Qingshan Commandery Demon Suppression Camp

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

With a whistle through the air, over a hundred figures appeared before the Mountain God Temple, all wearing flying-fish brocade uniforms with demon-suppression sabers at their waists. They were none other than Green Mountain Commandery's Demon Suppression Camp.

Their leader was a burly man with a resolute face: Tie Jun, the Hundred-household Commander stationed in Green Mountain Commandery.

At that moment!

Tie Jun's expression hardened as he looked at the lifeless old man kneeling on the ground, then turned his gaze back to Chu He.

"A Demon Suppression Guard? Which army and camp do you belong to?"

"Third Army, Third Camp. Squad Leader Chu He!" Chu He did not salute, merely replying to Tie Jun with neither servility nor arrogance.

The Demon Suppression Bureau had its rules!

Unless someone was a direct superior, a guard only had to obey their orders and salute them if they outranked him by three grades. Nothing was required otherwise.

In other words, given Chu He's position as squad leader, unless someone was his direct superior, he only needed to salute a Thousand-household Commander or above.

This prevented senior Demon Suppression Guards from abusing public authority for private ends while also allowing greater flexibility in handling cases. After all, the three armies within a province were separate and mostly operated independently.

When they crossed paths, a company commander might bully a squad leader, which would greatly reduce their efficiency.

"Third Army, Third Camp. You're under Zhang Wei." Hearing Chu He identify himself, Tie Jun nodded and said:

"Just a few days ago, he was boasting to me about a new heaven's chosen under his command. That must be you. You really are extraordinary."

"Thank you for your praise, sir."

Chu He cupped his hands as he spoke, his expression gradually easing. After all, out here in the wilderness, murder to steal credit was not impossible.

Although...

With so many people present, the chances were slim, but it was not unheard of. He simply had not expected Zhang Wei to have such a wide circle of friends, even knowing Hundred-household Commanders stationed elsewhere.

"Chu He, what mission brought you to Green Mountain Commandery, and why did you suddenly appear at the Mountain God Temple?"

A company commander behind Tie Jun asked.

To find the old man leading the White Lotus Cult members, they had mobilized everyone and searched for a full fortnight before finding the slightest trace.

Yet now!

Chu He had arrived before them. Moreover, he had clearly only just entered the second rank. How could he have killed the old man without suffering any harm?

There were many things that did not add up. To take a darker view, Chu He might even be a White Lotus Cult pawn, with the old man's death merely paving the way for him. Of course, all this required evidence.

Just then!

Whoosh! Whoosh...!

Several more figures swept over from afar: Lu Feng and his four companions, along with Zhou Tao of the Heavenly Martial Guard. The other Heavenly Martial Guards could not keep up at all.

"Sir!"

Lu Feng and the other four immediately ran to Chu He's side and bowed, then gulped repeatedly at the sight of the hundred-odd Demon Suppression Guards around them.

Zhou Tao had vaguely heard the company commander speaking from the start and immediately addressed Tie Jun and the others:

"Sirs, Squad Leader Chu He was on his way home. I personally went to beg him to help resolve the strange corpse case."

"Later, Lord Chu He pursued a demon here. This old demon should be that demon's leader."

"Furthermore, I already reported this matter to headquarters. Here is the approval document." Zhou Tao took a document from inside his robes and handed it to Tie Jun.

"Sir, we were ordered to resolve the Moon Ancient Village case and accompany Lord Chu home for a visit along the way."

Lu Feng also spoke quickly to Tie Jun.

At the same time, he and the other four stood behind Chu He, clearly willing to stand on the same side as him.

"So that's how it is."

Tie Jun nodded.

He knew Zhou Tao. As deputy commander of Green Mountain Commandery's Heavenly Martial Guard, Zhou Tao frequently dealt with the Demon Suppression Guards and would not lie about this.

The Moon Ancient Village case they mentioned must also be real, because there was no way to lie about that. The Demon Suppression Bureau kept records, and a check would immediately reveal the truth.

"Chu He, you did very well."

Tie Jun pointed at the kneeling old man. "This man was a protector of the White Lotus Cult. His true cultivation was at the peak of the third rank, but severe injuries caused it to regress. Judging by his condition, he should still have been at the middle of the second rank."

"Since you killed him, the credit naturally belongs to you. I will report this matter truthfully to Demon Suppression Bureau headquarters. Your exact merit award will require their review and decision."

"Thank you, sir."

Chu He nodded.

He could tell that Tie Jun was not someone who stole credit. Otherwise, he would have said that the old man was already severely wounded, that an inescapable net had already been laid, and that Chu He had merely happened to kill him.

If it were reported that way, Chu He's share of the credit would be much smaller.

"Squad Leader Chu, since you're from Green Mountain Commandery, would you consider staying here to serve? It would bring glory to your ancestors, too."

Tie Jun began poaching him on the spot. When he saw Chu He frown, he added:

"You needn't worry about the transfer. I'll speak to Zhang Wei personally, and I can guarantee your swift promotion to company commander."

Tie Jun was not making empty promises. The Green Mountain Commandery Demon Suppression Camp had suffered heavy losses while exterminating the White Lotus Cult remnants.

Not only had many Demon Suppression Guards and six squad leaders fallen, but even a company commander had died, greatly weakening their fighting strength.

Since Chu He could slay a White Lotus Cult protector, even if that protector had already been severely wounded, it was enough to show that his strength was considerable. Recruiting him would restore some of their strength.

"Thank you..."

Chu He was about to say something when his eyes suddenly turned cold, and his left hand immediately flicked behind him.

Whoosh!

A dark gleam sliced through the night and vanished.

"Roar..."

A scream came from the darkness.

Then...

Chu He waved a hand.

Understanding his meaning, Lu Feng immediately led the other four into the darkness. Before long, they returned dragging a blood-red monster.

It was a Blood-Devouring Spirit Ghost.

This...

The pupils of the Demon Suppression Guards before the Mountain God Temple all trembled. None of them had noticed the monster just now, yet Chu He had not only detected it but struck it dead outright.

Even Tie Jun was somewhat shocked. He, too, had only noticed the monster after Chu He attacked.

His strike carried the sound of dragons and elephants, and his use of hidden weapons flowed like drifting clouds and running water. This was the sign of someone who had cultivated the Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Art to a profound level.

No wonder he could kill someone at the middle of the second rank just after entering the second rank himself.

Tie Jun felt that it all fit.

However...

He did not know that Chu He had slain the White Lotus Cult remnant before breaking through to the second rank. Of course, Chu He would not explain that.

Clang!

Chu He drew his demon-suppression saber, slit open the Blood-Devouring Spirit Ghost's belly, and removed a sack resembling a cloth pouch. This was the main material for crafting an Essence Storage Pouch and had some value.

Afterward...

He said to Tie Jun:

"Thank you for your kindness, sir, but I have no intention of joining another camp at present. Farewell."

With that!

Without waiting for Tie Jun to say anything else, he led Lu Feng and the others swiftly into the distance. After all, he had no time to stay and haggle back and forth.

"Ah... that lad."

"Zhang Wei really lucked out. Still, with a heaven's chosen like him, as long as he doesn't fall, Zhang Wei won't be able to keep him for more than a few years either."

Tie Jun spoke pensively as he watched Chu He leave.

Then...

He ordered the Demon Suppression Guards to take away the old man's and the Blood-Devouring Spirit Ghost's bodies. They still needed to bring them back for examination.