Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

He took a closer look and found that the horse he’d snatched from Yang Tianci, while similar in coat color to Zhang Daxie’s mount, had subtle differences in the style and wear of its saddle.

Jiang Mu was a little bewildered.

’If Zhang Daxie’s horse isn’t missing, then whose horse was Yang Tianci riding?’

’Did I get it wrong?’

He walked over to Tang Guixin and asked, "Aunt Tang, what about that horse I led back from the mountain earlier?"

Tang Guixin was in the middle of arranging for Ming Cuicui to move the wounded. Hearing Jiang Mu’s question, she was also taken aback for a moment. She turned to Zhu Chang behind her and asked, "Xiaozhu, where’s that horse?"

Zhu Chang glanced around, his face also full of confusion.

"Huh? That’s strange, it was definitely here before. After I moved the wounded man from its back into the temple, I had someone tie it to that tree by the entrance. How is it gone?"

Tang Guixin immediately had everyone search the surrounding area. They even combed through the tall grass behind the temple, but they couldn’t find a single horse hair.

It was as if the horse had vanished into thin air.

Seeing Jiang Mu’s tightly furrowed brow and solemn expression, Zhang Daxie tried to console him from the side.

"Hall Master, maybe the horse wasn’t tied securely. It could have gotten spooked and run off on its own. Anything’s possible."

Jiang Mu didn’t say anything, but a strange sense of unease welled up inside him.

The horse’s appearance had been peculiar, and its disappearance was even more so.

But the situation was critical, leaving no time for him to dwell on it. Jiang Mu suppressed the cloud of suspicion in his mind.

"Forget it. Never mind the horse, let’s go."

...

The sky gradually darkened as dusk fell.

As the last ray of light was swallowed by the distant mountains, the group finally left White Deer Peak far behind and arrived at a small village called Li family Village.

The village wasn’t large, consisting of about a few dozen households.

By now, scattered lights were twinkling, exuding the peaceful warmth of everyday life.

"Xiaojiang, let’s just rest here for the night. Traveling after dark is too dangerous, and the wounded can’t hold on much longer."

Tang Guixin looked at the exhausted group and the injured, saying, "I’ve already contacted the Water Director via a Flying Eagle message and informed him of the details of what happened at White Deer Peak."

"Okay."

Jiang Mu was also mentally exhausted.

He had been through too many battles that day. Even with the support of his Demon Slot, the mental toll was immense.

He asked, "Should we wait for the Water Director here?"

Tang Guixin shook her head.

"No. I said in the message that we would head directly to Yan City. When the Water Director learns that a Great Demon has appeared on White Deer Peak, he will definitely investigate and seal off the periphery. We’ll rendezvous in Yan City then."

Jiang Mu nodded and said no more.

Tang Guixin took the lead in negotiating, borrowing a few vacant houses from the village chief to shelter the wounded and buying a good amount of food from the villagers.

Ming Cuicui took a few deft-handed Demon Slayer Envoys and was put in charge of making a big communal meal for everyone.

Tang Guixin, however, specifically borrowed a farmer’s kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and made a special meal just for Jiang Mu.

Before long, several exquisitely prepared small dishes were served on the table.

This special treatment made Xu Fu, who was standing to the side, green with envy.

After they had eaten, Tang Guixin went to wash the dishes. Xu Fu sidled up to Jiang Mu and teased him with a hint of jealousy.

"Old Jiang, oh, Old Jiang, how come you’re favored by women wherever you go? Inspector Ling, and now Master Tang... they all treat you like you’re some kind of treasure. I’m not so bad myself, so how come I don’t get this kind of treatment?"

Jiang Mu couldn’t be bothered to respond to him.

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Xu Fu glanced at Tang Guixin outside the door, lowered his voice, and said with a sly grin.

"Hey, I heard this Master Tang has a daughter. Don’t tell me she’s taken a liking to you and wants to take you back as her son-in-law?"

"But to be fair, Master Tang’s looks..."

"Hm, she’s quite striking, but not quite what you’d call ’pretty.’ If her daughter takes after her, don’t you go complaining that the girl isn’t beautiful enough."

"Her daughter is only thirteen!"

Jiang Mu was rendered speechless and kicked him. "What kind of garbage is rattling around in that head of yours all day? Aunt Tang is just taking extra care of me because I’m young, a junior, and have a pitiful background. That’s all."

Xu Fu rubbed his butt, a wronged look on his face.

"I’m young too! I have a pitiful background too! How come she doesn’t take care of me like a junior?"

Jiang Mu thought for a moment, looked at his face seriously, and said, "It’s probably because you’re ugly."

"..."

Xu Fu turned and stormed off indignantly, deciding he wouldn’t speak to this guy for the rest of the night.

...

After dinner, the night grew deeper.

Jiang Mu and Tang Guixin sat in the small courtyard of the farmhouse, chatting idly by the moonlight.

Jiang Mu humbly asked her to share some of her knowledge about Demons.

After all, he was new to the profession. Although his power had soared thanks to his ’cheat,’ he was indeed lacking in the worldly knowledge and experience of these veteran Hall Masters.

Tang Guixin held nothing back, telling him everything she knew.

From how to track the subtle clues left by Demons, to how to distinguish a Demon’s type and strength by its scent and droppings, to the weaknesses and habits of various Demons...

She explained everything in great detail, her words flowing effortlessly.

Finally, she took a small notebook from her robes and handed it to Jiang Mu.

"This contains some of the insights and lessons I’ve learned over the years, as well as some unorthodox but practical life-saving techniques. Take it. You might find it useful someday."

Jiang Mu received it as if it were a priceless treasure, thanking her profusely.

The two continued to chat, and Tang Guixin began to recount the story of how she met her husband—a classic tale of a young swordsman saving a swordswoman, their secret affections growing until they finally ended up together.

From her words, he could tell that she was still deeply in love with her husband, a love tinged with both guilt and acceptance.

As their conversation deepened, Tang Guixin seemed to remember something and carefully took a neatly folded piece of paper from her robes.

When she unfolded it, it revealed a portrait drawn with a charcoal pencil.

It depicted a boy of about ten years old with delicate features. Though the strokes were somewhat amateurish, the drawing was extremely detailed.