My Core is the Boss

Yang Guang casually asked the young magistrate constable, "Kid, what business do you have with our bureau?"

The young constable replied hurriedly, "You officials have come from the south. The county magistrate would like to invite you to meet and discuss important matters."

Qi Yuan said casually, "Let's meet Master Tong first, then we'll go see the magistrate."

After all, some clues from the magistrate would be much needed to get to the bottom of the case.

Joy appeared on the young constable's face. "I will humbly wait for you here, sirs."

After all, according to the magistrate, the Demon-Slaying Bureau was the most powerful force in Fengyuan. Perhaps they could finally lift the three-year siege of Zhenyang, liberating its people from the demons that had tormented them for far too long.

Led by a steward, the group moved deeper into the Tong Residence. The farther they went, the more they saw burly guards patrolling, radiating robustness. They donned soft armor and carried fine swords at their waists, looking well-prepared.

Yang Guang couldn't help but ask, "The family's security is quite tight. How did demons manage to infiltrate and kill Tong Youwei without anyone noticing?"

In just a short while, he had already seen no fewer than fifty private soldiers patrolling. The Tong Residence was less a courtyard and more a sprawling estate, complete with its own training grounds.

The steward lowered his head. "This... I do not know. There are rumors that there was a traitor within our household. After Young Master Youwei died, the master was enraged and purged the servants. Anyone suspected was beaten to death!"

Qi Yuan couldn't help but transmit, "This game is too rigid. There should be a quest where we investigate the deaths of those servants, complete with a twist."

An Qiao quickly added, "So the master's life matters, but the servants' don't?"

Yang Guang chuckled and clicked his tongue. "No wonder everyone wants to become part of a powerful clan. Troops, grain, land... everything. The Tong family is practically a small imperial court."

They were cautious not to let the steward hear anything, lest he suspected the court had come to frame the Tong family of rebellion. If it came to that, they probably would not leave the estate without a fight. As a local powerful clan, the Tong Residence had nearly a thousand private troops and over a hundred armored soldiers. Such forces were not to be underestimated.

After about fifteen minutes of winding through the estate, they finally arrived at Old Master Tong's quarters. Outside the courtyard stood many maidservants, all appearing gloomy. They seemed worried about their missing young master.

The steward lamented, "Our families have served the Tong household for generations. If the young master doesn't return and the Tong family falls apart, where will we go?"

His sorrow was genuine. Anyone could see that being a servant in a powerful clan like the Tong family was far better and more respectable than being a poor laborer.

Qi Yuan said, "Let's go meet your master."

***

Moments later, Qi Yuan and the others were seated inside a classical-style room. Old Master Tong lay on the bed, breathing weakly and looking frail. He was about sixty years old.

At the bedside, a white-haired woman sat weeping. She was only in her forties, and though her skin was well maintained, her hair had turned completely white. The woman was Old Madam Tong, who had gone to Wangshan Temple, kowtowing step by step to beg for medicine.

Seeing them, Old Master Tong opened his cloudy eyes. "Gentlemen, you must bring my grandson back. I can guarantee you a handsome reward."

As he waved his hand, the steward gave orders, and several guards carried in wooden chests. When they opened the chests, piles of silver and jewelry were revealed.

An Qiao felt a surge of emotion. If she hadn't entered the Underworld, she would have been tempted.

Still, the wealth and private troops showed the Tong family's immense power. Yet the eldest son was mysteriously killed, and the younger one was abducted. The situation was clearly more complicated than it seemed.

Yang Guang asked softly, "Master Tong, we will search for Tong Tianyou. But what we wish to know is how Tong Youwei died."

At the mention of her son’s name, the white-haired woman stiffened, tears streaming down her face. "My poor child... I carried him for ten months, and yet I failed to protect him."

Old Master Tong's eyes also held sorrow, then flashed with resentment. "The Flower Demon Manluo killed Youwei!"

Yang Guang's eyes lit up. Sure enough, key information came immediately.

Qi Yuan stood quietly, a playful look on his face. His nose hadn't grown longer, meaning Old Master Tong was telling the truth. Tong Youwei really had been killed by Manluo.

Old Master Tong's hatred seemed strong enough to kill. "Manluo also took my poor grandson!"

Again, Qi Yuan's nose didn't grow. All he had to do was ask an NPC for the answer? Surely the mission couldn't be this easy.

Yang Guang asked again, "Does Manluo have any grudge against the Tong family?"

Investigating the truth also required understanding the killer's motive.

Old Master Tong's expression changed slightly.

Madam Tong, who had just stopped crying, broke down again.

Old Master Tong's voice became hoarse and painful. "I indulged Youwei all his life. Whatever he wanted, I gave him. When he wanted a courtesan, I gave him one. When he wanted qilin blood, I sent people to hunt in Shuyao Mountain.

“But when he wanted to marry a demon into our family, that was the first time I lost my temper. Humans and demons are irreconcilable. Marry a demon? Absolutely not!"

An Qiao quickly pieced things together like a TV drama. "Was Manluo the one Tong Youwei loved?"

