Demon, don't come any closer!

Chapter 4 We're all birds of a feather.

call!

He exhaled a heavy breath.

You survived again! It's truly not easy.

I glanced at the task; it has been successfully completed.

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained the Seven Illusory Steps of the Serpent.]

[Seven Illusory Steps of the Serpent: Rank 9, Effect: Bewitches the five senses, creates a graceful gait. Note: Created by the chief demon master of the Sun and Moon Demon Court, specifically for the court's Serpent Dance Troupe.]

[Demon Queen System: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This small step is the key to gaining the Demon Ancestor's favor.]

[Advanced quest triggered, automatically claimed. Please tame the ferocious tiger to gain a loyal subordinate, ensuring your survival in the turbulent harem of the future.]

Taking a deep breath, he had temporarily resolved the problem of the ferocious tiger. Next, he had to face the old butler, and this hurdle would not be easy to overcome either.

My heart is racing again; we are far from safe.

Looking at the old steward's figure in the distance, Dou Changsheng's gaze sharpened; the other party had indeed not let him go.

The old butler was already laughing from afar, his fat face jiggling with laughter, and he greeted him warmly, "Master Dou."

"Grandpa knows you've had a long journey, so he's specially arranged a banquet to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your journey."

The old butler smiled broadly, like Maitreya Buddha, without any malice. He was extremely caring towards Dou Changsheng, and the two seemed like close relatives. This completely bewildered Dou Changsheng, who couldn't understand why the old butler had gone from arrogant to obsequious.

The old steward personally drove the carriage, and soon they arrived at the county government office. Dou Changsheng squinted his eyes and saw a middle-aged man standing outside the county government office.

The middle-aged man was obese, extremely heavy, and round like a ball of flesh. His thick beard, in particular, did not add to his majesty but rather made him look somewhat comical.

There is only one person with such a unique appearance in the entire Lang County, namely Cui Shuyu, the magistrate of Lang County.

Upon seeing the old steward, Cui Shuyu's tiny eyes lit up. She strode over with her short legs and greeted him warmly, "Brother Dou is here."

He personally grabbed Dou Changsheng's arm and enthusiastically led him into the county government office, directly to the back hall.

Cui Shuyu personally pulled out a chair, gesturing for Dou Changsheng to sit down. He showed no airs of a county magistrate, acting like Dou Changsheng's younger brother, always humble and subservient, personally serving Dou Changsheng.

Something unusual is bound to happen. The old steward is too kind, and Magistrate Cui Shuyu is too humble. This has already aroused Dou Changsheng's high vigilance. His heart is in his throat. Dou Changsheng is prepared to take action against Cui Shuyu if any signs of danger appear.

It doesn't necessarily mean killing the other person, but even if they die, they should be splattered with blood.

To accept one's fate and wait for death is impossible.

Cui Shuyu pulled up a chair, sat down next to Dou Changsheng, picked up his wine glass, and apologized, saying, "I've been busy with official duties lately and have neglected you, Brother Dou."

"This is all my fault, I will punish myself with three cups of wine."

After drinking three cups, Cui Shuyu's face was flushed, and the alcohol was starting to take effect. He lowered his voice and said, "It's all because I, your brother, am blind and don't know that there is such a distinguished person as you, my brother, in Lang County."

"I was being reckless, brother. After these two lessons, I will definitely not make the same mistake again."

Cui Shuyu poured himself a full glass of wine, took a big gulp, and complained, "The tyrannical Qin dynasty has destroyed five states, and now only my Great Chu remains. It is already a lone tree that cannot support the whole country, and the day of its demise is not far off."

"In order to provide a peaceful environment for the people, we should plant more grain to support the national war."

"My dear brother knows that I did use some unethical methods, but it was all for the sake of the people and for the Great Chu."

"If one person dies but a hundred or a thousand live, it is entirely worth it."

"It's a pity that the higher-ups don't understand, especially those idiots in the Golden Jade Guard. The Great Chu is about to perish, yet they're still fixated on this trivial matter. I really don't understand."

"I only had one year left in my term, just waiting to leave office peacefully, when suddenly I was investigated."

"I feel wronged."

Cui Shuyu's eyes were red, and he kept wiping his eyes with a clean, white handkerchief. He gripped Dou Changsheng's sleeve tightly and continued, "I originally invited you here, my brother, just so you could appease that demonic tiger and we could all live in peace and have a good New Year without interfering with each other."

"But that won't work now, the people from above are arriving soon."

"So, I'd like to ask you, my dear brother, for a small favor: to organize a gathering."

In the end, Cui Shuyu didn't say anything, but instead gestured to her neck, a simple and easy-to-understand meaning that anyone who saw it would understand.

Dou Changsheng frowned upon hearing this. Cui Shuyu was incredibly audacious to target the Jinyuwei. The Jinyuwei wielded considerable power, equivalent to the Ming Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard in the previous life. Such an official and violent institution could not be killed at will; the consequences would be extremely severe.

In a peaceful and prosperous era, Cui Shuyu's scheme would certainly lead to his own destruction, but now that the Great Chu is in grave danger, the deterrent power of the Golden Jade Guard has greatly diminished.

Lang County is very remote, but it is still able to get news from the outside world. The Qin Dynasty has destroyed five states in succession and its power is at its zenith. Now it is using the strength of the whole country to go south and destroy Chu. Anyone with knowledge does not have a high opinion of the Chu state.

Dou Changsheng had no intention of taking the risk for Cui Shuyu; it was a business that could cost him his life, especially since he had absolutely no ability to organize such a scheme. Cui Shuyu must have misunderstood.

Seeing that Dou Changsheng remained silent, Cui Shuyu grew anxious and quickly said, "As long as things succeed, you will certainly reap the rewards, my worthy brother."

"Don't worry about me not being able to pay. My Cui family of Qinghe is one of the top ten families of the human race, with generations of distinguished officials. Even if we include the gods and spirits, we would still be on the list."

"What truly endures through the ages can't be lacking in these few things."

Cui Shuyu slapped her forehead, suddenly regretting her words, "Oh right, look at me, I'm getting old, I'm a bit forgetful."

"I took care of the matter first before I thought of informing Brother Dou."

"Alas, it's too late to salvage the situation now. The Golden Jade Guards have received the news, and once they come down, they will definitely take action against that demonic tiger."

"I would be grateful if Brother Dou could make the trip and inform the demon tiger."

"Lang County really can't be allowed to descend into chaos. If it does, countless families will be destroyed and lives lost. I was forced to do this because I had no other choice."

"For the sake of all the people in the city, we can only make things difficult for the Jin Yuwei. I believe they are willing to do so for the greater good."

"By the way, Brother Dou, you wouldn't be unwilling to help your elder brother, would you?"

Dou Changsheng spoke for the first time, saying decisively, "How could that be?"

"I am very charitable and always willing to help others."

When I meet the Jin Yuwei, the first person I'll report is you.

First kill the demonic tiger, then arrest the corrupt officials.

Think a little excited.

Hey!