We Are Here

On the official road, dust billowed through the air.

Ten Crimson-Eyed Stallions ambled along at an unhurried pace, their riders each wearing different expressions.

"Damn it, this cursed weather is so hot even birds are practically cooked!"

Chen Tong tugged open his collar, exposing a tuft of black chest hair as he complained irritably.

"Amitabha."

Beside him, the monk Bujie took a huge gulp of wine and let out a loud belch. "Benefactor Chen, that is not quite right. A tranquil heart naturally brings coolness."

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

At that, Bujie hugged the wine gourd to his chest as though it were a treasure and repeatedly shook his head. "That will not do, that will not do. This is an item for this humble monk's cultivation. If mortals drink it, their lifespan will be shortened."

"I'll fuck your—"

"Say another word, and all of you can walk."

The cool voice was not loud, yet it fell over them like a basin of ice water dumped over their heads.

The moment those words were spoken, Chen Tong and Bujie instantly shut their mouths. Even the other men who had been chatting in low voices immediately fell silent as cicadas in winter.

Jiang Yuechu rubbed her throbbing temples.

These subordinates of hers, all from the martial world, had not stopped talking since they left Liangzhou Prefecture.

Even with her temperament, she was now seized by the urge to beat every last one of these noisy bastards black and blue.

The group continued onward in silence.

After traveling for roughly another half hour, an outline finally began to emerge at the end of the official road ahead.

"Whoa—"

Jiang Yuechu pulled the reins, and her Crimson-Eyed Stallion reared up before stopping outside Hechuan County's gates.

Everyone dismounted, led their horses, and entered the city.

The instant the townsfolk saw their black garments embroidered with crimson patterns, they froze for a moment. Then the crowd seemed to explode into a boiling cauldron, and people began whispering among themselves.

"They're from the Demon Suppression Bureau!"

"Officials from the Demon Suppression Bureau have arrived!"

"Look, they're heading toward the county yamen! They must be here because of that bear demon!"

Before they could even reach the county yamen, a group of people rushed out from the street ahead and blocked their path without a word.

The leader was a man in his forties, dressed in a short jacket stained with grease. Tears and snot covered his face as he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Honored officials! Please, save my wife!"

Behind him followed more than a dozen equally ragged townsfolk—men and women, young and old—who all knelt across the ground as their cries rose into a single clamor.

"Honored officials, my son went up the mountain too! He hasn't come home for three days!"

What sort of existence was the Demon Suppression Bureau to ordinary people?

Most commoners would flee at the very sight of them.

Yet even so, these people had dared to step forward and block the road.

It was clear they had truly reached the end of the road.

A trace of pity flashed across Liu Ke's face as he looked at the scene before him.

He came from a distinguished family and had been taught from childhood to uphold justice and defend the weak. Now, seeing the people suffer, the chivalrous spirit within him surged forth at once.

"Good people, you—"

He was just about to offer some words of comfort, perhaps make them some promise.

"Shut up."

A cold voice cut him off.

Jiang Yuechu merely looked indifferently at the crowd of kneeling townsfolk.

Liu Ke froze and looked at her in disbelief.

Chen Tong, Bujie, and the others also showed strange expressions, each feeling a measure of displeasure.

Though they were unruly, they still considered themselves heroes of the martial world. When common people were in trouble, how could they simply stand aside with folded arms?

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

The dissatisfaction in their hearts was instantly extinguished by a chill, and they all lowered their heads, not daring to speak again.

Ignoring everyone else, Jiang Yuechu led her horse straight past the stunned townsfolk.

Liu Ke lowered his head, his expression hidden from view. Only the veins standing out on the hand gripping his reins revealed his state of mind.

Damn it!

Was this Jiang woman truly made of iron and stone?!

The people were kneeling before her, weeping and begging for help, yet she had not even asked a single question before walking right past them?

How was that any different from those demonic fiends who regarded human lives as grass?

A sense of powerlessness mixed with humiliation welled up within him.

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

Liu Ke was startled. When he turned, he saw that it was Bujie.

The fat monk had lost his usual playful grin. He merely shook his head and let out a sigh.

Outside the county yamen, two stone lions had been eroded by wind and sand until their features were blurred beyond recognition.

The yamen runner saw their black clothes and Crimson-Eyed Stallions, and his legs went weak. He scrambled and crawled into the inner hall.

Not long afterward, a slightly plump middle-aged man wearing a black gauze official's hat hurried out in a cold sweat, surrounded by a group of constables.

"This lowly official is Qian Youwei, magistrate of Hechuan County. I did not know several honored officials were arriving and failed to welcome you from afar. Forgive me, forgive me!"

Jiang Yuechu ignored his pleasantries and walked straight inside.

Qian Youwei led the way ahead, bowing and scraping. The group passed through the front hall and arrived at the reception hall in the rear compound.

Tea was quickly served.

Magistrate Qian wiped the sweat from his brow. "You honored officials have traveled through wind and dust. Thank you for the effort. May I ask what brings you to this tiny Hechuan County?"

The moment he said that, everyone was taken aback.

What did this magistrate mean?

Jiang Yuechu frowned and coolly spoke two words. "The demon."

"Oh, oh, you mean that matter... As for that bear demon causing trouble, it is a long story..."

"Then make a long story short."

