Ling Yan had arrived early and was waiting outside the Mission Hall of the Demon Slayer Division.
At the thought of spending so much time alone with Si Miaoyin, he was beside himself with excitement.
From the very first moment he saw Si Miaoyin, Ling Yan had fallen for her beauty.
After making some inquiries, he learned that she was no mere pretty face, but an absolute martial arts prodigy!
A seventeen-year-old Profound Realm martial artist! She came from the Si family, a martial arts clan of the royal capital!
Her family background was illustrious, and her martial arts talent terrifying.
As long as he won Si Miaoyin's favor, he would soar straight up the ladder, with a future beyond measure!
Ling Yan made up his mind that during this mission, he would make sure to perform well.
As he eagerly awaited her, Si Miaoyin, dressed in an elegant set of hanfu, lightly made her way down the path.
The pale pink fabric was as delicate and lovely as peach blossoms in spring. An exquisite sash cinched her slender waist, outlining its graceful curve.
Her clear eyes shone with life, like black gems set into fine jade.
Ling Yan was instantly struck dumb.
Si Miaoyin was also taken aback when she saw Ling Yan, then her lips pursed slightly.
That annoying idiot again!
Ling Yan quickly realized he had lost his composure and immediately reined in his expression.
"Miaoyin, shall we set off now?"
Si Miaoyin's brows furrowed faintly. She disliked the intimate way Ling Yan addressed her.
But she said nothing more. After all, he might become one of her uncle's capable generals in the future.
She still had to give him the proper face.
So she merely nodded lightly, revealing her smooth, lovely chin.
Ling Yan nodded and immediately circulated his True Qi to ride his sword.
Si Miaoyin, meanwhile, took out a sachet. When she opened it, a white-furred fox leaped out.
The fox let out a gentle cry, and its body gradually grew larger.
Smiling, Si Miaoyin sat upon its back and indulgently stroked the white fox's head.
Ling Yan narrowed his eyes. As expected of the daughter of a martial arts family from the royal capital.
Even her mount was a Profound Realm Demon King!
Such a foundation truly made one green with envy.
What should I do? I want her even more now!
"Why are you staring at me? Let's go!"
Si Miaoyin's delicate brows knitted slightly.
"Ah, uh, all right."
Ling Yan immediately composed himself and flew into the air.
Ning'an City.
Li Xuanxiao stood before a roadside stall.
"Ma'am, go easy on the chili and add more scallions."
The woman making pancakes answered him and lowered her head to continue working.
In the distance, several children were kicking around a ball-shaped object with great enthusiasm.
Cuju?
The word flashed through Li Xuanxiao's mind.
But in the next instant, one of the older children gave it a fierce kick.
The ball shot into the air and flew straight at Li Xuanxiao.
Hm?
Li Xuanxiao had intended to dodge, but the pancake stall was directly behind him.
Left with no choice, he turned sideways and blocked it.
Seeing the ball hit someone, the children instantly went pale with fright.
When they saw the constable's uniform on Li Xuanxiao, one child even burst into tears on the spot.
In the eyes of ordinary commoners, these officials were people even their parents could not afford to offend.
We're done for!
That was nearly every child's thought.
Yet Li Xuanxiao merely smiled and called out to them, "What are you all standing around for? Catch the ball!"
He spun and kicked it back, naturally holding back his strength.
The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air before rolling to a stop among the children.
The children were stunned.
This official seemed different from what their parents had told them?
Not only had he not scolded them, he had not tried to make trouble for them either.
And that kick just now had been far too cool!
It had gone so high and so far!
What did children know about rules? In their eyes, that was what being amazing looked like.
"Sir, your pancake is ready."
"All right, ma'am. How much?"
"No need to pay, no need."
"How can that be?"
"These aren't worth much."
"I still have to pay!"
The middle-aged woman spoke carefully, "F-five... five copper coins."
Li Xuanxiao took out a handful of copper coins from his waist, then turned to look at the children playing ball.
"Ma'am, here are fifty copper coins. Make pancakes for those children too!"
