The halberd shaft hummed, like a Dragon's roar and a tiger's howl.
Guan Youlong squinted, sizing up the young girl before him.
He joined the Demon Suppression Division in his twenties, ninety-four years ago. He had participated in thousands of large and small battles, fought his entire life, and seen countless people—arrogant ones, fearless ones—he had seen too many.
But he had never imagined that a girl who looked no older than seventeen or eighteen could remain so composed under the pressure of his Aura.
The surrounding Demon Suppression Guardss held their breath, their palms sweating.
They had followed Guan Youlong, defending this place for years, and they deeply understood the temper of Subaltern Officer Guan.
He was decisive and absolute in his commands.
But in the next instant.
Under the astonished gaze of everyone present, the young girl actually lifted her foot.
Taking a step, she was now only inches away from the still-humming halberd.
"Such audacity!"
Guan Youlong laughed out of extreme anger, murderous intent fully exposed in his eyes.
He roared, his figure shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow!
Mid-run, he leaned sideways, his right hand already gripping the halberd shaft embedded deep in the ground.
Boom—
The entire halberd was pulled out by his single hand, kicking up large amounts of dirt and shattered stone!
He flicked his wrist, and the eighteen-foot halberd felt weightless in his grasp. He swung it back and smashed it heavily down toward the girl's head!
Of course.
He wouldn't actually deliver a killing blow.
After all, they were both members of the Demon Suppression Division... If she were a regular Demon Suppression Guards, perhaps, but her status was clearly not low.
For this strike, he used the back of the halberd, not the sharp edge.
Even if he hit her hard, it would only severely injure the girl before him, forcing her to bed rest for a year or so, but it wouldn't kill her.
However.
At the moment the blow landed.
Jiang Yuechu actually raised her right hand.
Five slender, pale fingers spread open, meeting the descending massive halberd shaft.
Crack!
A crisp sound rang out.
"Holy shit!"
Everyone watched the scene before them in horror.
The imagined scene of broken bones and torn tendons did not materialize.
They saw the halberd, which was powerful enough to crush a running ox into paste, stop abruptly just inches above the girl's head.
...
Guan Youlong's expression froze.
How is that possible?!
Jiang Yuechu supported the halberd shaft and slowly raised her eyes.
The next instant.
Her five fingers suddenly exerted force.
"Let go of it!!!"
He roared, desperately trying to yank the halberd back, but the weapon seemed to have grown into her hand, refusing to budge!
Jiang Yuechu twisted her wrist, surprisingly taking the initiative, grabbing the halberd shaft and yanking it sharply toward herself!
Guan Youlong was caught off guard, his entire body uncontrollably dragged by the immense force, stumbling and lunging forward!
He was horrified. Years of combat instinct made him subconsciously want to release the weapon and retreat.
But it was already too late.
The girl gripped the halberd shaft, and her right knee suddenly slammed heavily into the opponent's wide-open abdomen!
Bang—!
The blood-red cloak violently billowed backward!
Guan Youlong was sent flying, tracing a pathetic arc through the air before crashing heavily more than a dozen steps away. He tumbled several times before finally stopping.
He struggled, trying to get up.
But as soon as he braced himself on the ground, he spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood with a gasp.
The eighteen-foot halberd, weighing a hundred catties, was currently being held single-handedly by the girl.
She casually weighed it in her hand, and then, like throwing away a useless piece of firewood, she tossed it onto the ground.
Clang—!
With this heavy sound, the surrounding Demon Suppression Guardss were all horrified, retreating a step in unison out of fear.
They couldn't understand it, no matter how hard they tried.
Why Subaltern Officer Guan, who had guarded the Qiang River for over ten years, would be defeated by such a young girl!
Moreover, his weapon had been seized—such a massive humiliation! It was clearly a one-sided defeat!
"Brat... How dare you insult me!!!"
Guan Youlong struggled to his feet, his face contorted with fury.
"Seize her!!!"
The Demon Suppression Guardss, who had been scared senseless, snapped out of their daze, one by one.
They had followed Guan Youlong for years, and they knew exactly what they had been doing here.
If today's events were exposed... Guan Youlong would certainly be the first to lose his head, but how much better off would they be?
Thinking of this, a look of grim determination flashed in Scarface's eyes.
He fiercely gritted his teeth and let out a low roar.
"Form the array!!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Over a hundred Demon Suppression Guardss drew their blades simultaneously, their cold Qi palpable.
Jiang Yuechu frowned.
This formation didn't look like they were trying to expel a colleague; it looked like they were trying to surround and kill some great fiend.
At this moment, how could she not understand?
There must be something suspicious about this so-called defense.
Otherwise, even if these people were fighting for the reputation of the Jiannan Provincial Command, they wouldn't fight so fiercely without retreating.
However, she was someone who responded well to gentleness but not to coercion.
She sighed softly, offering an apology to Wei He in her heart.
Today's events were probably going to cause him trouble again.
Just as she was about to make her move.
"Everyone stop right now!!!"
A furious roar mixed with shock came from not far away!
Everyone at the entrance of the stockade was stunned, subconsciously looking toward the source of the sound.
They saw three riders kicking up dust on the official road, galloping toward them!
The one leading them was the young man who Jiang Yuechu had briefly met at the ferry crossing earlier.
His face was full of anxiety and rage. Before he even arrived, his voice rang out again.
"Are you Jiannan Provincial Command bastards crazy?!"
Guan Youlong's expression changed.
He clutched his chest, his eyes filled with shock and uncertainty.
The young man dismounted, rushed a few steps to the front of the formation, and positioned himself between Jiang Yuechu and the crowd.
Without even looking at Jiang Yuechu behind him, he stared at Guan Youlong and shouted sternly, "Guan Youlong, are you old and senile? If today's incident is reported to the General Bureau, aren't you afraid of losing your head?!"
Guan Youlong was momentarily stunned by the verbal assault.
But immediately afterward, he erupted in rage.
As the dignified Brigade Commander of the Jiannan Provincial Command Dusi, when had he ever been insulted like this, pointed at right in the face?
"Who the hell are you? How dare you cause trouble at my Qingshi Ferry?!"
"Me?"
The young man sneered, his eyes full of mockery. He swept his hand across his waist and tossed a waist token toward Guan Youlong.
...
Guan Youlong picked up the waist token, focused his eyes on it, and his expression suddenly turned fearful.
"Drawing weapons against a colleague with the intent to kill is a major taboo of the Demon Suppression Division! Regardless of your merits or faults during your decade guarding the Qiang River, today's actions are a capital offense!"
As his voice fell silent, the robust man behind him stepped forward and threw an iron chain, which clattered onto the ground at Guan Youlong's feet.
"Bind yourself."
"Don't force me to do it myself, and don't let the Jiannan Provincial Command be disgraced along with you."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire area fell into deathly silence.
The hundred-plus Demon Suppression Guardss of Qingshi Ferry were completely bewildered.
What... what does this mean?
What kind of identity allows someone to demand that Subaltern Officer Guan bind himself and plead guilty?
Jiang Yuechu was also somewhat surprised.
She had been ready to start a massacre.
She hadn't expected such an unexpected interruption halfway through.
It looked like his status was quite high... Guan Youlong stared at the iron chain on the ground, his expression shifting between dark and light.
After a long time.
Under everyone's disbelieving gaze, Guan Youlong actually bent down, picked up the cold iron chain, and handed it to Scarface beside him.
"Do as he says."
"Lord Guan!"
"You..."
"I told you, do it!"