Nanxi Village

Tian Jie and Luo Xin were both Captains, while Kang Ronghao was Chen Bin's superior in the Demon Suppression Division, a Subordinate Seventh-Rank Flag Officer.

Was I supposed to challenge my superior?

Chen Bin pondered to himself.

From the distance at which the first Red Name, Tian Jie, had appeared, Chen Bin had confirmed that the map's effective range was indeed twenty zhang.

Having confirmed this crucial detail, he now had a sense of how far away he needed to stay for safety.

Chen Bin walked steadily up to Tian Jie. Following the etiquette for meeting a superior, he stood straight and saluted, then said in a calm, steady voice, "Captain."

In this world, where might made right and rank was strict, a subordinate who failed to salute a superior could genuinely be charged with gross disrespect.

Gross disrespect was a serious crime. At best, you got a beating; at worst, you lost your head.

Tian Jie sat in a grand armchair, his hulking, broad-backed frame filling it to the brim.

He looked down at Chen Bin and said, "Your bloodlust is overflowing, and you reek of blood, but it's not the enemy's.

Very impressive. You've already reached the Blood Change Stage."

Tian Jie paused, then continued, "Bao Hong is dead. I know all about what happened.

But you know what my relationship with him was!"

Chen Bin stood silently where he was, saying nothing.

"The Flag Officer has assigned a task.

Yesterday, Wanbao County Office received a request for assistance. There's a village at the foot of South Mountain called Nanxi Village.

Seven or eight people have died there in recent days!

Bao Hong was supposed to investigate, but since he's dead, you'll go instead!

You've only just become a full-fledged officer, so consider this practice handling a case."

"Yes!" Chen Bin replied. He immediately clasped his hands and saluted, only then lifting his head to meet Tian Jie's gaze.

Naturally, he didn't believe what the man had said. Bao Hong was a mere constable—what right did he have to enforce the law?

After saluting, Chen Bin didn't linger for a moment. He turned and walked away.

Everyone watched him leave, baffled, exchanging bewildered glances: ???

Wasn't he taking any constables with him?

A short while later.

Chen Bin went to the stables, took an ordinary black horse, and rode out through the side gate, heading south.

Soon, a black streak tore past South Gate at breakneck speed.

A swift horse thundered out like the wind, trailing billowing clouds of dust.

The county yamen runners on guard saw the black uniform of the rider from afar and hurriedly retreated to the side.

Who would dare obstruct the Demon Suppression Division on a case?

Not quite half an hour later.

A crowd of men in brown runner uniforms came sprinting out through the gate.

At their head was Chen Chong, a fast-track constable from Wanbao County Office.

His face was taut with worry. Beads of sweat covered his forehead like a broken string of pearls, rolling down his dust-caked cheeks and soaking a large patch of his clothes.

The bony nag beneath him was panting with exhaustion, every step a struggle. It staggered along as if it might collapse at any moment.

Behind Chen Chong, a group of ordinary runners ran with all their might, cursing as they went.

"Damn the Demon Suppression Division! Fuck!

Now we have to run to Nanxi Village on our own two legs!"

Though every one of these runners was a Martial Artist at the Bronze Skin stage, a long-distance sprint like this would still leave them utterly exhausted.

Nanxi Village bordered South Mountain, a dangerous place crawling with demons. If they arrived half-dead from exhaustion, how were they supposed to stand against evil spirits?

Chen Chong was frantic. He shouted, "Move faster, all of you!

If anything happens to the Demon Suppression Division officer, we'll all be in deep trouble!"

The Demon Suppression Division wielded enormous power in the county, and people usually treated its members with three parts awe.

If trouble arose because the county yamen had failed to receive them properly, getting the Division's help again in the future would be harder than reaching the heavens.

Chen Chong rode ahead, straining to see into the distance. The road before him was empty, not even a speck of dust rising. In a frenzy, he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Pick up the pace! Stop dawdling!"

At his words, everyone quickened their steps. Their legs ached terribly, but they could only grit their teeth and press on.

At least they were all martial artists. The distance was hard to cover, but they could make it if they pushed themselves.

That was also why they hadn't brought any constables who couldn't fight.

An hour passed in a flash, and at last, Nanxi Village came into view.

The village nestled against towering South Mountain. A straight official road lay before it, while a clear stream wound down from the mountain and flowed through the village.

Green trees shaded the village on every side, encircled by verdant hills, with clear waters flowing gently through it. It should have been a peaceful, idyllic scene.

At that moment, Chen Bin sat on horseback, solemnly surveying the outskirts of the village.

It was nearly noon. The sun blazed high overhead, its scorching rays falling unobstructed upon the earth and draping the whole village in golden light.

The Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique Chen Bin practiced drew on the power of the golden sun to temper the body. A blazing midday sun like this was normally the perfect opportunity.

As a Blood Change Stage expert, Chen Bin's Qi and Blood were already vigorous. Yet just then, a strange, chilly breeze rushed out of the village and struck him in the face.

The gust was like a pair of icy hands in the depths of winter, brushing across his back and making him shiver.

Chen Bin was startled. Interesting. Looks like there's something unusual hidden in this village.

He narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them. He gripped the hilt of the long saber at his waist and gently squeezed his legs against the horse's flanks, intending to ride into the village.

But the horse seemed gripped by an invisible fear. It pawed at the ground with its front hooves, its whole body trembling, and refused to take even half a step forward.

Clearly, that strange breeze had frightened the horse too.

Chen Bin had no intention of walking all the way back to the county town, so he had no choice but to dismount. He firmly tied the reins to a stump at the village entrance, then headed into the village alone.

At the village entrance.

"Are you an official, sir?" a timid voice came from beside him.

Chen Bin turned his head and gave a slight nod. His gaze instantly sharpened like an eagle's as he fixed his eyes on the speaker.

When the two men saw Chen Bin nod, their faces lit up with delight. They waved their arms and shouted at the top of their lungs, "The official's here! We're saved!"

At the same time, a panel suddenly appeared before Chen Bin's eyes, visible only to him. Two sets of information appeared on it:

[Zhang Jingtang: Ghoul Soul Fragment, Merit +2]

[Zhang Jinglie: Ghoul Soul Fragment, Merit +3]

Chen Bin reacted in a flash, grabbing one of them by the shoulder and saying in a low voice,

"What are you panicking for? I'm right here."

Zhang Jingtang shrank his neck in fright, like a startled quail, and stammered out an explanation:

"Sir, I just wanted to hurry and notify the village head."

Village head?

Chen Bin was puzzled. He let go and asked, "Where is the village head?"

Zhang Jingtang answered hastily, "Sir, he's still in the village!"

Chen Bin's voice was cold. "Take me to him."

The two Ghoul Soul Fragments walked ahead. Chen Bin felt his palm; a lingering chill remained on it.

Just as he'd thought. This person was no longer human, but an empty husk devoured by a Ghoul Soul Fragment.

Before long, Chen Bin arrived at the village's central Threshing Ground and saw the village head.

Various farm tools were piled around the threshing ground, and scattered grains lay here and there on the earth.

Chen Bin's gaze was sharp as a torch as he carefully examined the white-haired old man before him.

The village head was stooped and leaned on a cane as he shuffled forward. Trembling, he bowed respectfully. "The village head of Nanxi Village pays his respects to the Demon Suppression Division, sir."

Just then, fresh information appeared on the panel before Chen Bin:

[Zhang Zhantang: Tiger Demon Ghoul Servant, Merit +9]