Qing Prefecture Commander-in-Chief

Shen Yi walked slowly to the courtyard outside the Constabulary Office.

Butcher Zhang was squatting on the stone steps, yawning nonstop and looking utterly listless.

Seeing someone approach, he looked up and teased, "What took you so long? Don't tell me you deliberately waited until the last minute, hoping to amaze those Captains?"

At that, Shen Yi paused, slightly taken aback.

Seeing his expression, Butcher Zhang stood up casually and reassured him. "Hey, I had the same thought when I first joined the Vajra Sect. Unfortunately, these people from the Demon Suppression Division have traveled far and wide. What haven't they seen? They're hardly going to regard someone talented as a once-in-a-lifetime genius. There's nothing to be disappointed about."

If Shen Yi's talent had truly been extraordinary, they wouldn't have left him to come here alone.

"What are you talking about?" Shen Yi stopped walking.

"..." Butcher Zhang fell silent, then finally grew serious. "They sounded the watch just twice last night, and all the soldiers and constables were summoned to the west side of town. They've already finished selecting people and are giving them a lecture at the yamen now... Don't tell me they skipped you?"

"Those bastards are so damn blind! I was counting on going back to Qing Prefecture with you to visit an old flame!"

Butcher Zhang swore under his breath, grabbed Shen Yi by the arm, and dragged him toward the yamen.

The Demon Suppression Division was meticulous in its work. How could they easily overlook someone? They had probably done it on purpose.

With Shen Yi's martial prowess, he might not have been anything special if he'd grown up in Qing Prefecture, but in Baiyun County he was exceedingly rare and valuable. If he hadn't already joined the imperial ranks, any sect would have welcomed him with open arms. What gave them the right to treat him like this?

Shen Yi's expression stayed calm, though he was indeed somewhat puzzled.

He had considered all sorts of possibilities, but this was the one he'd least expected.

The yamen was deserted now, with only soldiers standing guard.

Butcher Zhang charged inside without a care. With his iron-trained body, how could a bunch of ordinary people possibly stop him?

They didn't stop until they reached the main hall.

Two young men in black robes and jade belts stood with their arms crossed. The fierce wolves embroidered in gold thread on their shoulders radiated a hint of menace. One said coldly, "Stop."

Butcher Zhang obediently halted and forced a smile. "Captain, sir, there's... there's one more person here."

No matter how fearsome the Demon Suppression Division was, they wouldn't attack him without reason.

Still, seeing those black uniforms made Butcher Zhang uneasy, even though he had a clean conscience.

Mustering his courage, he lightly bumped Shen Yi with his shoulder. "What are you standing around for? Let's go in first."

"Tsk. I don't know what's so interesting about listening to a lecture."

One of the Demon Suppression Captains looked away from Butcher Zhang. The coldness on his face gradually faded as he rolled his eyes at Shen Yi and said helplessly, "If you've got time, you should be catching up on sleep at home. Why come here and join the crowd? We're dead tired and still have to stand guard at the door. What a waste of time."

Old Liu wasn't carrying his candy figurine pole today, and he'd changed out of his old patched clothes.

He stepped aside to let them pass and muttered, "Fine, go watch. Just don't get too close."

The Captain's words left Butcher Zhang momentarily stunned.

He instinctively glanced to the side.

Shen Yi stood there looking just as obedient as he did, but there was nothing unusual in his eyes.

Did those two know each other?

Inside the main hall, Li Xinhan sat in the seat of honor, his eyes half-closed and his expression proud.

Six young men with fine physiques stood in a line, hands behind their backs and bodies tense. All wore the uniforms of the yamen's military constables.

The beggar had changed into a uniform too, and looked completely different from the day before. His features were unremarkable, but there was a spirited glint in his eyes.

Li Xinhan paced in front of them. His gaze fell on Chen Ji, whose mind had wandered, and he suddenly kicked him.

The reprimand had just reached his lips.

Then he looked up and saw the familiar figure outside the door. His mouth opened, but for some reason he lost the will to continue.

He said listlessly, "Stand properly. Stop daydreaming."

