Beast Cult Stronghold

Head Constable Xie stood in the middle of the courtyard, a long saber in hand.

Once all the constables had gathered, he counted their numbers.

After confirming that no one was missing, Head Constable Xie took a map from his robe.

"You, find me a table."

He casually called over one of the constables.

The constable knew how to read the situation and quickly ran into a room, carrying out a table and setting it on the ground.

Head Constable Xie spread the map across the table, pointed at a spot on it, and said, "This is Cloud Mountain. A small temple on the mountain is the Beast Cult's stronghold."

"Recently, the Demon Suppression Division joined forces with the Blood Shadow Gate. Using a treasure the Blood Shadow Gate lost, they found the Beast Cult's stronghold. Now is the time for the final assault."

After saying that, Head Constable Xie drew a circle around the small temple.

"The Beast Cult members will be dealt with by the Demon Suppression Division. We only need to cooperate by surrounding the area. If any small fry slips through the net, eliminate them. Understood?"

The general situation had been explained clearly.

The constables exchanged glances and all said they understood.

It had been explained plainly enough for them to understand.

In short, the Demon Suppression Division was the main force, while they were only responsible for keeping watch around the perimeter.

If anyone slipped through, they would stop them or kill them outright.

One of the sharper constables waggled his brows and said, "Boss, do we have to take this seriously?"

Normally, this constable was the sort to cut corners and butter people up.

Whenever he could slack off, he would.

Now, he tried to be clever again, hoping to lighten the mood.

But after he said it, Head Constable Xie's tone turned stern.

"If you still want to keep that head on your shoulders, get to work seriously. This is no small matter."

Head Constable Xie shouted, "Execute first and report afterward, by imperial authorization! Anyone who obstructs the Demon Suppression Division's investigation or refuses to cooperate with them—do you still want to keep your head?"

A chilling aura flowed around Head Constable Xie.

The constable who had tried to be clever shuddered.

Only then did he remember that this ordinary-looking constable captain had once fought water bandits aboard a great ship in his younger days—and emerged unscathed.

"I won't do it again, I won't! I'll definitely complete the mission!" The constable hurriedly lowered his head and apologized.

Head Constable Xie snorted coldly and turned his gaze to the others. "Does anyone else have any objections? Speak now."

With things put that bluntly, no one had any objections.

Zhou An considered Head Constable Xie's words. He really did have to go this time.

For one thing, everyone else was acting. He could not be the only one staying behind.

Besides, this involved the Beast Cult.

Seeing it for himself would put his mind at ease.

If the Demon Suppression Division wiped out the Beast Cult, it would remove a major threat from his mind. Then he could grind proficiency with even greater peace of mind.

Seeing that no one replied, Head Constable Xie waved his hand. "Change clothes. Head out separately, then gather at the foot of Cloud Mountain!"

This operation needed to remain secret.

They all had to change into ordinary clothes, leave separately, and gather at the foot of Cloud Mountain in the end.

That would make them less conspicuous and prevent the Beast Cult from discovering them.

Zhou An and Yu Hang changed into casual clothes.

They did not leave immediately. Only after everyone else had departed did the two of them stroll out the door.

As Head Constable Xie had instructed, they could not hurry. They had to act like ordinary folk traveling along the road, making it look convincing.

At their pace, the journey from An Ding County to Cloud Mountain would take a full two hours.

Fortunately, they had set out early. By the time they reached the foot of Cloud Mountain, the sun had not yet set.

Cloud Mountain was just like its name.

Though it was not tall, thick clouds and mist shrouded its summit.

It looked ethereal and immortal, like an immortal raising his middle finger.

That was Zhou An's impression, anyway.

He knew the comparison was strange, but it was rather fitting.

Yu Hang nudged Zhou An and said, "Old Zhou, doesn't it look like you when you wake up in the morning?"

Zhou An froze for a moment, then immediately got it.

He put on a regretful expression. "It does, but this mountain is too short, so it doesn't really look that much like it."

Yu Hang shot Zhou An a disdainful look, feeling that Zhou An had just bragged without even trying.

All the constables had arrived, though they stood apart in groups of two or three.

Head Constable Xie was among them as well.

Zhou An looked around but saw no sign of the Demon Suppression Division.

He guessed they had either arrived long ago or had already gone up the mountain.

Head Constable Xie only rested briefly before waving the constables onward up the mountain.

These days, aside from Scholars who liked composing poetry and matching couplets, no one had much interest in sightseeing.

Ordinary people struggled just to make a living. Even though Cloud Mountain's scenery was beautiful, few were willing to come.

The mountain path became extremely steep.

Fortunately, the constables all had some basic martial training. During this period, Head Constable Xie had also been teaching them martial arts every noon.

The climb posed no great difficulty.

On the way, Zhou An also noticed traces of people having passed through.

That further confirmed his guess. The Demon Suppression Division must have gone ahead long ago.

No one stopped to admire the so-called scenery as they made their way up the mountain.

When they reached the summit, the clouds and mist were incredibly thick, like a layer of white frost.

Visibility was poor, but they could vaguely make out the shadow of a building ahead.

Besides that, Zhou An saw Division Magistrate Zhang.

Just as he had expected, Division Magistrate Zhang and his men had already hidden themselves nearby in ambush.

Dozens of Demon Suppression Division members had concealed themselves.

Head Constable Xie said nothing and silently stood to one side.

Anyone who had risen to this position was no insignificant figure.

Back then, Head Constable Xie had fought his way out of the martial world. It was not merely because his martial skills were strong.

His mind was no weaker.

At a time like this, asking nothing was best.

They were only here to cooperate.

Asking too much could easily cause trouble, and the blame might end up being shifted onto them.

He only needed to do his duty.

Division Magistrate Zhang made a hand gesture. "When the time comes, we'll charge in and kill them directly. Head Constable Xie, make sure you hold the perimeter. Remember, do not let a single fish slip through the net."

Now that they knew the enemy's stronghold and had evidence, the Demon Suppression Division would not be so restrained.

Execute first and report afterward, by imperial authorization.

Those were not merely empty words. They represented the authority Great Chu had granted the Demon Suppression Division.

Head Constable Xie nodded and agreed, saying that he would do his utmost to stop anyone who tried to escape.

"Charge!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Division Magistrate Zhang waved his hand and shouted.

The next moment, every member of the Demon Suppression Division shot toward the small temple like arrows released from a bow.

It was Zhou An's first time seeing the Demon Suppression Division in action. Watching this, he could not help raising a brow.

Very soon, shouts of battle rang out from the small temple.

In the blink of an eye, the two sides had clashed.

In the mountain forest, the clouds and mist scattered, and birds took flight in alarm.