Female Constable Shen Ruyu

Back at the county yamen, Cui Lang was led by a yamen runner into the rear offices for the first time.

"Cui Lang greets all the honored officials." Cui Lang cupped his hands in salute while taking in everything before him.

County Magistrate Zhou Yafeng sat in the first seat on the left, with the other county officials seated alongside him. A man and a woman occupied the two seats of honor.

The man wore a small goatee, and his hat was set with white tridacna shell, giving him an exceptionally refined appearance.

The woman wore a fitted martial outfit with a saber hanging at her waist. Her lips were red, her teeth white, and heroic spirit pressed from her brows and eyes. She seemed to have quite a figure as well.

Zhou Yafeng introduced them with a chuckle. "Cui Lang, this is Assistant Prefect Lin Liben of the prefectural yamen, Lord Lin. This is Silver Badge Constable Shen Ruyu of the prefectural yamen, Lady Shen. Constable Shen's name resounds throughout Azure Cloud Prefecture. She has slain more than ten demons and monsters, earning the prefect's high regard."

Cui Lang was even more surprised. He knew that the customs of the dynasty were open and that women were permitted to hold office, but this was his first time seeing one. He had never expected Shen Ruyu to be a Silver Badge Constable.

Lin Liben sized Cui Lang up. "So this is Cui Lang, the man who assisted Constable Li in slaying six demons and monsters, and who had previously slain more than one alongside other constables? Cloud Mountain County truly is a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, to produce such a talent."

Cui Lang wore a modest expression. "I do not deserve such praise from Lord Lin. These were merely matters this subordinate ought to have done."

Lin Liben burst into laughter. "Among all of us here, aside from Constable Shen, none had earned such dazzling merit at your age."

"Since everyone is here, let us discuss official business."

"Yesterday, you reported Cloud Mountain County's situation. The prefect was furious, and he deeply regretted Constable Li's death."

"Demons and monsters infiltrated Cloud Mountain County and gathered there, yet you failed to discover them in time. Do you still have the common people in your hearts? Fortunately, Constable Li slew all the demons and monsters as well, protecting even more citizens. That may be counted as merit."

"Merit and fault cancel each other out. Cloud Mountain County will receive neither reward nor punishment. I hope that you will fulfill your duties diligently from now on and that no similar incident will occur again."

Standing off to one side, Cui Lang was greatly shocked by Lin Liben's words.

He had thought that since people from the prefectural yamen had come, they would at least investigate the matter carefully and ask him a few questions. Yet Lin Liben had simply declared the nature of the matter outright?

It sounded as though he had criticized the officials of Cloud Mountain County, but it was no more painful than an itch.

Either Lin Liben was a useless official occupying his position and drawing his salary, merely here to go through the motions—or he knew what was going on and was likewise colluding with the demons and monsters!

Cui Lang had thought that today they could lift the lid and root out every person colluding with demons and monsters. Now, it seemed there was little chance of that.

Lin Liben soon finished speaking and turned to Shen Ruyu. "Constable Shen, do you have anything else to say?"

Shen Ruyu's expression remained unchanged. "This visit to Cloud Mountain County is centered on Lord Lin. Lord Lin has handled the matter well."

"However, though the demons and monsters have been slain, by protocol I must still inspect them and enter the details into the records."

"Cui Lang, how about you accompany me?"

Zhou Yafeng immediately said, "Cui Lang, what are you standing there for? Take Lady Shen to the warehouse in the rear courtyard. The demon and monster corpses are all there."

"Lady Shen, please return early after you have finished. I have ordered a banquet prepared to welcome the two of you and wash away the dust of your journey."

Cui Lang led Shen Ruyu toward the warehouse in the rear courtyard.

It had not been obvious while she was seated, but Shen Ruyu was quite tall, with a pair of long, straight legs.

As they walked together, he noticed that every one of Shen Ruyu's strides seemed exactly the same length, as if measured with a ruler. At the same time, her left hand never left the saber's sheath, while her right rested where it could draw the blade at any moment.

