"Brother Chen Fan, you..."
"Ah!"
Wang Chao watched Chen Fan's departing back and let out a long sigh. Then he quickly got up from the ground, flipped onto his horse, and chased after Chen Fan.
The group galloped for an hour and a half before finally returning to the Brocade Guard Precinct at sunset.
"Brocade Guard Chen Fan reports back after slaying seven Wolf Demons in Black Bear Gulch Village!"
Upon returning to the Brocade Guard precinct, Chen Fan saw that Chief Squad Leader Li Mo was indeed still waiting for them at the Centurion Office.
"Seven Wolf Demons slain?"
"How could that be possible?"
"He's bragging, isn't he? Didn't he only break through to the second level of the Divine Treasury Realm? How could he possibly kill seven Wolf Demons?"
"Even if those seven Wolf Demons stretched out their necks for him to chop, he'd probably need several hundred strikes!"
"That makes sense. It took dozens of strikes just to kill a Boar Demon on its last breath. Killing seven Wolf Demons would take at least several hundred strikes!"
"..."
The Brocade Guard was not a solid block of iron either. Competition existed among the squads, and upon hearing Chen Fan's outrageously boastful claim, everyone began discussing it in hushed voices, most of them mocking and jeering.
"Do you have proof?"
Chief Squad Leader Li Mo did not say anything inappropriate. Instead, he casually asked Chen Fan to prove that his words were true.
"The proof is here!"
Chen Fan took seven thick wolf tails from the cloth bag he carried and placed them on the desk before Li Mo. Li Mo's eyelids immediately twitched fiercely.
"They really are from seven Wolf Demons?"
"How is that possible?"
"The one who went to Black Bear Gulch Village for a feast was Scarface, the third-ranking figure in Howling Moon Wolf Demon's gang. In terms of strength, he was second only to Wolf King Howling Moon and White Wolf. Even a fourth-level Divine Treasury Realm martial artist could not possibly kill him without a scratch, could he?"
Li Mo was secretly shocked.
"Are there any witnesses?"
Li Mo asked again.
"We are willing to testify!"
Wang Chao and the others from Brocade Guard Ninth Squad spoke in unison.
"Good!"
"With both witnesses and physical evidence present, this merit is confirmed."
"Brocade Guard Chen Fan slew six third-level Divine Treasury Realm Wolf Demons and one fourth-level Divine Treasury Realm Wolf Demon, for a total of ten thousand merit points!"
Chief Squad Leader Li Mo announced loudly, then prepared to dip his brush in ink and record Chen Fan's achievement in the merit ledger.
Ten thousand merit points were enough to promote him to Squad Leader. If his strength was sufficient, he might even leap straight into the position of Chief Squad Leader!
This was fortune that could shatter the heavens!
"Chief Squad Leader, wait!"
Just then, a thoroughly ill-timed voice suddenly rang out. It was Sun Jian, the Squad Leader of First Squad.
As the captain of the top-ranked squad among the ten squads of Ping An County's Brocade Guard Precinct, Sun Jian ranked first among the Squad Leaders in both seniority and strength.
It was said that he had already reached the peak of the third level of the Divine Treasury Realm and would certainly enter the fourth level in the future. Once he did, he would take over Huang Chengyue's post and become the new Chief Squad Leader of Ping An County's Brocade Guard Precinct.
Most importantly, he and Li Mo were as close as brothers, and he was considered one of Li Mo's capable subordinates.
For him to step forward and raise doubts at this moment, it was likely inseparable from Li Mo.
"Sun Jian, what do you have to say?"
Li Mo glanced at Sun Jian and asked.
"I would like to ask Brother Chen Fan how exactly you killed these seven Wolf Demons."
"You should know that among those seven Wolf Demons was one at the fourth level of the Divine Treasury Realm and six at the third level. Even a human martial artist at the fifth level of the Divine Treasury Realm would find it difficult to kill seven such Wolf Demons. So how did you manage it?"
"I am not the only one with doubts. I believe all the brothers here are puzzled as well, so I ask Brother Chen Fan to clear up our confusion!"
Sun Jian cupped his hands toward Chen Fan.
