Si Miaoyin was stunned.
According to the intelligence, Ning'an City had long suffered from demon and monster attacks.
The Magistrate had repeatedly sent letters asking the Pei Province Demon Slayer Division for help.
But looking at it now, did this place seem like it needed help at all?
The atmosphere here was practically more comfortable than in Pei Province.
What was going on?
Si Miaoyin was somewhat bewildered.
A little girl with twin horn braids walked over nearby, cutely biting into a candied hawthorn skewer with her tiny baby teeth.
When she saw Si Miaoyin, her eyes immediately lit up. "What a pretty big sister!"
The corners of Si Miaoyin's lips curled into a smile as she picked up the little girl. "What a sweet mouth you have~"
"Where are your parents?"
The little girl raised her soft little hand and pointed to the side. "Over there! They're buying tasty food!"
Si Miaoyin gently rubbed the tip of the little girl's nose, making her giggle.
When she looked up, she saw the girl's parents approaching.
She gently set the little girl down and nodded to her parents.
"You two are from out of town, aren't you?"
Si Miaoyin nodded.
"Hahaha, welcome to Ning'an City. Here, you don't need to worry about demons and monsters causing trouble."
"Thank you."
Si Miaoyin asked with a smile, "May I ask why Ning'an City need not worry about demons and monsters causing trouble?"
The couple exchanged a glance and smiled. "Because Lord Li is here!"
Ling Yan raised a brow. "Lord Li?"
"Isn't the Ning'an City magistrate surnamed Song?"
The man shook his head. "We're not talking about the magistrate. We mean constable Li Xuanxiao—Lord Li!"
"A constable!?" Ling Yan and Si Miaoyin were stunned once more.
Ning'an City did not need to fear demons and monsters running wild because of a constable?
Just how incredible did a constable have to be to accomplish that?
Si Miaoyin gave a soft laugh. "Interesting~ I'm starting to get curious. Just what kind of extraordinary figure is this Lord Li?"
"He actually made all the nearby demons and monsters afraid to step out of line."
The woman shook her head again. "It isn't that they don't dare step out of line. It's that they have no way to anymore—Lord Li killed every single demon and monster nearby!"
"What?!" All the nearby demons and monsters had been slain?
To accomplish that, he would at least have to be a mid-to-late-stage Extreme Realm martial artist, wouldn't he?
This tiny Ning'an City was such an impoverished, rundown place!
Yet there was actually a martial artist like that here?
They had passed through many cities on their journey, and few had Extreme Realm martial artists stationed there.
That was determined by objective conditions.
No matter how outstanding one's talent was, without resources, one's achievements would still be limited.
For an Extreme Realm martial artist, the resources in a border town were far too meager. Remaining here was no different from ruining one's own future.
And if he were a local martial artist born and raised here, then to enter the Extreme Realm in such a place—and even reach its middle or later stages...
This Lord Li was no simple man!
"Hahahahaha~"
Si Miaoyin revealed the brightest smile she had worn on this trip. No matter what, it was ultimately a good thing.
Having seen so many bleak, despairing cities, suddenly coming upon a vibrant Ning'an City made her mood brighten without her realizing it.
Ling Yan beside her, however, looked somewhat gloomy.
He had exhausted every possible effort, yet had failed to win even a smile from the beauty.
This Lord Li, who had sprung out of nowhere, had somehow made Si Miaoyin so happy without even showing his face!
Ling Yan felt rather sour inside.
After Si Miaoyin finished laughing heartily, a new question arose in her heart.
How could someone this formidable be willing to serve as a mere constable?
Even if he were willing, how could the Magistrate possibly fail to promote such a martial artist?
Could this Magistrate be blind?
But ordinary commoners like these likely would not know the answers to such questions.
In any case, she was going to the yamen shortly. She would find out what was going on with a single question then.
After bidding farewell to the little girl and her parents,
Si Miaoyin walked through the streets in high spirits, strolling about and enjoying the rare atmosphere.
Ever since demons and monsters had thrown the world into chaos, she had seldom experienced such a feeling again.
Even in the royal capital, where the Demon Slayer Division headquarters stood guard,
although there was no need to worry about demon and monster attacks, people were not nearly this free and relaxed.
The same was true of the provincial capitals in other regions.
At every moment, one could feel an atmosphere of relative oppression and tension.
Staying in those places always made one hold oneself back, unable to live with complete ease.
This place, however, was quite nice. She could finally let out a small breath.
"Who would have thought that tiny Ning'an City was hiding such an interesting person?"
"This trip truly hasn't been in vain!"
The corners of Si Miaoyin's lips spread apart, revealing her adorable little canine teeth.
Ling Yan snorted coldly. "The nearby demons and monsters are merely Profound Realm creatures. Being able to do this amounts to nothing!"
Si Miaoyin pursed her lips. This guy really knew how to spoil the mood!
If her uncle had not demanded it, she truly would not have wanted to travel with him.
Without paying him any further mind, Si Miaoyin headed for the Ning'an City yamen.
The two soon arrived before the yamen gates.
To their surprise, there was not even a single guard at the entrance.
They strode straight in and entered the yamen.
Yet not only was there no one before the gates, there was hardly anyone inside either.
The only person there was sound asleep.
Ling Yan had already been in a bad mood, and now he had found an outlet for it.
He shouted, "You should be working while on duty, yet you're hiding here taking a nap?"
"Such dereliction of duty—are you worthy of the monthly wages you receive?"
Li Xuanxiao slowly woke up. Looking at this fellow who had popped up from who knew where, he was utterly baffled.
Who are you, shouting and yelling here?
What does my afternoon nap have to do with you? Why are you butting into business that isn't yours like a dog catching mice?
Scratching his head, Li Xuanxiao's gaze was suddenly drawn to the bright and beautiful Si Miaoyin beside him.
Holy shit!
She's so pretty!
Seeing Li Xuanxiao's gaze, Ling Yan became even more furious and was just about to rebuke him.
But Si Miaoyin stopped him.
"Now isn't the time to hold anyone accountable. Let's clarify a few things first."
Si Miaoyin walked over to Li Xuanxiao. "Little constable, let me ask you: do you know Lord Li Xuanxiao?"
Li Xuanxiao froze. Huh?
Isn't that me?
But not knowing what the other party intended, Li Xuanxiao did not reveal his identity right away.
He merely nodded. "I know him. Do you need something from him?"
Si Miaoyin gave a soft laugh. "I heard that this Lord Li swept away all the demons and monsters inside and outside Ning'an City. Is that true?"
Li Xuanxiao raised a brow and glanced at Si Miaoyin. She was quite pretty, but she did not seem very smart.
Can't you tell whether it's true?
Does Ning'an City's current atmosphere, and the way its people look now, seem like an act?
If the demons and monsters hadn't been wiped out, how could things possibly have turned out like this?
Li Xuanxiao did not want to answer, so he nodded again.
"To clear out all the nearby demons and monsters, Lord Li must at least be a mid-to-late-stage Extreme Realm martial artist, right?"
"In a place as resource-starved as Ning'an City, Lord Li still managed to reach this level. He must be an exceptionally talented person, right?"
Li Xuanxiao did not quite know how to answer. He probably did not count as someone talented, did he?
He pressed his lips together. "He's... alright, I guess. Just so-so! He's not as godlike as everyone makes him out to be."
Alright?
Just so-so?
Before Si Miaoyin could say anything, Ling Yan was the first to grow anxious.
Before you continue