We Are Here

We were on the official road, dust and smoke billowing.

Ten Crimson-Eyed Stallions ambled along unhurriedly, the riders' expressions varied.

"Damn it all, this hellish weather—hot enough to cook a bird!"

Chen Tong tore open his collar, revealing a tuft of black hair on his chest, complaining with a face full of irritation.

"Amitabha."

Beside him, the monk Bujie took a big gulp of wine and let out a loud burp. "Benefactor Chen, you speak amiss. A calm heart brings natural coolness."

Chen Tong spat viciously. "Bald donkey, is there any wine left in that gourd of yours? Give me a swig!"

Hearing this, Bujie hugged the wine gourd to his chest like a treasure, shaking his head repeatedly. "Can't do it, can't do it. This is this monk's cultivation tool. For mortals to drink it would shorten their lives."

"I'll fuck your..."

"Say one more word, and you'll all walk on foot."

The cold voice wasn't loud, but it was like a basin of ice water dumped over their heads.

At those words, Chen Tong and Bujie instantly shut their mouths. Even the other men who had been quietly chatting fell silent as cicadas in winter.

Jiang Yuechu rubbed her throbbing temples.

This group of subordinates, all from the martial world, hadn't stopped chattering since they left Liangzhou Prefecture.

Even with her temperament, she was now tempted to beat each of these noisy bastards black and blue.

The team continued on in silence.

After another half hour or so, the end of the official road finally revealed a faint outline.

"Whoa—"

Jiang Yuechu pulled the reins, and the Crimson-Eyed Stallion reared up, stopping outside the city gates of Hechuan County.

Everyone dismounted, leading their horses into the city.

When the city folk saw their black clothes with red patterns, they froze for a moment, then erupted like a pot boiling over, all lowering their voices to murmur.

"It's the Demon Suppression Bureau!"

"The Demon Suppression Bureau officers are here!"

"Look, they're heading toward the county office—it must be for that bear demon!"

Soon, before they even reached the county office, a crowd rushed out from the street ahead, blocking their way without a word.

The leader was a man in his forties, wearing a short jacket stained with grease, his face streaked with tears and snot. He dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Officers! Please, save my wife!"

Behind him, a dozen or so commoners in tattered clothes—men, women, old, and young—knelt in a row, their cries and wails blending into one.

"Officers, my son went up the mountain too! He hasn't come home in three days!"

To ordinary folk, what was the Demon Suppression Bureau?

Common people would flee at the sight of them.

Yet even so, they dared to step forward and block the way.

Clearly, these people had no other choice.

Liu Ke looked at the scene before him, a flicker of pity crossing his face.

He was born into a prestigious family, raised from childhood with the ideal of chivalry and justice. Seeing the commoners suffer, a surge of heroic spirit welled up inside him.

"Fellow villagers, you all..."

He was about to speak a few words of comfort, to make some promise.

"Shut up."

An icy voice cut him off.

Jiang Yuechu merely stared coldly at the kneeling crowd.

Liu Ke froze, staring at her in disbelief.

Chen Tong, Bujie, and the others also showed surprise, a hint of dissatisfaction rising in their hearts.

Though unruly, they prided themselves on being martial heroes. How could they stand by while the people were in trouble?

But Jiang Yuechu's gaze swept over their faces one by one.

The discontent in their hearts was instantly doused by a chill, and each lowered their head, daring not to speak.

Jiang Yuechu paid them no further heed, leading her horse straight past the stunned commoners.

Liu Ke kept his head down, his expression unreadable, but the veins on his hand gripping the reins bulged.

Damn it!

Was this Jiang woman truly made of stone?!

Now the people knelt before her, crying for help, and she didn't even ask a single question—just walked right past them?!

How is this any different from those demonic cultivators who treat human lives like weeds?

A wave of powerlessness, mixed with humiliation, surged into his heart.

Just then, a thick, fleshy palm gently patted his shoulder.

Liu Ke was startled and turned his head to see the monk Bujie.

The fat, burly monk had shed his usual grin, simply shaking his head and letting out a sigh.

At the county office entrance, two stone lions had been eroded by wind and sand until their features were indistinct.

The moment the yamen runners saw their black robes and Crimson-Eyed Stallions, their legs went weak, and they scrambled inside to report.

Before long, a slightly plump middle-aged man in a black gauze hat, surrounded by a crowd of bailiffs, rushed out with a sweat-soaked forehead.

"Your subordinate, Hechuan County Magistrate Qian Youwei, did not know several esteemed officials were arriving. I failed to welcome you from afar. Forgive me, forgive me!"

Jiang Yuechu ignored his pleasantries and strode straight inside.

Qian Youwei led the way, bowing and scraping. The group passed through the front hall and arrived at the rear office's main chamber.

Tea was quickly served.

Magistrate Qian wiped the sweat from his brow. "Esteemed officials, you must be weary from your journey. May I ask what business brings you to my humble Hechuan County?"

At these words, everyone froze.

What did this magistrate mean?

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Jiang Yuechu furrowed her brow and coldly spat out two words: "The monster."

"Oh, oh, you mean that matter, Your Honor... This business of the bear spirit causing trouble is a long story..."

"Then make it short."

Magistrate Qian's eyes darted evasively. He hemmed and hawed for a long while before forcing a dry laugh. "Your Honor, that black bear... for some reason, a few days ago, it came down the mountain on its own and vanished without a trace. The people are now safe and sound, with no more monsters causing trouble. Your subordinate was just about to write another report to submit to the prefectural office!"

