Jiang Yuechu and Liu Chen walked out of the main hall side by side. The sunlight outside the hall was dazzling, as if a lifetime had passed.
"Core Formation Great Demon..." Liu Chen murmured to himself, "If our Commander of Longyou Circuit were still here, how could that troublesome Core Formation Great Demon dare to act so presumptuously outside Yumen Pass?"
Commander?
Jiang Yuechu paused.
Liu Chen noticed her unusual behavior, turned his head, and seeing the confusion on her face, he understood.
"A Commander is a third-rank official, in charge of a Demon Suppression Division, wielding immense power."
Liu Chen paused, instinctively looked around, and only after confirming no one was nearby, lowered his voice.
"But last year... because of the new emperor's ascension..."
He stopped abruptly at this point.
"You came from the capital, so some things, you should know better than I do."
Jiang Yuechu rolled her eyes.
What the heck do I know!
Her previous self was a pure, naive Young Miss, how could she know about affairs of the imperial court?
But since the other party wasn't saying, she naturally wouldn't ask.
The current world was incomparable to her previous life.
Discreetly discussing imperial power could lead to decapitation!
Seeing her silence, Liu Chen assumed she agreed and continued, "The new emperor has only been on the throne for just a year, so naturally, there's been a fierce struggle in the imperial court."
"Our Demon Suppression Division, by rights, shouldn't interfere with the changing of imperial power."
"But after all, we make a living in officialdom. The tree desires calm, but the wind won't cease. How can we truly detach ourselves?"
"In short, the position of our Longyou Commander has been vacant until now, and all matters, big and small, are temporarily handled by Great General Wei."
The words ended there, no need for further explanation.
Jiang Yuechu was silent.
She also gained a new understanding of the imperial power in this world.
A dignified Commander, gone just like that... if she were to sit in that position in the future, could she protect herself?
Liu Chen sighed, patted her shoulder, "It's best for us subordinates to get involved as little as possible. Doing our own duties is better than anything else."
"Mm."
"Alright, enough of this..."
Liu Chen continued, "You've just been promoted to Squad Leader. Although you have considerable skill, our Demon Suppression Division ultimately values merit. Your seniority is still shallow, so you probably won't get a good assignment. This is your first time leading a team alone. Besides being careful of Demons, remember to also guard against other people."
"People?"
Liu Chen spread his hands and lowered his voice, "The situation is turbulent now. With the new emperor newly enthroned, there are always some discontented individuals in the Jianghu who refuse to submit to royal rule."
"A few days ago, a Deputy General was ambushed and killed by several Jianghu Schools while on a mission."
"If you truly encounter an insurmountable risk, don't hesitate, turn around and run."
"At most, you'll come back to face punishment, which is better than losing your life out there."
These words were useless.
In a true desperate situation, how many could escape?
Seeming to know his words were a bit redundant, Liu Chen showed a hint of embarrassment, but still continued, "Of course, as long as you don't die without a trace, The Department will send people to avenge you within half a month at most."
"Take that Deputy General, for example. After the incident, Lord Wei personally dispatched a thousand Xuan Battalion elites, and in just three days, they completely wiped out those Schools."
Compared to the ruthlessness of the Demon Suppression Division's actions, Jiang Yuechu quietly grew more cautious.
She had thought she only needed to guard against Demons and ghosts, but she hadn't expected that the people of the Jianghu were even more dangerous than Demons... After bidding farewell to Liu Chen, Jiang Yuechu hugged her saber and walked straight back to the barracks where her team was.
Before entering the courtyard, she sensed that the atmosphere inside was a bit off.
The courtyard, which had been chaotic yesterday, was surprisingly quiet today.
The few burly men who had been boisterous around the stone table yesterday were now like quails, each finding a spot in the courtyard to stay.
When Jiang Yuechu's figure appeared at the entrance, everyone's movements froze, and they instinctively straightened up.
