Heavenly Supervision Department Secret Guard?

The next day, as the morning sun rose, its light spilled across the earth, painting everything gold.

Half a month later, Chen Yan once again walked the roads of Shanxi Town. Listening to the bustling cries of street vendors, he suddenly felt as though a lifetime had passed.

He had clearly only been gone for half a month, yet Chen Yan felt as if he had been away for years.

But Chen Yan could not be blamed for that, because compared to half a month ago, he was no longer the same.

Half a month ago, he had merely been in the Blood Qi Realm, not even the Second Blood Qi Realm, and only knew one Blood Fiend Saber Technique.

Half a month later, he was already a powerful Martial Master at the Third Blood Qi Realm, on the verge of breaking through into the True Force Realm. He had mastered the entry-level movement technique, Dragon Step. More importantly, the Blood Fiend Saber Technique had also broken through to the pinnacle realm, reaching a level comparable to a Martial Grandmaster.

Not to mention that he still had a thousand merit points unspent. Perhaps among those thousand merit points lay the cultivation method he sought?

Moreover, after the battle against the Tiger Head Mountain Bandits, Chen Yan's bearing had undergone an earth-shaking transformation.

If he had once still carried a touch of youthful immaturity, then now, a trace of blood-fiend aura had unconsciously settled between his brows.

In truth, it was not only Chen Yan. Even Facai, perched on his shoulder, carried a faint air of ferocity after killing men and seeing blood.

Just as Chen Yan was about to head back, Old Daoist Liu grabbed him.

"Don't be in such a hurry to go back. Come somewhere with this old Daoist first."

Chen Yan was taken aback. "Where?"

"You'll know when we get there."

With that, the old Daoist led Chen Yan through Shanxi Town, winding this way and that, until they finally stopped before a tavern.

The tavern did not look large, only two stories high. Since it was not mealtime, there were few people in the main hall. Only a waiter with a towel draped over his shoulder sat inside dozing off, while a middle-aged man who looked like the proprietor stood behind the counter working an abacus.

Old Daoist Liu led Chen Yan inside, deliberately stepping in with his right foot first. The proprietor glanced at them, then paid them no further attention.

The old Daoist brought Chen Yan to a table. Rather than sitting down, he spread his hands and braced them against either side of the table, then shouted loudly:

"Waiter, bring tea!"

Chen Yan shot Old Daoist Liu a strange look. The old Daoist's behavior seemed somewhat different from usual, but Chen Yan did not rush to ask. He merely watched quietly.

The waiter did not react. It was the proprietor who reminded him instead:

"Shui Sheng, customers are here. Still sleeping?"

The waiter jolted awake, exchanged a glance with the proprietor, then hurried over to the old Daoist and asked with a bow and a scrape:

"What tea would the Daoist like?"

"Longjing Tea."

"Coming right up, a pot of premium Longjing Tea!"

The waiter shouted and turned to leave. Before long, he returned carrying a covered bowl of Longjing Tea, while also placing a pair of chopsticks before Old Daoist Liu.

Old Daoist Liu did not drink immediately. Instead, he placed the chopsticks to the left of the tea bowl, then placed the bowl's lid to the left of the chopsticks.

When he finished this motion, Chen Yan keenly noticed the waiter's eyes flicker.

Then the waiter bowed and scraped again as he asked:

"What would the Daoist like to eat?"

"Yellow Millet."

"Where has the Daoist come from?"

"The capital."

"Where are you going?"

"All under Heaven."

"May I ask the Daoist's honorable name, and where his temple lies?"

"This old Daoist is named Liu Fujing. My temple is at Copper Head Mountain."

Chen Yan was utterly baffled by the exchange. Something felt off, yet he could not put his finger on it. Then he heard the waiter ask with a bent waist:

"Does the Daoist need to relieve himself? This humble one can lead you to the privy."

Old Daoist Liu rubbed his belly. "I've had quite a bit of tea. I was just about to let some water out. I'll trouble you to lead the way, little brother."

Without another word, Old Daoist Liu pulled Chen Yan along behind the waiter. They entered the inner hall, turned into the rear courtyard, and when they reached the privy, the waiter did not go in. Instead, he led the old Daoist and Chen Yan straight to the kitchen. Under Chen Yan's curious gaze, he pressed down on the stove.

