Nanxi Village

Tian Jie and Luo Xin were both Captains, and Kang Ronghao was Chen Bin's direct superior, a seventh-rank Captain of the Demon Suppression Division.

Was this asking him to defy his superiors?

Chen Bin pondered inwardly.

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

With this crucial piece of information confirmed, he now had a concept of a safe warning distance in his mind.

Chen Bin steadily walked up to Tian Jie. Following the etiquette for meeting a superior, he stood tall and bowed, speaking in a calm and steady tone, "Captain."

In this world where martial power was paramount and the hierarchy was strict, failing to salute a superior when meeting them could genuinely lead to a charge of great disrespect.

This great disrespect was a serious offense, punishable by caning at best, and beheading at worst.

Tian Jie sat in a grand tutor's chair, his massive, bear-like physique filling it completely.

He looked down at Chen Bin from his elevated position and said, "Your blood energy is overflowing, and the scent of blood is strong. It's not from an enemy.

Very good, you've already reached the Blood Change stage."

Tian Jie paused, then continued, "Bao Hong is dead. I know everything about it.

But you know my relationship with him!"

Chen Bin stood still, remaining silent.

"The Captain has assigned a task.

Yesterday, the Wanbao County Office sent a request for assistance. There's a village under South Mountain called Nanxi Village.

Recently, seven or eight people have died there!

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

You just got promoted, so consider it a practice case."

"Yes!" Upon hearing this, Chen Bin immediately clasped his hands in a salute. Only then did he look up for the first time, meeting Tian Jie's gaze.

He naturally didn't believe the other party's words. Why would Bao Hong, a mere White Officer, be sent to enforce the law?

After completing his salute, Chen Bin didn't linger. He turned and left without a second thought.

Seeing this, everyone present looked confused, exchanging bewildered glances: ???

Was he not taking any White Officers with him?

A moment later.

Chen Bin went to the stable to get an ordinary black horse, rode out through the side gate, and turned south.

Soon, a black lightning bolt streaked past the South Gate like lightning.

It was a fast horse, kicking up billowing dust, galloping out like the wind.

The county office officers guarding the gate saw the black uniform of the Demon Suppression Division on the rider from afar and retreated to the side in alarm.

Who would dare to stop the Demon Suppression Division when they were handling a case?

After about half an hour.

A moment later, a group of people in brown officer uniforms rushed out from the gate.

Leading them was Chen Chong, the head of the fast-response squad of the Wanbao County Office.

His face was anxious, and the sweat beads on his forehead, like broken strings of pearls, rolled down his dusty cheeks, soaking a large part of his clothes.

The skinny, inferior horse beneath him was also panting from exhaustion. With every step, it seemed to be struggling, its gait faltering as if it would collapse at any moment.

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

"Damn the Demon Suppression Division! Damn it!

Now we have to run to Nanxi Village on foot!"

Although these officers were all Bronze Skin realm Martial Artists, such a long-distance chase would still leave them exhausted.

Nanxi Village was adjacent to South Mountain, a dangerous place where demons frequently appeared. If they arrived there half-dead from exhaustion, how would they fight against the evil spirits?

Chen Chong was extremely anxious and shouted, "Hurry up, all of you!

If anything happens to the adults from the Demon Suppression Division, we'll all be in big trouble!"

The Demon Suppression Division held immense power in the county, and people usually treated them with awe.

If any incident occurred due to the county office's poor reception, it would be harder than climbing to heaven to ask for their help again.

Chen Chong rode his horse, gazing into the distance. The road ahead was empty, not even a trace of dust rising. He was extremely anxious and yelled, "Speed up! Stop dawdling!"

Hearing this, the others quickened their pace. Despite their aching legs, they could only grit their teeth and persevere.

After all, they were all martial artists. Although this journey was difficult, they could endure it with a bit of effort.

It was precisely for this reason that they had not brought along the White Officers who lacked combat strength.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and Nanxi Village finally came into view.

The village backed onto the majestic South Mountain, with a straight official road in front. A clear stream meandered down from South Mountain, passing through the village.

The village was surrounded by lush trees, embraced by green hills and flowing water. It should have been a scene of peaceful and idyllic rural beauty.

At this moment, Chen Bin, mounted on his horse, surveyed the village outskirts with a solemn expression.

It was nearing noon, and the sun hung high in the sky, its scorching rays falling unobstructed onto the land, bathing the entire village in a golden glow.

The Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique that Chen Bin cultivated specialized in absorbing the power of the golden sun to temper the physique. A blazing sun like this was an excellent opportunity.

As a master of the Blood Change stage, Chen Bin's vital energy was already abundant. But just then, a strange, cool breeze swept towards him from within the village.

This cool breeze, like a pair of bone-chilling hands in the dead of winter, gently brushed his back, causing him to involuntarily shiver.

Chen Bin's heart leaped, and he mused inwardly, "Interesting. It seems this village hides something extraordinary."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing within them. He tightened his grip on the hilt of the long saber at his waist and gently squeezed his thighs against the horse's belly, intending to ride into the village.

However, the horse seemed enveloped in an invisible fear. It pawed the ground with its front hooves, trembling all over, and refused to move forward even half a step.

Clearly, that gust of cool breeze had also terrified the horse.

Chen Bin was helpless. He didn't want to return to the county town on foot, so he dismounted, tied the reins securely to a tree stump at the village entrance, and walked into the village alone.

In front of the village entrance.

"Are you an official, sir?" a somewhat timid voice came from the side.

Chen Bin turned his head, nodded slightly, his gaze instantly sharpening like an eagle's, fixed on the speaker.

Seeing Chen Bin nod, the two men's faces lit up with ecstatic joy. They gesticulated wildly and shouted at the top of their lungs, "An official is here! We're saved!"

At the same time, a panel that only he could see suddenly appeared before Chen Bin's eyes, displaying two sets of information:

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

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

Chen Bin was quick. He grabbed one of the men's shoulders and said in a deep voice, "What are you panicking about? I'm right here."

Zhang Jingtang flinched, like a startled quail, and tremblingly explained, "Sir official, we just wanted to quickly inform the Village Chief."

Village Chief?

A doubt arose in Chen Bin's heart. He released his grip and asked, "Where is the Village Chief?"

Zhang Jingtang quickly replied, "Reporting to the officer, he's still in the manor!"

Chen Bin's tone was stern, "Take me to him."

Two Ghoul Soul Fragments walked ahead. Chen Bin felt his palm, a chill still lingering on his hand.

As expected, this person was no longer human, but a skin suit devoured by a Ghoul Soul Fragment.

Before long, Chen Bin arrived at the village's central threshing ground and met the Village Chief.

Various farming tools were piled around the threshing ground, and scattered grains dotted the ground.

Chen Bin's gaze was sharp as he carefully observed the white-haired elder before him.

The Village Chief, hunched over and leaning on a cane, walked forward tremblingly and bowed respectfully, "Village Chief of Nanxi Village, greetings to the esteemed official from the Demon Suppression Division."

Just then, new information appeared on the Panel before Chen Bin's eyes:

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