With this salary, why risk your life?

Xiao Hong looked at the scene, scratching the back of his head, not quite understanding what was going on.

Then, he clearly heard what the guards were shouting and turned around, asking Kong Wu in confusion, "Injured General Banner Zhang??"

Kong Wu's expression remained unchanged as he shook his head and said, "It must be a mistake."

Xiao Hong nodded, also thinking it was possible that the Demon Suppression Division people had mistaken the person.

He had met the Demon Suppression Division's General Banner Zhang a few times; that man was a cultivator in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

Although Kong Wu's physique was extraordinary, Xiao Hong didn't believe he could injure a cultivator in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

Thinking that it would be troublesome if the matter couldn't be clarified, Xiao Hong's eyes narrowed, and an astonishing aura emanated from him.

After unleashing the astonishing aura unique to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, Xiao Hong stood with his hands behind his back, waiting for Captain Jin to come out.

In Purple Flame County, there were only three people in the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Captain Jin would naturally come out to investigate upon sensing this aura.

Then, he could just clarify the misunderstanding.

Thinking this, Xiao Hong didn't wait long before he saw someone in a red brocade robe walk out from inside.

Behind him followed a vast procession of Demon Suppression Guards, each holding a weapon.

Upon seeing Xiao Hong, Jin Hefeng was slightly stunned, and his expression turned extremely unpleasant.

"Hall Master Xiao, are you preparing to attack a government institution?"

Xiao Hong was taken aback. His originally cheerful mood, ready to greet them, was ruined by Jin Hefeng's words. He narrowed his eyes.

"Captain Jin, what is the meaning of pinning such a heavy accusation on me?"

True Qi surged around Jin Hefeng, as if he would attack at any moment.

"What meaning? I'd like to ask you what you mean. You brought the person who injured our General Banner to the Demon Suppression Division. Are you trying to humiliate us?"

As soon as these words were spoken, many Demon Suppression Guards also became agitated, with countless fluctuations of True Qi rising and falling.

Sensing the undisguised killing intent from Jin Hefeng, Xiao Hong finally felt that something was wrong. He said in a deep voice, "Captain Jin, is there some misunderstanding? Are you saying this young friend, who has no cultivation, injured General Banner Zhang?"

Jin Hefeng nodded and said, "I admit that Zhang Hao was lacking in consideration when he acted and misunderstood him. But even so, he shouldn't have injured a General Banner of the Demon Suppression Division. This is provoking the authority of the court!"

"Wait! Are you telling the truth?"

Xiao Hong said this while turning his head, seeing Kong Wu tilting his head, looking as if it had nothing to do with him.

For some reason, looking at Kong Wu's demeanor, the more Xiao Hong looked, the more he felt that Kong Wu was guilty.

The next moment, Yang Zhaohui, standing beside Jin Hefeng, stepped forward and said loudly, "Senior Xiao, more than a dozen Demon Suppression Guards witnessed it firsthand. Would we lie?"

Xiao Hong didn't speak, staring at Kong Wu in silence.

Kong Wu said helplessly, "I didn't know they were from the Demon Suppression Division. That guy tried to chop me without saying a word. I was just defending myself."

Instantly, Xiao Hong's heart was filled with mixed emotions.

On one hand, he had a deeper understanding of Kong Wu's strength and felt that the matter was now within his grasp.

On the other hand, injuring a General Banner of the Demon Suppression Division was not something that could be easily resolved.

He turned around and cupped his fists towards Jin Hefeng, saying, "Captain, this young friend is not a troublemaker. There must be some misunderstanding."

There was definitely a misunderstanding.

Jin Hefeng also understood in his heart that Zhang Hao's severe beating was partly his own fault.

Who told him to act rashly without understanding the situation? He didn't even figure out the target's gender before attacking. Who could he blame?

But in the end, he was a General Banner of the Demon Suppression Division. They couldn't just let someone be injured for no reason and not seek justice for him.

So, it could only be considered the fellow's bad luck.

Jin Hefeng shook his head and said, "Senior Xiao, the Demon Suppression Division is handling a case. Please do not obstruct us!"

Seeing that he was not wavering at all, Xiao Hong's heart sank.

It seemed this matter couldn't be resolved easily.

"Old man, if it doesn't work out, forget it..."

Before Kong Wu could finish speaking, Xiao Hong waved his hand, signaling that he could handle it.

If it were in the past, Xiao Hong would definitely not have chosen to take on this mess.

However, at this moment, whether that matter succeeded or failed depended on Kong Wu's decision, so he had to brace himself and go for it.

Thus, he stepped forward, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp.

As the surging True Qi billowed, it made the hem of his clothes flap noisily.

The strongest person in Purple Flame County, facing countless people from the Demon Suppression Division alone, the auras emanating from both sides collided, and crackling sounds filled the air.

"Jin Hefeng, I will protect this person!"

Seeing this, Captain Jin frowned. Looking at Xiao Hong, who was alone yet suppressed so many people from the Demon Suppression Division, he found himself in a difficult position.

What was this old man doing?

Who was that guy to him that he would risk offending the Demon Suppression Division to protect him?

He knew that even if the entire Demon Suppression Division mobilized, they wouldn't be able to keep Xiao Hong. This old man had cultivated for many years, and his personal cultivation, as well as his external magic treasures and talismans, were not comparable to ordinary cultivators.

Moreover, Xiao Hong's personal strength was formidable, and the Purple Flame Hall's strength firmly suppressed the Demon Suppression Division of Purple Flame County.

Although if a real conflict broke out, the Demon Suppression Division, as an agency directly under the imperial court, could receive aid from above, Xiao Hong had been operating in Purple Flame County for so many years, with a complex network of connections and influence within the court.

Just as he was in a difficult position, unable to make a decision, Xiao Hong was the first to dissipate his aura and said loudly, "My junior accidentally injured General Banner Zhang. As a senior, I must offer a slight apology. One Blood Spirit Pill! How about it?"

The Blood Spirit Pill was something a Blood Spirit had used before when fighting Kong Wu in Qingshan County.

This type of pill could help cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage break through bottlenecks.

For a cultivator at the third layer of Foundation Establishment, using it could lead to a breakthrough to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

For someone at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, it could lead to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

It was important to note that within the Foundation Establishment stage, every minor realm breakthrough was extremely difficult, let alone a breakthrough between major realms.

One Blood Spirit Pill would allow Zhang Hao to directly break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

If he were awake now, he would likely agree on the spot.

But Jin Hefeng pondered for a moment and shook his head.

A Blood Spirit Pill was very precious, but it was still not quite enough.

Xiao Hong also knew that a single Blood Spirit Pill would definitely not satisfy Jin Hefeng.

So, he immediately said, "Two Blood Spirit Pills, plus one tael of Purple Flame Crystal for every member of the Demon Suppression Division."

Purple Flame County was named such because there was a Purple Flame mine on the mountain behind the county, which produced Purple Flame Crystals abundantly.

This material had wide-ranging uses, and this crystal could be used in both artifact forging and talisman crafting.

It was naturally due to the contribution of the Purple Flame mine that the Purple Flame Hall had grown into a second-rate sect in Qingzhou in such a short period.

This condition was already very generous, and Jin Hefeng nodded in agreement without hesitation.

As for the other Demon Suppression Guards, hearing that they would also receive some extra benefits, they naturally had no objections.

With such meager salaries, why risk their lives?