"Click, click, click—"

A faint sound of mechanisms and gears turning echoed out. The stove slowly shifted left, revealing a stone door.

The waiter pushed open the stone door and walked inside. Old Daoist Liu tugged Chen Yan along as they followed him in.

The instant they entered, the waiter immediately dropped to one knee and respectfully saluted Old Daoist Liu.

"Deng Hong, Chief Banner of the Heavenly Supervision Department Secret Guard in Shanxi Town, pays respects to you, my lord!"

The Heavenly Supervision Department? Secret Guard?

Chen Yan was stunned.

Ever since learning of the Heavenly Supervision Department, Chen Yan had specifically looked into it. Were there not only Flying Fish Guards under its command?

When had a Secret Guard been added?

Old Daoist Liu merely nodded slightly.

"This old Daoist has something for you today."

"Please give your orders, my lord!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, every strip of human skin from the Skin-Peeling Puppets they had slain during this period appeared, not one missing.

Chen Yan had no idea what Old Daoist Liu had done to them, but the facial features on those skins had all been restored with remarkable realism, clear enough to make out distinctly.

"I want you to investigate every trace these skins left within Shanxi Town before they died. Where they went, what they did, and where they vanished. Take note—pay particular attention to places and things connected to Osmanthus Fragrance."

Deng Hong's expression did not change in the slightest as he respectfully replied:

"Understood!"

"This old Daoist will remain in Shanxi Town for the time being. Report immediately once you find anything."

"Yes!"

Deng Hong answered solemnly, then asked:

"Does my lord have any further instructions?"

The old Daoist thought for a moment, then took a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it over.

"The Tiger Head Mountain Bandits have been wiped out. This is proof of it. Report this matter upward and have them send over a serving of All-Encompassing Great Tonic Soup as soon as possible."

At this, Chen Yan's expression shifted slightly. He knew Old Daoist Liu was doing this for him.

"This subordinate understands!"

"That's all. Move quickly."

"Yes!"

By the time Chen Yan emerged from the tavern, he still had not recovered his senses for a long while.

Only after they returned to the bustling street did he seem to awaken from a dream. Looking at Old Daoist Liu beside him, he did not ask immediately. It was only once there was no one around that he hesitantly said:

"That just now was..."

"Didn't you hear it all? The Heavenly Supervision Department's Secret Guard."

Old Daoist Liu replied lazily.

"The Heavenly Supervision Department actually has Secret Guards?"

Chen Yan was astonished.

"Otherwise, why do you think the Heavenly Supervision Department can monitor all under Heaven? With Flying Fish Guards alone?"

Old Daoist Liu rolled his eyes.

Chen Yan was rendered speechless, but he could not help asking:

"Can they really find anything?"

"Can they find anything?"

Old Daoist Liu cast Chen Yan a sidelong glance. "Do you know that perhaps from the day Shanxi Town was built, its Secret Guards had already lain hidden here? Passed down through the generations for a hundred years—tell me, do you understand Shanxi Town better, or do they?"

"If you ever go somewhere and do not understand the local situation, you can visit the local Secret Guard hideout for intelligence. You saw the procedure with your own eyes. Just follow it."

Chen Yan nodded, finally understanding why Old Daoist Liu had been so certain they could trace the human skins' movements before death.

Indeed, with the Heavenly Supervision Department's Secret Guards assisting them, they would be far more efficient than the Shanxi County yamen.

"What should we do next, then?"

"What else can we do? Wait."

Old Daoist Liu yawned, then suddenly seemed to remember something. His expression turned solemn as he patted Chen Yan on the shoulder.

"Congratulations, kid. You've been made official."

"Huh?"

Chen Yan looked utterly bewildered.

"Starting today, you are officially a glorious Flying Fish Guard!"

Chen Yan: ???

"That proof from earlier not only recorded evidence that the Tiger Head Mountain Bandits had been exterminated. It also contained your confirmation application."

As he spoke, Old Daoist Liu patted Chen Yan's arm with great sincerity.

"I told you, once you board this old Daoist's pirate ship, it won't be so easy to get off."

Chen Yan rolled his eyes, though he did not feel much about it.

This was fine as well. From now on, he would have more opportunities to encounter Evil Spirits and Ghosts and accumulate merit points more quickly. What was not to like?