A New Assignment

Qin An pushed open the door, his expression unchanged. "Lead the way."

The question of where he would be assigned had dragged on for more than ten days. At last, he had an answer.

He lacked cultivation methods. Once his assignment was settled, he would find a way to obtain more Blood Crystals and cultivation methods, then refine his own method to a higher level.

Having his assignment settled today suited him perfectly.

The Prefecture Clerk from the Internal Affairs Division lowered his head, avoiding Qin An's gaze, and led him toward a courtyard.

The Courtyard where the Silver Prefecture Captain lived was much larger than those of the Bronze Prefecture Captains.

Not a speck of dust marked the Courtyard. An Old Tree covered in spring buds stood in one corner.

A stone table and four stone stools stood in the courtyard.

"I'll take my leave."

The Internal Affairs Division clerk spoke softly, then left on his own.

Qin An rested a hand on the Black Blade and strode into the courtyard, surveying his surroundings.

Footsteps sounded in front of the house.

Cheng Sufeng, dressed in black with a Silver Token at his waist, walked to the stone table and sat down. He poured a pot of clear tea.

"Sit."

Qin An approached, calm as still water. "Greetings, Lord Cheng."

Cheng Sufeng pushed a cup of tea toward him. "Surprised?"

Qin An's face remained blank. "Surprised."

Cheng Sufeng shook his head. "That was perfunctory. Never mind. There are important matters I need to discuss with you today."

He had long since grown used to Qin An's temperament. More than anything else, this new subordinate stirred his curiosity.

Qin An took a sip of tea and waited for him to continue.

Cheng Sufeng spoke slowly. "You've made many enemies. Azure Cloud Valley, Tree Lord, and a Sect Faction in Ling Prefecture."

"That sect fears the Evil Extermination Division, but it still bears a grudge. I'm afraid it might make trouble for you."

"Yesterday, I settled the matter with that sect for you. But the Demons are another matter—a sword hanging over your head. No one can help you with that."

Qin An nodded. "I was prepared for that when I joined the Evil Extermination Division."

"Good."

Cheng Sufeng took a sip of tea. "Once you join the Evil Extermination Division, you have to risk your life hunting Demons and carrying out Demon-slaying and Demon-exorcising. Doing that earns you even more enemies among Demons and False Gods, so you have to fight all the harder."

"The Evil Extermination Division offers rewards generous enough to make that desperate gamble worth every risk."

"You have no subordinates yet, but I have a mission at hand. You can go with the other Bronze Prefecture Captains."

Bronze Prefecture Captains selected Prefecture Clerks as subordinates each year, but Qin An had risen too quickly. There were no new recruits for him to choose from yet.

Whenever a mission came down from above, a Silver Prefecture Captain would weigh what it required.

If it called for the Silver Prefecture Captain's presence, he would take Bronze Prefecture Captains and a group of Prefecture Clerks with him.

If not, he would send the Bronze Prefecture Captains under his command to carry it out without him.

The Silver Prefecture Captain would receive a share of the Merits earned from the mission.

It was not much, but each Silver Prefecture Captain commanded hundreds of Bronze Prefecture Captains. Added together, those shares became an enormous sum.

The benefits came with drawbacks.

If a mission failed with serious consequences, the Silver Prefecture Captain would also bear responsibility.

Qin An narrowed his eyes. "What mission?"

He needed Blood Crystals and cultivation methods. A mission had come at just the right time.

Cheng Sufeng said slowly, "North of Ling Prefecture lies a Demon faction called Fox Mountain."

"A pack of Fox Demonesses suck men's Yang Energy. They lure men into the mountain for their filthy work and drain them into dried corpses."

"Several villages have already fallen victim. Go investigate. If any Fox Women have left Fox Mountain, kill them on sight."

As he finished speaking, footsteps sounded outside the gate.

A middle-aged man entered the Courtyard, followed by a woman.

Beyond them, a hundred Prefecture Clerks from the External Affairs Division stood outside the Courtyard. It was an imposing sight.

