Turned Away at the Door

Early the next morning.

Yang Xiao and Yan Tieyi left Azure Mist City and set out along the official road.

Longwind Commandery lay on the border between Qingzhou and Liangzhou, about five days from Azure Mist City.

The two traveled west along a broad, level road, with rolling hills and sparse woods on either side.

They had been traveling for most of the day without seeing a trace of a single Demon.

Now and then, a few wild rabbits darted from the grass and fled in panic at the sound of hooves. Otherwise, nothing seemed amiss.

Yang Xiao drew on the reins, slowing his horse.

"We haven't seen any Demon Traces along the way."

Riding beside him, Yan Tieyi looked up and surveyed their surroundings.

His gaze swept over the distant woods, then dropped to the road beneath their horses before he shook his head.

"That's not surprising."

"There's a Post Station every hundred li along the official road, and the Demon Suppression Division sends Patrol Soldiers through on regular rounds." Yan Tieyi gave a wry smile. "Even the boldest Demon wouldn't make himself easy to find."

"Once the Patrol Soldiers track down Demonic Qi and record his movements, squads of Deputy Generals will soon come knocking, one after another."

"Unless he's a powerful Demon above the Aperture-Opening Realm, he has practically no chance of surviving."

He paused, then added, "If you want to hunt Aperture-Opening Realm Demons and build up Merit, you're bound to find some wherever a deputy general is stationed."

"I crossed paths with the deputy general stationed in Longwind Commandery years ago."

"When we get there, you won't need to say a word. Leave the talking to me."

"Mm."

Yang Xiao nodded, looking a little more at ease. Compared with dealing with people, he really did