Captain Jiang

Chapter 50: Captain Jiang

The torrential rain through the night finally ceased.

The next day, light flooded the sky.

Liangzhou City, washed clean by the rain, felt as if even the air had freshened.

Yet inside the Demon Suppression Bureau's headquarters, the atmosphere was as oppressive as yesterday's overcast drizzle.

Gathered in small clusters, Demon Suppression Guards spoke in hushed voices, buzzing with discussion.

"The Heaven Battalion's people are back. The matter at Yumen Pass... it's true."

"Damn, it really is a Core-Formation great demon?!"

"Absolutely certain! I heard the Heaven Battalion lost two brothers just to barely scout the creature's background. It came from the demon nation beyond the pass, with noble blood—nothing like these mountain wildlings from Longyou."

A young man who had just joined the Bureau turned pale, unable to hold back his question: "Core-Formation... how strong is the Core-Formation realm, really?"

Beside him, an old soldier with a missing arm, wiping his waist blade with his remaining hand, let out a cold laugh.

"How strong?"

He lifted his head, murky eyes fixed on the horizon. "Let's put it this way: a Bone-Resonating demon, at most, claims a mountain as its lair and plagues a single county. But once it reaches Core-Formation, that's a whole different world."

"Summoning wind and rain, moving mountains and draining seas—that might be an exaggeration, but it's no lie that with a wave of its hand, it could wipe out a small city without an expert guarding it."

At these words, sharp intakes of breath rippled through the crowd.

The young man's legs went weak with fear. "Then... then this time, aren't we..."

"Scared of what?!" The old soldier sheathed his blade and spat. "The Demon Suppression Bureau lives on this bowl of beheading rice! General Wei is leading the charge himself. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. What's it to you, trembling here?"

"..."

Compared to the shock and worry brought by the Core-Formation great demon, another piece of news struck like a boulder crashing into the stagnant pond of the headquarters, stirring up towering waves.

"Have you heard? Our Mysterious Battalion just promoted a new Captain."

"Captain? Who? Which Team Leader earned a great merit and got promoted?"

"A newcomer."

"A newcomer?!"

"The one who just joined the Bureau a few days ago—named... Jiang Yuechu."

"Jiang Yuechu? Never heard of him."

The man beside him quickly grabbed his arm, lowering his voice, his face twisted with oddity.

"You don't know? That girl!"

"Oh! I remember now! The one who pinned Old Zhao under Liu Chen's command against a pillar and beat him up?"

"That's not all!"

Another person leaned in, speaking mysteriously. "I heard that this one went on a mission to Hechuan County a few days ago. Not only did she kill a half-step Bone-Resonating demon, but she also chopped down two monks from the Jeweled Temple!"

At this, another wave of sharp breaths swept through the crowd.

"She killed monks from the Jeweled Temple?! Is she insane?!"

"Insane or not, I don't know. What I do know is that she's not only fine, but she got promoted! A seventh-rank Captain! Directly commanding the Vanguard Battalion!"

"What?!"

An experienced old Team Leader's eyes bulged, his face full of disbelief. "Are you kidding me! I've sold my life to the Demon Suppression Bureau for ten years, scars piled on scars, and I'm still only eighth-rank! That yellow-haired girl—what gives her the right?!"

"Exactly! Merits? She's got none! Seniority? She hasn't even collected her first month's pay yet, has she?"

"A woman, becoming a Captain? And of the Vanguard Battalion? What were the higher-ups thinking?!"

"Shh... keep it down, you want to die?!"

Just then, a young Captain with an effeminate face, hearing the chatter around him, curled his lips into a mocking smirk.

"What gives her the right? Maybe... that face of hers."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for those nearby to hear.

Everyone turned, their gazes landing squarely on the effeminate man.

"It's Song Ren, Captain Song!"

Song Ren was a veteran Captain, having served in the Demon Suppression Bureau for nearly a decade, his cultivation already at the Bone-Resonating realm.

More importantly, he hailed from the prominent Song Clan of Longyou, with deep roots and wide connections in Liangzhou Prefecture.

"Captain Song, what do you mean by that?"

Song Ren seemed to relish being the center of attention. Pinching his fingers like an orchid, he lightly flicked his sleeve and cast a sidelong glance at the crowd.

"A wet-behind-the-ears yellow-haired girl kills a few insignificant demons and leaps straight to the rank of Captain, commanding the Vanguard Battalion? Don't any of you have thoughts on that?"

"..."

Thoughts? Of course I have them!

But who dares to say them out loud?

Song Ren dares, because he has the capital to back it up.

What do we, rootless bottom-feeders of the Demon Suppression Guard, have to say anything with?

Seeing the crowd silent, Song Ren continued on his own, "I heard that during yesterday's heavy rain, Lord Xu personally went to that little courtyard in her Demon-Pacifying Ward and stayed a full half-hour before coming out."

The implication in his words was unmistakable.

The crowd's expressions varied—some suddenly understood, some sneered, others refused to believe it.

"Impossible! Lord Xu isn't that kind of person!"

"Is she, or isn't she? Who really knows? After all, even heroes have a weakness for beautiful women."

"A girl who just showed up out of nowhere, and in a flash she's a Seventh-Rank Captain. We fight tooth and nail, every time risking our necks on the line—and in the end, we're worse off than a girl working hard in bed."

"Keep your voice down! You can't just say things like that!"

"What's there to fear? Captain Song already said it—how could it be false?"

Listening to the hushed murmurs of agreement around him, the mockery on Song Ren's face grew even thicker.

"This Demon Suppression Bureau of ours, I reckon it's only a matter of time before..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

"What the hell kind of shit are you spewing from your mouth?!"

A thunderous roar, like a bolt from the blue, exploded across the courtyard!

The clamor of discussion died instantly.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden outburst of rage.

Who was Song Ren?

A veteran Captain of the Bone Resonance Realm, backed by the Longyou Song Clan.

In Liangzhou Prefecture, aside from the big shots, who would dare speak to him like that?

The crowd turned to look.

At the entrance of the courtyard, several figures had appeared without anyone noticing.

Leading them was a burly man with a face full of rough flesh. Behind him stood a young man in brocade robes, his expression as cold as water, his hand already resting on his sword hilt.

There was also a fat, tall monk clutching a gourd of wine, a grin plastered on his face, but his narrowed eyes held not a trace of mirth.

"Who are these people?"

"I know... they're Jiang Yuechu's squad!"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

Only then did everyone realize, staring at the men reeking of Sha Qi, instinctively stepping back.

Song Ren's face darkened instantly.

He narrowed his eyes at the furious Chen Tong and let out a mocking, singsong laugh.

"And who do we have here? If it isn't Captain Jiang's dogs."

"What's this? The master hasn't even shown up yet, and you mangy curs are already out here barking?"

Chen Tong couldn't stomach such words. With a roar and a clang, he drew his waist knife halfway from its sheath.

"I'll fuck your mother, you piece of shit!"