Slay Demons, Purge Devils, Cleanse the Universe!

"I joined the Jinyiwei at fourteen, and now it's been forty-four years."

"My martial arts talent isn't outstanding. To this day, I'm only at the fourth level of the Spirit Concealment Realm, and I haven't broken through to the fifth. My chances of breaking through in the future are slim."

"I was just lucky. Relying on accumulated merits, I've held the position of Zongqi Officer in the Jinyiwei for over twenty years. Now I'm old, my vitality is declining, and my strength is starting to wane."

"Besides, I've long been tired of this life of fighting and killing. Now that our Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office has finally produced a talented martial artist, there's no need for this old man to block a young person's path."

"I'll report to the Baihu tomorrow and formally step down to a secondary role. In two years, I'll be sixty, the age to retire and return home. My position is now for Chen Fan, which is perfectly timed."

Huang Chengyue looked at Chen Fan, speaking with admiration.

"Captain Huang, there's no need. I'm still young and can wait."

Chen Fan cupped his fists and bowed to Huang Chengyue, speaking.

He already knew from Lu Xuenning that this old man might be one of the few upright individuals in the Jinyiwei, worthy of being called the last conscience of the Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office.

Now, for him to voluntarily step down to allow Chen Fan to rise quickly, it couldn't help but inspire his respect.

"Young Chen Fan, my mind is made up. No need to say more."

"Slaying demons and devils, and purifying the world, will depend on you young people."

"I hope my fellow colleagues and brothers here will bear witness to what I've said today. Even if I die tonight, it won't change the decision for Chen Fan to take my place."

After speaking, Huang Chengyue walked up to Chen Fan, patted his shoulder, and whispered in his ear:

"Do a good job!"

With that, he swaggered away from the Jinyiwei Baihu Office post.

"That old bastard!"

Li Mo watched Huang Chengyue's retreating back, clenching his fists and cursing him in his heart.

Huang Chengyue had been a Zongqi Officer in the Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office even before Cao De arrived. His position was recognized by the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office, and even Cao De couldn't dismiss him.

However, he never colluded with Cao De and the others, making him an anomaly within the Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office. But with his relatives and friends in Ping'an County, even knowing that Cao De and the others were colluding with demons and devils, he chose to remain silent for the safety of his family.

Seeing that he was so sensible, Cao De and the others didn't bother him further.

But today, this old bastard played a move of desperate counter-killing, announcing in front of everyone that Chen Fan would take his place. Wasn't this directly causing them trouble?

Moreover, he had already stated in front of everyone that even if he died tonight, it wouldn't change the decision for Chen Fan to take his place. Therefore, even if Li Mo personally took action tonight, or used demons and devils to kill this old bastard, it would be useless.

After all, Chen Fan had killed seven Wolf Demons, accumulating ten thousand merit points, and possessed the strength of the fifth level of the Spirit Concealment Realm. He met all the conditions for a direct promotion to Zongqi Officer, coupled with Huang Chengyue's voluntary abdication and yielding. They couldn't stop it.

"Congratulations, Captain Chen!"

Li Mo looked at Chen Fan with a complicated expression, forcing a smile as he spoke.

"Captain Li, you speak too soon. We'll have to wait until the Baihu arrives tomorrow before anything is finalized."

"If Captain Li has nothing else, I'll take my leave. I've been busy all afternoon and I'm a bit hungry."

Chen Fan spoke calmly, then strode out of the Jinyiwei Baihu Office post, his hundred-fold embroidered spring saber slung at his side.

Seeing this scene, everyone knew that the long-quiet Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office was about to undergo a major change, with a new star rising.

And the older Jinyiwei members who knew some hidden matters felt that things were not good. Chen Fan, who was about to be promoted to Zongqi Officer, looked similar to Captain Huang and had a similar righteous indignation.

But he was younger than Captain Huang and even stronger.

In the future, he might contend with Baihu Cao, and perhaps the landscape of Ping'an County would be rewritten. At such a critical juncture, how to take a side became their first consideration.

After leaving the Jinyiwei Baihu Office, Chen Fan went directly to the yamen. He found Lu Xuenning, who had been marginalized by the County Lieutenant, and recounted what had happened in Black Bear Gully Village, confirming that Jinyiwei Baihu Cao De was colluding with demons and devils.

"So that's how it is."

"It seems the situation is even more serious than I imagined."

"The Jinyiwei, who should be slaying demons and devils, have become accomplices of demons and devils. The county yamen officials, who should be upholding justice for the common people, have become lackeys of demons and devils."

"The common people of Ping'an County are truly suffering!"

Lu Xuenning spoke with great emotion.

"Today, I revealed my strength of the fifth level of the Spirit Concealment Realm in front of all the Jinyiwei members and reported the merit for killing the seven Wolf Demons in Black Bear Gully Village, accumulating ten thousand great merits. Therefore, I can be directly promoted to Zongqi Officer of the Jinyiwei."

"Originally, Li Mo tried to brush me off by saying there were no vacant positions in the Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office. But Captain Huang appeared at the opportune moment and announced his retirement to yield the position to me in front of everyone."

"If nothing unexpected happens, tomorrow I can become one of the two Zongqi Officers of the Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office. In terms of authority, I will be second only to Cao De. I can also gather my own subordinates, strengthen my power, and contend with Cao De and the others."

Chen Fan spoke with some excitement.

"That's truly wonderful."

"I knew Old Huang could be trusted."

"Then, shall we still investigate that separate courtyard near the County Governor's mansion tonight?"

Lu Xuenning asked.

"We still have to go."

"Because I don't know who the woman with Cao De was back then, and I don't know if that separate courtyard is truly a demon and devil stronghold. We need to confirm it further."

"Let's go, we'll eat first. Once we're full, we'll start the operation."

Chen Fan said to Lu Xuenning.

At some point, Chen Fan had gained the upper hand in their cooperative relationship, becoming the one to issue commands.

However, Lu Xuenning didn't object to this dynamic. After all, her strength wasn't as great as Chen Fan's, nor was her mind as sharp.

Carrying out missions with Chen Fan meant she didn't have to overthink things. Wasn't that a good thing?

The two casually found an inn, had dinner, and then, well before midnight, they scaled the wall and entered the villa of a wealthy merchant in Longyuan Prefecture.

The courtyard didn't look like it had been unoccupied for long.

The tables, floor, windows, and other surfaces were all clean.

In the flowerbed in the backyard, Chen Fan discovered signs of recently disturbed soil. He slashed a few times, and beneath the flowerbed, he found piles of white bones.

"These damned beasts!"

Chen Fan gritted his teeth.

These numerous remains couldn't have formed in just a day or two. This must be a stronghold for the Demons and Devils of Ping'an County.

He continued his search and found an underground secret room behind a rockery. He shattered the stone door with a single strike, and a foul, fishy stench wafted out from within.

The secret room was stained with blood, and there were still uncleaned skeletal remains. Judging by the age of the bones, they belonged to young boys and girls.

For a moment, Chen Fan seemed to see a scene of Demons and Devils reveling around several trembling children.

He couldn't tell if these children were captured by the Demons and Devils or sent by Cao De.

As for why no one reported the missing children to the authorities:

One reason was that the government officials were also lackeys of the Demons and Devils, and they might not have bothered to investigate even if a report was filed.

Another reason was that if an entire family was wiped out, who would bother to report anything?