The Taiyin Hardening

Inside the hall.

A man dressed in dark green military attire, his face etched with authority, sat in the high seat.

Commander Fu Hanchuan stood by his side.

"Qin Jiu of the Qin Family, pays respects to the County Magistrate."

Qin Jiu bowed to the figure.

The man nodded slightly: "Rise."

"The Qin Family has spared no effort in assisting our Bureau with demon suppression; I have seen it all. I have summoned the Qin Family here today for another matter. You and Wang Yue should wait to the side for now; we shall discuss business once everyone has arrived."

"Understood."

Qin Jiu cupped his fists once more.

He then led Wang Yue to stand beside Han Zheng.

As he moved, several lingering gazes from the surrounding crowd shifted to follow him.

The corner of his eye twitched slightly.

He had a rough idea of the resentment these people held.

The Qin Family had previously taken the initiative to send several Three Refinements martial artists to the Demon Suppression Bureau, which in turn prompted the Bureau to demand that other families also dispatch their experts ahead of schedule—a move that had naturally offended many factions.

Qin Jiu's thoughts flickered as he leaned in to whisper a question to Han Zheng.

"Is there some major operation afoot?"

"You will know soon enough."

Han Zheng's expression was not particularly pleasant.

He merely let out a sigh.

He seemed unwilling to say anything more.

Seeing this, Qin Jiu found it difficult to press further, especially since the expressions of the others nearby were equally grim; it was clear that whatever the County Magistrate had said earlier had left them all in such a state.

He ceased speaking.

He silently activated his Ghost Illumination talent.

With the top experts of the Internal Strengthening realm from across the county gathered here, it was the perfect opportunity to use Ghost Illumination to see if any of them harbored hostility toward him or the Qin Family.

However, the moment he activated it.

Qin Jiu's heart skipped a beat.

Within his field of vision, three plumes of mist as black as ink suddenly emerged, and beyond that, not far from the Demon Suppression Bureau, a column of black mist so dense it was nearly blinding was slowly approaching the hall.

"They are..."

Qin Jiu's breath hitched.

He immediately swept a calm, unnoticeable gaze over Tang Yu, Jiang Lin, and one other figure.

The first two were the master of the Canghai Martial Arts Hall in the Inner City and the leader of the Canal Gang, respectively, while the third was a member of the County Office clad in armor.

Under the manifestation of his talent.

All three of them were radiating naked malice toward him or the Qin Family.

And that black radiance outside...

"Ji Changqing of the Four Seasons Pharmacy, pays respects to the County Magistrate."

At that moment.

A middle-aged man with a refined and easygoing appearance, holding a folding fan, walked into the hall and saluted the County Magistrate, with Li Yuan following half a step behind him, bowing in unison.

Qin Jiu's gaze fell upon him.

His pupils constricted.

Why is the master of the Four Seasons Pharmacy here?

The questions in Qin Jiu's mind grew heavier.

The malice radiating from this man.

Almost eclipsed the combined total of the other three.

What puzzled him most was why Ji Changqing would harbor such malice toward him; surely it couldn't be because of that secret prescription?

That item alone shouldn't be enough to make several Internal Strengthening martial artists, let alone Ji Changqing, green with envy.

If their malice isn't directed at me or the Qin Family because of the prescription?

What if it's just collateral damage from something else...

Qin Jiu pondered.

The County Magistrate's voice resounded through the hall once more.

"Since the Four Seasons Pharmacy, the Weapon-Forging Shop, and the rest of the Internal Strengthening experts in the city have all arrived."

"This Seat will not waste any time."

"I have summoned you all here today for one reason only: I intend to thoroughly resolve the Demon scourge. Naturally, since the number of Demons is vast, I require your collective assistance."

As these words fell.

The expressions of those present grew increasingly grim.

Han Zheng braced himself, cupped his hands, and said, "Is the County Magistrate perhaps overestimating us?"

"Han has heard that among those Demons, there are at least three Great Demons with strength comparable to the one that wiped out the Zhao Family. On that day, Commander Fu and two Internal Strengthening experts from the Zhao Family joined forces; the former was wounded, while the latter were all killed."

"Our strength is merely on par with the Zhao brothers..."

"Do not worry, Han Family Head."

Though the County Magistrate wore an inviolable air of authority, he clearly followed protocol, patiently explaining, "Personnel from the Prefecture Office arrived at the yamen yesterday. Experts of that caliber will be handled by others; you need not face them."

"You are only required to suppress the other Demons."

Once he finished speaking.

The expressions of the surrounding experts eased slightly.

Only Ji Changqing spoke up calmly at this moment.

"I hope the County Magistrate will understand. My Four Seasons Pharmacy and the Weapon-Forging Shop never participate in the disputes of major factions, nor do we interfere in the affairs of the county. If you wish for me to join the crusade against the Demons, I fear you will be disappointed."

"This also goes against the rules of the Pharmacy."

"Insolent!"

Before the words had even faded.

The County Magistrate flew into a rage, his tone turning chillingly sharp: "A mere pharmacy, how dare you speak of rules in front of This Seat? Do you truly believe you stand above the laws of the Great Zhou?"

"Even the main headquarters of the Four Seasons Pharmacy would not dare to speak so wildly in this courtroom."

"What kind of thing do you think you are?"

"Do you truly think This Seat is here to negotiate with you?"

As he spoke.

A terrifying aura, like a vicious dragon raising its head, instantly enveloped the hall.

It was the energy of a realm beyond Internal Strengthening.

Ji Changqing's expression shifted slightly.

"At the hour of the Rat tonight, you are all to assemble at the Demon Suppression Bureau. Anyone who fails to appear shall be executed!"

"Does anyone have any objections?"

The voice echoed through the hall.

The crowd fell into silence.

On the other side, Qin Jiu pondered for a moment before walking to the center of the hall, cupping his hands: "The Qin Family is willing to follow the County Magistrate's orders."

"However, the Magistrate mentioned a few days ago."

"That to reward the Qin Family, the Demon Suppression Bureau would no longer draft our men..."

"That is indeed a fact."

The County Magistrate mused for a moment, then said, "But for tonight's operation, Wang Yue cannot be absent. How about this: you may go to the Armory to select a martial art to take back as compensation for the Qin Family, and henceforth, the Demon Suppression Bureau will continue to refrain from drafting your men."

"Of course, should an event like today's arise, it will be discussed separately."

"What do you think?"

As these words were spoken.

Qin Jiu's face revealed a look of astonishment.

He was being dismissed with a single martial art?

Furthermore, the tone of the other party sounded like a request, but in reality, if he dared to say a single word of refusal, he feared he would not be able to leave unscathed.

Feeling that undisguised, sharp aura.

Qin Jiu bowed slightly.

"Thank you, Magistrate."

The others looked at him with strange expressions.

Their gazes darted back and forth between him and the County Magistrate.

The latter flashed a look of surprise, then nodded: "In that case, Hanchuan, take them to the Armory to select their martial arts. The rest of you may also withdraw."

Demon Suppression Bureau, inner hall.

Armory.

Fu Hanchuan held a bamboo scroll and handed it to Qin Jiu, saying, "The Demon Suppression Bureau was established in haste. Currently, the Armory contains only three middle-tier martial arts and seven lower-tier ones. Their names and brief summaries are all listed here."

"Once you have made your choice, you may inform me."

Qin Jiu remained silent.

He took the scroll and scanned it briefly, intending to pick one at random.

However, his gaze soon faltered.

His eyes lingered on a specific middle-tier martial art.

"Taiyin Horizontal Training Body?"