Inside Jingyao Workshop.
The workshop mostly consisted of small paths paved with bluestone. After being washed by the rain, the moss growing between the stones became even brighter.
"The Heaven Character Camp is considered the most elite camp in our Longyou Demon Suppression Division."
Li Qingyuan's voice was gentle, perfectly matching the clean workshop alley after the rain.
"The brothers in the camp are at least at Minggu Perfection, starting as Brigade Commanders."
"Lord Wei transferred you to the Heaven Character Camp, firstly because he values your strength, and secondly, to let you be less burdened by mundane affairs, so you can focus on cultivation."
As they conversed, they arrived at the entrance of the small courtyard.
"We're here."
Jiang Yuechu pushed open the courtyard gate, turned sideways, and said, "Big Brother Li, would you like to come in for a sit?"
"No, thank you."
Li Qingyuan smiled and shook his head, standing outside the door. "I'll wait for you here, no rush."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, walked in with her belongings, and casually left the courtyard gate ajar.
Li Qingyuan stood under the eaves, listening to the faint sounds from the courtyard, feeling a surge of emotion.
From a family of generals, a scholarly household—he, Li Qingyuan, had seen many women.
There were princesses of noble birth, refined young ladies who were well-read and sensible, and also heroic female Martial Artists from the Jianghu.
But none of them were like Jiang Yuechu.
A Core Formation Realm cultivator at seventeen.
Single-handedly slaying the Heaven-Pacifying True Lord.
Such a resume, even in Chang'an City, would be enough to make those self-proclaimed Prodigies pale in comparison.
As he was pondering, the half-open wooden door was pulled open from the inside.
Li Qingyuan subconsciously looked up.
Then, he froze.
The post-rain sunlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds, carrying a gentle softness.
The young girl wore a brand new, dark black uniform, perfectly tailored, outlining her already well-proportioned figure just right.
It was no longer the simple black robes with red patterns of an ordinary Demon Suppression Guards.
The Brigade Commander's uniform, woven from fire-spun cloth, had a deeper color and a heavier texture.
The golden lion Divine Beast embroidered with gold thread on the shoulders shimmered under the sunlight, as if it would leap from the fabric at any moment to devour someone.
This Brigade Commander's uniform, symbolizing the sixth-grade authority of the Demon Suppression Division, symbolizing slaughter and majesty, was worn on her.
Yet, it seemed as if it was always meant to be a part of her body.
It wasn't that she put on this uniform.
It was that this uniform had finally found its owner.
"Big Brother Li?"
The girl's clear, cold voice awakened him from his daze.
Li Qingyuan snapped back to reality, cleared his throat, and quickly cupped his hands in a salute, using the gesture to cover his momentary lapse.
"Miss... Miss Jiang."
He opened his mouth, intending to offer a compliment, but when the words reached his lips, he felt that any words would be pale and powerless.
In the end, it only transformed into a heartfelt exclamation.
"It fits perfectly."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, stating as a matter of course, "I think so too."
Li Qingyuan chuckled, shook his head, and made a gesturing motion for her to proceed.
The two walked side by side towards the Commandery Office.
"Our Heaven Character Camp is the most elite camp in the Longyou Demon Suppression Division, and we mostly handle difficult assignments."
He changed the subject, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "However, it's shameful to admit, our Longyou Heaven Character Camp has the fewest personnel among the fifteen Dusi, and its strength… is also widely considered to be at the bottom."
"This is why?"
Jiang Yuechu had always been puzzled by one thing.
Logically speaking.
Demons, naturally, are more active in places the imperial court cannot easily control.
But the imperial court seemed indifferent to the demons here.
To this day, even the position of a Circuit Commander remains vacant.
One could see how unconcerned they were.
Upon hearing this, Li Qingyuan smiled slightly, not answering directly, but instead posing a question.
"Miss Jiang, how would you evaluate this Longyou Region?"
Jiang Yuechu thought for a moment and spoke frankly.
"Poor mountains and treacherous waters, not very habitable."
"Exactly." Li Qingyuan nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the answer. "Even the major Jianghu sects and prestigious aristocratic families in Longyou mostly congregate in the prefectures closer to the Jiannan Circuit, rarely venturing west of Region."
He raised his hand and made a sweeping gesture.
"The Longyou Circuit is bounded by Mount Long. To the east, there are still some signs of human habitation, but to the west, only yellow sand and Gobi Desert remain. Coupled with the establishment of the Western Regions Demon Court a hundred years ago, which cut off our Great Tang's Hexi Corridor, Longyou became a true frontier land."
"Demons, for the most part, enjoy devouring humans, especially Martial Artists. Their vital Qi and blood are great tonics for demons."
"The higher the Realm of a Martial Artist, the more beneficial it is for a demon's cultivation."
"Therefore, those truly powerful Great Demons are willing to take risks to go to the Central Plains, a Region with a dense population and abundant resources. Great Demons are like this, and consequently, they produce more offspring, creating a cycle."
"So, even though our Longyou is remote, it is actually one of the Circuits least afflicted by demons."
He paused, a hint of self-mockery on his face.
"A single Core Formation Great Demon can establish a mountain stronghold here and rule as a king, but if you throw him into the heartland of the Central Plains, let alone a True Lord, he wouldn't even be able to make a ripple."
Jiang Yuechu understood.
These words resolved many of the doubts in her heart.
However, there was still one question.
"I remember the imperial court stationing heavy troops here; logically, the population should still be quite substantial."
Li Qingyuan replied, "Longyou borders various Western Regions nations and grassland tribes, and has always been a strategically important location. It's true that the Great Tang stations heavy troops here, and the population is certainly not small."
"But don't forget, within military camps, Evil Qi soars to the heavens. Ordinary minor demons, let alone devouring people, find it difficult to even get close. If they really provoke them, it's like poking a hornet's nest; thousands of soldiers will besiege them, and even a Minggu Realm cultivator would be severely injured."
He paused, then changed the subject.
"If it were you, Miss Jiang, to choose, would you pick the Central Plains heartland, where unarmed commoners are everywhere, or this godforsaken wilderness and Gobi Desert, where you also have to worry about provoking the fierce generals in the military camps?"
Uh... that also seems to be the case.
Jiang Yuechu thought about it. If it were her, she would probably choose a beautiful place with outstanding people and scenery.
After all, who would want to make things difficult for themselves?
As they spoke, they had already walked back to the Dusi.
The Heaven Character Camp's station was in the innermost part of the Commandery Office, occupying the largest courtyard, distinctly separate from the Profound, Earth, and Yellow Camps.
Just as they were about to reach the courtyard gate, Li Qingyuan suddenly stopped.
"Miss Jiang."
Jiang Yuechu turned her head to look at him.
The gentle smile on Li Qingyuan's face had disappeared at some point, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.
"Now that you've entered the Heaven Character Camp, there are some things I must make clear to you beforehand."
He looked at the young girl and said in a deep voice, "The Heaven Character Camp takes on the most perilous assignments in the Circuit. The tough bones that other camps in The Department can't chew, we have to chew."
"Once you step through this door, living from day to day is common. Many people enter full of vigor and ambition, only to come out lying down."
"No one doesn't want to climb higher, but smooth roads are easy to walk, and when many walk them, they become ordinary paths."
"Only muddy paths can leave your footprints."
"Anyone who can emerge from the Heaven Character Camp is equivalent to having one foot in the threshold of the General Dusi."
Li Qingyuan looked at her deeply.
"Have you thought it through?"
Jiang Yuechu did not answer.
She merely took a silent step, walking directly into that courtyard gate.