Patrol, Skin Tempering Demon Attack

Three days later.

At one of the Training Grounds within the Demon Suppression Bureau.

"Reporting, sir, everyone has arrived."

Demon Suppression Envoy Wang Yue stood with his hands behind his back and nodded slightly.

"Today is our turn on duty. The term is one month. We depart now."

As Wang Yue's words fell.

The eleven Demon Suppressing Guards on the Training Ground followed behind him in unison, heading beyond the city.

Luo Chen was among those eleven.

After leaving Qingyuan City through its gates, they encountered other Demon Suppression Envoys leading their men out of the city along the way.

The group swept forward in grand procession, riding fine horses in an imposing display.

On the surrounding Official Road, commoners stepped aside and merchants halted, watching one squad after another depart.

Luo Chen had already spent two days under Wang Yue's command and could now name the other Demon Suppressing Guards.

"No wonder there aren't many people at the Demon Suppression Bureau. They're all out patrolling beyond the city."

A Demon Suppressing Guard beside him heard his mutter and smiled faintly.

"Under normal circumstances, one-third of the Demon Suppressing Guards patrol outside the city, one-third guard important locations, and one-third cultivate."

"Patrolling outside slows one's cultivation. Usually, shifts rotate once every month."

Luo Chen nodded slightly.

Seeing Luo Chen fall silent, the Demon Suppressing Guard assumed that, as a newcomer, he was somewhat afraid and offered reassurance.

"Luo Chen, there's no need to be nervous. Although the situation is turbulent and there are plenty of Demonic Beasts, encountering even one in a month is considered quite lucky."

When Luo Chen heard that, how could that be acceptable?

"Are there really so few Demonic Beasts?"

"Hehe, Demonic Beasts are exceedingly intelligent. The Demon Suppression Bureau patrols around Qingyuan City every day. Only a few reckless fools would come here."

"Is that so..."

Luo Chen sank into thought.

"I took things for granted. Isn't it a good thing that there are fewer Demonic Beasts?"

"What I lack least is time. There's no need to rush."

Reining in his emotions, the group began their journey.

When the sun hung high overhead.

They arrived at a relay station and stopped to rest.

As the group entered the relay station.

Demon Suppression Envoy Wang Yue smiled at the relay station proprietor, who was lying down, and said.

"I say, Old Li, your job is far easier than ours."

The relay station proprietor emerged from the rear courtyard. He was an elderly man with a genial smile on his face.

"I'm old. All I can do now is give off a little remaining warmth."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with him, Wang Yue asked.

"How has it been? Have any Demonic Beasts appeared recently?"

Luo Chen and the other Demon Suppressing Guards found seats and ordered dishes from the waiter.

There were no outsiders at the relay station at the moment, so they did not avoid speaking openly.

"This place is...?"

The Demon Suppressing Guard beside him, Xu Shan, explained.

"This relay station is one of our hidden posts, responsible for gathering intelligence and coordinating operations."

"I see!"

Luo Chen nodded to himself, understanding at once.

Before long, the dishes were served.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they once again set out along the Official Road.

After traveling for another two hours.

The group halted and began waiting quietly.

Wang Yue looked toward the mountain ahead and gave Luo Chen an instruction.

"Luo Chen, you'll guard this place for the next month. There's one of our strongholds at the foot of the mountain. Report immediately if anything happens."

"Xu Shan, you'll stay behind as well."

"Yes!"

After issuing his orders, Wang Yue led the remaining Demon Suppressing Guards away.

"There's a village here. It was frequently attacked by Demonic Beasts a few years ago. After the Demonic Beasts were killed, its special location gradually turned it into one of our permanent garrisons."

The two arrived at the village at the foot of the mountain.

Standing at the village entrance, Xu Shan smiled at Luo Chen and said.

"Think this is different from what you imagined the Demon Suppression Bureau would be like?"

"A little."

Luo Chen nodded.

As the two spoke, a huge crowd came surging from the village toward the entrance.

