Promoted to Captain

Chen Bin hurried all the way, walking straight up to Kang Ronghao.

Then, he loosened his grip and dropped the tiger head heavily onto the ground.

"This is..." The moment Kang Ronghao saw the tiger head, his eyes widened sharply, and a look of shock appeared on his face.

He recognized it instantly in his heart; this was none other than the head of Tiger Three!

However, he suppressed his inner astonishment and called out in a steady voice, "A Jade Marrow Realm tiger demon?"

"Yes," Chen Bin nodded expressionlessly.

"What about the others?" Kang Ronghao pressed.

"They are all dead!" Chen Bin's expression was calm, as if he were speaking of the most ordinary matter.

Upon hearing this, everyone present drew a sharp breath, though in truth, they had already anticipated it.

Kang Ronghao looked down at the tiger head on the ground and asked again, "Did you kill it?"

Chen Bin dared not claim all the credit and quickly replied, "We killed it together!"

Hearing this, the corners of Kang Ronghao's mouth curled up slightly, and he let out a scoff.

He knew the character of Tian Jie and his group all too well; they wouldn't even dare to draw their blades on a normal day, let alone kill a demon.

"Chen Bin, you hide your cultivation realm quite well," Kang Ronghao said meaningfully.

Chen Bin was slightly taken aback, realizing the other man had misunderstood, but he felt that this was actually for the best.

Kang Ronghao let the matter slide for the moment, his expression turning cold as he asked, "What about the child?"

Chen Bin cupped his hands and said in a calm tone, "This subordinate did not find him. Upon reaching the mountain pass, I encountered this tiger demon and did not come across the village child.

Furthermore, a tiger roar just echoed from the mountain that chilled me to the bone, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

After careful consideration, I believe the demons in the mountain are about to break out.

Since Captain Tian is already dead and my own combat strength is insufficient, I had no choice but to return to seek reinforcements."

The child was still in the mountain. Save him? He couldn't save him for now.

After hearing this, Kang Ronghao stood up with a start and roared, "What, what did you say?

The demons inside the mountain are breaking out?"

Kang Ronghao took a deep breath, struggling to calm himself down.

It wasn't that he didn't want to believe Chen Bin's words, but the roar of the Mountain Lord just now had been too shocking—it had nearly scared his soul out of his body. He had no choice but to believe it.

He knew clearly in his heart that the Tiger Demon of Nanshan must have been thoroughly enraged.

If the Mountain Lord were to charge down at this moment, his group would undoubtedly die.

At this instant, an impulse surged within him; he wished he could draw his blade and hack Chen Bin to death right then and there.

After all, with the head of Tiger Three in their possession, they had completely offended the Mountain Lord of Nanshan.

However, things had reached this point, and everyone was watching.

He could not let his subordinate die in vain in front of everyone.

More importantly, there were Captains under the command of other Flag Officers present who did not share his interests, and furthermore, people from the County Yamen were also there.

Killing Chen Bin at this time would only invite unnecessary trouble.

A desire to retreat gradually grew in his heart. He waved his hand and said, "Since everyone is tired and the mountain demons have broken out, let us leave first!"

After speaking, he added offhandedly, "The investigation into the events here is complete; we cannot stay any longer."

"There is no point in guarding this place anymore."

"Pack up. We will return to the Demon Suppression Division first and report the situation here to the General Banner."

Finally, he glanced at Chen Bin and said coldly, "As for you, wait for the General Banner's orders!"

And so, the team fled as if they were birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.

As for the corpses of Tian Jie and the others?

Who was Tian Jie?

Does our Demon Suppression Division even have such a person?

Fortunately, the Demon Suppression Division had prepared enough horses this time.

Chen Bin vaulted onto his horse, Chen Chong rode his own inferior mount, and the Officers from the County Yamen had no choice but to travel on foot.

Chen Bin was not familiar with the people from the Demon Suppression Division; on the contrary, he was closer to the Officers from the County Yamen.

