Demon Suppression

Hearing this,

Qin Jiu felt a chill creep through his heart.

A single demon had been able to slaughter the Zhao Family, a great power on the same level as the Qin Family had once been.

And now,

this man was saying that demons had gathered to lay siege to the city.

What a strange choice of words.

He felt that even a massive army at the city gates might not be enough to surround the county town. Just how many demons were there?

It wasn't just him.

At that moment,

everyone else felt a chill as well.

Ordinary people might not understand how terrifying demons were, but everyone present was a martial artist. First Refining Skin Polishing experts could lift a thousand-pound cauldron with a single arm. Those above them—Second Refining, Three Refinements, and even Internal Strengthening—were already far beyond ordinary people.

Yet before demons, even these extraordinary people

were nothing but lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

After hearing such news, who could possibly remain calm?

"Everyone, stay calm."

At that moment,

the man seemed to realize he had misspoken and hurriedly continued, "When I spoke of demons surrounding the city, I didn't mean the kind that attacked the four great families in the Inner City. In fact, according to the County Magistrate's investigation, there are at most three demons of that level."

"The rest are lower-grade or even unranked demons."

"Ordinary martial artists can kill them."

"That is also the main purpose behind the County Magistrate establishing the Demon Suppression Bureau. He is currently investigating and tracking down those few demons with Commander Fu, so he can't be in two places at once. And the County Office is short on manpower, which is why he's asked all of you to lend a hand."

"Feng Yuan, can you stop making us wait for the other shoe to drop?"

Han Zheng scolded him, his face livid.

The others breathed a sigh of relief, but glared at the speaker with equal displeasure.

The man looked sheepish.

Watching this, Qin Jiu didn't feel any less worried.

If anything, his heart grew heavier.

There were still three or perhaps more demons on the same level as the one that had wiped out the Zhao Family. If they all appeared in the Inner City...

And there seemed to be a powerful hand manipulating the demons from behind.

The next morning,

everything in the county town seemed unchanged.

But even without going outside, Qin Jiu could feel the oppressive tension of a storm about to break.

It had even begun to affect the Qin Family's guards.

"Young master, eleven members of the guard team are making a fuss and demanding to leave the Qin Family. How would you like to handle this...?"

In the East Wing courtyard,

Wang Yue came to report early that morning.

Qin Jiu remained expressionless. As he practiced Stance Training, he replied coolly, "They can't enjoy generous wages only while the Qin Family is prosperous and secure. Put this matter on hold for now. I'll wait for the County Office's people to come and hear what the Demon Suppression Bureau needs before making a decision."

Demons were surrounding the city.

The various powers would have to send people to join the Demon Suppression Bureau.

And as one of the four great families, the Qin Family would certainly be on the list. The martial artists they sent could only come from the guard team.

Now that the guards knew what was happening,

they naturally wanted to leave the Qin Family and avoid risking their lives fighting demons.

But as the saying went, "He who takes his lord's stipend must serve his lord." The Qin Family's strength in the past had allowed its guards to live in comfort. Their lives had been far easier than those of escorts who traveled back and forth on dangerous routes. In recent years, countless martial artists had sought positions at the Qin Mansion.

Now that trouble had come, they wanted to flee.

How could he possibly let them go?

In just over half an hour,

someone from the County Office arrived.

It was Feng Yuan, whom Qin Jiu had met the previous night.

He entered the reception hall and cupped his hands toward Qin Jiu. "Greetings, Qin Family Head."

"I was once a constable in the Patrol Office. I now serve as a Scribe for the Demon Suppression Bureau. I've come today to inform the Qin Family of the exact amount of money and grain it must contribute, as well as the detailed requirements for the personnel it must provide."

"Please, have a seat."

Qin Jiu gestured for him to sit.

Feng Yuan waved a hand. "There's no need for formalities, Qin Family Head. I'm pressed for time and must hurry to the next family."

"I'll start with the money and grain."

"The Qin Family must contribute five thousand taels of silver or five hundred taels of gold, as well as ten shi of coarse grain. If you can't provide the grain, you may pay in gold or silver instead, at ten percent above market price. As for personnel, the Qin Family must currently provide one Three Refinements martial artist, five Second Refinements martial artists, and ten First Refining martial artists."

"These quotas were determined based on each family's business in the city, then drawn up by the County Magistrate, who returned to the city last night, and Commander Fu. I'm only here to convey the details. If you have any objections, you'll need to discuss them with Commander Fu."

As Feng Yuan spoke,

he added, "In fact, the Han Family, the Qian Family, and even the Li Family, which absorbed the Zhao Family's businesses, all have to contribute roughly the same amount as you."

"To borrow Commander Fu's words..."

"The more assets and people a power has, the more it has to contribute."

"Because the Demon Suppression Bureau is protecting them."

"Is that so?"

Qin Jiu neither agreed nor disagreed.

After a moment's thought, he asked, "Then how much do the Four Seasons Pharmacy, the Weapon-Forging Shop, the Canghai Martial Arts Hall, and the various gangs have to contribute?"

"Well..."

Feng Yuan looked troubled.

Seeing this, Qin Jiu nodded to Wang Yue. The latter understood, reached into his sleeve, pulled out a silver ingot, and slipped it into Feng Yuan's hand.

"Steward Wang, what are you doing...?"

Feng Yuan's expression changed.

He quickly waved his hands, trying to refuse.

But in the end, he couldn't resist an Internal Strengthening martial artist and could only let the other man tuck the silver into his robe.

"Please don't let what I'm about to say get out, Qin Family Head."

Feng Yuan hesitated before continuing, "The Four Seasons Pharmacy doesn't have to contribute money or grain to the Demon Suppression Bureau, but it must provide the Bureau with pills. Not only healing pills, but also powerful pills that can advance one's martial arts realm, including those needed by Internal Strengthening martial artists."

"The Weapon-Forging Shop is the same."

"Except that they have to provide weapons for the Demon Suppression Bureau's people."

"As for the Canghai Martial Arts Hall, its contribution is about the same as the great families', just a little less. The gangs, meanwhile, have to contribute even more than your families. Their territory is vast and their manpower extensive, so what they have to give will be enough to cripple them."

"All the other powers, large and small, in the Inner and Outer Cities have to contribute money and grain in the same way you do."

At the end, Feng Yuan hesitated, then added,

"Qin Family Head, if you'll pardon my unsolicited advice, you should assign trusted confidants or direct descendants to the Demon Suppression Bureau. If they survive this demon purge, the benefits they'll reap in the future will be immeasurable."

"Oh?"

Qin Jiu was about to ask more,

but Feng Yuan merely cupped his hands and hurried out of the hall.

"Uncle Wang, what do you think?"

"This matter is strange at every turn."

Wang Yue furrowed his brow. "Whatever that man's motives for establishing the Demon Suppression Bureau, we can only go along with his wishes. We still don't know whether Feng Yuan's words are true, and no one can predict how this demon purge will turn out."

"We can only adapt to whatever comes."

After speaking, he sent Wang Yue to the account room to withdraw the silver.

Qin Jiu didn't touch the grain. He only had it exchanged for promissory notes of equivalent value.

After Wang Yue left,

Qin Jiu rubbed his brow, then glanced deeply in the direction of the County Office in the Inner City before slowly closing his eyes.

His Ghost Illumination talent quietly activated.

"County Magistrate..."

"Let me see what you're hiding."