"My lords, the village has already prepared wine and food."

"Haha, my lords, please come into the village quickly."

Led by the village chief, most of the villagers had come to the entrance to welcome them.

Xu Shan walked in front, smiling, wholly at ease.

Luo Chen could understand the villagers' enthusiasm.

After all, with them here, their safety was greatly assured. They no longer had to live in constant fear. What did a little wine and food amount to?

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, the villagers did not dare delay the Demon Suppression Bureau officials and departed one after another.

The Demon Suppression Bureau had a large courtyard in the village for personnel on duty to rest in.

Sitting in a chair in the main hall.

Xu Shan casually set his long blade aside, picked at his teeth, and looked at Luo Chen beside him as he explained with a smile.

"Eat what you should eat, drink what you should drink. If we don't eat or drink, they'll feel even more uneasy."

Luo Chen looked at Xu Shan, who sat sprawled carelessly before him, and gave a bitter smile.

The two chatted for a while before going their separate ways.

Luo Chen strolled beside the creek at the village entrance, watching children play and chase one another.

"That Skin Tempering Demon is still lurking in the shadows. It's always a source of trouble."

He had not forgotten the Demonic Beast that had attacked him last time.

"It would be troublesome in the village. If that Demonic Beast comes looking for me, I might not be able to protect everyone."

Luo Chen murmured to himself, his steps unconsciously carrying him beyond the village.

He did not tell Xu Shan.

It was obvious that Xu Shan, an old Demon Suppressing Guard, was not particularly strong, and had long lost his drive to advance.

For the next half month.

Luo Chen left early and returned late every day, patrolling the mountains, forests, and rivers in all directions.

To outsiders, he was simply a hot-blooded young man who wanted to hunt Demonic Beasts to prove himself or earn merit.

By a great river, amid the mountains.

Wearing a bamboo hat, Luo Chen sat quietly at the bow of a boat, holding a bamboo rod and fishing in the river.

As the sun climbed high into the sky, his fish basket remained utterly empty.

Luo Chen's mouth twitched, and he rose to his feet cursing.

"What kind of trash fishing rod is this?"

"A net. I have to cast a net!"

He put away the fishing rod, dragged a fishing net from the stern, looked toward the place where he had scattered bait, and began casting the net.

The fishing net sank into the river.

Luo Chen's eyes lit up slightly. "A big catch!"

He began hauling the net with all his strength. Water splashed everywhere, and the weight was considerable.

More than ten carp thrashed amid splashing water, struggling inside the net.

Among the fish, Luo Chen noticed an unusually large Azure Fish rolling about fiercely, possessing tremendous strength.

Most strange of all, the fish fin on the Azure Fish's back was blood-red.

"Treasure Fish!"

Luo Chen's eyes brightened. Treasure Fish were precious resources that nourished one's blood and qi and tempered the body, offering immense benefits even to First Realm martial artists.

Even the most ordinary Treasure Fish normally cost over a hundred taels of silver.

Just as he was about to haul the net onto the boat.

A figure suddenly surfaced from beneath the water. Scarlet radiance tore through the fishing net, the river exploded, violent force shot into the heavens, and enormous waves dozens of meters high surged up.

Luo Chen's pupils contracted as the small boat beneath his feet instantly shattered into pieces.

"Good timing! You're exactly who I've been waiting for!"

Rather than anger, Luo Chen laughed. After waiting for over half a month, it had finally come.

During the first half month, he had patrolled day and night without seeing a trace of movement.

Who would have thought that after merely pretending to relax for three days, it could no longer resist making its move?

His long blade left its sheath. Blade light split the water's surface and collided with the scarlet radiance. Borrowing the recoil, he rapidly skimmed over the water toward the shore.

Beneath the water, the figure stood atop the waves. It was a middle-aged martial artist, his face dark as he gazed from afar with a trace of mockery in his eyes.

As he neared the shore, Luo Chen's heart sank slightly.

"There are two more clones?"