Monster Extermination Thousand Household Office

When the Joseon Province was newly established, the Eastern Depot found the place remote and harsh, so they tossed it to the Embroidered Uniform Guard as a thankless task.

From then on, the Embroidered Uniform Guard drew a line with the Eastern Depot: The Huangming's original two capitals and thirteen provinces were designated "Inner Provinces" and placed under the Eastern Depot's jurisdiction.

All newly developed lands from now on would be collectively called "Outer Provinces" and fall under the Embroidered Uniform Guard's jurisdiction.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had been suppressed by the Eastern Depot for several hundred years and wanted to seize this opportunity to break free from their constraints.

The Eastern Depot didn't take it seriously at the time, never expecting that over two hundred years, the Huangming would continuously expand its territory... Before the Jiaozhi Province was established, the Eastern Depot had already begun to regret it.

The common folk called the "Monster Extermination Thousand Household Office" the Monster Extermination Army.

Their strength grew continuously, and they were no longer satisfied with "pacifying regions after battles." They directly entered the fray themselves, expanding the Huangming's territory. Their fame had long since overshadowed the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

When conquering Jiaozhi, the Monster Extermination Army served as the vanguard. It was said they had forty thousand combat troops, organized into the "Monster Extermination Battalion."

When Xu Yuan's second uncle was in his teens, he joined the Monster Extermination Army. News from him would only arrive once every three to five years.

When Xu Yuan's father died, someone was sent to deliver a message to the Monster Extermination Army. It was estimated that his second uncle never received it, as he never returned, even for the funeral.

In the past few decades, Jiaozhi has been completely assimilated. It's said the vanguard of the Monster Extermination Army has already reached Cambodia and fought several battles with the "Red-Haired Barbarians." The battle reports sent to the court all claimed "great victories," but the reality was reportedly not as optimistic.

Uncle Rong Kui arrived at the inn even later than Xu Yuan, clearly coming for him.

And he had been observing him from the shadows without revealing his identity!

Could it be that his second uncle had committed a crime? And implicated the family?

Uncle Rong Kui felt the small knife at his neck was about to cut into his flesh, and he cried out in terror, "Listen to me, listen to me! It's not what you think. It's your second uncle! Your second uncle made a great contribution, he's been promoted to Commander, a legitimate official!"

Xu Yuan was even more confused. "He got promoted, and you still dare to spy on me?"

Uncle Rong Kui wailed, "Your second uncle ordered me to do it..."

Xu Yuan had always suspected that his father and second uncle didn't get along. Otherwise, why would his second uncle leave for decades without ever coming back to visit?

"Your second uncle made a great contribution. Not only was he promoted, but he's also favored by a noble patron who intends to cultivate him. Unfortunately, your second uncle only has us old brothers who've been through thick and thin with him, with no one else useful. So he sent me back to secretly check on how you're doing..."

Uncle Rong Kui spoke rapidly, finally explaining the situation in broad strokes. Then he cautiously glanced at Xu Yuan, thinking, This nephew of Master Xu is no ordinary fellow!

"My waist token is in my pocket. I'll show it to you, and there's a letter from your second uncle in his own handwriting."

Xu Yuan loosened his grip on the knife. Uncle Rong Kui let out a sigh of relief, cursing inwardly that he almost wet himself from fright. No wonder this kid could become one of those people in the Pingtian Society.

Uncle Rong Kui took out the waist token and the letter.

Xu Yuan only glanced at the waist token, unable to tell if it was real or fake. The crucial part was his second uncle's personal letter.

His second uncle occasionally sent letters home before, so Xu Yuan recognized the handwriting.

In the letter, his second uncle stated that Zheng Rong Kui was his sworn brother and that Xu Yuan should follow his arrangements in everything, and so on.

Xu Yuan frowned. "Why didn't he mention my father's death?"

Uncle Rong Kui sighed. "When I left, I hadn't received the news of your father's death yet."

Then he looked at the sky. "Let's not stand on the street. It's getting dark. Let's go to where I'm staying first."

"Where are you staying?"

"Widow Yang's place."

Xu Yuan turned and left. "Let's go to my place."

