Jiao Meiren's Absolute Crushing

"Beauty Jiao, what are you trying to do? Who eats a bellyful of meat first thing in the morning? Aren't you afraid it'll get too greasy?" Old Yang wore an honest, simple expression.

"That's true. Then bring me a plate of dumplings—venison and scallion filling."

The venison Jiao Yu spoke of was no ordinary deer meat, but meat from the Mifeng Deer Demon of White Lotus Mountain.

That thing was said to be an object of pure yang, an immense tonic for martial artists.

Of course, a single piece of Mifeng Deer Demon meat was worth an ordinary family's savings for an entire year.

"Big Sis Jiao, don't make things hard for me. Where would the kitchen get venison now?" Old Yang said with a bitter smile, waving his hand. "Next time—when you return in triumph—I'll let you eat dumplings until you're sick of them."

Without waiting for her reply, Old Yang ducked back into the kitchen.

The surrounding blade catchers could not help teasing Old Yang for so openly preparing special food for Beauty Jiao, asking whether he had ulterior motives.

Jiao Yu was not offended. She merely waved her hand, signaling Wei Xuanfeng and the other two to sit across from her.

"There's porridge and pickled vegetables. The kitchen has steamed buns."

"Thank you, Boss Jiao."

As Wei Xuanfeng and the other two ate, Jiao Yu questioned them about a few things.

Once she had confirmed that none of them had suffered qi deviation, she leaned back against her chair, setting off a surging swell.

"Not bad, not bad. In one night, all of you have cultivated inner force." Jiao Yu said reassuringly. "After leading new recruits for so many years, you three have the best aptitude!"

"Hehe, it's because you guided us so well, Boss," Fox Murong said with a smile.

Wei Xuanfeng shot her a look. You've already kissed all the ass. What am I supposed to flatter her with?

"A master can lead you to the door; cultivation depends on the individual." Jiao Yu waved her hand. "Of course, I can hardly be considered your master. With your aptitude, in a few years, you may even stand on equal footing with me."

"Boss for a day, Boss for life," Fox Murong immediately declared.

"You silver-tongued flatterer. Why don't you join the Southern Pacification Bureau?" Wen Shihan truly could not stand that fawning face of hers and could not help firing back.

"The Southern Pacification Bureau can only bully commoners. The moment they run into the Northern Pacification Bureau, they all turn into grandsons!"

As soon as Fox Murong said this, not only Jiao Yu, but even the surrounding blade catchers revealed looks of approval and pride.

The way they looked at her also gained a few traces of appreciation and indulgence.

I'm defeated...

Wei Xuanfeng was at a loss for words. When it came to flattery, even ten of him might not match one Fox Murong.

"Murong, we're all colleagues. Don't say things like that in the future." Jiao Yu forcibly suppressed the curl of her lips. "If those bast... those gossipmongers hear it, you'll have no end of trouble."

"Understood, Boss!" Fox Murong nodded obediently. Then she leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Boss, are there any people in our Northern Pacification Bureau that we absolutely can't offend...?"

"The brothers of our Northern Pacification Bureau are all straightforward people. As long as you aren't out on a mission, do as you please. Don't be afraid of offending anyone. If you really come into conflict with someone, just use my name." Jiao Yu said, "But aside from Boss Wu, there really is one person you'd best show some respect to."

"Who?"

"Old Yang from the kitchen. Offend him, and watch out for him spitting into your food. Hahaha."

Just as Jiao Yu said this, Old Yang came out of the kitchen to refill porridge for the other blade catchers.

Hearing that, his brows furrowed.

"Damn it, always dragging a man through the mud. Kid, don't be scared. This old man wouldn't do something that rotten."

As he spoke, he even patted Wei Xuanfeng on the shoulder.

Jiao Yu and the surrounding blade catchers chuckled at that, while Fox Murong seized the chance to flatter Old Yang a few times.

Only Wen Shihan ate honestly, treating every bite with earnest reverence.

Wei Xuanfeng drank his porridge while observing everyone around him.

This atmosphere was actually pretty nice.

He had thought that the atmosphere within the Demon Suppression Directorate would be like that of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, where everyone spoke cautiously, terrified of leaving others something to hold against them.

"Alright. Once you're done eating, come with me."

A short while later, Jiao Yu rose to her feet.

"Boss, what are we going to do? Collect protection money?" Fox Murong's eyes lit up!

It was obvious that she truly liked money.

