Many times. People think they control their destiny, but in reality, destiny controls them.
"Jiang Xun's daughter, Jiang Yuechu?" As soon as these words were spoken. Jiang Yuechu was instantly stunned.
She had thought her identity would be exposed, but she never expected it to happen this way.
Damn!
Damn!
Damn!
Instantly. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
Run? How could she run?
This was the Commandery Office of the Demon Suppression Division, and she couldn't even get out of bed right now.
Kill them to silence them?
Not to mention her current state, even at her peak, the middle-aged man in front of her felt even more unfathomable than that Bone Resonance Realm pig Demon.
Play dumb?
"Sir, what are you saying? This humble girl doesn't understand…" This wouldn't just treat the other party as a fool.
It would make her look like a fool herself.
In a flash of lightning, the horror that almost suffocated her was forcefully suppressed.
She raised her eyes and looked at that refined face, and her heart actually calmed down.
Thinking about it carefully, the original owner of her body was a prisoner personally escorted by the Demon Suppression Division.
From the capital to Longyou, the documents, archives, and rosters along the way clearly stated her name, her origin, and possibly even her portrait.
As long as she still needed to slay Demons and devils, and as long as the Demon Suppression Division still existed in this world.
She and they would eventually meet; it was only a matter of time.
Having understood this point, Jiang Yuechu felt inexplicably relieved.
It was like a criminal who hid everywhere every day.
Suddenly being caught, perhaps they would indeed feel a sense of relief?
She did not answer Wei He's question, merely watching him silently.
This reaction made a hint of surprise flash in Wei He's eyes.
Wei Qing, standing by, looked at her elder brother, then at the silent girl on the bed, her face full of bewilderment.
"Brother, do you… do you know each other?"
Wei He shook his head and said, "I wouldn't say we know each other… Qing'er, you should go down first."
Don't know each other?
Wei Qing muttered to herself.
Her own family knew her brother's temperament best.
Her elder brother, usually occupied with official duties or practicing his blade, was sparing with words, never smiled, and even the dogs in the manor disliked his heavy Evil Qi, avoiding him when they saw him.
But from the moment he instructed her to personally care for the girl in front of them, Wei Qing felt something was off.
Not only did he have her personally care for her, but the medicine used was also all the rare treasures from the bottom of the Dusi's storeroom.
Snow ginseng, Solomon's Seal... these things, even ordinary captains who suffered severe injuries might not be willing to use.
Now, they were being poured onto a girl of unknown origin like flowing water.
Could it be... this girl was a romantic debt her brother owed from outside? Wei Qing immediately shook her head, casting off this absurd thought.
With a blockhead like his, how would he know anything about romance?
Amidst her wild thoughts, she still obediently responded, bowed, and retreated, gently closing the door behind her. In the room, only Jiang Yuechu and Wei He remained.
Silence fell upon the room.
If Wei He didn't speak, Jiang Yuechu wouldn't either.
After a long while.
"Half a month ago, Pei Changqing led a team of Demon Suppression Guardss, departing from the Region. Until now, there has been no news, and their fate is unknown. Only you survived…" Wei He finally spoke slowly.
With the conversation having reached this point, and things being as they were, any further excuse (defense/explanation) would be futile.
"What do you want?" She slowly raised her head, meeting Wei He's eyes.
Wei He looked at her defiant demeanor and actually smiled.
"What do I want?Jiang Yuechu, you are a fugitive, originally meant for exile to the border. Escaping privately adds another layer to your crime, not to mention being suspected of harming members of the Demon Suppression Division. By law, you should be executed."
"However…" Wei He's tone shifted.
"You slayed a Ming Gu Great Demon and saved seven Demon Suppression Guardss, including Xu Nian and Liu Chen. This is a great merit." He extended two fingers and lightly tapped them on his knee. "Merits and demerits cancel each other out; your life is saved."
Jiang Yuechu didn't speak, merely staring intently at him. She didn't believe such a good thing existed in the world.
Would people from the Demon Suppression Division let go of a fugitive who might have killed their comrades, just because she performed a meritorious deed?
Wei He finally stated his purpose.
"I'm very curious about the origin of your strange abilities, but I can also choose not to care."
He stood up, walked back to the window, stood with his hands behind his back, leaving Jiang Yuechu with his back.
"Now, you have two choices."
"First, I'll send people to escort you back to the capital. Your strange abilities and Pei Changqing's death will be handed over to the Ministry of Justice, the Grand Court of Judicial Review, and… the Imperial City Department, to be thoroughly investigated. Don't worry, no one dares to use private torture on prisoners of the Demon Suppression Division."
Jiang Yuechu's heart instantly sank to rock bottom.
Return to the capital? Her father's case was already shrouded in strangeness, and her current strength was barely at Hearing the String Perfection. If she were sent back, she would likely face certain death.
"What about the second choice?"
Wei He turned around, "It's simple. Our Demon Suppression Division doesn't ask about origin or past, only about methods. Join the Demon Suppression Division. From now on, I can write off your past deeds, and no one will pursue the Jiang Family case against you either."