Magistrate Qian's eyes darted about. After hemming and hawing for a long while, he finally forced out a dry laugh. "Honored official, that black bear... for some reason, it came down from the mountain by itself a few days ago and disappeared without a trace. The people are now safe and sound, and no demon has caused trouble since. This lowly official was just preparing another document to report to the Regional Command!"

"Fuck!"

Chen Tong was the first unable to hold back. He slapped the table and shot to his feet. "You're fucking talking shit! We came all this way, and there are still people kneeling at the city gate crying themselves hoarse! And you're telling me everything is fine?"

Bujie also set down his teacup and recited a Buddhist invocation. "Amitabha. Lord Qian, monks do not speak falsehoods. How is it that you, an official, are full of nonsense as well?"

Startled by the two of them, Magistrate Qian shuddered and nearly slid out of his chair.

"Enough!"

Liu Ke abruptly rose to his feet and barked out a cold shout.

He had already been unhappy with Jiang Yuechu for ignoring the townsfolk. Now that he saw the magistrate spouting such nonsense, the fury in his heart could no longer be suppressed.

He strode up to Magistrate Qian, one hand resting on his sword hilt as he stared down at him with eyes full of contempt.

"You were the one who reported this to the Demon Suppression Bureau, and now you are the one claiming the demon has gone!"

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

"Speak! Are you colluding with that demon, deceiving those above and hiding the truth below while bringing disaster upon the people?!"

Colluding with demons?!

With that accusation dropped on his head, Magistrate Qian's face went white at once.

"No! Absolutely not! Even if this lowly official had the courage of heaven itself, I would never dare keep company with demons!"

He waved his hands frantically, his plump face pale as paper. "Honored official, please see clearly! This lowly official has been wronged!"

Jiang Yuechu narrowed her eyes, her tone even.

"Then tell the truth."

Knowing that if he did not give them a proper explanation today, the matter would be hard to settle, Magistrate Qian gritted his teeth and lowered his voice.

"It is... There truly was a demon at first... It is only..."

"Only what?"

"Only... do you honored officials know that there are three great sects in Longyou's martial world?"

Liu Ke frowned.

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

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

"Jeweled Temple, precisely!"

The magistrate hurriedly continued, "Just yesterday, monks from Jeweled Temple suddenly came to the yamen."

"They said... said that black bear demon had originally been a mountain-guarding spirit beast of their temple. For some reason, it slipped down the mountain, which was what caused all this trouble."

"Now... its rightful owners have come for it. They wish to bring it back to the temple and keep it under strict watch..."

As his words fell.

Chen Tong, who had been so hot-tempered moments earlier, silently sat back down, picked up his teacup, and blew across the tea without saying a word.

The expression on Bujie's face also became far more restrained. He merely rubbed his bald head and muttered something under his breath.

Liu Ke's expression was even uglier.

Not to mention a mere county magistrate—even the Demon Suppression Bureau did not wish to casually provoke the monks of Jeweled Temple.

Longyou was remote, and the Longyou Demon Suppression Bureau currently had no Commander overseeing it. If they encountered some minor sect, they could crush it with a single slap and no one would dare say a word.

But Treasure Monastery was a major Longyou sect. Its ranks were filled with experts, it had operated in Longyou for centuries, and its followers spread across every prefecture. Its disciples were entangled like roots and vines with officials of all stripes, wealthy gentry, and great clans, their relationships intricate and tangled.

Rather than calling it a martial sect, it would be more accurate to say that it was one of Longyou Circuit's regional overlords.

To become enemies with such a colossal force as Jeweled Temple, the Longyou Demon Suppression Bureau's current strength would likely not win them the slightest advantage.

Seeing their reactions, Magistrate Qian finally felt the stone hanging over his heart drop to the ground.

The terror faded from his face, and he hurriedly added, "Jeweled Temple is a sacred ground of Buddhism and possesses tremendous prestige throughout Longyou Circuit. It gives out porridge and grain year-round to aid disaster victims. Every eminent monk in that temple is compassionate at heart..."

Liu Ke snorted and cut him off. He merely turned his gaze toward Jiang Yuechu, who had not spoken from beginning to end.

Looking at that calm face, the nameless fire in his heart burned even hotter.

This Jiang woman had ignored the people's desperate pleas earlier.

Now that she had heard the name Jeweled Temple, she would probably retreat even more readily.

This matter would most likely end without result.

He was the young master of Falling Goose Villa. Though he was an illegitimate son who could not stand in the light, he had nevertheless received the upbringing of a renowned righteous sect since childhood.

The reason he had defied his family's opposition and resolutely joined the Demon Suppression Bureau was, first, to carve out a future for himself and show that father who looked down on him.

Second, it was because the Demon Suppression Bureau slew demons and devils and protected the people of a region—an act of true chivalry.

But now...

Was the Demon Suppression Bureau truly as upright and aboveboard as he had imagined?

First, it ignored the people. Now, it was about to yield to a powerful sect.

Then what was the point of this journey?

Just going through the motions?

Just as the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly stifling.

Jiang Yuechu set down her teacup.

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

"We are here."

The voice came from outside the doorway.

Two figures appeared at the entrance to the hall.

Both wore spotless white monk's robes, with handsome features and solemn, treasure-like visages.

Yet between their brows lingered an arrogance that could not be dispelled.

Seeing everyone look over, one of them smiled, pressed his palms together, and recited a Buddhist invocation.

"Amitabha."

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