Xu Yuan unceremoniously took over Zhao's Furs Shop.

After Uncle Rong Kui came in, Xu Yuan led him straight to the back kitchen. Many cured animal carcasses hung from the beams.

Not many hunters had the ability to enter Ghost Witch Mountain, so the wild beasts in the mountains were all plump and well-fed. The ground beneath the beams was covered with traces of dripping fat.

Xu Yuan pointed to the cured meat and the rice jar. "Make some food. Let's eat until we're full first."

Xu Yuan hadn't eaten all day and was starving.

Uncle Rong Kui rubbed his nose. Fine, I was a cook at the Yi Fang Ting inn anyway.

For some reason, although Uncle Rong Kui outwardly seemed a bit reluctant, he showed off his skills. Using limited ingredients, he prepared a small banquet: six dishes, one soup, and perfectly steamed rice.

He also found a bottle of good wine in Zhao Yong's room.

Xu Yuan pointed at the table. "Taste everything."

Uncle Rong Kui glared. "I'm your elder, you know... Fine, I'll taste."

Xu Yuan put the small knife back into his sleeve.

Uncle Rong Kui tasted everything. After waiting for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Xu Yuan found nothing amiss and then took Uncle Rong Kui's chopsticks, washed them, and used them himself.

"You..." Uncle Rong Kui was speechless. This kid was too cautious. Who taught him this?

Xu Yuan ate until he was full, devouring the food like a storm. Uncle Rong Kui's cooking skills were indeed top-notch, comparable to his stepmother in that regard.

Uncle Rong Kui, on the other hand, ate at a leisurely pace, drinking wine.

Once Xu Yuan was full, he put down his chopsticks and stared intently at him.

Uncle Rong Kui was in high spirits. "Don't rush. Wait until I finish my drink, and I'll tell you everything carefully... You're such a bore. Always drawing your knife at the slightest provocation, just like your damn second uncle!"

Uncle Rong Kui put down his wine cup. He didn't dare to curse Xu Yuan, who was holding the knife, so he unleashed a torrent of abuse on his old comrade from thousands of miles away, who was now his new superior.

Xu Yuan was relieved. According to the letter, Uncle Rong Kui and his second uncle had faced life and death together in the Monster Extermination Army for over a decade... This had to be the right feeling.

Uncle Rong Kui detailed his second uncle's arrangements.

"...It's not that I'm secretly monitoring you. Ah, you can't really call it monitoring, it's more like observing you from the shadows. Your second uncle said that if it wasn't suitable, I shouldn't bring this matter up with you.

The Monster Extermination Army is too dangerous. If you don't have the capability, don't leave your elder brother without an heir."

Xu Yuan asked coldly, "When I was in danger, why didn't you help?"

Uncle Rong Kui glared. "How did I not help? When you wanted to escape, didn't I deliberately give you an opportunity?"

Xu Yuan thought about it. That morning, Uncle Rong Kui had indeed deliberately given him an opportunity by sending him to fetch water.

"What about after that?"

"After that... it wasn't that I didn't want to help, it's that I couldn't. You all charged into Ghost Witch Mountain together. As an outsider, would I dare to go in?"

Xu Yuan could barely understand.

Uncle Rong Kui's strength had just been tested; he was at most Eighth Stream.

Facing the Pingtian Society head-on would mean certain death, with no chance of escape.

Asking him to enter Ghost Witch Mountain to help deal with the Pingtian Society... he lacked both the ability and the courage.

Moreover, Xu Yuan understood that he was just a nephew. If he were his own son, Uncle Rong Kui might have gritted his teeth and risked his life.

"My second uncle..." Xu Yuan glanced at Uncle Rong Kui. "Why did he send back such a good-for-nothing?"

Uncle Rong Kui's plump face turned bright red. His lips moved a few times, wanting to defend himself, but he eventually deflated. "Forget it. You were able to deal with Master Qiao and the people from the Pingtian Society, so you truly have skills. I can't compare to you."

Xu Yuan didn't deny it. He tapped the table. "Continue eating. I'm going up to sleep. I'll return to the city tomorrow."

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