A Lone Boat on the River, Jiang Chen Appears!

Fatty Sun and Yang Xiao returned to their base and went straight to Ye Jinkai's barracks.

Ye Jinkai was examining a map under the lamp when he saw the two people and looked up.

"What happened so late?"

Fatty Sun, with a solemn expression, recounted everything that had happened that night.

Li Mao led a group out at night without permission to search for Demon Traces, where they encountered Liquid Condensation Mid Stage Water Wraith. Seven or eight Captain were killed, but Li Mao was rescued by Yang Xiao.

Upon hearing this, Ye Jinkai's face darkened so much it was almost dripping with water.

"Another scion of a powerful family!"

He slammed his hand on the table, causing the lamplight to flicker.

"At a time like this, you're still thinking about stealing credit? Treating the orders of the Demon Suppression Division like a joke? The lives of seven or eight Captain are lost because of his reckless behavior!"

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and looked at Yang Xiao.

"Did you kill that Liquid Condensation Mid Stage Water Wraith?"

Yang Xiao nodded. "Yes."

A hint of surprise flashed in Ye Jinkai's eyes.

He had previously thought Yang Xiao was just a young Captain with some ability, but he never expected him to be this strong.

He single-handedly defeated the Liquid Condensation Mid Stage Water Demon.

Such combat power is rare even among Late Liquid Condensation Realm experts.

"Alright." Ye Jinkai nodded. "I will report this matter truthfully and request a Liquid Condensation Realm Merit for you."

He looked at Fatty Sun, "You will collect the body of the fallen Captain first thing tomorrow morning. I will inform the Deputy General about this."

Li Mao's unauthorized actions resulted in the death of Captain; such a crime is not one he can easily bear, and even a powerful family cannot protect him."

"Yes." Fatty Sun nodded, then paused and added, "Squad Leader Ye, there's something I feel is off."

Ye Jinkai looked at him. "What is it?"

Fatty Sun frowned and said, "Water Wraith Water Demon live in the middle of rivers and lakes and don't appear near riverbanks. Its appearance in the Green Creek River tonight is probably not an accident."

Ye Jinkai's expression changed.

Fatty Sun continued, "I suggest we add more manpower. The fact that the Water Wraith can appear here means that the Water Demon of the Guanlan River have begun to infiltrate the tributaries."

"If there are other Water Demon lurking, we twenty people alone probably won't be able to hold them off."

Ye Jinkai remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"You make a good point," he said in a deep voice. "I will request reinforcements from the Deputy General tomorrow."

The next morning.

As dawn broke, the sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps echoed along the riverbank.

Deputy General Zhou Zheng personally led the team, followed by Ye Jinkai and more than a dozen Demon Suppression Guard.

Zhou Zheng received Ye Jinkai's report last night and was furious about Li Mao's unauthorized actions. He immediately decided to come and strengthen the patrols himself.

"Expand the encampment to a radius of three li, and set up a checkpoint every half li," Zhou Zheng ordered in a deep voice. "Everyone be on high alert, and report any abnormalities immediately."

Ye Jinkai accepted the order and began to arrange manpower.

After the manpower was arranged, Zhou Zheng came to the riverbank and looked across the wide river surface.

As dawn broke, mist shrouded the river, obscuring the view from the opposite bank.

"This fog..." Zhou Zheng frowned, "Why is it so thick?"

Ye Jinkai also noticed something was wrong.

The river fog that used to be thin in the early morning is now so thick that you can hardly see your hand in front of your face.

Just then...

A ripple suddenly appeared on the surface of the river.

The once calm lake water began to surge, as if something was stirring underwater.

"Everyone on alert!"

Zhou Zheng shouted sternly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the mist on the river began to surge, and ripples spread outward from the center of the river.

Immediately afterwards.

A small boat slowly rose from the water!

The light boat was about two zhang long, entirely black, and its hull was shrouded in a faint light curtain that isolated it from the river water, emitting a faint, eerie glow.

On the deck of the light boat stood a middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe.

The man was about forty years old, with a refined appearance and a short beard, looking like a scholar.

But Zhou Zheng's expression changed drastically the moment he saw the other person's face.

