The Exalted Presence

"Fang Mu is here! Quick—quick, clear the way! Prepare the tables, stools, tea, and pastries!"

The moment Fang Mu stepped into the Demon Slayer Division's main hall, he became the center of attention. Like some grand lord, he walked over and took a seat at a separate tea table.

All the Demon Slayer Envoys in the hall were incredibly enthusiastic. They were practically ready to surge forward and embrace him.

But they only dared think about it. When Fang Mu entered the hall, they all retreated like the tide, shrinking into a corner to the side.

Everyone was afraid of being tainted by the Demonic Energy clinging to Fang Mu.

There was nothing they could do about it. Fang Mu had slain too many demons lately. It was impossible not to be afraid.

Fang Mu ignored everyone in the hall, sitting at the tea table and eating pastries while drinking tea by himself.

He was not worried about being poisoned at all, because these pastries and this tea had passed through layer upon layer of inspection.

If anyone dared poison him, the Demon Slaying Hall's Demon Slayer Envoys would beat that person into a pile of shit without Fang Mu even needing to lift a finger.

With Fang Mu slaying demons during this period, everyone had no idea how leisurely their lives had become.

Nearly every four-star demon or above in the Mortal Prison had been single-handedly handled by him.

The Fang Mu of today was a sweet bun in the eyes of the many Demon Slayer Envoys.

As long as Fang Mu lived one more day, they could enjoy one more day of leisure.

That was why everyone had been treating him like some grand lord lately.

Quite a few people secretly gave him pills to strengthen his cultivation, terrified that he might lack the strength and die while slaying demons.

Thus, during this period, Fang Mu had openly broken through to Martial Artist Seventh Rank, while he had also accepted no small amount of pills and other benefits in private.

This change had all been thanks to Tu Qing.

At first, Tu Qing brought all kinds of demons every day, gradually increasing the number with each passing day.

Every time Fang Mu slew demons, he deliberately made himself look extremely battered, yet he remained stubbornly alive, like a cockroach that could never be killed.

Many of Tu Qing's demons had been captured by other people. He had demanded them from those people specifically to torment Fang Mu.

As the number of demons Fang Mu slew each day increased, the other people in the Demon Slaying Hall gradually found themselves with nothing to do.

Fang Mu was like a cockroach. Every time, he ended up in an utterly miserable state, looking as if he could die at any moment, yet he simply refused to be killed.

Tu Qing did not care that he had failed to kill Fang Mu.

He was only looking for amusement. As long as Fang Mu remained alive, Tu Qing could come watch the show every few days.

But later, Qi Zhu could no longer stand Tu Qing's behavior, nor could she bear seeing Fang Mu bullied.

She stormed into the Demon Slaying Hall and challenged Tu Qing, hoping to make him stop making things difficult for Fang Mu.

But Fang Mu did not appreciate it. Instead, he cursed Qi Zhu harshly and made her cry as she ran away.

Fang Mu had no choice. If he did not curse Qi Zhu, and she disrupted his demon-slaying plans, how could he rapidly increase his cultivation and strength?

During this period of slaying demons, his cultivation had risen like a rocket—whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. By now, he no longer knew how strong his physical body was.

If he kept chopping for a while longer, Fang Mu felt that even Tu Qing's father would be someone he had the strength to beat flat on the ground.

Just as Fang Mu finished his tea and pastries and came back to himself from his contemplation, he noticed something.

He found it somewhat strange. How had he not seen Sun Hou, the lackey who assigned him missions every time, anywhere today?

At that moment, Fang Mu saw Sun Hou following behind Tu Qing as they slowly approached the Demon Slaying Hall.

A trace of suspicion flashed through Fang Mu's eyes. Tu Qing had hardly ever come to the Demon Slaying Hall in the mornings recently.

Now that he had suddenly shown up, Fang Mu secretly furrowed his brows and grew vigilant.

"All of you, get out."

After entering the Demon Slaying Hall, Tu Qing spoke coldly to everyone inside.

"Fang Mu! You bastard, sit down properly for me!"

Seeing Fang Mu get up and try to slip away, Tu Qing said angrily, his face covered in black lines.

"Damn! He really came for me!"

Fang Mu cursed inwardly and could only honestly sit back down on the stool.

"You too, get out! Close the door!"

Watching everyone leave, Tu Qing instructed Sun Hou behind him.

