Chapter 40 Catching the Demon These man-eating demons are hiding among you…

No matter how beautiful your appearance is, you still need to be alive to enjoy it.

The already shallow and fleeting infatuation and affection, tainted by dark lust, brewed together into a thick, filthy tonic, overflowing the entire courtyard.

It's really nourishing.

Under the unreadable gazes of the crowd, Tie Shou held Xue Xin protectively in his arms and said solemnly, "Evil people do evil without regard for reason, and the murderer never said that he only killed the seriously ill. It has all been just speculation from beginning to end. Using this as a standard for catching murderers will probably not convince the public. In the end, solving cases requires evidence."

His tone remained calm and composed, but his fists were already clenched tightly.

The pharmacist's words were so enticing that they truly put Xue Xin in the eye of the storm.

"You love to make baseless accusations. Does she look like someone who can commit violence?" Tequila shouted.

The crow squinted and smiled, "This constable surely understands the principle of not judging a book by its cover better than I do."

This guy was simply unbearable. Ever since Tequila entered the manor, his temper hadn't calmed down at all, and he immediately wanted to give him a good sarcastic remark.

Suddenly, the crow said, "Of course, I'm not just making this up. The evidence that the two constables want is right under the clothes on this corpse."

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and gestured for him to proceed.

Iron Hand's expression turned serious. He squatted down and picked up his blood-stained coat. Apart from the soaked blood, there was only sticky black mud and medicine residue on the ground.

Tequila retorted sarcastically, "Is the evidence you're referring to this dregs of medicine? Or this black mud that everyone's feet are covered in?"

Agave's gaze was cold, but Iron Hand remained silent.

A smirk played on Jaws' lips as he stared directly at Tequila, but his words were directed at Iron Hand, "Even Constable Iron Two has noticed something amiss, hasn't he?"

"You mean incense ash?" Iron Hand stood up and looked at him.

“Indeed. I happened to take Miss Xuexin’s pulse today, and there was a strong incense burning in her room. It was because of this that I learned that this young lady is seriously ill and her life is in danger.” Han Ya tapped his wrist lightly with his fingertips and said regretfully.

Tie Shou smiled and said calmly, "Xue Xin does have a habit of burning incense, but to use that to deduce the real culprit is far-fetched. First, we only arrived at the manor tonight, precisely because of this disembowelment case. Second, three people have already died in the manor, and it's common for two or three relatives or friends to light incense and offer prayers for them. Incense is everywhere; to make a conclusion based solely on incense is really childish."

Iron Hand's words were indeed reasonable and well-founded. Cold Crow remained noncommittal and said leisurely, "That's true, but it's too much of a coincidence. What if the murderer has some connection with this young lady? Besides, this Miss Xuexin has a very close relationship with the two constables, so it's inevitable that the two of you will be biased in your investigation."

This one sentence accused Iron Hand and Tequila of harboring a criminal.

Every word he uttered was baseless, yet it struck at the darkest corners of everyone's hearts, leaving a deep and solid mark.

The respect and admiration that had been placed on the famous constable Tie Shou suddenly crumbled.

When public trust disappears, people become restless. People's eyes are now filled with scrutiny and suspicion.

"I only know that the Four Great Constables would never stoop to arbitrarily suspecting and arresting people without asking questions or considering the circumstances. We would certainly not use our duties to protect or condone others." Iron Hand said firmly, his tone still calm, yet like an endless mountain range that could suppress everything.

Those present looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

The crow had intended to put pressure on the two, but he had underestimated Iron Hand.

The reason he was known as "Iron Hand" in the martial arts world was not only because his surname was Tie (Iron) and he was skilled in palm techniques.

More importantly, he himself is a piece of refined iron, and the more he is tempered by fierce fire, the brighter and sharper he becomes.

Xue Xin stood behind Tie Shou, his gaze vaguely meeting Han Ya's.

Are you angry?

The crow sighed in disappointment and said lightly, "It seems I was too presumptuous. Since you are renowned detectives, I'll have to trouble you to solve the case."

After saying this, he retreated into the crowd, leaving only his dark eyes staring at Iron Hand as if scrutinizing prey.

It's a pity there's no smell of decay; he subtly concealed his smile.

As Tie Shou was carefully examining the traces left at the scene, He Yongnian strode into the courtyard with one other person. He was unusually wiping away sweat as he led the way, his back slightly hunched.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily fell on what was behind Master He. Was this... a wandering sorcerer?

Has He Yongnian really gone mad with fright, to be so obsequious to a charlatan?

People in the martial arts world are naturally arrogant and have always looked down on these charlatans who pretend to be gods and ghosts.

The man was dressed in a gray Taoist robe, with a red string of copper beads hanging from his waist, interspersed with several talismans. He was quite handsome, with a refined and elegant appearance and a touch of Taoist dignified bearing.

