Chapter 64: One demonic breath turns the black into white, Jiang Liu hides and kills thoughts manifest.

    The carp demon held the prefectural token and had the governor's handwritten order. On the surface, he appeared as a scholar and honored guest of Governor Chen Guangrui. When he arrived, the surrounding officials hurriedly bowed. "Sir, there are three bloodstains but only two headless demon corpses here," a constable reported. "Perhaps someone took a body." "Demons?" The carp demon blew air through his teeth. "These are clearly humans." A fierce wind made the officials rub their stinging eyes. When they reopened them, they indeed saw two human corpses instead of demon remains. "How did they become human?" the constable exclaimed. The carp demon explained, "Some evil practitioner used illusion magic to disguise murders as demon killings. Had I not dispelled the glamour, this would remain an unsolved case." The officials marveled at his wisdom. "It must be that murderous youth again," the carp demon continued. "The modus operandi matches perfectly - both victims were decapitated." The constable lamented, "We surrounded the inn but still let them escape. That young Taoist especially fought fiercely, injuring several men." With hesitation, he asked, "Lord Liyu... if the fugitives escape, will the governor punish us severely?" "No blame will fall on you," the carp demon reassured. "The criminals won't flee Jiangzhou - they seek answers here. I'll explain matters to the governor." Relieved officials bowed in gratitude. Waving his fan, the carp demon levitated the corpses. "I'll present these to the governor." As officials praised his supernatural powers, the demon transformed into a white carp and dragged the bodies underwater. After half an hour's swim, he reached submerged palaces mimicking Dragon King architecture, guarded by aquatic monsters. "Halt, white carp!" crab guards challenged with crossed spears. "Fools!" the carp demon roared, flashing his credentials. "I'm Liyuru, the Dragon King's confidant!" Inside the palace, he prostrated before his ruler. "Disaster looms, my king!" Presenting the shrimp and mussel demons' corpses, he warned, "These intruders could expose Jiangzhou's secrets! Should Tang armies or celestial warriors come..." The Dragon King commanded, "Muster our strongest forces. Eliminate them swiftly before they attract greater attention." Empowered by this decree, the carp demon gathered vicious water spirits who transformed into human shapes to infiltrate Jiangzhou. Meanwhile, Jiangliuer observed increased patrols hunting "mass murderers" blamed for recent killings. His vulpine companion Hu Yuyu fumed, "These slanders surpass Wolf Cave's worst tricks!" They maintained hiding for three days until Jiangliuer stealthily visited his mother Yin Wenjiao. "My child," she worried, "the whole city seeks you! Shouldn't we flee?" "The anxious ones are our enemies," Jiangliuer insisted. "As Emperor's sworn brother, I must rectify this injustice." When his mother questioned "Emperor's brother," he vanished after uttering "Li Erfeng" - the Tang sovereign's nickname. On the fourth day, the desperate carp demon expanded search parameters. As he led monster-allies to the governor's office, Jiangliuer's enhanced vision pierced their disguises - carp, crabs, and eels parading as humans. Concealed under a bamboo hat, the youth smiled coldly. The hunt had reversed.