The next morning, Gu Chang'an put on his constable's uniform, gripped his long saber, and arrived early at the martial arts hall.
As soon as he stepped through the door, he saw Li Hongye standing at the entrance. She wore a simple constable's uniform and radiated a heroic aura.
The moment Li Hongye saw Gu Chang'an, she smiled slightly. "Junior Brother, you're here."
Gu Chang'an nodded. "Good morning, Senior Sister."
Li Hongye's expression suddenly turned solemn as she said in a soft voice:
"I heard that the people from the Firewood Gang have their eyes on you. Do you want my help?"
Gu Chang'an felt a warmth in his heart, but shook his head.
"There's no need to trouble Senior Sister. I can handle it myself."
Li Hongye smiled calmly.
"You shouldn't underestimate the Firewood Gang. Those people are utterly lawless, especially their leader, who is an evil practitioner and has a grudge against my father. This matter might not be resolved so easily. However, you don't need to worry; if there really is a problem, just let me know."
"We are all your backing."
Gu Chang'an looked at Li Hongye with gratitude, but his heart grew even more determined.
"Thank you, Senior Sister. Rest assured, I'm not afraid."
Li Hongye nodded, a flash of determination in her eyes.
"That's good. You're my junior brother, so naturally I won't let them make things difficult for you."
After a moment of silence, she suddenly turned her head, her brows and eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.
"By the way, have you seen that fiend?"
Gu Chang'an was startled upon hearing this, instantly realizing she meant the fiend that had devoured the corpses of Zhang Qiang and the others that night.
He nodded gently, his tone carrying a trace of suppressed memory:
"I've seen it... That fiend is very strong."
Li Hongye nodded with a serious expression.
"Of course it's strong—that's a Tier-3 fiend. You weren't even a Ranked Martial Artist back then, yet you actually managed to escape alive from right under its nose. You truly have a great life."
Gu Chang'an's expression remained calm, though his gaze rippled slightly as he slowly spoke:
"It was lowering its head to devour Zhang Qiang and the others' corpses at the time and didn't pay attention to me at all. I seized the chance to run and barely managed to survive."
Li Hongye narrowed her eyes slightly, as if pondering something, before saying:
"That fiend was probably heavily injured at the time and being hunted by the Demon Suppression Division, which was why it was in such a rush to devour corpses to recover its strength. Otherwise, had it noticed you, I'm afraid you wouldn't even have bones left by now."
Gu Chang'an pondered for a moment, still feeling a lingering fear in his heart, and then asked in a low voice:
"Senior Sister, you said that fiend was Tier-3? How are these fiends rated, and how is their strength divided?"
Li Hongye glanced at him and explained earnestly:
"The ratings of fiends are similar to the ranks of martial artists, also going from level one to nine. Level one is the weakest, and level nine is the strongest."
"Generally speaking, a level-one fiend is equivalent to a Seventh Rank Martial Artist, and a Tier-3 fiend reaches the standard of a fifth martial artist."
"Of course, there are also level-zero fiends whose strength is comparable to an eighth martial artist. Such fiends possess demonic nature and demonic energy, but when it comes down to it, they are merely wild beasts that have fallen into demonic ways."
Gu Chang'an's heart shook as he repeated in a low voice:
"A Tier-3 fiend matches a fifth martial artist?"
Only at this moment did he truly realize that on that night, he had crawled back from the very edge of the gates of hell.
Li Hongye looked at his complex expression and smiled gently.
"That's why I say you're truly lucky, or rather, your time to die hasn't come yet."
Gu Chang'an collected his composure and changed the subject.
"Senior Sister, what kind of entity is the Demon Suppression Division?"
A glimmer of yearning flashed in Li Hongye's eyes, and her voice rose slightly:
"The Demon Suppression Division is a special agency established by the Tianwu Dynasty specifically to combat fiends. It is directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial power and not subject to local officials. Their responsibilities are to hunt down fiends and investigate evil apparitions. Their methods are tough, their professional capabilities are strong, and their strength is extremely high."
