The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

The Ten Thousand Spirits Festival!

Bai Yuan’s heart skipped a beat when he heard those words.

He still remembered the first time he’d heard the term. It was back in Qinghe County. The Soul-Chasing Tower’s madness was all because of the Ten Thousand Spirits Festival.

He had asked You Shengnan about it later.

But You Shengnan couldn’t give him an answer, only that the Demon Sect had killed far too many people for this so-called Ten Thousand Spirits Festival.

"Please enlighten me, Senior."

Bai Yuan knew how to ask for a favor and respectfully bowed to Zhou Siming.

Although Zhou Siming couldn’t see, Bai Yuan was certain the man could sense it.

Zhou Siming seemed to be in a good mood and, for once, was quite talkative. "You think the Demon Sect causes all this bloodshed just for kicks?"

"What they’re really after is the ultimate form of power."

"The Demon Sect has produced many geniuses, including some with truly wild imaginations. They believe an individual’s power will always have its limits. Their idea was to use the power of millions to help one person become a Saint. Then, that Saint would defy the heavens to give back to the world, and in the end, all living beings could achieve sainthood."

"I don’t buy it, but those madmen actually went through with it. And they really did cook up some strange things, like Demonic Qi. It’s not even certain if the first Sect Master of the Demon Sect is truly dead."

"They began making sacrifices to gain the favor of the Demon God. Later, they discovered that sacrifices who died with lingering obsessions were far more potent than ordinary ones. That’s why they choose to first torment their victims before killing them."

"As for the Ten Thousand Spirits Festival... it isn’t a single event. Or rather, you could say that since the day the Demon Sect was founded, the sacrifice has never stopped."

"They firmly believe that with enough sacrifices, they can bring the Demon God back into this world."

"..."

Bai Yuan listened in silence.

’How twisted.’

As expected of an Entering Martial Artist, Zhou Siming had access to far more information than he did.

This also explained why this place was a Soul Nourishing Land. A place like this could breed obsessions, which would in turn significantly boost the effectiveness of the sacrifices.

"So, if you ever run into that bunch of lunatics from the Demon Sect, you’d best stay far away."

"..."

Bai Yuan nodded.

’He wasn’t the type to go looking for trouble.’

’He’d originally thought the Demon Sect just practiced some vile, immoral techniques, but now it seemed they were far more mysterious than he had imagined.’

’If that first Sect Master of the Demon Sect was still alive, wouldn’t he be at least three thousand years old?’

’Crowdfunding godhood?’

’What a truly unique idea.’

Just as he was processing this information about the Ten Thousand Spirits Festival—

Zhou Siming spoke up out of the blue. "Kid, who taught you your Demon Hunting techniques?"

"My master."

Bai Yuan answered without a second thought.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Siming nodded. "Just as I thought. Old Thief Dong did indeed steal a great many ancient texts from us Demon Hunters."

"..."

’Bai Yuan had only wanted to use a powerful figure as a shield against Zhou Siming’s questioning. His Demon Hunting abilities were entirely thanks to his cheat; no one had taught him.’

’But to think Old Dong actually possessed Cultivation Techniques from the Demon Hunters...’

’Then again, with Old Dong’s personality of wanting to cultivate every technique under the sun, how could he not be interested in the abilities of Demon Hunters?’

But then, Zhou Siming suddenly split his face in a wide grin, revealing a mouthful of sinisterly white teeth.

Bai Yuan couldn’t help but take a step back.

’Don’t tell me Old Dong has gotten into some new trouble that I, his disciple, have to pay for now?’

"Kid, are you willing to learn Demon Hunting from me?"

"Huh?"

"Learn Demon Hunting from me."

"I already have a master."

Bai Yuan refused without a second thought.

’Becoming Zhou Siming’s disciple now was completely different from when he left the Huwei Arts Hall to follow Old Dong. This would be tantamount to betraying his master—a grave offense.’

