowing it to continue being its "mountain king," and incidentally helping to clean up other restless demons.
But once it chooses to stand on the opposite side, then eliminating potential threats becomes an inevitable choice.
Before long, Shui Miaozheng led Jiang Mu to the courtyard of a farmer's house at the end of the village.
In the courtyard, an elderly woman with a full head of white hair sat on a small stool, holding a handful of dried hemp fibers in her hand, which she skillfully rubbed on her thigh. The hemp fibers turned in her palm, making a "rustling" sound.
Seeing Shui Miaozheng enter, the old lady stopped what she was doing, a smile spreading across her wrinkled face, revealing her missing teeth: "My dear, you're here again. Come in, come in and sit down!"
Daughter?
Jiang Mu looked at Shui Miaozheng with a strange expression.
Shui Miaozheng's beautiful face flushed slightly, and she explained in a low voice, somewhat embarrassed:
"I had visited her several times incognito to inquire about the monsters in the area. I didn't tell her what kind of official I was, I just said I was an ordinary person passing by. The old lady felt a sense of familiarity with me, so she kept calling me 'daughter'."
"Come on, daughter, don't stand, sit here."
The old lady enthusiastically pointed to a small wooden stool next to her.
Shui Miaozheng greeted the old lady softly, and without complaining about the simple stool, sat down next to her.
She pointed to another stool next to her, indicating that Jiang Mu should sit down as well.
However, the small stool in the farmhouse was really too low and too small.
Shui Miaozheng was voluptuous, and after sitting down, she had to put her long legs together and place them diagonally to one side.
This caused the fabric of the dress to be completely stretched.
It slid down her full thighs to her slender ankles.
The abundant millstone was squeezed so that it bulged backward.
The small stool surface was completely covered, as if it were overflowing.
Jiang Mu stared blankly at the scene.
She secretly wondered how this Water Master maintained himself; how come his flesh was so obedient, all growing in the right places? "Oh, girl, is this your husband?"
The old lady smiled and stepped forward, taking Jiang Mu's hand and looking her over, praising her highly.
"This young man is really handsome, and he looks like a loving husband. You two are a perfect match, a match made in heaven." Jiang Mu explained somewhat awkwardly:
"Grandma, you've misunderstood. I'm not her husband, we're...we're friends."
"Grandma understands, Grandma understands!"
The old lady, with an expression that said "I know everything," chuckled and sat back down, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of them. She teased, "You young people are so shy and reserved. I've lived this long, what haven't I seen?"
The moment you walked in, your eyes never left this girl's bottom; your gaze was so intense it could set someone on fire.
Still saying they're not husband and wife? Hehe, they're probably already smitten, aren't they?
Jiang Mu's smile froze instantly.
No, you old lady are asking for a beating.
Believe it or not, I'll kick you away.
Shui Miaozheng was also taken aback and subconsciously turned to look at Jiang Mu.
Faced with Shui Miaozheng's probing and suspicious gaze, Jiang Muqian chuckled twice and forced a smile as he explained:
"Ahem...Grandma, you're joking. I...I was looking at the stool. I thought it was a bit too small, and I was worried...worried that she wouldn't be comfortable sitting on it and might fall."
It would have been better if they hadn't explained; the explanation only confirmed the old lady's words.
Shui Miaozheng blushed and turned her head away, pretending to straighten her skirt, without saying anything more. However, the earlobe peeking out from her temple was faintly flushed, as if she had secretly drunk a little wine, and the blush slid down her neck and into the depths of her collar.
Scattered sunlight filtered through the cracks in the tiles, landing precisely on that blushing blush, dazzling the eyes.
"Girl, did you come here again to ask about that old wolf?"
The old woman picked up the hemp rope again, skillfully twisting it as she asked.
Shui Miaozheng recovered from her slight embarrassment, nodded gently, and her voice returned to its usual gentle tone:
"Yes, we don't know all the details yet. Grandma, I remember the old folks in the village saying that the wolf demon appeared sixty years ago. When it came, was it the only demon there?"
