Clearing Old Debts!

The courtyard gate was pushed open.

Hu Qingqing stood at the entrance in a light cyan ruqun. Her features were lovely, but her face carried an air of presumptuous impatience.

Behind her stood a youth in gray robes, a saber hanging at his waist and arrogance written across his face.

It was Hu Qingqing's biological younger brother, Hu Kai.

Only a year younger than Yang Xiao, he had already reached the Body Forging 5th Layer and was a somewhat famous rising star among the young Yamen Runners of Xiangyun County.

The moment Hu Qingqing entered, her gaze fell on the Spring Embroidery Saber in Yang Xiao's hand, and her eyes lit up.

"You really did take the saber out."

She hurried forward and reached for it.

"Perfect. Hu Kai is going to seek guidance from the Second Constable tomorrow. If he can carry this Spring Embroidery Saber, the Second Constable will definitely look at him in a new light."

Yang Xiao twisted his wrist, avoiding her hand.

Hu Qingqing grasped at empty air, and her expression immediately darkened.

"Yang Xiao, what do you mean?"

Yang Xiao looked at her, his tone calm.

"Who said you could touch it?"

Hu Qingqing froze. In her memory, Yang Xiao had never spoken to her like this.

She frowned. "Hu Kai is taking part in the Demon Suppression Division's selection this time. If he's chosen, he'll become a member of the Demon Suppression Division. That saber will only gather dust sitting at home. Why not let him use it first?"

"Once Hu Kai joins the Demon Suppression Division, would you really be short of benefits?"

"My benefits?"

In Yang Xiao's memories, Hu Qingqing used the same line every time she opened her mouth.

When she wanted silver, she said that Hu Kai would remember him once he made something of himself. When she wanted cloth and jewelry, she said that a young woman had to maintain her dignity, and that dressing well would also bring him honor.

Over the years, the original owner's salary and savings had been nearly drained by her.

Now that only this keepsake left behind by his father remained, she had come to take that too.

"Hu Qingqing."

Yang Xiao's voice turned cold. "From today onward, nothing concerning the Hu family has anything to do with me."

"Yang Xiao, what did you say?" Hu Qingqing's expression changed.

Hu Kai finally lost patience.

"Sis, why waste your breath on him?"

He stepped forward and stared coldly at Yang Xiao.

"Yang Xiao, you're a useless Body Forging 3rd Layer cultivator. Carrying the Spring Embroidery Saber is a waste. If I had it, I might be able to build up more Merit before the Demon Suppression Division's selection and have a better chance of joining."

"Only in my hands will this saber be put to its best use!"

Yang Xiao looked at Hu Kai and said languidly, "You want it?"

"That's right." Hu Kai raised his chin.

Yang Xiao placed the Spring Embroidery Saber on the table, then drew the Standard Saber issued by the County Yamen.

"Then come and take it yourself."

Hu Kai was stunned, then laughed. "You want me to take it myself?"

His qi and blood surged, revealing the power of the Body Forging 5th Layer. His face filled with an expression of absolute confidence.

"Yang Xiao, have you lost your mind in your sleep? Could it be you think I wouldn't dare make a move?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Kai lunged forward. His right hand curved like a hook as he reached straight for Yang Xiao's shoulder.

In the eyes of an ordinary Yamen Runner, this grab was already quite swift.

But in Yang Xiao's eyes, it was riddled with openings.

His shoulder moved first, his waist had not sunk, his step was too hurried, and his lower body was unsteady.

Reaching the perfected realm in Basic Blade Technique had brought him more than just moves. It had also given him sharper eyes, better rhythm, and a precise sense of timing.

Yang Xiao shifted his foot and dodged Hu Kai's hand.

In the next instant, a flash of saber light appeared.

The back of the Standard Saber slammed into Hu Kai's elbow.

Hu Kai grunted. His entire right arm went numb in an instant.

Before he could react, Yang Xiao had already closed in and swept the back of the saber across.

Hu Kai's chest tightened, and his entire body flew backward, crashing heavily into the courtyard.

Hu Qingqing let out a shriek, her face turning ashen.

"Hu Kai!"

Hu Kai clutched his chest, his face full of disbelief.

"You... how could you..."

He was at the Body Forging 5th Layer, while Yang Xiao was clearly only at the Body Forging 3rd Layer!

Yang Xiao sheathed his saber and stood there calmly.

"Body Forging 5th Layer, and that's it?"

