Chief Clerk Han Tong; Lu Yuan Reports for Duty

After all, one year of lifespan could be exchanged for 100 experience points.

But using such precious lifespan to exchange for experience points was far too wasteful.

It was simply a blood-soaked loss.

The kind where he lost everything he had invested.

Unless it was a critical moment, spending lifespan was nothing but waste.

"This damned system is fucking black-hearted..."

Lu Yuan cursed inwardly.

"Forget it. I'll give up on the idea of spending lifespan for now. Better to honestly kill demons and save up experience."

He put away the panel.

Lu Yuan quickened his pace.

For the coming days, he decided to remain in Withered Wood Fist Hall and train in seclusion.

He had provoked far too many forces lately: the Five Great Demon Families, the mastermind behind Chen Kuang, and now the Profound Wind Gang and Mountain-Calming Martial Hall.

Some matters could not be avoided simply by keeping one's head down.

In the eyes of these forces, which were even more vicious than demons devouring people,

yielding would only invite ever-worsening oppression and bring even greater calamity upon his family.

Only by using slaughter to stop slaughter, by beating them until they hurt with absolute strength, could he win true peace.

"Once Master returns, I'll apply to join the Demon-Slaying Team."

Lu Yuan muttered.

The Demon-Slaying Team had a high mortality rate, but to him, it was the best place to grind monsters and level up.

Kill more demons, accumulate more experience. As long as he became strong enough, the Profound Wind Gang and the Five Great Demon Families would be nothing more than dead souls beneath his blade.

After Lu Yuan settled into Withered Wood Fist Hall, the first thing he did was bring his younger brother, Lu An, over.

Chen Wang had previously said that if he had younger siblings at home, he could send them to the fist hall.

Although Chen Wang had said that because he thought Lu Yuan lacked talent and did not want to waste his tuition,

Lu Yuan had now not only entered the ranks, but his Grinding Force had reached the second level. Master Chen could not truly expel him from the fist hall.

While Lu Yuan trained in peace at the fist hall, all the miscellaneous affairs at the yamen were handed over to Bao Tianbao and Bao Dibao.

Those two lads were now utterly devoted to Lu Yuan.

Every other day, they would come running to the fist hall to report the situation.

"Brother Lu, the Chief Clerk has spoken. He'll probably summon you to report for duty within the next couple of days."

"Also, Master Jia Hui from the Garrison Office has reported the deaths of Jia Ke and the others. Between the lines, he's been hinting that this has something to do with you and wants the yamen to investigate you."

Bao Tianbao spoke.

"Got it. Keep looking into things. Tell me immediately if anything comes up."

Lu Yuan was tempering his qi and blood.

Upon hearing Bao Tianbao's words, he nodded.

Without solid evidence, even if he was Master Jia from the Garrison Office,

he could talk until the sky broke, yet he still could not do anything to me.

Lu Yuan was not afraid. As for reporting for duty, he had already prepared a response.

Three days later, Lu Yuan received an official summons ordering him to report for duty at the county yamen.

"I've never even met a high-ranking official before!"

Lu Yuan arrived at a side hall of the county yamen and muttered to himself.

The person he was to meet today was Han Tong, the county yamen's Chief Clerk.

He then pushed open the door.

Sandalwood incense curled through the side hall of the county yamen.

Several yamen runners stood along either side.

Han Tong sat in the seat of honor. He was around forty, with a lean, refined face and three strands of long beard groomed to perfection.

He wore a faded ninth-rank magpie-patterned official robe.

He carried himself with immense authority.

Though he was only ninth-rank, within Pingyang County's official hierarchy, he ranked below only the seventh-rank County Magistrate and the eighth-rank County Assistant Magistrate. He was a true big shot.

Yet when Han Tong spoke, his voice was gentle and mellow. "Lu Yuan, correct? You've handled the recent escort and demon-slaying assignments well. You've worked hard."

"Greetings, Chief Clerk."

Lu Yuan bowed.