"What a coincidence. I am at the fifth level of the Divine Treasury Realm."
Chen Fan replied calmly.
"You're at the fifth level of the Divine Treasury Realm?"
"Hahaha!"
Sun Jian burst into laughter upon hearing that, and everyone else began laughing as well.
That was simply impossible!
Chen Fan had only joined the Brocade Guard a year ago. Though he trained diligently and worked hard, everyone knew perfectly well what his strength had been. How could he possibly reach the fifth level of the Divine Treasury Realm in a single year?
"Chen Fan, can't you at least make your lies sound believable?"
"If you're a fifth-level Divine Treasury Realm martial artist, then I'm a Divine Aperture Realm martial artist!"
Sun Jian stared at Chen Fan with utter disdain and said coldly.
"I heard that Captain Sun is a martial artist at the peak of the third level of the Divine Treasury Realm. If you don't believe me, why don't we spar?"
Chen Fan sneered and made the suggestion.
"Who did you hear that from?"
"I broke through to the fourth level of the Divine Treasury Realm half a year ago. Do you still dare to compete with me?"
Sun Jian said proudly.
Although he had only recently entered the fourth level of the Divine Treasury Realm and had spent over half a year stabilizing his cultivation, he was the fourth martial artist to enter that level apart from the Centurion and the two Chief Squad Leaders. He had every reason to be proud.
He was merely waiting for Huang Chengyue to step back from the front lines or retire to his hometown. Then he could be directly promoted to Chief Squad Leader of Ping An County's Brocade Guard Precinct!
"What is there to fear?"
Chen Fan answered.
"Then shall we head to the Martial Arts Field and fight three hundred rounds?"
Sun Jian said in a deep voice.
Though he did not truly believe Chen Fan could kill seven Wolf Demons on his own, he did not underestimate this young man either.
"There's no need. Right here will do. I'm in a hurry to eat."
Chen Fan said lightly.
"You insolent brat!"
"Take my blade!"
Sun Jian flew into a rage. He drew his Embroidered Spring Blade and slashed at Chen Fan. He too used Blade Draw Slash, and his Blade Draw Slash had reached the major mastery stage.
This showed that he had put in immense effort practicing his blade techniques.
Though this strike was powerful, it meant nothing to the current Chen Fan. He casually drew his blade, and in the next instant, it rested against Sun Jian's neck. Meanwhile, no one knew when Sun Jian's blade had fallen to the ground.
"Captain Sun, do you still intend to use your Divine Aperture Realm martial artist strength to teach me a lesson?"
Chen Fan smiled faintly and said.
"I lost. I accept it completely."
Sun Jian's eyes dimmed, while Li Mo's face was filled with disbelief and his heart pounded wildly.
He had actually broken through to the fifth level of the Divine Treasury Realm as well, though he had publicly claimed to be at the fourth level. After all, who did not have a couple of trump cards?
Yet he knew that he could not kill seven Wolf Demons one against seven, nor could he defeat Sun Jian, who had just entered the fourth level of the Divine Treasury Realm, with such effortless ease.
He felt that this time, he and Lord Cao had kicked an iron plate!
"Chief Squad Leader Li, I recall that the Brocade Guard has a rule: if one accumulates ten thousand merit points, one may be promoted directly to Squad Leader. If one possesses the strength of the fifth level of the Divine Treasury Realm, one may be promoted exceptionally to Chief Squad Leader."
"Does this rule still count at our Centurion Office?"
Chen Fan asked.
"Since it is a Brocade Guard rule, it is naturally also a rule of our Centurion Office."
"However, as you can see, the Squad Leader and Chief Squad Leader posts at Ping An County's Brocade Guard Precinct are currently full. By convention, we can temporarily grant you the corresponding treatment, and you may fill the post once a vacancy opens."
"Or we can have the Centurion report this matter to the Brocade Guard Thousand-Household Office in Dragon Abyss Prefecture, where the Thousand-Household Office may approve a transfer. What do you think?"
Li Mo gave Chen Fan a meaningful look before asking.
"I am willing to step back from the front lines. Chen Fan can take my position!"
At that moment, Huang Chengyue appeared before everyone and declared loudly.
Before you continue