The New Commander Takes Office

It was late November.

Liangzhou was bitterly cold.

Winter always came earlier here than it did in Chang'an.

At the gates of the Demon Suppression Office.

Several Demon-Suppression Guards on duty stamped their feet now and then.

"Damn, it's cold."

One of the younger guards sniffed and breathed out a cloud of white mist.

"Come to think of it, this is strange. In past years, we'd have been run off our feet by now. But this year, months have gone by without even word of a decent Great Demon."

The older veteran beside him shot him a look. "And no Great Demons is a bad thing?"

"You've only been at this a few years, kid. You don't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth. In this line of work, we live with our heads tucked into our belts. If we get to take it easy, that's the ancestors looking after us."

The young guard chuckled.

"Boss, I just think it's strange."

"Once winter came in past years, those beasts in the mountains would run out of food and come burrowing into the crowds. Why have they all turned into turtles hiding in their shells this year?"

The veteran gave a derisive laugh. "That's what you don't understand."

"Beasts are afraid of dying too."

He glanced around to make sure no outsiders were near, then said in a low voice, "Our Langjiang Jiang went on a killing spree not long ago."

"First she killed the Heaven-Flattening True Lord outside Jade Gate Pass. Then she slew a Core Formation Flood Dragon alone at the Black River. I heard... she even killed a Core Formation tree demon. Her fearsome reputation has spread across Longyou."

"Those beasts might have no humanity, but they're well informed."

"They know someone they