Appointed Hundred Household Commander, Shocking Everyone

"Chief Banner Chu He, reporting back!"

The steady voice rang in every Demon Suppression Guard's ears, also bringing Qian Hao and Zhang Wei up ahead back to their senses.

Step! Step!

Zhang Wei strode up to Chu He in two steps, reached out to pat his shoulder, and said excitedly:

"I damn well knew you wouldn't die that easily."

"Sir!"

Chu He also cupped his hands toward Qian Hao. Whatever else, the man was his immediate superior at present.

"Mm!"

Qian Hao nodded and declared, "It's good that you're back. Why are you still prying up that stone tablet? Hurry and put the red ceremonial brocade robe on Chief Banner Chu."

"A hero has come home, and his treatment won't change. From now on, Chu He may enter the hall without bowing, and his merit points will no longer be held in safekeeping."

With that!

Qian Hao walked off into the distance. As he passed Chu He, he likewise patted his shoulder and said:

"Spend some time catching up with them. Report to me, your Thousand Household Commander, in four hours. We still need to go through the necessary procedures."

His words finished.

His figure flashed and vanished from the spot.

At that moment!

Watching Qian Hao leave, then looking at the still-excited Zhang Wei before him, Chu He's lips curved into a faint smile.

Everything!

Was different from what he had imagined yet again!

No melodramatic scene had unfolded: no random nobodies had provoked him and demanded that he immediately explain his disappearance.

Even:

The matter of his cultivation advancing so quickly had not been questioned on the spot. Instead, he had been allowed to catch up with his subordinates first.

It seems that although the Demon Suppression Bureau is rotten, there's still plenty of humanity and righteousness here, and they really do protect their own.

Chu He thought to himself.

From Qian Hao's, Zhang Wei's, and the others' attitudes just now, he could tell that the cause of Great Qian's decline did not lie with the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Combined with the bizarre decrees the court had continuously issued over the past few years and the old emperor's advanced age, he roughly understood that the problem most likely lay within the imperial court: too many factions wearing each other down.

In fact!

He could not rule out factions colluding with rebel forces across the land. To them, power reigned supreme, and everything else was merely drifting clouds!

"Sir!"

Lu Feng handed Chu He the red ceremonial brocade robe, his face full of excitement.

Zhao Yuan and the others also secretly sighed in relief. Although they had all had confidence in Chu He, and he had left them a hand signal beforehand, his condition back then had been so terrible that, coupled with his fall off the cliff, it had been hard not to worry.

"Congratulations on surviving disaster, sir! Great fortune is sure to follow!"

"Survive a great disaster, and great fortune is sure to follow!"

"..."

The Demon Suppression Guards all offered their heartfelt congratulations. After all, strictly speaking, Chu He had saved every one of them.

Finally!

After four hours of catching up!

Chu He followed Zhang Wei toward the Third Army's command tent. The recent battle at Nine Nether Town had inflicted devastating losses on the Demon Suppression Bureau.

So!

Most of the Demon Suppression Guards had been dispatched on missions. Besides, few Demon Suppression Guards ever set foot around Heroes' Tomb to begin with, so the two encountered no one else along the way!

Inside the command tent!

Seated in the ornate chair at the head, Qian Hao frowned slightly and said:

"You're saying that after falling off the cliff, you were swept away by the river, then carried into a cave in a black bear's jaws, and accidentally ate a black fruit while at death's door.

"Then, when you woke up again, your injuries had healed, and your cultivation had even advanced to your current Middle Third Grade."

"Yes, sir!"

Chu He nodded.

"What did that black fruit look like?"

"Humanoid. I could vaguely see some very fine blood-colored markings on it, and it felt a little hot to the touch."

"Black God Fruit!"

"Black God Fruit!"

Qian Hao and Zhang Wei exclaimed at the same time.

Their surprise was understandable. Although the Black God Fruit was only a Sixth Rank spirit fruit, it was more precious than many seventh- or eighth-rank ones, because it was exceedingly rare, and its growing conditions were extraordinarily strange:

It could appear anywhere: graves, underground palaces, caves, snowy mountains, and so on. Since ancient times, the places where Black God Fruits had been discovered had almost never repeated, nor had there been any pattern.