This was mainly because of Chen Chong. The County Yamen Officers would curry favor with Chen Chong, and by extension, they were exceptionally warm toward Chen Bin, so Chen Bin did not need to put any effort into starting conversations.

Therefore, he did not whip his horse to gallop back to the county seat. Instead, he carried the tiger head and followed the County Yamen Officers back at a slow, unhurried pace.

By now, the intimidating aura of Tiger Three had long since dissipated, and the horses were no longer afraid.

"Chen Bin."

Ever since he saw him return carrying the tiger head, Chen Chong dared not call him "nephew" as he had in the past, but instead addressed him directly by his name.

Chen Bin tilted his head to look at him and gave a soft "Mn."

Chen Chong couldn't help but ask, "What realm have you reached?"

"Jade Marrow!" Chen Bin answered without hesitation.

"As expected!" Chen Chong exclaimed. "Brother Lingze has a good son."

Chen Lingze was none other than Chen Bin's father.

"Uncle Chong," Chen Bin said, "do you have any cultivation techniques on hand?"

Chen Chong hesitated for a moment and asked, "For advancing to Qi Gathering?"

"Anything will do," Chen Bin thought for a moment and added, "Movement techniques would be best."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chong's face immediately lit up with joy. "You don't say—if it's movement techniques, I actually do have one!"

Chen Bin was delighted. "Then give it to me!"

The next day.

The Demon Suppression Division office was solemn and imposing.

After half a day of rumors spreading, the entire Demon Suppression Division was now well aware of the extraordinary methods Chen Bin had displayed yesterday.

Chen Bin, his expression cold and stern, moved through the Demon Suppression Division. Wherever he went, people stepped aside, and no one dared to block his path.

Chen Bin walked slowly into the General Banner's office.

He saw the Wanbao County General Banner, Wang Sheng, sitting upright at the head of the room, his expression dignified and naturally imposing.

He was quite young, having been parachuted in from the Hundred Households Office.

Five Small Banners sat on either side, with one or two Demon Suppression Captains standing behind each of them, all wearing grave expressions.

Chen Bin's gaze swept over the Small Banner officers, then he respectfully lowered his head and performed a deep bow to Wang Sheng at the head of the room. His voice was loud and clear: "Subordinate Chen Bin greets General Banner Wang."

Wang Sheng's eyes were like torches, staring intently at the Chen Bin before him. He said in a deep voice, "So you are Chen Bin!"

Chen Bin's expression remained calm as he nodded and replied, "That is me, sir."

He pondered inwardly, confirming that the system had not triggered a Red Name alert for Wang Sheng, which allowed him to breathe a slight sigh of relief, though he maintained his respectful demeanor.

Aside from his direct superior, there was another Red Name named He Yang, but he ignored him.

"Not bad, not bad." A smile appeared on Wang Sheng's face as he said slowly, "Yesterday morning, Li Kun said you killed a Blood Change realm Fox Demon and a ghost servant; I didn't believe it. Last night, you slaughtered four hundred of the Nanshan Tiger Demon's ghost servants and even killed a Jade Marrow stage Tiger Demon. That was likely the Nanshan Tiger Demon's son."

Not bad.

It just so happens that Tian Jie is dead.

From today on, you will take his place!

Start as a Captain in the Demon Suppression Division!"

Chen Bin could not hide his joy upon hearing this. The corners of his mouth curled upward slightly as he immediately cupped his hands in a salute, his voice filled with gratitude: "Thank you for your recognition, General Banner."

"Very well." Wang Sheng smiled slightly and continued, "You have also reached the realm where your Jade Marrow is about to gather Qi. Go to the Martial Arts Pavilion to learn a mental cultivation method, then choose a set of saber techniques."

"Yes!" Chen Bin did not hesitate, turning around to leave.

"Wait!" Wang Sheng said.

Chen Bin stopped in his tracks.

Wang Sheng said: "Before you go off duty, go and collect a reward of ten taels of silver."

This time, Chen Bin walked straight out, his pace hurried, without the slightest hesitation.