Wicked Incident at Yunxi Village

Just then, the Fang siblings emerged from the house.

When they saw Lu Changsheng soaking in the water vat, they froze.

"What is this...?"

Fang Tao looked somewhat puzzled.

Lu Changsheng casually explained a few things to them, then leaped out of the vat, revealing his lean, muscular upper body.

The hard-won muscles from martial training, coupled with his resolute face, made him radiate a powerful masculine vigor.

Fang Qing's face reddened at the sight, and she seemed rather embarrassed.

She was still an unmarried maiden—when had she ever seen such a scene?

Lu Changsheng looked at Fang Tao, seemingly recalling something.

He picked up a martial arts manual from the stone table and handed it over.

It was none other than the Iron Leg Technique taken from Zhao Erhu.

"This martial arts manual is for you to cultivate."

On his own, he was ultimately somewhat outnumbered. But if he wanted to build a force, it was better to start by nurturing trusted confidants.

Given the long-standing friendship between their families, along with the friendship between the two of them, this manual was nothing much.

"This is...?"

Fang Tao's face flushed crimson with excitement, his fists clenched tight.

He quickly accepted the manual and discovered that it was precisely the martial arts technique he had long dreamed of. Overcome with gratitude, he said, "Thank you, Brother Lu. Once this little brother succeeds in martial training, I will surely roam the martial world together with Brother Lu..."

Before he could finish, Fang Qing grabbed him by the ear.

"With your three-legged-cat skills, you still want to roam the martial world..."

"It hurts, it hurts... Sis, I won't dare again."

Fang Tao repeatedly begged for mercy.

Lu Changsheng smiled faintly at the sight.

Seeing that a trace of worry lingered in Fang Qing's eyes, he could not help but feel puzzled. "Did something happen?"

Fang Qing sighed softly. "These past few days, whenever the two of us went out, we often noticed someone following us..."

"But thankfully, we followed your instructions and never left the Demon Suppression Department's family compound. They seem very wary of the place."

Hearing this, Fang Tao chimed in through gritted teeth, "That's right. Those people are too detestable."

"I understand. Try to stay active around here. I'll handle the daily purchases through the Demon Suppression Department."

A cold glint flickered in Lu Changsheng's eyes.

He knew those people had to be spies from the Three Rivers Gang.

They had been searching for an opportunity to deal with him.

However, he had been extremely cautious, making it difficult for them to find an opening. So they had turned their attention to Fang Qing and Fang Tao instead.

With his current strength, he was fully capable of handling Three Rivers Gang protectors and the like. Unless a hall master personally intervened, but that was clearly unlikely.

Even if he could not win, he could still find an opportunity to escape with his perfected movement technique.

After chatting for a while longer, Lu Changsheng left the courtyard.

The Demon Suppression Department required its members to report in every three days, which was essentially a routine check-in.

At all other times, they were free to act as they pleased.

Lu Changsheng walked down the broad, clean streets. Clad in a Flying Eagle Uniform and wearing an Embroidered Spring Saber at his waist, he looked exceptionally valiant.

When the civilians on the road saw him, they scattered in all directions, watching Lu Changsheng with awe-filled faces.

The status of those from the Demon Suppression Department was still exceedingly prominent.

As long as one joined the Demon Suppression Department, one would automatically receive the rank of a ninth-grade official, becoming as different from commoners as heaven and earth.

Along both sides of the street, several lovestruck young women boldly cast flirtatious glances at Lu Changsheng upon seeing his heroic bearing.

Lu Changsheng made his way along the streets.

Before long, he arrived at the Demon Suppression Department's yamen.

When he stepped into the main hall, several martial artists were already waiting there.

When they saw Lu Changsheng enter, no one greeted him. They were extremely indifferent.

Lu Changsheng was more than happy to have some peace and quiet, so he stood at the back and waited silently.

He had always preferred tranquility. Since joining the Demon Suppression Department, he had never interacted much with anyone, focusing only on bitter cultivation. Naturally, he had no acquaintances.

Ever since the previous hall master of the Demon Suppression Department's Combat Hall had been promoted, no new hall master had arrived to take over.

The daily affairs were handled by the three deputy hall masters.

Lu Changsheng and the others were under Qin Ruobing's management.

Under her were more than ten Yellow-rank Demon Suppressors and three Profound-rank Demon Suppressors.

However, the other two deputy hall masters were somewhat better off.

On the surface, this was roughly the strength of the Changping County Demon Suppression Department.