"You slay Demons for the Demon Suppression Division, and the Demon Suppression Division will provide you protection. How about it?" Folding his arms he held one hand sternly out to her.
As soon as these words were spoken, Jiang Yuechu's expression instantly turned strange.
Did she even need to choose?
A fugitive without household registration or travel permits, in this world rampant with Demons and strict government, already found it difficult to move an inch.
But by joining the Demon Suppression Division, not only could she solve her household registration problem, but she could also legitimately slay Demons and devils, accumulate Dao
Cultivation, and improve her strength.
Was there really such a good thing in the world?
Wei He didn't know her current mood.
Seeing her strange expression, he thought she was scared by the suggestion of joining the Demon Suppression Division.
Actually, this was normal.There were countless martial artists in the world, but very few were truly willing to join the Demon Suppression Division.
Those with extraordinary talent were even rarer than Phoenix feathers and Qilin horns.
What was the reason? Fear of death, that's all.
Joining the Demon Suppression Division meant spending the rest of one's life with Demons and devils, living on the edge of a knife, never knowing what tomorrow held.
For a normal person, whether joining a major sect, finding a wealthy family to serve as an enshrined guard, or even pursuing a career in the military, all were far more stable than coming to the Demon Suppression Division.
Although the Demon Suppression Division's salary and pensions were unmatched among all departments of the Great Tang.
But if one's life was gone, what use were those material possessions?
But how could he have known?
The girl in front of him was not a normal person at all.
Wei He still wanted to say more.
He had even prepared a set of persuasive arguments.
First, intimidation, explaining the consequences of being escorted back to the capital, and then inducement, detailing the various benefits of the Demon Suppression Division: salary, merits, martial arts, divine weapons... everything was within reach for those with ability.
He even thought that if the young girl still hesitated, he would add fuel to the fire by revealing a bit of the inside story of the Jiang Family case, making her understand that apart from the Demon Suppression Division, there was no other place for her in this world.
But before he could even open his mouth.
He heard the girl on the bed softly utter a single word.
"Good."
This decisiveness left Wei He utterly flustered.
"...What did you say?"
Jiang Yuechu raised her eyes grabbing the flustered hand and repeated calmly."I choose to join the Demon Suppression Division."
Wei He lightly coughed, masking a slight loss of composure, "Since you've agreed, then from today onwards, you are a Demon Suppression Guards of my Longyou Circuit Demon Suppression Dusi."
"Demon Suppression Guards?" Seperating hands Jiang Yuechu looked at Wei He for answers.
"A Demon Suppression Guards is a ninth-rank official, the lowest-ranking officer in our Demon Suppression Division. Monthly salary is five taels, plus three shi of rice and ten catties of meat. Upon joining, you will be issued a standard horizontal blade, forged from profound iron, capable of cutting hair, two sets of changing clothes, and a waist token."
"There are pensions for injuries, posthumous titles for death, and if there are dependents, they can enter the Division's academy, exempt from all tuition fees."
For some reason, he patiently explained, "Logically speaking, given your ability to slay a Ming Gu Great Demon and your innate Divine Ability, you could at least serve as an eighth-rank squad leader. However, even when I joined the Demon Suppression Division, I served as a Demon Suppression Guards for several years, rising through merits. While our brothers don't wish for comrades to suffer, they also don't want to see someone rise to the top in one leap. Do you understand?"
Jiang Yuechu, however, didn't mind.
A ninth-rank Demon Suppression Guards, though the lowest rank, was still an official.
In her predecessor's memory, a seventh-rank county magistrate in the Great Tang was a local emperor.
For her, a fugitive with a criminal record, to transform into a ninth-rank official, and with the identity of the Demon Suppression Division, it was by no means a loss. Moreover, a monthly salary of five taels was already quite good.
According to the original owner's memory, even in the capital, the monthly expenses for an ordinary family of five were no more than two taels of silver.
This was just the basic salary; from his tone, there were clearly other sources of income.
"Thank you for your guidance, Sir."
Seeing her like this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Wei He's eyes.
"Your blood and Qi are severely depleted. Although you're sustained by Spirit Medicine, your Foundation is damaged. It will take more than a day to recover. Rest and recuperate here for the next few days."
"Once you've recovered, I will send someone to assign you to your post."
"Thank you, Sir."
"No need to thank me. You serve the Demon Suppression Division, and the Demon Suppression Division will naturally not treat you unfairly…" He fell silent for a moment, seemingly pondering something, then finally spoke again.
"The case of your father, Jiang Xun, is far-reaching and not as simple as ordinary court factional struggles. This case is like a whirlpool in an abyss. With your current strength, let alone investigating, even getting slightly close would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, inviting self-destruction. Act according to your virtue, proceed according to your strength. To fell a towering tree, one must first sharpen their tools. Do you understand?"
"Sir's teachings, Yuechu will bear in mind."Jiang Yuechu lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions in her eyes. She nodded obediently.
All that rambling boiled down to something simple: Your father's case is too involved, and you're too weak right now, so don't go seeking death.
