“Shark demon?” Men Dong, having recently heard Zanxing’s story and still vividly remembering it, asked, “Is it the same merman that caused trouble in Li’er Country forty years ago?”
“No, no!” The innkeeper was agitated, “That shark demon was killed by the old king long ago. How could it possibly come back?”
“Why couldn’t it?” The woman replied anxiously, “My mother said that back then, the shark demon killed people by draining the blood of young women, just like what happened to my sister!” She suddenly turned to Zanxing and the others, “I don’t know why the king ordered to keep this quiet, preventing the city from discussing it. But if the truth had been revealed earlier, these powerful cultivators might have caught the shark demon sooner, and my sister wouldn’t have died!”
“Wife!” Her husband beside her covered her mouth, “Stop talking!”
The woman struggled for a bit but couldn’t break free, and then started crying again.
“What’s going on?” Pu Tao looked at the city guard leader who was standing silently in the room, “Shouldn’t you explain, sir?”
The leader stepped back, looking very troubled.
Just then, a commotion of footsteps came from outside, and a group of guards rushed in. The leading guard cupped his hands and said, “Esteemed cultivators, by order of the king, you are requested to enter the palace immediately to discuss the matter of subduing the demon.”
Earlier, they claimed it was the first incident, but now they were talking about a “discussion.” The group exchanged puzzled glances. Tan Tianxin, however, nonchalantly remarked, “So quickly, it seems they couldn’t keep it under wraps.” He turned to leave but then realized something and, pretending to be calm, looked at Gu Baiying. “Are you all coming along?”
“Of course we are,” Nie Xinghong responded eagerly, “As cultivators, it’s our duty to exterminate demons and protect the people.” He then warmly invited Meng Ying, “Miss Meng, you should come too. I would be very worried leaving you here alone.”
Meng Ying ignored him and looked inquiringly at Gu Baiying. Gu Baiying glanced at Tan Tianxin and said, “Let’s go.”
So they were going.
Zanxing followed behind Gu Baiying, feeling a bit puzzled. In the original story, there was indeed an arc involving the secret realm of Li’er Country, but it was primarily a plot device for Mu Cengxiao to level up and show off. There was no subplot involving a shark demon. Had the plot changed? She looked down at the red mark on her palm, which hadn’t deepened.
At least she hadn’t stolen Mu Cengxiao’s protagonist spotlight, so she wouldn’t be targeted by the original storyline.
“Zanxing, hurry up,” Tian Fangfang urged her from the front.
She put aside her thoughts and hurried to catch up.
At night, the weather in Li’er Country became quite chilly.
The white palace, bathed in sunlight during the day, appeared pure and elegant. However, at night, with white everywhere, it felt empty and desolate, somewhat bleak.
A row of mirrors hung outside the palace gates, undoubtedly engraved with demon-repelling spells. Numerous yellow talisman papers were pasted around the door and on the steps. The night wind blew through the hall, causing the pale lanterns to sway slightly. The flickering lights made the hall look less like a grand palace and more like a spooky altar.
The king of Li’er Country sat on the high throne, looking worriedly at the group walking in. After inviting them to sit, he sighed deeply and said, “I have already heard about what happened on the west coast. You esteemed cultivators just came from the inn, so you must already be aware.”
“Your Highness,” Mu Cengxiao began, looking at him, “the demon attacking people is not the first occurrence in Li’er Country, is it?”
The king lowered his head in embarrassment, “Indeed, it is not the first time. In fact, over the past two months, this is the ninth young woman to be killed.”
Everyone frowned upon hearing this. Zanxing asked, “Since that’s the case, why didn’t you inform us when we arrived earlier?”
“Exactly!” Pu Tao added, “My senior sisters and I arrived two days earlier, and we didn’t hear anything about this from the townspeople. If Your Highness had told us sooner, perhaps tonight’s tragedy could have been avoided.”
“It was my oversight,” the king replied. “The previous concealment was due to a fear of causing panic among the people. After all, the way they died is exactly like those killed by the shark demon forty years ago. The ministers decided to keep the matter quiet temporarily to avoid alarming the populace. We planned to ask for your assistance in subduing the demon after you returned from the secret realm. However, we did not anticipate that the demon would strike tonight. Previously, it killed one person every ten days, and today is not yet the tenth day.”
“Why try to reason with a demon?” Gu Baiying said with a hint of amusement. “Once it starts a killing spree, it will act whenever it pleases. It’s laughably naive for a king to be so foolish.”
His blunt criticism of the king left the others speechless, and the king looked thoroughly embarrassed.
Nie Xinghong shook his fan and changed the subject, “Your Highness mentioned that the current victims died in the same manner as those killed by the shark demon forty years ago. Does this mean that the demon causing trouble now is the same shark demon from back then? But didn’t the old king slay that shark demon? How could it still be causing harm?”
“To be honest, forty years ago, I wasn’t even born yet. I’ve only heard stories about my father battling the shark demon and read about it in records. If you want, I can have someone fetch those records,” the king offered.
“No need, I’ll tell them,” A voice called out from outside the hall. Everyone turned to see a woman in red entering.
The woman had gray hair styled into a bun. Despite being nearly sixty, she appeared spirited and full of vigor, exuding a commanding presence. Zanxing was taken aback and then said, “Isn’t she…”
This was the same elderly woman they had encountered earlier at the golden statue of the “King Slaying the Shark Demon” by the Western Sea. At that time, the woman had scolded Zanxing, admonishing her not to romanticize monsters, lest the sacrifices of those who had slain the shark demon be in vain. To see her now in the palace was quite unexpected.
The king on the high throne stood up and said, “Mother, why have you come?”
“Mother?” Tian Fangfang asked in surprise, “She is…”
“This is my mother,” the king smiled. “It seems you’ve met her before?”
“Indeed, we have,” Mu Cengxiao also said. “But we didn’t realize she was Your Highness’s mother.”
“My son has ascended to the throne, so I am now just an ordinary woman. There is no need to treat me with royal etiquette,” the woman said. “I was originally Princess Lizhu of the Lin Kingdom, married here for political alliance. It is fine for you to call me by my name.”
“Princess Lizhu,” Nie Xinghong, skilled at charming women, smiled and said, “You mentioned earlier that you would tell us about the shark demon?”
“Indeed.” Lizhu spoke calmly, “Forty years ago, shortly after I married into Li’er Country, the shark demon began causing havoc in the city. I was present the night the king slew the shark demon.”
“I can tell you everything.”