The old woman's movements slowed, her cloudy eyes gazing at the distant, dark mountains, as if trying to recall distant memories. After a long while, she sighed:
"It's been so long, this old woman can't remember many things. It seems... it seems there was more than one. At that time, there seemed to be a woman with it."
But then, the woman disappeared and never appeared again, leaving only the mountain to guard it.
"woman?"
Jiang Mu thought to himself, "Could it be a she-wolf in human form?"
Shui Miaozheng clearly valued this information and pressed for details:
"I've heard about this from others too. And I've also heard that although the wolf demon lives in the mountains, it occasionally stays in the village for a while. Has it done anything unusual? Or is it particularly close to anyone?"
The old lady shook her head:
"It doesn't actually live in the village; it just comes down from the mountain to the village every now and then, but it doesn't go inside the house."
If someone has a new baby, it sometimes sits outside that family's courtyard wall all night.
At first, everyone was terrified, thinking the wolf demon was going to take the children. Every household kept their doors and windows tightly shut and stood guard with hoes and sticks. But later they discovered that it did nothing but squat there and left before dawn.
After it happened many times, people stopped being afraid and instead felt... as if it were guarding something.
"Over the years, has anyone come specifically looking for it?"
Shui Miaozheng asked.
The old woman shook her head and said:
"No one has ever looked for it. We don't know where Grandpa Wolf came from, nor do we know why it has been guarding this mountain and refusing to leave. We only know that it has never harmed us. Sometimes, when the village children get lost in the mountains while playing, it will bring them out and leave them at the village entrance. In the past, there were also Taoist priests, Buddhist monks, and officials who said they wanted to go into the mountains to exorcise the demon and kill Grandpa Wolf."
We all told them that Grandpa Wolf was good and wouldn't harm anyone. But they wouldn't believe us, saying that a demon is a demon, and how could it not harm people? They insisted on going into the mountains to catch him. Luckily, Grandpa Wolf was clever and they never managed to catch him.
At this point, the old woman stopped what she was doing, looked at the gloomy sky outside the door, and shook her head with a sigh:
"This world is in chaos, and sometimes, people are even less kind-hearted than demons."
Jiang Mu interjected, asking, "Did it ever tell you its name?"
The old woman tilted her head, thought carefully for a long while, and then a nostalgic smile appeared on her wrinkled face:
"My son was still young then, and he was very mischievous and fearless. Once, he sneaked into the mountains and met Grandpa Wolf. Instead of running away, he played with Grandpa Wolf for half a day."
He mentioned it to me when he came back, saying that Grandpa Wolf told him his surname was Mu. As for his given name, I really don't know. "Surname Mu?" Jiang Mu stroked his chin.
At this moment, the old lady reached for the sewing basket, seemingly wanting to find scissors to cut the hemp rope.
Seeing this, Shui Miaozheng took the initiative to lean over and help retrieve it.
Her movement further compressed her already cramped sitting posture.
As she bent forward at the waist, a deep, alluring hollow immediately appeared at her lower back.
And the abundant millstone behind it inevitably spread out backwards.
"Squeak"
The small stool beneath him could no longer bear the weight and made a soft creak.
It seemed as if it was being pressed down by that fragrant flesh and was begging for mercy.
Jiang Mu sat to the side, her gaze drawn to him as if by a magnet.
This time, Shui Miaozheng seemed to sense something.
She paused in her scissor-wielding motion and instinctively turned around.
Jiang Mu reacted extremely quickly, and in that instant, her gaze immediately shifted away.
He looked up at the sky, then down at the ground, tapping his fingers lightly on his knees, looking all serious as if he were admiring the scenery, almost as if he was about to whistle to cover it up.
Shui Miaozheng pursed her rosy lips tightly, her watery eyes staring straight at him.
Jiang Mu felt a chill run down her spine from being stared at, and was speechless.
Is this my fault?
You insist on sitting on such a low stool, and you're so... so unreasonable, I don't want to watch either.
But it's just so eye-catching, it seems to pierce people's eyes.