Lu Gang had heard what Captain Chen had said moments ago, and had formed a rough guess.
Lin Feng had probably been able to kill the Snake Demon because it had been carrying offspring and was in extremely poor condition.
That was how Lin Feng had stolen the chicken!
Of course, Lu Gang didn't know that.
Although the Snake Demon had been carrying offspring and was slightly weakened,
it still wasn't something an ordinary Body Tempering Martial Artist could stand against.
Hu Biao had been killed in a single blow. Even if the strongest Squad Leader, Squad Leader Li, had gone, he would have lasted only two or three more moves.
A demon's body was simply beyond comparison with a human's.
Lin Feng had killed a Second-Order Demon mainly because his strength and courage were exceptional!
Just as Lu Gang was seething with resentment,
Captain Chen's indifferent voice came from beside him:
"Lu Gang."
"You were responsible for passing along the Demon Suppression Division's intelligence this time."
"Can you explain why a Second-Order Demon appeared?"
Captain Chen's voice was icy, and True Qi surged around him, striking fear into those nearby.
Lu Gang jolted all over. He looked at Captain Chen beside him, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
The Demon Suppression Division's intelligence office kept original records.
A quick check would reveal who had been pulling strings.
With a thud,
Lu Gang dropped to his knees and stammered, "Captain, I... I was only..."
If Lin Feng, Hu Biao, and the others had died, there would have been no witnesses.
No one would ever have traced it back to him.
Who could have guessed that Lin Feng and Hu Biao would survive?!
Captain Chen gave a cold snort, his gaze carrying a chill.
He, too, had risen from Squad Leader to Captain, and knew plenty about the Demon Suppression Division's petty intrigues.
Positions in the Demon Suppression Division were precious, and some people used them as bargaining chips in dealings outside the organization.
Lu Gang wasn't the only one who had done such a thing.
"If that demon hadn't been in such poor condition, the Demon Suppression Division would have lost an archery prodigy today!"
Captain Chen said coldly, "I'm docking six months' pay. Take this time to reflect!"
Six months' pay!
Lu Gang's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
In martial arts, every moment counted. Now he'd lost six months' pay.
That meant his rate of progress would fall far behind!
But under Captain Chen's imposing authority, he didn't dare utter a word in protest.
He could only nod shakily. "Yes, Captain."
Inside, however, he thought bitterly of Lin Feng.
It was all because of that damned little bastard! Why couldn't he have died quietly, just like his father?
Why had he insisted on coming back alive?!
Now he'd cost Lu Gang six months' pay...
A seed of hatred took root in Lu Gang's heart.
Meanwhile,
Lin Feng and the others carried the demon to the towering gates of the Heavenly Prison.
Lin Feng looked up. The gates stood nearly three zhang tall, looming over him like a mountain.
Both doors were covered in thick, dark-red rust. Who knew how much demon blood had been splashed across them?
Eight guards stood at the entrance, each with a gaze sharp as lightning. Just their eyes sweeping over the group made everyone's heart tighten.
The Demon Suppression Division's Heavenly Prison held brutal, bloodthirsty demons, as well as criminals guilty of grave offenses.
In short, not one of them was someone to trifle with.
"Leave the demons at the entrance," one guard said coldly.
With a thud, the corpses of several demons were set down on the ground.
The guard waved a hand.
Lin Feng and the others left at once.
On the way back, Lin Feng had initially headed for his lodgings alone.
Unexpectedly, a number of newcomers crowded around him.
"Brother Lin, I never imagined you'd be so handsome and able to kill a Second-Order Demon, too. Incredible!"
"Captain Chen said the demon was in poor condition, but I reckon that even at full strength, it still wouldn't have stood a chance against your arrow, Brother Lin!"
"Brother Lin, it's only a matter of time before you become a Squad Leader. I'd be honored to follow you."
Several newcomers came over, chattering one after another, their words dripping with flattery.
Some even sneaked out a little money, calling it a gift to mark their first meeting.
Once a man became a Squad Leader, he could have five subordinates.
As newcomers to the Demon Suppression Division, they naturally wanted to band together.
But they knew that the Squad Leaders looked down on them. Joining those men's teams would only make them cannon fodder.
Lin Feng, on the other hand, was a newcomer with remarkable strength and great potential. He was worth following.
But Lin Feng had other ambitions.
What was a mere Squad Leader to him?
He wanted more than just to be a Squad Leader. Even becoming a Squad Leader wasn't enough!
His goal was to become a Colonel—or even a Demon Suppression Envoy above that rank!
"We'll talk about that another time."
Lin Feng politely declined all the newcomers' eager offers.
Then, ignoring their disappointed expressions, he headed straight for his room.
As soon as he reached the door, Lin Feng stopped short.
Someone was standing there.
Lin Feng knew him well: it was Hu Biao, who had just gone on the mission with him.
Seeing Lin Feng return, Hu Biao stepped forward and offered him the box in his hands. He said gravely, "Young brother, if it weren't for you, I'd have died in the Snake Demon's jaws."
"I have an eighty-year-old mother above me and a two-year-old daughter below. If I were gone, the sky would come crashing down on them!"
"There are three Body Tempering Pills in this box. Take them, and you'll soon reach the Fifth Level of Body Tempering."
Lin Feng was taken aback.
Hu Biao was certainly grateful.
Saving his life had only been a small thing for Lin Feng.
He hadn't expected Hu Biao to give him three Body Tempering Pills.
Body Tempering Pills were precious to Martial Artists in the Body Tempering Realm!
After taking them, one could temper the Five Viscera and Six Bowels, sinews, skin, flesh, and bones, accelerating one's progress in the Body Tempering Realm!
Just as Hu Biao had said, after taking three Body Tempering Pills, Lin Feng could quickly reach the Fifth Level of Body Tempering.
What Lin Feng lacked was cultivation resources, because his realm was still too low.
He didn't refuse. He took the box.
"Thank you."
He truly needed cultivation resources, and he never turned away what came his way.
Hu Biao waved his hands repeatedly. "You honor me too much! You saved my life. I should be the one thanking you!"
"Though my realm and potential are limited, I'm still a veteran of the Demon Suppression Division."
"Young brother, if there's anything about the Demon Suppression Division you don't understand, ask me. I'll tell you everything I know."
Hu Biao knew that the greatest value he could offer Lin Feng was information.
After all, he'd been with the Demon Suppression Division for quite some time.
Hu Biao had come at just the right time, because Lin Feng had plenty he wanted to ask.
Lin Feng immediately said, "Brother Hu, as it happens, there's something I wanted to ask."
"I earned 200 Merit Points. How many Body Tempering Pills can I exchange for with those 200 Merit Points?"
Hu Biao thought for a moment before answering, "A Body Tempering Pill costs 20 Merit Points."
So 20 Merit Points could only get him ten pills?
Ten Body Tempering Pills would be enough for an ordinary person, but for Lin Feng, who wanted to advance quickly, it still wasn't quite enough!
At that moment, Hu Biao said, "Young brother, Merit Points aren't just for exchanging for pills. You can use them for other things, too."
"Like martial arts techniques and cultivation methods!"
Before you continue