Morning in Qingyun Village was as quiet as always.
Lin Heng squatted at the entrance of his courtyard, holding a bamboo pole to tease the carp in his pond.
But from the village gate came a stir—
"He's here, he's here! The Young Sect Master of Xuanyu Sect!"
"I heard he came to look for Lin Heng…"
"It's over, there's bound to be blood today!"
Lin Heng looked up to see a brocade-robed youth walking toward him step by step, with seven or eight sect disciples trailing behind.
The youth's presence was imposing, his longsword glinting coldly in the sunlight.
"Mortal Lin Heng, are you the one who slew the tiger three days ago?"
Lin Heng jumped in surprise, waving his hands. "No, not me. I'm just an ordinary man — I haven't even killed a chicken."
The youth sneered. "Still denying it? Today, I'll test you myself."
With that, he drew his sword and charged forward.
—
The very next instant—
The big black dog lazily stepped out of the house, a chunk of pork bone still clamped between its teeth.
It didn't bark, didn't pounce — it merely gave its fur a light shake.
Boom—!
A terrifying shockwave swept the area; the bluestone tiles beneath the youth's feet instantly shattered to dust, and his whole body was blasted backward, ending up dangling from the locust tree at the village entrance.
The watching villagers gasped:
"Heavens! That's… Lin Heng's dog?"
"Look at that coat… it's scarier than an ancient beast!"
The youth's face flushed red as he jumped down from the tree, his hands still trembling.
"Wh-what exactly is… that thing you keep?"
Lin Heng looked helpless. "Just a mutt. Keeps watch for me. Why'd you have to go and scare it?"
The youth: "…"
He glanced back at his disciples, only to see that each of them was pale as paper — some even shaking at the knees.
—
Just then, the gray cat padded along the courtyard wall, flicking its tail — and a low roll of thunder seemed to rumble through the air.
Jiji swooped down from above, lightly pressing a claw onto a bluestone tile; the whole slab crumbled instantly to powder.
The youth was completely dumbfounded—
These weren't a mortal's pets; they were three demon kings serving as guardians!
He cupped his fists, face drained of color. "Senior Lin… this junior has been rude. I take my leave!"
And with that, he fled in utter panic.
—
Once they were gone, Lin Heng looked at the field of shattered stones on the ground and sighed. "Hey, you guys need to tone it down. If we have to pay for road repairs next time, it'll be a headache."
The big black dog yawned, the gray cat flicked its tail, and Jiji let out a disdainful "Gu."
—
That very night, the cultivation world's intelligence network circulated a new entry:
> Lin Heng of Qingyun Village — accompanied by at least three Nascent Soul–stage demon king protectors.
Personal cultivation unknown. Suspected high-level reclusive powerhouse.
Do not provoke under any circumstances.
Lin Heng: ?
He just wanted to fish for a carp by the pond…