Wei He's courtyard was as quiet as ever.
Unlike the tense atmosphere at Fuyun Tower, here there was only the rustling of the night wind through the bamboo leaves.
Inside the study.
Wei He was not reviewing official documents, but rather engrossed in copying an ancient landscape painting at a large desk, his expression focused, his brushstrokes steady.
After his personal guard announced him, Xu Changfeng stepped in, and a faint scent of ink permeated the air.
"Lord Wei."
"What is it?"
Wei He didn't look up, merely asked indifferently, his brush still moving across the Xuan paper, outlining continuous mountains.
"This subordinate… has an important matter to report."
Xu Changfeng took a deep breath and recounted the events in detail.
"…This subordinate was negligent and unilaterally mobilized the Xuan Battalion Demon Suppression Guards, dispatched by Commander Jiang. If this leads to a major disaster, This subordinate is willing to bear all responsibility alone."
After speaking, he bowed his head deeply.
Inside the study, there was a deathly silence.
After a long while.
Wei He finally stopped his brush. He scrutinized his calligraphy, seemingly quite satisfied, before slowly raising his head to look at Xu Changfeng.
"So, you did approve the personnel?"
"…"
Xu Changfeng's face, uncharacteristically, flushed with heat.
It was quite laughable.
He, Xu Changfeng, prided himself on having everything under control, yet he was so confused by a few words from a mere girl that he inexplicably agreed to her request for manpower.
"This subordinate… is guilty."
Xu Changfeng bowed again, his voice hoarse.
Wei He, however, shook his head, blew on the freshly completed calligraphy, and casually placed it aside.
"It's fine."
"Hmm? Ah?"
As his words fell, Xu Changfeng looked over in confusion.
It's fine?
Today, that girl might very well confront the Core Formation Realm eminent monk of Baosha Temple, or even directly engage in combat… and this is considered… fine?
Wei He stood up, slowly walked to the window, stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant.
"Changfeng, how long have you been in the Region?"
"Reporting, Lord, seven years and three months."
"Seven years, huh…" Wei He sighed softly, "Then what do you think is the biggest problem with the Longyou Commandery now?"
Hearing this, Xu Changfeng didn't know how to answer.
Is it insufficient manpower?
Or the lack of a Dusi Commander to oversee it?
Wei He didn't wait for his answer, continuing on his own.
"The blade is dull."
"So dull that the Xuanmen families long dared to outwardly obey but inwardly defy us, so dull that even the Buddhist dogs dare to bark wildly at our Demon Suppression Division."
Xu Changfeng's pupils contracted.
How could he not know what the other party meant?
Thinking carefully, that girl was personally selected by Wei He to join the team, and their relationship was much closer than hers with him.
Since the person surnamed Jiang could come to him, how could she not have gone to Wei He?
Why would he need to say more?
Taking in the change in Xu Changfeng's expression, Wei He smiled slightly: "Since the founding of our dynasty, Emperor Taizu established the Demon Suppression Division to monitor all demons in the world, with the power to execute first and report later, by imperial decree. How mighty was that?"
"But look at it now."
"How long has the Commander position been vacant? Just one year."
"In this year, how many in the Longyou Circuit, from officials to the Jianghu, from aristocratic families to sects, still remember our Demon Suppression Division?"
"They only remember that our Dusi is currently short-staffed and stretched thin. They only remember that our Dusi has no Commander to oversee it, no one above them. They only remember that the current Dusi must be polite to Baosha Temple."
"Demon Suppression Division, Demon Suppression Division, it suppresses demons and eradicates devils, but they seem to have forgotten the last two words…"
…"Arrest them!"
Before the words finished, dozens of Xuan Battalion Demon Suppression Guardss behind Jiang Yuechu scattered like tigers unleashed from their cages!
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Waist knives were drawn, their cold gleam forming a continuous sheet.
"Clatter——"
Cold iron chains were flung onto the ground, making a harsh sound.
"The Demon Suppression Division is handling a case! All of you bastards, put your hands on your heads and squat down!"
"Ah—!"
"Don't arrest me! I don't know anything!"
"Official Sir! Official Sir, spare my life! This matter has nothing to do with me!"
The main hall instantly fell into chaos. The gentry who usually lorded over Liangzhou Prefecture only remembered, when the Demon Suppression Division truly acted—
This group of people before them were the imperial court's most ferocious hounds!
Qian Hong's face was already ashen.
He didn't know what fate awaited the others.
But with Qian Shaoyou, such a demonic fiend, emerging from the Qian Family, having their entire family executed was getting off lightly!
He abruptly turned around and scrambled to the main table, embracing Forgetting Dust's calf.
"Great Master! Great Master, save me! Save the Qian Family!"
"My Qian Family is utterly devoted to the Buddha, you cannot just stand by and watch us die!"
"Great Master!!"
The few other gentry who hadn't been apprehended yet also seemed to find their pillar of support and began wailing.
"Great Master, please say something!"
"We beg Great Master to uphold justice for us!"
"…"
Forgetting Dust's facial muscles twitched incessantly, his gaze fixed on the young girl.
He simply couldn't understand.
How could this girl be so audacious?!
Killing Hui Ming and Hui Yuan, two good-for-nothing String Hearing Stage juniors, was one thing.
He, the Chief of the Disciplinary院 of Baosha Temple, a Core Formation Realm mighty expert, was personally here, yet she still dared to be so presumptuous!
Did she really think his Baosha Temple had no one?
Did she really think his Core Formation Realm was just for show?
He even began to suspect if this girl had some monstrous background.
Otherwise, how could a mere Sixth-Rank Langjiang have the guts to openly defy his Baosha Temple in the Region?
Seeing a few Demon Suppression Guardss already approaching him.
His expression gradually darkened.
No matter what, he couldn't be taken away.
If he really entered the Demon Suppression Division, wouldn't they be able to say whatever they wanted, regardless of truth?
With this thought, he slammed the table, and the entire round table exploded, turning into a sky full of wood splinters!
Boom—!
The Core Formation pressure raged like a mountain collapse and a tsunami.
"this poor monk will sit right here. I'd like to see who dares to touch my Precious Temple today?!"
The few Demon Suppression Guardss closest to him felt a tightness in their chests, retreating repeatedly in fright, their faces flushed.
Just as they were about to react, they heard what the other party said and then realized.
"Oh my goodness…"
They had received Xu Changfeng's order and knew that today everything was to be handled according to Jiang Yuechu.
They originally thought it was just to cooperate with the Brigade Commander to arrest a few ignorant commoners, to make an example of them and establish authority.
But who the hell would have thought.
There were people from Baosha Temple sitting at this dinner party?!
For a moment, all the Demon Suppression Guardss hesitated, looking at each other, no one daring to take another step forward.
Seeing that no one dared to move.
Forgetting Dust showed a hint of mockery on his face.
What could a mere yellow-haired girl who had just entered Core Formation do, no matter how lawless she was?
In this Liangzhou Prefecture, unless an old-timer Core Formation Realm like Wei He personally came, who could touch him?
However, before the curve of his mouth could fully rise.
A bowl of hot soup was thrown directly at his face!
It was so fast that he didn't even have time to react!
Slap!
The scalding, greasy soup, mixed with vegetable leaves, splattered all over the old monk's head and face.
He looked up in horror.
He saw the young girl retract her hand expressionlessly.
"So old, learning what crooked smile? Do you really think you're the Dragon King?"