After Old Master Tong refused to bless their marriage, Manluo held a grudge. Believing that Tong Youwei had betrayed her, she killed him and abducted his son. A clear-cut motive.

Madam Tong reminisced, "Yes. I refused to let her enter our family. Youwei resented me at first, but he eventually understood. He lived peacefully with Lady Yun. After she passed, he never remarried. I wish Manluo had taken my heart instead."

Once again, Qi Yuan’s nose hadn’t grown. So everything they said was true.

Just then, Old Master Tong coughed violently, blood trickling from his lips. Madam Tong rushed to tend to him.

Yang Guang and the others took it as their cue to leave.

"Rest well. We will find Tong Tianyou," Yang Guang said as they departed. "What do you think?"

An Qiao replied, "If they're telling the truth, the case is simple. We just have to find Manluo."

Yang Guang was eager for battle. "Good. Let's meet the magistrate. The real issue is finding Tong Tianyou. Shuyao Mountain has three thousand demon soldiers. This will be a tough fight!"

***

Black blood stains marked the mottled walls, and sword scars lined the bricks. The burly county lieutenant stood in armor, his eyes sunken yet sharp.

His expression was grim. "Hmph. Zhenyang has been besieged for three years. We've sent countless reports to the court, yet no one cared. But when a Tong family heir goes missing, the court sends the Demon-Slaying Bureau. Heh... Are all the people in this city inferior to a single Tong Tianyou?"

He was deeply dissatisfied, especially toward those powerful clans. Once, he had led refugees in battle against demons, a doomed endeavor given how weak they were. He was then appointed county lieutenant and placed in charge of the county's military.

The magistrate, a small elderly man with a constant smile, said, "Old Li, no matter how dissatisfied you are, don't show it when the envoys arrive."

"Hmph." The lieutenant snorted, then sighed. "I know. The people of the city cannot wait."

In his youth, he had led over a hundred young and able-bodied men from his village to slay demons. Together, they protected their homes and fortified their stronghold, achieving considerable success. At that time, the authorities sent people to recruit and pacify him. Having won many battles, he was proud and arrogant, and naturally did not take the authorities seriously.

When the authorities realized that their recruitment had failed, they decided to collude with the demon race instead. The soldiers under his command all died at the hands of the demons. He no longer had the face to return to the village. If the elderly, women, and children asked about their sons, husbands, or fathers, he would not know how to answer.

He harbored deep resentment toward Shuyao Mountain because its military strategist had been one of the officials who recruited him.

The magistrate hunched over as if to relax. "Alas, who knows how much longer Zhenyang City can hold out."

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.

The magistrate's spirits lifted, and his back straightened at once. He hurriedly looked toward the door and went forward to greet them.

The county lieutenant quickly followed behind.

The magistrate’s face was full of warm enthusiasm. "Honored envoys, thank you for coming from afar. I have prepared a banquet. Please join us!"

Outside stood the young constable, along with Qi Yuan and the others.

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. "A banquet? Not bad, eating early is good."

Last time, when the game ended, he hadn't even gotten to attend a banquet. Meanwhile, this magistrate even reminded him that he could eat first.

Eat first, then go kill demons. How nice, he marveled.

The magistrate said quickly, "Please, honored envoys, follow me inside."

The county lieutenant solemnly sized up the three demon slayers. Clearly, he could sense that these three were no weaklings. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone headed inside.

Inside the room, a table of food had been set, with more than a dozen piping hot dishes. Qi Yuan and the others sat down casually, the fragrance wafting toward them as if in greeting.

Qi Yuan started to eat almost right away, saying bluntly, "I love banquets the most."

Among the dozen or so dishes, most were vegetables, with only four meat dishes.

Qi Yuan ate with great relish, while An Qiao and Yang Guang did not touch their chopsticks. The two of them were not interested in ancient-style cuisine. Besides, the food seemed quite ordinary and somewhat plain.

Seeing that the two did not eat, the magistrate quickly said, "The city has been besieged for three years, and supplies are scarce. My apologies for not being able to offer anything better. Please do not take offense, honored envoys."

Perhaps out of courtesy, Yang Guang picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of radish. "I've just eaten so I'm not hungry."

The radish tasted a bit bland. There seemed to be too little salt in it.

"You've used too little salt," Yang Guang remarked casually, rubbing his shaved head.

The magistrate gave an awkward smile. "Trade routes have been cut off, so salt is in short supply."

Yang Guang was taken aback. "Is the situation that serious?"

Just then, he recalled what he had seen on the way to the county office. There seemed to be no young, able-bodied men around. The only people he had seen were elderly, women, and children. Even the constables at the government office appeared to be half-grown youths.

Before the magistrate could speak, the county lieutenant could not hold back and said, "Honored envoys, you may not know this. Since the great clans migrated south, we northern folk who remained have become prey for the demon race. Food and salt in the city are scarce.

“We have no choice but to send people out of the city and risk their lives just to buy supplies. The journey is extremely dangerous. One misstep, and they were done for. Of ten parties that set out, only three return... Alas."

His eyes were filled with deep helplessness. Out of ten teams that departed, only three could return with salt or grain. The rest either perished in the demons' bellies or vanished without a trace.