"Son of a bitch!"

Chen Tong was the first to lose his temper. He slammed the table and stood up. "You're talking out of your ass! We rode all the way here, and at the city gate, there were still people kneeling all over the ground, crying their hearts out, and you tell me everything's fine?"

The monk Bujie also set down his teacup and intoned a Buddhist salutation. "Amitabha. Magistrate Qian, a monk does not speak falsely. How is it that you, a government official, are also full of lies?"

Startled by these two, Magistrate Qian's body trembled, and he nearly slid off his chair.

"Enough!"

Liu Ke shot to his feet with a cold shout.

He had already been nursing resentment toward Jiang Yuechu for ignoring the plight of the common people earlier, and now seeing this magistrate spouting nonsense, the anger in his heart could no longer be contained.

He strode over to Magistrate Qian, placed his hand on his sword hilt, and looked down at him from above, his eyes full of contempt.

"You were the one who reported this to the Demon Suppression Bureau, and now you're the one saying the monster is gone!"

"You have some nerve! How dare you toy with the Demon Suppression Bureau!"

"Speak! Are you in cahoots with that monster, deceiving your superiors and harming the people?!"

In cahoots with a demon?!

With that accusation hanging over him, Magistrate Qian's face instantly turned white.

"No! Absolutely not! Even if I had the audacity of heaven, I wouldn't dare to ally myself with a demon!"

He waved his hands frantically, his plump face pale as paper. "Your Honor, please see clearly! Your subordinate is wronged!"

Jiang Yuechu narrowed her eyes, her tone flat.

"Then tell the truth."

Magistrate Qian knew that if he didn't come up with something today, this wouldn't end well. Gritting his teeth, he lowered his voice.

"It's... originally... originally there was a monster... but..."

"But what?"

"But... esteemed officials, are you aware that in the Longyou martial world, there are three major sects?"

Liu Ke frowned.

He himself was from Falling Goose Villa, so he naturally knew this.

"Falling Goose Villa, Surging Wave Sect, and... Jeweled Temple."

"Exactly, Jeweled Temple!"

The magistrate quickly said, "Just yesterday, the monks from Jeweled Temple suddenly came knocking."

"They said... that black bear spirit was originally their temple's guardian spirit beast. Somehow, it slipped down the mountain and caused all this trouble."

"Now... the rightful owners have come to take it back to the mountain gate for strict supervision..."

His voice trailed off.

The same Chen Tong who had been bristling with anger just moments ago now sat back down in silence, picked up his teacup, blew on the tea, and said not a word.

The monk Bujie's expression had also sobered considerably; he merely rubbed his bald head and muttered something under his breath.

Liu Ke's face was especially grim.

Even a mere county magistrate was one thing, but the Demon Suppression Bureau itself would think twice before provoking the monks of Jeweled Temple.

After all, Longyou was remote, and with no Commandery Commander currently stationed at the Longyou Demon Suppression Bureau, dealing with minor sects was one thing—a single slap could crush them, and no one would dare complain.

But Jeweled Temple was a major power in Longyou, its ranks filled with experts, its roots sunk deep over centuries of operation in the region. Its followers spanned every prefecture and county, and its disciples were entangled with officials, wealthy gentry, and powerful clans in a web of intricate relationships.

To call it a mere martial sect would be an understatement; it was more like a hegemon of the Longyou Circuit.

To make an enemy of a behemoth like Jeweled Temple, given the current strength of the Longyou Demon Suppression Bureau, would yield no advantage whatsoever.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Magistrate Qian felt the stone that had been weighing on his heart finally settle.

The terror faded from his face, and he quickly added, "Jeweled Temple is a sacred Buddhist site, held in the highest esteem across our Longyou Circuit. They regularly distribute porridge and rice to aid disaster victims, and every eminent monk there is compassionate and merciful..."

Liu Ke cut him off with a cold snort, turning his gaze instead to Jiang Yuechu, who had not spoken a single word from start to finish.

He stared at that calm face, and the nameless anger in his chest burned even hotter.

This Jiang fellow had ignored the weeping pleas of the common people earlier.

And now, upon hearing the name of Jeweled Temple, he would likely retreat even further.

This matter would probably just fizzle out.

He himself was the young master of Falling Goose Villa—though an illegitimate son who couldn't see the light of day—but he had been raised with the teachings of a righteous sect.

He had joined the Demon Suppression Bureau against his family's wishes, first to carve out a future for himself and show his contemptuous father what he was made of.

Second, because he believed the Bureau's mission to slay demons and protect the people was true chivalry.

But now...

Was the Demon Suppression Bureau really as honorable as he had imagined?

First, they ignored the people. Now, they were about to yield to a major sect.

Then what was the point of this trip?

Just going through the motions?

Just as the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly tense.

Jiang Yuechu set down her teacup.

She lowered her eyes and spoke, "Where are the people from Jeweled Temple?"

"We are here."

Voices came from outside the door.

Two figures appeared at the entrance of the hall.

Both wore spotless white monk robes, with handsome features and solemn, dignified expressions.

Yet between their brows lingered an unmistakable air of arrogance.

Seeing everyone's eyes on them, one of them smiled, pressed his palms together, and intoned a Buddhist greeting.

"Amitabha."

"This humble monk has been waiting for you benefactors for some time now."