Lin Feng arrived at the courtyard.
At that moment, You Lin and Mu Yu happened to be in the yard.
The other veteran trainees under General Ding who had not been selected had already lifted their guard and left General Ding's residence.
Seeing Lin Feng return safely, You Lin and Mu Yu both heaved a sigh of relief.
They hurried over, asking after Lin Feng with concern and inquiring about what had happened during the mission.
Lin Feng gave them a brief account.
Yet his gaze kept drifting toward Ding Yun's room.
The thunderous sound of snoring still came from Ding Yun's room.
"General Ding has been in his room the whole time? He hasn't come out at all?"
Lin Feng suddenly asked.
"No. That snoring has been shaking the heavens ever since we came into the courtyard. It hasn't stopped once."
Mu Yu replied in a lowered voice.
You Lin, too, shook his head with a bitter smile.
When the two heard that so many people had died, lingering fear showed on their faces.
Fortunately, they had not been chosen this time.
Otherwise, wouldn't they have been in grave danger as well?
After chatting for a while, Lin Feng worried about his family's safety and left the Demon Purging Division directly.
Still, doubt lingered in his heart. Could it be that the man in black was not General Ding, but one of Wu Hua's enemies?
And Lin Feng had merely happened to run into him.
If that was truly the case, then his luck was unbelievably good!
When he returned home, Mother Lin and the others saw Lin Feng come back.
They hurried out to greet him.
Mother Lin touched his hand, then felt over his body.
Only after finding no injuries did she finally relax.
"Don't worry, Mother. Aren't I perfectly fine?"
Seeing the tears and anxiety in her eyes, Lin Feng said heartbrokenly.
After all, her husband had died fighting Monsters only a few days ago. If her son died as well, Mother Lin's entire sky would probably come crashing down!
Once they saw Lin Feng was safe, the three of them finally relaxed their tightly wound nerves.
A wave of exhaustion washed over them, and they each returned to sleep.
At the same time, they felt fortunate. If Lin Feng had not moved the Household into the city, then this time, they truly would have faced near-certain death!
Lin Feng returned to his own room.
Tonight's gains had been anything but small!
One rat demon: 30 military merits and 30 enhancement points.
A Green Snake Gang hall master: 25 enhancement points and a thousand-tael silver note.
Xu Qiang: 30 enhancement points and a thousand-tael silver note.
And Liu Qi's Art of Disguise.
Lin Feng looked through the Art of Disguise. It was not as simple as applying makeup to one's face and putting on a skin mask.
When cultivated to a profound level, it could even alter the muscles, stretch and contract the bones, and change one's body shape.
It could be called a superior work among disguise arts!
No wonder Liu Qi had been able to lurk in Kaiyang County for more than ten years!
"These two thousand taels came at just the right time. Once I reach the Bone Forging Realm, I shouldn't be short of money anymore!"
Lin Feng looked at his butcher's knife.
Its edge had already curled. It was completely ruined and could no longer be used.
"I never expected Xu Qiang to have cultivated Iron Shirt to the great mastery realm. If my saber technique hadn't advanced to Heart Blade Unity this time, this knife probably wouldn't have been able to break through his defense!"
"Tomorrow, I'll go to the blacksmith and forge a better butcher's knife!"
Lin Feng pondered.
Afterward, he circulated the mental method of the Art of Disguise several times and recorded the technique onto the panel.
Name: Lin Feng Cultivation Art: Vajra Art Cultivation: Outer Refinement Realm - Bone Forging (101/200)+ Divine Ability 1: Ingestion Divine Ability 2: Avert Calamity Techniques: Tiger Roar Fist (3/20)+ Butcher Ding's Ox-Slicing: Heart and Saber Unity (2/100)+ Gale Leg Technique (20/20)+ Iron Shirt (40/40)+ Qi Concealment Technique (1/100)+ Art of Disguise (0/100)+ Enhancement Points: 36
The Art of Disguise also required 100 enhancement points to cultivate to the perfected realm.
Meanwhile, Butcher Ding's Ox-Slicing had automatically increased by one point during this battle.
Next, Lin Feng added one point to the Art of Disguise.
A flood of complex knowledge about disguise techniques poured into his mind all at once.
It brought him to the entry level.
Then, as long as he circulated the mental method, the muscles on his face would undergo subtle changes.
When he looked into the bronze mirror again, those many minute changes made his face look vastly different!
"It seems that at the entry level, I still need a mask to assist me. If I want to do without masks and makeup, I'll have to wait until the minor mastery, or even great mastery realm!
Tomorrow, I'll go to the Slaughterhouse and get some pigskin to make a few masks!"
Inside the county office,
"Mancang, what exactly happened? How did Captain Xu end up fighting Niu Qi?"
Wu Hua asked the awakened Liu Mancang.
"Chief Constable! This lowly one doesn't know either. Captain Xu and I were together when we were suddenly ambushed.
