Martial Arts Arena.
All the disciples from both the Inner Courtyard and the Outer Courtyard had gathered on the training ground. Even the Inner Courtyard disciples who practiced Dark Force and usually stayed away were there.
Many faces were familiar, yet strange. Zhou Yun walked into the crowd and took his place among the Inner Courtyard disciples.
"Today, I've gathered every disciple of this martial hall for one reason."
Master Liang stood in the middle of the training ground, his expression grave. "I'm sure you've all noticed that, since last night, the government troops have increased their patrols in Black Stone County. They've also called on every martial hall to provide manpower and resources. Our Black Stone Martial Hall was among the first to be approached..."
"The reason is that the Snake-Person Race, which lives in the Black Profound Mountain Range, has been making major moves in our county lately."
Master Liang continued in a low voice, "Since ancient times, the Human Race and the Demon-Human Race have been as incompatible as fire and water. If we want to keep living in Black Stone County, we have no choice but to deal with the Snake-Person Race..."
His words stirred a wave of discussion among the martial hall disciples.
Most of them knew very little about the Snake-Person Race. In fact, the vast majority of Outer Courtyard disciples had come only to seek a chance to break through the Gate-Knocking stage and reach Bright Force. They had never expected to get involved in some calamity between the Human Race and the Demon-Humans.
"Of course, the government hasn't set its demands on our martial hall very high."
Master Liang continued, "Any of our disciples who take part in missions to exterminate Snake-People or patrol the area will be paid. For extermination missions, disciples who haven't broken through the Gate-Knocking stage will receive five hundred copper coins per mission, Bright Force masters will get one tael of silver, and the pay for Dark Force masters will be negotiated based on the mission's difficulty..."
"One tael of silver for each mission a Bright Force master takes on?"
Zhou Yun immediately perked up. And as a Dark Force master, he could ask for more depending on the mission's difficulty.
The poorer disciples were tempted too. After all, not everyone came from a prominent family or had landed a good post.
Aside from most of the Outer Courtyard disciples, quite a few Inner Courtyard disciples were interested as well.
"On top of that, once you've completed a certain number of missions against the Snake-Person Race, you can exchange your merit for treasures at the government office."
Master Liang went on, "That includes treasured armor, precious medicines, pills, and rare nourishing foods."
The news set the disciples from both courtyards abuzz.
They could even trade for resources at the government office. Some of those precious resources were hard to buy even if you had the money.
"Future missions will be posted on the Job Posting Board. You can take whichever ones suit you. I, Liang Wanshan, will also personally reward disciples who perform exceptionally well."
Master Liang addressed the crowd.
"There are really that many rewards? Something's off..."
Zhou Yun sensed something amiss.
If they were dealing with nothing more than a small group of Snake-People scouts, the government could send its own martial masters. That would save them a great deal of silver and provisions.
They would only make such a grand show of asking every martial hall for help if the situation had grown beyond the government's control.
Of course, Black Stone County might simply have hoarded too much of its tax money without recruiting enough martial masters...but that seemed highly unlikely.
"What, Junior Brother Zhou? Interested in helping hunt down the Snake-People?"
Chen Jingping said, "This is no small matter. If you're only patrolling within the city, the danger shouldn't be too great..."
"Don't worry, Senior Brother. I only intend to take on things within my abilities."
Zhou Yun answered. He certainly wasn't going out of the city to hunt Snake-People. Just yesterday, Bai Qingzhi had told him that their race numbered in the hundreds of thousands.
They couldn't migrate on a large scale in such a short time, and moving too many at once would inevitably reveal their whereabouts.
But sending a few thousand, or even ten thousand Snake-People, was still no problem.
If he happened to run into a hundred or more first-tier Snake-People with Bright Force, then no matter how many cards he had up his sleeve, he'd be no different from an ordinary martial master.
"Good. As long as you understand. The Chen Family's forces stationed in Black Stone County should have received the news too. I need to head back and check on things."
After leaving those words, Chen Jingping walked away from the Martial Arts Arena.
"This is no small matter. I need to make preparations early."
Zhou Yun made up his mind. After Master Liang finished explaining a few more details, he got up and returned to his residence.
The first thing he did when he got back was check on Bai Qingzhi.
The coarse hemp rope was tied exceptionally tight. Even with some of the Snake-Person Race's special traits, Bai Qingzhi couldn't escape.
The beautiful Snake-Person woman was lying on the ground. She seemed to have stopped resisting altogether and was instead...sleeping?
"Wake up. Wake up..."
Zhou Yun helplessly nudged Bai Qingzhi's arm. She suddenly jolted awake.
"What is it? What's going on?"
Bai Qingzhi opened her eyes groggily and twisted her head, looking this way and that.
When she realized she was still tied up, she immediately remembered what had happened recently.
Staring at Zhou Yun, she said each word carefully, "You're not going to tell me you've had a change of heart and are letting me go, are you?"
"No. I have a few questions for you."
Zhou Yun spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Questions? I'm not answering."
Bai Qingzhi lifted her chin slightly, displaying the pride of a Snake-Person Saintess.
If she hadn't been so hungry yesterday, she wouldn't have answered a single question from this Human martial master.
Now she was full. No matter how he tried to tempt her, she wouldn't say another word!
"You don't want any more beef?"
Zhou Yun asked tentatively.
"No!"
Bai Qingzhi refused without hesitation.
"Fine. Looks like I'll have to use some special methods."
Zhou Yun rubbed his chin. Given this Demon-Human woman's healing ability, ordinary punishments—which he had never learned anyway—would be useless. They might even interfere with the Blood Pact he planned to make with Bai Qingzhi.
So he could only bring out his family's secret technique...
"Torture? Bring it on!"
Bai Qingzhi gritted her teeth. The Snake-Person Race had an astonishing ability to heal.
As long as their injuries weren't fatal, even lost limbs could heal.
She had been badly injured when those Human martial masters first captured her, but by now, she had healed completely.
"Good. I hope you don't regret it..."
Zhou Yun gave a cold laugh and retrieved a feather duster from the corner of the room.
He thought the feather duster didn't have enough feathers, so he went to get two more, keeping one in reserve.
"Y-you, what are you going to do..."
Bai Qingzhi froze. Then she saw Zhou Yun slowly approaching.
Half an hour later.
"Are you going to talk?"
Zhou Yun held Bai Qingzhi's delicate bare foot as he continued to tickle it with a feather duster.
"I'll talk! Please, I'm begging you! I'll tell you!"
Bai Qingzhi could barely catch her breath. Tears had burst from her eyes and streaked down her cheeks.
She had endured all kinds of torture, but this was the first time she'd faced this particular punishment... She had even started crying.
The Snake-People almost never cried in their entire lives.
But today, Bai Qingzhi had broken that rule.
"Good. Tell me, what are the Snake-Person Race's weaknesses?"
Zhou Yun looked utterly serious, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
"Um...they're ticklish?"
Bai Qingzhi answered instinctively. When she saw Zhou Yun lift the feather duster again, she hurriedly changed her answer. "They hate the smell of realgar, and their seven-inch spot..."
Zhou Yun nodded, thoroughly satisfied as he committed all those weaknesses to memory.
Before you continue