Shang Wenshu hesitated, doubts swirling in his mind, when the study door creaked open behind him. Zhao Shuanghe stepped out, his voice icy. "What’s going on with the drums outside?"

Shang Wenshu’s heart pounded, but he forced himself to remain calm, turning to report dutifully. "Sir, it’s like this..."

"A man-eating demon?" Zhao Shuanghe remained expressionless as he listened. Then, he snorted coldly. "It must be that Chen Zhou’s doing! That fool of a boy must have fallen into the devil’s path. Now, not only has he killed people, but he’s resorting to cannibalism!"

Shang Wenshu cursed inwardly. This old fox was trying to pin the blame on Chen Zhou!

The true culprit was right inside his study!

The yamen runners, unaware of the situation, found the explanation plausible. After all, Chen Zhou’s sudden transformation was terrifying. Just yesterday, they had witnessed him pull an arrow from his own skull without flinching. If that wasn’t something out of a nightmare, what was?

"Post a notice," Zhao Shuanghe ordered. "Make it known that Chen Zhou is not only a murderer but also a man-eater! Let the people be wary!"

"Yes!" Shang Wenshu responded. Though resentment simmered in his heart, he didn’t dare show the slightest resistance.

"Hmm..." Zhao Shuanghe nodded and turned to leave. But suddenly, he paused. "You said the old beggar’s grandson was eaten? Only the bones were left?"

"Yes, sir," a yamen runner confirmed. "The way he died… it was horrific."

"Good. Display the corpse beneath the notice board. Let the people see the true horror of Chen Zhou!" Zhao Shuanghe added.

Shang Wenshu’s face darkened. "This..."

"Didn’t understand?" Zhao Shuanghe’s gaze turned sharp.

"I obey your orders!" Shang Wenshu immediately bowed.

Zhao Shuanghe smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Chen Zhou… let’s see who dares to shelter you now."

With that, he turned and disappeared back into his study, leaving Shang Wenshu standing in place, his head still bleeding, surrounded by oblivious yamen runners.

……

"Did you hear what was said outside?" Zhao Shuanghe asked as soon as he stepped back inside, directing his gaze toward the two cat demons.

"We heard," the female cat demon answered first, her voice smooth and pleasant. "It must have been my daughter. She’s spoiled and a bit mischievous. It’s her first time in your territory—she must’ve gotten carried away and started eating."

Her tone remained calm, even amused, as if speaking about a child’s harmless prank rather than a gruesome killing.

"What’s the big deal?" the male cat demon scoffed, staring at Zhao Shuanghe with slight displeasure. "You’re making a fuss just because my daughter ate someone from your county?"

Zhao Shuanghe waved the concern away. "As long as you help me capture Chen Zhou, you may eat as many people as you want."

The cat demons' eyes gleamed with hunger.

"The officials from Guanghan Palace will arrive in two days. You must capture him before then!" Zhao Shuanghe added, his voice thick with urgency.

Shang Wenshu was right—his son’s death had driven him into madness. Caution and patience had been cast aside; all he wanted now was to tear Chen Zhou to pieces.

"Master Zhao, don’t worry," the female cat demon purred. "Our kind has a keen sense of smell. Just give me something he used before, and I’ll have him caught before the day is over."

"Be careful," Zhao Shuanghe warned. "My men have reported that Chen Zhou is… unnatural. Even with an arrow through his skull, he didn’t die."

"Hah!" The male cat demon sneered. "It’s just a trick. It might fool those ignorant two-legged sheep, but it won’t fool us."

How could a human survive a headshot? Even among demons, such vitality was rare.

If Chen Zhou truly had such power, no one in the entire Guanghan Prefecture could stop him. In that case, why would he still be a mere fugitive?

It had to be a deception.

"Hmm..." Zhao Shuanghe nodded in agreement. His men were just second-rate warriors, easily fooled. Had they fired a rain of arrows instead of hesitating, Chen Zhou would have been a corpse long ago.

Still, he had killed three second-realm warriors. That was no simple feat.

To be safe, Zhao Shuanghe had turned to the demon clan.

These two cat demons weren’t ordinary creatures—they were both true third-realm monsters.

"But why the urgency?" the male cat demon asked. "Guanghan Palace will handle this in two days. If we act too soon, you risk exposing yourself."

Colluding with demons was punishable by execution—along with one’s entire bloodline.

"You don’t understand." Zhao Shuanghe shook his head. "The palace lord of Guanghan Palace is known for cherishing talent. That entire place is built to recruit martial geniuses."

"Chen Zhou is young, yet he has already slain multiple second-realm warriors. His talent is undeniable. I fear… the higher-ups may take him in."

And if that happened, his son’s blood feud would never be avenged.

……

Outside the yamen gates, the old beggar clutched Gou Wa’er's skeletal remains, his tattered robes drenched in blood. The guards had denied him entry, leaving him to wait outside.

Moments later, a group of yamen runners emerged.

The old beggar rushed forward, his voice hoarse with grief. "Sir, please! Help me! Catch the monster that did this!"

The middle-aged constable wrinkled his nose in disgust, stepping back. Then, in an indifferent tone, he said, "Monster? Ha! That fiend didn’t just eat your grandson—he also killed our county lieutenant and the magistrate’s son. Do you think this is just about you?"

The old beggar froze.

They already knew who the murderer was?

And this monster had killed even more people?

"It’s him!" The constable pointed toward the notice board.

The old beggar turned and saw a wanted poster. The face on it was familiar.

Too familiar.

Below the sketch, bold characters read:

Chen Zhou, age fifteen.

This criminal has brutally murdered dozens in the city. His crimes are heinous.

Anyone with information must report to the authorities immediately.

Reward: 500 taels of silver and 10 acres of land.

Anyone who shelter him will be executed.

The old beggar’s heart pounded.

No… No, that was impossible!

"It can’t be him!" he suddenly shouted.

Just yesterday, this boy had given him two silver ingots. He had spoken with kindness, had even told him to take care of his health…

How could such a person be a murderer?

"Who else could it be?" a yamen runner sneered.

As the old beggar stood there in disbelief, the constable stepped forward and added a few more lines to the wanted notice:

He is a cannibal, insane, and no better than a beast.

"Sir… Could there be some mistake?" the old beggar pleaded.

"No mistake," the constable said confidently.

Then, his expression turned grim. "Leave your grandson’s corpse here, under the notice board."

The old beggar’s breath hitched. He instinctively clutched the remains tighter. "Why?"

"Evidence of Chen Zhou’s crimes. It must be displayed." The constable smirked and signaled his men forward.

The old beggar’s fingers trembled. He fumbled in his robes and pulled out the silver ingots, pressing them into the constable’s hands.

"Gentlemen… Please…"

The constable weighed the silver and sneered. "Not bad, old man. Didn’t expect you to have this much."

Relief washed over the beggar’s face—until the constable shook his head.

"But… orders are orders. Hand over the bones."

"Take it from him."