Chen Chun stood frozen, as still as a wooden carving.
He suspected his eyes were playing tricks on him, but Qin An had truly unleashed the combat strength of Body Infusion Realm Perfection.
How much time had passed?
Less than a month had gone by since he met Qin An, yet Qin An had already reached a level he could not imagine.
Was this still the butcher he had met back then?
Chen Chun could hardly believe it, but he knew a chasm now lay between him and Qin An.
In the shadows, Tang Lingwei's eyes gleamed. Her gaze rested on Qin An with intense interest.
"He's only at the initial stage of Body Infusion, yet one slash nearly reached Body Infusion Realm Perfection. I want him."
The tall man heard her words, but the shock in his eyes did not fade.
People of the martial world had always racked their brains to enter the Evil Extermination Division. Never had someone like Tang Lingwei taken such an interest in a butcher.
She was a Bronze Captain.
Reaching that rank required more than strength. It required Merits.
And Merits meant the blood of other races.
The tall man could hardly imagine someone of her rank taking an interest in a young man.
Shrill cries rang out.
Seeing Qin An cut off Young Master Hou's head, the Monkey Demons trembled like sieves and turned to flee.
They dared not linger.
That man was too terrifying. They feared that a moment's delay would cost them their lives.
Chen Chun drew his blade, ready to pursue them.
But Qin An raised a hand to stop him.
Puzzled, Chen Chun asked, "Why aren't we chasing them?"
Qin An glanced calmly toward a certain spot. "Someone else will."
When Young Master Hou had absorbed the blood essence, Qin An had sensed Qi stirring.
It was a sign that someone was about to act.
Tang Lingwei raised an eyebrow. "Move. Kill them all."
At her command, dozens of Prefecture Clerks from the Evil Extermination Division struck in unison.
The fleeing Monkey Demons heard the rush of air. By the time they turned, long blades were already sweeping across their throats.
In an instant, Monkey Demon heads piled up like a mountain.
Qin An watched the people in black enter the fray, his expression calm.
Chen Chun shuddered. He leaned close to Qin An and whispered in a trembling voice, "Remember, don't reveal anything about the Cultivation Method."
That single sentence told Qin An why.
These people belonged to the Evil Extermination Division.
Only its members would make Chen Chun so wary that he warned Qin An not to reveal the Cultivation Method.
Footsteps approached.
Tang Lingwei strode up to Qin An, her eyes bright with a heroic spirit. "You're Qin An?"
Qin An nodded. "We've met."
A smile touched Tang Lingwei's lips. "Two taels of meat for one tael of silver. You're the only one who'd dare charge me that."
Qin An toyed with the Sharp Knife in his hand. "You got your money's worth."
Tang Lingwei looked at the corpses strewn across the ground. "I did. You took care of a major problem for us."
Chen Chun glanced from side to side, suddenly feeling that he, the Evil Extermination Division's Undercover Agent, was unnecessary.
But with a guilty conscience, he kept his head down and said nothing.
Tang Lingwei continued, "But you're in serious trouble."
She looked at Young Master Hou's corpse on the ground and went on.
"Liu Ruohu and the Monkey Demons both have backers in Ling Prefecture. The Monkey Demon in particular was the offspring of a powerful faction there, and it carried a Bloodline Memory."
"A Bloodline Memory lets its kin see who killed it before it dies."
"They won't let you go."
Qin An raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Tang Lingwei asked curiously, "Why aren't you saying anything?"
She thought she had made herself clear enough, yet Qin An remained perfectly composed.
His expression left her baffled.
Qin An said slowly, "You have a solution. Otherwise, you wouldn't have told me so much."
Tang Lingwei froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Her laughter went on for some time before gradually subsiding.
"You've learned an Evil Extermination Division Cultivation Method. That's trouble too."
Tang Lingwei raised a finger. "Join the Evil Extermination Division, and you'll be safe. They won't dare touch you openly."
She was about to explain the benefits of joining in detail.
But before she could, Qin An nodded without hesitation.
"All right."
Tang Lingwei's phoenix eyes widened. "You don't want to think it over?"
"I did," Qin An said. "I agree."
Tang Lingwei fell silent.
Qin An tucked the Sharp Knife into his belt. "What formalities are needed?"
He had indeed agreed decisively.
There were three reasons.
First, he had learned an Evil Extermination Division Cultivation Method, and they had seen through it. There was no explaining that away.
The Evil Extermination Division had its rules, and those rules would not be set aside.
Second, he had killed the Monkey Demon and Sect Leader Liu, offending powers in Ling Prefecture.
He was alone. If he wanted to live well, he needed a great tree to shelter him, and the Evil Extermination Division was big enough.
Third, and most importantly,
he needed Cultivation Methods and a large supply of Blood Crystals.
Blood Crystals came from Demons. Joining the Evil Extermination Division would give him an official way to obtain them.
As for Cultivation Methods, the division had plenty. He would have a better chance of acquiring them.
If he joined a sect, he would have to put in years of waiting, just as Chen Chun had said.
After seeing how dangerous things could be, Qin An had no time to wait.
In the Evil Extermination Division, he only had to risk his life. That would save him a great deal of time.
However he looked at it, this was good for Qin An.
Tang Lingwei came back to her senses. "No formalities are needed. A Bronze Captain can recommend one person a year, and I still have a spot this year. What are you doing?"
Qin An looked back while searching the corpses. "Looking for anything good."
The tall man was about to stop him, but Tang Lingwei cut him off.
Qin An was interesting. His strength was still modest, but his potential was promising.
Tang Lingwei was badly short of people. Taking Qin An in would suit her needs.
"Chen Chun."
Tang Lingwei turned to him.
Chen Chun held his breath and focused. "At your service!"
"You contributed this time too," Tang Lingwei said. "When we get back, I'll report it to my superiors. I expect you'll be able to join the Evil Extermination Division."
Wild joy lit Chen Chun's eyes.
He had spent all those years as an Undercover Agent for this moment.
By the time they finished speaking, Qin An had completed his search.
Apart from a little silver, he had found a Black Blade and three Blood Crystals.
The Black Blade had belonged to Sect Leader Liu. It was better than Qin An's Sharp Knife, and once he returned, he could modify it using his Blacksmith Profession.
The largest of the three Blood Crystals came from Young Master Hou. The other two came from slightly older Monkey Demons.
After absorbing all three and storing them within his body, Qin An said, "There's also the county magistrate."
Tang Lingwei shook her head. "We've caught him. We just need to take him back. Do you need to pack anything?"
She meant that if he did not, they could leave at once.
Qin An shook his head. "There's nothing to pack."
He owned almost nothing apart from his dilapidated house.
Tang Lingwei nodded and waved a hand. "We're heading back."
At her word, a Prefecture Clerk from the Evil Extermination Division led over a Swift Horse and handed her the reins.
Tang Lingwei mounted the Horse and headed toward Ling Prefecture.
The other Prefecture Clerks all went on foot.
They had come in secret, so naturally they had not all ridden Horses.
Even so, they moved quickly.
Qin An followed behind, his right hand resting on the hilt at his waist the entire time.
Footsteps sounded beside him.
Qin An turned and saw two men, one tall and one short, approaching.
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