Carried by a female demon-exterminator, this group of well-dressed demon-hunting knights carried Jiang Ke’er back to the city.
Upon returning to the city, they didn’t restrict Jiang Ke’er’s freedom.
“Run if you want to die.”
They were extremely confident in the snake venom of the snake demoness, believing that no one but them could neutralize this strange poison.
If Jiang Ke’er were to escape, it would be purely self-defeating.
Moreover, the current situation in the city was chaotic, clearly understaffed, and there weren’t enough spare hands or space to guard Jiang Ke’er.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t lived enough yet,” Jiang Ke’er sighed.
“The night after tomorrow, come find me at the Demon Extermination Bureau. Give them my name, Kuang Yuanwei,” the captain of the demon-exterminating squad commanded coldly.
“Yes,” Jiang Ke’er replied, bowing her head, but a smile played on the corner of her lips.
On the way back to the city, the demon-exterminating squad’s medical cultivator had already healed most of Jiang Ke’er’s injuries. Although she still needed to recuperate and couldn’t withstand much exertion, she could now move freely.
“Put this on.”
Kuang Yuanwei produced a set of clothes from somewhere, similar in style to what the female snake demon wore—a grayish demon-exterminating squad uniform.
“You can only move around the city if you wear this… I don’t have time to look after you, but I can’t let you be beaten to death by others as a wild demon.”
With that, Kuang Yuanwei led his group of demon-exterminating knights away, strutting proudly.
Watching the demon-exterminating squad rush off, Jiang Ke’er stood at the city gate, gazing at the bustling market inside the city.
The atmosphere within the city was not relaxed; it was even grim.
In short—chariots rumbled and horses neighed, pedestrians each had bows and arrows at their waists.
Everyone’s eyes were fierce; they vigilantly scrutinized every stranger around them, poised to attack and harm others at any moment.
It was as if everyone around them was their enemy.
Jiang Ke’er thought to herself: “People die for wealth, and birds die for food. This is probably going to be a massive free-for-all, with only a very few people getting the ‘chicken dinner’ in the end.”
But first, she needed to investigate what that “thing” actually was to have a clear understanding.
So, the first thing she needed to do was naturally fill her stomach and gather information.
Her target was clear: a restaurant.
Let’s go!
Because she was wearing the demon-exterminating squad uniform, even though she was a demon, no one in the city dared to trouble her.
She walked into the tavern, and the waiter, upon seeing her uniform, joyfully welcomed her.
But when he looked up at her face again, he was stunned.
“What, am I that ugly?” Jiang Ke’er felt a little flustered.
She hadn’t seen her own reflection yet.
“No, esteemed guest, you’ve clearly just been through a fierce battle… would you like me to get you a wet towel to wipe yourself?” Realizing his lapse in etiquette, the waiter quickly added.
Jiang Ke’er touched her face and realized it was covered in dried bloodstains and mud.
She had been too tense earlier to notice.
She then took the mirror and looked at herself, immediately laughing—”What is this? My face is so smeared, I look like an African refugee, like I’m wearing a black mask. No wonder those demon-exterminating squad members had no opinion about my appearance.”
“Get a wet towel, and a basin of water… hmm, one basin of water probably won’t be enough,” Jiang Ke’er said.
The waiter paused for a moment, then shyly said, “Esteemed guest, your voice is truly lovely… Ah, please wait, I’ll go get the water now!”
Lovely? Hmm… it does seem pretty good.
Before, her voice was hoarse from severe injuries, and she couldn’t hear its original sound.
Now that her injuries were mostly healed, she could get close to her natural voice.
Should she say it was worthy of a fox?
The waiter hurriedly brought the basin of water and towels, and Jiang Ke’er began to wash her face, changing several basins of water before her face was clean.
When she dried her face and looked up, the tavern hall suddenly became exceptionally quiet.
“…Am I that good-looking?” Jiang Ke’er whispered.
“Clatter!”
The waiter’s basin dropped to the floor, and he stared blankly at Jiang Ke’er, unable to tear his gaze away.
“Hey! Hello! Menu please? I’m ready to order!”
It took Jiang Ke’er a great deal of effort to rouse the waiter, but even after waking, he still seemed utterly dazed.
Jiang Ke’er wanted to find a bronze mirror to see her reflection, but the waiter had already taken it away when he changed the water earlier.
Left with no choice, she sat by the window, filled with curiosity, waiting for the waiter to bring the menu.
The dishes on the menu were all sold in units of spirit dust, a currency unit even lower than spirit stones.
Jiang Ke’er asked the waiter and learned that the exchange rate between spirit dust and spirit stones was 100 to 1, and the exchange rate between spirit stones and magic crystal stones was also 100 to 1.
She had three magic crystal stones on hand, more than enough to buy every dish in the tavern… so Jiang Ke’er relaxed, ready for a feast!
She was starving!
She ordered a few light, bland porridges and soups that her stomach could handle.
Jiang Ke’er then pulled up the hood of her demon-exterminating squad uniform, hiding her face in the shadows to avoid drawing too much attention.
Whispers and Secrets.
Gradually, new customers arrived at the tavern, and the atmosphere in the hall began to return to a lively buzz, giving Jiang Ke’er the chance to eavesdrop.
“Have you heard? People from the Southern Yue Wuji Sect and Daguang Temple just arrived! All strong cultivators, inner disciples or higher!”
“It’s a bit tricky. All three major sects of Xiao Kingdom are here. We small sects probably won’t even get a piece of a dragon scale…”
Xiao Kingdom? Three major sects?
Jiang Ke’er quietly noted down this information.
“That Dragon Clan Saintess is foolish too, she knows it’s a trap, yet she still comes to her death… Doesn’t she know our Xiao Kingdom’s attitude towards demons?”
“She had no choice but to come. The Demon Kingdom monarch sent her as an envoy to negotiate peace; a monarch’s command cannot be defied! Disobeying would only bring total annihilation to the entire Dragon Clan!”
“Negotiate peace? I think it’s just offering gifts. The Demon Kingdom monarch never expected her to return… Sending her here is just to offer some dragon scales, dragon hides, and dragon tendons to curry favor with our Xiao Kingdom’s major sects!”
“Shhh, you and I know these things, but it’s best not to discuss them in public.”
“It’s fine. The current demon monarch is a useless leader who only knows how to squabble internally. He can even give away the Dragon Clan Saintess. The fall of the Demon Kingdom is only a matter of time! Nothing to worry about!”
Demon Kingdom?
Hearing those two words, Jiang Ke’er was quite excited.
So, the demon race was organized! If she could escape there, she wouldn’t have to be a slave in human territory!
However, it sounded like the Demon Kingdom wasn’t peaceful either.
Its political situation was chaotic, even powerful figures like the Dragon Clan Saintess were being sent to their deaths.
That Dragon Clan Saintess seemed quite pitiful.
Well, it had nothing to do with her anyway. Her most urgent and primary task was to survive.
“Waiter! Check, please!”
When the waiter came over, Jiang Ke’er boldly pulled out a magic crystal stone and slipped it into his hand.
“Keep the change,” she said, “consider it a thank you for helping me with the water earlier.”
Jiang Ke’er walked out with a flourish, not noticing a cloaked figure rising immediately after her, trailing her closely, neither too near nor too far.
“Next, it’s time to practice my thievery skills!” Jiang Ke’er patted her satisfied stomach and headed towards the most crowded area, strolling leisurely.
Once her thievery skills were high enough, she could steal back the antidote.
Then, with the world as her oyster, no one would be able to restrict her freedom!