Hu Kai's face flushed crimson. He tried to get up, only to discover that his right arm was still numb and could not muster any strength for the moment.

Hu Qingqing was both shocked and furious.

"Yang Xiao, are you insane? You actually dared to hit Hu Kai! He still has to seek guidance from the Second Constable tomorrow. If you delay his future, can you afford to compensate him?"

"What does his future have to do with me?"

Yang Xiao walked to the table, picked up the Spring Embroidery Saber, and hung it around his waist again.

"Don't come here again."

Yang Xiao looked at her and enunciated each word. "Everything belonging to the Yang family has nothing to do with you."

Hu Qingqing froze, her face turning alternately pale and red.

"Fine, very fine!"

She helped Hu Kai up and ground her teeth. "Yang Xiao, you'll regret this! The Demon Suppression Division's selection is about to begin. Once Hu Kai joins the Demon Suppression Division, we'll move to the provincial capital. You can stay in this lousy county and be a good-for-nothing!"

Yang Xiao said indifferently, "Then don't trouble yourself over it."

Hu Qingqing trembled with rage, but she did not dare let Hu Kai make another move. She could only help him leave in a sorry state.

The courtyard gate closed again.

Yang Xiao stood where he was, not the slightest ripple crossing his expression.

At least he had settled one of the messes left behind by the original owner.

The next morning, Yang Xiao arrived at the County Yamen.

As soon as he entered, he heard several Yamen Runners discussing things in hushed voices.

"The Demon Suppression Division will arrive in Xiangyun County in seven days."

"If we can get selected this time, we'll rise to the heavens in a single step."

"What are you thinking? How could the Demon Suppression Division be so easy to enter? I'd say no more than three people from our County Yamen will be selected!"

Yang Xiao did not slow down. He went straight to the rear courtyard.

Head Constable Zhang Hu was practicing with his saber.

He was tall and powerfully built, his arms thick and sturdy. The saber in his hands swept wide and grand, every stroke carrying a deep, muffled rush of wind.

When he saw Yang Xiao approach, Zhang Hu stopped and wiped away his sweat. "Yang Xiao? You came to see me so early. What is it?"

"Constable Zhang, I want to sign up for the Demon Suppression Division's selection."

Zhang Hu was taken aback and looked him up and down.

"You?"

"Yes." Yang Xiao nodded.

Zhang Hu frowned. "The Demon Suppression Division isn't the County Yamen patrolling the streets. The demons you encounter there are all high-level, and you could lose your life at any moment."

"Your father was a real man back then. I don't want to watch his son throw his life away for nothing."

Yang Xiao said calmly, "I really did waste my time before."

"But from today onward, I won't."

Zhang Hu looked into his eyes and fell silent for a moment.

"The Demon Suppression Division will be sending people here in seven days."

"According to the rules of previous years, anyone under twenty can sign up. But you need to understand that signing up is one thing, while being selected is another."

"Among the young Yamen Runners of Xiangyun County, you need to reach the Body Forging 6th Layer to have a chance."

"If your cultivation is insufficient, you need to possess a skill that can hold its own."

He paused.

"You're only at the Body Forging 3rd Layer. You're far too weak."

Yang Xiao said, "There are still seven days."

Zhang Hu could not help shaking his head.

"Seven days?"

"In seven days, can you advance from the Body Forging 3rd Layer to the 6th Layer, or master Basic Blade Technique to the greater mastery realm?"

Though he said this, when Zhang Hu looked at Yang Xiao's calm expression, he suddenly remembered Yang Dayong from years ago.

That fellow had also been unwilling to accept his fate when he was young.

After a moment, he waved his hand.

"Forget it. If you truly want to sign up, I'll put your name down."

Yang Xiao cupped his fists. "Thank you, Constable Zhang."

Just then, hurried bells suddenly rang outside the County Yamen.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Yamen Runners in the courtyard all changed expression.

This was the alarm bell sounded only when the County Yamen encountered an urgent Demon Plague.

A Yamen Runner hurried into the rear courtyard.

"Constable Zhang!"

"The Rat Calamity in Liu Family Village has spread. Rat Demons are surrounding the village, and the villagers are trapped!"

"The County Magistrate has ordered that, aside from those required to remain behind, all other Yamen Runners must assemble immediately and head to Liu Family Village for the rescue!"

Zhang Hu's expression turned grim. He picked up his saber and strode toward the front courtyard.

"Assemble!"