Zhao Zhongliu's gaze swept over her inch by inch.
After a long while.
The old man nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.
"A person relies on clothes just as a horse relies on a saddle. This uniform looks much better on you than on those few burly men."
This was an extremely high compliment.
The expressions of the people below the platform varied, but no one dared to utter another word.
Jiang Yuechu's expression was calm, and she did not show any timidity because of the praise.
Zhao Zhongliu withdrew his gaze and looked at everyone.
"Since everyone is in position, let's discuss the reason for summoning you all this time."
"Something has happened in Jiangnan East Dao."
The eyebrows of several experienced Silver Robe Inspectors jumped violently. They subconsciously exchanged glances, all seeing a hint of solemnity in the other's eyes.
Jiangnan has always been a land of fish and rice, a place of flourishing willows and prosperity.
Its importance to the Great Tang goes without saying.
But that place was not very friendly to the Demon Suppression Division.
Demons were mixed in, powerful aristocratic families were entrenched, and there were forces like the grain transport and salt gangs... "A few days ago, the Jiangdong Military Commission sent a request for aid."
"The Commander-in-Chief and the Left and Right Demon Suppressing Envoys are currently unable to spare time."
"Therefore..."
"I plan to transfer half of the personnel from the Capital's Inspection Corps and immediately head south for reinforcement."
Half?!
Everyone was shocked.
Drawing half of the elite forces to the south was enough to show how badly the situation there had deteriorated.
"Jiang Yuechu."
"This subordinate is present."
"Since you have received the Silver Robe and Imperial Grace, you cannot simply enjoy comfort in the capital."
Zhao Zhongliu looked at the young woman below the platform and said meaningfully, "Since this blade has been forged, it must see blood and be sharpened."
"You will go south with us this time."
Everyone's gaze fell upon Jiang Yuechu, their expressions complicated.
A treasured sword must drink blood upon unsheathing.
Although Jiang Yuechu's talent was astonishing, talent was one thing, and merit was another.
Directly parachuting into the Silver Robe rank, equivalent to a Fourth-Rank official, required tangible military achievements to back it up. Even if they didn't speak up, outsiders who knew would certainly gossip.
Jiang Yuechu lowered her eyes slightly, deep in thought.
Jiangnan... are there many Demons?
Probably a lot, right?
She subconsciously sensed the depths of her Sea of Consciousness.
The Tiger Demon was practicing saber techniques, fierce and overbearing; the Wolf Demon was practicing boxing, its movements cunning; the Bear Lord was practicing horizontal training, unmoving as a mountain; the Pig Demon... the scene looked vibrant and flourishing.
But Jiang Yuechu's heart was bleeding.
After two or three days of consumption, she finally understood one thing.
Celestial Demon Martial Practice cannot be achieved overnight.
Every Demon that starts the deduction process consumes ten years of Dao Cultivation per hour.
With all four Demons active, one hour costs forty years.
Twelve hours a day makes four hundred and eighty years.
A full four hundred and eighty years!
In just three short days, she had forcibly poured in over fourteen hundred years of Dao Cultivation!
At first, she held the thought, 'I've already invested over four hundred years, I can't waste it.' By the time she realized it and wanted to pause, she was even more reluctant.
Over fourteen hundred years have been invested; if she stopped now, wouldn't all her previous efforts be wasted?
Jiang Yuechu took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the pain in her heart.
She could not stop.
Since these four gold-swallowing beasts at home needed to eat, she could only go outside and seize resources.
Although Chang'an City was large, it was ultimately under the Son of Heaven's jurisdiction. If she wanted to kill Demons on a large scale to gain Dao Cultivation, she had many concerns.
But Jiangnan was different.
Since it had become so chaotic, wouldn't that mean... Dao Cultivations were walking everywhere?
Thinking of this.
She stepped forward, cupped her fists, and spoke with a powerful, resonant voice.
"This subordinate accepts the order!"
The urgency and craving in her tone stunned everyone around her.
This... Zhao Zhongliu was also slightly surprised, then burst into laughter.
"Good!"
"That's the spirit we need!"
