Don't Say Anything That's Not Conducive to Unity

"Listen up, all of you. From today on, no one is allowed to run wild with Head Constable Lu."

"If she wants to kill demons, let her. If the demons seek revenge, let them find her."

"Also, find a few people to take the White Ape and his underlings' corpses to Black Mountain. The rest is none of our concern."

County Commandant Liu finished speaking and strode out of Wangchun Pavilion.

Chen Fan watched County Commandant Liu's departing figure and couldn't help but shake his head.

"Now that the demons have been dealt with, let's head back."

"Increase patrols in the coming days. If any demons are found entering the city, execute them without mercy!"

Brocade Guard Chief Squad Leader Li Mo stated decisively.

But how much of what he said was true, and how much was false, no one could tell!

"Yes!"

The crowd responded in unison.

When Chen Fan left Wangchun Pavilion, he didn't go straight back to the Brocade Guard station. Instead, he went to the constabulary and found Lu Xuening.

"Help me investigate the owner of the villa north of the city, near the County Magistrate's residence. I suspect the owner of that villa is colluding with demons, and that the villa may be one of the demons' strongholds."

Chen Fan wasn't polite and stated his request directly.

"No problem."

"You've seen the faces of these people today. Whether they're colluding with demons or not, they're all numb. Expecting them to join us in slaying demons is just wishful thinking."

"What are your plans for the future?"

Lu Xuening asked.

"Slay demons!"

"If you find any traces of demons, remember to tell me."

After Chen Fan finished speaking, he turned and left.

"It's a good thing you're here. I am not alone!"

Lu Xuening watched Chen Fan's departing figure, thinking to herself.

The Cao Residence.

After leaving Wangchun Pavilion, Brocade Guard Chief Squad Leader Li Mo didn't go home, nor did he return to the Brocade Guard station to report for duty. Instead, he went to the home of his superior, Cao De.

Inside Cao De's study.

"Subordinate Li Mo pays respects to you, sir."

Led by the Cao residence's steward, Li Mo arrived at the entrance of the study, bowed, and said loudly.

"Ah, Li Mo, come in!"

A deep voice came from inside the study.

Creak!

Li Mo heard this and pushed the door open, while the Cao residence's steward bowed and retreated.

Inside the study.

Cao De was sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat. His body was covered in a scarlet mist. With each breath, all of the scarlet mist was inhaled into Cao De's body. Then, he finished his exercise, and a scarlet light flashed in his eyes, quickly returning to normal.

He stood up, looked at Li Mo, and said with a faint smile:

"What brings you here today?"

Immediately afterward, Li Mo told Cao De what had happened at Wangchun Pavilion today.

Cao De nodded calmly upon hearing this.

"I heard that the ape demon at Wangchun Pavilion broke through not long ago, but even so, the Head Constable Lu who parachuted in from Dragon Abyss Prefecture was able to kill him. This is enough to prove that she has at least the strength of the Divine Treasury Realm's peak."

"As expected of someone from Dragon Abyss Prefecture, reaching the peak of the Divine Treasury Realm at such a young age is truly enviable."

"Since she has the strength to kill the White Ape, let her deal with Three-Eyes if he comes seeking revenge."

"However, I suspect that County Commandant Liu Xuan, that old dog, might personally send her to Three-Eyes to show his loyalty."

"This has nothing to do with us, but the arrival of such a reckless person in Ping An County is not a good thing for us."

"Our Brocade Guard has internal selection assessments, a small review every five years, and a large review every ten years."

"Now that the ten-year monitoring period is approaching, we must ensure that no major demon disasters occur in Ping An County and smoothly pass this monitoring assessment."

"I will be transferred to Dragon Abyss Prefecture to take office. I will recommend you to the higher-ups as the Centurion of the Brocade Guard in Ping An County. Old Huang is old, and he is too righteous, he won't live long. The future of Ping An County is yours."

"As long as you can stabilize the situation in Ping An County like I did, we may be able to reunite in Dragon Abyss Prefecture in the next ten-year period."

Cao De patted Li Mo on the shoulder and said in a calm tone.

But these words made Li Mo extremely excited. He immediately knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and bowed:

"Thank you for your appreciation, Centurion! I am willing to go through fire and water for you, without hesitation!"

"Rise."

"I promoted you with my own hands. There's no need for formalities between us."

"By the way, I just heard you say that Chen Fan of the Ninth Squad is also at Wangchun Pavilion, and with Head Constable Lu. I remember he seemed to be poisoned by a demon and was not long for this world. What's going on?"

Cao De changed the subject and asked, a flash of bloody light appearing in his eyes as he spoke.

"That kid found a way out of his predicament. Before his death, he practiced the Body Tempering Fist diligently. Who would have thought he would break through to the second level of the Divine Treasury Realm? There is great terror between life and death, but also great opportunity!"

Li Mo couldn't help but sigh upon hearing this.

"Did he say anything he shouldn't have?"

Cao De's tone immediately turned cold.

"Does the Centurion mean he knows about our affairs?"

Li Mo immediately understood the meaning behind Cao De's words.

"Whether he knows or not, this person cannot be allowed to live."

"I once wanted to take advantage of his injuries and illness to send the Crimson Serpent Demon to assassinate him, and by the way, interrogate him to find out what he knows. I didn't expect the Crimson Serpent Demon to be killed directly by him."

"To be able to kill the Crimson Serpent Demon, who was at the peak of the second level of the Divine Treasury Realm, with the strength of a Bone Vajra who had just entered the second level of the Divine Treasury Realm, shows that his strength is not simple."

"Perhaps the Crimson Serpent Demon listened to my words and was a little careless, so Chen Fan was able to counterattack and kill her."

"But since he survived, it is possible that he has noticed something. He is with Head Constable Lu, perhaps seeking her help."

Cao De said in a cold voice.

"In that case, he really can't be allowed to live."

"Sir, do you need me to take action personally?"

Li Mo made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Alas!"

"Never say anything that is not conducive to unity, and never do anything that is not conducive to unity."

"The demons are using us, but aren't we also using the demons? If we can borrow a knife to kill someone, why dirty our own hands?"

Cao De waved his hand and said directly.

"The Centurion is wise. I know what to do."

Li Mo smiled coldly, a poisonous plan welling up in his heart.

"Mm, mm."

"It's getting late. Go home and rest early. I won't keep you."

Cao De nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this, then issued an order to leave.

"Yes."

"The Centurion should also rest early!"

"This subordinate takes his leave!"

Li Mo cupped his fist in a salute, then turned and left Cao's residence.

"I have been in this godforsaken place of Ping An County for twenty years, a full twenty years."

"How many twenty years does one have in life?"

"Now I have finally waited for the opportunity. The ten-year supervision assessment only needs to reach B or above, and I can accumulate merit and be promoted to Deputy Chiliarch."

"Now is an excellent opportunity. A Deputy Chiliarch in charge of logistics in Dragon Abyss Prefecture is about to retire and return home. The next Deputy Chiliarch is very likely to appear among the few of us Centurions in Dragon Abyss Prefecture."

"And I have already received the recommendation of that Deputy Chiliarch. My chances of winning have greatly increased. Even if I can't become a Deputy Chiliarch, being transferred to Dragon Abyss Prefecture and serving as a Centurion there is better than being trapped in this small county town for the rest of my life."

"I hope everything goes smoothly and there are no accidents."

"Chen Fan?"

"Hmph, hmph."

Cao De muttered to himself, then walked to the prayer mat again, sat cross-legged on it with practiced ease, and began to circulate his energy and meditate.

In an instant, the study was filled with a bloody mist.