Seeing this, Old Liu could only smile helplessly.

The usual practice when selecting newcomers was to first establish the Demon Suppression Division's mysterious and imposing image in their minds, then knock down their arrogance.

But the beggar had taken a kick just yesterday. Now that he was facing the man himself, how could he muster any imposing air?

"Eight hundred soldiers and over a hundred constables, and in the end they pick only six. I reckon half of them will get sent back."

Butcher Zhang sounded wistful.

It might seem like less than a thousand people, but the fact that they drew a salary from the imperial court meant they'd already been screened once. At the very least, they were all in decent physical shape.

It was like picking six people out of all Baiyun County.

And even after joining the Demon Suppression Division, they could only serve as enforcers, toughened up by medicinal baths. Few ever rose above that.

Those people standing before them, with cloud patterns on their cuffs, were different. They'd been selected as promising children and trained according to their individual strengths. At the same cultivation level, they were far stronger than ordinary martial artists.

Other martial sects didn't have anything close to that kind of foundation.

Li Xinhan finally opened his eyes. Without a trace of emotion, he said, "Go back and pack your belongings. We leave for Qing Prefecture tomorrow. You may bring no more than one family member or attendant. Submit their names, and someone will make arrangements. Your belongings must not exceed eighty jin."

Only then did the six young men relax a little.

Two of them were familiar faces.

Niu Da secretly scratched at his thigh, looking conflicted. "I can only bring one person. Should I take my brother to see the world... or my wife? My mother doesn't have anyone to look after her either."

Chen Ji had trained hard for three years, and today he'd finally made his mark. His saber and fist techniques had both reached a minor level of mastery, and he'd cultivated the Spirit Snake Eight Steps to great mastery. The Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll also seemed on the verge of breaking through its first stage.

Even a few Demon Suppression Captains had taken a second look at him.

Unlike Niu Da, Chen Ji didn't have that kind of dilemma. He had no family besides his younger sister.

But Chen Ji still furrowed his brow tightly.

From the moment the soldiers had called him out of his home until now, he hadn't seen Lord Shen. Surely he hadn't slept in again, like he usually did?

Just then, Li Xinhan slowly rose to his feet.

He strode toward the door.

His every movement radiated a deep, powerful aura.

Butcher Zhang unconsciously took half a step back. The false smile he'd given Old Liu now seemed a little more genuine.

Those with three cloud patterns on their cuffs were almost all experts of the Jade Liquid Realm.

Each cloud pattern represented countless demon corpses.

And Li Xinhan was so young. Given time, he was sure to become a Vice General guarding a region.

Just a sweep of Li Xinhan's gaze was enough to bring sweat to Butcher Zhang's back.

Li Xinhan reached for his waist.

He stared at Shen Yi in front of him. His impassive expression gradually grew twisted, a mix of frustration and envy, with a trace of confusion mixed into the envy.

It was hard to imagine that a single person's face could reveal so many emotions at once.

After a moment, Li Xinhan looked away and slapped a banknote and a stamped letter into Shen Yi's hand. "With this seal, you can withdraw silver at any major bank in Qing Prefecture."

Leaving those words behind, he walked out without looking back.

The people from Baiyun County and Butcher Zhang were left standing there, dumbfounded.

It was suspiciously close to a death wish for the yamen to send silver to the Demon Suppression Division, but it was still just about understandable.

The Demon Suppression Division giving silver to a yamen constable was something they'd never heard of.

Only the few Captains who knew what was going on came over with grins, seeming to enjoy seeing Li Xinhan get the short end of the stick.

Old Liu patted Shen Yi on the shoulder. "Don't mind him. That's just his rotten temper. He means no harm. Go pack your things. We'll escort you back to Qing Prefecture."

"Escort me?" Shen Yi stared at the banknote, worth exactly one thousand taels, and felt something was a little off.

The beggar clicked his tongue but didn't mention the beating he'd taken yesterday.

He only said, with a trace of dejection, "Someone about to enter the Commander-in-Chief's service can't very well be expected to walk all the way back by himself."