Seeing the door swing shut from the outside, Fang Mu instantly became wary. He began to wonder suspiciously whether Tu Qing had some peculiar proclivity.

Just as Fang Mu's imagination ran wild, Tu Qing suddenly said, "You won't be slaying demons this time. I'm giving you a few days off to help me complete a mission!"

Fang Mu froze for a moment. You're being this kind? I don't believe it.

He hurriedly shook his head. Slaying demons still seemed more reliable.

"Hmph! Fang Mu, I'm not here to discuss this with you."

"I'm a Demon Slayer Envoy, not a Demon Slayer Envoy!" Fang Mu interrupted before Tu Qing could finish. "I don't need to go out and complete missions!"

Seeing that Fang Mu was impervious to persuasion, Tu Qing grew angry as well. He threatened him in a low voice, "Whether you go or not isn't up to you!"

"If we follow the rules, there's nothing I can do to force you. But you seem to have a younger sister, don't you?"

"She isn't one of my yamen's people. I can still have her thrown out."

"You—"

Hearing Tu Qing's threat, Fang Mu instantly stood up in fury, but he still forced himself to hold back and did not attack Tu Qing.

"What do you want me to do?"

In the end, Fang Mu relented and asked in a gloomy voice.

"Heh heh! You're a smart man. As long as you behave, I won't make things difficult for you."

Tu Qing revealed a victorious smile. Seeing Fang Mu forced to swallow his anger, he felt immensely pleased.

"This mission is simple too. Go to a village outside the city and investigate the truth behind all the villagers dying overnight."

"Just investigate?"

"That's right!" Tu Qing looked at the suspicious Fang Mu with a face full of smiles.

Naturally, it was only an investigation, and the mission was indeed simple. The reward was also extremely generous.

But that did not mean there was no danger. This investigation mission required leaving the city.

Without the protection of the Divine Wall, anyone who encountered a Darkness Invasion would die, no matter how powerful they were.

Tu Qing could not bear to give up the mission's generous reward, so he wanted Fang Mu to complete it in his place.

As long as Fang Mu could complete the mission for him, Tu Qing could reap the benefits without lifting a finger and would not need to take any risks.

"This is your chance to prove yourself. As long as you complete the mission, I'll give you an independent courtyard. How about it?"

"It'll be much more comfortable than that bungalow of yours. You may not care about yourself, but shouldn't you think of your family?"

Listening to Tu Qing's tempting words, Fang Mu was somewhat moved.

But he did not immediately agree. Instead, he made a request to be allowed to freely enter and leave the County Office.

Only after Tu Qing agreed did Fang Mu accept the investigation mission.

Outside the county town, things were not as terrifying as outsiders claimed. Instead, fragrant grass swayed everywhere, presenting a scene brimming with life.

"Big Brother! It's so beautiful outside the city!"

Seeing Fang Jing running and playing through the grass, Fang Mu could not help revealing a faint smile.

He did not feel at ease leaving Fang Jing alone in the County Office, so he brought her out of the city as well.

"Xiao Jing! I'll carry you. It's getting late. We need to reach the little town before dark."

Fang Mu called out to Fang Jing, carried her onto his back, and activated his movement technique. He transformed into a fleeting shadow and sped toward the distance.

When he left the County Office, Fang Mu unexpectedly encountered Qi Zhu blocking his path.

Qi Zhu reminded him that the County Office was extremely far from the little town.

If he did not ride a horse, it would be difficult to reach the town before dark. Once he was swallowed by the darkness, even an immortal would be unable to save him.

After offering that one warning, Qi Zhu left angrily, clearly still blaming Fang Mu for failing to appreciate her good intentions earlier.

Carrying Fang Jing on his back as he raced onward, Fang Mu had not bought a horse in the city.

He ran at full speed, which was far faster than a horse. He could even cultivate his movement technique while running, though it was somewhat tiring.

Along the way, Fang Mu saw black ashes covering the ground in many places.

There were also strange mountain-god temples in some of the wild forests and mountains.

Fang Mu even saw quite a few bizarre stone statues. They were all sorts of strange shapes—not human, but shaped like demons.

The stone statues were incredibly sturdy. Even when Fang Mu struck with all his strength and hacked them with his long sword until notch after notch appeared, he still could not damage them in the slightest.

Seeing the sun gradually sink toward the western mountains, Fang Mu did not dare waste any time on the road.

Following the route marked on the map, he circulated his movement technique and raced onward at top speed.