At the courtyard entrance, a young man dressed in a civil servant's uniform was anxiously waiting, holding a stack of scrolls.
Seeing her arrive, he quickly came forward.
"Captain Jiang."
He pulled out the topmost scroll and presented it with both hands.
"This is the assignment for your team."
Jiang Yuechu reached out and took it.
The civil servant seemed to know she had just been promoted to Squad Leader and was a woman, so he couldn't help but offer an extra tip: "Is this Captain Jiang's first time leading a team on a mission?"
Without waiting for Jiang Yuechu to answer, he continued on his own: "Before going on a mission, you need to use this scroll to register at the stable in the back courtyard and receive a Red-Eyed Colt. One person, one horse, all are registered."
"Additionally, The Department has a rule: after slaying a Demon, if you have the strength, try to bring back the complete corpse. The treasury will convert it into merit and reward money according to the Demon's rank."
"If it's inconvenient, you must also take key items like tendons, bones, or heads as proof of merit."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, her attitude polite.
"I understand, thank you for the reminder."
The civil servant said no more, bowed, and then hurried away with the remaining scrolls.
In the courtyard, it was utterly quiet.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the scroll in Jiang Yuechu's hand.
Most of them were Jianghu people who had only recently joined the Demon Suppression Division; let alone assignments, they hadn't even seen many proper Demons.
This was their first assignment.
How could they not be curious?
But curiosity was one thing.
The scene of Chen Tong being pressed to the ground like a chick yesterday was still seared into their minds.
Who would dare to ask questions?
Jiang Yuechu, however, paid no attention to their cautious thoughts, and read the scroll in her hand, scanning ten lines at a glance.
The content on the scroll was quite simple.
[Hechuan County, Diezhou. The government reported that a Black Bear Demon has formed on the mountain outside the county town. It is massive in size and capable of splitting mountains with its strength. Recently, it frequently descends the mountain to wander, setting up altars in mountain villages to preach, claiming to have comprehended the true meaning of Buddhist Dharma, able to enlighten people and free them from the suffering of Reincarnation.]
[Many ignorant men and women have already been misled by it, going up the mountain to offer sacrifices and listen to its sermons, neglecting production. Its demonic words are deceiving the masses, and there is a fear of great chaos.]
[According to reports, this Demon is suspected to have Half-Step Ming Gu Realm cultivation.]
Jiang Yuechu's eyelids twitched as she read.
Black Bear Demon?
And preaching, no less?
What a joke!
However, Half-Step Ming Gu... its strength was average.
It seemed this assignment shouldn't pose too much danger.
She mused inwardly, but her expression remained calm. She casually tossed the scroll towards the center of the courtyard.
"Everyone, take a look."
The scroll lightly landed on the stone table.
Everyone exchanged glances, no one daring to be the first to pick it up.
It was the clever Monk No Abstinence. He chuckled, waddled over with his big belly, and snatched up the scroll.
"Let this poor monk do it, let this poor monk do it! this poor monk can read!"
He cleared his throat, pretentiously unfolded the scroll, and began to read it word by word.
When they heard about a Black Bear becoming a Demon and setting up altars to preach, a wave of suppressed snickering already spread through the courtyard.
"Damn it, this blind bear became a Demon and didn't go find a female bear, but instead ran off to become a monk?"
But when No Abstinence read about the Half-Step Ming Gu Realm cultivation, the laughter in the courtyard abruptly ceased.
Everyone's expressions instantly changed.
Half-Step Ming Gu!
What did that even mean?
Although several people present, including Liu Ke and others, were all at Half-Step Ming Gu.
However, Demons cultivate slowly, but they often take decades or centuries, their Foundation incredibly profound.
At the same Realm, the strength of a Demon was far beyond what a Martial Artist could compare to.
"Chief... Squad Leader..."
A burly man stammered, his face pale, "This... this assignment, is it mistaken? We've only just..."
Chen Tong, in the corner, suddenly stood up and spat fiercely.