The middle-aged woman accepted the coins. "Thank you, sir. I'll call them over right away."
Li Xuanxiao nodded. Looking at the children brimming with energy, he unconsciously smiled.
If I can't buy sea cucumbers, then I'll treat you to pancakes instead.
Ning'an City, the government office.
Ever since the Magistrate's death, the place had completely ground to a halt.
Still, several Constables liked to come by every day and wander around.
They played chess, and occasionally exchanged moves in martial arts.
It could not be helped. They were too idle.
Li Xuanxiao had slain all the demons in and around the city.
They did not even know what to do all day.
With no demons causing havoc, people could support themselves through honest labor.
Crimes and wrongdoing had nearly vanished as well.
It left them with nothing to do all day, forced to slack off and lie flat.
Li Xuanxiao found a place to sit and enjoy a moment of peace.
Ever since entering the Profound Realm, he had returned to Ning'an City.
The demons nearby had all been slaughtered clean.
Those a little farther away had fled at the first sign of trouble.
More importantly, the returns from killing Profound Realm demons were now far too low.
What could a few Demon Points even do?
"Ning'an City is still too small in the end..."
Not to mention the entire Great Yu Dynasty—even within Pei Province alone, Ning'an City was a very small place.
The strongest demons nearby had only barely stepped into the Extreme Realm. They could no longer satisfy Li Xuanxiao's appetite.
His martial arts techniques and cultivation methods had already reached their highest realms.
If he did not cultivate new martial arts techniques and cultivation methods of a higher grade, it would be difficult for his realm to continue advancing!
As for Profound Realm-grade martial arts techniques and cultivation methods that met his requirements—
There was definitely nothing like that in Ning'an City.
He had to go somewhere bigger!
But where?
Li Xuanxiao stroked his chin and suddenly thought of a place!
The Demon Slayer Division!
There had to be martial arts techniques and cultivation methods there suitable for Profound Realm cultivation!
"When the inspectors arrive this time, I'll ask them!"
With Ling Yan and Si Miaoyin, two Profound Realm inspectors, conducting the inspection together, their efficiency was naturally much higher than one person's.
In just a few days, they had inspected most of the cities.
Si Miaoyin took out a map, her long, fair fingers moving slowly across it.
"This place has been checked, and this one too..."
Her finger slowly swept onward before stopping at a certain name. Her hand paused. "Ning'an City..."
She put away the map and adjusted her direction.
"This should be the final stop. Let's go!"
Ling Yan nodded in agreement.
He felt somewhat dejected. Along the way, he had pulled out all the stops, yet gained very little.
Si Miaoyin had completely ignored him, devoting all her attention to the conditions of these cities.
Along the way, the circumstances in many small cities had been far from optimistic.
The commoners living in those cities were mostly heavy with worry. Many cities seemed lifeless at a glance, clearly having suffered beneath demons for far too long.
This was also a miniature of the present Great Yu Dynasty. Demons, as a whole, had humanity pinned beneath them.
Only in these remote frontier towns was the phenomenon even more pronounced.
For many small cities, merely staying alive was already exceedingly difficult.
Just looking at the living conditions of so many commoners made her heart ache.
Along the way, she had helped these small cities slay quite a few demons, easing some of their burden.
But this was not a long-term solution. Inspectors could not remain here forever, while demons would surely return like dead ashes stirred by the wind!
According to the intelligence, Ning'an City, their next destination, was likewise a severely afflicted area where demons ran rampant!
Si Miaoyin could barely bear to imagine the desperate scenes that awaited her.
A city steeped in deathly stillness, commoners barely clinging to life...
She had already seen far too much of that on the journey here.
"Ning'an City is ahead. Let's descend!"
Ling Yan's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
She nodded. The white fox beneath her understood at once and began descending.
Yet as they drew closer to the ground, the sight before her gradually widened her beautiful eyes.
The streets were bustling with crowds, while vendors on either side shouted out to hawk their wares.
Several children ran together in a group, their faces filled with joyful smiles.
"This..."
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