Don't say things that aren't conducive to unity

"Listen up, everyone. From today on, no one is allowed to act recklessly with Head Constable Lu."

"If she wants to kill a Demon, let her. If the Demons and Devils retaliate, you can just find her."

"Also, find a few people to take the White Ape and the corpses of his subordinates to Black Mountain. The rest has nothing to do with us."

After Constable Liu finished speaking, he strode out of Wangchun Tower.

Chen Fan watched Constable Liu's retreating back and couldn't help but shake his head.

"Since the Demons and Devils have been dealt with, let's head back too."

"Increase patrol intensity these few days. Once you spot any Demons and Devils entering the city, kill them on sight!"

Jinyiwei Chief Officer Li Mo said with conviction.

However, no one could tell how much of his words were true and how much were false!

"Yes!"

Everyone replied in unison.

When Chen Fan left Wangchun Tower, he didn't return directly to the Jinyiwei barracks but went to the constable's office to find Lu Xuening.

"Help me investigate the owner of the villa north of the city, next to the County Magistrate's residence. I suspect the owner of that courtyard is colluding with the Demons and Devils, and that courtyard might be one of their strongholds."

Chen Fan was direct and stated his request.

"No problem."

"You've seen the faces of these people today. Whether they're colluding with the Demons and Devils or not, they're all numb. Expecting them to hunt Demons and Devils with us is a pipe dream."

"What are your plans now?"

Lu Xuening asked.

"Kill Demons!"

"If you find any trace of the Demons and Devils, remember to tell me."

Chen Fan said and turned to leave.

Thank goodness you're here, I'm not alone!

Lu Xuening watched Chen Fan's retreating back and thought to herself.

Cao Manor.

After leaving Wangchun Tower, Jinyiwei Chief Officer Li Mo didn't go home or return to his post at the Jinyiwei barracks. Instead, he went to the home of his superior, Cao De.

In Cao De's study.

"Your subordinate, Li Mo, pays his respects to you, sir."

Li Mo was led to the study door by the butler of Cao Manor and bowed deeply, speaking loudly.

"It's Li Mo, come in!"

A deep voice came from the study.

Creak!

Li Mo pushed the door open upon hearing that, and the butler of Cao De's manor bowed and withdrew.

Inside the study.

Cao De was seated on a meditation cushion, surrounded by a crimson mist. With each breath, the crimson mist was drawn into his body. He then finished his practice, and a crimson glint flashed in his eyes before quickly returning to normal.

He stood up and looked at Li Mo, a faint smile on his face:

"What brings you here today?"

Following that, Li Mo told Cao De about what happened at Wangchun Tower today.

Cao De nodded calmly upon hearing this.

"That Ape Demon from Wangchun Tower, I heard it just broke through recently. But even so, the fact that Head Constable Lu, who was transferred from Longyuan Prefecture, could kill it proves she has at least the strength of the peak Divine Treasure realm."

"As expected of someone from Longyuan Prefecture. To reach the peak Divine Treasure realm at such a young age is truly enviable."

"Since she has the strength to kill the White Ape, if the Three Eyes come seeking revenge, they can just find her."

"However, I suspect that County Lieutenant Liu Xuan, that old dog, might personally deliver her to the Three Eyes to show his loyalty."

"This has nothing to do with us. But the arrival of such a hot-headed newcomer in Ping'an County is not a good thing for us."

"Our Jinyiwei internal selection and assessment is a minor one every five years and a major one every ten years."

"The ten-year inspection period is approaching. We must ensure that Ping'an County does not experience any major Demon disasters and safely pass this inspection assessment."

"I will be transferred to Longyuan Prefecture then. I will recommend you for the position of Jinyiwei Hundred-Household in Ping'an County. Old Huang is old, and he's too upright; he won't live much longer. The future of Ping'an County belongs to you."

"As long as you can stabilize the situation in Ping'an County like I did, we might meet again in Longyuan Prefecture at the next ten-year mark."

Cao De patted Li Mo's shoulder and said calmly.

But these words made Li Mo extremely excited. He immediately knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and bowed:

"Thank you for your appreciation, Commander. Your subordinate is willing to go through fire and water for you, and will not refuse!"

"Get up."

"I promoted you myself. There's no need for formalities between us."

"Right, I just heard you say that Chen Fan from the ninth team was actually at Wangchun Tower, and with Head Constable Lu. I remember he was poisoned by a Demon and was near death. What's going on?"

Cao De's tone shifted as he asked, a flash of crimson light in his eyes.

"That kid turned his life around. Before he died, he practiced Body Tempering Fist to the extreme. I didn't expect him to break through to the second level of the Divine Treasury realm. Between life and death, there is great terror, but also great opportunity!"

Li Mo couldn't help but sigh when he heard this.

"Did he say anything he shouldn't have?"

Cao De's tone immediately turned cold.

"You mean, he knows about our business?"

Li Mo immediately understood the meaning behind Cao De's words.

"Whether he knows or not, this person cannot be kept alive."

"I once wanted to take advantage of his injury and illness to send Crimson Serpent Demon to assassinate him, and also to interrogate him about what he knew. I didn't expect Crimson Serpent to be killed by him directly."

"To be able to kill the peak of the second level of the Divine Treasury realm, Crimson Serpent Demon, with the strength of a newly entered second level of the Divine Treasury realm, Bone Vajra, shows that his strength is extraordinary."

"Perhaps Crimson Serpent Demon was a bit careless after listening to my words, and that's why Chen Fan killed her."

"But since he survived, he might have noticed something. Him being with Head Constable Lu might be because he wants to seek her help."

Cao De said with a cold voice.

"Looking at it this way, he really can't be kept alive."

"Sir, do you need me to do it personally?"

Li Mo made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Sigh!"

"Never say anything that harms unity, and never do anything that harms unity."

"The Demons and Devils are using us, but aren't we also using the Demons and Devils? Why dirty our own hands when we can use a borrowed knife to kill?"

Cao De waved his hand and said directly.

"You are wise, sir. Your subordinate knows what to do."

Li Mo smiled coldly upon hearing this, a poisonous scheme surfacing in his mind.

"Mhm."

"It's getting late. Go home and rest early. I won't keep you."

Cao De nodded with satisfaction and then dismissed him.

"Yes."

"You rest early too, sir!"

"Your subordinate takes his leave!"

Li Mo cupped his fists in a salute, then turned and left Cao Manor.

"I've been in Ping'an County, this godforsaken place, for twenty years. A full twenty years."

"How many twenty-year periods are there in a lifetime?"

"Now I've finally waited for my chance. If I can achieve 'Upper B' in the ten-year supervisory assessment, I can accumulate merit and be promoted to Deputy Commander."

"This is an excellent opportunity. There is a Deputy Commander in Longyuan Prefecture who is in charge of logistics and is about to retire. The next Deputy Commander is very likely to be chosen from among us Commanders in Longyuan Prefecture."

"And I have already received the recommendation from that Deputy Commander. My chances have greatly increased. Even if I can't become a Deputy Commander, being transferred to Longyuan Prefecture and serving as a Commander there is better than being stuck in this small county town for a lifetime."

"I hope everything goes smoothly and there are no accidents."

"Chen Fan?"

"Heh heh."

Cao De muttered to himself, then walked back to the futon and sat down cross-legged as usual, beginning to circulate his energy.

In an instant, blood mist filled the study.