Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 184 - 10: Punishment

Baili Village, as the name suggests, is a village settlement located a hundred li away from Yongzhou.

This "hundred li" is not exactly an accurate measure.

In terms of actual distance, it's about seventy li, which is approximately thirty kilometers in modern terms.

Shen Qing rode swiftly, reaching the vicinity in two or three moments.

The air was thick with the almost overwhelming scent of blood.

Shen Qing's brow twitched, and he couldn't help but urge his subordinates to quicken their pace.

"Whoa!"

Shen Qing halted his horse, peering ahead carefully. At the roadside, a corpse had been carelessly tossed on the ground.

The body lay face down, and on its back was an outline of an eagle without wings, as if carved by sharp claws.

The skin on both sides had been cut open, and the ribs inside were broken, with the chest bones splayed outward like a pair of wings about to take flight.

These bloody bone wings and the earlier carving created the gruesome image of a "Blood Eagle."

Liu Sangui and the others, upon seeing the corpse, paled and recognized it immediately: "This is troublesome, it's really it!"

Hearing this, Shen Qing turned his head and asked, "Who is this 'it' you speak of?"

"A matured Eagle Demon."

"Eagle Demon?"

Jiang Dacong, Guan Yunjian, and Uncle Shu also turned pale at the sight of the body.

"Lord officers, you may not be aware, but this Eagle Demon has caused trouble here more than once or twice. Every time it strikes, it leaves a corpse like this. After eating people, it spreads its wings and flies into the deep mountains. It's extremely difficult to deal with. The Guardian Martial Department is powerless against it."

Shen Qing listened quietly, pondering inwardly.

As Guan Yunjian and the others said, if it were a flying demon, they surely had no means to deal with it.

"Let's first take a look."

Shen Qing, with a solemn expression, tightened his legs against the horse's belly and led the way into Baili Village.

Baili Village consisted of about a few dozen households, larger than a typical village, with numerous taverns and stalls catering to passing merchants.

However, many roofs had been upturned, walls had collapsed, and beams had fractured, turning the place into ruins.

"Stay close, be careful, everyone," Liu Sangui cautioned from behind.

Jiang Dacong, Guan Yunjian, and Uncle Shu instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons, following closely.

As Shen Qing entered Baili Village, he was met with a field of debris.

The monster was indeed man-eating.

Looking around, Shen Qing couldn't find a single intact corpse, even the internal organs had been devoured clean.

Only large patches of dark red bloodstains and signs of struggle marked the ground.

Upon closer inspection, one could find numerous claw marks and pecking signs on the remains, and even an infant with its skull cap pried open, leaving an empty cavity.

Shen Qing couldn't help but recall the scene he witnessed once in the village, eerily similar.

As Shen Qing and his group moved deeper, the devastation unfolded further.

More and more body fragments appeared.

If one looked closely, scattered eyeballs and ears could be found on the ground. With patience, it might even be possible to piece together a whole human body, with many crucial parts left uneaten.

This indicated that the Eagle Demon initially hunted humans for food, but once satiated, it continued killing purely for sport.

Shen Qing couldn't help but develop a deep hatred for this Eagle Demon.

Guan Yunjian and the others gazed at the strewn corpses, having grown accustomed to such sights, their hearts remained unshaken.

Only one concern caused their brows to furrow in worry.

"If it's the Eagle Demon, Lord Chief Officer ordered us to capture it within three days. The Guardian Martial Department couldn't handle it, so how are we supposed to kill it? Our monthly salary is bound to be cut in half again."

"Why don't we stick to the old method?"

"What old method?" Shen Qing turned his head to ask.

Uncle Shu casually replied, "We don't mention the Eagle Demon, who's to know it did this? Conveniently, I know a few hooligans; we kill them and claim they did it. Wouldn't that solve everything?"

After listening, Shen Qing, with an expressionless face, said, "Is that how you always handle such matters?"

"It's not often, but we have experience with such cases. Then we burn the place to eliminate evidence, and no one will know. If the Eagle Demon strikes again, as long as it's outside our jurisdiction, others can deal with it."

With a look of pride, Uncle Shu seemed reassured by this solution.

"You seem proud to kill the innocent for merit?" Shen Qing glanced at Uncle Shu, questioning.

"Hmm?" Seeing Shen Qing's look, Uncle Shu shivered involuntarily, his brows tightening.

Before he could respond, a forceful Qi struck his lower abdomen.

The overwhelming strength exploded in his stomach, causing Uncle Shu to fall heavily to the ground like a ragdoll flung by a gale, stirring dust around him.

Witnesses like Guan Yunjian and Jiang Dacong shrieked in surprise.

Shen Qing slowly retracted his hand, coldly warning, "If you attempt such actions in my presence again, a mere injury will be the least of your worries."

Uncle Shu's eyes blazed with fury, his rage verging on eruption.

"I offered you a suggestion, and you attack me? What kind of phony are you?"

Just as Uncle Shu was about to retaliate, Guan Yunjian rushed forward to help him up, pinching his arm sharply.

Recollecting himself, Uncle Shu glanced at Guan Yunjian, quickly understanding, forcing down his inner fury.

Uncle Shu stood up, clasped his hands, and joined the others in unison to acknowledge, "Yes, Lord officers."

Liu Sangui stepped forward and inquired, "Sir, what do we do next?"

Mounting his horse, Shen Qing asked, "Where does the Eagle Demon usually reside?"

"I know of a place." Liu Sangui eagerly offered, "Let me lead the way."

"Good."

Liu Sangui quickly mounted his horse and sped forward.

Shen Qing followed closely.

Watching Shen Qing's figure gradually fade into the distance, Jiang Dacong couldn't help but blurt out, "He's not planning to confront the Eagle Demon, is he?"

"Just him?"

Uncle Shu rubbed his abdomen, his eyes filled with disdain for Shen Qing, "Damn it, what an act. If he's the good guy, does that make us the Evil Officials? Bah, wait until he encounters the cunning Eagle Demon. Then he'll understand true despair! Let's see if he's still as smug."

The Eagle Demon, always in Concealment within the towering mountains, even if found, could easily escape by flight. How could they hope to catch it?

Moreover, the Eagle Demon bore grudges; if it targeted someone, they would suffer dearly.

"We should cease this chatter; hurry over," Jiang Dacong urged.

She mounted her horse and followed suit.

With a spit full of contempt, Uncle Shu mounted his horse in hatred, "I'll see just what kind of storm you, Shen Chasi, can stir. Hyah!"