The Demon Suppression Bureau's List

Mid-mountain villa, study.

Tang Jianxing, beside himself with rage, could not stand seeing the Demon Suppression Bureau people happy, and hurried back to the mid-mountain villa.

The moment he returned to his territory, he took out that counterfeit Lone Angler in the Cold River,

and viciously slammed it onto the rosewood table.

The scroll bounced up, knocking over a glass pen holder. Ink spilled out in a pool of black.

"Damn it, you dared to trick me!"

He gritted his teeth, his clenched knuckles turning white, his eyes bloodshot.

He had spent a fortune hiring people, only to end up with a fake.

Now, the curator at the hospital had not lost his treasured collection and could go on hoarding his famous paintings, while the Demon Suppression Bureau had killed the Gold Rat and reaped all the glory.

...And as for him—

He was a clown through and through!

Tang Jianxing trembled from rage and flipped over the rosewood table. The things on it crashed to the floor and shattered, immediately alarming the people outside.

"Young Master, what happened?"

The servant's voice came from beyond the door. He hesitantly knocked.

"Get lost!"

The spoiled young master roared at the door.

The servant slunk away awkwardly.

Tang Jianxing collapsed onto the sofa, yanked loose his tie, and unhappily poured himself drink after drink.

After he had drunk his fill, his face flushed red, and he could not help recalling that handsome face.

Thinking of that brat stepping over the corpses of his men and becoming tonight's greatest hero, Tang Jianxing suddenly hurled the bottle at the wall.

Intense jealousy surged within him, and a trace of killing intent burst from Tang Jianxing's eyes.

"Mei Ye, was it?"

"Not just anyone gets to steal the spotlight."

--

Amid a chorus of praise, Captain Jiang and Gao Feng were flushed like flowers.

Holding red wine in their hands, they felt for the first time that they truly were the guardians of this city.

Of course, none of it would have been possible without the young man who had discovered the Gold Rat in time. If not for him, the two of them might have had their pay docked for negligence.

"Old Jiang, I told you. The young man's temper might be a little big, but his abilities are simply second to none."

Gao Feng cheerfully clinked glasses with Captain Jiang.

"A hero truly rises in youth. As expected, anyone Lieutenant Wei values must have something exceptional about him," Captain Jiang said with a sigh, though his tone was complicated.

"At this rate," Gao Feng said, turning and narrowing his eyes at the young man standing cold-faced amid the crowd, drinking with a group of wealthy ladies, "perhaps he'll become the finest Demon-Suppressing Guard. Old Jiang, you've really found a treasure."

"I admit he's somewhat capable." Captain Jiang wiped the wine from his mouth and sighed. "But I don't really like that kid."

"Oh? Why?"

Gao Feng asked curiously. Wasn't having a genius like that a good thing?

Captain Jiang hesitated, but in the end, he poured out the words he had been holding inside.

"He's not one of us, the kind who studies seating arrangements and which way the fish head faces... That's fatal in politics."

"I was originally planning to wait. After all, watching blockheads like him hit a wall is a show I get to see every year. But..."

He paused, looking somewhat helpless.

"But that kid hasn't lost even once... All the grand speeches I had prepared went straight into the trash. It just makes me look like a clown."

"Old Jiang," Gao Feng said quietly, glancing around, "you actually wanted him to lose?"

"So what?"

Captain Jiang did not think there was anything wrong with that. The alcohol had gone to his head, opening the floodgates of his mouth, and he raised his voice. "I didn't bully him. I just wanted to teach him a lesson."

"But he earned merit for you." A flicker of excitement flashed through Gao Feng's eyes. Eavesdropping on someone's inner thoughts was a gossip-lover's delight.

He pulled Captain Jiang toward a secluded spot, secretly took out his phone to record, then coaxed him along.

"Old Jiang, people should be a little more tolerant."

"Tolerant my ass."

Captain Jiang sneered and spat on the ground.

"You think I'm the only one who dislikes that kid? He steals too much of the spotlight. Everyone in our squad hates him, isolates him."

A trace of contempt flashed across Captain Jiang's face. "He's only at the initial Qi Gathering stage, yet someone at that realm has somehow caused such a stir across the world... I don't want to mess with him, but what others think isn't something I have the authority to control."

Captain Jiang's tone was full of gloating.

He admitted that Mei Ye was a genius, and he was willing to praise Mei Ye in public.

But in private, he was faintly displeased with Mei Ye's way of doing things.

Everyone else obediently bowed and gave thanks, blending their light with the dust.

So why was it that when it came to you, you ignored everything and gave no thought to other people's feelings?

You snatched away every last spotlight,

and walked a road we wanted to take, but could not.

Captain Jiang had originally seen that Mei Ye was a genius with Lieutenant Wei backing him, so he had not dared do anything to him for real.

But every day, he watched that kid swagger about everywhere, full of the bearing of a chivalrous hero.

It had twisted Captain Jiang's face beyond recognition with jealousy.

Captain Jiang believed the other members of Squad Two felt the same way.

Things that were too beautiful, too clean, always drew the disgust and exclusion of others.

Not to mention that Mei Ye himself was a devastatingly handsome man.

"Is it really that serious, Captain Jiang? I think Mei Ye just isn't very good at handling people."

"That's precisely the point,"

Captain Jiang stressed. "You know the Demon Suppression Bureau's casualty rate is very high. Being able to retire peacefully is practically a blessing from heaven."

"And the only thing that can protect Demon Suppression Bureau agents is that thing!"

"The list?" Gao Feng raised a brow and named it. "But from what I can see, Mei Ye's chances are still pretty good."

"Why are you pretending to be confused?" Captain Jiang sneered. "That kid's bones are as hard as iron. Getting him to lower his head and beg someone? Maybe in his next life."

"Just watch. As long as that kid doesn't get onto that list, he'll remain nothing more than an ordinary man."