The Bewildered Inspector

Ling Yan was already waiting in front of the Demon Slayer Division's mission hall.

The thought of spending so much time alone with Si Miaoyin made him incredibly excited.

From the moment he first saw Si Miaoyin, Ling Yan had been captivated by her beauty.

After some inquiries, he learned that she wasn't just a pretty face but an absolute genius in the Martial Path!

A Profound Realm martial artist at seventeen! And from a prominent martial arts family in the capital – the Si family!

Her family background was illustrious, and her martial talent was terrifying.

If he could win Si Miaoyin's favor, he would soar to success with boundless prospects!

Ling Yan was determined to perform exceptionally well during this mission.

As he eagerly anticipated her arrival, Si Miaoyin, dressed in an elegant Hanfu, gracefully walked along the path.

Her beauty was as radiant as peach blossoms in spring, with a delicate sash cinching her slender waist.

Her clear eyes were lively and bright, like black gems set in fine jade.

Ling Yan was instantly mesmerized.

Si Miaoyin was also taken aback when she saw Ling Yan, and her lips then curled slightly.

Ugh, this annoying idiot again!

Ling Yan quickly realized his gaffe and immediately composed himself.

"Miaoyin, shall we depart now?"

Si Miaoyin frowned slightly, displeased with the intimate address.

However, she didn't say much, as he might become a strong general under her uncle in the future.

She had to give him some face.

So, she simply nodded lightly, revealing her smooth, attractive chin.

Ling Yan nodded and immediately channeled his True Qi to fly his sword.

Si Miaoyin, meanwhile, took out a sachet. Upon opening it, a white fox jumped out.

The fox let out a gentle cry, and then its body gradually grew larger.

Si Miaoyin smiled, sat on its back, and affectionately stroked the white fox's head.

Ling Yan narrowed his eyes. As expected of a young lady from a prominent martial arts family in the capital.

Even her mount was a Profound Realm demon king!

Such a foundation was truly enviable.

What to do? I want her even more now!

"What are you looking at me for? Let's go!"

Si Miaoyin's delicate brows furrowed.

"Ah, uh, okay."

Ling Yan immediately focused his mind and flew into the air.

Ning'an City.

Li Xuanxiao stood by a roadside stall.

"Big sister, a little less spicy, and more chopped scallions."

The woman making the pancakes acknowledged him and continued her work.

In the distance, a few children were enthusiastically kicking a spherical object.

Cuju?

The word flashed through Li Xuanxiao's mind.

However, in the next second, an older child kicked it hard.

The ball instantly soared into the air and flew directly towards Li Xuanxiao.

Huh?

Li Xuanxiao intended to dodge, but the pancake stall was behind him.

With no other choice, he had to sidestep to block it.

Seeing the ball hit someone, the children were instantly terrified.

Especially after seeing the constable uniform on Li Xuanxiao, one child even started crying on the spot.

In the eyes of ordinary people, these officials were people even their parents wouldn't dare to offend.

We're doomed!

This was the thought in almost all the children's minds.

However, Li Xuanxiao merely smiled faintly and called out to the children, "What are you all standing around for? Catch the ball!"

He turned and kicked it, naturally holding back his strength.

The ball arced through the air in a beautiful parabola, finally rolling to a stop among the children.

At this, the children were stunned.

Was this official not quite like what their parents had said?

He hadn't yelled at them or caused them trouble.

And that kick just now, wasn't it incredibly cool!

It went high and far!

Children didn't understand rules; in their eyes, this was a display of power.

"Sir, your pancakes are ready."

"Coming right up, ma'am. How much?"

"No charge, no charge."

"That won't do!"

"These aren't worth much."

"Still, I have to pay!"

The middle-aged woman spoke cautiously, "Five... five copper coins."

Li Xuanxiao took out a handful of copper coins from his waist, then glanced back at the children playing ball.

"Ma'am, here's fifty coins. Please make pancakes for those children too!"

