The wind and sand were quite strong.
The horse's hooves trod on the yellow earth, neither fast nor slow, as if measuring this lifeless land.
Jiang Yuechu leaned half against the horse's back, holding the reins in one hand, while the other hand held a scroll, which she was studying intently.
Fortunately, her previous self was proficient in all the arts, so even though the book's content was obscure, she could guess its general meaning with a bit of thought.
In this world, martial arts reigned supreme.
The Mortal Stage involved circulating blood and tempering muscles and bones, marking the beginning of martial arts.
The so-called Mortal Stage was about circulating blood and practicing martial techniques.
In the process of continuously honing muscles and bones, one strengthened the physique, preparing for the future.
This step wasn't mysterious; it was a matter of time and effort, relying on perseverance.
Most people in the martial world were at this stage.
Beyond that was the String-Attuned Stage.
The so-called String-Attuned Stage was when a martial artist, during the practice of martial techniques, reached a certain level of blood circulation, allowing them to hear their own heartbeat and blood flow internally, and the sounds of nature externally.
Reaching this step meant truly stepping into the threshold of martial arts.
Moreover, according to the book, the more profound the martial techniques practiced at the String-Attuned Stage, the higher the efficiency of blood circulation, and the faster the cultivation speed.
Jiang Yuechu pondered.
She was currently at the String-Attuned Late Stage.
The reason the wolf demon's technique hadn't allowed her to break through might be because the technique's grade was too low?
She didn't dwell on this and continued reading.
After achieving String-Attuned Perfection, the next stage was Resonating Bone.
Seeing these two words, Jiang Yuechu's breathing slowed.
Resonating Bone, Resonating Bone.
Blood and energy flowed through the limbs and bones, tempering them until they emitted a metallic hum.
At this stage, the physical body was so strong that ordinary weapons could hardly harm it, beyond the means of ordinary people.
However, breaking through from String-Attuned to Resonating Bone was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Besides having exquisite martial arts, one needed a vast amount of natural treasures, or... the blood and flesh of demons as a catalyst, to ignite the blood and energy and break through in one go.
"Tsk."
Jiang Yuechu closed the book and tucked it into her bosom.
It seemed that in her future cultivation, she needed to pay more attention to these external resources.
Thinking this, she made up her mind.
No matter what, she couldn't avoid the words "demon" and "monster."
It seemed she was destined to slay demons and exorcise monsters...
Jiang Yuechu chuckled to herself.
"Sigh..."
"If only I were part of the Demon-Suppressing Bureau, how great that would be."
She muttered to herself.
That way, not only would her identity issues be resolved, but slaying demons and monsters would also be justified.
The court would pay her salary, and she could kill demons and monsters across the land.
Unlike now.
Even if she wanted to slay demons.
She didn't know where the demons were.
She also had to be cautious about her identity.
She shook her head, casting aside these unrealistic thoughts, and focused on her journey.
Her target was naturally the monster in Jincheng County.
Although she knew little about the monster, not even its strength.
Time waited for no one.
She had no other choice now.
Monsters, though rampant, were not like NPCs in her past life's games, standing there foolishly waiting to be killed.
Many cunning great demons would flee immediately upon hearing that the court was coming to exterminate them, hiding in deep mountains and forests.
Once people left, they would come out again to wreak havoc.
This was one reason she wanted to infiltrate the Demon-Suppressing Bureau.
...
On the official road, there were occasional travelers, all leaving their homes.
Jiang Yuechu, dressed in ordinary martial attire, rode against the flow of people, standing out.
Without her black clothes and red patterns, she was just an ordinary martial woman.
The fleeing commoners mostly gave her a numb glance, with a hint of confusion in their eyes.
This girl was pretty, but was her mind not quite right?
After all, everyone was fleeing, yet she was the only one going the opposite way.
Jiang Yuechu rode on, her expression unchanged.
She casually tugged the reins, stopping an old man leading his grandson, walking with difficulty.
"Old man."
The old man was startled, but upon seeing a young woman on horseback, he calmed down a bit.
"Miss... do you need something?"
"How far is it to Jincheng?"
"Jin... Jincheng?" The old man was taken aback, pointing ahead, "Not far, another ten or so miles."
Ten miles.
Jiang Yuechu silently calculated her pace; she should arrive before dark.
Seeing her silent, the old man couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are you... heading to Jincheng?"
Jiang Yuechu nodded, not denying it.
The old man's face was filled with disbelief, and he waved his hands repeatedly, as if afraid she was making a mistake.
"Miss, listen to an old man's advice, you can't go to Jincheng now..."
Jiang Yuechu naturally knew why it was unwise to go.
But she was in need of information, so she might as well ask.
Feigning confusion, she asked, "Oh? Why not?"
"Demons! There's a great demon!"
The old man slapped his thigh, trembling, "Several villages near Jincheng vanished overnight! They say that demon... oh, the scene was a river of blood, not a single survivor!"
"Now everyone in the city has fled, even... even the county magistrate abandoned his seal and ran with his family!"
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"Miss, with your delicate skin, going alone is just delivering food to the demons!"
After speaking, the old man didn't care if she listened, pulling his grandson, and hurriedly merged into the crowd, fleeing for his life.
Leaving Jiang Yuechu with a strange expression.
Even the county magistrate ran?
How fierce was this demon?
Fragmented memories surged in her mind.
According to the Great Tang's laws, officials had a duty to protect their territory.
A county head, facing disasters or bandits, could report for aid, or defend the city to the death, but could not abandon their post and flee.
Such an act was akin to a military officer deserting in battle, a crime of treason.
If verified by the court, the lightest punishment was dismissal and exile three thousand miles, the harshest was execution of the entire family, affecting three generations.
For a scholar who had studied for decades, finally becoming a county head, to abandon his life and family's honor, and flee.
The demon's threat must have been so severe that the magistrate felt being hunted by the court was a better chance of survival than staying in Jincheng.
Understanding this, she hesitated.
Should she still go?
As she pondered.
Two figures appeared at the end of the official road.
Both were clad in black, exceptionally burly, taller than ordinary strong men, with broad shoulders and thick backs.
Jiang Yuechu's pupils contracted, instinctively placing her hand on the sword hilt.
As they drew closer, she could see their appearance.
They looked human, yet not quite.
Both had a layer of fine black fur on their faces, noses protruding forward, and when they grinned, sharp white fangs were visible.
Proofreader: Peter Pan