We Are Here

On the official road, dust billowed skyward.

Ten Scarlet-eyed Steeds plodded along at an unhurried pace, their riders wearing all manner of expressions.

"Damn it, this cursed weather is so hot even birds are about to roast!"

Chen Tong tugged open his collar, exposing a tuft of black chest hair as he complained with a face full of irritation.

"Amitabha."

Beside him, the monk Bujie took a huge swig of wine and let out a resounding belch. "Benefactor Chen, that is where you are mistaken. A tranquil heart naturally brings coolness."

Chen Tong spat viciously. "Bald donkey, is there any wine left in that gourd of yours? Give me a swig!"

At those words, Monk Bujie hugged the wine gourd to his chest like a treasure and shook his head repeatedly. "Cannot do, cannot do. This is an item for this humble monk's cultivation. If mortals drink it, their lifespan will be shortened."

"I'll fuck your—"

"If you dare say another word, all of you can walk."

The cool voice was not loud, yet it was like a basin of icy water poured straight over their heads.

At once, Chen Tong and Monk Bujie shut their mouths. Even the other men who had been quietly chatting immediately fell silent as cicadas in winter.

Jiang Yuechu rubbed her throbbing temples.

These subordinates of hers, all born of the jianghu, had not stopped talking since they left Liangzhou Prefecture.

Even someone with her temperament was now seized by the urge to beat every one of these noisy fools black and blue.

The group continued onward in silence.

After walking for roughly another half hour, an outline finally came into view at the end of the official road ahead.

"Whoa—"

Jiang Yuechu pulled the reins, and her Scarlet-eyed Steed reared up before stopping outside Hexian County's gates.

Everyone dismounted, led their horses, and entered the city.

When the townsfolk saw their black garments traced with red patterns, they first froze. Then, as though a pot had exploded, they began whispering among themselves.

"They're from the Demon Suppression Office!"

"The officials from the Demon Suppression Office are here!"

"Look, they're heading toward the county yamen! They must be here because of that bear demon!"

Very soon, before they could even reach the county yamen, a group of people rushed out from the street ahead and blocked their path without a word.

At their head was a man in his forties, dressed in a short robe covered in grease stains. Tears and snot streamed down his face as he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Honored officials! Please, save my wife!"

Behind him followed more than a dozen equally ragged townsfolk—men and women, old and young—who all fell to their knees in unison, their cries forming one chaotic uproar.

"Honored officials, my son went up the mountain too! He hasn't come home in three days!"

What was the Demon Suppression Office to ordinary people?

When common folk saw them, they usually could not hide fast enough.

Yet even so, these people had still dared to block their way.

It was clear they truly had nowhere left to turn.

Seeing the scene before him, a trace of pity flashed across Liu Ke's face.

He had been born into a prestigious family and raised from childhood on ideals of chivalry and righteousness. Seeing the common people suffer now, the righteous spirit in his heart surged forth at once.

"Fellow townsfolk, you—"

He had just intended to offer a few words of comfort and make some promise.

"Shut up."

A cold voice cut him off.

Jiang Yuechu merely looked indifferently at the crowd of kneeling townsfolk.

Liu Ke froze and looked at her in disbelief.

Chen Tong, Monk Bujie, and the others also revealed strange expressions, dissatisfaction rising in their hearts.

They might have been unruly, but they still called themselves heroes of the jianghu. When common people were in trouble, how could they simply stand by with folded arms?

Yet Jiang Yuechu's gaze swept over their faces one by one.

The small flicker of dissatisfaction in their hearts was instantly doused by a chill. One after another, they lowered their heads and did not dare speak again.

Ignoring everyone else, Jiang Yuechu led her horse straight past the townsfolk, who stood there dumbstruck.

Liu Ke lowered his head, his expression unreadable. Only the veins bulging from the hand gripping his reins revealed his feelings.

Damn it!

Was this Jiang woman truly made of stone and iron?!

The people were kneeling before her, weeping and begging for help, yet she did not even ask a single question before walking right past them?

How was that any different from those demonic fiends who treated human lives as grass and straw?

A sense of helplessness, mixed with humiliation, welled up in his heart.

Just then, a thick palm gently patted his shoulder.

Liu Ke started and turned around. It was Monk Bujie.

The fat monk no longer wore his usual playful grin. He merely shook his head and sighed.

Outside the county yamen, two stone lions had been eroded by wind and sand until their features were blurred.

The moment the yamen runner saw their black uniforms and Scarlet-eyed Steeds, his legs went weak. He scrambled and crawled into the inner hall.

Not long afterward, a plump middle-aged man wearing a black gauze official's cap hurried out under the escort of several constables, sweat pouring down his face.

"This lowly official is Hexian County Magistrate Qian Youwei. I did not know the honored lords were arriving and failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me, please forgive me!"

Jiang Yuechu ignored his pleasantries and walked straight inside.

Qian Youwei led the way ahead, bowing and scraping as they passed through the front hall and arrived at the reception hall in the rear compound.

Tea was quickly served.

County Magistrate Qian wiped the sweat from his forehead. "You honored officials have traveled through wind and dust and must be weary. May I ask what brings you to this humble Hexian County?"

At those words, everyone was taken aback.

What did this county magistrate mean?

Jiang Yuechu frowned and coldly uttered two words. "The monster."

"Oh, oh, you mean that matter... This Black Bear Spirit causing trouble is a long story..."

"Then make a long story short."

County Magistrate Qian's gaze darted about. He hemmed and hawed for a long while before finally forcing out a dry laugh. "My lords, that black bear... for some reason, it came down the mountain on its own a few days ago and has since vanished without a trace. The people are now safe and sound, and no monster has caused any more trouble. This lowly official was just preparing another document to report the matter to the command office!"