"
Good that you understand." He said no more, turning and walking towards the door.
At the doorway, he paused again.
"Oh, by the way, Pei Changqing's ancestral home was Guangwu. So, he can be considered to have returned to his roots." Jiang Yuechu was stunned on the bed.
She naturally understood what the other party meant.
The other party wasn't unaware that for the Demon Suppression Division, investigating the cause of death of Pei Changqing and the others would be as easy as turning a hand.
But no matter what, the biggest crisis was now resolved.
She had an identity, a backer, and even slaying Demons and devils became legitimate.
With a thought, the ancient scroll opened in her mind in response.
[Host: Jiang Yuechu]
[Realm: Hearing the String Perfection]
[Martial Arts: Fierce Tiger Quick Blade (Supreme), Green Cliff Returning Shadow (Supreme), Blood Food Technique (Perfection)]
[Dao Cultivation: One hundred twenty years]
[Collected Demons: Tiger Mountain God (Dotting the Eye), Green-Faced Gentleman (Staining Vermilion), Mythical Ape (Shadow Mimicry)]
[Innate Divine Abilities: Yin Method Heaven Bestowal, Tiger Fiend Blood Boil, Wolf Travels a Thousand Li]
[Demonization: Tiger Mountain God]
Slaying that Minggu Realm pig Demon had granted her three hundred and fifty years of Dao Cultivation. But just collecting Shadow Mimicry had cost a full two hundred and thirty years.
This consumption was simply outrageous.
However… Jiang Yuechu's gaze fell on the Martial Arts section.
Besides the two martial arts, Fierce Tiger Quick Blade and Green Cliff Returning Shadow, which had already reached the Supreme Realm, there was an additional Cultivation Technique she had never seen before.
[Blood Food Technique (Perfection)]
What was this? With a thought, several smaller annotations slowly appeared below that line of text.
[Blood Food Technique (Perfection): Devouring the flesh and blood of Demons and devils can greatly enhance refining efficiency, converting it into one's own blood and Qi, nourishing the Foundation. This Cultivation Technique has no rank, being a Bloodline talent of the Mythical Ape clan. As the host has collected the Mythical Ape, this gift is bestowed.]
Jiang Yuechu was first stunned, then suddenly enlightened.
No wonder… outside Jincheng County, after she had slain those two pig Demons, she had roasted and eaten their flesh and blood.
The flesh and blood of Demons and devils were inherently great tonics.
Ordinary martial artists consuming it could also strengthen their blood and Qi. However, without a specialized Cultivation Technique to refine it, the impurities contained within would also invade the body. Its efficiency would also be far inferior.
When she had previously devoured those two pig Demons, although her strength had increased, most of the essence had been wasted due to the lack of a refining method.
And now, her cultivation being able to reach Hearing the String Perfection was likely because, once this Cultivation Technique was acquired, it instinctively converted all the unrefined Demon flesh and blood essence accumulated in her body into the purest blood and Qi, breaking through in one go.
Thinking of this, she became even more delighted. Everyone avoided Demons, yet she became increasingly reliant on them.
Although this Blood Food Technique had no help whatsoever for direct combat, its preciousness even surpassed that Demonization Divine Ability!
As long as there were enough Demons for her to kill and eat… Bone Resonance Realm?
Even beyond Bone Resonance Realm!
The future was promising!
"Hehehe…" Jiang Yuechu lay on the bed, unable to help but laugh aloud.
~Creak~
The door was gently pushed open.
Wei Qing walked in, carrying a bowl of steaming hot porridge, and happened to see Jiang Yuechu laughing foolishly on the bed alone, which made her pause.
"You… what are you laughing about?"
"Nothing." Jiang Yuechu immediately composed herself, saying earnestly, "I'm just happy to be able to serve the Demon Suppression Division."
"Like I'd Believe You." Wei Qing placed the porridge bowl on the small table beside the bed, giving her an annoyed look, "Drink it quickly, it's freshly made, with deer antler and goji berries added to replenish blood and Qi."
Jiang Yuechu sat up, took the bowl, and, smelling the aroma, her appetite was greatly stimulated.
"Oh, right, my brother told me to give you this." Wei Qing said, pulling out a neatly folded set of clothes and a palm-sized wooden token from her bosom.
The clothes were the iconic black and red-patterned tight-fitting attire of the Demon Suppression Division, and the material felt much better than the one she had stripped off a dead person.
The wooden token felt slightly heavy in her hand, made of unknown wood.
One side was carved with the characters "Demon Suppression" (Demon Suppression) in a flamboyant script, and the other side was carved with her name.
{Jiang Yuechu.}
"This is your waist token. Within the Great Tang, it exempts you from all inspections and allows unimpeded entry and exit from cities." Wei Qing explained, "The clothes were also chosen according to your size. Try them on to see if they fit."
Jiang Yuechu held the waist token, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
After all this trouble, fear, and living on the edge of a knife.
Wasn't this what she was striving for?
But when this item was truly in her hand, it felt somewhat unreal.