"Ahhh!!! Old hero, spare my life!!"

"If you don't speak the truth, I will slice you into a thousand pieces today, make you taste every kind of physical torment! And then kill your entire family!"

"I'll talk! I'll talk! That Chen Yi was a misunderstanding! The Huowang Village case was originally meant to be dumped on Shen Qingshan, but Chen Yi happened to stumble into it! Later, my father planned further, and Shen Qingshan finally fell into the trap! The reason we kept scheming against him is because Shen Qingshan was investigating some cases within the yamen!"

"What cases?"

"Some... murder cases in the county. These cases were actually already closed... but, the culprits were all framed. The real killers were... were... demons!"

All the constables around were utterly shocked.

"Framing people for murders committed by demons? Why??"

"Even if the County Magistrate is corrupt, he's still human! Why would he help demons??"

"What does the County Magistrate gain from this?"

The constables' questions were also your points of confusion.

The skinny County Magistrate looked around, let out a long sigh, and knew that if he didn't speak today, he would die anyway.

Just as he was about to spill everything.

With a loud "BANG!", the yamen's main gate slammed shut.

Everyone turned to look and saw the Demon Slaying Division's Chief Commissioner, Feng Yucheng, arriving, dressed in an official robe with black base and gold patterns.

Seeing Feng Yucheng, the skinny County Magistrate was terrified.

"I... I told you to go to the Dragon Protection Department to find help! Who told you to go to the Demon Slaying Division?!"

Before his words even finished.

A cold gleam shot out from Feng Yucheng's sleeve, piercing through the skinny County Magistrate's head.

"A thing with a loose mouth..."

Immediately after, several command banners flew out from Feng Yucheng's hands, embedding themselves into the high walls surrounding the yamen.

The command banners resonated with each other, and a formation rose from the ground.

Although you didn't understand formations, judging from the light curtain enveloping the entire county yamen, he had likely sealed this place off, making entry and exit impossible.

Feng Yucheng's expression was calm, and his tone didn't even carry any emotional fluctuation.

"You have learned things you shouldn't have. Today, all of you must die!"

The constables trembled with fear.

Feng Yucheng was a Soul Tempering realm martial artist! In this small Baiyun County, aside from those elusive Dragon Guards in the Dragon Protection Department, no one was his match!

"Chief Commissioner Feng! Spare us!"

"I have an eighty-year-old mother above and a three-year-old child below! I don't want to die!"

"Chief Commissioner Feng, I didn't hear anything! I'm deaf!!"

Facing the constables' pleas for mercy, Feng Yucheng remained unmoved. He noticed your composed demeanor, which actually surprised him a little.

"Chen Yi, you're already getting on in years. Why come back? If you didn't die on the conscription journey, you should have just found some remote, impoverished corner to live out your days in obscurity."

Feng Yucheng didn't know that you had indeed done exactly that.

It's just that in this lifetime, you were a bit unlucky. First, you took too many Pill Toxins, and later you got tricked by Old Liu, so your days were numbered.

To avoid wasting a simulation opportunity, you returned to Baiyun County to cause a ruckus at the county yamen.

"So, you are the mastermind behind the scenes. You are the one truly cooperating with the demon race. The County Magistrate was merely following your orders, using his official position to cover up the incidents of demons and monsters harming people in Baiyun County."

Feng Yucheng casually straightened the sleeves of his official robe.

"If a place has demons and monsters running rampant for a long time, the imperial court will hold the local Demon Slaying Division accountable.

But those beasts get unbearably uncomfortable if they don't eat people.

So, I came up with a great idea to cooperate with the county yamen: change cases of demon killings to human killings, and just pin them on a few unlucky scapegoats.

This way, the higher-ups would think the demon problem in Baiyun County isn't severe.

My cooperation with the demon race in this area could be maintained long-term."

You remembered some details.

Back in Huowang Village, when you fell into the trap and the constables were about to arrest you, Feng Yucheng had also appeared there.

It was precisely because Feng Yucheng showed up that Shen Qingshan couldn't keep you there, forced to watch as you were taken away by the constables.

Thinking back on it now, Feng Yucheng's appearance there was clearly to monitor the progress of that trap.

Shen Qingshan had discovered the irregularities in these murder cases and had been investigating.

Feng Yucheng and the County Magistrate then plotted to frame him, to prevent the truth from being uncovered.

It's just that in this simulation, you accidentally stumbled into it by mistake.

Not long after you were conscripted, they schemed against Shen Qingshan again, triggering his resistance and the subsequent events of Da Chun taking Shen Siqin to wander.

"So that's how it is. Now I understand everything..."

Outside the simulation, Chen Yi couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Such a small Baiyun County actually had such deep, murky waters.

Corrupt officials, wicked clerks, and demons—three parties were actually colluding together.

Were they treating the common people of Baiyun County like an all-you-can-eat buffet?

"This matter is very important. After the simulation ends, I must go inform Third Brother-in-law, tell him to back off, to avoid being targeted by Feng Yucheng..."

Judging by the timeline, it should be possible.

The County Magistrate and Feng Yucheng scheming against Shen Qingshan happened over a year later.

At this point, Shen Qingshan probably hadn't gotten involved in this muddy water yet.

"What do you get from helping the demon race in Baiyun County like this?"

Feng Yucheng raised both hands, and an expression similar to when Old Liu was demonizing appeared on his face.

"Power! Just like you, I only have a Low-Grade Bone Structure. So you can understand how difficult it is for people like us with poor aptitude to cultivate martial arts!

I cooperate with the demon race. They use fresh human blood and demonic energy to refine Blood Demon Pills for me, helping me break through the shackles of my innate talent and continuously improve my cultivation!"

Now you understood why there was so much demonic energy in Baiyun County.

Even the demon race had a protective umbrella.

Suddenly, the formation covering the county yamen projected beams of crimson light, converging on Feng Yucheng's body. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"What's happening?"

"The formation seems to be providing him with power!"

"He's already in the Soul Tempering realm! If he's still boosting his power, are we definitely going to die today?!"

Yes, all of you were doomed.

You were very calm about it. After all, your days were numbered anyway.

Better to fall in a grand, earth-shattering battle than to die in a sickbed!

Although, the result wasn't grand or earth-shattering at all.

There was already a realm gap between you and Feng Yucheng. On top of that, he was using the formation to boost his power to finish the fight quickly, making the gap even wider.

He transformed into a red streak of light, charging left and right through the crowd. Without any weapon in hand, he relied solely on his hands to pierce through the heart of every single one of you!

Feng Yucheng's expression was icy cold, as if he were slaughtering chickens.

Before you closed your eyes, he took one last look at you.

"Don't blame me. In a world where martial power reigns supreme, if I don't do this, I'd just be fish on someone else's chopping block..."

You gave him the middle finger.

"Just wait. We'll fight again in the next lifetime!"

You died.

Simulation Evaluation:

A general's star aided by Photographic Memory, loyal souls fallen yet the nation knows no peace. Bearing the waning sun, thoughts dwell on old dreams; with white hair and clenched fists, parting the dark night's gleam.