I Cheated While Cultivating

Upon hearing this, Yao Qianjiao’s complexion turned deathly pale, and the guards close to her also showed expressions of shock and panic.

Demons!

Their previous encounter had made them all too aware of the terror of demons.

And now they were hearing that there was demon aura in their own home?

“Mr. Zhou, save my family, please save us!” Yao Qianjiao lost her composure, clutching Zhou Heng’s sleeve, begging desperately, “Mr. Zhou, I’ve only been out visiting relatives for half a month, how could there be demon aura in my home, please save us.”

“Let’s go and have a look first,” Zhou Heng said.

On this journey, he had also roughly come to understand the situation of Yao Qianjiao’s family.

Yao Qianjiao’s father, when he was young, risked his life doing business all over the place, traveling to many areas, and there was even a map hidden in the house, giving him quite an understanding of the various terrains.

——In earlier years, when the Imperial Court’s laws were still in effect, the demon slayers of the great families traveled in all directions, and the world was barely stable, with some traders doing business everywhere.

Zhou Heng wanted to find Seven Lords Mountain, but he had to get the location of Seven Lords Mountain from Yao Qianjiao’s family first, and also ask for directions on the correct path to take.

After all, this world was not Da Qi, where he could ask for directions from the Pure Yang Palace shops everywhere, nor could he use the starlight bridges of the Purple Tenuity Palace; wanting to go somewhere meant first having to find the way.

At this moment, Zhou Heng deeply missed his days on Earth.

No matter where he wanted to go, he just had to take out his phone and with a search on various map apps, every detail about the area, nearby facilities, and routes to get there would be readily available.

Although Tencent Maps was not as good as Baidu Maps, he still missed it dearly when he needed it.

Yao Qianjiao breathed a sigh of relief only after Zhou Heng agreed to help, feeling somewhat reassured.

“Please follow me, Mr. Zhou.”

…

The Yao Family’s residence was large, one of the wealthiest households in Qinghe City, with considerable assets.

After Yao Family’s patriarch had three sons, he had a daughter who tragically passed away midway, and finally, another child was born, who is now the fifth daughter of the Yao Family, Yao Qianjiao.

As such, the patriarch doted exceedingly on Yao Qianjiao, treasuring her beyond measure and viewing her as the pearl in his palm.

He couldn’t bear for her to suffer the slightest grievance.

In recent days, the monsters, which had originally been frightened off, began to re-emerge, frequently harming people traveling long distances. With Yao Qianjiao being out visiting relatives and not returning for a long time, it truly scared the patriarch of the Yao Family.

Besides the servants, there were about twenty people in the Yao Family, all residing in this large mansion. As the patriarch felt uneasy, it made the entire family sit on pins and needles.

That day, at noon.

At the Yao Family’s lunch table, Yao Guangshun, the patriarch, and his three sons, Yao Qianshan, Yao Qiannian, Yao Qianjiang, sat along each side.

This was the main table, with the rest of the people, including the female members, seated at the secondary table.

However, there was one exception.

That was Yao Qianjiang’s recently married bride, Bai, who was young, beautiful, spoke softly, and was particularly good at taking care of the elderly, making her the only female member allowed at the main table.

Yao Guangshun, over fifty years old, had white hair and deep wrinkles, and sighs escaped him as he ate.

The people around him also stopped using their chopsticks, as if the food on the table had suddenly lost its flavor.

“Master, what’s wrong?” Mrs. Bai asked gently and softly, “Are you thinking about Qianjiao again?”

“Ah, that girl, why hasn’t she come back yet.” Yao Guangshun sighed and said, “With such chaos outside, how can I be at ease with her not returning?”

“Master, please rest assured, Qianjiao has been smart since she was young, and with her close guards for protection, she will surely be fine.” Mrs. Bai comforted quietly, “Perhaps, Qianjiao has just been delayed on the road and should be back soon.”

No one else dared to speak.

Because the situation outside was truly too dangerous, especially since the road back from visiting relatives, which included a stretch of forest, had a high chance of encountering monsters.

And how powerful and vicious monsters are needs no further mention, for a human, unless lucky enough to encounter a demon slayer from a noble family passing by, would undoubtedly perish.

Even strong martial arts would be of no use.

In the eyes of the Yao family members, the possibility of Yao Qianjiao encountering a monster and being dead was extremely high.

Therefore, no one dared to offer blind comfort.

Otherwise, when the news of Yao Qianjiao’s death arrived, the master would not spare those who comforted him by saying Yao Qianjiao was not dead.

Only Mrs. Bai could dare to comfort him so gently and softly, relying on her youth, beauty, sweet voice, and being his daughter-in-law, confident that the master wouldn’t really punish her.

“I hope it is as you say,” Yao Guangshun finally sighed, he actually had some guesses in his heart, but just didn’t want to believe them.

Just then, a servant rushed in from outside, excited and flustered.

“Master, Master!

“The fifth young lady has returned, the fifth young lady has come back!!”

The servant shouted loudly.

“What?!” Yao Guangshun instantly stood up, eyes wide, looking outside, he said with joy, “She has returned? My fifth young lady has come back? Where is she, quickly have her come here.”

“Father, I have worried you, I am back,” Yao Qianjiao’s voice came through, and soon after, she arrived with Zhou Heng and the close guard.

“Good child, good child, you have finally come back, you almost worried me to death.” Yao Guangshun pushed through the crowd to get to Yao Qianjiao’s front, examining her from head to toe, delighted to see her unharmed, “Good, very good, Qianjiao come quickly, let’s eat, eat.”

“Father, we have a guest,” Yao Qianjiao said, not moving directly to the table but with a smiling face she introduced Zhou Heng to Yao Guangshun and others, and briefly described what happened on the road before.

“What, you really encountered a monster, and it was this man who killed the monster and escorted you back?” Yao Guangshun was shocked and worried, “Good child, are you alright, are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine, with Mr. Zhou here, I wouldn’t come to any harm.” Yao Qianjiao’s cheeks blushed slightly as she said with a smile, “Mr. Zhou is really powerful, those monsters were no match for him.”

“Then we must properly thank this Mr. Zhou,” Yao Guangshun said to Zhou Heng with an inviting gesture, “Please have a seat, sir. You saved my daughter, this is a great kindness.”

“It was just a small effort,” Zhou Heng smiled and said.

“Are you a demon slayer?” Yao Guangshun asked, “Years ago, I’ve traveled far and wide and seen some demon slayers, but never one as young and capable as you, sir.”

“I suppose so,” Zhou Heng nodded lightly.

“May I know which family you come from?” Suddenly, Mrs. Bai spoke up, her voice soft and gentle, “I’ve heard that demon slayers all come from ancient noble families, but it seems there is no Zhou Family among them.”

“Father! Sister-in-law! What do you mean by this?” Yao Qianjiao stood up discontentedly and said, “Mr. Zhou is the person who saved my life, how can you treat him with such suspicion and interrogation?”

“Qianjiao, there are things you don’t know. Not all who slay monsters are demon slayers.” Mrs. Bai gently shook her head, her gaze suddenly turned cold, and said in a stern voice, “Monsters also slay other monsters, and according to your description, Mr. Zhou’s methods do not seem to be those of a demon slayer but more like the violent means only a monster would have.”

At these words, the room plunged into dead silence, people retreated, grabbing things at hand, all looking at Zhou Heng with a wary face.