"What's there to be afraid of! It's just a blind bear, isn't it? Back in the day, I even..."
He wanted to boast about his past achievements, but as the words reached his lips, they were swallowed back down when he met Jiang Yuechu's calm gaze.
He just stuck out his neck and muttered, "Let's just do it!"
Everyone exchanged glances, their hearts still uneasy.
Just then.
"Outrageous!"
"Simply outrageous!"
Monk No Abstinence's angry roar startled everyone.
The Fat Monk was filled with indignation and grief.
"Buddhism is a pure land! The Three Canons and Twelve Divisions, every word is a pearl of wisdom! How can a beast with fur and horns be allowed to defile it so wantonly?!"
"No! this poor monk will definitely act on behalf of heaven today and cleanse the doors of our Buddhist School!"
The few burly men around were stunned, almost forgetting why the other party had been driven down the mountain.
Jiang Yuechu couldn't be bothered to waste words with this group of people, and simply spoke indifferently.
"Pack your things. We'll gather at the stable in the back courtyard in half an hour."
"Dry rations, medicine, weapons, prepare them all yourselves. If anyone is late..."
"Get out on your own."
With those words, she said no more and turned to leave.
Leaving behind a courtyard full of people, exchanging bewildered glances... Hechuan County was named for the confluence of two large rivers.
Thanks to its waterways, the county was quite prosperous.
The dock was bustling with people all day, and the tea houses and taverns in town were always filled with merchants from all directions.
But these past few days, the atmosphere in the county had been a bit off.
In the tea house.
"Butcher Wang's wife from the west of the city, last night, she took all the money in the house and ran off!"
"Ran off? Where to?"
"Where else? Up the mountain, of course!"
"It's that bear Demon again..."
A middle-aged man dressed as an accountant at the next table sighed, putting down his teacup, "How many times has this happened this month?"
"You can say that again."
The short-jacketed man clicked his tongue, "Butcher Wang reported it to the officials early this morning, crying and wailing at the county yamen's entrance, saying his wife was possessed and bewitched by that blind bear!"
"What blind bear, he's now Great Master Black Bear!"
A young man sitting in the corner couldn't help but interject, a hint of fanaticism on his face, "The Great Master said that the mortal world is full of suffering, and only by converting to Buddhism can one attain great freedom and escape the sea of bitterness!"
"Bah!"
The accountant glared at him angrily, "You ignorant young punk! How can a beast presume to speak of Buddhist Dharma? If it truly had power, why doesn't it turn stones into gold and distribute them to the poor in the city?"
"You... you are slandering the Great Master!"
The young man's face flushed, "How can you common folk understand the Great Master's magic power? I've seen it with my own eyes; the Great Master can split rocks with a single palm! What else but Buddhist Dharma is such Divine Might?"
A flurry of discussion immediately erupted in the tea house.
"Splitting rocks... really?"
"That blind bear is naturally incredibly strong. It's not surprising if it has this ability after becoming a Demon."
"But... but it preaches! People who've been up the mountain say that Great Master Black Bear sits cross-legged on a rock, quoting scriptures, speaking eloquently and logically, even better than the abbot of Guangji Temple in the county!"
"Bullshit!" A peddler who had just come in from outside dropped his pole on the ground, wiped his sweat, and cursed, "I passed by the mountain road yesterday, and good heavens, there was a huge crowd of people kneeling all over the road, each looking like they'd lost their souls, kowtowing towards the mountaintop."
"My cousin's wife was among them! Her child had a high fever, but she didn't care. She carried the last bit of rice from home up the mountain, saying it was an offering to the Great Master to pray for blessings!"
"What kind of blessings is that?!"
Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.
This world was already difficult.
Longyou was bitter and cold; natural and man-made disasters never ceased.
The common people lived hard lives, and having a hope was understandable.
But now, this hope was placed on a bear Demon, which was simply too absurd.