Lieutenant Jiang

The torrential rain that had raged all night finally stopped.

The next day, daylight shone bright.

Washed clean by the rain, Liangzhou City's very air seemed a little fresher.

Yet within the Regional Commander's Office of the Demon Suppression Office, the atmosphere remained as heavy and oppressive as yesterday's rain clouds.

Demon-Suppression Guards gathered in twos and threes, all keeping their voices low as they whispered among themselves.

"The Heaven Division men are back. The matter at Jade Gate Pass... it's true."

"Fuck, it really was a Core Formation great demon?!"

"Absolutely true! I heard the Heaven Division lost two brothers before they barely managed to uncover that demon's true nature. It came from the demon kingdom beyond the pass, with noble bloodline—nothing like the wild mountain spirits and monsters we have in Longyou."

A young man who had only recently joined the Demon Suppression Office went pale as he listened, unable to stop himself from asking, "Core Formation... just how powerful is a Core Formation Realm demon?"

An old soldier missing an arm, who was polishing his saber with his remaining hand, gave a cold laugh at that.

"How powerful?"

He raised his head, his clouded eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "Put it this way: Bone-Chiming Realm demons can, at most, claim a mountain as king and plague a single county. But once they enter Core Formation, it becomes an entirely different world."

"Calling wind and rain, moving mountains and filling seas—that may be an exaggeration. But with a wave of their hand, wiping out a small city without powerful experts guarding it is no empty boast."

At those words, gasps rang out all around.

The young man's legs went weak with fright. "Then... then this time, aren't we..."

"Afraid of a bird!" The old soldier shoved his saber back into its sheath and spat. "We in the Demon Suppression Office eat the beheading meal for a living! General Wei is leading the expedition himself. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Is it your turn to stand here trembling?"

"..."

Compared with the shock and anxiety brought by the Core Formation great demon,

another piece of news was more like a massive boulder crashing into the deep pool of the Regional Commander's Office, stirring up monstrous waves.

"Have you heard? Our Xuan Camp has promoted a new lieutenant."

"A lieutenant? Who is it? Which squad leader rendered great merit and got promoted?"

"A newcomer."

"A newcomer?!"

"The one who joined the office just the other day, called... Jiang Yuechu."

"Jiang Yuechu? Never heard of her."

The person beside him hurriedly grabbed him, lowering his voice, his face full of strange expression.

"You don't know? That little girl!"

"Oh! I remember now! The one who, right after arriving, pinned Old Zhao from Liu Chen's men to a pillar and beat him?"

"That's far from all!"

Another man leaned closer and said mysteriously, "I heard that a few days ago, when she went to Hexian County on assignment, she not only slaughtered a Half-Step Bone-Chiming Realm demon, but also casually hacked down two monks from Baosha Temple!"

At those words, gasps immediately broke out all around.

"She killed Baosha Temple monks?! Has she lost her mind?!"

"Whether she's mad or not, I don't know. What I do know is that not only was she fine, she fucking got promoted! A seventh-rank lieutenant! Directly commanding the Vanguard Camp!"

"What?!"

A veteran squad leader's eyes flew wide, his face filled with disbelief. "What kind of joke is this? I've risked my life in the Demon Suppression Office for ten years, scars piled atop scars all over my body, and I'm still only eighth-rank! Why the hell does some little yellow-haired girl deserve it?!"

"Exactly! Merit? What fucking merit does she have? Seniority? She probably hasn't even collected her first month's salary yet!"

"A woman as lieutenant? And of the Vanguard Camp? What are the higher-ups thinking?!"

"Shh... keep it down. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Just then,

a young lieutenant with an effeminate face heard the discussions around him, and a mocking curl touched his lips.

"Why? Perhaps... because of that pretty face of hers."

His voice was not loud, yet it was just enough for the people nearby to hear.

Everyone followed the sound, their gazes landing in unison on the effeminate man.

"It's Song Ren, Lieutenant Song!"

Song Ren was a veteran lieutenant who had spent nearly ten years in the Demon Suppression Office. His cultivation had long since reached the Bone-Resonance Realm.

More importantly, he came from the Song Family, one of Longyou's great clans. His roots in Liangzhou Prefecture ran deep, and his connections were vast.

"Lieutenant Song, what do you mean by that?"

Song Ren seemed to relish the feeling of being the center of attention. Pinching his fingers into an orchid gesture, he lightly flicked his sleeve and cast a sidelong glance over the crowd.

"A snot-nosed little girl kills one or two worthless demons, then rises in a single step to the heavens, taking the position of lieutenant and even commanding the Vanguard Camp? Doesn't anyone here have any thoughts about that?"

"..."

Thoughts? Of course they had thoughts.

But who dared say them?

Song Ren dared because he had the capital to do so.

What did bottom-rung Demon-Suppression Guards like them, with neither roots nor backing, have to speak with?

Seeing that no one spoke, Song Ren continued on his own. "I heard that during yesterday's downpour, Lord Xu personally went to the little courtyard in the Demon-Calming Ward where she lived, and stayed for a full half hour before coming out."

The implication in his words was impossible to miss.

The crowd wore all manner of expressions. Some suddenly understood, some looked disdainful, and some did not believe it.

"Impossible! Lord Xu isn't that kind of man!"

"Is he or isn't he? Who knows? After all, even heroes struggle to pass the beauty's pass."

"A girl who just arrived turns around and becomes a seventh-rank lieutenant. We risk life and limb, every time with our heads tucked into our belts. In the end, we still can't compare to some girl working hard in bed."

"Keep it down! You can't spout nonsense like that!"

"What's there to fear? Lieutenant Song said it himself. Could it be false?"

Listening to the hushed agreement around him, the mockery on Song Ren's face grew even deeper.

"Our Demon Suppression Office, I'd say, sooner or later will..."

Before he could finish,

"What fucking shit are you spewing from that mouth of yours?!"

A furious roar exploded through the courtyard like thunder from clear skies!

The noisy discussions came to an abrupt halt.

Everyone had been stunned senseless by that sudden furious curse.

Who was Song Ren?

A veteran lieutenant of the Bone-Resonance Realm, with the Longyou Song Family behind him.

In Liangzhou Prefecture, aside from those great figures, who dared speak to him like that?

Everyone turned toward the sound.

At the courtyard entrance stood several figures, though no one knew when they had arrived.

At their head was a burly man with a face full of flesh. Behind him stood a young man in fine clothes, his expression dark as still water, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

There was also a fat monk holding a wine gourd, smiling cheerfully. Yet within those narrowed eyes, there was not the slightest trace of amusement.

"Who are these people?"

"I know... they're the squad under Jiang Yuechu!"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

Only then did everyone react. Seeing those men brimming with Killing Intent, they instinctively retreated several steps.

Song Ren's face instantly darkened.

He narrowed his eyes at Chen Tong, whose hair seemed to stand on end in fury, and laughed in a strange, mocking tone.

"So that's who it is. The dogs raised by Lieutenant Jiang."

"What? Your master hasn't even arrived, yet you dogs have already run out to bark?"

How could Chen Tong endure such words? With an enraged roar, he drew his waist saber halfway from its sheath with a clang.

"I'll fuck your mother, you filthy cunt!"