"Fuck!"

Chen Tong was the first to lose his patience. He slammed a hand onto the table and shot to his feet. "That's fucking bullshit! We came all this way, and there were still people kneeling by the city gate, crying for their fathers and mothers! And you're telling me everything's fine?"

Monk Bujie also set down his teacup and recited a Buddhist invocation. "Amitabha. Lord Qian, monks do not speak falsehoods. How is it that you, an official, are also spouting nothing but lies?"

Frightened by the two of them, County Magistrate Qian shuddered so hard he nearly slid off his chair.

"Enough!"

Liu Ke abruptly rose to his feet and barked out a cold shout.

He had already been dissatisfied with Jiang Yuechu's earlier disregard for the common people. Now, seeing this county magistrate babbling nonsense as well, the rage in his heart could no longer be restrained.

He took several strides to County Magistrate Qian, one hand pressed to his sword hilt as he stared down at him with eyes full of contempt.

"You were the one who reported this to the Demon Suppression Office, and you are also the one now claiming the monster is gone!"

"You have some nerve! How dare you toy with the Demon Suppression Office!"

"Speak! Are you colluding with that monster, deceiving those above and concealing matters below while bringing disaster upon the people?!"

Colluding with demons?!

With that accusation pressed upon him, County Magistrate Qian's face turned white at once.

"No! Absolutely not! Even if this lowly official had the courage of heaven itself, I would never dare keep company with demons!"

He waved his hands repeatedly, his fat face pale as paper. "My lords, see clearly! This lowly official has been wronged!"

Jiang Yuechu narrowed her eyes, her tone calm.

"Then tell the truth."

Knowing that if he did not explain himself today, this would be difficult to settle, County Magistrate Qian gritted his teeth and lowered his voice.

"Yes... there was originally a demon... it is only that..."

"Only what?"

"Only... do you honored lords know that there are three great sects in Longyou's jianghu?"

Liu Ke frowned.

He himself came from Falling Goose Manor, so naturally he knew.

"Falling Goose Manor, the Raging Tide Sect, and... Baosha Temple."

"Baosha Temple, precisely!"

The county magistrate hurriedly said, "Just yesterday, monks from Baosha Temple suddenly came to the yamen."

"They said... said that Black Bear Spirit was originally a mountain-guarding spirit beast of their temple. Somehow, it slipped down the mountain, which was what caused this disaster."

"Now... its rightful owners have come forward and wish to take it back to their mountain gate for strict supervision..."

As his words fell.

Chen Tong, who had been raging moments before, silently sat back down, lifted his teacup, and blew across the tea without saying a word.

The expression on Monk Bujie's face also sobered considerably. He merely rubbed his bald head and muttered something under his breath.

Liu Ke's face looked even worse.

Not to mention a mere county magistrate—even the Demon Suppression Office was unwilling to lightly provoke the monks of Baosha Temple.

After all, Longyou was remote, and the Longyou Demon Suppression Office currently had no commander in charge. Encountering some minor sect or faction was one thing; they could crush it with a slap, and no one would dare say a word.

But Baosha Temple was a major Longyou sect. Experts filled its ranks, and it had operated in Longyou for centuries. Its followers spread across every prefecture, while its disciples were intertwined with officials, wealthy gentry, and great clans in a tangled web of complicated ties.

Rather than calling it a jianghu sect, it would be more fitting to say it was one of Longyou Circuit's overlords.

To make an enemy of a colossal entity like Baosha Temple—with the Longyou Demon Suppression Office's current strength—they likely would not gain the slightest advantage.

Seeing everyone's reaction, County Magistrate Qian finally felt the stone hanging over his heart fall to the ground.

The terror faded from his face, and he hurriedly added, "Baosha Temple is a sacred Buddhist site with immense prestige throughout Longyou Circuit. They distribute porridge and rice year-round and provide relief to disaster victims. Every eminent monk in that temple is compassionate at heart..."

Liu Ke snorted coldly and cut him off, merely turning his gaze toward Jiang Yuechu, who had not spoken from beginning to end.

As he looked at that calm face, the nameless fire in his heart burned even hotter.

This Jiang woman had turned a deaf ear to the people's cries for help earlier.

Now that she had heard the name Baosha Temple, she would probably retreat three paces at once.

This matter would likely end in nothing.

He was the young manor lord of Falling Goose Manor. Though he was an illegitimate son who could not see the light of day, he had still received the upbringing of a prestigious orthodox sect since childhood.

The reason he had disregarded his family's objections and resolutely joined the Demon Suppression Office was, first, to win himself a future and show his father, who looked down on him, what he could do.

Second, he had considered that the Demon Suppression Office slew demons and monsters and protected the people of a region—an act of true chivalry.

But now...

Was the Demon Suppression Office truly as open and upright as he had imagined?

First they ignored the people, and now they would yield to a major sect.

Then what was this journey of theirs meant to be?

A mere formality?

Just as the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly frozen.

Jiang Yuechu set down her teacup.

She lowered her eyes and spoke. "Where are the people from Baosha Temple?"

"We are here."

The voice came from beyond the door.

Two figures appeared at the entrance to the hall.

Both wore spotless white monk's robes, with handsome features and solemn, dignified appearances.

Yet an arrogance that could not be dispelled lingered between their brows.

When they saw everyone looking over, one of them smiled, pressed his palms together, and recited a Buddhist invocation.

"Amitabha."

"This humble monk has been waiting here for you benefactors for quite some time."