In the small alley, Wei Fan stood up feeling invigorated, as the previous weakness caused by the depletion of Blood Qi was swept away, leaving him feeling power surging throughout his body.
Four years of cultivation in the Sixth Layer of the Golden Bell Shield—his martial arts talent from his former life could indeed be considered excellent.
Because he had heard the constables at the government office say that many arrest officers cultivated for seven to eight years, and their Golden Bell Shield was only at the Third Layer.
"Let's see what effect the Sixth Layer of the Golden Bell Shield has!"
With this thought, Wei Fan's body emitted a faint golden light, as if a thin membrane was attached to his body.
He extended his finger to press it, and the membrane was so tough that it bounced his finger back.
This world is filled with Demon Fiends and Evil Spirits; the cultivation technique passed down by the government office isn't spread carelessly.
The Blood Evil Saber Technique is used to slay Demon Fiends, and the Golden Bell Shield protects the body, allowing these official officers to be both offensive and defensive when facing evil entities.
"I'm only at the Sixth Layer, but it's said that when the Golden Bell Shield reaches the Ninth Layer, True Qi forms a Great Golden Bell outside the body; this layer of membrane is just a cone shape."
If he still had remaining power, he would gladly enhance the Golden Bell Shield to the Ninth Layer in one go, but unfortunately, it's already exhausted.
It was at this time that Zhou Qi, who had left, arrived here with a group of governmental officers, starting to clean up the corpses of Yang Jun and his men.
None of those governmental officers spoke with Wei Fan; their gazes at him were filled with shock, mixed with a hint of pity.
Yang Jun was nothing significant, nor was the Fierce Tiger Gang; what truly instilled fear was the Tiger Demon behind the Fierce Tiger Gang.
Once the corpse handling was done, Zhou Qi and Wei Fan continued their patrol on the street.
He did not betray Wei Fan and reported to the government office according to Wei Fan's account.
"Why don't we... return to the government office?"
After walking for a while, Zhou Qi suddenly said.
It's too quiet; the government office hasn't reacted, and considering they are colleagues, they won't be too excessive; not considering Wei Fan, they still wouldn't neglect others, yet even the Fierce Tiger Gang hasn't reacted.
For such a long time, the Fierce Tiger Gang should have known about the killing of Yang Jun and his men.
"Isn't street patrol part of our duty? What are we going back to the government office for!"
Wei Fan shook his head, continuing the patrol, and only returned to the station to have lunch when it was lunchtime.
"In the afternoon, you don't need to patrol the streets. There's a case of disappearance in Five Miles Village. You, Wang Gui, and Qiu Ping go investigate whether it's the mischief of Demon Fiends!"
After having lunch, Captain Li Shen called Wei Fan over.
This Captain Li Shen is the same captain who let Yang Jun go yesterday.
"Okay!"
Wei Fan nodded, soon heading to Five Miles Village with his colleagues Wang Gui and Qiu Ping.
Li Shen watched the three leave from the door until their figures disappeared, then returned to the station.
Wei Fan wasn't very familiar with these two; when he joined the government office, they had been governmental officers for a few years already and had no usual interactions, basically just familiar faces.
Along the way, Wang Gui and Qiu Ping didn't speak to Wei Fan; they walked behind while Wei Fan walked ahead. If it weren't for the identical constable uniforms, people might think they were escorting Wei Fan.
Five Miles Village, named for its exact five-mile distance from Yun City, appeared not far from Wei Fan's sight after walking for about half an hour.
The village isn't large, seemingly no more than seventy to eighty households; at the entrance of the village, Wei Fan found almost every household's door closed, with no one moving around inside.
Upon entering the village, a strong stench assaulted their noses.
"Hey, you two, walk that way!"
Wei Fan turned back to ask Wang Gui and Qiu Ping, flashing a set of pearly white teeth.
"Straight ahead!"
The constable named Wang Gui pointed with his hand, a full smile on his face, and he turned to exchange glances with Qiu Ping, satisfaction evident in their eyes.
Through the village, soon a rather decent courtyard appeared before them.
"This is where the case was reported. Go inside and inquire, learn how to deal with such matters. We'll ask around the vicinity."
Qiu Ping and Wang Gui stopped a dozen or so meters from the courtyard, letting Wei Fan proceed alone.
"Alright!"
Wei Fan nodded, enduring the foul smell.
This small courtyard seemed to be the source of the stench; upon reaching here, it felt like the odor could suffocate a person.
