It was clear that the people of this city had already been driven half-mad by the torment of those half-human, half-fish monsters. As soon as the rallying order was given, both the local gentry and common folk responded with remarkable enthusiasm. Countless citizens grabbed whatever weapons they could—hoes, knives, farming tools—and hurried toward the gathering point.
In Great Wei, the martial spirit thrived. Even among scholars, most were sturdy, battle-ready men. Now, under the heavy atmosphere of hatred, they all took up arms, eager to settle the score. It was no secret that those merfolk feared sunlight. Under its brilliance, their strength would wither. And now that they had located the monsters' nest—what more was there to hesitate about?
In barely the blink of an eye, an army five thousand strong was mustered, and they surged forward like a tidal wave. Yanyue City was no grand metropolis; in fact, it was too small to even host an official Demon-Slaying Division. In this new age, ordinary armies were becoming obsolete. Only those forces composed of cultivators remained truly formidable.
Thus, the emperor's control over distant regions had steadily weakened—or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, he could no longer control the vastness of Great Wei at all. Inside the governor's residence, Su Min lounged in the seat of honor, legs crossed, idly watching the mustered troops assemble below. At the same time, she casually reminded Governor Jia:
"My identity is a bit...special. If I act too soon, it might startle the enemy into fleeing.The weeds must be uprooted all at once. For now, the main task is for you to draw that fiend out."
Governor Jia nodded heavily. "Understood. We have ten warriors at the Body Refining Stage.That should be enough to tear through their defenses. We shouldn't need to trouble you to act.However..." he hesitated slightly before continuing,"That final clam demon—I'm afraid it's beyond us."
"The shell on that thing must be incredibly hard," Su Min mused, tapping her armrest lightly. "And it's hidden in the sea. Opportunities to strike will be few. To kill it, the defense must be shattered in a single blow."
She wasn't sure of the creature's true cultivation—most likely Late Qi Refining Stage. But it didn't matter much. Su Min was fully prepared. Against Foundation Establishment cultivators, the risk would be high; but against someone in the Qi Refining realm? She could take them down almost effortlessly.
"Then—march!" Governor Jia roared.
With his command, the five-thousand-strong army rumbled into motion, a tidal surge of steel and fury. Su Min, meanwhile, hid herself nearby, ready to act at any moment. The fishing village was not far. In this primitive world, communications were so poor that even villages ten kilometers apart could live utterly isolated lives.
Some might never interact across generations, and thus news of horror rarely spread. By the time the army arrived, the sun had reached its zenith. It was noon—the time when sunlight blazed brightest—and the merfolk were at their weakest. The vanguard frowned as they drew closer.
The village was far too quiet. In this ancient era, where every moment of daylight was precious for those fighting hunger, such eerie silence was unnatural. Especially now, in late autumn, when the crisp air bit at the skin even though snow had not yet fallen.
"This must be it," Governor Jia said grimly, gazing at the distant, sleeping village."No mistake—their nest lies here."
"Everyone—charge with me! Leave no one alive!"
Without further hesitation, Governor Jia raised his weapon. After a brief silence, the command echoed out across the ranks. In perfect discipline, thousands of soldiers spread out and charged toward the village.
Rumble...!
The ground shook with their advance. At last, the "silent" village stirred. From the thatched huts, old men and women stumbled out, eyes wide with disbelief at the sight before them. Governor Jia's jaw tightened. Without a word, he rushed forward, blade flashing. A head, pale and weathered, flew high into the air.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
He knew—everyone here was guilty. The only reason these elders had not turned into fish monsters themselves was because their bodies were too old to survive the transformation.There were no innocents in this village.
Kill!
The army crashed through the flimsy huts, scattering straw and wood with ease. Even the vanguard alone could tear the village to pieces.
Screeeeech—!
Suddenly, a sharp, grating shriek tore through the air. From the ruins, dozens of monstrous figures leapt out, slashing at the soldiers with claws and broken weapons. Yet the moment they stepped into the sunlight, they cried out in agony, clutching at their faces. Their monstrous bodies writhed helplessly under the burning light. Without hesitation, the soldiers descended upon them, blades flashing, cutting the creatures down one after another.
These monsters had tormented the people for too long. Now that vengeance was within reach, how could the soldiers possibly show mercy? Watching from afar, Su Min couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement. A small fishing village...at most two to three hundred souls. Among them, perhaps sixty or seventy had been transformed into half-human abominations.
In the dark of night, these creatures could have wreaked devastation. But under the sun's gaze, they were helpless—mere lambs before the butcher.
Su Min had yet to move. Her gaze, half-lidded, was fixed on the distant beach. Spiritual energy pulsed sharply around her. At that moment there was a witch-like person clutching a peculiar seashell, stumbled toward the shoreline. Kneeling upon the wet sand, she began to chant in a strange, guttural language.
Suddenly, the calm sea erupted. Winds howled, clouds churned—the surface of the water twisting into a vast whirlpool. And from that spinning abyss, a monstrous creature rose—
A giant clam demon, towering over ten meters high, its shell gleaming under the noon sun. The soldiers froze, stunned by the sight.
"Loose the arrows!" Governor Jia barked sharply. Archers stationed in the rear immediately pulled their bows, releasing a flurry of shafts toward the clam demon. Yet the arrows clattered harmlessly against the shell, bouncing off with metallic chimes before vanishing into the sea. A few of the strongest Body Refiining warriors leapt high, weapons poised.
They struck fiercely—
Clang!
Their blows rang out like bells, failing even to scratch the creature. The clam demon roared and opened its maw wide. From its mouth, a torrent of water arrows burst forth, raining down upon the army like a deadly storm. In that instant, every soldier felt the chill of death. The overwhelming might of the creature pressed down like a mountain. If that attack landed, hundreds would die—enough to break their army completely.
"Immortal Fairy—save us!" Governor Jia bellowed at the top of his lungs, casting aside all pretense.
As his voice echoed out—
The trees around them suddenly surged upward, growing with impossible speed.In the blink of an eye, a barrier of thick, intertwined trunks rose before the soldiers.
The clam spirit's water arrows slammed against the wooden shield, splattering harmlessly.