"Murong, once you put on this uniform, if you don't gather wealth, wealth will naturally come to you!" Jiao Yu led them to a small training ground and pointed at a weapon rack nearby. "Now let me see whether your abilities are worthy of this uniform."

"Boss, what do you mean?" Wei Xuanfeng asked.

"Set your embroidered spring sabers aside. Go pick weapons that suit your hands, then attack me." With one hand, Jiao Yu made a grabbing motion. A wooden saber flew directly out from the weapon rack. Catching it, she casually spun it in a flourish. "If you can last the time it takes an incense stick to burn without falling, I'll give you a grand gift."

"Three against one is way too unfair!" Fox Murong immediately shouted. "Boss, you and I are a team. Let's have a fair duel to our hearts' content!"

"Little Murong, a martial artist shouldn't be so good at reading the situation!"

Jiao Yu narrowed her eyes, and her entire body lunged at Fox Murong like a mother leopard.

With a sweep of her jade hand, she delivered a plain, unadorned horizontal slash toward Fox Murong's neck.

"Fuck, Boss, I haven't even picked up a weapon yet!"

Fox Murong's face was filled with terror, but her footwork was anything but weak.

With a sidestep, she effortlessly dodged the slash.

"Oho, you've been hiding your skills!" Jiao Yu was slightly taken aback, then glanced at the two dark figures behind her from the corner of her eye. "Heh, you've got a bit of presence."

Before her words had even faded, she seized an opening in Fox Murong's defense and captured her with one hand.

With a slight exertion of force, she flung Fox Murong like a sandbag toward one of the dark figures behind her.

"Ah!!!"

"Get lost!"

That dark figure was naturally Wen Shihan. Her purpose in joining the Demon Suppression Directorate had been exceedingly simple.

To grow stronger.

Only by growing stronger could she survive in this world where the strong devoured the weak.

In order to live, she could resort to any means necessary.

That was precisely why she had used her body as payment, why she had approached Wei Xuanfeng.

She firmly believed that only sparring with the strong would allow her to grow stronger faster.

Now that an opportunity to spar with a strong opponent stood before her, she did not care in the slightest about any grand ceremony.

Wen Shihan narrowed her eyes. Faced with the incoming Fox Murong, she showed not the slightest sentiment for a colleague.

A single side kick sent her flying toward the weapon rack.

After dealing with Fox Murong, Wen Shihan moved a fraction slower than Wei Xuanfeng, her wooden saber slashing toward Jiao Yu's chest.

"Good!"

Jiao Yu was tall and powerfully built. When she roared, even the dust on the nearby eaves was shaken loose.

Facing Wei Xuanfeng's Grand Ancestor Saber Technique, she remained utterly composed.

With a shift of her feet, a pull and tug of her wooden saber threw Wei Xuanfeng off balance.

"Boss, you're about to get kicked in the face!"

As Jiao Yu's black boot drew ever closer, Wei Xuanfeng hurriedly raised his wooden saber to block.

Crack!

The wooden saber snapped, and Wei Xuanfeng followed Fox Murong in flying backward.

Fortunately, Jiao Yu showed mercy in the end. That kick only landed on his chest.

"You lecherous brat, if you've got no strength, stop staring at my ass!"

After tossing out that remark, Jiao Yu immediately flashed away.

The moment she moved, Wen Shihan's wooden saber followed like a maggot clinging to the bone.

"Not bad lightness skill!"

As Jiao Yu raised her saber to block, she counterattacked at astonishing speed.

Yet she had not expected Wen Shihan to evade every strike with One Reed Crossing River.

Of the three, only she had properly exchanged three rounds with Jiao Yu...

"Fucking hurts..." Wei Xuanfeng got to his feet just in time to see Fox Murong draw her wooden saber. Without a second thought, he snatched it away.

He had also realized that this sparring session would be immensely beneficial to him.

Because in that instant just now, the pressure Jiao Yu had brought him was even greater than that enormous Xuanlan Wolf Demon.

In order to enter the saber aura realm once more, he endured the searing pain and charged at Jiao Yu again.

Fox Murong:??

"Boss Jiao threw me, that ice block Wen Shihan kicked me, and now even you, you scumbag, stole my saber!" Fox Murong roared. "You really think I'm made of clay! Then let's fight!"

In a fit of rage, she grabbed a wooden saber and charged at Jiao Yu.

Three breaths later...

Fox Murong came flying back once more and sprawled on the ground. A black eye had appeared on her pretty little face, and blood trickled from her delicate nose.

"I'm not fighting anymore, I'm not fighting anymore..."