I'm Not That Kind of Person

Above the attic, within the incense burner.

Wisps of green smoke drifted through the air.

Shangguan Changyue took out another item from beneath the table.

Luo Chen's eyes lit up.

Upon her slender jade hand, a jet-black ring lay quietly in her palm.

"This is a Spatial Secret Treasure in the form of a ring."

"But Spatial Secret Treasures are exceedingly rare. With time being short, I only managed to find this one. It contains three cubic chi of space."

Luo Chen was quite satisfied.

Three cubic chi was roughly one cubic meter, more than enough for his use.

He was not a picky person.

He immediately accepted the Spatial Ring and slipped it onto his finger.

"How do I use this?"

he asked curiously.

Seeing that he was satisfied, Shangguan Changyue finally smiled.

"Just drip blood onto it to recognize it as your master."

Luo Chen squeezed out a drop of blood and let it fall onto the Spatial Secret Treasure.

The blood instantly sank into the ring and vanished without a trace.

Luo Chen focused his mind and sensed a faint connection.

He tried to store the Golden Scale at his waist inside the Spatial Ring.

In the blink of an eye, seeing the Golden Scale disappear, Luo Chen revealed a satisfied smile.

Like a child who had obtained a beloved toy.

"You've suddenly been promoted to Demon Suppression Captain, skipping two ranks in a row. Some of the more senior Demon Suppression Envoys, and even certain Demon Suppression Captains, may come looking for trouble with you."

Shangguan Changyue's calm voice rang out.

It interrupted Luo Chen's joyous mood.

Luo Chen pondered for a moment before asking hesitantly, "Are you telling me to go out and lie low for a while?"

"No." Shangguan Changyue gently shook her head and glanced at him.

"I'm telling you to show mercy. Don't beat them to death."

Luo Chen laughed and repeatedly shook his head.

"I'm not that kind of person."

Three days later.

Early in the morning, several hundred people gathered at the Demon Suppression Bureau in Qingyuan City.

They were all Demon Suppressing Guards participating in this cleansing operation at Heavenly Break Mountain.

The plaza was packed with people, and the murmur of discussion never ceased.

Upon the high platform.

Three middle-aged men dressed in civil official robes stood holding documents and reading aloud.

"Third-Rank Demon Suppression Captain Yue Wuchang took the lead in this encirclement of Heavenly Break Mountain. He ventured deep into the mountains, rescued two Captains, and slew more than ten Demonic Beasts. He is hereby awarded a major merit."

"Second-Rank Demon Suppression Captain..."

"All Demon Suppressing Guards who slay one Demonic Beast shall be awarded a minor merit."

"Anyone who participated in this demon-slaying mission shall be awarded a minor merit!"

As the three Civil Officials finished their proclamation.

All the Demon Suppressing Guards below wore delighted expressions.

After the proclamation was over, the three Civil Officials stepped aside.

On the high platform, Shangguan Changyue's breathtaking figure appeared.

Behind Shangguan Changyue, an official followed closely while carrying a stack of brand-new Demon Suppression Captain robes.

She first swept her gaze over the crowd before speaking.

"In this demon-slaying operation, Demon Suppressing Guard Luo Chen slew one Blood Circulation Demonic Beast and more than ten Lesser Demons. He even ventured deep into Heavenly Break Mountain and saved my life."

All the Demon Suppressing Guards below, including the Demon Suppression Captains, revealed astonished expressions.

Some people knew that a Demon Suppressing Guard had emerged from the depths alongside the Chief Director.

They had discussed it in private as well.

But they had never imagined that Luo Chen was the one who had saved the Chief Director.

The most shocked of all were the Demon Suppressing Guards close to Luo Chen.

Wang Yue nudged the composed Luo Chen beside him, his eyes still filled with disbelief.

Luo Chen himself was somewhat surprised as well.

He had not expected Shangguan Changyue to make no attempt to conceal the matter and instead state it outright before everyone.

After all, she had gone to slay demons, only to nearly lose her life and be saved by a Demon Suppressing Guard.

It would inevitably cost her some face.

After thinking it over, he finally understood.

Promoting him, a Demon Suppressing Guard, to Demon Suppression Captain so suddenly.