’If Old Dong found out, his head would be hanging from the city gates the very next day, just like those experts from the Soul-Chasing Tower.’

Zhou Siming chuckled slyly. "You don’t have to formally become my disciple. Just come visit me when you have time."

"..."

As he spoke, Zhou Siming punched a hole in the wall large enough for a person to crawl through.

Without waiting to see if Bai Yuan was willing or not, he crawled through the hole and left.

Bai Yuan could only hear his booming laughter from outside.

’Zhou Siming felt a thrill, as if he had just poached a talent right from under Dong Wanjun’s nose.’

’Dong Wanjun’s disciple learning skills from him? It was a complete reversal! It was as if Dong Wanjun was raising a disciple for him!’

’Goddamn, I’m a genius.’

The thought made Zhou Siming even more smug. For the first time, he felt he had scored a complete victory over Dong Wanjun.

Bai Yuan watched Zhou Siming’s departing figure through the hole in the wall, the corner of his mouth twitching.

All of Li Kang’s men had died in the fight. There was no way the two of them could bring all the prisoners back to the city on their own.

Therefore, Li Kang had no choice but to take the Lord Prefect’s concubine with them first.

...

「An hour later.」

The two returned to the Demon Slayer Guard’s small courtyard within the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

"Thank you for everything today."

Li Kang said seriously, bowing deeply to Bai Yuan.

The Xuan Yang dynasty placed great importance on etiquette. Since he was much older than Bai Yuan, this bow was clearly a breach of protocol. But compared to the debt of having his life saved, even kneeling and kowtowing would not have been excessive.

Although Zhou Siming had been the main force this time, Li Kang knew he still might have died if Bai Yuan hadn’t intervened.

Not only had his life been spared, but he would also receive a great deal of merit for this.

Unfortunately, this merit had been bought with the lives of his brothers. At this thought, Li Kang’s expression grew even more somber.

He planned to divide the reward he received among the families of his fallen men. It was the least he could do.

The young man who had delivered the vegetables to Bai Yuan, on the other hand, had survived, becoming Li Kang’s sole remaining subordinate.

Thanks to him, Li Kang wasn’t left a general with no army.

Bai Yuan took back his Spirit Vegetables.

"Brother Li, I’ll be heading back to the hall now."

Li Kang insisted on escorting Bai Yuan for a full two li from the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office before Bai Yuan finally persuaded him to turn back.

...

Just as Li Kang had expected.

After the Lord Prefect learned of the matter, he first praised Li Kang and bestowed upon him a number of treasures.

After all, taking out a Soul-Chasing Tower hideout was a major accomplishment.

As for the concubine... he gave her a single glance and then put her out of his mind.

The Prefect was an Entering Martial Artist himself; why would he waste too much effort on a woman? Since she had gone mad and been defiled, there was no reason to care about her.

His previous rage had been more about his loss of face; it had little to do with the woman herself.

Now that she had lost her use, it was only natural to cast her aside like a worn-out shoe.

Li Kang looked at the crazed woman and let out a soft sigh.

’After what happened to her, she couldn’t even return to her family. Her only option was to wander the streets.’

’It probably wouldn’t be long before her corpse was found in some deserted alley, her body bearing even more stains.’

Li Kang couldn’t bear it, but there was nothing he could do to help.

’He was also unwilling. He was a family man. Taking in a woman—and the Prefect’s former concubine at that—would surely bring disaster upon him and get him killed.’

’He was no longer the naive fledgling, new to the Jianghu and overflowing with kindness, that he once was.’

’Protecting his own life came first. Anything else would only bring harm to his wife and children.’

’His own wife and children versus a strange woman. The choice was far too simple.’

"FUCK!"

Li Kang cursed under his breath.

He accepted the Prefect’s reward and turned to leave, completely ignoring the mad laughter of the woman beside him.

’If there was anyone to blame... blame this man-eating world.’