Chen Bin: Are You Serious?

Watching their retreating figures, Liu Wei couldn't help but say, "Sir, they..."

"They've already distanced themselves from us!" Wang Sheng's gaze was deep, his tone carrying a hint of loneliness and resolve.

Liu Wei was momentarily stunned, then understood his meaning.

Wang Sheng's expression turned stern as he said in a low voice, "Pass the word down—from now on, there's no need to defer to the City Defense Division or the County Office, because they won't be deferring to us either!"

"Yes!" Liu Wei nodded solemnly.

"Let's go!" Li Kun led several officers, escorting the four men before Wang Sheng.

"Captain Wang," Li Kun clasped his fists in salute and said, "Everyone has been checked thoroughly. Only these four have issues."

"What issues?" Wang Sheng frowned deeply, his eyes filled with suspicion and vigilance.

Li Kun hesitated for a moment, then said, "They won't confess."

Liu Wei turned to Wang Sheng with a smile, "Captain, that makes it even more suspicious."

"Have they all been blood-tested?" Wang Sheng asked.

"We've drawn blood, no problems at all," Li Kun replied.

Blood testing, checking for demonic aura in the blood, was the simplest and crudest method to detect the presence of demons.

But it also had its limitations.

"Release the others after they pay their fines." Wang Sheng looked the four men up and down, then said sternly:

"As for these four, take them back to the office first. We don't have time to deal with them tonight."

"Yes!" Li Kun led his men away.

"Where is that kid Chen Bin now?" Wang Sheng asked.

Liu Wei said, "Wang Yun just sent word—Chen Bin killed twenty-one fox demons.

He's already left 'Yan Hua Alley' and looks to be sweeping the entire city?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Wang Sheng's eyes, followed by an appreciative expression: "Killed twenty-one fox demons and sweeping the whole city—that kid's got guts.

Let's go, we'll back him up."

With that, he strode forward confidently, leading the group toward Chen Bin's direction.

Night shrouded Wanbao County City.

Wanbao County was a large county, with four wards—east, south, west, and north—where houses were scattered in an orderly yet uneven layout, housing three thousand households.

The streets were empty, save for the Demon Suppression Division's squad carrying torches, forming a long, narrow dragon of fire as they wove through the winding alleys.

Wherever the fire dragon paused, shrill screams suddenly erupted. Demons hidden in various places were dragged out mercilessly, and the Demon Suppression Division's blades fell without hesitation, cutting them down.

Amid the piercing cries, blood stained the bluestone slabs.

The screams were especially jarring in the silent night, waking the sleeping common folk.

Every household had its doors and windows tightly shut, the interiors pitch black. Even if woken, they dared not light an oil lamp, fearing that a single glimmer might bring upon them the charge of colluding with demons.

Someone muttered curses under their blanket: "So noisy, the Demon Suppression Division's gone mad tonight."

After cursing, still unsatisfied, they rolled over and pulled their wife tightly into their arms, venting their frustration with rough movements. Only after a bout of exertion did their anger subside slightly.

At this moment, the Demon Suppression Division's squad was in the North Ward.

They had started from the West Ward, moved south, then turned east, and finally headed north.

Now, they had reached the last alley of tonight's route.

Tonight's operation had been highly fruitful—a massive achievement.

"After leaving Yan Hua Alley, we killed another forty-nine demons."

Wang Sheng's eyes were full of pride. He turned to Chen Bin, his tone carrying barely concealed satisfaction, "I never thought there would be so many demons within Wanbao County City."

Chen Bin merely nodded slightly, offering little response.

After leaving the Jiaofang Si, he had killed twenty-one fox demons, earning 270 merit points, leaving him with 930 merit points.

After leaving Yan Hua Alley, he had single-handedly killed forty-three more demons.

Among them were seven Qi Gathering Realm demons and thirty-six Body Tempering Realm demons, earning him a total of 343 merit points. Remaining merit: 1273.

These demons were of various types—monkey demons, rat demons, wolf demons—all shapes and sizes, too many to list.

"Your contribution this time is significant. I'll write a report to the Hundred Households Office to commend you." Wang Sheng patted his chest, his tone carrying a hint of boldness.

"Thank you, Captain Wang." Chen Bin clasped his hands in gratitude, without any pretense.

Wang Sheng was brimming with pride, yet he felt something was missing.

Soon, he realized what that missing piece was.

He couldn't help but sigh, "What a pity—there were no Aperture Opening Realm demons this time. I didn't even get a chance to fight. Truly regrettable."

He shook his head slightly, a trace of disappointment in his eyes.

The Aperture Opening Realm of demons is equivalent to the Meridian Opening Realm of humans.

However, there is an essential difference between demons and humans.

The eight extraordinary meridians of the human race are naturally manifested; to advance in realm, one only needs to open the twelve regular meridians and the Governing and Conception Vessels. Demons, on the other hand, are born without meridians and must undergo the arduous process of gathering qi to open their apertures.

Chen Bin's steps suddenly halted. A hint of surprise flickered in his eyes as he stared straight at Wang Sheng and asked, "Are you serious?"

Wang Sheng was baffled by the sudden question, a look of confusion spreading across his face: "???"

After a brief moment of shock, he hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself and said, "Of course."

He even patted his chest as a guarantee, then grinned and teased, "What, you think you can find an Aperture Opening Realm demon?"

It was already the last alley; it couldn't be on top of the city gate, could it?

"Follow me!" Chen Bin said nothing more, turned around, and walked back the way they came.

Wang Sheng's mind went blank. A bad feeling crept into his heart: Damn it. This hothead is going to screw things up.

The other team members were also bewildered, all turning their gazes to Wang Sheng, waiting for him to make a decision.

Chen Bin passed through the team and ran about three yards before noticing they hadn't followed. He stopped and looked back with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong? Why are you all just standing there?"

Wang Sheng's face flushed red under everyone's stare. Annoyed and embarrassed, he barked, "What are you looking at? Get moving!"

"Yes!" The team snapped out of it and immediately fell in behind Chen Bin, quickly heading back.

"Where are we going?" Wang Sheng asked as he hurried alongside Chen Bin.

"East Ward!" Chen Bin replied, short and forceful.

"There's a demon in East Ward?" Wang Sheng pressed.

Chen Bin nodded, his expression grave. "A den of Wolf Demons."

"A den? How many are there?" Wang Sheng's heart skipped a beat as he pressed for details.

"About thirteen. Three at Qi Gathering, nine at Body Tempering. One of them has a deep, thick aura—feels like it's at Aperture Opening," Chen Bin explained in detail.

"Then why didn't you say so earlier?" Wang Sheng glared at Chen Bin as he ran.

"I was afraid you couldn't handle it, so I didn't dare disturb you," Chen Bin said earnestly. "You just said you regretted it. Since you want to fight, then let's fight."

The words grated on Wang Sheng's ears. A wave of frustration washed over him as he thought bitterly: I said I regretted it, but I was just putting on a show. Did you not see that, or are you really that dense?

"Can you sense that demon's strength?" Wang Sheng asked again.

"No, I can't," Chen Bin shook his head and explained. "Because I'm at Qi Gathering Realm, I can only tell that its strength is a bit higher than mine."

"That's it?" Wang Sheng pressed.

"How complicated does it need to be?" Chen Bin looked at him, a hint of confusion in his tone.

"I hope so." Wang Sheng's mood soured even more.

Tch! I feel like I've shot myself in the foot.

He glanced back and saw the team lagging over three yards behind. His temper flared, and he roared, "Those in the back, hurry up!"

Under his urging, the sound of footsteps behind him quickened noticeably.