The middle-aged woman took the copper coins. "Thank you, sir. I'll call them over now."

Li Xuanxiao nodded, watching the passionate children, and couldn't help but smile.

If I can't buy sea cucumbers, I'll treat you to pancakes instead.

Ning'an City, Yamen.

Ever since the county magistrate died, it had completely ceased to function.

But a few constables still liked to wander around here every day.

They'd play chess and occasionally spar.

There was no other choice; they were too idle.

Li Xuanxiao had slain all the demons within and outside the city.

They had no idea what to do with their days.

With no demons causing trouble, people could support themselves through their labor.

Crimes had also become almost non-existent.

This left them with nothing to do all day, forcing them to slack off and lie flat.

Li Xuanxiao found a place to sit, enjoying a moment of peace.

Ever since he had stepped into the Profound Realm, he had returned to Ning'an City.

The nearby demons had all been wiped out.

Those a bit further away had fled at the mere sight of him.

And most importantly, the rewards for killing demons in the Profound Realm were now too low.

A few points of Demon Points, what good were they?

"Ning'an City is ultimately too small..."

Let alone the entire Great Yu Dynasty, even within Pei Province, Ning'an City was a very small place.

The strongest demons nearby had barely entered the Apex Realm, and they could no longer satisfy Li Xuanxiao's appetite.

Currently, his martial arts techniques had all reached their highest level.

Without cultivating new, higher-grade martial arts techniques, his realm would be difficult to improve further!

And the Profound Realm-grade martial arts techniques that met his requirements.

There were certainly none in Ning'an City.

He had to go somewhere bigger!

Where should he go?

Li Xuanxiao stroked his chin and suddenly thought of a place!

The Demon Slayer Division!

There, he was sure to find martial arts techniques suitable for Profound Realm cultivation!

"I'll ask the Inspector when they get here this time!"

With the two Profound Realm Inspectors, Ling Yan and Si Miaoyin, conducting their tour together, their efficiency was bound to be much higher than if either of them were alone.

In just a few short days, they had completed their inspections of most of the cities.

Si Miaoyin took out a map, her slender, fair fingers slowly tracing across it.

"Checked here, and here as well..."

Her finger moved slowly, pausing at a certain name. She stopped, "Ning'an City..."

Putting away the map, she adjusted their direction.

"This should be the last stop. Let's go!"

Ling Yan nodded in agreement.

He felt a pang of sadness. Along the way, he had tried his best to impress her, but his efforts had yielded very little.

Si Miaoyin had completely ignored him, her mind solely focused on the conditions of these cities.

As they traveled, the situations in many of the smaller cities were not optimistic.

The people living in the cities were mostly dispirited, and many cities appeared lifeless, clearly having suffered from the ravages of demons for a long time.

This was also a microcosm of the current Great Yu Dynasty, where demons, overall, held the upper hand over humans.

However, this phenomenon was more pronounced in these small border towns.

For many small towns, simply maintaining their survival was incredibly difficult.

Seeing the living conditions of many of the common people made her heart ache.

Along the way, she had helped these small towns by slaying many demons, thus alleviating some of their burdens.

But this was not a long-term solution. Inspectors couldn't stay here forever, yet the demons would return!

According to intelligence, Ning'an City, their next destination, was also a severely afflicted area with rampant demon activity!

Si Miaoyin couldn't bear to think about the desperate scenes she was about to witness.

Lifeless cities, people barely clinging to survival...

She had seen far too much of it already on their journey.

"We're approaching Ning'an City. Let's head down!"

Ling Yan's voice pulled her back from her thoughts.

She nodded, and the white fox beneath her understood, beginning its descent.

However, as they neared the ground, the scene before her caused her beautiful eyes to widen gradually.

The streets were bustling with people, and vendors on both sides of the road were loudly hawking their wares.

Children, in groups of three or five, ran about, their faces beaming with happy smiles.

"This..."