"In that case, there's no need for further discussion. All of you, depart immediately!"
...On the Official Road, the fine rain misted down.
It was already late autumn, but the rain in Jiangnan was more persistent and chilling than in Chang'an.
On both sides of the Official Road, withered yellow reeds swayed in the wind and rain. In the distance, paddy fields stretched continuously, but few farmers were seen, only a few egrets startled into flight, skimming across the gray sky.
Jiang Yuechu rode alone.
It was no longer the Red-Eyed Colt, but a Demonic Horse that was completely snow-white with a single horn on its forehead.
This beast, named Horses Name, was specially provided by the General Bureau for Inspector Envoys of the Silver Robe rank and above.
As its four hooves galloped, clouds and mist subtly swirled around them. It wouldn't get wet when encountering water, left no trace in snow, and traveling a thousand li a day was effortless.
Inspector Envoys of the Demon Suppression Division always traveled alone.
Even if they shared the same destination, unless they had a deep relationship, they mostly went their separate ways.
After all, everyone was going to kill Demons and earn merit. If they gathered, there would be too many wolves and too little meat, and they would have to bother dividing the credit later, which was troublesome.
"Whoa—"
Jiang Yuechu gently pulled the reins. Horses Name snorted and obediently slowed its pace.
She reached into her bosom with one hand and pulled out a Bronze Disk.
The crimson pointer in the center of the disk was trembling slightly, but it kept spinning randomly like a headless fly, unable to indicate a precise direction.
"Tch."
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly and flicked the surface of the disk with her finger in distaste.
Since receiving this item before leaving Chang'an, and traveling for the past few days, she had figured out its temper.
If no Demonic Qi was intercepted and injected into it, this thing was just a large warning bell.
As long as there was Demonic Qi within a hundred li radius, it would vibrate.
But whether it was a Rat Spirit Monster to the east or a Weasel Monster to the west, it knew nothing.
Along the way, in order not to miss out on Dao Cultivation,
she had been led off course by this disk quite a few times.
And the result?
Either a few Minor Demons that hadn't yet taken human form, or some Spirit Monsters that had just developed intelligence.
After expending a lot of effort, killing them only yielded a few decades of Dao Cultivation, not even enough to fill the gaps between her teeth.
Jiang Yuechu looked at the faint vibration, sighed, and lost the interest to investigate.
It was tasteless to eat, yet a pity to discard.
She put the Compass back into her bosom and sank her consciousness deep into her mind.
The bright red numbers on the System Panel made her heart pound with fright.
[Current Dao Cultivation: 120 Years]
Only one hundred and twenty years remained.
"If there are no more gains, I'm afraid I'll have to stop..."
Jiang Yuechu felt annoyed.
This was like a gambler sitting at a card table, seeing a Straight Flush about to come out, but running out of chips.
"At least let me deduce one technique..."
Jiang Yuechu gritted her teeth, filled with frustration.
Fortunately, the territory of Runzhou was just ahead.
After passing Runzhou, a hundred li further southeast lay the destination of this trip—Suzhou Prefecture.
Once she reached Suzhou and understood the Demonic Plague there, she could act with purpose.
Jiangnan is wealthy and densely populated. Presumably, the Demons here should also be somewhat plump, right?
They must be plump!
Just as she was thinking.
Roar—!!!
A roar pierced through the layers of rain curtain, exploding from the distant mountain forest.
Even several li away, Jiang Yuechu could feel a foul, fishy wave of Demonic Qi rushing toward her face.
Horses Name beneath her also seemed startled, nearly twisting its ankle.
Jiang Yuechu was stunned for a moment.
Immediately afterward, a heart-stopping red glow burst forth from her cold, clear eyes.
A big haul.
Definitely a big haul!
"Finally... I've run into one."
Jiang Yuechu took a deep breath, without any hesitation.
"Hah!"
She fiercely squeezed the horse's flanks with both legs.
Horses Name whinnied, clouds generated beneath its four hooves, and it turned into a white streak of light, galloping wildly toward the direction where the Demonic Qi soared into the sky.