"Jiang Chen!"

He recognized the person.

The Guanlan Prefecture River Inspection Envoy is a traitor to the human race who colluded with the Dragon Lord of Guanlan River to raise Water Demon and harm the people!

Jiang Chen stood on the light boat, his gaze sweeping over the Demon Suppression Guard on the shore, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Deputy General Zhou, how have you been?"

His voice came from the river, tinged with a hint of laziness and sarcasm, "Coming to patrol the river so early, it must be hard work."

Zhou Zheng's face was grim, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife.

"Jiang Chen, as an official of the imperial court, you collude with Demon to harm the people, and you still dare to show yourself?"

Jiang Chen chuckled softly.

"An official appointed by the imperial court?"

He shook his head. "That's just a facade. Peel it back, and what's the difference between us? We're all just trying to make a living in this world."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Demon Suppression Guard behind Zhou Zheng.

"Your Demon Suppression Division has surrounded me for so many days, it's time to let me out for some fresh air."

Zhou Zheng said coldly, "Now that you've shown yourself, don't even think about escaping."

Jiang Chen's lips curled slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Escape? Why should I escape?"

As soon as the words were spoken, the river began to surge violently.

Zhou Zheng's expression changed, and he shouted sternly, "Everyone on alert! Prepare for battle!"

The Demon Suppression Guard on the shore drew their swords and stood ready.

Yang Xiao stood in the crowd, gripping his Spring Embroidery Saber tightly, his eyes fixed on the light boat on the river.

He never expected to encounter one of the targets of this mission in such a remote place.

Moreover, she has some entanglement with him.

Jiang Chen stood on the light boat, looking at the dozens of Demon Suppression Guard surrounding him on the shore, showing no fear whatsoever.

His gaze swept over Zhou Zheng, Ye Jinkai, and behind him Fatty Sun, Yang Xiao, and others, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Deputy General Zhou, are you trying to trap me here?"

Zhou Zheng said coldly, "Since you dare to show yourself, don't even think about leaving."

He drew his long sword from his waist, the blade pointing directly at Jiang Chen.

"Everyone, prepare for battle! Stop him from escaping!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the Demon Suppression Guard on the riverbank sprang up and rushed towards the river.

Just then, Jiang Chen waved his hand.

"Come out, everyone."

Boom--!

The river surface exploded instantly!

Countless Water Demon burst forth from the river, roaring as they rushed toward the Demon Suppression Guard on the shore!

The Water Demon took on various forms, including slippery Water Wraith, snake-like Azure-Scaled Flood Dragon, and soft-bodied monsters covered in tentacles.

There were at least a dozen of them!

The Demon Suppression Guard's expressions changed drastically, and they all drew their swords to fight.

The Water Demon and the Demon Suppression Guard clashed fiercely on the riverbank, their swords flashing and Yao Qi soaring into the sky.

Among those Water Demons, the most eye-catching was a long, jet-black dragon.

The dragon was about five zhang long, its body covered with black scales like iron armor, and its pair of dark green vertical pupils were full of ferocity.

The aura emanating from his body was even more terrifying; his Perfected Liquid Condensation!

Zhou Zheng's face darkened as he recognized the distinctive Demon.

"The Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon of the Guanlan River?"

This Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon's strength has actually reached the Perfected Liquid Condensation!

It hovered on the river surface, its eerie green vertical pupils sweeping over the Demon Suppression Guard on the shore, and let out a deafening roar.

"Aww--!"

The roar was like thunder, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

"Ye Jinkai, you take some men and hold off those Water Demons!"

Zhou Zheng gripped his longsword tightly, his gaze fixed on the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon, and said in a deep voice, "I'll deal with this Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon!"

Ye Jinkai accepted the order, called out to the Demon Suppression Guard behind him, and charged towards the Water Demon.

Zhou Zheng then leaped forward and pounced on the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon on the river surface.

Jiang Chen stood on the light boat, watching this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Interesting. Then let me see just how capable your Demon Suppression Division really is before you leave."

He stroked a Gilt Phoenix Hairpin inlaid with mutton-fat jade in his hand, gazing at the distant estuary, a hint of reminiscence and tenderness flashing in his eyes.