Qi Tianli was taken aback upon seeing this and hurriedly asked, "Uncle, what's this?"

He Yongnian wiped the sweat from his brow and said in a low voice, "And this is...?"

"Bai Yu, a demon hunter," the man said briefly.

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Demon hunter, what kind of demon hunter?

"Damn it, we're here to find the murderer, not to watch a shaman perform a ritual! I've been fed up with all this yellow talisman paper in the village for ages!" a burly man with a full beard shouted haphazardly. He was hot-tempered and spoke with a strong rural accent.

He found it distasteful to leave the murderer unpunished while letting a charlatan perform his tricks.

As soon as he said this, everyone agreed.

People in the martial arts world only believe in the real swords and blades in their hands. If there were really such a thing as demons and ghosts, wouldn't those martial arts masters who have killed countless people be killed by the vengeful spirits of those who died by their swords?

On the contrary, these incompetent Taoist priests dare to come here to swindle people.

Amidst the cacophony of shouts and curses, the man who called himself a demon hunter remained calm, simply taking a yellow talisman from his waist.

With a pinch of two fingers, the talisman flew into the air and spontaneously combusted as if it had been exposed to fire.

The voices of those who had been questioning and even cursing fell silent. The Taoist-dressed demon hunter then slowly said, "Now there should be no need for me to prove my innocence."

Someone scoffed, "It's just a scam; you charlatans are experts at it."

Some镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) who had been working as镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) for many years and had heard many strange and unusual stories shook their heads and said, "Could it be that there really are... demons and ghosts in this world?"

The demon hunter pulled a compass from his sleeve, raised his eyes and squinted, saying, "Not only do they exist, but these man-eating demons are hiding among you."

These chilling words were like a cold wind blowing down my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

Everyone tensed up instinctively. Whether they believed it or not was another matter, but their eyes darted around involuntarily, trying to find the wolf in human skin hiding in the crowd to eliminate any future trouble.

Just then, the compass suddenly started to spin.

The sudden exclamations from the surrounding crowd set the stage, and everyone's hearts began to pound heavily, one beat after another, like a boulder rolling down a cliff.

The compass finally stopped before the last breath in its chest was expelled.

The direction it points to is...

The chaotic crowd scrambled away from her, leaving a large empty space in the once crowded courtyard.

And right at the center was Xue Xin.

In the entire courtyard, only the crow behind her and Iron Hand and Agave standing beside her remained motionless.

Some people, fearing for their lives, blurted out in a panic, "Monster! Quick, kill this monster!"

Iron Hand let out a deep breath, his face turning cold as he angrily said, "Nonsense! What kind of gods and ghosts are there in this world? If ghosts really exist, what's the point of having constables? People can just seek justice for their grievances and settle their scores after they die."

That is indeed the case. "But why do the compass of this gentleman and the incense ash under the deceased point to Xuexin specifically, instead of someone else?"

The man's voice was slightly weak, but his words were spoken with exceptional clarity.

Xue Xin looked at Qi Tianli expressionlessly. Qi Tianli was clenching his teeth, his eyes filled with deep suspicion.

"She looks like a living dead."

His gaze fell on her snow-white skin, a complexion so pale it was almost papery and so delicate, which had once captivated him, now made him suspicious and wary.

Xue Xin's lips curled up, and she suddenly turned to look at Tie Shou, "What do you think?"

From their encounter in the deserted temple to everything that followed, after careful consideration, did Tie Youxia truly never have a single moment of doubt?

He held her hand tightly, without saying a word.

Tequila couldn't help but retort angrily, "There should be a limit to absurdity! You two are all well-known figures in the martial arts world, yet you've been scared out of your wits like this! How can you gang up on a sickly little girl like this? Have you no shame at all?!"

Her chest heaved with rage, and she pointed at the self-proclaimed demon hunter, cursing, "If you keep swindling people here under your guise, your Grandma Long will have you arrested and thrown in jail!"

Her sharp and outspoken manner truly broke the shackles of the atmosphere shrouded in suspicion. Although her words were harsh, they eased the tension that had been building up around everyone.

Even a good man wouldn't fight with a woman, let alone this Agave, who comes from a distinguished family, is a high-ranking official, and is also a top expert in the Six Doors.

Seeing that this person had completely branded him as a charlatan, Bai Yu straightened his sleeves, took out a stack of talismans, and gestured to the crowd, saying, "Whether someone is a demon or not can be determined with a single examination. I will use these talismans to set up an array, and demons and ghosts within this array will be annihilated in less than half an incense stick's time. This method will not harm ordinary people. If you are human and believe you are innocent, you may enter my array. If you dare not, I will exorcise the demon and destroy the ghost yourself."

He looked at the agave, bowed slightly, and the copper coins at his waist clinked together. "Whether it's a scam or not, we'll know in half an incense stick's time. If there are no demons or ghosts, Bai Yu is willing to go to the yamen with this female constable."