Was Shen Ruyu wary of him?

When they reached the warehouse, a yamen runner opened the door and quickly retreated far away. Shen Ruyu stepped inside.

Using her saber to turn over several demon and monster corpses, Shen Ruyu suddenly asked, "Cui Lang, all the blood in these demon and monster corpses has drained away. Did you handle the scene?"

Cui Lang felt some admiration. Shen Ruyu had seen at a glance that all the demons' blood had vanished.

"Constable Shen, Magistrate Zheng arranged for the other brothers to handle the scene. This subordinate was exhausted at the time and returned directly to the city with Magistrate Zheng."

Shen Ruyu seemed to ask casually, "Of these six demons and monsters, how many did you kill?"

Cui Lang smiled awkwardly. "Lady Shen jests. This subordinate's strength is meager. How could I possibly kill demons and monsters? As for that dog demon, this subordinate only added the final strike. I can barely be said to have participated."

Shen Ruyu nodded slightly. "Cui Lang, why do you think these demons and monsters gathered together? Are there other demons and monsters still hiding in Cloud Mountain County?"

Cui Lang shook his head. "This subordinate does not know why the demons and monsters gathered together, nor does he know whether any others are hiding. If there are, this subordinate will certainly eradicate them all and protect the people of Cloud Mountain County."

He had not lied about wanting to eradicate every demon and monster.

Shen Ruyu sheathed her saber and stared into Cui Lang's eyes. "Cui Lang, there are only the two of us here. Is there anything you wish to tell me? Or any questions you have?"

She had always felt that something was wrong with this matter, but she had no evidence for now. Lin Liben had also set the tone, so she could not force an investigation.

If Cui Lang revealed something, she would have an excuse to intervene.

Cui Lang blinked. "Constable Shen, will the position of head constable in Cloud Mountain County be filled by someone sent from the prefectural yamen, or by someone recommended by Cloud Mountain County?"

A trace of disappointment flickered in Shen Ruyu's eyes. "If Cloud Mountain County has a suitable candidate, then naturally the recommendation of Cloud Mountain County's colleagues will be respected. Only if no one is suitable will the prefectural yamen send someone down."

"The head constable's position is important. It will never remain vacant for more than a month."

So Cui Lang was an officialdom climber too. He was worried that the head constable's position would fall into someone else's hands.

Seeing Cui Lang let out a breath of relief, Shen Ruyu found it even stranger. Did Cui Lang have the confidence to condense true essence within a month?

By all reason, Cui Lang's aptitude should have been ordinary. If his aptitude were excellent, he should already have reached the True Essence Condensation Realm. Could he have obtained some pill that could break through a realm?

Such pills were exceedingly precious. Could Cui Lang afford one?

Or had someone promised to give Cui Lang a pill?

Who?

"I've finished looking. Close the door." Shen Ruyu turned and walked outside.

Cui Lang followed her out and returned to the rear offices. He watched Shen Ruyu head to the banquet, then returned to the constables' quarters himself.

He could tell that Shen Ruyu had been testing him just now, but he did not dare gamble.

If Shen Ruyu was in league with Zheng Fengyun and the others, then if he had spoken of Zheng Fengyun's collusion with demons and monsters, he likely would not have left the county yamen alive today.

Even though he had perfected the second level of his body-tempering cultivation art and was no weaker than someone in the True Essence Condensation Realm, he was not confident he could escape after being besieged by so many people.

If Shen Ruyu was not in league with Zheng Fengyun and the others, Cui Lang still felt he could not say anything just now. Someone outside would surely have heard, and Shen Ruyu might very well have been besieged alongside him, the two of them dying together.

He did not want to gamble on this hand.

He had originally thought that once he brought in people from the prefectural yamen, everything could be brought to an end. Now it seemed the waters of Cloud Mountain County ran deeper than he had imagined.

Fortunately, he still had Plan B.