She paused and sighed:
"However, wanting to join the Demon Suppression Division is not easy. The lowest threshold is a Seventh Rank Martial Artist... because only those of the seventh rank and above can possibly truly fight against fiends."
Gu Chang'an looked at her expression and vaguely guessed something.
Sure enough, Li Hongye said in a low voice:
"I also want to join the Demon Suppression Division... It's just that I'm still too weak right now. I haven't even reached the eighth rank, let alone the seventh."
Her tone carried a trace of self-deprecation and bitterness.
She was twenty-two years old now and had confidence that she could advance to the eighth rank before turning twenty-five.
However, she had no confidence in being able to advance to the seventh rank.
What was more, even if she did advance to the seventh rank, so what? That only met the threshold to enter the Demon Suppression Division.
To truly enter the Demon Suppression Division, one still had to pass strict assessments.
Gu Chang'an looked at her earnestly and comforted her:
"Senior Sister is still very young and will definitely have the opportunity to enter the Demon Suppression Division in the future."
Li Hongye was startled upon hearing this, then smiled bitterly and shook her head slightly.
"The Demon Suppression Division only selects the most elite martial artists, and my talent is ordinary. I've gotten to where I am now by relying on desperate, bitter training."
She suddenly looked at Gu Chang'an and smiled. "But you're different. You're still young and have extremely high talent. Have you ever thought about joining the Demon Suppression Division?"
Gu Chang'an didn't answer immediately. Instead, he was silent for a moment before nodding slowly:
"To be honest, I've thought about it a little. But I won't act rashly. When I'm ready and have sufficient strength, I'll go."
After entering the Demon Suppression Division, his status would rise once again.
Moreover, the Demon Suppression Division was a department dedicated to dealing with fiends.
In this world, fiends ran rampant, and wanting to survive meant inevitably facing fiends head-on.
How could one get by without knowing how to deal with fiends?
Hearing this, Li Hongye's gaze carried an appreciative look, and she nodded. "You're very steady, much better than me. With your current rate of progress, becoming a seventh rank is only a matter of time."
Gu Chang'an smiled and said casually, "As long as I'm alive, I'll definitely be able to do it."
"Mm." Li Hongye nodded lightly, then suddenly giggled. "Junior Brother, if you make it big in the future, don't forget about me, your senior sister."
Gu Chang'an smiled as well. "Of course I won't forget. Senior Sister, you've shown me immense kindness; in the future, if I obtain any miraculous pills, I'll definitely honor you with them first."
Li Hongye covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes brimming with light. "You said this, okay? I've remembered it."
"Remember it, then." Gu Chang'an nodded earnestly.
Hearing this, Li Hongye felt her heart flutter...
As their brief conversation concluded,
Gu Chang'an followed Li Hongye through the front courtyard and stepped into the training ground at the rear of the martial arts hall.
As soon as he stepped inside, Gu Chang'an saw that in the morning light, eight people were already neatly lined up in two rows with calm gazes and a slightly solemn atmosphere.
These people wore uniform constables' outfits with black bases and red borders. The martial suppression division's seal was embroidered at the lapels, their shoulders were broad and upright, and sabers hung at their waists. Clearly, none of them were ordinary people.
Li Hongye stepped forward, her voice clear and bright:
"Ahem, let me introduce everyone. This is Gu Chang'an, my junior brother."
"He is a new member of our team. From now on, he will execute missions with us, sharing life and death and acting as each other's support."
Gu Chang'an felt slightly nervous, but still calmly raised his head to survey the team members.
Li Hongye first reached out and pointed at a tall man on the far left of the front row.
"This is Liu Wei. He excels at the long saber and has terrifying physical strength. He is the main assault force in our team."
Liu Wei stood as straight as a board, nearly seven feet tall, with arms like iron pillars and full, well-defined muscle lines.
His facial features were rigid, and a fierce saber scar ran diagonally from his left eyebrow across to his cheekbone, adding three parts of killing intent to his already majestic face.