Would draw plenty of doubt and jealousy.

Shangguan Changyue was adding weight to his accomplishments, letting everyone know that his merit and strength were more than enough for the position of Demon Suppression Captain.

On the high platform.

Shangguan Changyue ignored the uproar below and continued her announcement.

"From this day onward, Demon Suppressing Guard Luo Chen shall officially serve as a Third-Rank Demon Suppression Captain. He will be stationed at the Demon Suppression Bureau headquarters and need not take turns patrolling."

An uproar erupted!

Hearing Luo Chen's reward.

The people below could no longer remain calm.

The crowd automatically parted to form a passage. Luo Chen straightened his clothes and ascended the platform with calm composure.

He stood at Shangguan Changyue's side.

He reached out and accepted the Demon Suppression Captain robes handed over by the official.

"Demon Suppression Captain Luo Chen shall certainly fulfill his duties with utmost diligence and not disappoint the Chief Director's cultivation."

Just as the plaza was buzzing with excitement.

From a tall building deep within the compound came bursts of furious cursing.

"Have you investigated it clearly? What is that kid's background?"

Zhuge Yucheng wiped the water stains from his hands, looked at the overturned tea set, and spoke coldly.

Below him, a Demon Suppression Envoy stood respectfully with his head lowered.

Only after hearing the question did he dare step forward and present a manuscript.

It recorded Luo Chen's experiences from childhood to the present, especially his experiences after joining the Demon Suppression Bureau a year ago, in painstaking detail.

"This kid is actually a genius!"

"His rate of progress is no less impressive than my elder brother's."

Zhuge Yucheng set down the manuscript in his hand.

He stroked his chin and looked toward the spirited Youth in the plaza below, his tone inscrutable.

"Tell me, if this newly promoted Demon Suppression Captain were to die."

"Would Changyue get angry?"

The Demon Suppression Envoy was drenched in cold sweat. He lowered his head and stammered, not daring to speak.

"Useless trash!"

Zhuge Yucheng gave a cold snort.

As evening drew near.

A restaurant in Qingyuan City was bustling with activity.

Today, Luo Chen had been promoted to Demon Suppression Captain, so he invited the colleagues he was familiar with to share a meal.

Even the master smith who had once forged the Golden Scale treasured saber for him had been invited to eat and drink with them.

After all, he had promised before, and Luo Chen never went back on his word.

Yue Wuchang had come as well. He had taken off his solemn Captain's robes and changed into a clean set of clothes.

Yue Wuchang looked at Luo Chen, and the surprise in his eyes remained impossible to conceal.

The spirited Youth before him, smiling brightly, gradually overlapped with his memory of when they had first met a year ago.

"You really haven't changed much. When we first met back then, I could already tell that you had hills and ravines in your chest—confident, yet restrained."

"I just never expected that you brat had been hiding your light all along!"

Yue Wuchang sighed emotionally. As soon as the words left his mouth, he took another fierce gulp of strong liquor.

Luo Chen smiled, still treating him with the same respect as always.

"Colonel, you flatter me. I was simply lucky, haha."

Yet no one took those words seriously.

Wang Yue sat beside Luo Chen. With the courage lent by alcohol, he scratched his head and said awkwardly,

"Luo Chen, no, Captain Luo, your ten Demon Suppression Envoy subordinates still haven't been decided, right? What do you think of me?"

As soon as the words fell, Wang Yue shuddered all over. Half his drunkenness vanished, and he raised his head to glance at Yue Wuchang.

Only then did he give an embarrassed smile. "A slip of the tongue after drinking! Lord Yue, my loyalty to you can be witnessed by heaven and earth!"

With that, Wang Yue downed three cups of strong liquor in one go.

His face instantly flushed red, yet he did not dare circulate his blood qi.

Luo Chen looked at him without speaking, merely raising a cup to Yue Wuchang.

The moon climbed to the middle of the sky.

Only then did everyone disperse. Some went together to the flower houses, while others hurried off to the next gathering.

Luo Chen returned to Liu Manor, and the traces of drunkenness on his face had already faded.

He did not disturb Uncle Liu's family, who had already gone to rest.

The night passed without incident.