Letting You Cultivate Life Skills, You Leveled Up to Divine Positions

Nie Hu had a sense of distance about him, always keeping a gap between himself and Qin An.

Only Ma Rou, with her nimble grace, spoke with Qin An about the situation in Fox Mountain.

"Fox Mountain is also a demonic creature stronghold, and quite a significant one at that. However, they only roam within the mountains."

"Only those who enter the mountains suffer the fate of having their vital yang drained."

"But for some reason, a Fox Woman has emerged today. I surmise the Fox Mother of Fox Mountain has poor control over her subordinates."

"If that's the case, the Evil Extermination Division will manage her affairs for her, by sending her a few Fox Woman corpses."

As Ma Rou explained, Qin An gained a good understanding of the situation.

At this moment, the outline of the village ahead became faintly visible.

Even though it was noon and the sun shone brightly, a faint, almost imperceptible mist, like a coiling snake, enveloped the village.

Nie Hu reined in his horse and stopped, turning to a Prefecture Clerk. "Go in and scout it out."

The Prefecture Clerk seemed skilled in stealth. After a slight tremor of his body, he minimized his presence and quietly approached the village ahead.

After half an incense stick's worth of time, the Prefecture Clerk emerged with a grim expression, cupping his hands towards Nie Hu.

"Sir, the village... the situation is very strange."

Nie Hu frowned. "Strange how?"

The Prefecture Clerk looked up. "The people in the village are not dead. They... are immersed in pleasure and seem displeased by our arrival."

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

The Evil Extermination Division had come to quell the anomaly; merely guarding the village from the outside was not a solution.

Everyone drew their weapons, ready to enter the village.

Just then, the snake-like mist surged, and a figure slowly materialized.

The figure gradually became clearer.

An old man, leaning on a cane, stood at the entrance of the village, followed by dozens of villagers.

"Esteemed sirs, you've come. May I ask what brings you here?"

He got straight to the point.

Qin An narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.

Hostility.

The gazes of the surrounding villagers were filled with animosity, as if they intensely disliked their arrival.

Nie Hu waved his hand. "Demonic creatures are causing trouble. I, an official, have come with my men to quell the chaos. Who are you?"

The old man clasped his hands in a salute. "I am the village chief of Kaoshan Village. My surname is Yang."

"There are no demonic creatures in the village, only the elderly and the young. I implore you, sirs, to show mercy."

Nie Hu's eyes turned cold. "Enter the village."

He said no more.

Having served as Bronze Captain for many years, he was experienced. A single glance was enough to tell him that the situation was abnormal.

Fox Women were adept at bewitching. These villagers had likely already intertwined with the Fox Women and fallen under their spell.

The Evil Extermination Division always handled cases swiftly.

If they weren't allowed in, then these people would be apprehended first.

Once the Fox Women were dealt with, this predicament would naturally be resolved.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Village Chief Yang's eyes. He stepped back shakily.

The villagers behind him stood firm, fists clenched, glaring at the members of the Evil Extermination Division.

"Make way!"

Village Chief Yang stomped his cane forcefully.

The villagers gritted their teeth and glared, but they parted to create a path.

Nie Hu waved his hand grandly and, leading the Prefecture Clerks of the Evil Extermination Division, walked into the village.

Qin An turned to Ma Rou. "Didn't you say the village was massacred? If we walk in so boldly and the Fox Women escape, won't it all be for naught?"

Ma Rou explained, "No intelligence is foolproof. It's normal for there to be discrepancies."

"The Fox Women won't escape. This village has already had some of its vital yang absorbed. Would they easily abandon such a carefully laid trap?"

"If we truly let them go, we'd have to return and report. This mission requires a sufficient number of personnel, and with more people, our movements cannot be concealed."

"There is no perfect solution in this world."

Qin An understood.

Nie Hu's actions were indeed not problematic.

If the Fox Women escaped, they would simply return and report.

If the Fox Woman was unwilling to part with this vital essence, she would undoubtedly make a move.

Nie Hu overheard their hushed conversation and said coldly, "You still have much to learn. It's best you spend more time in the Confidential Archives after we return. Otherwise, you might lose your life one day without even knowing why."

He disliked Qin An, thinking that if Qin An hadn't piqued Cheng Sufeng's interest, he wouldn't even have qualified to be with him.

He even vaguely suspected that Qin An had deliberately approached Cheng Sufeng after learning of his identity.

The Evil Extermination Division was, in a way, part of the officialdom. People had done such things before, but they were all dead.

Only by possessing immense strength could one live for a long time.

The ways of officialdom were useful in the Evil Extermination Division, but not very.

Qin An raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Since joining the Evil Extermination Division, he had noticed that these people often possessed a natural sense of indifference.

They even seemed to carry a sense of superiority.

Perhaps it was due to their frequent brushes with life and death, or perhaps it stemmed from their high positions.

None of that mattered; he was only after Cultivation Methods and Blood Crystals.

Upon entering the village, Qin An caught a faint, pleasant aroma.

The villagers stood before their houses, all looking at them with cold, resistant eyes.

"Search," Nie Hu commanded.

The Evil Extermination Division's Prefecture Clerks dispersed, beginning to search the houses.

Only Qin An, Nie Hu, and Ma Rou, the three Bronze Captains, remained in place.

Ma Rou felt the villagers' gazes and extended her fair palm, touching her forehead.

"I'm afraid I'll have to write quite a report when we get back."

The Evil Extermination Division didn't fear slaying demons and exterminating evil, but they dreaded these common folk.

In scenes like this, they even had to document how each civilian died.

This was a requirement from above; slaying demons and exterminating evil could not be done without regard for the populace.

After a short while, the Prefecture Clerks gradually gathered, all cupping their fists.

"No leads so far."

Nie Hu frowned and was about to speak.

Just then, a boy of thirteen or fourteen threw a rotten vegetable leaf, which landed at Nie Hu's feet.

Nie Hu turned and saw a middle-aged woman shielding the boy behind her.

The boy's eyes held disgust, as if he were looking at a dog covered in mud.

"We're staying here," Nie Hu ordered. "In a few days, whatever was left inside them will dissipate on its own. If the Fox Woman's efforts are thwarted, then so be it."

Village Chief Yang stepped forward. "Sir, there aren't many houses in the village, I'm afraid..."

Nie Hu sneered, "Stay here. Didn't you understand?"

Village Chief Yang trembled under Nie Hu's gaze. He called over two villagers to arrange accommodations for the Evil Extermination Division's Prefecture Clerks.

The numerous Prefecture Clerks seemed accustomed to this, and they followed the villagers to their lodgings.

Qin An lightly brushed his Black Blade.

The Evil Extermination Division had experienced such scenes many times, and they would know what to do next.

Since Nie Hu wasn't saying anything, he wouldn't ask.