The scene fell silent. No one spoke.
Soon, the sound of hooves came again. A rider arrived beside Kang Ronghao and clasped his fists as he reported, "Captain Kang, all the Ghost Servants are dead. We've confirmed it: there are a total of 427 Ghost Servant husks."
Kang Ronghao waved for him to leave.
Then he turned to Chen Bin and said, "You did well."
Chen Bin quickly replied, "It's all thanks to your excellent leadership, sir!"
Kang Ronghao chuckled, then continued, "The Blood Change Stage isn't bad, either. And for earning such a great merit, there's precedent for making an exception and admitting you into the Demon Suppression Division."
Chen Bin said nothing. Now that he had entered the Jade Marrow Stage, he could clearly feel dozens of envious gazes fixed on him.
Kang Ronghao went on, "Tian Jie, I'm planning to promote your subordinate to Captain. Do you have any objections?"
"Captain," Tian Jie replied with a smile, "I have no objections."
"Good!" Kang Ronghao continued. "Chen Bin, have you found those children?"
Chen Bin answered, "This subordinate is inept. I haven't found anything."
"Then what do you suspect?"
"This subordinate has heard that there's a Mountain Lord on South Mountain. I believe the children are with the South Mountain Lord." Chen Bin didn't hide the truth.
In fact, he hoped the man would make a trip to South Mountain.
Kang Ronghao narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Good. Your guess is right.
"The Ghost Servants who possessed the villagers are indeed the South Mountain Lord's Ghost Servants."
Chen Bin hurriedly said, "Captain, your insight is remarkable!"
Kang Ronghao ignored him and turned to Tian Jie.
"Since this matter was uncovered by one of your constables, you'll investigate where the children have gone."
"Uh..." Tian Jie gave an awkward smile. "Captain, how should we investigate?"
Kang Ronghao's eyes narrowed as he gazed south at South Mountain, which towered into the clouds. He raised a hand and pointed.
"South Mountain. Search along the mountain road. If you reach the southern foot of South Mountain without finding anything, return immediately. Understood?"
The others were startled by his words and fell silent.
It was almost dark already!
Going to South Mountain after dark? Wasn't that asking to die?
"Yes!" Tian Jie immediately saluted.
Chen Bin's heart sank. Once they reached South Mountain, they'd probably bring him along as an offering!
Wasn't this just dragging him off to his death?
He sneered inwardly. We'll see who dies!
With that, Chen Bin clasped his fists and said firmly, "This subordinate accepts the order."
On the narrow path into the mountains, the clamor of footsteps echoed all around.
Seven men on horseback galloped with all their might along the winding trail, their horses' hooves kicking up dust that vanished into the darkness.
Chen Bin ran hard behind them, his footsteps hurried.
There were no spare horses, and no one offered him theirs.
The party startled countless birds from the darkness. They beat their wings and cried out as they scattered into the sky.
Before long, a tall, pitch-black shadow loomed over them like a dark canopy.
They had reached the entrance to South Mountain.
The horses gradually slowed, then came to a stop in front of the mountain entrance.
Tian Jie sat astride his horse at the head of the group.
He suddenly whipped around and looked at Chen Bin, who was running toward them.
Chen Bin was breathing slightly hard, his chest rising and falling steadily as he came to a halt behind the group.
Tian Jie's mouth curled into a sneer. "Constable Chen, you certainly have good stamina. You ran all the way here and you're barely out of breath."
"This subordinate is fine!" Chen Bin clasped his fists. His manner was respectful, but a trace of stubbornness showed in his expression.
"Hmph. Fine, are you?" Tian Jie's gaze instantly turned cold as he looked down at Chen Bin. "You started this, and now we have to come along and clean up your mess."
Chen Bin narrowed his eyes at that. "Clean up my mess?"
"Why else would we come with you?"
With that, Tian Jie turned his gaze toward the mountain entrance.
Chen Bin had already sensed movement coming from there.
"They're here!" Tian Jie said, his voice carrying a trace of tension.
On the rugged, winding mountain path, which twisted like a python, a dozen or so dark-green lanterns were slowly approaching.
The lanterns stood out against the black mountainside, like will-o'-the-wisps.
The one in the middle was especially enormous, radiating an eerie light.
The figures moved swiftly, like specters, and soon came close enough for the group to make them out.
At last, Chen Bin could see their faces.
Seven enormous tiger heads strode through the mountains, fierce and imposing.
The one in the middle was especially large, with muscles bulging across its body and a sturdier build than the rest.
Its body stood a full zhang tall, covered in yellow-and-black fur that gleamed with a cold sheen in the dim light.
The muscles in its limbs bulged. Each time its powerful paws landed, the stones on the ground trembled.
The fierce "king" marking on its forehead carried the unique, domineering aura of its kind.
Its dark-green, vertical pupils were like a cold pool. They fixed on the constables of the Demon Suppression Division, making them feel as if they were suffocating.
On Chen Bin's side, he saw seven Red Names appear on the map.
[ Tiger Three: Body Tempering Realm Tiger Demon, Merit +10. ]
Seven Tiger Demons, for a total of 53 Merit!
His gaze locked onto the largest Tiger Demon.
Its aura seemed to be even stronger than his own realm.
He had only just entered the Jade Marrow Realm.
And it was far stronger than those Ghost Servants. Much, much stronger.
And ten!
It seemed that the maximum Merit for a Body Tempering Realm demon was only 10.
Chen Bin didn't know who this Tiger Demon was, and quietly speculated.
In the span of a few thoughts, the seven Tiger Demons had reached the group.
Their one-zhang-tall bodies looked down at everyone. Their jaws gaped open as a heavy breath poured out, reeking of blood and foul breath, and spraying saliva onto the foreheads of the two men at the front. The pair couldn't help grimacing in disgust and fear.
The leading Tiger Demon clenched its fist. Its vertical pupils slid sideways, its gaze arrogant. "Who are you?"
Tian Jie, at the very front, wouldn't dare show the slightest displeasure. He hurriedly bent at the waist and saluted, moving so quickly that he seemed almost flustered. "I'm Tian Jie, subordinate to Flag Officer Kang Ronghao of the Demon Suppression Division. Greetings, Lord Tiger Three."
Tiger Three's eyes narrowed, its gaze sharp as a torch. "Kang Ronghao sent you?"
"Yes!" Tian Jie lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly.
"My father's Spirit Wanderers seem to have all lost contact today, so he sent me to ask you, 'Where are my Spirit Wanderers?' You'll tell me."
Tian Jie swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Lord Tiger Three.
"The culprit who killed Lord Mountain Lord's Spirit Wanderers is here. I've brought him with me."
As his words fell, every gaze turned toward Chen Bin.
Spirit Wanderer was what the Tiger Demons called a Ghost Servant.
Tiger Three fixed its gaze on Chen Bin, its eyes filled with killing intent. "You're the one who killed my father's Spirit Wanderers?"
Chen Bin didn't say a word. Tiger Three's eyes turned murderous. "Not talking?
"Then kill yourself and atone for your crime! That way I won't chew you to pieces—I'll swallow you whole."
At once, Tian Jie and the other constables looked toward Chen Bin, waiting for his reaction. A tense atmosphere hung in the air like a drawn string, ready to snap at any moment.
Chen Bin slowly gripped the hilt of his blade, then stepped forward.
Seeing him move, Tian Jie and the other subordinates showed their delight, their eyes shining with schadenfreude.
Tian Jie grinned with a sneer, as if to say, Chen Bin was as good as dead.
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