But!

Its effects could not be underestimated. Not only could it heal all injuries suffered by martial artists below the Fifth Rank, it could also improve aptitude and soul power. It was a spirit fruit that combined healing and support.

"To think you would encounter such an opportunity, Chu He. You stimulated your potential to temporarily increase your strength, yet turned disaster into a blessing instead."

Qian Hao nodded and said with feeling, "One fortuitous encounter brought you to Middle Third Grade, saving you at least two years of bitter cultivation."

"A chance coincidence!" Seeing that Qian Hao had no intention of questioning him further, Chu He inwardly nodded.

Of course!

Everything he had just said was fabricated!

He had also deliberately guided them into guessing it was a Black God Fruit, to conceal the existence of his system and soul.

After all, he simply could not clearly explain those two things, while the Demon Suppression Bureau would inevitably need something on record.

"Very good!"

"The battle at Nine Nether Town inflicted devastating losses on the Demon Suppression Bureau. Even two Hundred Household Commanders fell. Now that you've reached Middle Third Grade, you can fill one of the vacancies. The Sixth Battalion's Hundred Household Commander post is yours!"

Qian Hao nodded at Chu He in affirmation. "I'll speak to Commander Zhou myself. Tonight, the Demon Suppression Bureau will hold its regular meeting. Most of the Hundred Household Commanders will return to attend, and your appointment will be announced then."

"Don't disappoint your Thousand Household Commander. You may leave!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Wei and Chu He nodded in acknowledgment.

Then.

They quickly left the command tent!

Outside the command tent!

Zhang Wei raised his hands in salute and congratulated him. "Congratulations, Hundred Household Commander Chu!"

Chu He offered no insincere demurrals, instead saying solemnly, "In the future, whatever you ask of me, I will give my full support."

Those words!

Chu He had spoken no falsehood. Ever since he joined the Demon Suppression Bureau, he had been under the man's care at every turn. Although even without that care, no one could have stopped his advance.

But that could not erase the care Zhang Wei had shown him!

Even now, with Chu He at Middle Third Grade and equal to him in status, Zhang Wei still harbored not a trace of jealousy.

Instead, his concern came from the depths of his heart!

Night!

The Demon Suppression Bureau's central square!

Countless torches stood upright, lighting the entire square as brightly as day!

Below!

Over a thousand Demon Suppression Guards stood in orderly ranks. At the very front were the Third Army's Thousand Household Commander, Deputy Thousand Household Commander, and Hundred Household Commanders!

It could be said:

Except for the battalion Hundred Household Commanders stationed in the various commandery cities and those carrying out secret missions, everyone was present!

"Silence!"

An authoritative voice rang out.

Instantly.

The entire square fell so silent that not a crow or sparrow could be heard!

Everyone turned their gaze toward the platform ahead, where an imposing figure stood. It was none other than Zhou Cang!

"This regular meeting is to announce deployment arrangements across the regions. Each battalion will rotate its garrison every three years as usual. From this day onward, you need no longer yield in the slightest when dealing with disciples of sects, established clans, or powerful families!

"Those who provoke us: kill!

"Those who collude with demons: kill!

"Those who abuse martial force to humiliate the people: kill!"

Those three thunderous cries of "kill" sent the atmosphere throughout the square erupting. Their Demon Suppression Bureau had indeed kept too low a profile these past few decades. It was time to let those sects know who the big brother really was!

"Understood!"

The Third Army's Thousand Household Commanders stepped forward to answer.

"Good!"

Zhou Cang nodded and spoke again:

"Next, an appointment announcement: the Third Army's Sixth Battalion Hundred Household Commander unfortunately fell. Now, Chu He has rendered outstanding service and possesses both virtue and ability. He is hereby officially appointed Hundred Household Commander of the Sixth Battalion."

"Where is Chu He!"

"Here!"

An earth-shaking shout rang out from behind the crowd.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

A series of heavy footsteps sounded.

Everyone instinctively looked back, only to see...