After night fell, Cheng Ming entered the Demon Suppression Bureau. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Ji Hu waiting to welcome him with the bureau's Deputy Inspectors.
Ten thousand years had passed, yet Ji Hu seemed unchanged, still looking like a middle-aged scholar.
Seeing Cheng Ming enter, Ji Hu cupped his hands and said with a smile,
"You honor me with your presence, young master."
Cheng Ming returned the greeting. After exchanging pleasantries, the two took their seats.
After another round of polite conversation, Ji Hu was the first to raise the matter at hand.
"It's getting late, so I won't speak in riddles, young master. Why not tell me plainly what brings you to Fuzhou City in our Baiyue Prefecture?"
Cheng Ming gently waved his open folding fan and replied with a soft chuckle,
"Someone entrusted me with coming to Baiyue Prefecture to collect something."
Without betraying any emotion, Ji Hu asked,
"Oh? And what have you come to collect from our Baiyue Prefecture?"
Cheng Ming's smile remained unchanged.
"Your head."
Time seemed to fall still and silent at that moment. After a long pause, Ji Hu said with a smile,
"You truly are as bold as you are skilled, young master. Everyone in this Demon Suppression Bureau is already one of my people. What gives you the confidence to say such a thing?"
Smack!
Cheng Ming snapped his folding fan against his palm. Looking into Ji Hu's horrified eyes, he continued to smile with the same refined grace.
"In this world, aside from a few Sages, the Demon Race's Son of Heaven, the Moon King, Humankind's Human Emperor, and my father, I have never considered anyone else worthy of my regard. That is the source of my confidence."
With that, Cheng Ming rose and walked toward