Niu Qi injured me, and I lost consciousness.
I don't know what happened afterward!"
At this moment, Liu Mancang's heart was filled with agony. He lowered his head, doing everything he could to hide his grief!
For the past ten-odd years, Liu Qi had secretly raised him.
He had also provided him with many cultivation resources.
And now, Liu Qi had lost his life saving him!
He had been like a father.
How could Liu Mancang not be sorrowful and heartbroken!
"Mm. Since that is the case, rest well!"
Liu Mancang was a newcomer who had only recently joined, yet he had already encountered so much chaos caused by demons.
Seeing that he was not in a good state, Wu Hua did not ask further.
After all, Liu Mancang had decent aptitude. He could be cultivated into a trusted confidant in the future.
Not long afterward, he arrived at the county office's rear courtyard.
"County Magistrate!"
"Clerk Lu!"
"Deputy County Magistrate Ouyang!"
Wu Hua greeted the three people in the room one by one!
County Magistrate Guo Yang looked refined and scholarly. He appeared exceedingly gentle, yet whenever Wu Hua stood before him, he felt tremendous pressure.
Because this man held the greatest authority and martial power in all of Kaiyang County!
His cultivation was at the Inner Strength Fourth Realm, the same realm as Zhao Hu from the Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp!
Combined with the treasures defending the city, even Zhao Hu, though he came from the Demon Purging Division and excelled at killing, would likely be no match for this County Magistrate!
"Mm. Chief Constable Wu, have all the wounded been settled?"
County Magistrate Guo Yang's voice drifted over.
"Reporting to County Magistrate, they have all been settled.
More than a hundred brothers from the county office were killed or injured this time.
This subordinate failed in his duties and requests punishment from the County Magistrate!"
Wu Hua lowered his head.
"Although there were some warnings this time, no one expected so many high-realm minor demons to appear. Even the Demon Purging Division lost two banner squads.
You have already done well enough!"
"I heard that two captains of constables died! Hurry and replenish the manpower that needs replenishing!
The families of the brothers who died or were injured must be properly settled."
"Do not let it affect order within the city, and do not chill the hearts of the city's people."
"Yes, County Magistrate!"
Guo Yang then waved his hand, and Wu Hua left.
After hesitating for a moment, Wu Hua ultimately chose not to report his encounter with that man in black to the County Magistrate.
Reporting it would bring no merit, only fault.
Besides, Xu Qiang's death was good. There was now one fewer person who knew about what had happened back then!
"Lu Xin, the military camp also suffered many casualties this time. Go there and allocate ten thousand taels. Make sure the compensation payments are handled properly!"
"Yes, my lord!"
With that, Clerk Lu Xin also left the room.
"Ouyang Ye, once the demon corpses from this incident have been collected, bring them all to me. I will handle them uniformly.
There are so many corpses. If they are not handled properly and an epidemic breaks out, it will not be a minor matter."
As he said this, a grave expression appeared on Guo Yang's face.
Deputy County Magistrate Ouyang Ye also bowed, then left to carry out the order.
"So many demon corpses... is it really only to prevent an epidemic?"
As Ouyang Ye walked out of the courtyard, his gaze flickered. No one knew what he was thinking.
After everyone had left, the originally bright and warm candlelight in Guo Yang's room instantly turned an eerie green!
The temperature in the entire room also dropped at once.
Then, from the darkness beside a pillar, a shadow actually emerged.
"County Magistrate Guo, we must thank you for this time!
Once these demon corpses are gathered, along with some sacrificial offerings, that matter can finally be accomplished!"
The shadow's voice carried a chill.
It made one's skin crawl just hearing it!
"Mm. You had better not play any tricks, or I will be the first to destroy you!"
Guo Yang said coldly.
"Hehehe, County Magistrate, you jest. You and I have worked together for so many years. How would this little woman dare play tricks!
Naturally, when we work together, both sides profit!"
"That would be best! You did well luring in the demons this time. After a while longer, we can proceed to the next step of the plan.
When the time comes, I will properly help you select candidates!"
"Then this humble woman thanks the County Magistrate! County Magistrate, would you like this humble woman to repay you in advance?"
As she spoke, the shadow's form shifted, turning into a plump and beautiful young matron!
The twin mounds before her seemed ready to burst free!
Her little lilac tongue slid seductively across her lips.
The sight left one's mouth dry and tongue parched!
"Hmph! Save that routine!"
With a cold snort, the seal in Guo Yang's hand erupted with blazing light.
The skin touched by the light on the beautiful matron gave off sizzling sounds. Then, with a wail, she vanished from sight.
"Hmph, County Magistrate, you truly do not appreciate romance!"
A coquettish voice echoed through the room.
Only then did Guo Yang put away the seal.
"Damn fox seductress, she's truly deadly!"
Before you continue