Wei Fan intended to knock on the door, but upon closer inspection, he noticed the courtyard door was left ajar.
"Is anyone here?"
Speaking, he stepped inside.
Bang!
As soon as he crossed the threshold, a gust of wind blew up from the ground, slamming the door shut.
"Finally come, haven't had constable meat for ages. You constables have learned martial arts, even if you haven't cultivated True Qi, your flesh is much better than ordinary people's—rich in Blood Qi, immensely nourishing."
A deep voice sounded, causing the air to waver.
Following the voice, Wei Fan saw a gigantic tiger lying on a large stone slab in the corner of the courtyard, its excited gaze fixed upon him.
Scanning further, Wei Fan discovered heaps of human bones around the stone slab, some still with blood strands, some already turned into White Bones.
"Are you one of the Tiger Demons behind the Fierce Tiger Gang?"
Wei Fan naturally knew rumors that the Fierce Tiger Gang was backed by more than one Tiger Demon. His gaze focused on the large tiger, affirming that it was this tiger speaking.
He approached gradually, as new content appeared before him:
[Tiger Demon: First Grade of the Initial Realm, capable of human speech, feeds on humans!]
[Slay it to gain five years of Power!]
Slaying Yang Jun offered three years of Power, yet slaying a Tiger Demon only offers five years?
The Tiger Demon's eyes gleamed with a hint of joy upon hearing Wei Fan's words: "Brave one, Master Hu has eaten many humans. You're the first to see me and not flee, nor scream for mercy—your bones are hard, making the chew delightful!"
Wei Fan smiled lightly, saying, "Does pleading for mercy work? If it does, I wouldn't mind yelling a few times."
"Useless, Master Hu will definitely eat you; constable meat tastes far superior to that of others."
The Tiger Demon was stunned, realizing he wasn't scared due to resignation: "You're quite interesting. If Jiang Chuan hadn't sent you, I'd keep you around to do tasks for me."
Wei Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, continuing forward: "That's why I didn't yell, willingly coming over; perhaps you'll grant me a quick end."
The Tiger Demon slowly rose, nodding: "You're quite sensible; I've eaten so many people, and you're the most compliant. Others break down in fear, their meat is bitter—a quick end it is, first I'll bite off your throa..."
The final "t" didn't leave its mouth; within the Tiger Demon's vision was a blazing golden saber light.
"True Qi?"
"Roar!"
The Tiger Demon's eyes were filled with horror; it attempted to leap away, but the saber was too swift—its body did leap, but its head remained in place.
With a puff, a spray of blood painted the air, and the enormous Hu Tou hit the ground with a muffled thud.
Bones splintered, shattered by the Tiger Demon's massive body!
[Slaying Tiger Demon grants five years of Power!]
"You sure talked a lot; equally interesting, thus I first sever your neck, granting you a swift end."
Wei Fan sheathed his saber, bent over, and lifted the Tiger Demon's severed head.
A Tiger Demon of the Initial Realm's First Grade is this weak?
Yet indeed, the First Grade of the Initial Realm is merely the threshold for being considered a Demon, lacking great Divine Abilities.
"Using True Qi instead of Blood Qi, the Blood Evil Saber Technique's power was decent; slashing such a large Tiger Demon had surprisingly little resistance."
Carrying the Tiger Demon's head, Wei Fan inspected every room, confirming no other Tiger Demons were there, yet finding numerous human bones in each room.
Evidently, this location is merely one of the strongholds of the Tiger Demons backing the Fierce Tiger Gang.
Inspection complete, he headed back outside the courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, Qiu Ping and Wang Gui remained where they'd originally been.
"Wei Fan should be dead by now. I heard the roar of the Tiger Demon!"
"Youngsters oblivious of danger, killing the little relative of the Fierce Tiger Gang's Incense Master—death serves him right. Had he not died, we'd suffer as well."
"Indeed, good thing Captain Li promptly sought out Jiang Chuan, offering Wei Fan voluntarily."
"This guy, still foolishly followed us here; initially, I thought he'd flee en route, yet he entered that courtyard and didn't even react."
"He is indeed quite foolish!"
"Hmm... strangely, I didn't hear Wei Fan's screams; why didn't Master Hu torment him before..."
Qiu Ping's subsequent words were stuck in his throat.
Before them, Wei Fan, presumed dead within the courtyard, was approaching step by step carrying a Tiger Demon's grimacing head.