Ancient Moon Village

After a brief night's rest.

Shen Changqing woke before dawn.

His year at the Demon Suppression Bureau had already ingrained in him the habit of sleeping late and rising early.

Especially since cultivating the Pure Yang Art required absorbing the first wisp of Purple Qi between heaven and earth. That made sleeping in impossible.

After his usual cultivation.

Feeling the Pure Yang Art grow a little stronger, a faint smile appeared on Shen Changqing's face.

Though there was still quite a gap before he could break through to the ninth level, he had improved nonetheless.

All of a sudden.

His ear twitched.

Then he rose and opened the door.

As the door opened.

He saw Zhang Long, his hand raised as though about to knock.

"Lord Shen, you're up rather early!" The sudden opening of the door startled Zhang Long for a moment, but his expression quickly returned to normal.

"Constable Zhang is up early as well."

Shen Changqing smiled.

As he spoke, he had already walked over and sat down at the table in the room.

"Constable Zhang, please have a seat as well."

"Thank you, Lord Shen."

Zhang Long placed what he was carrying in his other hand onto the table, then sat opposite Shen Changqing.

"Lord Shen probably hasn't eaten yet. These are some local specialties from Lin'an City. Since Lord Shen lives far away in the capital, you may not have had the chance to taste them."

As he spoke.

Zhang Long unfolded the oil-paper wrapping. Inside were several exquisitely made pastries, their delicate fragrance wafting out and putting one unconsciously at ease.

"Constable Zhang, you are very thoughtful."

Shen Changqing's smile grew more pronounced, and Zhang Long smiled faintly as well.

He casually picked up a pastry and took a light bite.

"Speaking of which, does Constable Zhang have any other thoughts regarding the demon that has been causing trouble this time?"

"I don't know much about demons. After all, I'm merely a minor constable, without the qualifications to come into contact with too many matters like this."

Zhang Long shook his head. Yet when demons were mentioned, his expression did not change much.

After that.

Shen Changqing asked about a few other matters, and Zhang Long was able to answer nearly all of them fluently.

For a time.

The two conversed for quite a while.

Setting down the pastry in his hand, Shen Changqing stood.

"In that case, Constable Zhang, take me there to have a look."

"Lord Shen, you're not eating anymore?"

"No. Eating too much early in the morning is bad for digestion. We can talk after the matter has been dealt with."

"Uh—"

Zhang Long could not help but stare. Digestion? What an unfamiliar term.

But he did not think too much about it.

Since Shen Changqing wanted to take a look, he naturally ought to accompany him.

Once the demon was dealt with, they could finally sleep in peace.

Walking along the street.

As Shen Changqing watched the crowds flowing back and forth, he could not help but smile. "Though Lin'an City is not as prosperous as the capital, it has a charm all its own. Being able to stay here for a long time would surely be a fine thing."

"If Lord Shen likes it, you can visit Lin'an City often in the future."

Zhang Long followed at his side, smiling in agreement.

With Zhang Long leading the way, Shen Changqing followed him out of the city.

Ten li beyond the city.

It was not particularly far.

But once they left the city, the bustling air vanished, replaced by a desolation so empty it seemed devoid of human traces.

"Constable Zhang, where have the villagers transferred out of the village been settled now?"

As Shen Changqing spoke, he turned his head to glance at Zhang Long.

At that.

Zhang Long answered without hesitation, "Most of the villagers have been settled in nearby villages. Some have relatives in the city and have taken up residence there. For now, though, our main objective is to seal off the village where the demon appeared.

"As for the rest, there are not many other requirements."

"Lord Zhao truly cares for the people."

"Lord Zhao has served as Lin'an City's county magistrate for twenty years. He is indeed a good official. Over the years, whenever demons brought disaster to various places, county magistrates came and went batch after batch. Only Lord Zhao has remained steadfast in his duties, unafraid of the calamities wrought by demons."

When Zhao Fang was mentioned, an admiring look appeared on Zhang Long's face.

Shen Changqing nodded.

What the other man said did make sense.

Demons.

It was another term for demons, monsters, and strange creatures. Since strange creatures were also called evil spirits, they came to be known collectively as demons.

Before long.

The two arrived before a stretch of rice paddies. The crops in those fields were still lush and thriving, yet somehow they seemed to lack a trace of vitality.

"Lord Shen, Ancient Moon Village is up ahead."

Zhang Long pointed toward the village before them and spoke in a grave voice.

Ancient Moon Village was the village where the demon had previously run amok.

Following the direction of Zhang Long's finger, Shen Changqing could see houses in the distance, clustered together in an unbroken stretch.

Soon.

The two crossed the rice paddies and arrived at the entrance to the village. There stood a stone stele bearing the words Ancient Moon Village.

Besides that.

Six yamen runners in uniform guarded the village entrance. Every one of them looked extremely tense, glancing into the village from time to time as if a demon might burst out at any moment.

Even with the blazing sun directly overhead, it offered little comfort.

"Constable Zhang!"

"Constable Zhang is here!"

Seeing Zhang Long arrive with Shen Changqing, the few yamen runners immediately relaxed considerably.

Zhang Long's expression turned stern as he introduced the person beside him to the runners. "This is Lord Shen Changqing of the Demon Suppression Bureau. He has come specifically to eliminate the demon."

The Demon Suppression Bureau!

Sure enough.

Upon hearing the name of the Demon Suppression Bureau, the expressions of those yamen runners instantly turned reverent. They cupped their hands toward Shen Changqing in greeting. "Greetings, Lord Shen!"

Although Shen Changqing looked quite young.

None of them dared show the slightest disrespect.

The three words Demon Suppression Bureau.

Were a walking signboard throughout Great Qin.

No one who came out of the Demon Suppression Bureau could possibly be ordinary.

"Mm. Up to now, has anyone entered or left the village?" Shen Changqing looked at the desolate scene inside the village, then turned to one of the yamen runners.

At those words.

The runner felt an inexplicably immense pressure settle upon him.

"Reporting to Lord Shen, ever since the demon began wreaking havoc, not a single person has entered or left the village!"

"Enough. Lord Shen and I are aware of this. Return and report back. Leave the remaining matters to Lord Shen and me." Zhang Long waved a hand, impatience showing on his face.

"We take our leave!"

The few yamen runners did not dare say anything further and could only bow as they withdrew.

At the spot.

Only Shen Changqing and Zhang Long remained.

"Lord Shen, shall we enter the village now, or wait until later?"

"Since we're already here, let's go in and take a look."

One of Shen Changqing's hands hung at his side while the other rested on his sword hilt. He had already stepped toward Ancient Moon Village.

Seeing this.

Zhang Long immediately followed behind him into the village.

The instant they stepped into Ancient Moon Village's boundaries, a faintly chilly cold surged in from all directions.

As that chill swept over them.

The Pure Yang True Qi immediately stirred to protect his body.