Fifteen minutes later!
After round after round of filtering, only one task remained on the light screen before Lin Baichuan.
Investigate the cause of the abnormal changes in Mist Mountain. Reward: 100 Contribution Points.
This was the task Lin Baichuan had ultimately chosen after making numerous selections. According to its description, a month ago, blood-red light had pierced the sky from Mist Mountain within Fengle County, accompanied by ceaseless beastly roars.
Several merchant caravans had entered Mist Mountain and never emerged. The Fengle County yamen had also sent people to investigate, but in the end, only one constable came out alive—and he went mad the moment he emerged.
With no other options, the Fengle County yamen had reported the matter to the Demon Suppression Division.
Lin Baichuan had accepted this task because he had a feeling that the changes in Mist Mountain were most likely related to demons. He had taken missions in order to slay demons and eradicate evil, gaining merit through the process. Fengle County, where Mist Mountain lay, was not too far from Cangwu County City. With the speed of a Unicorn Horse, he could get there in about a day.
Most importantly, Lin Baichuan faintly sensed that this trip to Mist Mountain might bring great gains.
"This is the one."
Lin Baichuan muttered, then accepted the task with a thought.
He then rose and left the Mission Hall, heading straight for the Logistics Hall.
Since he was going on a mission, he naturally needed to collect a Unicorn Horse from the Logistics Hall. Otherwise, riding an ordinary horse, it would take until the year of the monkey and month of the horse to reach Fengle County.
An hour later!
Lin Baichuan rode a Unicorn Horse out of Cangwu County City alone, speeding toward Fengle County.
At the same time, just as Lin Baichuan left the city, within the Demon Suppression Division's grounds, in Song Gang's courtyard.
"Captain, Lin Baichuan accepted a mission and left the city."
Li Da hurried over to report to Song Gang. "I checked. He went to Fengle County and should have accepted the Mist Mountain mission."
"He went to Fengle County? Hmph... That fellow is clever enough, using a mission to leave directly. Since he likes doing missions so much, then I'll arrange a few more for him." Song Gang wore a sinister expression as he said coldly, "Leave him alone for now. Notify me when he returns. Let that brat live a few more days."
"Th-this... Are we just letting this go, sir? What about the Lu Family?" Li Da asked hesitantly.
"Hmph... So what if it's the Lu Family? I'm not Lu Yunpeng's dog. I have no need to give him an explanation." Song Gang snorted. "If he's in such a hurry, he can send someone else to act. Doesn't the Lu Family have people within the Demon Suppression Division?"
Song Gang's expression was displeased. In truth, he had no choice.
Strictly speaking, what Lin Baichuan had done at Hundred Herbs Hall had not broken any rules. Lu Changkong had been the one who tried to embezzle Lin Baichuan's thousand taels of gold, only to be taught a lesson by Lin Baichuan instead. He could only blame himself for being too incompetent.
As for the four guards who had died, they had died for nothing.
They had actually dared to attack a Demon Slayer Guard of the Demon Suppression Division. They were tired of living, and being killed served them right.
Even if this matter were brought before the Demon Suppression Division's Law Enforcement Hall, Lin Baichuan would most likely be fine.
Song Gang understood all this perfectly. So although he had left in a blaze of fury, his heart was clear as a mirror. Trying to use this matter alone to kill Lin Baichuan was simply unrealistic. Of course... the most important reason was that Lin Baichuan was powerful enough to make him wary.
In this world, the weak were prey to the strong.
This principle applied within the Demon Suppression Division as well, and was displayed even more vividly there.
After hearing Song Gang's words, Li Da's expression changed slightly. Inwardly, he cursed Song Gang as a coward. He made it sound as grand as flowers falling from the heavens, but in truth, he had simply backed down and did not dare face Lin Baichuan head-on. Yet he still dressed it up in such righteous-sounding words.
Naturally, Li Da did not dare say any of this aloud. Otherwise, Song Gang would surely cut him down.
"Rest assured, sir. I'll have people keep watch."
Though he scorned Song Gang in his heart, Li Da said solemnly, "It's just that Lin Baichuan has already grown into a force to be reckoned with. He won't be easy to deal with!"
"That's why we need to kill with a borrowed knife!"
Song Gang sneered. "Don't concern yourself with this. You'll naturally know when the time comes. If there's nothing else, withdraw for now!"
"Yes!"
Li Da responded and immediately withdrew.
A chilling gleam flashed in Song Gang's eyes. His face was as cold as ice as he sneered repeatedly. "Lin Baichuan, Lin Baichuan... You're so arrogant. I wonder whether you'll still be this arrogant when the Earth Demons surround and kill you."
Naturally, Lin Baichuan had no idea that Song Gang was plotting against him.
After riding the Unicorn Horse on a day-long journey, with smooth sailing all the way, he finally arrived at Fengle County before nightfall.
The Golden Crow sank in the west, and dusk looked as though it had been freshly washed.
Outside Fengle County City.
A handsome young man with sword-like brows and starry eyes rode a Unicorn Horse up to the city gates. It was none other than Lin Baichuan.
"This Fengle County City is quite a bit better than Yunshan County City."
After glancing over Fengle County City's towering walls, Lin Baichuan muttered and rode toward the gates.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
At the city gate, soldiers of the City Guard Army stepped forward to block Lin Baichuan's path. Their eyes were wide as they shouted coldly, "Entry fee: one tael of silver. Mount: two taels..."
"An entry fee? Since when did Great Xia have such a tax?"
Lin Baichuan raised his brows, his gaze turning icy.
He was traveling in plain clothes this time, and Unicorn Horses were not exclusive to the Demon Suppression Division. That was why these City Guard Army soldiers did not know his identity. Otherwise, even if they had ten times the courage, they would not dare stop a Demon Slayer Guard of the Demon Suppression Division to demand money—unless they were tired of living.
Precisely because they did not know Lin Baichuan's identity, the moment he spoke, the guards at the gate became displeased. Especially the one blocking his way, whose face darkened as he snapped, "You're from out of town, aren't you!
"I don't know what rules other places follow, but this is the rule in Fengle County City.
"The entry fee is one tael per person and two taels per mount. Not a single copper coin less.
"Of course, this is entirely voluntary, and we cheat neither the old nor the young. If you think it's too expensive, you don't have to enter the city. You can rest outside. It's just that I heard demons have been causing trouble in Fengle County recently. Now that night is falling, outside the city is precisely the worst-hit disaster zone where demons run rampant.
"Our City Guard Army does patrol as well, but we can't guarantee what dangers might be lurking outside the city..."
Damn it, he was being threatened.
After hearing the gate guard's words, Lin Baichuan's anger surged upward in bursts. A mere City Guard Army soldier dared act so brazenly. Lin Baichuan would never believe there was no one backing him, even if he were beaten to death.
It was not difficult to tell from this man's words that he was accustomed to throwing his weight around and simply did not put others in his eyes.
Clearly, he had someone powerful backing him, and that backing held no small amount of influence in Fengle County.
Otherwise, these City Guard Army soldiers would not dare be so arrogant.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Baichuan would certainly have stepped in to rebuke them. But he truly had no time for that now. With a flick of his hand, he tossed the identity plaque from his waist to the City Guard Army soldier and said, "The Demon Suppression Division is handling a case. All unrelated persons, move aside at once—or be killed without mercy..."
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