As for what was hidden in the shadows, that was beyond his understanding.

Half an hour later.

Gao Yunming entered the hall with two Demon Suppressors.

Without wasting words, he got straight to the point. "Recently, quite a few strange incidents have occurred in Changping County. The Demon Suppression Department's investigation has confirmed that they were not caused by humans..."

"Some Ethereal-tier Wicked Spirits are also just right for you. This cleansing operation was jointly decided upon by the three deputy hall masters. I hope everyone will work together with one heart..."

"Anyone who completes a mission will receive one minor merit."

After speaking, he immediately took out a list of missions and hung it on the side wall.

Everyone crowded around it.

Lu Changsheng focused his gaze and saw it covered in densely packed missions.

"Investigate the case of Zhangjia Village residents being dismembered..."

"Slay an Ethereal-tier Wicked Spirit in Caoping Village..."

"Investigate the strange deaths of a large number of Yunxi Village residents..."

Each line of words was like icy spring water poured over Lu Changsheng's heart.

He had not expected the situation outside to have grown so dire. Only Changping County itself remained relatively stable.

That was likely due to the suppression of numerous powerful experts.

"Everyone, choose your missions immediately."

Gao Yunming urged them again.

Very quickly, everyone stepped forward to make their selections.

Before long, it was Lu Changsheng's turn.

He directly pointed to the case of Yunxi Village's residents dying strangely.

"I'll take this one."

After seeing that everyone had made their selections, Gao Yunming distributed the mission tokens.

"The mission departs in three days. Information about your other teammates is on the mission token."

By custom, before a mission set out, everything about it was top secret. Only those who accepted the mission would know the specific details.

This could also prevent the mission from being leaked and causing a disaster.

After receiving the token, Lu Changsheng left the main hall.

He quickly returned to his own courtyard and began waiting quietly.

At dusk.

Inside a magnificent hall of the Demon Suppression Department.

Three figures sat in chairs, their faces solemn.

One of them was Qin Ruobing, one of the deputy hall masters.

The other two were the remaining deputy hall masters of the Combat Hall.

One of them was tall and thin, with eyes as sharp as blades.

His name was Xiao Tianci.

The other had a round build and a prosperous-looking face. He wore a constant smile and looked harmless to man and beast.

He was the last deputy hall master, He Chunlin.

"Over the past year, those Wicked Spirit demon servants have become increasingly active. Who knows how many members we will lose in this operation."

Xiao Tianci sighed softly.

"Hmph... Those Scent Worship Cult followers have grown more and more rampant. Recently, they have even come into the city to preach..."

"These Wicked Spirit abnormalities outside the city likely have something to do with them."

Qin Ruobing snorted coldly.

He Chunlin frowned. "We do not have much strength to spare. Merely holding the county seat is already quite difficult."

"Besides, the Scent Worship Cult has operated for many years. They have likely put down roots even within the county, making it difficult to eradicate them completely."

"Leave the cleansing of the evil cult to Magistrate Du."

Naturally, he also knew about the Scent Worship Cult's unusual activity, but he remained extremely cautious about whether they should commit all their strength.

The Demon Suppression Department's foremost duty was to cleanse demons, evil spirits, ghosts, and specters. If they divided their attention, matters would likely become even more difficult.

At this moment, Xiao Tianci smiled faintly. "Our Magistrate Du is busy suppressing bandits. Until the Black Mountain Bandits are completely wiped out, he likely will not rest."

Qin Ruobing fell silent at those words.

Although she had only been here for three years, she also knew of Magistrate Du's "glorious" deeds.

It was said that twenty years ago, when Magistrate Du Wentao had still been an ordinary scholar, his entire family had been slaughtered by the Black Mountain Bandits over some matter. Only he, having gone away to study, escaped the calamity.

Over the next decade or so, Du Wentao studied diligently through cold windows, finally passing the imperial examination with honors. Yet he chose to come to Changping County as a magistrate.

Everyone knew that he had likely come for the Black Mountain Bandits. The hatred of extermination could never be borne beneath the same sky.

After taking office three years ago, Magistrate Du had begun launching repeated strikes against the Black Mountain Bandits once he had initially consolidated the county's various forces.

The entirety of Changping County carried the feeling of a storm about to break.

The Black Mountain Bandits, the Scent Worship Cult, demons and Wicked Spirits... These forces were like a mass of dark clouds hanging over Qin Ruobing's heart.