Cheng Sufeng pointed to the middle-aged man. "This is Nie Hu. He's mastered a Body-Tempering Method and has a body as tough as a mountain."

Then Cheng Sufeng pointed to the woman.

"This is Ma Rou. She's skilled with her Life-Taking Rope. Taking a head is as easy for her as reaching into a bag."

Qin An studied the two of them.

Killing Intent coiled around the middle-aged man like a dragon. His muscles rose like hills, and his strength had reached Body Infusion Realm Perfection.

The woman was beautiful, her supple, full figure flowing like silk. Yet a yellow rope hung at her waist.

Both had reached Body Infusion Realm Perfection, but their auras were several times stronger than Tang Lingwei's. They were clearly experts who had spent years at that level.

While Qin An observed them, Nie Hu and Ma Rou studied him in turn.

Nie Hu in particular had a trace of resentment in his eyes.

He had followed Cheng Sufeng for a long time, yet he had never seen Cheng Sufeng pay so much attention to a Bronze Prefecture Captain.

Qin An had merely killed two enemies at Body Infusion Realm Perfection, and one of them had only been a False God with a semblance of that strength.

Nie Hu could have killed them in moments himself.

Now Qin An was being sent on a mission with them. Nie Hu knew Cheng Sufeng was helping Qin An advance.

If Qin An made a name for himself, recruiting Prefecture Clerks next time would be much easier.

Ma Rou, on the other hand, seemed unbothered. Her alluring gaze roamed over Qin An, and she could not help licking her rosy lips.

Cheng Sufeng waved a hand. "Set out at once."

The Evil Extermination Division always valued efficiency, especially when it came to Demon-slaying and Demon-exorcising.

Qin An, Nie Hu, and the others took swift horses and headed for the gate with hundreds of Prefecture Clerks.

Just then, a woman brushed past Qin An. Her eyes settled on the Bronze Token at his waist, and she pressed her rosy lips together.

Bitterness rose in Tang Lingwei's heart. He's grown stronger again. He seems highly valued, too. Perhaps I shouldn't have overlooked him that day.

Seeing this, Gao Quan comforted her. "Ma'am, we couldn't have kept someone as talented as Qin An anyway."

The two sighed and led a dozen or so Prefecture Clerks into the Courtyard.

After leaving the Evil Extermination Division, they spurred their horses onto the Imperial Road.

The weather was fine, the red sun high overhead.

Nie Hu remained aloof, keeping his distance from Qin An throughout the ride.

Only Ma Rou, adept at conversation, spoke with Qin An in detail about Fox Mountain.

"Fox Mountain is a Demon faction, and not a small one, but they usually stay within the mountain."

"Only people who enter the mountain suffer the misery of having their Primordial Yang drained dry."

"But for some reason, Fox Women have come out today. It seems Fox Mother hasn't kept a tight enough rein on them."

"In that case, the Evil Extermination Division will do it for her—and send her a few Fox Women's corpses."

Ma Rou's explanation gave Qin An a clear grasp of the situation.

By then, the outline of the village ahead had come into view.

Though it was noon and sunlight flooded the land, a faint mist hung over the village, coiling around it like a snake.

Nie Hu reined in his horse and turned to a Prefecture Clerk. "Go in and scout."

The clerk seemed skilled in concealment. His body rippled, his presence faded to almost nothing, and he quietly approached the village.

Half an incense stick later, the clerk emerged looking grim. He cupped his hands to Nie Hu.

"Sir, something is strange in the village."

Nie Hu frowned. "What's strange about it?"

The clerk looked up. "The villagers aren't dead. They're... lost in pleasure. They don't seem to welcome our arrival."

Nie Hu's frown deepened. He waved a hand. "Enter the village."

The Evil Extermination Division had come to put an end to the strange events. Standing outside the village would solve nothing.

Everyone drew their weapons and prepared to enter.

Just then, the serpent-like mist churned, and a figure slowly emerged.