[Liu Wei: Physique 89]
Physique 89—the peak of mortals.
Gu Chang'an nodded in greeting, deep in thought...
Next, Li Hongye pointed at a nimble-looking young man.
This is Sun Hao, proficient in lightness techniques and agile in footwork, skilled in using hidden weapons.
Sun Hao had clear eyebrows and bright eyes, the corners of his lips curled up slightly, and his gaze carried a hint of insouciance.
He cupped his fists toward Gu Chang'an and smiled. "Please take care of me from now on, brother."
Gu Chang'an returned the salute.
[Sun Hao: Physique 68]
Li Hongye continued her introduction, her finger landing on a stern-looking middle-aged man.
"This is Zheng Zhen. He is steady and calm, with exquisite swordsmanship. He comes from the Four Sword Sect, is a Ninth Rank Martial Artist, and serves as the second-in-command of our team."
Zheng Zhen's brows were like carved knives, his gaze was like lightning, and his long hair was tied into a single strand hanging behind his shoulder. A long sword hung at his waist, its cold light restrained.
He merely nodded faintly, his tone as flat as water: "Welcome to the team."
[Zheng Zhen: Physique 208]
Gu Chang'an smiled. "Thank you, Brother Zheng."
However, he sensitively felt that this Zheng Zhen... seemed to harbor hostility toward him?
Then Li Hongye pointed at a short yet spirited man.
"This is Zhou Yue, a master of Mechanical Arts specializing in all sorts of hidden weapons, traps, and explosive devices."
Although Zhou Yue was only a little over five feet tall, his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. He patted the bulging small pack at his side.
"When you need to get things done, just give me a shout."
[Zhou Yue: Physique 38]
Gu Chang'an's heart skipped a beat. Mechanical Arts?
This was the first time he had ever heard of such a thing, and deep down, he was extremely curious.
Next, Li Hongye's finger landed on a woman with an extremely elegant posture.
"This is Lin Wan'er. She excels in poison arts and medical skills. Walking the pugilistic world, she can take lives and save lives alike."
Lin Wan'er had a cold and stunning face, skin as smooth as congealed fat, and eyes resembling those of a serpent.
She merely nodded slightly, her tone distant and cold: "If you get injured, remember to find me. If you get poisoned... you can also try coming to find me."
[Lin Wan'er: Physique 42]
Hearing this, Gu Chang'an smiled. "Understood, Sister Wan'er."
After that was a woman as upright and imposing as a female general.
"This is Gao Ling. She is proficient in saber techniques, always fierce and decisive, losing nothing to men."
Gao Ling had sword-like brows and heroic eyes, slightly bronze skin, and a head of black hair tied up high. The long saber strapped to her back was half a foot taller than she was.
[Gao Ling: Physique 72]
Finally, Li Hongye's gaze turned to an older, gray-haired man sporting a goatee.
"This is Song Zong, fifty-two years old, with rich experience. He has previously led three batches of constables."
Song Zong smiled slightly, his expression kind and gentle. He cupped his fists and laughed: "Young man, welcome aboard. Watch more and listen more during missions; us old folks can still teach you a thing or two."
[Song Zong: Physique 46]
Li Hongye turned back to look at Gu Chang'an, smiling slightly: "Chang'an, the people on our team are all very capable. Though their personalities differ, they are all trustworthy. As long as you are diligent and willing to learn from now on, you will surely learn a lot from them."
Gu Chang'an swept his gaze across everyone one by one, cupped his fists in a salute, and said earnestly: "Gu Chang'an greets everyone. Please give me your guidance in the days to come."
The others also responded one after another, their tones either enthusiastic or flat, but their eyes had all accepted this new colleague.
In truth, even if they didn't want to accept him, they couldn't.
After all, Gu Chang'an was Team Leader Li's junior brother, and furthermore a Ninth Rank Martial Artist who could fight Yellow Wolf Lu Kai to a standstill.
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