All Trouble-makers?!

"What happened to the people in the squad under my command...?"

Jiang Yuechu was somewhat curious.

At her words, the strange look on Liu Chen's face grew even heavier. He glanced around, and only after confirming there was no one nearby did he lower his voice.

"They're not exactly trouble, but... they're hard to manage."

"You know that the Demon Suppression Office is short on manpower these days. To replenish our ranks, the Office has loosened its recruitment standards these past few years. So long as someone has some skill, whether they're hardened soldiers discharged from the military or jianghu folk with nowhere else to turn, people from all walks of life may join the Demon Suppression Office."

Jiang Yuechu nodded. She did know that much.

After all, she herself was the best example.

"The brothers who left the military, or those from other backgrounds, are easier enough to deal with. Give them food, and they'll risk their lives and follow the rules."

Liu Chen sighed. "But those who've spent their lives roaming the jianghu... they're difficult."

"Every last one of them is wild and unruly, thinks highly of himself, and has his head full of those so-called jianghu rules and settling grudges with swift vengeance. They don't see themselves as servants of the court at all."

"Oh?"

Jiang Yuechu's interest was piqued.

"There are three you need to watch out for."

As they walked, Liu Chen said, "The first is named Liu Ke. He's the illegitimate son of Liu Boren, the master of Falling Goose Manor."

"Falling Goose Manor?"

"Yes. Here in Longyou Circuit, it counts as a prominent sect in its own right."

Liu Chen explained, "Liu Ke showed outstanding talent from childhood. Just past twenty, he had already entered String-Hearing, and among Longyou's younger generation, he had gained some renown. But he is, after all, illegitimate, so he was ostracized everywhere within the manor..."

"He came to the Demon Suppression Office partly out of spite, and partly because he wanted to make a name for himself and show his father what he could do."

"Although the Demon Suppression Office need not bow to those jianghu sects, Falling Goose Manor has deep roots in Longyou, and Liu Boren has ties with quite a few officials in the various prefectures. If anything happens to Liu Ke under your command, I'm afraid it could bring some unnecessary trouble."

Jiang Yuechu nodded, understanding now.

A proud, high-minded castoff of a powerful family with no small amount of backing.

"What about the other two?"

"The second is named Chen Tong. He's an old hand in the jianghu, making his living by taking people's money and dispelling their disasters. Later, he offended someone he should not have offended and was hunted down by enemies. With nowhere else to go, he came to the Demon Suppression Office."

Liu Chen's tone grew several degrees graver. "Men like that have violent tempers. They only recognize fists, not official rank."

Jiang Yuechu stroked her chin.

This one would be easy.

If he refused to submit, she would beat him until he cried for his mother.

"And the third?"

"The third..."

Liu Chen's expression turned stranger than ever before. "I heard he came from Vajra Temple... His dharma name is Bujie."

"A monk?"

Jiang Yuechu froze. "A monk joined the Demon Suppression Office too?"

Liu Chen gave a bitter smile. "Vajra Temple is a major Buddhist sect. But this Monk Bujie drinks wine, eats meat, fights, and visits brothels. Aside from refraining from killing, he has broken every precept there is. In the end, his master kicked him out of the mountain gate with one foot."

"After coming down the mountain, no one knows why he joined our Demon Suppression Office. He said that... he wished to cultivate amid the mortal world, slay demons and eliminate monsters, and prove his own Way of the Vajra's Wrathful Gaze."

Jiang Yuechu's eyelids twitched as she listened.

Good heavens.

What a celestial lineup.

"Lord Xu likely sent you to lead this squad because he wanted you to go and steady the place."

Liu Chen looked at her with a trace of sympathy in his eyes. "In any case, be careful in all things."

Jiang Yuechu tugged at the corner of her mouth.

Careful?

Right now, she only wanted to meet these three great talents as soon as possible, then have a cordial discussion with them about their ideals in life.

As they spoke, they arrived at the storeroom.

It was still that one-eyed old man, dozing in his chair. Hearing them approach, he opened his eyes irritably.

Jiang Yuechu handed over the document.

The old man took it, his gaze lingering on the young woman. He recognized her.

After all, there were only a few girls in the entire Longyou Circuit Demon Suppression Office.

And one as pretty as this was even rarer.

He lazily skimmed the document, assuming she had come to collect medicine for wounds or something of the sort again.

But when his eyes landed on the rank and name written on it, his hand abruptly stopped, and his one eye suddenly widened.

"Eighth-Rank Squad Commander... Jiang Yuechu?"

He raised his head, his wrinkled face full of disbelief.

"It's only... only been a few days?"

A bitter smile appeared on Liu Chen's face.

It was not merely this old clerk. Anyone who heard of it found it unbelievable.

The old man stared at Jiang Yuechu for quite a while, as though trying to make a flower bloom from her face. At last, he clicked his tongue in amazement, shook his head, and muttered, "The young are to be feared," before slowly getting to his feet.

From a locked wooden chest behind him, he took out a heavy cloth bag and tossed it onto the table.

"Promotion money. Ten taels. Count it."

Jiang Yuechu took the cloth bag. It weighed heavily in her hand. Opening it for a glance, she found ten brand-new official-minted silver ingots inside.

She silently tucked the money pouch into her clothes and cupped her fist toward the old man.

"Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for? It's the Office's rule."

The old man waved his hand, lay back down in his chair, and closed his eyes again. Yet his mouth continued muttering, "Damn it, I've worked in the Demon Suppression Office my whole life, and I've never seen someone get promoted this fast..."

After collecting the money, the two left the treasury.

"Your squad is in the barracks ahead."

Liu Chen pointed toward a row of somewhat shabby-looking houses in the distance. "I won't see you over."

Jiang Yuechu nodded.

Liu Chen looked at her and opened his mouth, as if he wanted to offer a few more words of warning. In the end, though, it only became a sigh.

"Take... extra care of yourself."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Brother Liu."

The young woman's cool voice suddenly came from behind him.

Liu Chen paused and turned around, looking at her in puzzlement.

Jiang Yuechu solemnly cupped her fist toward him and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for today."

She raised her head, her gaze earnest.

"..."

Liu Chen was stunned.

He had not expected her to offer such a formal gesture.

Ever since the battle at Black River, he had known that the gap between himself and the young woman before him would only grow wider and wider.

What he had done today was partly out of camaraderie between colleagues, but had he not also harbored a few thoughts of forging a good connection in advance?

Yet she seemed to have taken his tiny, insignificant intention as genuine friendship.

"This... this is nothing!"

Liu Chen's old face reddened as he hurriedly waved his hands. "You and I are both brothers of the Office. Doesn't saying such things make us strangers?"

Jiang Yuechu said nothing, merely looking at him in silence.

No matter what motives he had, he had been willing to lay bare every key point for her so wholeheartedly. Jiang Yuechu would remember this kindness.

"Come, come, come! Bet big or small! No changes once bets are placed!"

"I'm betting big!"

"Fuck! Small again! Bujie, you bald donkey, did you cheat?"

"Amitabha. This humble monk has left the secular world. At the gambling table, it all depends upon the Buddha's blessing. Benefactor, having lost your money, do not slander this humble monk's innocence."

Before Jiang Yuechu even drew close, a burst of raucous noise carried over.