My Core is the Boss

Summer turned to autumn, and then to winter. For many insects, that was already an entire lifetime. For travelers on the road, however, it was merely a year of toil and the joys and sorrows of returning home.

This year, too many things had happened in Fengyuan. The Xi River, which divided north and south, was covered in thick ice. Beside it stood the Four Seasons Tavern, its banner whipping violently in the freezing wind. Goose-feathers-like snowflakes drifted densely through the air

Though the world outside was frozen, the tavern was steaming with heat. Customers eagerly listened to the storyteller’s passionate narration while enjoying refreshments.

“Thunderclouds crowded the sky, weighing down on the mountains. The Great Lizard King of Xianlong Mountain was at the Demon Hero realm, three hundred zhang long! When it rolled, the mountains trembled. When it rose, it blotted out the sun, and Xianlong Mountain fell into utter darkness.“

“Stop dragging it out already! No matter how strong that lizard was, didn’t the Red Staff Demon Butcher still beat it to death?”

“Forget Xianlong Mountain, I want to hear about the Red Staff Demon Butcher battling Princess Jasmine!”

“Right! Rumor says when Princess Jasmine heard the Red Staff Demon Butcher was coming, she immediately prepared a wedding!”

A young woman in ruqun clothing scoffed disdainfully. “Hmph! Does that demon really think she's worthy of the great butcher?”

“I reckon only Fengyuan’s greatest beauty, that Little Zhou Empress, is worthy of the Red Staff Demon Butcher!”

“Watch your words, that’s the empress!”

“Hmph! If the Red Staff Demon Butcher wants to take the throne, he just has to say the word, and I'm with him! When the demon soldiers ran rampant, that brat emperor fled south with the aristocratic clans, abandoning the northern people. He even tried to justify it as preserving the cultural flame. Bah! If there are no people left, what culture is there to preserve?!”

“The Red Staff Demon Butcher is a real man! In just one year, he fought across three thousand li and slaughtered over ten thousand demon soldiers!”

“If I could marry the Red Staff Demon Butcher, I’d even be willing to remain forever young!”

The origins of the Red Staff Demon Butcher were unknown, and even his true name remained a mystery. He slaughtered the northern demons with a single red wooden staff until they collapsed in utter defeat. Wherever he passed, corpses stretched for thousands of miles. With fearsome strength, he fought thousands of demon soldiers alone, like a hero of myth.

When word first spread that the Red Staff Demon Butcher had single-handedly annihilated the three thousand demon soldiers of Shuyao Mountain, the world was shocked.

However, most doubted it. After all, how could such a powerful being exist in this world? One man against three thousand demon soldiers? Not even Fengyuan's greatest martial artist from the imperial cabinet could accomplish such a feat.

Led by a Demon Hero, three thousand demon soldiers could slaughter numerous Martial Spirits. How could the Red Staff Demon Butcher achieve what no one else could?

Yet soon after that, the demon strongholds of Xianlong Mountain, Wind Valley Ridge, Prince Water, and others fell one after another. Witnesses all reported that a handsome man dressed in blood-red descended like a demonic god, wielding a crimson staff.

The world shook, and everything under heaven was stunned. No one dared to doubt it anymore.

An elderly man said with a trembling voice, “In just one year, eleven out of the twelve great demon caves have perished. The Red Staff Demon Butcher is terrifying indeed!”

Judging from his attire, he was no ordinary person, but he still sat in the tavern hall. “Only the Xi River Demon remains. I wonder when the Red Staff Demon Butcher will come?”

“Once the Xi River Demon is destroyed, the world will finally know peace. We humans shall rise!”

Someone quietly transmitted from the corner, “Heh, not necessarily. After the Red Staff Demon Butcher wipes out the Xi River Demon, do you think he’ll want to become emperor? I think he’s ambitious, coveting high status! What demon-slaying war god? Fighting for the common people? Ha! He’s just like the rest of us—a vulgar man.”

Since the speaker used a special voice transmission, nobody knew who had spoken.

Upstairs in a private room, a young maiden could not help opening the window, shouting furiously, “You are quick to criticize the good, but lenient toward evil! Are you even human? If you’re a man, come out and say it openly!”

The person who had spoken earlier remained silent, hiding in the shadows. A great scholar could not help sighing. The other customers cursed angrily as well, filled with dissatisfaction.

Although the Red Staff Demon Butcher’s achievements would be praised for ages, countless conspiracy theories still surrounded him. No good deeds went unpunished in this world. Some people would scrutinize good people, accusing them of having ulterior motives or using the wrong approaches. Yet toward evil people, they instead became sympathetic and overly tolerant.

Just then, Qi Yuan’s calm voice came from outside. “To think I’d run into keyboard warriors in this world as well... My luck’s pretty good.”

The tavern doors opened. A blast of cold wind swept in like the wailing of demons. Snowflakes blew into the hall.

The customers looked over and saw a handsome man dressed in blood-red robes, holding a wooden staff. They revealed expressions of surprise and suspicion at his outrageous good looks.

Moreover, his outfit resembled that of the Red Staff Demon Butcher’s. But nowadays, with the Red Staff Demon Butcher’s fame at its peak, many young nobles had begun wearing red robes too. Besides, this man appeared far too young and delicate. He did not look like someone who regularly slaughtered demons.

For a moment, silence fell over the tavern.

The handsome man walked inside, followed by a world-weary-looking youth. The youth held a rope in his hand. Following the rope with their eyes, the customers saw two figures covered in black sacks. Some customers swallowed hard, while others widened their eyes in disbelief.

The tavern erupted into commotion.

“The Red Staff Demon Butcher!”

“He’s the Red Staff Demon Butcher!”

Inside the private room, the young maiden also leaned out eagerly to look at the legendary figure and see whether he truly matched the stories.

The moment she saw Qi Yuan’s profile, she froze. How could such a peerlessly elegant man exist in this world? It was as though he did not belong to the mortal realm.

Qi Yuan’s calm gaze settled upon a fat, big-eared wealthy merchant. “Talking behind my back and then getting caught by me. Your luck’s really terrible.”

The merchant’s expression changed drastically. “Not me! I didn’t!”

The man beside the merchant hurriedly defended him, “Master Wu is a great philanthropist who donates money to build roads. He would never slander Lord Red Staff Demon Butcher!”

The customers gazed at the merchant with varying expressions. The merchant indeed had an excellent reputation in the city and was known as a leading philanthropist.

Several others immediately spoke up in his defense. After all, the Red Staff Demon Butcher was a peerless hero. Surely, he would not be petty and act reasonably?

The merchant secretly sighed in relief. He silently warned himself to act more carefully in the future and never let anyone catch him slipping up again.

However, Qi Yuan’s lips curled into a smile. “Mushi, play the music.”

Huo Mushi skillfully took out the suona. Immediately, a bleak and mournful melody rose throughout the tavern.

Terror appeared on the merchant’s face as he realized something. “You can’t—!”

What greeted him was a blood-red wooden staff. It slammed directly onto his skull, which burst apart like an overripe watermelon. Silence filled the tavern. Only the sound of the suona continued to echo. Some were shocked, some terrified, and some felt vindicated.

Qi Yuan lowered the wooden staff, his voice bright and clear. “What can relieve sorrow? That’s right, killing!”

Realizing that he was completely serious, those who had initially felt smug suddenly felt a chill.