Then, neither servile nor overbearing, he briefly reported everything that had happened during this period, including the killing of the Gray-Skinned Rat Demon and the Yellow Weasel demon, as well as the escort mission.

Han Tong flipped through the handover documents and demon-slaying records in his hand, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

The documents matched, leaving nothing to criticize. But for a lowly yamen runner to have killed so many demons was simply unbelievable.

"Lord Han, this subordinate has doubts."

At that moment, Jia Hui, the commander of the Garrison Office seated below, could not help but speak.

"Jia Ke and the others died miserably outside the village the very day after they clashed with Lu Yuan."

"The timing is far too coincidental. This subordinate believes that Lu Yuan absolutely cannot be cleared of involvement."

Jia Hui was fat and bloated, yet a vicious glint shone in his eyes.

Chen Kuang, seated nearby, also chimed in. "Chief Clerk, Lu Yuan has slain so many demons in such a short time. Is it truly because of his formidable strength, or has he secretly colluded with demons? There is simply no way to tell."

"If he really has a problem and the Demon Suppression Office uncovers it later, our entire county yamen will bear enormous joint responsibility!"

Lu Yuan's recent string of demon-slaying deeds

had caused even those behind Chen Kuang to grow dissatisfied with him.

How could Chen Kuang possibly let Lu Yuan off?

Hearing this, Han Tong frowned slightly and fixed his deep gaze on Lu Yuan.

"Chief Clerk, please judge fairly. This subordinate is a disciple of Master Chen Wang of Withered Wood Fist Hall. The martial path is one of steady accumulation before sudden release."

"Furthermore, I will soon apply to join Withered Wood Fist Hall's Demon-Slaying Team and fight demons to the death."

"If I truly had dealings with demons, why would I voluntarily go hunt and kill them?"

As he spoke, Lu Yuan took out Withered Wood Fist Hall's token from his robes and presented it with both hands.

Han Tong accepted the token and examined it, then nodded slightly. "Oh! So you are a disciple of Withered Wood Fist Hall. No wonder you possess such skill. Good. I think highly of you. Work hard in the Demon-Slaying Team from now on, and serve the court well."

With the Chief Clerk having spoken, Jia Hui's face turned livid, but he could not flare up again.

Still, his household servants had died. He had marked down this debt and would never let the matter rest.

After Lu Yuan and Jia Hui left the side hall, Chen Kuang remained behind.

"Chief Clerk, Lu Yuan is growing too quickly. Which side he stands on is still unknown."

"He may become a great threat in the future!"

Chen Kuang gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Han Tong's gaze instantly turned sharp. "Chen Kuang, restrain yourself. Someone may be backing you, but Lu Yuan is also a registered yamen runner."

"He has committed no wrongdoing. If you dare abuse public authority to kill him, then when he fights back desperately and draws the Demon Suppression Office here, I will make you carry this black pot."

Chen Kuang's heart jolted. It seemed the Chief Clerk was not taking his side this time.

He immediately dared not say another word.

He then left.

It seemed he could only find a chance to deal with Lu Yuan in private.

After Chen Kuang took his leave,

the side hall returned to silence.

However, at that moment, from the shadows in the corner,

a voice rang out. "Have you found out who is behind Chen Kuang?"

"We investigated. It seems to be someone from the capital."

"Even people from the capital have extended their tentacles into a small place like Pingyang County. It seems the rumors are true. The place where demons dance in wild disorder and rare treasures emerge may truly lie somewhere around Pingyang County."

Han Tong hesitated for a moment before asking, "Since they are people from the capital, they may be connected to those princes. Should we play deaf and mute, crack jokes and muddle through, and let them do as they please?"

"We cannot hide from this."

"If the person behind Chen Kuang truly causes some outrageous trouble in Pingyang County, we must intervene."

"Besides, the people from the Demon Suppression Office will not allow them to run wild and do whatever they please."

The shadow paused, then added meaningfully, "As for that Lu Yuan, he may prove useful when the time comes."