Chapter 29: The Great Demon Causes Chaos

Upon hearing Xu Xuan’s words, the crowd was immediately furious. This monster truly deserved death, treating humans as livestock and bleeding them daily for its own use. Even when humans slaughter animals, it is usually done in a single stroke to spare them pain; who would ever keep them and drain their blood over time?

“Bah! Death is too good for it!”

Some villagers could not help but kick the corpse of the bear a few times, cursing angrily as they did so.

“Lin’er, is that you?”

Suddenly, an elderly woman emerged from the crowd, pushing her way forward and tightly embracing one of the young men Xu Xuan had rescued. Seeing her son’s pale face and emaciated frame, the old woman burst into tears, her voice choked with emotion—part anguish, part fear. To be reunited with her son today was surely a blessing from heaven.

“Mother, it was thanks to Young Master Xu’s rescue. Otherwise, I would never have seen you again,” the frail youth said softly, supporting his mother.

“Benefactor, please accept my humble bow!” The old woman, holding her son’s hand, walked up to Xu Xuan and was about to kneel when Xu Xuan quickly raised her up.

“Madam, you must not do this. Such a grand gesture—I cannot accept it,” Xu Xuan said, helping the old lady with a gentle smile. He continued, “If you truly wish to thank me, perhaps you could lend me your steamer basket later—I want to steam the bear’s paws.”

“That’s easily done! I’ll gladly give you the steamer, if you wish,” the old woman replied, drying her tears. Her gaze toward Xu Xuan grew ever more tender, tinged with regret that she had no daughter; had she one, this benefactor would surely be the perfect match.

After thanking Xu Xuan, the old woman immediately supported her son as they made their way home. Her son was terribly weak and needed to recuperate as soon as possible lest anything untoward happen.

During Xu Xuan’s conversation with the old lady, several other villagers recognized their own family members among those rescued, and at once broke down in tears, recounting the worries and fears of the past days, mingled with the joy of reunion. It was a long while before their emotions settled, and the families came together to express their gratitude to Xu Xuan.

Standing nearby, Zhang Zhiyuan broke into a smile, stroking his beard and nodding in admiration: “Scholar Xu is a true gentleman—a savior to our Peach Blossom Village!”

As for the other rescued individuals, they were not villagers but traveling merchants passing through. Though no family awaited them here, they were properly settled in the village, with the Monster Suppression Bureau physicians tending to their wounds.

Once their injuries stabilized, they would be taken to the county seat and their families notified for a proper reunion.

Xu Xuan had rid Peach Blossom Village of its menace and saved lives, earning boundless respect from the villagers. Even the Monster Suppression Bureau officers, witnessing Xu Xuan’s single-handed venture into the bear’s lair and his slaying of the creature, could not help but admire him. Facts spoke louder than words; Xu Xuan’s strength was undeniable and commanded their respect.

“Xu Xuan is truly a paragon among scholars,” one whispered.

“Indeed. I used to think scholars only argued and were useless in action, but today I see how ignorant I was,” said another.

“With such talent in Wuliu County, his reputation will surely spread far and wide,” others murmured, sensing that Xu Xuan’s future was promising and already wishing to befriend him.

At that moment, Wei Yun, the leader of the monster hunters, stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting: “I am Wei Yun, a junior officer of the Monster Suppression Bureau. Young Master Xu, your skills are remarkable—you have defeated several monsters in succession. You put us all to shame!”

“Lord Wei, you are too kind. Even if I had not intervened, these monsters would not escape the Bureau’s justice. I hope the brothers here won’t blame me for meddling,” Xu Xuan replied graciously.

Wei Yun’s goodwill for Xu Xuan instantly deepened. The other monster hunters’ opinions of Xu Xuan changed as well; this scholar did not boast or claim credit—he was truly courteous, a genuine gentleman.

“Not at all, Young Master Xu. You have ensured the safety of this region and rid us of monsters. I will personally petition the court to commend your deeds,” Wei Yun said.

“We all work for the peace of the people and the prosperity of the nation. The matter of official recognition is unnecessary,” Xu Xuan replied.

The more Xu Xuan shunned fame and reward, the greater the monster hunters’ admiration for him. He fought monsters not for glory, but for the people—a virtue they could not match.

“Lord Wei, why have monsters become so rampant lately? I had heard of monsters troubling the people before, but the national fortune suppressed them—never has it been so chaotic,” Xu Xuan asked, voicing his doubts.

The Great Qian Dynasty, though in decline, had not yet fallen; its national fortune still held sway, keeping the monsters at bay. While trouble had arisen from monsters in years past, it was rarely serious. Yet now, merely on his journey to West Mountain, Xu Xuan had encountered several groups of monsters—clearly, something was amiss.

“These are indeed troubled times. The southern wars have weakened the nation further, altering the feng shui and breeding many monsters. Rumor has it a great demon stirs up trouble in the provincial city, injuring even the city’s Daoist masters. This demon has gathered other spirits, but their intentions remain unknown,” Wei Yun replied, his face clouded with worry.

When a country nears ruin, monsters emerge—an ominous sign.

Xu Xuan, hearing of a great demon gathering in the provincial city, was not overly concerned; after all, he lived in Wuliu County, some distance from the city. The chaos of monsters, however disruptive, could not reach his home. As for whether the city’s people would suffer, Xu Xuan could not spare much thought; he was but one man, and maintaining peace in his own region was already a challenge. Besides, the city had Daoist masters—if any monsters dared cause trouble, these powerful men would not be easy prey.

“If the sky falls, the tall among us will bear it. We need not worry too much,” Xu Xuan said.

“You are quite right, Young Master Xu. Yet monsters are rampant now, and some are quite cunning. If you’re not careful, you may fall prey to their tricks. Please take extra care, since you travel alone,” Wei Yun advised kindly; the monster hunters had faced countless creatures and knew how troublesome some spirits could be. If Xu Xuan relied solely on his scholar’s zeal to fight monsters, he might provoke a powerful demon and suffer greatly.

“Thank you for the warning, Lord Wei. Once Peach Blossom Village is settled, I’ll return home at once.”

“That would be best. Times are unsettled; we must increase our patrols to prevent monsters from harming the people,” Wei Yun replied, their conversation drawing them closer. Wei Yun had dealt with Xu Xuan’s brother-in-law Lin Luo before and was almost an acquaintance.

As dusk approached, Village Chief Zhang Zhiyuan had ordered a feast prepared to welcome everyone. Xu Xuan, recalling his earlier promise, dragged the bear’s carcass into the village. With the help of several monster hunters, they split open the great black bear, drawing out its sinews and peeling its hide.

After much effort, the bear meat was piled up like a small mountain, with each villager receiving a generous share. The four bear paws were placed directly in the steamer, to be served as a delicacy that night alongside wine.

As for the bear’s innards, they amounted to hundreds of pounds—far more than anyone could eat—so they were given to the dogs. Xu Xuan also extracted the bear’s gall bladder and soaked it in wine, planning to drink heartily with everyone that evening.

And the bear’s hide was a treasure; after all, this bear spirit had cultivated for many years, making its skin nearly impervious to blades or arrows—a superb material for crafting soft armor.